TOOTH FAIRY UPDATE...

BREAKING NEWS - TOOTH FAIRY TO VISIT PONTOTOC

Well, Christmas is over (Dad still hasn't sorted through video and pictures to post)but I'll get on him to get that done soon.

As you see in the picture above, I noticed that my tooth was very loose this morning. Tonight when I was brushing with my new musical toothbrush that Ms. Charlotte got me for Christmas (plays YMCA when you brush - cool) out it came. Mom reached for it, but down the drain it went. Dad had to play plumber. After a quick p-trap removal - I had my tooth back. Now off to find out what the going rate for a first tooth is from the tooth fairy.

You can click on the picture to see a larger view.

Check back tomorrow to see what I got from the tooth fairy.

More BioBased Info

Click to watch a segment on BioBased from Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford.

Garage Insulation

Here are pics showing the garage insulation. We used BioBased Insulation which is a Soy product. J&M Insulation were our contractors on this and more information on BioBased can be found on their website: www.biobased.net

House at 12.23.07

Quick slide show from pour day.

Well - shot a good bit of video that I hope to get edited together by the weekend, but the 2 raw videos and this short slideshow will have to do for today. Tonight is the night we make glass candy for work. (At least until we run out of Karo)

Here we go!

Prepour Raw (low quality) video

Windows, Doors and Floors

Well - the White Castle now looks like a White Clown - will post pictures tomorrow. Jodie attended the "First Annual Quail Creek Christmas Bunch" at the invitation of one of the neighbors and fielded several questions about "what in the heck are you doing down there on the corner". All joking aside, she had a wonderful time and as has been the case since we first bought the lot, was welcomed into the neighborhood by all in attendance.

After the brunch, we went to B'ham to buy doors and flooring (windows were bought earlier in the week) - all should be on site in the next 3 weeks or so.

CONCRETE PUMPING FOR THE WALLS BEGINS AT 9:30 IN THE MORNING (12/18/07). Seating is on first come first served basis and tickets are $20 at the door or $15 in advance - make checks payable to Trustmark Bank c/o Thompson Construction Interest installment payments. Hope to have lots of video and stills and hopefully no concrete spills.

New White Castle Burgers Location in Tupelo

I'm sure the neighbors think the cheese has slid off our cracker, but the house is coming together now. Either that or they think we hold the franchise rights to White Castle Burgers in MS. So far this week has been spent on deciding on windows and a fireplace - both tasks are complete - I think. Weather is going to delay the pouring of the concrete walls until Friday or Monday, but there is plenty of "finish" work to be done in the garage now.

As for Mom and "Reagan/Thatcher" (sounds like a weekend at Camp David), they rolled over the other night and now have a pinched nerve - Mom keeps begging for a Flexeril, but Missy has her on hot showers and Myofelx cream (and that ain't cutting it.) Says this is much worse than labor with me. I may send her back to Missy tomorrow if she keeps this up. All for now, bye.

Whadaya Think?

Week 11 Framing Continues

Week 16 ? Update

Mom & ? had their regular Missy visit today. Everybody's doing fine. Heartbeat in the 130s - which means nothing although boys tend to be in that range and I was always in the 150-160 range. Mom and dad say next month we may get to find out what we're having. I'm not telling them I already know - It's a baby, silly.

Week 10 pt III

Week 10 part II

Week 10

Week 9

Laura's Monet

http://www.artsonia.com/museum/art.asp?id=2275970
We studied Monet's Waterlilies and then painted our own version.
Laura

Week 8, 9 &13 Updates

Snow Fort Update

Foundation walls were poured Friday and back-filled on Saturday. Today, HVAC, plumbing and electrical were trenched into the foundation backfill today and some pipe was put in place. THEN IT RAINED. Don't know what tomorrow will be like due to it being very wet. We'll see.

Project "?" Update

Had regular Missy visit today. Everything is on track. Blood sugar test was passed with flying colors. Hearbeat still in the 150s. We start week 13 Thursday. And yes, the countdown ticker is for the baby, not the house.

Project Snow Fort

Footings are in!

Looks like we have tackled the spring (or have learned to live with/around it) 56 cu. yards of concrete were poured today for the footings - now we get to come out of the ground and quit wearing out the dirt!

