More Home Improvements

I can't believe it's been a month since I last gave an update.  We've been working on lots of projects this past month both in and out of the house.  We've now been in our house for 7 weeks.  We are getting more and more used to our location and the neighborhood.  We are enjoying it more and more each day.  Here are a few updates.

One of the first things Steve wanted to do with the yard was to pull out the bushes around the front.  We borrowed Dave's ATV and yanked them out.  I sat on the ATV and went forward or backward after Steve got the chain wrapped around roots.  Our neighbor Ron also came over and helped, which made it go by a lot quicker.  The first ones were a little tricky getting out due to the roots, but after that they went quicker.  The bushes were covering half of our sidewalk and part of the grass of course.  The parts they were covering, the grass was killed.

Starting to take the bushes out.

Our neighbor Ron helped get the bushes out too. 

The last ones needing to be hauled away.

Nyles liked to sit w/ me on the ATV.

All the bushes out now.

Before w/ the bushes

After without the bushes.  The trees blooming as well.

Since the grass was dead where the bushes were, we decided to lay sod.

Getting the sod in and fixing sprinklers.

Steve replacing a sprinkler head and Nyles "helping."

New grass and you can actually see the yard from the curb.  So many neighbors have come over and said they just love that we took out the bushes.  We also took them out so we can see Nyles riding his bike or anyone else who is in the cul-de-sac.  It's nice to be able to see better from our patio now.

Nyles loves playing w/ the hose and watering the grass!

We also went and got tile and all the supplies on Monday the 11th so we can start putting it in the bathroom floors, starting w/ our Master Bathroom.  Steve took out the vanity and baseboards on Tuesday, then Wednesday Rob and Steve put in the cement board.

Vanity....now out.

Starting to lay tile.  Rob was kind enough to show Steve how to do it.

Making progress.  Nyles helping Steve :)

 

The first section is done, then the part by the toilet and shower finally.  Oh course this took us a couple weeks.  Steve was just learning how to do it and waited until Rob had time after work to help.

 

Steve then put the vanity back and installed our new toilet.  He also put in beadboard around the toilet and new light switch plates.    

 Since we were under construction we decided to put in a pocket sliding door as well.  So Steve tore down the drywall and again w/ Rob's help got the door in place.  Next he'll put the drywall back up, then we'll paint.  

While Steve was working on the tile, Rose was kind enough to come over and help install some beadboard in the nursery.  I helped the best I could, but she did most of the work of course (thanks Rose!).  It took us all Saturday afternoon, but we got it in.

The room before adding the beadboard, just paint.

Just about to put our first beadboard on, around the outlet.

All done w/ the beadboard!

A couple days later.....Steve putting in the baseboards now; Nyles supervising :) 

 Then he had to caulk it and then paint.  He had to be careful not to get the new carpet, but he did it w/ a tool he borrowed from Dave.  He then put up the crib and got everything into place.

Then we put up the mesh bumpers and some decorations.  It's coming together.

The Friday before we decided to go stop by RC Willey.  Ironically they were getting ready for their Parking Lot Sale the next day.  They were basically clearing out their clearance section and items they were no longer carrying.  They had a lot of couches already out, so we got to look at them that night.  We found a set we liked, so we decided at the price we would get them.  Steve went and got Dave's trailer that night so he'd be ready in the morning.  They were going to start the sale at 8am on Saturday, so Steve wanted to be there before it started just to make sure we'd get them.  He left our place just after 7am and was one of the first ones there (imagine that).  They sold him the couch but he couldn't pay for it until 8am, so he had to wait.  By 8am, Steve said all the couches were sold that looked like ours plus most of the other ones that were there.  When he got back, Steve brought the love seat in by himself w/ a dolly, then had a neighbor come help him w/ the other one.

Yeah we finally have couches in our formal living room!

That afternoon, we also got a table for our formal dining room.  Brandon was kind enough to bring it over.  Brandon and Melanie were getting one from their neighbor, so they gave us their old one (thanks Brandon and Melanie).  It came w/ a bench as well, which fit perfectly in our entry way!  We're finally "filling in" our home w/ some furniture.

Zach also used his truck to get some rocks for us.  We are using them to fill around the yard, trying to keep the weeds out and cats from pooping around the flowers.  Nyles thinks they're pretty fun to dig and play in of course.

 Our tulips came up as well!

When we were looking for a house, these were the things we had on our wish list to include:

• At least 4 bedrooms total, 3 bedrooms needed to be on the same floor –we have 5 total, 4 of which were on the same floor, bonus!
• At least 2 bathrooms, one needed to be a Master—we have 3 bathrooms including the Master
• At least 2000 square feet—we have 2600 square feet
• 2 car garage—we have it
• Outdoor space, hopefully at around .20 acres—we have .24 acres
• We wanted to be able to walk straight out to our yard, versus being on a high deck first—done
• We wanted it to be in the Canyon’s School District w/ good schools, hopefully in Sandy—we are in Sandy in the District and have good rated schools to attend.
• We wanted Central Air vs a Swamp Cooler—we have Central Air
• No popcorn ceilings—it was built in the 1980’s vs earlier when it was more common to have popcorn ceilings.

