A 2007 Christmas Adventure

It's time to summarize our Christmas Holiday adventure before the New Year begins and we begin our 2008 adventures. As I tried to think of how to summarize the Christmas adventure this year, I came to the conclusion that a picture is worth a thousand words so I'll let the photos tell the story. Hope all enjoy!

Our Christmas Adventure began with Rachel and Gabe coming to visit and the family gatherings begin



Of course a winter wonderland brings out the sled riders.

And who would have ever guessed who was coming to town and even on the night of Grandma Pinkie's party.

Adyson can you still hear the bells that Santa gave you?



Christmas Day and it is time to pull out the warm mukluks.

After all is said and done the grandchildren show us that they can have as much fun with the box than the toy itself.

Merry Christmas to all and we look forward to a wonderful 2008 year!

An Family Adventure

I have been accused now of only posting on blog if it relates to our new home; however, as I told my children I just need to find a new adventure.


We did embark on an adventure for the last couple of weeks when my daughter and grandson came to visit. Have you ever tried keeping up with a one year old who goes 90 miles an hour 24/7. Okay occasionally he did stop and take a power nap to re-energize himself for more exploring and playing.

I believe in the two weeks they stayed with us we emptied and restocked our cupboards somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 times a day. Finally, we got smart and let him dump everything out of the cupboard and where ever it landed it stayed until after he had gone to bed. Hm, I wonder where are whisp went?

Despite all of the energy we loved every minute and we are grateful that they were able to come out and spend some time with us before the Christmas Holiday.

Two weeks ago, right after Rachel arrived we held a grand open house and invited all of our old neighbors to the party. It was a lot of fun to have all of our family together again and old/new neighbors here to wish them a Happy Holiday.

After our open house, and an unexpected trip to the emergency room for my mother, we turned around again and held my families Christmas party at our home. How nice it is to have a home designed for such occasions now! Plenty of room for everyone and we all had a good time.

Rachel finished up her trip by getting her brother and sister together and with all of the grandchildren Papa and Grammy took them sled riding. Now that was an adventure!

Adyson had no problem jumping on the sled with Taylor or her Mother; but Papa was something to deal differently with.


She was quite the observer noting that Papa always seem to bit the turf and never did quite complete the run. Better just pushing him off then to ride with him.


Gabe,wasn't quite sure about any of it and after already experiencing the sled ridding game preferred to stand and watch.


Lexi tired and cold was content to sit and closely observe all of the craziness of the moment taking careful notes for next years experience.



Now that Rachel has returned home with Gabe all we can say is:

There's no place like home- I have a wonderful family and that's all that really counts in this life!

THE SEQUEL: A place for everything and everything in it's place

It's been a while since I shared my thoughts on our new home, hmm, almost since the day we moved into our new home back at the end of September. Here it is now November and it's time for the sequel.

First, the boxes were stacked so high that it was an overwhelming task to even think about unpacking. So Cheryl and I with the persuasion of my company took a week vacation trip to Cabo San Lucas. Ah, what the heck, we didn't have anything else to do besides Strategic Planning. Needless to say we still had a pile of boxes to tackle when we returned home.

Our weather has been somewhat unpredictable to say the least and we began to question our contractor after returning home from our little adventure whether he was going to really complete the landscaping this year or next. We are thankful to report that this past week, hmm, let's see 6 weeks plus the landscaping is nearly complete. I must have misunderstood our contractor when he told us it would only be 4-5 days after we moved in that the landscaping would be completed. I'll have to get my hearing checked, I guess.

We have also nearly nagged our contractor into completing the two page punch list of items. Only 3-4 items left to complete. Hmm, at the rate he has completed the others, we should finish the punch list just before the 1 year warranty period expires. He has impeccable timing if you ask me.

Well currently we have unpacked and found a spot for everything in our new home. Everything has a place. We can even get up in the night and make our way to the bathroom without tripping or running into a pile of boxes. I can even park my vehicle in the garage and have plenty of storage as you can see.

The house looks great! Cheryl and I just constantly tell each other how much we love our new home. So come and enjoy a tour.

