2022 – Terry Family Shenanigans

Our Home

I decided to make a post with the progress on our house. I take a picture of the house the first day of each month and then we will have a finished house at the end. Hopefully it flies by and before we know it we have our finished forever house.

A few years ago, a neighborhood a little south of our house at the time caught our attention. It had a little bigger lots and space and it was quiet and peaceful. We talked about buying a house there and kept our eye out for any that went up for sale in that neighborhood. We went through one- it was a very nice house, but I didn’t love the layout. Ryan loved it, especially the backyard. It was a little out of our budget too. We put a pin in it for awhile. Then when COVID started we decided we wouldn’t mind having a little more space and looked again. Not many houses go up for sale in the neighborhood, there are only a dozen or so houses in the whole neighborhood. We heard that they might be developing more lots behind the houses already there. In December 2021 they put about a dozen more lots up for sale. We had never really planned on building a house but since there were now open lots in the area that we wanted to live we thought it was a good option. So in January 2022 we decided to do it. We then had to pick a lot, find the builder, arrange financing, and decide on the plans we wanted. In May of 2022 we signed the papers and it was time to start building.

The first order of business was to get permits and things in order with the city and county…it took a while. A long while. June. July. August long while. Finally in September the permits and everything were in order and we started digging.

October-Foundation walls poured, backfill on walls, temporary driveway placed.

November 2022-Basement plumbing put in, basement floor poured, walls water proofed, more backfill done.

December 2022-More back fill, garage floors poured, getting staged to frame.

January-February 2023- Framing finally started. Lots of snow, rain, and freezing weather made it go slower then we hoped.

March 2023- finished up framing. Small delay from a roof mishap. Roof started and ready for windows.

April- Roof put on, lower windows installed, framing finished, HVAC and cabinet drawings started.

Inside house pictures from April.

May- rest of windows installed, front porch poured, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical installed, temporary doors installed. Picked out tile and flooring.

June- inspections for plumbing electrical and gas were done so not much happened while we waited on that. They put the piers in for the back deck, and started on insulation once inspections were passed. I picked out some furniture for the living room and decided on tile and lighting.

July-August Inspections, and finishing plumbing and electrical seemed to take FOREVER. There were a few little things done while we waited on that. I think our builders were focused on other things to be honest. It was a very frustrating slow process. Towards the end of August things started picking up again. They put the stucco on the outside and got the house prepped for painting. Doors were hung. I picked out all the tile, stone, floors, paint, plumbing and anything else we needed to decide on while we ‘waited’ for whatever we were waiting for.

September-October Cabinets got installed, outside was painted, deck installed, drywall and mudding done, countertops installed, interior painting done, tile for kitchen and baths done, flooring started. Back patio and part of driveway and sidewalk poured. Found out the masonry was on strike and they can’t get any stone right now so still waiting for stone to be installed.

October-December 2023

Stucco, stone, and painting on the outside was done. Final grading, deck installed, fireplace stone done. There were a lot of things accomplished in November but the hoped for move in date of something in November was a little ambitious. Weather, holidays, and the universe testing my patience, slowed things down enough that we decided to shoot for December. Flooring, touchups, lighting installed, carpet, finish work like doors, hardware and lots of little things you don’t even think about were done. The house was pretty much done shortly after Thanksgiving. At the beginning of December we did an initial walk through and made a list of things that needed to be done, touched up or were missed. They got most of that done and then started the final clean ups. It was the middle of winter so we got temporary occupancy until we have some landscaping in. We told them we would not sod or plant grass in December. The city was cool with that, the loan company was kind of turds about it. It all got figured out and we started to move into our house on December 18, the movers brought the last of everything on December 23rd. Just a little over a week shy of when we decided to start this whole process and picked out lot out in January 2022. It has been a hectic two years. I don’t know if we would do it again😜 but we did it once! We love it and hope it will be a good home for us for a very long time!

Here are some pictures from the last month or so of everything starting to come together.

As I mentioned since it was the middle of winter we couldn’t do much yard work. They had to dig up the back yard about a month after we moved in to replace one of the septic tanks. We were really glad we didn’t have sprinklers and grass already installed. That would have been maddening. My sister Sherri put an awesome plan together for us though to show what we are going to start working on in the spring. It will take a few years but we are thinking something pretty close to this. We have a lot of work ahead of us!