Additional Bonuses:

• It’s located on a Cul-de-sac and a quiet street which is incredible!
• It’s close to lots of shopping, the Draper Park, Draper Library, and only 3 minutes to the Trax station which I take to go to work.
• It came w/ Sprinklers, and they actually work.
• It came w/ a cute porch
• There is a food storage room in the basement, yeah finally!
• There is a shed by the garage for Steve to store his hunting/fishing stuff
• There are shelves in the garage already for storage.
• There is an enclave in the garage where our deep freeze fits perfectly.
• There is some cement in the backyard where Nyles can ride his bike.
• There is a circle going from the kitchen to the formal living/dining room—Joann said you should have one so the kids and chase each other, or be chased by their parents, done!
• Having a formal living and dining room, and there are vaulted ceilings.
• There are vaulted ceilings in the Master Bedrooms, plus a walk in closet (harder to find in older homes).
• There are tulips in the front yard coming up; I love flowers!
• We are close to a fishing pond that Steve likes to take Nyles to.

Idaho Trip

Since we were sick and weren't able to make it up to Idaho for Easter this year, we decided to go a couple weeks later for Dad's birthday.  Rob's been wanting to go up w/ us again to the farm, so we brought him along as well.  I got off work a little early on Thursday the 14th, rode the train home, finished packing a few things, then went over got Rob and headed out.  We of course ran into traffic as it was a weeknight, but once we got out of Salt Lake area it was just fine.  We had a little rain at times, but for the most part had good roads.  We only made a couple stops for the bathroom and made it up to my parent's place around 11pm.

The next morning Dad, Steve and Rob went up to Anderson Dan to do some fishing.  Nyles and I hung around the house w/ mom.  Nyles found all the toys and was loving life!  The wind was blowing really hard so we didn't go outside much, but we still had fun.

Nyles riding the 3 wheeler forwards and backwards.  He's getting pretty good at it.  His legs are just the right size now.  Before he couldn't reach the pedals.  

Nyles had some noodles w/ Parmesan cheese for lunch.  He got a milk mustache while drinking his milk and thought it was the funniest thing.  He kept purposely trying to get a mustache from then on and had to show it to everyone.   

The guys caught a few fish up at Anderson.  Nyles was excited to see them come back.

Dad took the fish and put them in a vacuum packed package then froze them for later.  

Nyles thought it was pretty cool to watch.

He also got to learn a few new games w/ Grandma, which he thought was pretty awesome!

After the guys got back from fishing and we had dinner, we went and had our Easter Egg (sack) Hunt.  Nyles was waiting the whole day; he was so excited to finally go find his sack.  He even found some chocolate on the grass on his way to find his sack.

Nyles found his Easter sack in the tree.

Then Rob, Steve and I found ours too.

After doing our Easter Egg Hunt, Steve and Rob headed out to CJ Strike Dam to go Stergeon fishing w/ Mark Gasper (from the Grandview Ward).  Mark had been telling Steve about it for a while and got him excited to go.  Luckily they caught some!  The fish were 5ft, 6ft and even a 7 foot long one!  Steve said it took usually 3 of them to reel one in because they were so big and strong.  They would take turns until their arms hurt, then they'd switch off to someone else.  They weren't able to keep the fish, but they did get some fun pictures.

Steve posing for a picture showing how big it is (Steve is just over 6ft tall).

And another.

And now Rob.

On Saturday, Dad's birthday, the guys went fishing at CJ Strike.  They caught a couple there too.  That afternoon Steve, Nyles and I went back out and fished on the dock for about an hour before dinner while Dad and Rob watched his new Star Wars movie.  We had many fish bite, but only brought in one.  It was still a lot of fun!

Nyles waiting for a fish to bite.

Nyles and Steve waiting patiently.

Nyles caught one!

And he had to play w/ some trucks too in order to stay focused.

We made a chocolate cake for dad for his birthday and sang "Happy Birthday" to him that night after dinner.  Nyles loves birthdays, especially the cake and ice cream part.

On Sunday, we went to church w/ my parents.  Nyles was a little scared again, and asked that I stay w/ him in Primary.  There were a few visitors, so his Sunbeams classes was quite big and combined w/ kids up to age 6.  For that reason the lesson was a little advanced for him, but he made it through.  Barbara and her kids (minus Mikey) showed up around sacrament meeting time.  It was great seeing them and Nyles just loved having cousins around.  They played after lunch for an hour or so as well until we had to go.  He was sad to leave, but Grandpa took him on one more motorcycle ride before we left.  That made his day!

Abby jumped on the back of the motorcycle as well and took a ride w/ Grandpa and Nyles.

We left around 3pm in the afternoon, and made it home by 8pm.  Thankfully Nyles did take a nap this time.  He actually fell asleep shortly after getting on the freeway.  It was a fun yet short trip.  The Internet wasn't working the whole time we were there so I couldn't help mom order her pictures for her Scouts, but we did at least get them put on her computer.

This was our last trip up to Idaho before the baby comes.  I am 33 weeks today, so w/in the next 4-6 weeks the baby should be here.  Nyles was 3 weeks early, so we're trying to get things done and ready just in case this one comes early too.  I'll have someone cover my book at work while I'm gone, so I just need to have things in order so they can continue to work while I'm gone.  We had a Dr appointment this past week and the baby is growing right on track.  My back hasn't been hurting as bad (knock on wood), so hopefully I'll be able to continue to have good health to the end.

We went to our ward again today.  They read in our names officially, so I guess we're part of a ward again.  Everyone has been so nice and welcoming.  Nyles went to Primary/Sunbeams by himself this time (though we had to sneak out).

Well we hope everyone has a good week!  It's the last week of April already.  Love ya lots!