Lot 428

We still haven't put up our sold sign, but here is the lot for our new home!

This first picture was taken either right before or right after Christmas break.  I can't remember exactly.  I think right before though.  You can see that our neighbors to the right are just starting their home at this point. 

 This was taken today.  There is officially a house on both sides of us now.  They work fast! It has been less than a month since the first picture.
It is crazy for us to think that a house will fit in that tiny space in between the two houses.  Travis and I both grew up on a decent amount of land so this will be different.  Since I basically picked this house plan and lot (because of incentives involved), he said he gets to pick the next one.  He wants at least 5 acres and a barn.  I like having neighbors close by though!  It will be nice for this first little bit when we only have a baby or toddler because it is big enough for them to play in and easy to maintain. 

 It looks like they have started staking out something.  They are supposed to break ground on Wednesday.  Do you think it will happen?  I think it is very unlikely since this is how it looks right now.  They weather is just not cooperating with us.  :(

Preconstruction Meeting and Yucky Weather

We had our pre-construction meeting this afternoon.  We got to meet our project manager for the first time.  He and I are very different, so we will see how we get along.  He is very matter of fact, no sugar coating and has a "get what you get" attitude.  I am very much a people pleaser and will do whatever to make someone happy. 

Our Sales Rep was with us and we went over everything with the project manager.  He told us the process/sequence of events, gave us some estimated dates, went over ALL of our options and answered any questions we had. 

I had a few warranty questions about imperfections they cover just based off of what I have read on other blogs and the problems they had.  Travis had some logistical questions. And the PM had lots of answers.

Overall, I am VERY excited that they are finally starting our house (next week).  I feel like nothing has really happened the past month.  Our options were done the end of December and we haven't had any progress since. 

I am a little nervous too.  For one, this is the first Palermo that our PM and crew have built.  eek!  There is another blog that has had many problems from it being their first Palermo.  I am hoping that they will be more cautious since it is unfamiliar to them and it won't just be thrown together quickly  because they know the plan so well. 

The other thing that makes me nervous is the weather.  It was gorgeous last week!  It even got up to 60!  Today, it is 16 and snowing with a windchill of -2.  Where did the beautiful weather go??  This coming week there is a similar forecast; temperatures below freezing and snow.  I am hoping it clears up and warms up so that everything can get started.  Since we have a basement, he said that they would be able to start the framing even if the concrete in the basement isn't able to be poured yet.

I will post pictures next week of groundbreaking!

I Am Alive

I know I have been a blogging slacker lately.  Life finally got to the best of me.  I realized how busy I am, how many responsibilities I have, how much I still have to prepare for and it got the best of me.  I have become temporarily anti-social because any down time I have, I want to hang out with my husband or sleep.

Just a few updates:

*We have our pre-construction meeting on Monday and they are anticipating on breaking ground on Wednesday.  Of course it is supposed to snow on Tuesday and it is freezing with a chance of snow on Wednesday.  We will see what happens.

*Only 9 weeks (65 days) until this little baby arrives.  The exhaustion has kicked in and I feel like a walking walrus.  I am ready for her to come, but still have so much to do.  She is still nameless so any suggestions are welcome.

*My kindergarteners have been crazy this week!  They wore me out!  With as crazy as they are, I still love them and they make me smile.  After taking them out to the buses one day, I came back to my room to find this in the reading corner.  I love my crazy little kiddos!

Cooking

If you know me well, you know I hate to cook!  It just takes so much time and it is gone so quick.  Then all you are left with is a messy kitchen full of dirty dishes and you are too tired to clean up.  It is boring using the same old recipes and trying new ones can be a disaster.  To eat a nice meal, it takes lots of time and not just 20 minutes.

Travis knows this, so whenever we met with a real estate agent to look at a house and I told them one of the things I look at most is the kitchen, he was confused.  He doesn't understand why I want a nice kitchen since I hate cooking and to be honest, I don't really know why either.  I just like pretty kitchens.

When we looked at the Palermo, I fell in love with the kitchen immediately!  I even told Travis that it made me want to cook (which is probably why he decided we should get this house!).  Every time I see a picture of it I can't help but say how much I love it!  I mean look at it!  Isn't is beautiful?  (picture taken from model home.  Our cabinets are darker.)

