Finally...Before and Afters

I know it's been a long time.. I have missed blogging, but I have also enjoyed lots of fun times with my family - Wilson turned 4, we've been to various tailgating events and a beach vacation and homecoming at the University of Alabama. The thing that has consumed most of my free time lately is our house renovation. The exterior of our home was in GREAT need of some TLC and repair. We decided to brick the front, to match the addition that is on the rear. The front of the house gets blasted with the sun each afternoon until the sun sets completely and it has really taken a toll. We knew if we just repainted, we would have to do so about every 5 years.
We have also undergone a renovation on the interior - we took a major load-bearing wall down between the kitchen and den. I think it was a much greater task than any of our workers imagined. It is almost complete and once I get around to painting the kitchen/den myself, I will post those before and afters.
Last week we took a trip down to Panama City for a week with Will's side of the family and it was the most perfect week ever! The weather was phenomenal and the children had SO much fun in the gulf - they REALLY love each other and they REALLY love waves and sea creatures!!!!! Hopefully I will get those pictures up soon as well. For now, enjoy these before and afters. I am off to the Bama Theatre for the final dress rehearsal for Tuscaloosa Children's Theatre's performance of Stuart Little, which Emma Claire is in - she's a River Creature - how fitting!!!! The school shows start tomorrow morning and public shows are Friday - Sunday. It's sure to be a treat for the entire family - I hope you'll make it!!!!!

Okay, here are the pictures!!!!

BEFORE:

notice the wear on the front door and peeling paint and rotten wood

notice the broken window sash on the middle dormer

if you look carefully behind the boys to the right, you'll notice that below that window, the wood is white, not even painted!!!!!

AFTER:

We added the front porch and the brick and painted remaining wood, we still have some trimming to do of those center bushes, but that will come with time!!!

we used the same brick that was used on the rear addition - it's called Alamo brick and it coordinates with the brick that borders the driveway and is on the retaining wall and patio floor called Old Chicago (see picture below with boys sitting on ground)

This is the rear of the house that was existing when we bought the house.

We are enjoying this blessing God has given us!!!!