Thanks to the time change - I'm going to have to start doing the videos at lunch or on weekend. Maybe I can get by tomorrow and shoot some.

Week of 11/4 to 11/10 Planned Work

Today - We met Meme, Dede, Grandma, Grandaddy, Aunt Kathy and Uncle Tony at the lot to show off the new garage. I helped mom and dad pick up nails and decide where to put the outlets and lights in the garage.

Monday - Scheduled inspection of the footings in the morning and hopefully we'll have footings poured by end of day.

Tuesday - ELECTION DAY!!! Hope everyone votes and votes the right way! Should start to see "coolers" (PolySteel forms) being put in place - CAN'T WAIT!!!

Wednesday - Mom and ? have their regularly scheduled visit with Missy. Mom gets to have the dreaded sugar test.

Thursday, Friday & Saturday - Continued construction on the foundation of the house (electrical, HVAC and plumbing rough-ins)and possibly the roof on the west side of the garage (east is finished). Electrical and plumbing in the garage may also be on the schedule as well.

Hoedown

Laura's school had a Fall Festival Friday and this is one of several square dance sessions they had. It switches to color from the stylized video about midway and at the end there is a clip from the comedy portion of the program.

Happy Halloween

Laura's artwork in Artsonia Museum

http://www.artsonia.com/museum/art.asp?id=2134756&school=53168&gallery=y


Artsonia is the world's largest kids' art museum. Their dream is that every child will have an online art gallery, reflecting their masterpieces from pre-school through high-school, preserved forever!

Week 4 - Fri-Sat Update

Week 4 "Update"

Week 3 Update

Plans

House Info

Probably should have posted this before the Week 1 & Week 2 updates, but since we posted the first two posts to get people interested in the house building and draw them to the Week 2 update to hear about baby on the way - now it is time for some housekeeping.

House plan has taken 6 years to "perfect." Dad (Thompson Graphics) has been very patient with us. What started as a picture from Southern Living and a wish list is finally coming out of the ground. And no, the finished plan is no where close to where we started.

For those of you who don't know, we are using Polysteel ICFs (Insulating Concrete Forms) http://www.polysteel.com/. Although this adds a little cost up front, with rising energy costs, it should pay for itself over time. Exterior walls will be constructed of these forms and then filled with concrete. These forms remain in place and add to the insulating value of the wall. (R50+) Our exterior walls will be 11 inches thick 2.5" poly-6" concrete-2.5" poly.

In addition to the reduced energy consumption, we are looking for a quiet and soundly constructed home. With our lot located at the corner of Thomas (heavily travelled 3-lane) and Quail Creek and with the growth of Tupelo in general, there would be a lot of traffic noise. We are also constructing a safe-room to FEMA standards with a triple bolt door. We have personally experienced a sever thunderstorm in one of these houses - could not tell it was even windy outside.

So far, I think the neighbors are wondering what we are going to put in all those "coolers". I've heard at least one person question our building the house out of Styrofoam and chicken wire.

Weather was less than desirable today and we had a "family sick-day" - well everyone except Laura, so we didn't make it to Tupelo to check progress, but if they can find a window of opportunity to pour concrete this week, we should start seeing something other that dirt work (can't wait).

Feel free to post questions or comments as we go.

SPT

Week 2 Update

Week 1 Update

So much for inspiration...

Just checked on Speed - looks like they've hit the "where did he go, what's he into now, I'm give out" wall over there. Last post 7.13.07

Yet something else we don't have time to do.....but

Inspired by Speed's Abnormal Aspirations, the Thompson's are launching a blog. There are a few reasons:

1. Laura's site (which hasn't been updated in like 3 1/2 years) cost $ every month and we don't update it - EVER!

2. Sean hopes that maybe Jo (maybe even Lou) can post and he won't get ALL the blame for not updating the site.

3. Those people wanting to follow the progress of the new house can do so at their leisure and offer comments at 2:00 in the morning. (Meme)

Don't know how long it will be before this goes stale like Lou's site, but we can hope we'll make it past a year.

Oh, the name - derived from our new address (maybe this way I can learn it)

All 4 now.