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Oct. 7th Saturday: It's time to go through our company's strategic planning again. We awoke to a stormy day and the snow level was creeping down the mountain. Left this morning with suitcases in hand and left our new home with boxes still stacked to the ceiling and caught a flight to Cabo San Lucas Mexico. Left home at 40 degrees and arrived in Cabo with a heat blast of 90 plus degrees. Didn't take us long to shed our coats and start perspiring.

The Marquis is a beautiful hotel with a view of the ocean and beach below.

Oct. 6th Sunday:
Spent the day sleeping in and relaxing. Later than evening got together with others in the party and had an enjoyable dinner together.

Oct. 8th Monday:
Began our strategic planning meetings today. My presentation on SWOT Analysis went well. Cheryl went on the famous Land's End Tour and saw the famous arch, Lover's Beach and Divorce Beach all in a "glass bottom boat". Throw in some shopping in Cabo and that consumed the day. Later in the evening, we split into groups and our group ate dinner at Lorenzillas in Cabo. Wonderful lobster dinners to enjoy or so we thought.

Oct. 9th Tuesday: More strategic planning meetings this morning and more shopping for Cheryl. However, by noon both of us began to feel the affects of last nights dinner. Hm, I believe that we call it Montezuma's revenge. Ended the day with a sunset cruise on a sail boat out into the Pacific. It was beautiful scenery but our stomach's just wouldn't let us participate in the snacks served.

Oct. 10th Wednesday:
Set strategic planning on hold today and played. Cheryl and I chose to go deep sea fishing since we love the water and fishing. The 25 mile ride out around the point and North up the coast in the Pacific was great. Our captain was not going to be the last one out and we immediately started crashing through the waves. We all loved the "bull ride" and laughed all the way out. However, as soon as we stopped and began to fish our sea legs vanished. Cheryl became immediately sick and after sipping on a coke, I too became sick.

Well we both got a good nap as we laid in the cabin and wished we were back on land. We did manage to land in between heaves's and naps a few fish ourselves and so eventually our deep sea expedition came to an end and none to soon. Finished our day with eating dinner with a small group in San Jose' at a restaurant.

Oct. 11th Thursday:
Last day of strategic planning. Finalized our plans and completed our work by 11:00 am. Part of our group left today and the remainder have the opportunity to play for another day and half. Spent a couple of hours by the pool today and took a long needed nap.

Oct. 12th Friday: Today, Cheryl and I did absolutely nothing? Hm, first we slept in to mid morning, arose and went down to the spa for a very very relaxing massage, and then the remainder of the day we sat at the pool's edge sipping our diet cokes and enjoying the view of the ocean waves on the beach near by. Of course we caught a few sun rays more than we had anticipated but it was well worth the time to just relax and let all of our cares float in limbo.

Oct. 13th Saturday:
Last day in Cabo. By mid morning we had packed and at noon gathered in the breeze way lobby for some lunch. After lunch a half hour drive on the bus to the airport and by 8:00 pm this evening we were back home. So our adventure in Cabo ends.

