The before...

So I finally got these pictures uploaded to the computer so I can finally put them on here.  Being a busy mom chasing after, cleaning up and feeding three little ones leave little time for small things as this.  But I now have some pictures of progress that I need to post, but thought it would be better to show where we came from first.  So lets begin...

This is from the road looking towards the trailer and some of the land.

Here is the other side of the property, facing the front of the trailer.

Here is our little pond.  This is from the yard we have now.  The house is planned to be on the other side of the pond with the front of the house facing the pond.

This is looking out towards the pond from where the house will be.  It doesn't look very good now cause this was before everything really greened up and everything is still grown up from winter.

This is looking at what is going to be the back yard. (going to be lots of work)

Looking toward the southwest corner of the property.  Rolling land.  Will probably have fruit trees and such over here.

This is looking north.  Open grassy area and then the trees line the creek bed leaving the pond.

This is the way we get around the place.  In a garden wagon.  Its quite the work out.

And this has been out lovely house for the past three years.  A single-wide, three bedroom, two bath trailer.  It is really not that bad of a place (especially now that the roof doesn't leak anymore), but with three small children the walls just keep closing in on us.  There is no room to run around inside.  We have tons of room outside as you can see, but on cold/rainy/or really hot days where we can't go outside we have lots of pent up energy that we have nowhere to release.  It has been a roof over our heads and it has given us the oppertunity to pay some debt off so we can afford out dream house and for that I am thankful for it, but we have paid our dues and it is time...

Papers signed... now lets get to building!

Finally after twice the amount of time this process should have taken, we signed our construction loan papers!!  I won't go into detail about why it took so long, but lets just say there were a few people that dropped the ball on a few things through out the ordeal, but it is done and over with and we can get started.  Mark, our contractor, came over yesterday to map out where the road will be and stake out where the house will be.  They are going to start next week and praying it stays dry long enough to get it going.  He said they should have the road and the pad done next week!  Loy and I will be gone next week.  Loy is going to Miami for work and I am going to tag along for a few days.  My mom is coming to keep the kids, she doesn't know it, but she is going to be photographer of the process for the first week.  I am super excited and hope that everything goes smoothly from here on out.  I doubt that is what will happen, but I hope.  If anyone has any words of advice or helpful tips, through them out there please as I am so new to this and have no idea what I am getting myself into.