This last picture is the first of many I will take of the sunrise from our deck at our house. That is one of my favorite things about our new house. The sunrise and sunsets are amazing!

December

As most Decembers are, ours was pretty busy. I did a poor job of documenting it with photos. I can still write about it.

We did a lot of our usual traditions. We drove around and looked at lights while listening to Christmas music and drinking hot chocolate.

We did some service-this year most of us were able to help with the local Christmas Bureau. They set up a giant store basically for people that need a little extra help and then they can come shop at the store- but it doesn’t cost money. We helped man the store while people were shopping and take it down and store everything left when it was over. Allison enjoyed helping people pick out a coat if they needed one.

Ryan and I went to a White Elephant party. All of us went to the ward Christmas party. It was a lot of fun. Yummy food, good music, lots of visiting. There was a photo area and we had full intentions of taking a family photo but we couldn’t locate all of us at the same time to take it and missed our chance. Matthew got one with his buddies though.

I didn’t think about leaving out some puzzles from storage for Christmas. We usually have a puzzle out to work on most of December. We were able to borrow a few from Grandma and we got a new one to work on too. Lots of Christmas music, hot chocolate, Christmas movies, wrapping, buying, gifting. We decorated a ginger bread house. We made and decorated sugar cookies. Our elf Bubbit sent his cousin and reindeer so we found them each morning too. It was a nice month, I think we all enjoyed the family time and celebrating Christmas together.

Christmas Eve was supposed to be at Grandma and Grandpa Terry’s house with a big dinner and then reading the story together, singing, and hanging out while we played games. Becky and her family came from Idaho and brought Covid and RSV with them so we stayed away for a few days. So we ended up doing all the things I said but we did them with just our family at Ross and Lauren’s house. We did go over later on Christmas day and we had a family dinner the day after Christmas with everyone.

Christmas Day we were up and ready to open presents by seven. We opened everything and had breakfast and checked out our new gifts. Emilee got her roller skates, Allison got lots and lots of squishmallows, and Matthew got his air soft gun. Then we went to church. It was just sacrament meeting and it was a really nice service. There was lots of music which I love. Then we had a the rest of the day to eat junk food and play with the new toys and games.

Between Christmas and New Years we had an artic wind blow in. It was -5 degrees for about a week. Gross. We played with cousins a lot. Emilee really wanted to see the new movie called Puss and Boots so we all went to that together. We went to Urban Air one day and let the kids all get their energy out on the trampolines. My sister Sherri and her family came to visit about mid week. We found some space to squeeze them in while they were here. Matthew moved to the basement. He had snacks, a fridge and a TV down there so we didn’t see him to often. One day was warm enough we went to the park down the street to play. We caught up on the movies we hadn’t had a chance to see. Sherri and I got our nails done and went shopping together. It was a fun visit.

We also turned Allison’s grumpy picture into a meme.

For New Years Eve Sherri and I got some things to play some games with the kids. Ryan made some BBQ and we had lots of snacks to munch on. We played the games we did and then the kids played while we watched a movie. When it was almost midnight we busted out the glow sticks and celebrated the new year. Matthew is now old enough to go out with his own friends and do his own thing so we didn’t get to enjoy his company New Years Eve. He went to a Stake Dance with his friends, then to Twisted Sugar to eat to much sugar, then to Campbell’s house to finish the evening.

2022 was a pretty good year- hopefully we keep that trend going in 2023.

It is always a little crazy to look back over the past year and realize how much happened in a year. Some of it we expected some of it we didn’t. The highlights for me are usually the trips and family events we do. Ryan and I had our 20th anniversary trip to Europe. We decided to buy a lot and build a house. We went to Branson a few times, one of them a Terry family reunion with boating and Silver Dollar City. A sister trip to Texas. Countless activities with the kids- gymnastic meets, wrestling matches, horse riding lessons, baseball games, concerts. The kids all spent some time in Florida with Grandma and Grandpa Jones. I went to Utah for my Grandma’s funeral. Then we decided to sell the house and move into a rental while they build our new one. It was quite a year. I am grateful we were able to do all those things and more. We are very blessed.

Orchestra Christmas Concert

We got to go watch Allison play her cello in the school concert before Christmas. This is the second year she has played and she is pretty good. Imagine how good she would be if she practiced!! It was nice to hear her play. Grandma and Grandpa were able to come watch too. Enjoy!