Day 129: Our Dream Home

At last, after 125 days, we closed on our dream home and began moving in on Day 126. Needless, to say, it was dramatic until the end. First, Monday evening we inspected the home and prepared a our preliminary punch list of items to correct or complete. I even e-mailed our builder and threatened to not close if certain major items of work were not completed. It is amazing what they can accomplish in one day. Tuesday, we did a final walk through and reviewed the two page punch list that we had compiled on Monday. Wednesday, we closed on the home first thing in the morning and began our preparations to move into the home on Thursday. Wednesday evening we came by to inspect and the contractor and our water treatment contractor were still working on the home. We decided to come back later and walk through the home and glad that we did so. I was video the home as I walked through it and as I went down the stairs into the family room a peculiar sound of water dripping caught my attention. Upon examination, I found that we were dripping water from the family room soffit onto the new carpet. Some quick action, and we located a bucket and towel to absorb up what water had dripped and to catch the remaining dripping water and finally after a bit of trial and error shut off the main water line to the house. We just couldn't wake up from our dream without a bit more of a thriller. Thursday, the first storage pod arrived and amidst our water treatment subcontractor and the general contractor forces we began to move our belongings into our new home. Evidently, when we had revamped the soffit around the fireplace a carpenter or mechanical sub had severed the water treatment system line to the kitchen sink and hence once the system was pressurized began leaking water. Luckily, we discovered the problem within an hour of pressurizing the system minimizing the damage to only two holes in the finish soffit and some drying time. Friday, our electrical contractor came in and re-hung our pendent lighting to our specifications. Drywall contractor was present to not only repair our basement soffit but other locations in the home and now we only lack a bit of texture and paint. We unloaded our second storage pod at 9:00 pm and our belongings were now all in the new home. Saturday, was the beginning of the sequel to our Dream Home, it was now the overwhelming challenge of unpacking and finding one's belongings. Cheryl and I are extremely grateful for our wonderful family who came to our rescue more than once in some way to assist us with this dream. Taylor is our hero, he single handed organized and bore the burden of packing and unpacking the storage pods. Philip, Jenny, Adyson, and Lexi all contributed with strength and assistance when need to help our dream home become a reality. We miss John, Rachel and Gabe and know that they would have been here by our sides if they could have been. This is as much a dream for our children as it is for us.
This is now what we call HOME! Welcome Home, Jclyde Family!

Day 211: The Finishing Touches

This week was a lot of fun as the excitement/frustration levels would continue to build with each day that we inspected the home and saw the progress. The first of the week there was a lot of progress but then at the end of the week our progress came to a near halt. UGH! We are suppose to have a final inspection on Tuesday and close on Wednesday?

Monday all workers were basically missing in action. The rest of the week became a blur as the dream or nightmare depending upon the specific point in time went by. The remainder of the stone arrived and we finally were able to get the stone archway that we desired; of course we had to stand there and direct the workers on how to install each stone The electricians finished hanging the light fixtures and are done except for the items that forgot to install such as the dimmer switches and one pendent light. Why would we order three pendent lights if we only wanted two? Hm, telling the workers to quit thinking for us.


The granite counter tops and marble are installed and completed except for the back splash tile which still needs to be grouted. Plumbing fixtures are installed and the carpet is completed.



Of course with all this work completed the contractor decided to take a rest. First, we are trying to settle up on the final purchase price on Friday so we can order our documents for closing. As usual, no pricing from subcontractors. Hm, I believe that some of the pricing i.e. crown molding, I have been requesting for 3-4 months now. Now here we are and we still don't know the price. Hopefully, we have been conservative in the final numbers and the contractor will owe many a penny or two when we close on Wednesday.

Did I say close on Wednesday? Final walk through with the contractor is Tuesday and the work remaining includes: Sound system, hardware on cabinets, Pendent Lighting rehung including the third pendent light, bathroom lighting, painting front door, paint storage room, and final paint touch up. Hm, I wonder why they have taken two days off?

Cheryl is particularly excited because for the first time in history her office is immaculate.

Oh, well three more days at the dream home will be all ours and we will only have to be concerned with make sure the contractor finishes up any punch list items in a timely matter. No concerns right?

Day 205: Is That a Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Well a few issues to resolve today, namely our stone archway over the porch which is not developing into what we had envision with the contractor. Regardless, lots of progress to a degree today.

Electrician's must have read my blog last night because they turned out in full force today. 5-6 electricians later and one day we have all electrical work in the home complete except for one or two minor issues. All appliances are installed except for the refrigerator. I would have posted some photos this evening showing the progress but I am afraid that the electricians borrowed my camera battery to install in the fire alarm since it quit beeping and my camera is now dead. Sorry.

All we have left now (in general terms) is the remainder of stone work, granite counter tops, finish plumbing, and carpet.

Oh yea, day four and counting on the stone work and we're still not done. Hm, I wonder if progress would improve if the stone installers would show up. Nobody today!

Good News! Contractor did call this evening and informed us that next Tuesday the 25th, they would like to have a final walk through and close on the home on Wednesday the 26th. Landscaping would not be completed but they are willing to hold that money out of the settlement in Escrow in order to close and allow us to move in.

