August 28th, 2008...Of course Micah had to get in on the action. "Papa, up peez (up on the ladder) Mitah amma nail (Micah will hammer the nails)" We get plenty of building done when he's there, just not house building. The memories of his learning and trying everything and saying it all in his own cryptic language is so fun. He wakes up in the morning telling us wants to go to the "new house and work".

August 29th, 2008...It seems like the wood siding would be pretty easy and fast. Big sheets of plywood covering large sections of house. But when we really started, there are so many cuts and measurements and angles. Thank goodness Ryan, one of our two mathmaticaly minded children came through with angles and figuring. Plus the whole 6'5" thing comes in handy when the top of each piece of plywood is 8' up. This siding is also designed to be another earthquake safety feature, reguiring a nail every 4" on every stud. 6,000 nails later the house is nearly sided. Trim will be added later.

August 21, 2008...Papa's has nail gun problems (notice the destruction tool in one hand working on the brand new nail gun). So Micah has nail gun problems. Don't tell him its really a drill.

July & August 2008...Exterior doors? Internet to door installation, hammer, nails, level, shims, tape measure and it went much easier than we thought! Windows and exterior doors, electrical, fire sprinklers and alarm system wiring...inspector Joe says we are good to go, let the siding begin!

June 5th, 2008...what is a roof cricket? That's all we need to be ready for roof nailing inspection and shingles to keep out the weather. Can you imagine what Southern Californian's pay for roofing per rain storm? If your inspector is over 60 and carries a couple of extra pounds you can sweat all you want over the inspection and he doesn't even climb the ladder to look at it! Can we ask for a refund for that trip?

May 27th, 2008...The most dangerous hoisting of the huge ridge beam and then the roof rafters are up! Next plywood, inspection and the roof!

May 25th, 2008...Happy birthday Kristen, here is your new kitchen!Standing in the living looking towards the front bay window which will provide extra seating in the eating area at the front end of the kitchen!

April 29th, 2008...

To the right you see Dann's accomplishments, to the left you see my job...job site clean up! Somebody's got to do it! The center steel panel is called a "Hardy Panel". Yet another expensive earthquake safety piece required by the county. Too much glass on any one wall triggers this lovely addition.

April 25th, 2008...4 exterior walls in
place. Next step, remove window and
open up wall into garage. Dann wears sunglasses to hide his sleep deprived
eyes!

April 22nd, 2008- Hammer in my right hand, donut in my left, sitting in Grandpa's big truck waiting to get started.

April 15th, 2008...Mailed my quarterly & annual contribution to Uncle Sam and put up the first wall! Thankfully Jason came home for lunch and added his muscle to the house raising.

April 14th, 2008...Foundation passes inspection and the lumber is delivered! Yahoo! Let the framing begin!!!!!

April 7th, 2008...the bolts are set around the parameter. Steel in put in place and the foundation is poured April 11th. This is always so exciting. The big trucks pumping out the concrete and so many people working so quickly to get it level. Knowing it would all be covered we didn't put in handprints, but we did make some stepping stones for the garden with Micah's hand and footprints.

April 1st, 2008...rough plumbing begins and passes inspection April 4th.

March 25, 2008 - Footings are dug, and forms for concrete are put in place. A string grid criss-crosses the entire foundation. Micah is picking out his bedroom area and as usual at this stage 1200 square feet doesn't look big enough for all that we have pictured there.

March 22nd, 2008...The dirt is flat, check written to neighbor for $200.00 collectible horse that fell from its lofty display and crashed to the floor during the recompaction of the soil. (Note to self: neighbor works nights and has been sleeping during the day) Day sleeper + construction zone = potential trouble! Micah loves the tractor and thanks to Jojo the tractor guy he gets a turn!

March 19th, 2008...After all the leg & paper work, the landscape of 2324 Alameda begins to change. Over-X they call it. Digging out and then recompacting the earth so that in case of the "Big One" (earthquake), or sudden flood, the land is stable and won't shift beneath the foundation. The soil engineer plus the back hoe work means $10,000 and we still have a flat backyard, minus the grass. But in the event of a major earthquake, head to the back house if you can get there!