First Party!

so i wrote this a week ago and never published it because it wouldn't let me here it is...

We had our first dinner party on Friday night that was planned the Tuesday before. Needless to say it was a lot of work to get everything in shape without having a weekend to prepare for it! But we did it! We had I think 27 people there!! A LOT! It was fun and it was great to let the people who haven’t seen the house yet see it. Not to mention we finally got the motivation to finish cleaning out the “living room” that had become a home to all the stuff we didn’t know what to do with. We set up card tables in both of the empty front rooms (dining and living) for people to sit and have dinner.
Luckily the rain held out until the steaks were finished grilling, but after that the bottom fell out! And it POURED for the rest of the night.
Overall I think it was a good party and everyone had a lot of fun --- but maybe we shouldn’t have THAT many people next time! ;-)
Mom and dad spent the night and the next morning we had bagels and played the wii! Then Rena and I went to the mall and she bought a new Macbook Pro! We had dinner with her parents Saturday night. Sunday was pretty much a lazy day and we just went to Costco and the grocery store.
School starts next week for me and Labor Day is coming up – that means a nice long weekend! Woo Hoo!

Oh and P.S. a week ago Rena bought me a new iPod!!! Great surprise to see on the kitchen table when I walked in from work! Unfortunately if she would have waited a week she could have gotten it for free when she bought her computer! Darn!
We forgot to take pictures on Friday but I did take a few with my iPhone. (which I can't post because I keep getting an error message!)

P.S. Thank you to our wonderful moms that helped with the party! Patty got us a fridge for our garage! Whoo! And thank you mom for making food and helping clean up the next morning!

Ah Sorry!

Well I have totally neglected by blog! Sorry!

I just finished cutting the grass - woo that is a production. Re bought me a new lawn mower that is amazing. It is a craftsman and has a key start and a thing where you can hook it up to the hose and crank it and it will rinse the underside for you. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. We were going to try and be all environmentally friendly and try the reel mower (You know the old kind with no motor) Ha well that lasted a week. It's next to impossible when you have 9000 sq ft. of sod. So anyone wanting to try a reel mower let me know... i have one for sale!The beach has come and gone and it was great!!! Me, Re, and Putt had an awesome time and really enjoyed ourselves!

We have another trip planned to go to Islamorada which is one of the Keys in October over my birthday. So far we have a big group going of almost 20 people. Can't Wait!

We've been going to the lake the past two weekends which has been great. Kind of sad that we didn't go up there more often this summer. Love it.

The house is doing well we are busy keeping it up and doing yard stuff. We haven't really done much to it since the last post but we are about to get bedroom furniture and a new tv for the bedroom too! That will be exciting!

Open House/Housewarming party will be soon probably late August---- errrr maybe.

Oh Rena had the bright idea to start a puzzle. Mind you I do not like puzzles at all. So she starts it while I start to attempt to make my first batch of homemade beer. (yea that is exciting i'll keep you posted on how that goes right now it has to sit for 14 day to ferment... yum) And she gets the whole edge together except for one peice... we can't find it anywhere. So we'll keep putting it together and hopefully it will surface. I hope jake didn't eat it ;-)I've rambled enough for now, Re and I are enjoying a lazy sunday and watching the bravos. I used to hate staying in all day on the weekends, but now I've come to realize these are my favorite days. i love my life.

Month

We've been in the house for a month now! And its been a month since i blogged. oops! This weekend was a good one and one of the only weekends that has felt productive since the move in weekend. 

Some things have changed since the last pictures but I don't have anymore pictures to show it! ha. It's so hot and the grass and plants are feeling the heat as well. The transplanted plants are starting to look great though. And we watered for probably a good 4 hours tonight - can't wait to see this water bill. 

Friday we bought a new vacuum and cleaned and went to O'charley's which by the way is my new favorite. Saturday we took jake to the vet to get his shots and annual check up. He is doing well and loves his backyard. Allergies are still bad for him but i guess it will get better come fall. We did a little rearranging of the patio furniture and went to Home Depot to get some fertilizer and organizing stuff for the garage. Then we had Patty and Hamp over for dinner. It was there first time out to the house since we moved in!!! i can't believe that! We played wii, which was really fun! Today we went and looked for bathing suits and t-shirt because we are going to the beach in the middle of July-- YIPPEE! no success though. Then we got boiled peanuts and came home and my mom and dad came over and we went to cinco for lunch. we ran some more errands and picked up clothes rena's parents then came back home. We watered and put the fertilizer out on the plants and finally put the other rocking chair together on the front porch. 

phew - that recap was way too long - sorry! But nonetheless a productive weekend and i'm sure i forgot some stuff. 

We still love the house more every day and the commute isn't too terrible. We have yet to go up to the pool though. It's always so packed though. hmph maybe friday! (Yayyy for short work week!) 