Hm, maybe dreams do come true.

Day 204:Wishful Thinking

Well Thursday it appeared that our contractor had taken all measures to complete the home on September 27th as we lined out after our discussions on Wednesday. However, it appears that maybe it was only wishful thinking as the reminder of the week unfolded.

Friday, only one crew arrived to install the stone and Saturday only one individual was installing stone. Let's see the home next door took three days to install the stone and now we are only 75% percent complete after three days.



The painter did correct the wood stain with a glazing which looks good and we are much more pleased with the outcome now.




Friday, the wood floor recieved it's final finishing which precluded a lot of work from happening.

Our electrical work continues at a turtle's pace. Hmm, what is it with electrican's, I can't get away from there lack of progress whether it's building a $80 millino water treatment plant or building my home. We are maybe 95% percent complete on the main level but still have all of the basement to complete. To top it all off, we noticed that we have one nickel plated fixture instead of the brush bronze that it throughout the house everywhere else. Hmm, you'd think that they would stop and ask a question: "Could this be right?" At least we know that the fire alarm works since it has a dead battery all ready and has been beeping all weekend.

Our home has its' offical address as you can see now in the picture of the stone face on the house and the finishing touches are starting to pull together that we are excited and anixous to move in and become settled in our new dream home. I just hope that this dream doesn't go on for an eternity.

Day 201: Finally Results

A busy week this week, I thought that I had better sit down this evening and write down everything that has transpired to this point before I forget.

Monday, began at the usual pace. The cabinet installer nearly completed the cabinets and we even were able to get a few electrical plates up on the wall. The cold storage shelving was also installed. However, despite the fair progress on the home, our frustration level began to rise as we studied the banister railing and fireplace mantel and determined that the color of the stain was not quite what we had envisioned. In addition, our contractor was hedging on closing before the end of the month which would mean additional storage cost and temporary living cost for us.

Tuesday, the electrician began to get serious about the electrical work and actually hung two of the ceiling fans and installed a few more plates. Other than that nothing was really accomplished except for hauling our appliance into the kitchen from storage. Oh, they did not haul the refrigerator because it was too big and they would need a dolly; therefore, I have been requested to move it into the house so they can install it. Go figure! Another frustrating day! A request was made to reconsider the stain on the banister and mantel and when the contractor reply was received on Tuesday evening something definitely hit the fan. I forward a "attention getting" e-mail to the contractor and requested a meeting for Wednesday.

Wednesday, basically no work was accomplished. The counter top sub did make the templates for the counters and the electrician maybe spent all of but 10 minutes on the project. However, Wednesday, was probably the most productive day as of yet this week as we had a come to .... well let's just say we set a clear concise expectation for the contractor to meet.

First, we determined with the painter how to resolve the stain color on the banister and mantel. He will try a glaze first and then if that doesn't work well it will be costly to strip and re-stain. Next it was communicated that under no terms was closing beyond September 27th acceptable. Even though we didn't get a confident yes we will close then but it was more of a we'll try; we did get there attention.

Thursday, the question was "How many ants can you put on an ant hill?" The work force came out of no where. Two crews began and nearly completed the exterior stone installation.




The hardware sub hung and installed all of the hardware.

The electrician came awful close to finishing the electrical fixture on the main level and still has the basement to complete. The painter glazed the banister and front door casing and we love it. Tomorrow the fireplace mantel will be glazed. The oven was partial installed and we understand that the carpet will be here on next Tuesday. Now that's what I can call progress!

Day 197: So Close But So Far Away

Well we have survived in the motel for a full week now, hopefully, we will survive for the next "several weeks" per our contractor. It's amazing how we go from the first of September to the 15th of September and now it will be the end of the month and possibly the first week of October. After all of that good news this weekend, we just had to take a long, an extra long drive today to get out of our prison (our motel) and hopefully maintain our sanity or insanity whichever should apply.

Now with that said let's see how we did this week. Our appliance have arrived and are in cold storage nearby until the home is ready. The garage door was installed and so we have a secure home for the most part now. In addition, the banister on the back porch was also installed.










