I can't keep up!

I took these pictures yesterday and they are already old and out of date! These guys are working hard and almost fast enough for me! They have framed out the back deck by the hot tub, they've done the decking for the side and screen porch and by the end of the work day they had almost made it around to the front door. I've been told they finished all that today, but I haven't seen it for myself yet.





Keep up the good work Ian! Get that trim finished please!




Lots of traffic on the stairs to the basement, be careful!! The stair walls are really starting to take shape.




You can't even tell where the front door was!



Might be painting on Tuesday. Keep your fingers crossed!!

what a month.

It hasn't even been a month since our last post, but what a heartbreaking, upturned, crazy, yet still a little exciting month it has been. Tanner and I had great fun in Texas. We soaked up the warm, even though the family didn't think it was very warm, it felt like spring to us! Tanner kicked a habit and got the swing monkey off his back. He went cold turkey and now happily sleeps in a crib for all of his naps and at night! The cold turkey was a rough couple of nights for Momma and Grammy, but we stuck with it and we broke the swing habit just before we broke the swing! And of course, he grew. My tiny little newborn is now rocking the 6 month sizes. They sure do get big quick!




Then we came home to New York. A cold slap in the face, then a kick to the rear. It was sooo good to see Greg. We had missed him terribly!! He had been manning the fort and taking care of Boudreaux, who had started acting sluggish and sickly after Thanksgiving. Greg took him to the vet and the news was not good. A tumor on his kidney, an enlarged liver, and spots on his lungs showed up on the x-ray. The ultrasound confirmed the problems, Boo had cancer and it had spread everywhere. When we got to New York a 6 days later, Boo hadn't been eating very much if anything. I took over trying to get him to eat and had a little success. The next 4 days he was doing a little better and we were encouraged. The night before Christmas eve, everything went to Hell in a handbasket. We were up and down all night with Boudreaux and the baby. Usually one or the other, but a couple of times it was both. Boudreaux kept getting sick and wanting to go outside, but he was very unstable on his feet. Tanner was hungry. Then after a 3:00 feeding, I had put Tanner back to bed and laid back down myself when Boo came over to my side of the bed and put his head on the mattress. I petted him for a bit and he wandered over to Greg's side of the bed for some more love. Then he laid down in his own bed for a bit. He got up again and went into Tanner's room to lay in there. That's where we found him when we got up Christmas Eve morning. Laying right next to the crib. Christmas suddenly did not feel very exciting or happy. Between his size and his personality, Boudreaux has left a very big empty spot in our hearts and our home. I sure do miss him.





Sorry Tietjens. Y'all got jacked again for Christmas. I swear one day we will make it up to you. We will spend a Christmas together. I promise.

But through all of this, the work on the house continues. They have started building the deck.







The inside is looking good with the sheetrock and spackle.


the den

a messy kitchen, but the garage looks good (look out the new glass doors)

standing in the dining room looking at the front door and den

Tanner's room

The coat closet and den

Then there is our bedroom and bath.



The basement hasn't changed much, but we've got stairs!

A moment to blog

The baby is sleeping, the house is quiet, and the computer is sooooo slow. Hopefully I'll be getting this post out before the information changes! Tanner and I are in Houston visiting (and meeting) all of the relatives... or at least as many as possible, while poor Greg is freezing and working his tail off back in NY. What a whirlwind trip this has been! It started with a great party in San Antonio for my Pawpaw's 90th birthday (check out my sister Kammy's blog at ourreecespieces.blogspot.com for pics) and is ending with a facial and a massage :) Thanks Mom, Kammy and Kasey!!!


Meanwhile, back in the frigid Northeast (it's running between 50 and 75 degrees here in south Texas), Greg has been keeping Operation Build a House going forward.

Cedar shingles are going up!




The door have their glass in (this one is the front door)



These are the kitchen and dining room doors


The exposed rafters have been beautified



Insulation is going in
the upstairs







the new den



Now that the house is closed in, we just have to pray that the inspection tomorrow goes well. That man had better quit tinkling behind our dumpster!

Time Flies

I can't believe Tanner is 7 weeks old this week (Thursday to be precise). We are blessed that he sleeps pretty well at night. I am the lucky one who gets to try to make him take naps during the day. That's usually the times when he confirms that he is my son and Bill Nasse is his grandaddy. Greg calls it "showing that Nasse-ass". He screams, cries, and more often than not, turns himself a lovely shade of purple before finally admitting he's tired and falls asleep. But when all is well in his world, he can melt your heart.

I can barely keep up!

I have fallen behind on the posting... the guys have been very busy. Even though it's only been a couple of days, much work has happened. Let me fill you in on what has gone on. First there were 1st floor walls put on.




Then they added the second floor.



Here they are cutting back the old roofline



This is what happened yesterday!