Projects in Progress

Lest you think I'm just spending all my free time on pintrest, let me assure you that we really have been working. : ) Problem is, we either don't have all the necessary tools, or we just haven't unboxed them. Grrrrr...... Bottom line, several projects have been started, but none have been completed. I'll go ahead and share a few pix of what we've been up to.

Hanging shelves in the garage to store all of my holiday decorations......

This shelf is 12 feet long. We've got plans to go all the way around the garage at least once. We've got plenty of room, so we might put up a second shelf just under this first one.

These are just a FEW of our Christmas decorations!

Creating our "J" wall......

Yes, I know some of them are crooked. There's also one missing. Wanna know what else is missing??? My glue gun!! As soon as I find it, I'll get those pesky, crooked J's glued to the wall.

All of the J's fit perfectly in the space between the laundry room and pantry. This is the view from the island. I think it looks GREAT!!


Just a fun craft......

This is my new BFF - don't know why I never purchased one before. It made spray painting SO MUCH easier!!

Here's my $3 tray. The label on the back says this is supposed to be for a Pyrex baking dish, but I had other ideas. I knew it would be the perfect place to corral the sugar, sweetener, creamer - you know, all the stuff that accompanies your morning coffee.

A fresh coat of black paint and this tray has a whole new life!! Our Keurig is just to right of the tray. (Out of the picture.)

As soon as I unpack my Cricut cartridges and black vinyl, I will make new labels for the canisters and this project will be complete!

Well, that's enough of an update for now. Guess I'd better unpack a few more boxes so I can get these projects finished!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sorry for the delay. So much has happened in the past few weeks. It's been impossible to sit down to blog. Of course, the biggest news is that we moved into our new home and moved completely out of our old one. It took more trips that any of us thought it would, but we finally did it.

Moving day was a cold, drizzly December day. It was in the 20's with a constant heavy drizzle - not fun. Still, it wasn't bad. I guess the excitement of moving in warmed even that miserable weather. I'll tell ya - this was the day I officially fell in love with our electric fireplace. Instant heat! Whoo Hoo!

I had to work 6:30-6:30 the week prior to Christmas. When I was home, we tried to open boxes and at least get some spaces presentable, becuase my mom and dad came to see us the week after Christmas. They spent the week with us and it was great to see them.

This week, Dave and I both got the stomach bug! YUCK!!! He missed 1 day of work and I missed 2. (Sorry Mom and Dad -- hope ya'll didn't get it!!)

Here are a few pictures......Yes, they showcase our messy home. Don't judge - just re-read the above!! ; )

View from our bedroom door, facing the front of the family room.

Collection of Snow Villages. This bookcase is to the right of the tv. We're already planning how to display them next year.

Our "main tree" in the Dining Room.



The "family tree" in the Scrapbook Room.

View into the kitchen. Geez - I didn't realize I still had that much space above the cabinets. When you actually look at them, it doesn't seem like it.

The Guest Bedroom. Mom and Dad were the first ones to stay here. Since they stayed a week, I guess they liked it! : )



We obviously have a long way to go before our home will be "finished" (as if it ever will be...), but we're working on it. This is the fun part!!

Check back again and I'll try to post more reguarly!

We're in!!!

We moved into our new home on Saturday -- when the weather was misty/sleety and in the 20's -- and we hardly noticed. To us, it was a great day!

The movers arrived at our former home at 8:45 that morning and I started crying almost immediately. I know - people always talk about the emotions tied up in their homes. I knew I'd probably cry, but I wasn't sure when it would get me. Well, let me tell ya - it was within the first few minutes! They had just started carrying things out when I had to disappear (a couple of times) for a little while. The house on Oak Ridge represented so much for me as an individual, and to us as a couple. I just had to grieve a little bit.

And then........ We walked into OUR NEW HOME and the butterflies started! Everything is so fresh and clean. It has a great "new home" smell!! We absolutely love it!! Sure, there are some quirks that we'll have to get used to (meaning: change so I like it!), but that's part of the fun.

This house is layed out so differently from our old house, that it's a challenge trying to figure out where everything will live. So far, we're just putting things somewhere "close", knowing that time will help us figure everything out. It's going to be fun.

Unfortunately, I have no idea where my camera cable ended up!! We finally got internet today, so I was excited to update my blog, but now I can't upload any pictures. Ha Ha! Oh well - this just means you'll have to come back another day!!

Well, I'm off to tackle another box! See ya later alligator!

OMG - It's OURS!!