The painters have done a great job and have finished all of the interior except for the cold storage. They'll have to return to do some touch up but the color scheme looks great with the floor and the cabinets.
Yes, the cabinets also arrived on Friday and Saturday they were nearly installed. The place is rapidly coming together but we are still being told that we are 3-4 weeks out.




In fact, I created my own schedule this weekend and estimated durations to complete the remaining task. Hm, my schedule shows that if the contractor does some Proper, Prior Planning to Prevent Poor Performance we should be in our home no later than the 25th of the month. As I said we are so close yet so far away!

Moving Day, Weekend, Week, Month ...

Well okay, it didn't take us a year to move but it sure felt like it took a year to pack our belongings and move them into a storage pod.

Actually, preparations began for moving back in July shortly after selling our home. It's amazing what one can gather over time. First mission impossible assignment was to go through all of our belongings and sort them into what's and needs. Of course most of the what's (otherwise known as junk) was delivered to various charitable organizations.

Once items were sorted and boxed it was time to move them into the garage to try and determine how many storage pods will be required. One pod, no way; two pods, maybe; three pods, what a waste. We ended up storing everything into two pods, plus some items stored at family members and neighbors. Nothing like having our belongings spread across the state. They tell me it will be worth it and it makes more sense to move into our new home and then try and remember who has what and arrange pickups to deliver. Hm, I just cant' catch this vision.

Of course I have to admit that after 15 years, Cheryl did get her office finally organized for this momentous occassion.


Now while all of the fun of packing is going on then we have to accommodate our buyers request. First, could they send subcontractors by to look at the house and price out remodeling plans. Second, came the request to close earlier than the 31st. Now remember we were trying to plan to move from our home into our new dream home but as all contractors know schedules change. Yup, we are now living on the streets from two to four weeks depending on the current schedule. Okay, if we can't close early then let's see when the sellers' will be out of the home and maybe we can push them into being out by Saturday, so we can start the demolish inside.

Of course being the good seller and accommodating to the request of our buyers we made the arrangements to close on the 30th and that way it would be funded on the 31st and they could take ownership on Saturday evening. Well it was a good plan except for our sellers dragged their feet until Friday, the 31st to close and now we are waiting to ensure the funding takes place and we won't know until Tuesday due to the Labor Day Holiday.

Now the emotional drama takes place as we are trying to move out and clean the home, our buyers with our approval send their yard demolition crews in and we watch them tear out our rose hedge bush and several other beautiful landscape features in preparations of constructing a fence. They were nice people and even paid us a complement of how beautiful of a yard we have, while ripping out the roses!


Well by Saturday afternoon, we had moved everything out of the home and cleaned it for the demolition crews. A few pictures for memory sake and we said our goodbyes and closed the doors for the last time, almost to find our buyers enthusiastically arriving to show the home off to their parents. It is a good feeling to know that they love the home and will hopefully take care of it. After all it has been our home for our family for the past 15 years.

Soon our new Dream Home will be completed and we will move on to new and greater trails to adventure down.

Day 190: Living on the Street

Where do I begin? Last week, we left off with feeling fairly satisfied that we were making great progress only to discover that he began the stone work on the house next door (a spec home none the less)instead of our home's exterior.

This week the painters have begun and accomplished quite a bit in the week. We now have a primed interior home and 60% of the trim has been painted. This week we should have a fully interior painted home. Hope so because according to our contractor the cabinets should arrive on the 6th.






Now not to be accused of complaining too much about little progress, I do have to admit that the contractor did place a 3x3 landing pad at the bottom of the deck stairs and also capped the chimney facade. However, even with the painters working away we failed to install the cold storage room shelving which also need to be painted. Hm, that means the painters will have to come back to complete the cold storage?

Now since we are in transistion now - we moved out of our home this weekend and therefore I had to delay posting the pictures onto the blog since they are all on my desktop computer with no internet connection until Monday sometime. You will all have to wait to see the progress. Sorry for the inconvience but remember we are now living on the street because we thought we could be in our home within 180 days.

