Revisitng the bath showroom

So, even though the construction is waiting for better weather, there are still things to be done, and decisions to be made.  In early November, we received the estimate from the plumber with the plumbing fixtures.  I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but lets just say, we didn't quite expect such a large sum.  Of course, the estimate was about 20 pages long and included up to five alternatives for each item chosen, like five alternatives to a drain.  Oy!  Sadly, in all our enthusiasm, or lack thereof in this case, we simply filed the estimate away, and said that we would get back to it.  I guess almost two months has really flown by, because we got a call from the plumber this morning.  He wanted to remind us that we should make up our minds soon about what items we will chose for the house.  Huh.  I think we're both embarassed and frustrated.  Sticking our heads in the sand obviously was a poor choice.
So this afternoon, we headed back out to the bath showroom, estimate in hand, wanting to re-evaluate our options.  We found out that the man in charge of our account is on vacation.  So instead, we booked an appointment for next week, and decided to look around on our own.  There is real value in looking around a bath showroom without your plumber and sales representative following you around.  We found a few interesting ideas for the shower that might save a little.  We are also considering ordering our faucets from home.  Unfortunately, we haven't found another way to save like 10,000 Euro, but tonight, my job is to put the estimate into an Excel file so that we can start to tackle this project!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours

Since Christmas is celebrated over two days here, it is still Christmas.  With that, I'd like to take the opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

Our two year Blogiversary!

Hard to believe that two years ago today, I began this blog!  We've really come so far in the past two years.  From chosing our best option to actually building a home. 
After seven hundred and thirty days of pouring over countless decisions about our home, tonight the first floor of our home sits underneath a blanket of snow, and beneath that a blanket of insulation, that is protecting the concrete ceiling.
We've come so very far, to reach a slight snag in the timeline:

This is what it has looked like in our town for the past week and a half.  And while our builders are hardy and work in most any weather, snow and ice are not proper working conditions. 

The good news though is that the day before the big snow, the builders managed to pour the ceiling of the first floor.  They came on Friday morning to put a "blanket" over the house, which helps to keep the house dry and warmer, in order to help the concrete dry properly.  I am just happy for the house that it is all snuggled under a cuddly blanket. I'd love to leave a thermos of hot chocolate for the house to enjoy when it gets really cold. 

Of course, as it we are now two weeks out from Chirstmas, it looks like we won't see our builders again until January now.  I'm not upset.  As I was telling my friend Mandy today, I feel so guilty when the guys are working in cold weather.  I know its their job, but I don't want to be the reason our builders are out there freezing their butts off.  We'll get our house built, I don't mind.

As soon as we find the battery charger for our camera, I will post some new pictures.  In the past week, the house has looked really Christmassey all covered in snow.  Sadly, today, it is totally rainy.  But, the forecasters are predicting a white Christmas, so it looks like its time to get decorating!

What is very cool and very unplannable, is that on this two year Blogiversary, we met with the Notary Public this afternoon.  We signed the contract in which Joern's parents gifted us 100 sq. meters of their land.  We are now the owners of all of the land upon which our home sits!  Amazing!  Plus, this was the final step necessary before we were able to secure our mortgage.  So, pretty soon, we should be able to receive our money from the bank.  Scary, but also very necessary!

It is so much fun to look back on the journey that is long behind us.  It seems like another world ago when we were looking at existing homes and considering pre-fabs.  Somehow, through it all, we managed to find our best fit.  I cannot believe that so much has happened, and that we have two-thirds of the exterior now completed.  So much of our heart and souls have been poured into this home already.  It is a part of us.  It is also amazing to think that we will be living in our custom-build on our third blogiversary.  I can't wait to watch this upcoming year unfold!
Thank you to all the readers who have gone through this process with us.  Many of you have left fantastic comments which have helped us wade through all the decisions.  I look forward to one day welcoming many of you into our home!