Spring Break..Oh wait, just kidding!

Time for Spring Break

These last 2 weeks have been a whirlwind. As a teacher, the week of parent/teacher conferences is already stressful with finalizing student grades, preparing report cards (which are extremely time consuming), and gathering all paperwork necessary to show the parent(s). Let's just say, I spent a few too many weeknights up til the wee hours of the morning. This is mainly due to the weekends spent as our focus on renovating the house. The following is what you will see has occurred over Spring Break. This started immediately after we finished our last parent/teacher conference on Friday the 14th. We've pretty much lived at that house since that time.

P.S. I've really started to enjoy taking panoramic shots on my iPhone. 

The addition (laundry room, food storage/regular storage  & 2nd bathroom). We had to put a tarp up because with so much activity on the grounds early on in the week, we literally started getting dozens of strangers trying to solicit their business. With the tarp, it started to help reduce the onlookers.

The backyard - Yes, Dereck did all THAT framing for the addition and it is done to code. The concrete was poured on Friday the 14th. The framing was done the following day.

The new kitchen entry frame (previously it was an actual doorway. Since we can't do the open concept due to load bearing walls, this was the next alternative. The original kitchen was a lot smaller. There was another doorway towards the end of the black pipe which enclosed the former "pantry" space. We took that wall out and also moved the right side of the kitchen out a foot into the Master bedroom. Don't worry, we won't be loosing space in that bedroom...to be continued later on about that part. (Maybe I should find a floor planning website to draw a previous layout and show the modifications...let me know of any good sites for that).

To the left - the living & dining room, to the right - doorway to the Master and the doorway to the office

The roof was replaced this week by roofers - this was their first day

Of course, you can't forget the need for a dumpster

Front yard

Side yard and addition - Oh look, up goes the wall on the addition

You can't forget the necessary power tools!

The messy walkway from the front yard to the back yard. Since this picture we have installed a simple gate to separate the front and back space. The backyard will soon be for our big dog, Barkley. The front yard, for our small dogs, Willy & Janie.

The backyard amidst the mess

Is that the new style for Air Conditioning the home? Nope....that's the bad part of the roof having to be replaced from the years of leaks from the Swamp Cooler (yes, I said it, Swamp Cooler).

The new back doorway from the addition

A panoramic view of the addition....the downside is that it "squishes" the space together making the addition look a lot smaller than it really is. The the back right in the addition will be the 2nd bathroom for the home.

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The more open kitchen before the addition siding was put up.

The new laundry space (previously, Dereck's grandmother just had a washer and dryer on an open back porch open to the Southerly hot Phoenix sun. Now, it will be indoors.

The weak chainlink fence got replaced. Willy and Janie could have easily escaped through the patched fence. Now it is more secure. This picture was taken when the brick foundation was laid.

Look, it's roof rafters going up!

A new backyard door has been installed. 

A quick break for a photo op

Thanks Brice & Liz for the gloves!

The brick fence in progress

On a complete different side note - Have you ever seen these free phone use stands outside of Phoenix? I see them all over town. It takes me back to my memories of a youth service project when the youth from out church would participate with Mamma's Hands. We would ride a bus transformed to help serve hot dogs for the homeless, in Seattle, and allow the homeless to use a cell phone to call their family. I'm wondering if these phone stands are similar.

Diego, Dereck's brother from another mother, hand drawing the house layout to plan for the AC (He's a licensed AC guy and does electrical work too)

Dereck making a hole for the electrical line

Are we done yet?

The roof making progress....Now there is tar paper being laid.

This is why the electrical lines needed to be rewired...We came upon various problems like this one.

With so much roofing material in our front yard those few days, we had to have our guard dogs left outside at night. Needless to say, they prefer the sleeping bag over their dog bed. Now you don't see them....

Now you see parts of them (Willys behind and Janie's head)

Dereck installed the lighitng for the kitchen!

Installing the lighting for the laundry room/storage room

I can tell that it should be a laundry space

The ManaBloc - the brain to the water system for the whole house. No more copper.

The main bathroom - a new tub and the cement board backing is up

Future wall for the sink, mirror, and toilet

Look, we have lighting and an exhaust fan installed (minus the venting)

Light switch & exhaust fan switch

The tankless water heater is installed in our 2nd bathroom. Below that, in the ground, is the hole for the toilet. The the left, you can see the drainage piping for the shower. Space is limited on that wall. This was where the prior apartment was built but it was not done to code. Now the framing, foundation, etc. is to code.

As you can see...it has been a VERY, VERY busy week and to all a very good night!