Celebrating 36 years

I can't let today go by without remembering 36 years ago when Craig and I were married. It was in the Manti temple on a cloudy, blustery day in May. It was a special day with family and friends. Our 36 years together has been a great adventure. We have an awesome family of six children, three married spouses, and seven wonderful grandchildren. Each person is very dear to my heart. Thanks for sharing your love - Brad, Brian, Quinette, Cameron, Jessica, Rebecca, Jeff, Stephanie, Jonathan, Joshua, Brooke, Seth, Curtis, Megan, Nathan and Staci. The best part of our marriage now is being married to Grandpa Armstrong. (holding Rebecca - 2 mon)

The white house

The white house (all covered in Tyvex) ready and waiting for it's stucco & stone covering. The home makeover is progressing very rapidly. Thanks to a great contractor and his crew who keep the job moving. The air conditioning is installed in the upstairs floor. This will be a cooler summer around here.

Below is the floor of the deck on the west wall.

The exterior doors have arrived and we are just waiting for the four windows to come. As soon as we get the fireplace installed, the chimney will be built, and the doors and windows installed, the stucco guys can start.

We have a deck off the back west wall. It is covered and it is awesome.

We have most of the roof on. The rest will be finished after the stucco job is done.

So today I went looking for door hardware, stucco colors and stone styles and colors from homes around the valley. So many colors, styles and variety.

Estimated completion date for Phase I is 6 - 8 weeks (July sometime) Yeah!

It's for real

Well, we have gone and done it. It's too late to turn back now. Yes, we have started our Extreme Makeover-Armstrong style. We project the entire makeover will be completed summer of 2009.

Phase I is the exterior including new roof, stucco/rock exterior, new doors, and deck on the west side with a roof covering. Inside we will install air conditioning for the upper floor (badly needed), replace four windows, and install a new glass crystal fireplace in the living room.

Phase II will be inside redecorating with new painting, touch up, furniture, window coverings, and anything else I can afford.

Phase III will be landscaping. Pretty much there will be no need for yard care this summer. It is pretty much demolished. Oh the big boulders have been removed. I am keeping the slab rock for future use.

Needless to say, there have been many hours of thought, searching websites, and driving around neighborhoods looking at houses, getting ideas, and thinking, thinking and more thinking.

The biggest question is "Now that I can change the look of the house, what do we want it to look like?" I should do a survey of the family and get some input. So if you have seen anything really cool, email me a picture or a website to view.

So here are a few pictures of progress so far. Today is day 10. The best part is working with a great contractor, Nyman-Reeder. They built the house and are the best guys to work with including their crew and subs that they use. Exciting project. Perfect for the creative personality.