Oh and we used gorilla glue for the rocking chair - lets just say that stuff is serious and we spilled it all over the place and i just noticed i had some on the back of my hand still - i've washed them and showered. 

ok this blog is way too long and i'm rambling i'll post more tomorrow. 

Welcome Home!

YAYY! Ok let me start from the day of closing... it was a nightmare. We got there at 3:15 to close and we get a call saying don't go to closing yet it isn't ready. Well we were already there. The package wasn't ready and we didn't close until 6. But we got a lender credit which really help and was nice. Luckily Rena's mom came with us and she helped out a lot. 

So we have had a TON of help and support this whole weekend and it means so much to us and we are very very grateful for such great families. 

Thank you so much, this would not have been possible without you. 

Our beautiful home...

Bar (thanks dad for stocking it!)

Backyard - first trees we planted

Other side of back yard

Office - Mom- Thank you so much it looks great!

Kitchen !!

My dad and I installed the TV and surround sound - it's amazing

This is my favorite picture! 

So I know I haven't posted any pictures of the upstairs but those will come soon. The Master is a still a major work in progress and the dining and formal living room are empty! There will be more pictures as things progress along!

Homeowners in 6 days

Final walk thru went well. We wen't around and put blue painters tape on eveything we want them to fix. Just minor drywall fixes and paint touch ups. It's getting so close and it went by so fast. In Feburary it felt like May was so far away. I think we are both extremely excited but nervous too. We are about to get really used to yard work and homeowner duties. It's really kind of surreal to think that Rena at 24 and I at 21 have had the chance to purchase and build such a beautiful house that will become our home. Living in the apartment and rental house we still had things that are "hers" and "mine." Here everything will be "ours." It's a huge step and resposiblity that we are about to take on together but I think we are ready. Operation is today at 3:45 --- I really don't think it's going to be as big of a deal as I was expecting, at least I'm hoping. We have a crazy weekend ahead of us, we need to get some final things ready for the house and we are going to paint the rocking chairs and a table.

Rena laying where her side of the bed will be in the master! ha ha

Family Room

8 days...

Wow only 8 days... Tomorrow afternoon is our final walk through. We bought the couch, matress and some of the bedding, and my mom bought us a kitchen table! I'm still trying to find office furniture and a media cabinet. Other things that we need will be coming later on down the road.

This is our bedding...

Part of the kitchen!

The couch!!

Tomorrow morning is Maddox's graduation from pre-K! Then tomorrow afternoon is the final walk through, then Friday afternoon I have my operation, which btw, my eye has been feeling much better today and yesterday. YAY for two pain free days!

13 Days

YAY!! Everything is almost done! Just a few minor things are left to be done. We went up there tonight and Hillary, Chris and Parker came down and walked around the house with us! We are so excited I can't even stand it! And I can't wait to be neighbors!!! 

Here are some pictures. 

Holy cow I can't wait!

On another note - the blocked tear duct has gotten really bad and extremely painful. I finally broke down and went to see the dr. he put me on some medication and i have to go in next friday for what they call a "mop" appointment. meaning minor operation. hmph.

this weekend involves doing much needed shopping for house stuff... we're in the home stretch and it's time to get excited! :-) 

Pictures

Ok So this is the Master Bathroom, still needs the mirrors!

This is looking down into the family room and kitchen. 
Upstairs Hall Bath
Dinning room- Still needs another coat of paint. 
Butler's Pantry! There will be glass inlays on the upper cabinets
And this is my favorite picture!!!! The kitchen! with amazing appliances. You can't really see the counter tops because they are covered in plastic. 
These pictures were taken on Sunday. So i'm sure a lot has changed since then. YAY! only 21 more days until closing! 

Countertops!

After Ru San's last night Rena and I went up to the house to check on things. We hadn't been in a a few days and we are leaving this morning to go down to Peachtree City for Frenchie's wedding tomorrow.... yes rena will be wearing a dress and I think she might have master.... well no not mastered, but is decent in walking in the heels. 

Needless to say we will be gone until Sunday so we wanted to get up there and see what was going on although it was DARK! 

We used our cell phones to guide us through the house and found that the granite countertops are installed in the kitchen and the butler's pantry. The toilets, doorknobs, sinks, thermostats, and a/c units are all in too. AND the dishwasher, range, and lighting fixtures are all in the boxes ready to go in! 

So things are coming along and we will go up there on Sunday when we get back to take pictures!

Front

I noticed I haven't posted a picture of the front of the house since all the brick has been done. So here it is!

Closing Date!

Our closing date has move to MAY 28TH!!!!!!!!!!! SOOO excited! This is a whole month (and 1 day) earlier that our orginial closing date! :-)
Rena and I went up to the house last night and the cabinets were in! The walls had been painted and they are getting ready to pour the driveway and patio!