Day 183: Squeky Wheel Gets the Grease

Maybe, just maybe, we accomplished some good towards completing the home last week when we met with our contractor. At least this week it appears that he is paying a bit more attention to the progress of our home. What have we accomplished let's take a look:



This week we have completed all of the tile work, installed a driveway and walkway, preliminary grading for landscaping, installed gas meter, installed power meter, completed the bead board in the lower bedroom, installed the Trex deck, and finally delivered the shelving materials for our cold storage room shelving.

In the upcoming week we can expect to completed the cold storage shelving and begin paint preparations and maybe do a little painting. As I said the squeaky wheel appears to get the grease and we are a bit more pleased this week with progress; but then again we look next door and ask the question: "Why did he start the stone work on the house next door before ours, if we are top priority?" Hm....

Day 176: Behind Closed Doors

Day 176:
We can label this week a week of activities behind closed doors. Monday, they stained our wood floors and so locked doors were applied for several days. Meanwhile, little activity transpired.

Thus another meeting with the contractor was held behind closed doors where we discussed additional pricing and the lack of performance. I think that our contractor was a bit disappointed in the lack of performance also once he had inspected what has been accomplished in the past two weeks, while he was laid up with hip surgery.

Friday, tile contractor floated the floors for the tile, of course no pictures to share due to locked doors. Saturday, our grading contractor showed up and graded out the driveway and walkway. Next week, I hope to have driveway/walkway installed, stone work started, tile completed and paint preps in the works.

Day 169: One Day More

Well after experiencing a somewhat frustrating week with no progress, we thought that it would be safe to assume (and everyone knows what assume stands for)that there would be no progress on our home over the weekend.

Wrong! I drove by this afternoon, to find our stucco was colored and completed and our banister railings on the stairwell were installed.
Amazing at what can happen in just one day! Of course I wonder with the one step forward if we have now taken two steps back; considering we have one broken window to repair, a split banister post, and a stone column without stone archway as planned.
I would just love to see one day's progress result in a what we expected.

But then again a wise man taught me that you don't get what you expect, you get what you inspect.

Day 168: 180 Days to build a home??

They say a home can be built in 180 days, hmm, we are fast approaching 180 days and our contractor only tells us that he is trying to complete by September 15th (203 days) and will guarantee that we will be completed by September 30th (218 days). Now remember our original promise was September 1 (Day 189). Hurray is all I can say!

Remember we close on our existing home August 31st with the original plan to move only once. Now we have to move our belongings into storage, find a place to live anywhere from two-four weeks, and then move our belongings out of storage into our new home. Needless to say an unexpected cost to endure.

Progress on our home? Hmm, this week, the finish carpenter completed his work on Monday. Doors and casings are hung, baseboards are completed except where the wood floor has to be stained, closet shelving is installed,stair banister is installed and the crown molding is completed. The rest of the week, Tuesday-Thursday there has been no progress. This is maddening when we were hoping to be completed by September 1.

The home is beginning to look nice and we are excited about how it is turning out despite all of the pain and misery that it has been to construct.
Speaking of pain and misery, this week we encountered the communication gap between owner and contractor again. "Wet Bar in basement that is an extra.", "No, that is included in furnishing a completed basement". "It's not in the contract document". "Why isn't it in the document it was included on our list of inclusions to be part of the final price". " Well we will re-visit the issue" "Hmm, looks like a compromise is in the works to me". Regardless, it will cost both of us some money.

Well as we near the end of the tunnel, I believe that is the light at the end of the tunnel and not the train coming at me. We have recognized that our budget to complete the home is going to exceed our original budget amount. We have really figured out how the allowance program works. Allowances only give you a bare minimum to work with. Oh, you want color tile that's an upgrade. Oh, you want light bulbs in those fixtures, that will be an upgrade. I'm beginning to feel like every time we talk to a supplier or subcontractor it'll be another thousand dollars. We have also been floored by some of the sticker shock of items and now I"m nervous to see those items that we approved to be installed without an established bid price. I'm sure we will jump with glee at how lost the price will be.

It'll will all be worth it, I"m sure when all is said and done.