Construction Week 1: Digging the Hole + Pouring Foundation

The morning we left for Florida (March 18), we met with the Construction Manager for our Pre-Construction Meeting. The meeting was to go over the plans and all our selections, and to make sure we were all on the same page. There we found out that they were going to start digging our hole that afternoon!

We were excited to finally start, but also bummed that it was going to be while we were on vacation. What are the chances?!?

Luckily, I was able to stop over before our evening flight and get a few photos of the dug out basement.

And they were kind enough to take some photos for us!

Where to begin...

It's been nearly a year since I regularly updated my blog, and almost 9 months since my last post. Wow. In that time, so much has happened that I will slowly try to post about everything while trying to stay current. Plus, it's easier now since I have a keyboard for my iPad.

What made me think of this was looking at my previous posts about Vegas in order to give my parents some recommendations for their trip. It made me sad to think I hadn't documented the last year or so.

Highlights since I last updated:
May:
- DC trip for a friend's wedding
- Quit my job after almost 7 years
- California trip with Adam and Christine (Disneyland, San Diego, San Francisco, and 5 baseball games - 3 new stadiums)
- Started a new job

June
(I already blogged abou a few things in June)
- Twins Brewers game with my sister

July:
- Chester turned 4
- Home Run Derby, All-Star Game and ASG activities
- 30th birthday
- Our 4th anniversary (But I was really sick and had to go in 2 days later...)
- Detroit for NACE

August:
- Amazing Paul McCartney concert at Target Field
- Adam gave me a gorgeous natural emerald and diamond ring for my birthday
- Hilarious Book of Mormon at the Orpheum
- Gophers football game in a suite
- Weekend at the cabin

September:
- State Fair
- Chester's Adoption Day - 4 years!
- Oktoberfest weekend

October:
- Last Twins game of the year - loved being Season Ticket Holders
- LASIK
- Finally won best couple's costume at our friend's annual party

November:
- Packers Vikings game with my sister at TCF Bank Stadium
- Fun Vegas night birthday party for a friend
- Our first (and probably last) impromptu "Black Friday" experience on Thanksgiving night

December:
- Christmas
- Flying to Hawaii via LAX on New Year's Eve

January:
- Hawaii (Maui and Oahu) trip for Adam's 30th birthday
- New car! 2015 Buick Encore
- Red Bull Crashed Ice
- TwinsFest with Christine and Kelly
- Signing a purchase agreement to build a new house!

February:
- Deciding on and finalizing our upgrades, colors and finishes for our new house
- Wild hockey game
March:h

Father's Day Weekend

We had a wonderfully relaxing weekend with my parents + sister for Father's Day weekend.

Saturday morning I had a hair trim appointment, so Adam and dad went fishing. Mom and I took Chester for a walk. We narrowly escaped him getting attacked by a big dog (quick reaction on my part lifting him up by his leash and harness), so that had me freaked out all day.

In the afternoon, we took the pontoon out on the river. Unfortunately it was cool, windy and overcast, but we still had a nice time. 

That evening, we went out to The Freight House to celebrate Christine's belated birthday. Everyone else got the porterhouse, but I got crab legs. Delicious. It was fun. 

Christine even got a special birthday dessert!

At home, we watched Gravity which was laughably bad. Just wow. 

We had a low key Father's Day. For an early lunch, we all piled into mom's GTO convertible (I got to drive!) and headed down to the rootbeer stand. I hadn't been in years, and it was Adam's first time. 

We relaxed and dad opened his presents. 

Then we had an early dinner of dad's delicious grilled ribs. Adam the rib hater even liked them and wants to try to make them at home! I can hardly believe it. 

Before leaving, we had rhubarb crisp which I had made with fresh rhubarb from our garden. Yum. 

It was so special to be there with my dad on Father's Day - it doesn't happen very often!

WR: Grad Party + Blue Angels

I haven't posted in a while, and in that time we've done a lot at home AND gone on two big trips (DC and California). I have a lot to catch up on!

Just this past weekend we went down to my parent's house for my cousin Sam's graduation party. It was held at the new dealership, which was a great venue. It was a lot of fun. 

They even had a giant game of Jenga which was made with cut down 2x4s!

It was in constant use. Of course I lost and had the giant tower come crashing down on me!

Earlier on Saturday, we had a lovely afternoon out on the river enjoying the Blue Angels show. 

Fat Albert led off the show,

and then the Blue Angels took to the sky.

They haven't been in town for 7 years, but in the past we had always gone down to the airfest grounds to watch. This new perspective was great, and much less stressful. 

Sunday was a stormy day, but dad was determined to go out on the boat and see the Blue Angels again. During a break in the pouring rain, all of us and cousin Jesse headed out. It was pouring on the water, so we all clustered together under the canopy.

Up towards the airport, we could see clear skies. We made it just as the Blue Angels started. As you can imagine, there were much fewer boats out to watch than on sunny clear Saturday. 

Due to the weather, they did a "low show" which was actually much cooler as they got closer to us. Plus, this time there was 6 aircraft (only 5 on Saturday due to mechanical problems on one).

Our ride back got a little intense towards the end with torrential downpour and thunder. But we made it!

Back at home we had DQ ice cream cake with the K's to celebrate Christine's birthday and then we were off home with the fishing boat in tow.

It was exhausting to be out of town for the 4th weekend in a row, but worth it!