This is the back of the house the wood it outlining where the patio will be!
The fireplace is all done! It just has to be painted!

Driveway is ready to be poured! I believe the garage doors will be up soon. We also have all of the interior doors in the garage!

Kitchen Cabinets! All of the cabinets are the same and they are installed in the bathrooms and the kitchen!

YAYAYA!!! I'm getting really excited!!!

Brick and drywall

We haven't been up to the house this week. We have been occupied with getting the final things out of the rental house and cleaning it. So I'm happy to say we are finally DONE with that. Geez that was like a month long move.

Last time I saw the house the brick was almost done --- (if you look to the right at my tweets from twitter there should be a picture of the brick). Also there were piles of drywall in every room ready to be put up and the whole house had been insulated! I really wish I could get up there and see the progress but with class tonight and getting ready for the HUGE garage sale tomorrow night it looks like it'll be Friday!

I also want to say Congrats to Hillary and Chris! Hillary had Parker yesterday!!! YAY!!! We can't wait to move into the neighborhood and watch him grow up! So I think i figured this out. Hillary and I are second cousins once removed... and so that makes parker my third cousin! ha ha ha!!

This weekend is our yard sale. We are selling so much stuff it is rather ridiculous! Also, Rena has climb atlanta race this weekend. (ha good luck babe - its a race up 50 flights of stairs)

If anyone has cool picture or ideas for a master bedroom that they would like to share that would be great. We're kind of stuck with figuring out what we want to do!

later.

As Promised!

Whew! We really have been so busy! I got a text from my mom today that I needed to update my blog! ha so here it is. 

We had the pre drywall meeting and everything is looking good and we are right on track. Ben, our builder is actually thinking we will be able to move the closing date up by two weeks. They painted the siding last week as you can see in the picture below - its actually darker than in looks in the picture. 

This week is brick and drywalll!!! Woo hoo! Below is a picture where the brick is started! We are going to try to go up there tomorrow so we can see how far along they are now. Hopefully they are almost done!! 
So we are really happy with the way it is turning out! I can't wait to see the drywall to start going in! 

Friday is SUGARLAND!!! I couldn't be happier or more excited! I absolutely love ms. j.n and can't wait to see them rock it! Saturday is Frenchie's shower and bachelorette party. It should be fun! Then sunday is Easter. so its a jammed pack weekend to say the least. All the while we are still trying to get the final few things out of the rental and get it cleaned up.

ok i promise i will be better about updating more often. 

Stressed

So yes, it has been a while since i last updated my blog. Things have been go go go with no stopping but to sleep at night. We are have moved in with my mom and dad and things are going well. We are still in the process of moving out of the rental and its a wreck! moving is so messy and i hate it. then we get an email tonight that the landlord wants to show the house for four hours on saturday... ha ha ha well the house is an absolute wreck and we are in the process of moving and will be there all day on saturday making trips back and forth. I'm just so ready to be out of there completely so we can relax a little. ugh i'm exhausted and stress from moving and school. time to go to bed. 

Siding!!

Real quick update - because I need to go to bed and we have two puppies in the bed with us tonight! (we are watching chesney for my mom and dad). Hillary and Chris had their final walk through for their house today and Hillary is the BEST and took pictures of our house!!! Thanks Hillary! Sooooo... we have siding and a chimney! The siding isn't painted yet and we might try to ride up there tomorrow night to see what else they've done! yaya!! so exciting and they are moving FAST! 

P.S. We are having a little run in with the fence situation. Apparently the HOA rules have just changed to say a fence can only go off the back of a house and go straight back so it can't come out a few feet and then go back... i know its hard to explain.... but trust me it sucks. So Jenny is asking the HOA guy to see what we can do.... keep your fingers crossed. 

Windows, Roof, and Wrapped!

Progress! Rena and I went up to the house this weekend and they have done quite a bit! We now have windows, a front door, a roof, and it's wrapped! you can start to see what each room is going to be on the inside too! 

This is the front (obviously)

This is upstairs looking into the other bedrooms and bathroom from the master

Rena pretending to take a shower in the master bathroom

Master bedroom

Downstairs looking into the kitchen 

Today we started packing up and moving furniture for the garage sale and we now have a couch in the living room and thats it. No TV or tables. I think we'll be at my mom and dad's pretty soon maybe even this week. I don't like being amongst this packing mess/nightmare! 

We went to dinner with Lauren, Sarah and Ava tonight! It was a lot of fun and Ava is absolutely adorable! This must happen more often! :-) Now we are about to get ready for bed because we are exhausted. ha 
I don't know what the next step is for our house? maybe brick and siding? or maybe they start wiring stuff... i have no clue.

