Named

Here are the results of a most beautiful and heartfelt contribution from one of Jeff's co-workers (and official office mother); Diane Parsons. Sharp's custom frames did the beautiful matting. We've now finally got our signature on the home - with a little help from our friends.

Christmas Decorations

Stephanie was asked to provide some pictures of the house at Christmas, so of course here I am posting them. And in the spirit of that famous Beach Boys song, we find that it it not necessarily true that Christmas comes this time of year...

There and Back Again

The boys and I have begun reading from Tolkien's translation of "The Red Book of Westmarch" in our little second-floor corner nook in our beautiful home, and it occurs to me that I've now come back to my cozy hobbit hole. And if that's the case, then I guess we're maybe just about done.

Sure there are some air vent grates that need exchanged, and some fireplace flames which need some fine tuning (flames should be yellow not blue - where's Gandalf when you need him?), and our cavernous pool room needs, well, a pool - but we're done. I hauled the last of the construction detritus and empty boxes to the dump yesterday. Our bat cave has transformed with many hours and days of Stephanie and my mother's hard work into a larder. Our pictures were all hung yesterday, and we prepare to receive guests. I guess that makes it real.

I envision one more post with party pictures and then a close. We'll slurp this blog into a big book that will sit on our table, and your comments - along with these measly little posts - will hopefully endure for a couple more generations of Rexburg Hancocks...

Having the neighborhood over to watch the BYU football games, inviting friends, family, co-workers and neighbors for an evening of chatting, having long-lost relatives crash for a night, that's what we built it for.

So come on over will you?

Belated Dénouement

At long last. Though not _quite_ done we're a-l-m-o-s-t there. The fencing around the back retaining walls was actually done several weeks ago with the incalculable assistance of both grandfathers working all day through a particularly warm and sunny Friday. The railings are now in place and with that done our final occupancy inspection is passed. Most of the interior and exterior work is done. We're awaiting the final touches to be put in place for the landscaping to be at an end - and will showcase that particular attraction in an upcoming post. In the meantime, enjoy as we have that which is finally finished...

Nearly There

It feels like our saga is coming near to a close. The back stairs were finished today. It just needs a dress-up along the edge, but that will probably be next week. The landscapers were working away on
getting the yard raked out and sculpted. The plumbing and electrical inspections went well, and the final occupancy was given a "conditional" approval. At least that means we can move our stuff
in... Samuel and I spent the evening cleaning out the garage, and Stephanie spent the entire day shuttling things from our current domicile. Looks like we'll be moving forward on getting the yard in
over the next week, and finish off the things necessary to get our final occupancy permit.

Final Stairs

Sorry for the hiatus. It's not as if nothing has been going on, it's just that I've been over at the house late each night getting things in order. The house is now "clean". Meaning our cleaning crew has given it a nice once over. There's still much to be done with the outside windows etc., but that will wait until the yard is better done. The plumbers are nearly finished, with just a few bits left to do. The stucco work is finishing up soon too. Our carpenter has nearly finished the stairs, and we're awaiting some of the final touches to be finished so we can get the final inspections done. I installed the microwave and trim kit tonight, which is also pictured below. It's getting really close!

A Good Couple o' Days

While the boys and I were out on a Father and Son campout, much good was done at the home. We're now down to the final little plumbing jobs, and the electricians are just waiting on the remainder of the fixtures. The shower rods were placed (all but one). Our cleaner worked hard, and got the upper floor totally done, and will began the windows on the main floor today. Our A/V guy came last night and got some of the family room speakers hooked up, Monday will be the show night. The driveway was poured in full yesterday, and is hardening up today/tomorrow before we take anything on it. The landscapers were hard at work today getting the back of the house leveled out. Our stucco guy got most of the NE exposure of the foundation and retaining walls covered. Our cultured marble guy got the soap dishes placed. Yesterday and today the finish carpenter got all the doors and hardware installed. Now it's just the deck stairs that need to be placed. Looking around the top floor today you would have wondered why were not moved in yet... ah well, not too long now!