News From The North Pole

Our Elf Bubbit usually shows up around the 10th of December. This week Emilee found a letter from him hiding in one of the stockings. It looks like we will have some antics from his cousin this year and a visit from his Hershey Kiss Pooping Reindeer.

My Awesome Husband

Ryan has been working at his company now for almost 11 years. He is the first employee they hired and him and the two owners have now grown to 40 employees. For the past year he has been expanding his role and wearing two hats. He has done his regular job in business development but has been helping new business development people learn their roles and the business. The owner and him have been working out the details for a bit and last week he made it official and made Ryan the VP of Business Development! He has several jobs that he is going to finish he has already gotten started but then he will transition to the new position full time. He is pretty excited about it. I am proud of his hard work and his drive to improve and develop his career and provide for his family. He is a good man, I am a lucky lady. He took Allison Christmas shopping this afternoon and went hitting with Matthew at the batting cages. He tickled and wrestled around with Emilee and took me out on a date last night after the ward Christmas party. I love that he loves his family and purposefully spends time with us together and individually. I know he enjoys his job but has been stressed and extra busy at work the past few months. He leaves it at the door when he gets home and lets all of us know he loves us and likes to be with us and spend time with us. I have been feeling extra appreciative of him lately.

This is a screen shot of an email I was sent through linked in. 😊

Thanksgiving

This year was a quieter Thanksgiving. It was a great Thanksgiving. We switch off families each year, it was my families turn. Sometimes we have a get together sometimes we don’t. Everyone ended up doing their own thing this year. We stayed here in Olathe. Roger and Rhonda were here too so we ate with them. Roger did the turkey, Rhonda did the rolls and pies, I did the rest of the sides. It was a delicious meal followed by good visiting, naps, games, and leftovers. The rest of the weekend was low key too. It isn’t very often that we have nothing going on and can just relax and enjoy hanging out together. We played games, did a little Christmas shopping, put up Christmas decorations, and made some holiday treats.

Allison and I were making hot chocolate mixing spoons to hand out to people. She found a mold for teeth while we were doing it and made some pretty realistic looking chocolate dentures.

As usual once Thanksgiving is here the holiday season takes off and there are parties, events, service opportunities, and holiday traditions to do almost every night. It is a wonderful time of year.

Emilee Hits Double Digits

The youngest child in our family had her golden birthday, which is also her first double digit birthday this year. Ten years old! So crazy to think she has been with us for 10 years. I remember her first night with us. She joined us a little before 5 in the morning and didn’t make a peep. I was very worried but the doctors assured me she was fine and healthy. Then she snuggled into a ball and slept on my stomach where she spent the first nine months of her life, just now on the outside instead of inside.

She wanted to have a party with some friends for her 10th birthday. With the move from our home to our rental I was a little off the ball and didn’t get something booked in time for her birthday. We managed to figure something out though. She invited her besties Reese, Cambrie, Millie, and Jovee to have pizza followed by laser tag and a ropes course up in the air at Main Event. Matthew and his girlfriend Campbell came with me to help supervise and make sure everyone was having fun. After that we all piled into the car and came back to our house. We had ice cream cake, opened presents and played games until it was time for pick up. It was a successful 10th birthday.

She wanted to wear dangly earrings for her birthday.

Shortly after her birthday Emilee had her first piano recital. She has been playing for about a year now. She goes through periods of willingness and enthusiasm to play. I am encouraging her to stick with it long enough to get to the point she really gets it and can play things on her own. I think she will really like it. She had been planning on playing a song from Wicked for her recital. I guess her teacher had told her to switch songs the last week to one she was more comfortable with. I didn’t know though so I had her practice the Wicked song and she never practiced the original. So she played it for the first time in over a week at her recital. 🤦‍♀️ She still did fine and it was a good experience for her. She is learning she can do hard things. She is now playing Christmas music which has re-excited her to play more. I think if I can get her through one more year she will be hooked and realize it is fun.

November was also Emilee’s 4th grade musical performance. She has never been a fan of these yearly performances. Matthew was fine with whatever was assigned to him. Allison always wanted the biggest part and went all out on her costume. Emilee tries to tell me she is sick the day of everyone. She always turns down a speaking part and will not dress up. Since she is tall she is usually on the back row. This year she was next to a very enthusiastic boy that was all in for all the song actions. Emilee tried to melt into the person on the other side of her and looked like she was wishing to be anywhere but where she was at. Since she didn’t want a speaking part her teacher had her play the xylophone for one of the songs. She did her best to look miserable the whole time. When she saw me recording her she couldn’t help a little smile sneak out. Such a funny girl.

