Passports

We took care of Mike, Cole and Siena's passports today.  It went relatively well since we read the instructions ahead of time and were prepared with everything we needed.  They are due back to us around the beginning of May, in plenty of time for the big trip!

Dancing

Nothing like a little Big Rock Candy Mountain and some dancing to end St. Patricks Day.

Fredy Home Remodel - The Deck Demo Day 2

Happy St. Patricks Day!  It was another insanely gorgeous California day.  Pretty much been this way since the middle of January!  Not going to complain but we do need to have some sort of winter this year!

Mike and Grandpa Glenn got an early start today working on the other half of the deck.  Total, we are removing about 400 sqft of deck to make room for the new addition and also room for the contractor to work.  The part of the deck that is removed near the patio door will be going back up later on.  Once the addition is done Mike will also rebuild the front corner of the deck as well.

Here's where we finished.   I think the rest of this will be removed over the course of this week along with the demo of the asphalt and cement walkways.

Fredy Home Remodel - The Deck Demo Day 1

Today officially marks the start of building our forever home!  Since we are putting a lot of sweat equity in to this home we wanted to get a jump start on the prep work for when the contractors begin.  This is the last weekend before wedding season begins and since we are home for the entire time we figured this was the best time to get the deck taken apart since the new great room will be built into part of it.  

This is our sweet little home in 2004 when we moved in just after graduating college and leaving Chico

This is our home today 9 years later.

A few things that we have done - Patio Door

The view of the house and deck from the pump house.  The garden is to the left of the roof in the bottom of the pic and the horse pasture is behind me.  The garage to the right of the photo is our huge detached garage that's about the size of our home.

The horse pasture is to the right of this photo

For perspective sake from the white window wall to the very bottom of the photo (water faucet) is 40 feet.  The widest part of the deck the edge on the left to where the center hole begins is 16 feet.

Currently the room to the right of the dining room window is the kids bedroom / utility room.  Once the addition is done it will finally be just a utility / mudroom.

The square in the center (was supposed to be this amazing grass area) is a 20 foot x 20 foot area that will be filled in with deck boards and then 32 feet x 26 feet of the remaining deck will be covered with a vaulted roof!  Hello outdoor living!

The demo crew

Plan for Day 2 is to remove the remaining deck boards from the area in front of the dining room.  After the deck demo then it's time for the cement walkway, tree stump and park of the asphalt driveway.

Cole's 6th birthday party

Cole's 6th birthday was also at the Placer Nature Center. I can't say enough how wonderful this center is!  The kids have a blast every time they are there.  Both parties were geared towards the kids theme and were totally different from each other!

The ladies at the Nature Center made the BEST center pieces for the party!  How great are these dinosaurs?!?!

At the Nature Center they provide glass plates, glasses, and cloth napkins!  We are required to carry out all trash and they will keep food that can be composted.

Painting rocks

Going on the long nature hike in search of snake skins, bugs and of course staying out of the poison oak!

Checking out deer bones

The party crew!

Mike and  I of course went a little insane (as usual) with the cupcakes.  This is the 3rd year Cole has had a dinosaur themed birthday party to we needed to make something a little different.  I found these cupcakes on Pinterest (of course) and ordered fondant.  I made the cupcakes and frosted them Friday morning and then Friday night Mike and I made these guys.  We started out with T'Rex's but those were a bit of a problem so we went with 30 stegosaurus's and 5 T'Rex's.  The kids went crazy when they saw the cupcakes!  (4th birthday T-Rex cake) (3rd birthday Legoman cake)

Cole opening his gifts.  I love how the kids crowed around to check it all out!!

Sweet Alice.

We've made some awesome friends this year!  Cameron and Cole are best buddies at school!