16 December 2008

What this holiday needs is some gratitude...

Here it is, a little bit of gratitude from yours truly. Most of you know that Judd and I moved into the Money Pit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj15gi7x6mg about a year ago.... Wow, has it been that long?
Originally the venture seemed like a good idea. A fixer-upper house that we could make into a home. Judd and my brother Andrew had a vision of the potential that day they looked at the house. If it were my eyes seeing it I would have seen all sorts of nightmarish outcomes... no visions. Funny how something can look different to two people when they are gazing upon the same thing. After seeing the house Judd returned like a warrior to our tiny one bedroom apartment and announced that he had liked the house, and then with hesitancy followed that with "it has potential". It could have been the pregnancy hormones, or the fact that anything bigger than a one bedroom apartment seemed like heaven that I actually agreed to buy the house after SEEING it. That's right, I did see the house first. Actually, I think that I smelled it long before I saw it, but let's not get technical here. The first three months were what I would call "roughing it" kind of like camping except without a warm fire, hot cocoa or marshmallows. Because there was no kitchen we lived on grilled cheese, tomato soup and anything microwavable. I would load up our dishes into an all-mighty Hefty garbage bag and haul them off to moms to scrub me some dirty dishes. It was that or the bathroom sink and I just couldn't bring myself to do that. There is something innately wrong about doing dishes where you go to the bathroom. After a few months like this we slowly whittled away at the layer of yuck. So for this holiday season I am grateful for:
A warm, CLEAN, nice home.
For a husband who is such an amazing man to take on this project and come out on the other side in one piece.
For my neighbors who brought us warm dinners to break up our bean and cheese burrito routine.
For my moms dishwasher
For Hefty bags (which can hold quite a few pots and pans with no problems)
Dust masks
Carpet!!!!!! (You know who you are)
Last but not least I am grateful for the family I have to fill this home.

Here are a few before and after pictures, pull up a fire, grab some marshmallows and take a look :)

Front entry way before
Entry way after
Entry after
Hallway before... Blue anyone?
Hallway after
One of the bedrooms before
Master bedroom before
Kitchen... You thought I was exaggerating the "No kitchen" part
Kitchen.... UGH! look at the floor. How do people live like that?
Office before
Office.
Kitchen after (the tile is now done, I just haven't taken new pictures)
Kitchen
Oh, another kitchen before. YUCK
Kitchen
Another kitchen... holy smokes, I didn't realize how many of these I downloaded
Family room before


Family room before
Family room after
Family room after

Family room after
Master after

Living room after

12 comments:

Unknown said...

My oh my! Your beautiful little family deserves this beautiful home!

Missy said...

Wow, you guys have done a lot of work! It looks great, and I'm sure you are happy it's finally done.

Justin and Liz said...

Looks good dude!

Judd & Leslie Zimmerman said...

I'd have to thank Leslie for being so patient. Not many girls that could live in a house with nothing, but dirty plywood floors, blue walls, dirty walls, nasty bathrooms, rooms that smelled like dog pee and absolutly no kitchen. Oh and MICE! And do it for months. I couldn't have been found by anyone better then her:)Thanks for trusting me.

Cara and Travis Colvin said...

Ok, the real reason we never come over has to come out now---every time we come over the whole way home I am "looking at fixer upper houses" and telling Travis could you imagine what we could do with that house. Travis has banned me!!! Just kidding (on the being banned, and that's why we never come over part at least). It looks great though.

Oertel said...

It really is so nice. And you weren't exaggerating the amount of work that you guys put in...

Anonymous said...

You are awesome people. If you can survive this together you can survive anything. Isn't it great learning what a good team you are together. That's all because of the great parenting you got. :) I'm pretty sure.

Love,
mom Z

Shane C. Coles said...

It has turned out great! Love it!

Breezy said...

awesome! now invite us over!!!! :)
hehehe. I will post on my blog soon, I am not dead :P

Unknown said...

your house is beautiful! and so's that sweet little girl of yours. but i already knew about that. wow - you did a ton of work, i love to see it. (my fav. are your hard wood floors, so stinking pretty.) thanks for sharing. Tyece

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
KT said...

What sexy living quarters you 3 humans live in. Very damn good job. (I want to steal the big love sac thingy ma-jig) Good work all.