Allison Wraps Up Wrestling

Allison ended up deciding she liked wrestling. It is a really quick and intense season but she liked it. She won her very first match of the season then had a bit of a rough patch then finished the season by winning her weight division in her last match. She is planning on wrestling next year too.

As she was finishing wrestling she was also getting ready for her first gymnastic meet of the season. The season always starts off with the Chalk Up Meet. She started off pretty good. Her scores were Beam: 8.4 Floor: 8.8 Bars: 8.05 Vault: 8.8.

Allison is going to try out for the play next semester. I am so impressed and proud that she is willing to try so many different things. She is our social little butterfly. She is a good friend too. One of her friends had to put her dog down so Allison and another friend in their group got a little gift for her and surprised her by dropping it off with a little song and dance they made up. They did a good job cheering her up.

She doesn’t like to draw attention to it but Allison has a big loving heart. I was watching her the other day. She is a beautiful, caring, loving, talented, artistic, smart girl. She is becoming a kind young women. I am excited to see how she continues to grow and develop and what she decides to do with her life. She has a bright future ahead of her.

Something We Never Expected

This is the third year of doing the Primary Program for Sacrament meeting. The first year was COVID and we just did a video. The last two years have been more traditional versions. The kids learn the songs all year and we help them come up with their parts about a month before the program. We practice everyone’s parts and singing together the two weeks before we do it for the whole congregation. We had a Saturday practice the day before this year as well. The kids were doing great and excited to show their parents and the people they invited.

Once it was time to start the kids came up front and found their spots and things were going along great. About 15 minutes in I noticed a rustling of noise starting and kids seemed to be losing their focus a bit. I was trying to figure out what was going on and I saw one of the boys point at something. I look up to where he is pointing and there are two baby mice running along the ledge of the light facet around the room. Once one of them noticed it took about 20 seconds for word to spread to all the kids on the stage. Our music leader was able to get there attention and the teachers up with the kids on the stand helped them refocus. We continued on with their program.

The mice were not done exploring though. They were jumping and skipping along the edge. The audience also started to notice and we lost several of them because they ran out crying. One of the mice got a little to crazy and fell from the ledge right down the wall. He was at the back of the room and started working his way up the pews on the floor. We lost a few more audience members. I was in the very front row and could tell my Sunbeam class teacher was not ok with a mouse getting anywhere near her. She was sitting by her husband and he was trying to help her relax. At one point when the people right behind me gave a little jump indicating the mouse had reached their pew she stood up to exit. Her husband put his arm around her shoulder and helped her stay in her seat. The mouse then moved up past me and was headed towards the ramp to get up on the stand. The poor Sunbeam teacher was at the top of the ramp and I new if it got any closer to her she lose her composure completely and no amount of coaxing from her husband or myself would calm her down. So I stood up and walked over to the baby mouse-his ears were bigger than his body- and kicked him under the door. I was very grateful he went out the door instead of up my leg. By this time a few people had gotten a bucket or two and were waiting for it to come out in the hall to catch it. I am now known as the legendary primary president that saved the primary program by literally booting a mouse out the door. Apparently I did it very calmly and people were impressed. I was just glad it was not a snake.

When we are getting ready to do a program, I try and think of all the different situations that could come up and how to handle them so I am prepared for anything 80 kids from 3-11 might throw at me. I never thought of mice showing up and running around. Once the mouse was out of the room, things settled down a little and the kids finished their program and did a great job. Afterwards when we talked about it they thought it was so great they sang and said their parts so well that even the mice came to watch.

Last But Not Least

Emilee has been keeping busy with her activities too. She is still doing piano. She wants to be done with it but I told her she had to get through the lesson book she is on first. She has a recital coming up and she is going to play a song from Wicked that she has been learning.

She is still taking riding lessons and loves it. One of the horses she rides is called Marilyn. She is a shorter horse so when she canters she gets moving pretty good.

She played volleyball this Fall and it was hit or miss if she liked it. Once she was there I think she liked it, getting her there was usually a chore. Especially when it was early on a Saturday.

She loves going to Primary Activity Days. They had a daddy-daughter activity a while ago. They both had a lot of fun building this tower together. It was a contest to see who could build the biggest sturdiest tower in a certain amount of time. They were the winners. Dad’s engineering heart was so proud.