Changes

As we move closer to our happy move-in day I wanted to be sure I took the chance to compile a few of the pictures of the changes we have made.  That way the mister and I will better remember all the fun we've had with buying our first house!

We feel so lucky to be able to even have the opportunity to make this big step.  I would be lying if I said we haven't gone through the whole gamut of emotions, sometimes all in one day.  There has been some nervousness and fear of getting our hopes too high.  Some frustration and threats of walking into 'the mans' office as a human hurricane and knocking over everything in sight {j/k I didn't really threaten that, but they should have been warned that I can be terribly picky}.  Someday when we look back I think the only part we will actually remember is the excitement and happy anticipation.  We truly have loved seeing this little idea turn into a reality.

When we asked for the backsplash and all the flooring to be replaced we got to go to the design center and make all the new choices.  Well, if we're honest - I went to the design center and texted Ben pictures of everything in sight while he did the responsible thing and worked.  He's a brave man letting me make the decisions all alone!

As soon as all the decisions were made we watched as they quickly got to work.  I had a few nights where I would lie awake with a pit in my stomach hoping that the flooring would go well with the cabinets and that the carpet wasn't too dark.  I debated a putting in a white verses a wood stained mantel probably 20 times {honestly}and don't want to even think about choosing another appliance.  Alas, the time has come - we've done a walk through, we've seen the completed work and I can honest to goodness say I am very pleased with the outcome.  

Never fear, the grout has now been cleaned up and the baseboards successfully installed in the picture above - and - there is now a functioning sink in the picture below.  We don't actually expect you to wash your hands in a hole.  

Now it's time to wrap this baby up and sign some papers to make it official!  I can't wait to move in and start decorating!  If you know me {then you know my mind never turns off} and you won't be surprised that I have already started drawing up the decoration plans I have for this house.  Ben is really excited. :-) The fun never ends!  

Three Tangent Tuesday (even though it feels like Monday)

I love Monday holidays. I love Tuesdays that feel like Mondays.  I love short work weeks. Even though it feels like Monday, don't worry, I didn't forget our Three Tangents for Tuesday!  Bring on the craziness.

1. Being tan is awesome because you don't have to wear makeup.  Tan foreheads are my favorite.  It's weird, but true.  The problem is you never really get tan enough in Oregon/Washington.  Now that we've almost wrapped up the house in the NW maybe we should work on a vacation house in Hawaii, right mister?

2.  This is what the inside of our current house looks like right now.  There is not much room to walk upstairs unless you have awesome maze skills.  Basically if we plan on sleep walking we better wear a helmet because we will no doubt run into a box or a vacuum or a bags of clothes piled somewhere.

Don't you hate it when you pack something you didn't think you would need, but all of a sudden can't live without?  Yesterday I packed my tape measure - you know the soft one you use for sewing and measuring your waist.  I picked it up and thought to myself, "there is no way I am going to need this for the next couple weeks". Oh boy was I wrong.  It just so happened that I found a skirt at 12am, while the mister was sleeping, that was to die for! BUT I needed my waist measurement.  I unpiled the boxes that were stacked right outside our bedroom and tried to quietly untape and open each one I thought it was in.  After about 15 mins I decided I was being too noisy and eventually gave up.  Super cute skirt bummer.

3.  We're moving.  Obviously you know that because it's basically all I talk about.  But did you know it's NEXT week!!  It's really crazy.  We haven't known what day for sure because the title papers aren't {enter something I don't understand here} and we haven't done the builder walk through yet.  But I am sick of saying "oh I dunno, some time the first week of June." So I've decided we are moving next Tuesday and come hell or high water we are moving our stuff in and we WILL occupy that house before I go out of town on Friday.  The other day we went to the house to look at the new mantle and carpet.  Ben stood in the living room asking how we should position the couch and I had my, "Holy Crap this is really happening" moment.  A house people, it's happening.

Happy Tuesday-Monday to you!

