First Snow

We wanted more, but we only received a dusting of snow. But how lovely the snow is in your own home!

Putting it together...bit by bit

After securing the temporary C.O., the Chacko family moves into their new digs about 10 days before Christmas!

Final grading around the house was done after the move. Good thing, too! It was wet and rainy when we moved in and we had tire tracks all over the place. I can't wait until spring when we can get some grass and other plants in!

Finishing touches

It has been a long time since we posted. Although a lot has happened, it seems also to be in slow motion. Two coats of finish have been placed on the floor. It's really looking nice, but the final coat still has to been finished. Closet organizers, shoe molding, appliances, heating/cooling, water heater, screened porches, doors, decorative brackets on the outside, and lighting & switches have all been installed. Of the four final inspections, we have had all four, but only passed two. We will be installing railings on the decks this weekend to finish off the building inspection, and then the last hurdle is electrical. It is our hope to call for the electrical final inspection sometime this coming week. We'll keep you posted. But for now, we are still in our little apartment, sitting amongst boxes and biding our time.

Josiah's closet organizer


The floor in Hannah's room, and


her closet organizer


We hung our own towel racks and paper holders.

Compass Rose

We've been hard at work, building the decks. Rajah and Josiah and a team of guys from our Care Group at church worked on the back deck together.



The front deck was built by a guy named Jason. Rajah was so proud of the compass rose design that we were able to have built into the front deck. What do you think?

Decks underway...

Plumbing fixtures are finished. I watched them test the water and it flows!


And there is hope that we will be able to have visitors come through our front door! Behold! Stairs!


Jason, a deck builder, has started working on the front. Rajah has asked him to put in a compass rose design on the front porch. After building the stairs, he started the railings.


Rajah and Josiah have been hard at work learning to install the Trex material (harder than it looks). They started on the side deck.



John has begun installing our lights on the first floor. It's looking good!


And what do you think of our fireplace now??

I love the stone! Hope to be ready to receive you as a guest soon!

Current status, beginning plumbing fixtures

The plumbing fixtures are going in today. I also met the gutter installers and fireplace stone masons out at the house today. It's all beginning to take shape (finally!).

Here's the faucet in the upstairs kids bathroom, and the toilet.
Here's the kitchen sink faucet and water filter faucet:

and dishwasher...


The fireplace mantle was installed the other day,


and today, they were beginning to prepare to put the stone facade around:


And outside, they poured the concrete parking pad last week. So here's how the outside looks right now:
We're still hoping to get in soon, but we may still face more delays. Keep praying!

T minus 2 1/2 weeks and counting?

Tile is finished. Garage doors are in. Electrical is underway. Plumbers come tomorrow to install dishwasher, disposal, tankless water heater, and plumbing fixtures. I think they started running the gas line that will connect to our house soon (which we need for temporary heat). Come to our deck party and help construct our decks this Saturday!!


Master bath-tub hole. Below, Hannah is trying out the tub that will go there tomorrow.



Completed tile in the guest bathroom.


Garage doors can open manually right now...and soon they will use electricity!

Tile underway

All areas for tile were started today. Here are some pictures:

Backsplash in the kitchen,

Master bath shower,

Upstairs kids bathroom



and the floor in the downstairs bathroom.

Bathroom sinks

I know things don't seem to be happening very quickly judging by the number of blog posts--but things are happening!! The corian sinks and countertops are in the bathrooms. Interior paint is done, and electrical is underway. Lighting should be going in soon. Tile on the bathroom floors and shower walls is beginning now and should be finished by early next week. The plumbing fixtures, garage doors, door locks, and hvac units should be done by the end of next week. So, progress is being made! Keep us in your prayers :-)!






The interior trim looks very nice all white and glossy, especially this wall of windows in Rebekah and Sarah's room.