India, Etsy and A name

Life is hectic this week.   My husband is in India attending a wedding (wish I had off to go!) and thus its just me and the boys.  I guess they took pity on me the last couple of days and have been quite nice to each other and no fighting.  Heck even my picky eater has been eating his food with very little coaxing.

 What do you do when you partner in crime is having the time of his life without you?  Work  on your Etsy orders of course!  I have been running an Etsy shop since 2009 for fun versus need of income.  My shop specializes in natural hair and skin products and I have quite few regular customers.  Etsy takes up what little free time I do have which generally means I am busy from sun up to sun down and then sometimes past that.  This shop is how I am paying for my gourmet island and I am currently $400 away from goal. 

And what's his name next door has a name!  My SR supplied that the other day and I am glad she did.  I swore his name was like Thomas or something to that effect.  I was waaaaayyyyyy off! 

PM Update

My PM is finally starting his weekly updates that he promised at our meeting.  I was informed yesterday that the foundation was completely done and that the lumber for my home was scheduled to arrive on Monday.  They won't start framing until mid week however.  Thanks to my new obsession with checking the 10 day  forecast, I expect this part to go pretty quickly.  It is quite possible that by the time my family comes back from our Christmas trek- that the house will be completely framed.  EXCITING!  No pics this week- didn't want to get in the workers way  :)

Finally!

We have finally received our loan approval letter (email)- with conditions of course.   The conditions are not outrageous- latest pay stubs and W2's, and of course keeping track of the money trail.

We received our pre approval within DAYS, so it was a little nerve racking to have to wait 2 months, for a conditional approval which isn't really conditional.  I mean its the stuff I expected them to ask for, updates.  I guess I shouldn't complain- we could be operating under loan guidelines of 2 years ago and never had a shot- even with stellar finances.

Our Neighbors are the best!

I convinced my husband to drive out to the house today.  I was really worried about the foundation and those weak spots I saw in the foundation.  Luckily it was just the way the pictures were taken.

While we were there our next door neighbor (the one with the too close playground- found out later that it was never really that close but I digress) came out to greet us.  I am embarrassed to say that I nor my husband remembers his name.   But he informed and assured me of a couple of things

1. My neighbor on the other side of me works for Toll Brothers (scandalous!) and that's a plus.  Why?  My house sits between two gentlemen who take a vested interest in making sure that RH does not cut corners in the community.  Apparently they have been known to "kindly" point out errors and sloppy work and strongly suggest that it be done correctly.

2.  He volunteered to take pics when I couldn't. He performed this service for another neighbor who recently closed.

He also told me that both of them watched closely when they poured the foundation and that we should be okay.   Yes- both knew we have the Courtland Gate.

The next step is the pouring of the basement slab- which should be completed by Tuesday.  The back fill portion will probably have to wait until next week.   We have a few more days of- you guessed it-rain.  I truly don't remember December being this wet without a case of a heavy bout of the white stuff.

Now for that too close playground- never was.  Now that the foundation is in place I can clearly see how everything is set up and its no where near our sump pump line.  Whew!

Gossip- the other Courtland Gate- the one across the street from me- was put on hold.  I know I was a bit disappointed  about not being unique anymore, but I was a little excited as well to have another family of boys across the street from us.  Apparently our community should  currently be referred to as Boytown.  Most of the families, like us, have boys.  Plenty of potential playmates  :)

A Winding Road to Rome - Our Ryan Home 2014: Insurance Talk

While perusing other blogs I happened upon this info.  I think this is great info and just wanted to share what this helpful blogger posted.



A Winding Road to Rome - Our Ryan Home 2014: Insurance Talk: I recently noticed, on another blog, that a lot of people have questions regarding home insurance and which company they should go with.  ...

Surprise! Foundation is Up

Another day another drive by and this ends with quite a pleasant surprise.  Two days ago, I didn't think that had poured the foundation and I didn't expect them to, due to the wet weather.  Lo and behold this is what I see when I pull up

I didn't get too close as I didn't want to disturb anything but I think I will go back on Sunday to get a closer look.  I can clearly see some of the reinforced steel through the walls (not the parts hanging above the walls).  I think I also see a little buckling near the same spots but that could be because it is wet.  I don't know if this is normal or not but it does have me a little concerned.  

I texted our PM yesterday for an update and he responded today.  He said that next week they will do a back fill around the foundation and pour the basement slab.  Will the back fill take care of the thin spots and the buckling?  

He also mentioned that the lumber would be delivered the week after next.  Excited or not- I don't want them to start framing if the darn foundation isn't right.  Time for me to make my presence known on the construction site. 

Mid week Drive By

I decided to take the long way to work this morning and stop by the new house to see if any progress had been made.  I wasn't expecting much as it has been a rather rainy in the area over the last couple of days.  I was right- we now have forms for the the foundation, which may or may not get poured tomorrow.  Saturday is 100% chance of the wet stuff.  In fact it is suppose to be rather wet for the upcoming weekend into Monday.  I think things will move a little faster starting next Tuesday as it is suppose to be mild weather for the majority of next week.

So here is my one ubiquitous pic of the forms.  I decided not to share the others as it had a black barrel and some trash in front of the it.  OH BTW- my neighbor decided to move the playground- wise move, I would have felt really bad if it got damaged from the construction.