Our House is 2!

Today our house has turned 2 years old. I can't believe it was 2 years ago today that we signed the papers and moved all of our belongings out of the uhaul and the travel trailer in Arlington (our previous home). We are so glad that we found our home where we did. We have made so many wonderful friends here. And we love that when our family comes to visit they get to stay with us in our home. I can't believe we have been here that long already. Our house warming party 2 years ago was that my side of the family came and celebrated Thanksgiving with us...(So I only had 2 and a half weeks to get the house together)...and this year we get to do it again.

The house already looks so much different than it did 2 years ago. We put blinds throughout the house, put ceiling fans in all of the rooms, built a deck, a shed, a veggie garden(currently we are growing weeds), painted, built shelves, added crown, framed out our bathroom mirrors, put in some chair rail, bought a didning room set (our first thanksgiving our dining room was the luggage room and for Christmas it was the tree room), expanded our entertainment center, replaced our pantry and front doors...and believe it or not I still have a pretty long list of projects to do. The only bad thing about the 2 year anniversary is that our home warranty has expired :(

2 yrs ago

OK...So the pictures don't look that different, mostly in the back yard and inside, but the bushes have grown, the grass is a little greener and the new front door is up.

Painting Peddler

Last night a guy came knocking on our door trying to sell some paintings. He was probably early 20's maybe mid and very soft-spoken. I got the impression that he was from Europe somewhere. The pictures were gorgeous. He showed me about 15 of them and I was amazed and although I didn't intend on buying one...at least not on the spot like that I asked how much $90-160. They were probably about 24X30. I don't think I can describe how impressed I was by them. Even after hearing the price I was still interested...especially since they were hand painted. Alex was at school so I asked him if he had a card so I could get with him later about the paintings and he said that he didn't. I was a little bummed...especially when I walked into our office and saw a stack of stretched canvases that I plan on painting myself...I just don't know what I want to paint...and know they won't look nearly as gorgeous as the ones he had already done. I guess we both lost out on the deal. If he really wanted to sell them he could have at least asked if I could write down his name and number and get back with him later. Oh well...Life goes on. Who knows how my art pieces will turn out? Hopefully well enough to display, or that was a waste of money.

Rock The Vote

I love where I live and the people around me. It is great to be in a smaller area, in a big city. Everything is within a reasonable drive, but most everything I need is right next to me. Not that it is new to me I grew up in Katy which is just outside of Houston.

The reason I bring this up is I love running into people that I know when I am out and about. I probably wouldn't care as much if it happened all of the time, but when it does happen it makes me smile and feel like I belong in the community. So yesterday Alex and I left work in the afternoon to run to the election polls. Just a minute or 2 after we arrived our friend Erin showed up to vote too :)

It is kind of the same feeling I get when I go to the temple. Almost every time I go I see someone I know. It doesn't happen as much as it did in Houston (that was constant, I always ran into someone there), but give me a little more time and more exposure and I will get to know more people here.

So although not everyone that I voted for was elected, election day 2008 did bring a smile to my face.

We are going to Disney World

One of my Mom's lifelong dreams has been to go to Disney World with all 6 of her kids. Since she had a pretty big b-day this year we wanted to do something extra special...so for her 50th B-day we decided to surprise her with her long overdue trip. The family is super excited and ready to hit the plane. I am sure we are going to take way too many pictures so you will have to check back again next week to see how much fun a large group of adults with a few kids can have at Disney World.

Utility Room Project

Somehow with all that is going on right now we have been able to work on a house project. I think it was out of necessity since we had food storage in the utility room and the office. We are probably about 80% done with the project, but I think we are done for now.

We couldn't just put regular cabinets in because they wouldn't be deep enough or hold enough weight so we had to find something that would work. We found some heavy duty shelving units that said they hold around 2000 lbs. That is about all I could fit in the space anyhow so we went with them. I must admit that I was surprised how expensive metal shelving is, but we are going to make it look great and it is definitely needed.

Here is the food that we currently have that needed a place to live.

Here is the metal shelving unit. With the wood it is about 2 feet deep. Much deeper than standard upper cabinets.

And this is what it looks like today. They have about 1000 lbs on them right now.

We still need to make and hang the doors and stain everything and add the hardware and replace the current light globe with a recessed light so we can open and close the cabinet doors. So maybe I was wrong before...maybe we are about 70% done. I just hate to think that we only have a C on the project so far.

Does anyone have any advice?

So yesterday I found out that one of my younger brothers is seriously considering joining the Marines in January. I am not thrilled with the idea. Anyone have good/bad experiences with family in the military? I just don't think that is the best environment for anyone to be in. I know that defending freedom is very honorable and sadly necessary, but I can't get past the thought of constantly being surrounded by cursing, drinking and smoking. I get the feeling that he is lacking direction in his life. Is direction what he will get out of this? If not, what will he get out of it? How do you find your spouse, start a family, and stay close to the family you already have when you are halfway around the world, constantly moving, constantly in danger, and possibly not surrounded by the most uplifting people?

Am I overreacting?

Back to B/CS

So I feel bad that I have not added a new post since the 15th.

I knew my life was pretty boring and that is kind of why I have been putting off a blog, but I have committed to it so here I am again.

I actually think I am going to back post a few projects that we have done recently so they are documented and so there are pictures for those interested to see.

This weekend Alex and I went to good ol' Aggieland. We have always said that if there were work for us there we would have stayed. Boy has it changed in the last 2 years. I still think we would consider going back if the opportunity came up and we knew we could live off of our income there, but we really love where we are now. Our only complaint is the drive home to see family.

I must say that my 2 younger brothers have it pretty well. They are still struggling college students, but you wouldn't think it if you walked into their apartment. It is fully furnished. With decent furniture even. When I went to college I borrowed a daybed...Both of my brothers have queen size beds. Luckily I was in a cheap furnished apartment...luckily they have older siblings that have extra furniture and stuff. Our oldest brother, Billy, and his wife Kris have lent a couch, loveseat and matching rug. Alex & I gave them a dining set, bakers rack and entertainment center. And the third oldest, Jenny, has more than enough decorations to go around. I know, I have quite a few of her decorations in my house and many will be sorely missed if she ever decides to reclaim them :)

We got in Friday evening. Mike and I are the only ones that made it to Midnight Yell. It is like a college pep rally we have for home games. It was Mike’s first experience and I think overall he had a good time. Saturday morning we dropped by and saw some old friends and then we watched the boys play a volleyball tournament. In the afternoon all of the family from Houston came up except for my nephew. We missed you Bailey!

We had a good time running around town. We helped our practically adopted brother Sean (the roommate) pick out his new bed. Ran around shopping. Sold some clothes, bought some new ones at a tent sale. While all of the ladies were out shopping Alex & Billy participated in one of their all time favorite pastimes and went golfing. Then we all went out to dinner (Except for Mike who went to the game...better luck next time Ag's). Then the Houston folks headed back home.

Here is a picture of Elizabeth in her new Aggie shirt :)

Sunday we went to Bryan 1st ward and ran into a few old friends. One asked if we were back, and one I was especially excited to see since I have been trying to contact her and didn't know she had moved back. It is a small world.