Getting ready to build a house...

On Tuesday we dropped off our paperwork at the bank. If all goes according to plans, we should have our loan in place within the next 2 weeks and then....LET THE BUILDING BEGIN!!! Yay! I'm so excited. Actually I can't believe it's true. We've been looking towards this day for so long that it doesn't seem real.

I'm excited for Brent because I know that he has had to sacrifice so much in order for me to go to school and then go back to school and then have another baby...you get the idea. He is an awesome husband with his patience and sense of "it will all happen in God's time" mindframe. I love him!! (I love you sweetie!)

Back to the house...because I know that I like to research things and I know that it will be difficult for me to make a lot of these decisions, I've started looking at things for the house. Paint colors, kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities, etc. I haven't started looking at carpet, hardwoods, tile, or countertops, but I know that I have to do that too. I'm trying to look at the big things and get an idea of the colors I want to use and style I want to use and then start looking at things like light fixtures, drawer pulls, faucets, etc. If you have tips about the kitchen cabinets and paint colors that's what I'm working on the most right now, so please let me know. I've never done any of this before so I'm open to any wisdom, tidbits, thoughts, etc. (Disclaimer - just don't be offended if, later, you see the pictures, and know that we didn't go with your opinion.)

Here's my first thoughts about the kitchen cabinets - I like maple, I like the light colored stain (but not natural) with some sort of brown glaze.

Something like one of these:

I would like to have self-closing doors and I would like to have some "cool" features. As long as I can remember, I've been fascinated about the possibilities for kitchen cabinets when I've been to Lowe's...you know, spice rack drawer, baskets you can pull out, lazy susans, those kind of features.

The door style is the hard part for me...I know the ones I don't like but then I have a hard time choosing the ones that I really do like. It's fun, though, and I'm enjoying it!

So, my dad is set to come to do the grading on Friday, May 15th...right, dad? He says it will take him Friday and Saturday at least to get that part of the work done. We've already talked to the person who will do the foundation after that. (I think that's right...these building terms are all new to me...Elijah's trying to teach me but I'm a difficult student when it comes to these things.)