Ever since I made that silly statement, Travis has decided that I need to start practicing now.  I think he even pulled my dad in on his ploy because he got me a kitchen aid stand mixer for Christmas.  So, this past week I have made dinner EVERY night.  Not like frozen pizza or pasta kind of dinner, but a full out meal.  We have had Cajun chicken pasta, Cafe Rio pork salad knock off, honey chicken, corn chowder, hamburgers and stromboli is on the menu for tomorrow.  Travis has loved it, but I feel like all I do is cook, eat, clean up and start all over again.

Travis said it is normal to eat a full meal every night, but I don't feel like it is.  Yes, I think eating every night is good but I don't feel like it has to be a huge meal.  I would be ok with a salad for dinner, but that is just a side dish for Travis.  What do you cook for your family each night?  I need yummy, quick meal ideas. 

Estimated Dates

Today we met with Kelli to sign a couple of updates and set up our pre-construction meeting.  We are meeting our project manager on January 19th to go over everything.  (If you have built with RH, is there anything we should look for or ask at this meeting?)  I am excited to meet him because we will be working closely with him the next few months.  He is the one that oversees the construction and communicates with us about the progress and answers any of our questions.

They should be starting our house later that week!  It is finally happening!  We should find out more at the meeting, but for right now our estimated closing date is April 15.  That is the date that Kelli has, so it may be a little different after we talk to our project manager.  I will update you in a couple weeks.

Decision Making

I have learned about myself a lot this past month.  I used to think that I was a good decision maker.  I used to think that I knew what I wanted.  Now, I am not so sure.

I don't know if I have ever posted about this, but I used to tease Travis about being the worst decision maker.  In any decision, he has to research out to see what is the best product, for the best value, at the best price that is most reasonable for us.  I used to laugh at him for obsessing over things.  He spends countless hours researching and looking up reviews and comparing prices.  Then after we get it, he continues to look to make sure something better didn't come up.

I have always been the type of person that finds something that seems like a good product and a good value and I get it.  I don't like researching and looking and comparing and obsessing.  I get something and stop looking because I am already happy with the decision I made.  

Well, with this house and baby stuff, I have become like Travis.  I have been obsessing over every little thing.  I am starting to drive myself crazy!  I can't help but spend every free second looking things up, asking others their opinions, researching and stressing over what to do.  I am glad that we are now locked into our options as far as the house goes for now.  I am happy with my decisions and can now stop thinking and stressing about them because I can't change them now.  I can just choose to be happy with what I have decided. 

My most recent obsession though is what crib to get and what color (along with other baby supplies).  I thought I had made a decision, but now I am questioning it.  What has happened to me?  I just want to make a decision and move on before I go crazy!

Happy Birthday/New Year

I had an awesome birthday this year!  Since Travis had to work, I started off the day with a couple of my girlfriends.  We went and saw Les Miserables.  It was incredible!  Call me uncultured, but I didn't know the story line at all.  I just knew it was a musical based on a story that was written way back in time.  I don't really like movies that are based of stories from long ago so I wasn't dying to see it, but I really liked it.  That is saying a lot because I am a tough movie critic because something has to keep my attention the entire time for me to enjoy it.  I haven't seen a movie that I have liked (or stayed awake through) for a loooong time.  While there were some slow parts (and the movie was crazy long) overall I thought it was amazing.  There were parts that kept me intrigued to know what would happen, parts that made my heartache for the people and parts that made me laugh.  What really made the movie for me though was the cast.  They were stunning!  I was so impressed with their abilities.  You should go see it!

That afternoon, I bummed around a couple hours waiting for Travis to get home.  When he got home, he had these beautiful flowers for me!  I love how girly they are!

Before going on with my birthday, I just have to tell you how amazing Travis is.  He likes to act like a tough guy, but he really is a softy.  He is always thinking of me and trying to make my life easier.  This pregnancy, he has gone beyond my expectations.  Anytime my back hurts, he with rub it for me without complaining.  If I am cleaning or doing dishes, he will make me sit down and do it for me.  He is so sweet to the baby by talking to her and rubbing my tummy to feel her.  I just can't wait to see him be a father.  I sure love that man!

Ok, back to my birthday.  Travis took me out to dinner and then we went and met up with some friends for a New Year's Eve party.  There were so many people and kids that it was kinda crazy.  At the party, we mostly talked and played some games.  Travis and I ended up heading home before midnight because I was exhausted!  At home, we watched the ball drop and went to bed.  It has been a great year full of family and friends.  I look forward to the new adventures that 2013 brings!