Well, today was "The Day!!" We closed on our new home!!  We couldn't be more thrilled! The entire Tim Roten operation did a super job and we love everything about the company and our new home. Here's just a few pictures.

 Love the wood floor in the Dining Room!

In the Dining Room, looking through the Family Room to the back yard.

Scrapbook Room.

 Hall bath

Guest bed/bath.

One view of the backyard. Eventually, Dave's shed will fill in that spot. Until then, it's Riley's space!!

Close to the back fence, looking back towards the house.

The movers are coming tomorrow at 8:30. It's hard to believe that we're actually moving, but we are!! Guess I'd better hit the sack pretty soon. Tomorrow promises to be a full day!!

I got to see!!

I was finally able to leave the Preschool long enough that I could run by the new house!! Yeah for me!!

This is what I saw.....

Plumbing fixture in kitchen. Dishwasher installed.

Microwave and range --installed.

Chandelier in the Dining Room. Isn't it beautiful?? It looks black, but it's actually oil rubbed bronze. We were able to choose it and I love it!!

A shot of the fire place. I'm a little bummed b/c it isn't a wood burning one, but that's OK. This one is electric and will put out heat, or we can have the flames w/o the heat. It'll take some getting used to, but it might actually get used more than the one we currently have.

Ceiling fan in my Scrapbook Room!!!! Whoo Hoo!! I don't have one now and it gets hot! Guess I'm just working hard.....

Lights and plumbing fixtures in the Master Bath. (Obviously no mirror yet.)

Guest bath - light fixture and faucet - no mirror.

2 ceiling fans on the back porch. Finally some relief from the super hot summers!! We ran wires for our surround sound. It will be nice to sit outside, enjoying the breeze and listening to music.

They were blowing in the insulation when I left. Later today, they were planning to start laying the wood floor in the Dining Room. Next week comes the rest: fence, sod, window blinds, mirrors, shower door, and bars in closets. Closer......

Lots to report - nothing to see : (

Wow!! Lots happened at the house today, but unfortunately I don't have any pictures. It was way too dark when we got there tonight. We had to use our headlights and even then could only see a little bit. Anyway, here's the list of what happened today.....

1) Appliances have started. The microwave is in and we think maybe the stove. Maybe also the dishwasher?? Couldn't see.
2) Light fixtures are installed. The chandy in the Dining Room is GORG!!
3) The interior ceiling fans are up. We couldn't see if the fans on the back porch are in place.
4) The exterior coach lights are up. I couldn't tell if they are black or oil-rubbed bronze and I can't remember. They are so pretty!!
5) Both the a/c and the heater are installed.
6) The metal fence posts are in place.
7) The trenches for the sprinkler system have been dug.

Just a few more things to finish and we get to move in!!! Yippee!!

What a great weekend!

I sure hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I know we sure did. No picts to post - just fun stuff to share.

Our 4th wedding anniversary was on the 24th - Thanksgiving Day. I am so very, very THANKFUL that God brought us together and has showered us with so many blessings over these past 4 years. I always dreamt that marriage would be amazing, and it has been even better than that. Dave is funny, smart, loving, and ...... I could just go on and on, but I know he's going to read this so I'd better stop!! (Love You!!)

I know I've shared The Proposal story before - just remember that it happened on Valentine's Day at Olive Garden. Since we got married, we have celebrated every Valentine's Day and every anniversary at Olive Garden - in OUR booth! This year was no exception. We had to wait a little while, but it was totally worth it. The manager has her own love story -- she met her husband at OG and they have their own booth! She remembered us from this past Valentine's Day. She also bought our appetizer. Ahhh.....a fellow romantic.

Thanksgiving Day was quiet. We spent it together and it was wonderful! Dave cooked a delicious meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, and pumpkin pie. It was his first time to make this meal and it was D-Lish! : )

Allan and his family had come to town, so we took them out to our new home.

The rest of the weekend was spent by running errands, shopping for the new house, measuring all kinds of spaces and walls in the new house, packing boxes, and of course working. (You know I can't spend 4 days without working at least a little!!)

The house is coming along very well. The electrician should finish up in the next day or so. All of the light fixtures and appliances are due to be placed on Monday. We are expecting the wood floors to be layed this week. Tonight, the builder's wife called because she hadn't asked us what kind of shower door we wanted! I hadn't even thought about it. Guess that means it should be hung soon. Whoo Hoo! It's so hard to believe that we'll be moving in to our new home in 2 weeks!!!

That means I'd better get back to packing. Now, where is that tape again????