Our 1st Winter....Not Without a Few Issues

We timed it just right when we moved in before the snow really started falling but after that we had a few hiccups along the way. We got about 4 feet of snow total at one time this winter. A couple of our issues have included an ice dam and some water issues. With all the snow on the roof it created an ice dam and caused some water to leak into the garage. Matt had to climb on the roof and melt the ice/snow and then we put a pan in the attic to collect the water until we can get heat tape put up this summer. We are hoping to be much more prepared next winter for all the snow and ice. Here is a picture of the house. We can't wait to paint the house and see what it looks like all done.

When the snow started melted so quickly the ground couldn't absorb it quick enough and it started to pool in the back yard. One day while Matt was away on business I went downstairs to find 2 of the back window wells full of water. So we set up the sump pumps and some hoses and pumped the water away from the house. We have had to do it a handful of time this winter/spring. Once we get the ground landscaped and the dirt pile in the back gone I think it will take care of the problem.

We are hoping that once we make some minor changes that we can avoid these problems from here on out. I naively thought that a new house shouldn't have any issues...lol. 

Backsplash

While building the house there were a few thing put on the back burner because basically Matt and I were exhausted and tired of making decisions. By the time we got around to them the trade workers had already completed their work so we decided to complete them ourselves. The back splash was one of them. We had a hard time deciding on a back splash but finally found something we liked.

Matt started the accent piece Friday after work. He made some great progress. 

Saturday Matt had to go help a coworker fix a dishwasher counter so the girls and I finished getting the tile put on the wall. I have never ran a tile saw but it wasn't to bad and the girls were great help. By the time Matt got home we were pretty much finished. I love when I get a chance to try something new and see how impressed Matt is with me..lol. We then had to let it sit and ended up leaving it until Monday and then grouted it in. I think it turned out to be a great look for us.

I also took my counter pieces and painted them the accent colors. I think they add a great pop of color against the neutral tile. That way when we want to change it up it should be pretty easy

House Pictures...This House is Now Our Home

I think the pictures speak for themselves. We are loving our new home. We have worked & saved for so long to have this and its surreal that it has come true.

Finally Carpet Complete and the Rest of Our New Years Eve

New Years Eve Day they were finally able to get the carpet in stock and bring it to install it. Now the house feel complete. Although its somewhat strange to have so much space and we haven't settled in to it but Im sure with time we will

I do wish we had more storage(like cold storage) in this house but this closet really helps

We aren't big New Years Eve people. I usually choose to work New Years Day so I don't have to work Thanksgiving or Christmas. SO we usually play it low key and go to bed early. This year we did just that again. We decided to order take out from Huntsville BBQ which I think may become a tradition.....its amazing! Em even enjoyed getting to sit at the counter with the rest of the family. Hallie was more interested in understanding what New Years is then she ever has been it made it more fun for sure

She really liked the dill pickle we shared with her

Of coarse we had to have apple cider(even though Matt and I both think its nasty) the kids loved it. We also had to cheers

Matt taught the girls how to make the glasses "sing" and change the pitch by adding or taking away liquid. They thought it was so cool

Ringing in the new year in our new house....we have planned for this for so long I don't think we are sure how to react. To make things better I ended up getting called off of work. So  we watched the ball drop at 10 and then headed to bed

Lots of Sleeping, Being Snowed In, Staying at Nic's, and The Final Inspection

The next couple days were a complete blur. We worked on completing things for inspection. Matt built stairs and got some cleaning done. The kids pretty much crashed the time we were at the house. We would drag a mattress in for them to sleep on during the day and then take it out since we aren't allowed to sleep at the house until we have a occupancy permit. We would stay an Nic and Kyle's house at night and first thing in the morning we would get up and head to the house to get stuff situated...mostly clean

Nic and Kyle were so great to let us invade their space. We were able to do laundry, have home cooked meals, and a place to relax for the times we were home. Nic was also my shadow giving of her time by coming to the house with me every morning and staying until well into the night.

The girls both slept in the playroom. Nic pulled out the foam pads and sleeping bags the girls thought it was pretty cool to be "camping." Sunday night was our first night staying. Matt and I were in the room next door to the girls with Em. I woke up Monday morning to Hallie telling me she couldn't find Gracie. I flew out of bed and went to frantically look for her. Matt had just left for work so I called to tell him I couldn't find her. Just then Nic came down from upstairs to tell me Gracie was asleep in her bed! I was so relieved! I guess she had wandered up in the night and asked Nic where I was and then asked if she could sleep with Nic and she let her. I was just glad she was ok...silly girl

Monday the inspection went well but there were a few electrical things that had to be changed befreo the inspector wanted us to stay the night. Monday we got snow but Tuesday morning our drive to the house was pretty scary. Nic and I both drove in 4-wheel drive the entire way and never went over 30 mph. When we got to the house it was a winter wonderland....snow everywhere!

Nic and I did our best to clear the driveway before the inspector came for his reinspect. We were at least able to clear a place for us to park! I have not seen that much snow in a very long time and I loved it! Even better news was that we had received our temp occupancy permit! We could officially move in!

I called Matt and he came home so we could get officially moved in. Until then Nic and I wasted no time moving stuff in and getting settled. Once again it all felt surreal. Were we really moving into our dream home that we had plan for for years 3 days before Christmas?!? Yes, yes we were!