Kitchen: Before and (almost) After

My apologies for the lack of the  "three tangent tuesday" post yesterday.  I just wasn't really feeling myself.  I have been completely exhausted for a few days now and my stomach has been super nauseous.  I know what you're thinking... trust me, you're wrong.  Sticks don't lie.

I am feeling much better today although I still don't have the brain power to think up three whitty things that I am dying for the world to know. I would, however, like to show you the transformation that is the kitchen we have purchased.

Before:

I am not sure why the cabinets look so dark here. I blame it on the lighting, or the wonderful sun, or the flash - definitely one of those.

Enter Amber and Ben: "Um, I basically hate that backsplash with every bone in my body.  We will buy this house if you promise to rip it out as quickly as possible, let us pick out tile for a new one and allow me to keep the granite to make a cutting board (correction: a lot of cutting boards)."

Deal.

They had it ripped out in record time.

Enter the sweet men from Russia who spent many days doing beautiful tile work in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room.  They agreed that the previous backsplash was awful and seemed more than happy to send it on it's way.  

(almost)After:

I really wish I could give you an after picture that is beautifully decorated, but we don't move in for a few more weeks. Please don't mind brown the paper hanging from the wall where our new gas range will live. I'm not sure what the story is there.  It must be in effort to not get grout everywhere, let's just call it art.

Doesn't the tile look great though?  I am seriously in L-O-V-E.  You are cordially invited to see it in person when we move in.  Not now though, there are nails all over the floor - it's a danger zone.

TRADING: big news for lots of luck

It's just a simple story.

A couple is searching for somewhere to lay some roots.  They search and search until one day they drive past a neighborhood that looks cozy.  They pull in and see a couple houses for sale.  They see a model home that looks open and let themselves in.  There, they find a sweet lady who appears to be on her way out. She asks if they would like to see the 2 houses for sale.  They hesitate and wonder if they should come back later, they - you see - were on their way to walk through a different house.  A house that they were trying to be interested in, but somehow it wasn't sitting right with them.

Finally, they agree. They walk though a gorgeous one story home that is filled to the brim with options and luxury, but with only 3 bedrooms and no room to grow they wonder how on earth the home will hold the 10 children the man promised the woman when they married.  They move on to the next house, now very late for their previous appointment.

They walk into a 2-story home with open spaces and room to grow.  The woman marvels at the incredible closet and storage space throughout the home.  They smile over the raised counter-tops perfect for the tall man.  They imagined BBQ's under their covered patio and a small vegetable garden on the side of their house.   They thank the sweet lady for showing them around.

Finally, they arrive to their previously scheduled appointment, very late - with much apologies, while visions of closet space and covered patios danced through their heads.

They loved the 2-story house.  They hardly needed to even voice the words to each other.  It seemed to fit, they wanted this to be the home for their 10 kids and the dog the man so badly wishes he had.

They made lists of things they need and requests they had.  They studied every detail of their soon to be home, went to their local church and drove the exact mileage to and from their favorite places.  {28.8 miles from Shannon and Dan.}  The drove by the house morning, noon and night.  They stood at the front door and watched the neighbors, looking back this may have been a little insane. Finally, they presented a list of wishes to the builder. Back and forth they went until everyone was happy.

That, my friends, could only mean one thing...

THIS:

PLUS this:

PLUS this:

EQUALS: 

Our first HOUSE!

We are beyond excited for this big new adventure in our lives.  TECHNICALLY, it's not ours quite yet. We aren't scheduled to close until the end of May since we made above mentioned list asked for some changes to be made inside.  But keeping my big mouth shut was getting WAY too hard.  I mean you should see the closets in this place!!  I could literally live in the hall closet - let alone the master.  My storage prayers have been answered.   Ben's dream of outside BBQ's will come true. I should mention that we do not truly plan on producing 10 children as my age, and patience, would hardly allow for that. Nor can I promise that we will stay in this home forever.  But it's perfect for now, and for growing, and I am crossing my fingers that the end of May comes without any hiccups.   

Wish us lots of luck, luck, luck!