So we are two weeks in to the basement construction and there is finally great visual progress to show! We got held up first by the electrician, then because of that our inspections didn't pass and there was a holiday on Monday, so we had to wait until Tuesday before we could move forward. But since getting over that first major hurdle, things have been going great. This top picture is from the first week when they finished up the framing, put in the shower/tub insert, and did all the electrical wiring.
Hooray! We have light in the stairway!! Now I can hang my nice picture and put the vinyl on the wall.
The family room ready to be sheetrocked
Sheetrock and tape going up. This is looking from the craft room to the smaller bedroom, small hallway closet and a little bit of the bathroom (with the orange floor)
And the other small hall closet and bigger bedroom on the other side.
Half of the craft room sheetrocked
I was unable to get a good picture of how awesome and bright our stair lights are, but at least you can see where they are in this picture. They are motion activated (although we have yet to figure out how to use it) and I think they are LED, so they are a really nice, bright light to help you when going up/down the stairs at night - soo glad we did this!
The family room with sheetrock, tape, and texture
And the other side with the door leading in to the craft room. We weren't planning on doing a door there, but after further consideration, I insisted we put something there to keep kids not only out of my craft room, but also out of that half of the house since it won't be used right away. We had really wanted to do a pocket door to save on space, but that wall is load bearing. We considered building it out and putting the pocket door in a wall right next to it, but with the door on the under the stairs area, it didn't quite fit - bummer. But to avoid doors hitting/blocking each other, the door gets to swing out into the family room, but at least we have our door to keep little feet out!
Craft room textured. Gotta love the funky little light in the box of ducting, but with a craft room you have to do light wherever you can get it. There was a ton of ducting and heating and whatever else running in the ceiling in this room, so the lighting is crazy, but I think it will be sufficient.
The under-the-stairs area a.k.a. Robert's man cave
Bigger bedroom looking from the corner to the door and closet. We went with the same closet doors as in the bedrooms upstairs. And look at the trim and tile waiting to be put in next!! Tile is going in the bathroom (same as upstairs) and a different tile in my craft room and then a small square of tile in the corner of the family room where we will eventually put a pellet stove.
Hallway with the two small closets and bathroom. One last door to be hung and then all but the exterior door for the mechanical room are in!
And a quick glance at the smaller bedroom with its texture all done. This week will have tons more progress, so hopefully I will remember to get down there each night to take pictures. Monday and Tuesday they should be putting in trim and then priming and painting. Wednesday is tile and bathroom stuff. Thursday comes carpet and finishing touches are on Friday. So barring any more complications/delays the whole thing should be complete THIS Friday!!! We are so excited!
Our big guy turned 4 yesterday - I can hardly believe he is four already! Here he is sporting his very own Captain America costume to go along with the shield he got for Christmas from his best buddy Josh (and Josh's mommy). Josh has a costume just like this his mom made for Halloween a year or two ago and every time Sam goes over he asks to wear it. So now they both have costumes and shields and can play superheroes all day long.
I think he likes it, what about you?
Opening his piggy bank. After reading about Little Critter saving his money in his piggy bank, Sam has repeatedly asked for a red piggy bank of his own. This one fits the bill because you can paint it yourself - a fun project to keep him busy this last week of basement construction.
Lion King!
Angry birds bean bag toss game. At $3 how could I resist?
I think Daddy likes Sam's new Thor helmet as much as Sam does
Awesome Captain America and Red Skull cars from Uncle Mitch.
Sam was very excited about getting his very own flashlight
A new puzzle because most of our other ones are missing pieces we have played with them so much!
Sam and Josh knew just what to do when Sam's "big" present came out!
Peeking at the "big" present
Blowing out the candles on his shield cake
The cake - Devilishly Good Chocolate cake with cream cheese icing and mint chocolate chip ice cream
And the three superhero capes I made for his birthday with help from Robert's mom (she cut the symbols with her Cricut for me out of iron-on vinyl.
I can't tell you how frustrating these capes ended up being. First I bought WAY too much fabric and then I realized I bought the pattern that was boys sizes instead of little boys. So then I tried to shrink it down myself without really measuring and it just wasn't working. Then I sort of messed up the vinyl on the Spiderman cape. But knowing how much he loves and will continue to love playing with these capes makes all the work, frustration, and headaches worth it!
