House Project 000020

Our concrete is finally done. I have been planning and saving and preparing for this for over a year now and I cannot tell you how relieved I am that it is finally done. We have been so busy all summer with other things that we weren't able to really start on it until the middle of July. There was a lot of digging, measuring, cutting, hammering, compacting and digging and measuring some more and a little bit of swearing. ;) We worked for hours and got really dirty and I even rubbed a hole through my brand new leather work gloves. In other wards, I kicked some butt. :) Mostly, I was a good little grunt worker. :) Chris did most of the work. He is amazing and I am so lucky to have him.

Because Chris is a Structural Engineer and he looks at buildings all the time that are falling apart he is very against having water around the house. The #1 reason a building will settle and have damage is water against the foundation. So Chris's solution to that problem is to put concrete around the whole building. I talked him into putting some flower beds in the front for aesthetics and he reluctantly let me. It's not that I don't like concrete but I knew it would be a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of money. But, now that it is done, I love it and I am so glad that we did it. The kids LOVE it too. Hopefully next year we can finally get some grass in the backyard.

We poured concrete window wells. This is where all the swearing came in. ;) Let's just say they were not fun to form. But I am glad they are done now.

We put concrete steps on both sides of our patio now.

This is pour #1. Part of the side walks, the North side patio and the window wells.

Chris recruited his two brothers to come and help us on the day of the pours. The DeMille boys are all pretty awesome. They each have their individual strengths and weaknesses. But when they get together it is like they are unbeatable, unstoppable, invincible! Between the four of them they can pretty much do anything!

We tried to get Austin to learn and help but sometimes that is easier said than done. He did pretty good but usually it is always accompanied by a lot of whining.

They make it look so easy. ;)

Finally the finished product! I have so many plans for this space. ;)

It is hard to tell in this picture but there is a ramp going from the upper sidewalk to the lower side walk. We were going to put in some large steps but Austin said we should do a ramp so he can ride his bike all the way around the house. We thought about it and decided that it would be a good idea. They kids LOVE being able to ride their bikes and scooters all around the house now especially down the ramp.

A huge thank you to Robert and John again!!! They were awesome and we couldn't have done it without them!