Footers

Footers are now dug. They are basically big holes and trenches that are filled with re-bar and concrete to support the weight of the house.

I will try to orient you to the photos.

Here is a basic plan of the house upper floor. Oriented so North is at the top. The main house part (not the garage) has a walk out basement. The innards of this plan have been changed a bit but the outer walls of the house are the same.


Nice outline of the house proper looking NE.


Imagine a two story house right above Ethan. He is at the NW corner at about the level of where the basement floor is. Photo looks SE.

Ethan standing where the support for the West wall of the Garage will be (looking N).


East Garage wall (looking North).

South wall of the house. You can see garage footers going right.


Pits for deck/roof supports.

They're big.

Northern most house footer.


This trench will be the footer for a retaining wall for the furthest South part of the back yard. Doing this allows us to have basically a flat upper yard with two sides defined by the house and garage, one side by this wall, and one side by a fence probably.

Not much will be done for the next week or so. Next step will be pouring massive quantities of concrete. We want to write a few scripture verses into the concrete as its drying, so any suggestions are appreciated. Currently thinking:

Deut 6:4-9
Psalm 127:1, maybe all of 127

Pilot Ethan

Helicopter tours were given for the opening of the church's new aviation themed children's building. Ethan reluctantly sat in the pilot's seat.

Zoo Day!

Abby won't turn her back on the 'gator, even for a photo. Smart girl.


Giraffe feeding!! Blue foot long tongues....mmmmm.



Wildlife World Zoo in Phoenix is our favorite Zoo. The animals always put on a great show.

Happy Feet

Joel shows off his new found walking skills.

Be Mine?

Abby displays her Valentine craft.

2/16 dig

This will be the future "front" yard. Nice and flat.The tractor in this photo is in the basement. Upper front yard to right.
All the dirt being moved is turning into a nice flat, large "back" lower yard as well.



Another view of the front yard. This hole is impressively large. I can't believe they did it in two days.

2/15 progress

The basement begins to take shape.

And so it begins

The new Nelson homestead begins to take shape. The culmination of a years worth of planning.

Happy Valentine's


Above shows from the top corner of the garage looking towards the "front" yard and the house itself.


Obligatory bike shot.

Abby update

Here she is all healed. Kids are amazing.

She has the most amazing eyes.

New Bike

Ethan is getting strong, but not strong enough to take on Prescott's hills with a Single Speed 16" bike. We did the upgrade to an Ibex with triple in the front for those steep climbs and little legs.
And he's off.

We got in a nice 2 hour ride with me towing Rachel, and him riding at Pioneer park. He climbs well on it, and is getting confidence with the hand brakes on the downhills. Two hours in the park, riding, not pushing makes it a worthy investment.

Awanas Grand Prix

Ethan had fun with this.
Built this thing (the red one) in about two hours.


The crowd goes wild!

Abby Bonks

I hear a crash from the kitchen and run into the girls room shocked to find Abby crushed under the girl's large doll house type cabinet. Little legs were sticking out like the wicked Witch of the West. I was supposed to have that thing bolted to the wall, but after two years it worked itself loose. a little climbing and pulling.....and blammo. Pulled her out and noticed about an inch long cut to the scalp. Conveniently, I am a surgeon, I was home, and I had an office ready and waiting to get this taken care of. The job is very nice sometimes.


Good thing I sew better than I bolt things to walls. This is the finished product. This little girl is way brave. Not a peep out of her with shots, stitches, etc. Hard for me to understand how Abby who cries at the drop of a hat in any other situation, is by far our bravest kid when it matters.

Abby's motto: Frequently injured

Girls

Boys

The Nelsons spent the week off and on in Scotts while dad was at a conference.

Nice hiking in the Mcdowell mountains.

Dad went biking in the same area and had a grand old time with superb and challenging climbs. Can you say "cactus"?