St. Patrick's Day

So, no new house updates. We haven't been up there since Saturday. Which is rather shocking acutally. But, it has been raining so we figure they haven't gotten much done. We are having a yard sale March 28 and will be selling a ton of our stuff. So much so where we will probably not be able to live in our rental house once we have the yard sale. SOOOOO that means we will be living with my mom and dad after that.

Which I'm kind of looking forward to. Monday night we went over there to see my Mom's new fridge and we ended up staying a while and playing Wii. Then last night we went over there again for dinner and green beer. We brought Jake with us last night so he could start getting used to the environment since that will be his temporary home. And he did great. I think after last night I'm a lot less worried about moving in with my parents and having Jake. It's going to be all good.
We had a lot of fun and I'm sure there will be many more fun nights to come. Not to mention dinner was excellent and Rena and I both can't wait to start eating really good food again! ;-)

So this weekend is going to be extremely busy for us. Betsy wants to show the house to another person again on Saturday. And we are going to be trying to bring our yardsale stuff over to Rena's parents for next weeekend. And start packing. bleehhhh busy busy busy.

Oh and if anyone is interested in anything we are getting rid of let me know. TV, kitchen table, plates, pots and pans, furniture, etc. ...

weekend

I rode by the house on Friday on my way home from work to get some daylight pictures of the house. They were working on it so i didn't really want to get out and get in their way. So this is a picture i just took from the car. There is a second floor now! 

Then my mom and dad wanted to go up to see it so this is the picture i took then. much to my surprise there are a few walls on the second floor now! 

But, it has been raining this weekend and its suppose to rain tomorrow too so that will delay construction for a while. 

Friday we helped Rena's mom move furniture and such. She is getting new tile put in and has to move all the furniture out.

Saturday we went shopping for running shoes for Re but had no luck. Then we went to Provinos for dinner. Something we haven't had in months and months. It was great. 

Today we went up to the outlets and I got two shirts and Rena found some running shoes. We also went into Restoration Hardware and found a bed we loved. AND it was 60% off. 

gotta go get drops for Rena's eye...

Framing

Last night was RuSan's night. This has become a weekly tradition with Rena's family. And we always have to do a Sake Bomb. Love it. This is a picture I found on the internet to help me explain in for some chance you don't know what a Sake Bomb is. Well in the big cup is beer and the chopsticks hold up the other cup which has hot sake in it. Then everyone yells "I say sake you say bomb... Sake... Bomb... Sake... Bomb... Sake.... Bomb!!!" and then they bang their fist on the table to make the cup of sake drop in. And its a competition to who can drink it the fastest. Well I need to work on my skills because Hamp (Rena's dad) just seems to pour it in without swallowing. 

Tonight we went to Taco Mac with my dad because we are all members of the passport club. That is always fun and we had a great time tonight. My dad somehow talked Rena and I into trying one of his death wings. Holy COW!!!! those were HOT!

After dinner Rena and I decided to go up to the house really quick because she hasn't seen it since the foundation was finished. They were suppose to start framing tomorrow but we figured that wouldn't be happening because of the rain that is coming. Well we get there and framing had been started!!!! We were both so excited and jump out of the car and ran up to the house and immediately called both of our moms to tell them! Ha  I know these pictures are really dark (because it was dark and I took them with my iPhone) But you can kind of see some of it. They are almost done with the whole downstairs. SO EXCITING!!!!! 


Everything seems to be happening so fast now. Tomorrow is Friday woo hoo! We are going to go out to the house this weekend and hopefully get daylight pictures! 

old blog

if you want to see my old blog you can find it here

web.mac.com/caitlin.gentry

Pre-Construction Meeting

Today was the pre construction meeting for the house! Rena didn't come because she had to go to happy hour with some agents. Usually she can skip those kind of things but now that she got promoted to co-team lead she needs to go. 

So Rena's mom came with me instead! Which was great! Of course, mister Jaxson tagged along too and was a very good boy the whole time! 

This is Jaxson the other night when he fell asleep with his toys and a toothbrush in his mouth! 

So first we sat down with our builder. His name is Ben and I really like him. He talked to us about the options we picked and the process and where they are right now and what we can expect in the future. Then we went out to our lot so he could show us what was going on and what they are planning to do with the draining and grading of the lot. Here are the pictures so far. 

Drive Way

Before Foundation

Beginning of Foundation

Backyard

They poured the concrete this morning!

Ben said that he hopes to start the framing on Friday (weather permitting) And that we might be ahead of schedule and could possibly move in before our original closing date! yay! 

On another note, it has been so hard to switch to this time change. Falling back is always easier. But that's ok because it is 6:30 and STILL light outside like it is the middle of the day. I love it! I'm ready for Rena to come home. She is still at happy hour. She just sent me a text that said mexican tonight on patio! So I guess that's what we will be doing! Hmm I have more to post but will do it later. bye!