A lot of work went into the house – clearing the land, digging the basement.  That was cool to watch.  But the best part was when they started framing it. That was when the new house became real for me – when we had walls and rooms framed out.  That was when I realized, “we are going to have our new house!”

After they poured the basement walls, framed out the interior walls, and put the beams in place, they put down the plywood basement ceiling/first-floor floor.   Then they were able to start building the walls of the first floor. Hewitt was allowed to help hammer* in some nails, as long as he wore his LKS Rose hard-hat* that Lucky gave him. Hewitt loved that hat and still wears it!

Once all of the first floor walls were framed, they put plywood on the outside.  Then they added the second floor beams and the floor for the second floor.

The first day that we were allowed to walk in what would become our bedrooms was so exciting.  I remember sitting down on the plywood floor in my bedroom, closing my eyes, and imagining that my room was finished.

My room was one of the first to get the roofline – the other kids were all saying, “how come she gets hers done first?”

Lucky’s answer? “She’s the boss.”

Lucky is so awesome!

Framing the house was really cool because Lucky would let us help when it was safe for us. We carried boards, boxes of nails and screws, batteries for the power tools, and did anything else we could safely help with. Lucky and his crew were very patient with my siblings, and it made building the house fun for all of us.

Mom was particularly happy to use it as part of our homeschooling education.  She said it made geometry very real and practical.

*affiliate link