Deck Project: Completed!

Four months, three grandpas, one hard-working husband and countless man hours later--WE HAVE A DECK!  This project is officially finished!  (Aside from some gutters we have a guy coming to install, but who cares about that?)  It has been an amazing process to see Sean bring this project from paper to reality. I couldn't be happier with the end result and I know we will get a lot of use out of this in the warmer months. But, enough about that.  Here she is in all her glory:

Remember, this is what we started out with: 

 I love the "Before and After" shots.

 Much-improved view from the back door!

 Sean painted the ceiling and railings to match our front porch.  He also added two ceiling fans, four outdoor speakers & an extra outlet to string Christmas lights (if we want).  Can't wait to have our first party!

 The grill finally has a home.  

 We haven't figured out a good way to keep the decking from getting muddy paw prints all over it, but other than that it's wonderful.  Thanks, Sean, for all of your hard work and not complaining (too much) about how big of a project this was.  :-) I know you would rather be working on your car! I love you and am so grateful to have such a talented husband! 

And...We Have Railings

Sean was not going to let the cold and rainy weather stop him!  He built the deck railings in the garage this morning while the boys were at school and then slid them into place this afternoon.  It makes the whole space look much more deck-like.  

 The man pauses to admire his work.

 Now you can clearly see where the stairs are.  No more falling off points along the edge!

Happy wife, happy life.  :-)  Sean knows this by heart!  PS: You can also see the three rocks we recently bought at a great price from a landscaper doing some work in the neighborhood.  (We actually bought four, but the biggest one is in the front yard.  It literally weighs about 1000 lbs., so that's where it will be staying!) We have big landscaping plans for the backyard over the next few years!  It is a slow process... 

Three Steps Closer to Being Done

Sean is nearing the end of "Deck Project 2013".  And not a moment too soon!  He is hoping to have it completed before our first snowfall.  Fingers crossed! 

 Getting ready to frame out the columns.

 Carter pounding the dirt hill.

 The steps are done (just need to be painted) and the columns are almost done!

 Sean positioned the three steps so he would not have to build a railing.  I like how it turned out!

Another view of the columns.  All that's left now is to build the railing between the columns, finish filling in the ceiling and then paint it all.  The PVC decking needs to be washed, too.  I'm hoping it will look really nice when it's not covered in muddy dog prints.

Labor Day Labor

Get it? :-)

Since Sean & I both had the day off, we enjoyed a big breakfast at home (I didn't lift a finger!) and then Sean went to work outside.  The ongoing saga of Deck Building 2013 continues with the construction of stairs. While Sean worked, I took the boys to the pool so we could enjoy the unofficial last day of Summer. Having a neighborhood pool has been way more fun and valuable to us than I ever could have imagined. Plus, it got us out of the construction zone for a while. 

 After this first round of pouring concrete into the molds, I stepped in to help scrape/fill while Sean mixed and poured.  I think the boys were both shocked to see Mommy doing manual labor.  Carter said "Wow Mom, I didn't know you had muscles like Dad!"  I don't know about all that, but I did use it as an opportunity to remind the boys that we girls can do a lot of things.  We are strong and capable, just like boys are!  Plus, it was fun to be able to finally help, even if it was minor.  Carter & Davis wanted to get in on the action, too!

Hope you all had a fun and restful Labor Day!

Up On the Roof

Sean's parents stopped in Colorado to visit us on their way back from Alaska.  I am sad to say that we have zero pics from their five nights here.  I do have evidence that Grandpa Dan was here, because he helped Sean work on the deck and they got a lot done!  The roof is finished and the trim work has started.  The next step is to do the wiring for the ceiling fans and the outdoor speakers.

Grandma Pat did a lot of work, too!  She took care of the boys all weekend so that the guys could focus on the outside work.  THANK YOU to both of them for all the help and patience!  We love you both and are so glad you came to see us on your long trip home to MO.  

 View of the finished roof from our bathroom window.

 Sean and the boys having some R&R.

 You can see the roof soffit better from these angles.  Apparently, this is a big job and takes a long time.  I wouldn't know, but it sure is looking nice! Sean has gotten several comments and questions from the other dads in the neighborhood about his construction skills.  I think they are all worried that their wives are going to want a back porch like this!  I'm willing to hire Sean out...

 The posts will all be covered and painted to look more like our front porch and match the house.

...just a trampoline shot for fun.  :-)

We Have A Deck!

...sort of.  The decking is down so we can walk outside and sit on it.  I didn't waste any time putting out my new patio dining set that I scored for $125 (originally $500) at the grocery store.  I got a deal on it because some of the tiles in the table were cracked (it was the display model).  Who cares about that?!  

Let me back up a bit.  Mimi & Grampy drove out last Sunday to stay for a week and help us build the deck. Aunt Sister joined us on Thursday.  She and Mimi took great care of the boys while Sean and Grampy were on deck-duty and I was at work.  What a team!  A BIG thanks to all of the Milnes for their help.  We truly couldn't have gotten this much done without them.  Sean still has some work to do out there, but the project is looking amazing so far and we are so close to having a nice outdoor space for the first time in two years!  

 Here's where Sean was at before Grampy got here.

 View from my bathtub window.

 We have had a bunch of rain lately which didn't help our work schedule.

 Almost at the end of Grampy's contract...

Deck builders extraordinaire! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!

No More Holes

My dad helped Sean fill the 3 foot holes with concrete so now we have this: 

More deck progress coming soon as Mimi & Grampy are coming on Sunday!  Grampy will help Sean for the better part of a week, while Mimi helps out with the boys.  Can't wait to see the progress!

Jump For Joy...

 ...literally.  Sean has started work on our deck out back.  YAY!!!!  It is going to be a big project, but he has a plan and will have some help this Summer to get the job done.  I am so excited to have this done because it will make our backyard much more usable.
To help keep the boys entertained during the construction (and beyond) we bought a trampoline.  That way they can jump and stay out of Sean's way, at least for a little while! So far it is tons of fun and was really fairly inexpensive at Wal-Mart.  Come on over and jump with us!

 Bouncing Beilman brothers

  Progress

Those holes are 3 feet deep and will be full of concrete soon.