From this past week

Putting the rafters up. P.S. That is the living room ceiling.



This was last week. Lots of help and these guys made it pretty far. I believe this was day 2 of putting sticks up.



This is as far as they got before the ice came in. Yuck. I love winter, just hate the ice part that comes with it.



This was the one view I didn't show you in the last post. The corner is the utility room with a half bath, basically just a toilet but hey living with only one for the last 8 years (and with 3 people) I'm a firm believer you can't have to many. Especially with one as a potty training toddler.



Sorry it's blurry but here's the height of the living room. It won't be much shorter than the rafters that are up now. And yes, of course Lillian likes to jump on the ply wood that is covering the basement hole!



End of today! One dormer is done and you can still see daylight on the other end of the house so not all the sheeting is up on the roof. Obviously, the garage isn't done yet.



The front of the house. I can't wait until you all can tell what is windows and what isn't. I love windows. I think I may get that from Mom. Thanks Mom.  But there are four huge windows on the top and then two on each side on the bottom. The big rafter is something Dennis is pretty proud of. I agree, it'll look better once the black plates are on it but it will look great!!




And for your entertainment purposes... My children fighting over the vacuum. Dennis came in and saw this. I said "I wish all chores were this easy!"

While I was sleeping....

The house went up!

 

This is the entrance from the garage. Obviously...

 

 

The main entrance door is pretty much right in the middle of the picture. The big wall with lots of windows (note huge excitement) is not up yet but it's the only exterior wall not up yet.

 

 

Dennis' favorite part of the entire house! The shower! Yes, that closet sized room in the corner is our SHOWER! The soon to be room next to it is the closet. Yes, I am excited!

 

 

The kitchen! Dennis is working on our pantry! I'm excited for the pantry. You can never have to much storage in a kitchen. Or, anywhere really.

 

 

I look like I just woke up and worked out and then took this picture... Wait, I did. But Lillian sure can smile for a selfie!

 

I'd say they kicked butt today!

A lot has changed...

 

Ornery look for this little boy watching them pour the basement. This was on Thursday. It just so happened that Wednesday night he spiked an odd fever of 102 so, with no fever the next day, he enjoyed watching all this happen.

It was a bit cold so Lillian and I went back inside.

By Saturday night, much more had been done.

The main wall up downstairs AND....

All this was done Saturday night by the little light of a headlight...

Will, building his 'bird house'.

And, cutting the hole for the stairs.

The hole. Ready to start getting walls put together tomorrow and maybe even get them up. I know there will be a lot of help tomorrow so I'm sure a lot more will change. This part of building goes very quickly!

Who are you and are you happy?

This post may upset some but I hope it motivates most. In all of my fitness journey I have come to find out there are three different kinds of people as far as health and fitness goes. There is the passionate type, the healthy, and the lazy.

The passionate ones are the people who never stray off their diet. They are 100%, 100% of the time. The only time they cheat is their once a week allowed cheat. They never miss a workout, no matter how much they don’t want to do it. Every gram of food is weighed out and fits their macro-nutrients. Life does not stand in the way. We all have excuses but these people kick excuses to the curb. Because of this dedication and passion for their health, they find the results they want and work for.

The healthy is the type of person who watches what they eat, they may even weigh out all their food but they still enjoy the foods they desire. They work out and enjoy it. If they have a birthday party but already had their cheat meal, they still enjoy that piece of cake. I personally find myself in this category. I really enjoy having my pre-made pre-measured foods that fit my macros. With this being said, I cheat way more than I should. This is because I want to ENJOY my life. If I can’t have the foods that make me happy and that I enjoy then I’m not a happy person. Sorry but it’s true. I don’t know many people who would want to be around me when I can’t eat the foods I enjoy. I’m not talking about junk either. Almond butter on cottage cheese is one of my favorite small meals. Since it doesn’t fit the macros I am not ‘allowed’ to eat it. The 'passionate' ones will call these people lazy.

Lastly, the lazy. This is the person who doesn’t eat right and almost never works out. Again, sorry if this upsets someone.

The thing about all different types of these people is whether or not you are happy being that person. If you are the lazy type and complain about being ‘fat’ or ‘tired of feeling like crap’ then change it. Upgrade yourself and see how things change. If you are happy being in the ‘lazy’ category and you are fine with the way you look then GREAT! If you are happy being in the ‘healthy’ category then GREAT! I know I am! That’s the thing, sure I’d love to lose about 10-20 pounds but the reality is if I attempt to be the ‘passionate’ person that I’m not, I’m not happy. I can lose that weight much better by eating the way I want and being happy. Lastly if your happy in the ‘passionate’ category then wonderful! You are one dedicated person who everyone should applaud you for. To be this person you have to give up so much, it’s hard to do. I know, I've tried.

This post is really just to ‘shut up’ those who dog on the lazy or call those who are so dedicated that they say ‘no excuses’ pushy. What really matters is that you are happy with your life. If you’re not, then change it. No one can do this but you and you have to TRULY want to change in order to do it. These last 14 weeks I have been trying to change but the fact of the matter is, I don’t want to. I’m a personal trainer because I LOVE to work out. I love fitness and it’ll never leave my life. I want to pass this on to others and if changing their ‘lazy’ status to ‘healthy’ or ‘healthy’ to ‘passionate’ then FANTASTIC! But mostly, I want them to be happy with the way they feel and what they see in the mirror.

Happy Halloween!

Just a few pictures from our trick-or-treating


Neither Tinkerbell or Batman wanted to take pictures with anyone!

Aunt Mildred looking at family pictures with the kids...

Since we last saw each other....

The walls have been built! Friday, November 1st they put all the forms up for the walls.

 



Will was playing in his room!!! Had to make some rock angels!

Lillian loves it too. Eventually her room will be right next to Wills. The rock was thick enough she made herself a bench to sit on.



Saturday morning, they poured the walls. 

 

Saturday afternoon we had a wedding and Dennis enjoyed having this DONE while we celebrated a family wedding. 

 

Monday the forms came off and it started to look like a house!

 

It's very exciting to be this far AND to put some more dirt in the hole so that God forbid, a child falls in, they won't go 15' deep!!!

 

"Look Mom! Lillian made it!!!" Her big brother was sooo proud of her making it to the top. She was pretty proud of herself too.

It has begun!

BRAKING GROUND!

 



Having a ball watching the hole get bigger and bigger! (Even though Will could not look less amused!) 

 

Watching from inside the house too. She wasn't happy that Dad and Will went outside again without her... poor girl.

 

They ALMOST got the whole thing dug in one day. See something funny?? Will had more than a little fun climbing that mountain of dirt. I think he will have a lot of dirty clothes for the next few months.

 

He made it!!

 

Doesn't this look like a boys dream?! Maybe he's practicing to run the next rugged maniac with me. (not saying I'm going to run another!) He wanted to that day. 

 

Lillian wanted to help Dad.

 

Day 3 (day 2 got rained out but they finished digging that day) They set and pored the footings in the house.



 

A little better view of the basement.

 

I'll take you along our jurney if you wish to come along. I'm sure the most enjoyable part of this whole thing will be watching the kids try to help Dad as much as possible. Day 4, or later on today, Will may get to stay home from daycare to help set the forms for the walls.