hello basement entrance, it's been a long time coming

In March, when I finished capstone hours and was finally wrapping up nursing school, Jeremy and I started plans to finish our basement. As in, plans and framing done, electrical done, heating and air done, basement entrance and fencing plans sent in to be approved by our HOA. Ah, if only we had been more experienced Daybreak homeowners, we would have just said, "to hell with the HOA, we do what we want." Instead, we attempted to follow all their rules. We hand-drew plans of our lot and where we wanted to add our fence and basement entrance.

We were denied. We fixed what they asked us to. We were denied again. We fixed what they asked us to. We were denied again. We went to the city to clear up questions of where the easement was. We were denied again. We took pictures of neighbors homes who had 6 foot fences exactly where we were asking to place ours. Denied. Over and over; this madness was killing us. (May I mention? Meanwhile, our neighbor put up a fence for their yard, right before our eyes. "Oh didn't you know? You should never try to get anything approved, if you want to get it done?") With neither of us being artists or having any architectural talent, Jeremy and I had to learn a different level of communication.  After months and months of frustration, we had considered just disregarding the idea of a rental, and finishing the basement for ourselves. It wouldn't be so bad, there could be enough bedrooms for our 6 kiddos?

But we just couldn't shake the fact this isn't our dream home. Our babies' bedrooms in front, and a looooooooong hallway in between? And then having the rest of our babies downstairs...? What about the backyard? We can't even have a fence? The hardest part was that we are homeowners, and we have no say in what we want to build? to plant? (yes, that is why I have a planter box, and not a vegetable garden).

Through all of this, we were also dealing with stress from finals, studying and passing boards, Jeremy transitioning to a new job, me actually finding a job, Amelia's birthday party, Jeremy and I never seeing each other, our state tax return never being returned, my body wacking out, our ward callings, new teeth, etc. etc. etc. We didn't get passports or buy plane tickets to Taiwan (planned graduation trip with my parents), so we could be financially prepared. We (okay, I) spent many nights in tears, as we watched our summer slip away.

In the end, we had to change where had we hoped to put in our entrance. In a spot where we had to tear out part of our deck, in a spot that is costing us over $2K more. A spot that we'll have to readjust our framing and electrical for. We hired my friend, Jeff, who saved us and drew a perfect plan, got us approved through daybreak and the city. We got a decent quote from Armando. Jeremy and his dad and his brothers tore up our deck.

Yesterday, they started digging, our door was cut out. Today, we were approved for the footings, and concrete is being poured as I type. Monday, our walls will be approved and poured. Tuesday, stairs and drain. I think the entrance should be done by Wednesday. Hopefully, the basement will be completed by November, and we can have some renters by the new year. Hallelujah!

I'll apologize for a lot of this post being negative- I am more than thrilled that our plans are finally moving along. I also believe in trusting my husband's judgment, and trusting that everything will work out. It's just been a long time coming.



PS. Daybreak is great! I love my neighbors that I can call my friends, especially the ones on my street. I love my ward, I love the community. I love the free splash pool, free pool, free gym, free canoeing, free parties/festivals, the beautiful lake, the running trails, all the beautiful homes that are well kept. We are grateful to call this place our home. And when it is no longer our home, we will probably be sad. Until then, we'll just keeping living it up!

Thanks everyone for your love and support!

xo