Inside and out...

As 2010 ends...

It has been such an amazing year! The house is just months away. We were hoping to push for a late December finish but it was definitely a dream. It has been cold, rainy, and snowy. It is very hard to build a house in the snow haha. In about 3 weeks I think it will be safe to say we will be indoors only, until it's time to landscape. This has been such an amazing experience, and has shown us so many things. We have definitely realized alot about people in our lives and their committment to us.

((This photo was taken a few weeks ago, all of the siding is now done.))

We have both been working alot. Justin is working two jobs and I as well. I have been doing a nanny job for the last 8 weeks, early in the morning, and then working at PETCO 40 hours a week. I also received a promotion at PETCO, where I am the new "District lead Mentor", meaning, I am in charge of training for our district and I start training seminars tonight for 21 dog trainers. So needless to say, I am definitely busy.

Even through all this chaos and exhaustion, it has been a year to remember. We started building a house, celebrated our one year anniversary, had many memerable experiences with our friends and family, watch my sister grow and have been very proud of her, bought an amazing new car, and learned to love eachother more than ever.

Options..

We are at that point in the building where it is now time to pick the "fun" stuff. We are picking out our cabinets, flooring and counters..

here are some pics of what we are thinking for our counters and cabinets..

a little love goes a long way...

This past Friday we had a huge group of about 30 volunteers come out to help us with our homes. Volunteers make all the difference in the world. I can't thank them enough for their hard work and great attitudes. If more people volunteered on their days off, just imagine what this world would be like? I can't wait to help the other groups building once we are finished. As of now, since we haven't been getting any help, I am putting in full work days on the house, on my days off. It is really exhausting and I am feeling burnt out. I can't really expect things to change though because the weather is only going to get worse. If you don't volunteer in the sunshine, why would you in the rain? Oh well. Just got to keep my sanity and we will be done before we know it.

Here are some updated pictures of what a little help can do. Thanks again volunteers!

let there be.. windows?

As we passed our 3 month mark we now have windows!

and bath tubs..

and electrical wiring (and stairs) ..

Everything is coming along wonderfully. Of the 8 homes we are building, we will be receiving the roof trusses for house number 5 : ) The flooring package came in for house number 6 and we will be working on that very shortly. The 1st and 2nd houses now have their siding up. (we are house number 3)

will post more later : )

up and over.. a few hills

It has now been over a year since we got married. You would think that I would be happy to celebrate our anniversary and the many more to come, but really it makes me sad to think that each day we grow farther apart from August 1st 2009. I loved our wedding and everything about it. It was the most magical day of my entire life and not a day goes by that I don't think about it. Sometimes I wonder if everyone feels the way I feel about our wedding day. But at the same time, I don't know how many people do everything their own way. For us, we didn't know what we were doing when we started planning, we just did everything that sounded amazing to us. There are little things we forgot, like taking engagement photos or having our parents ushered to their seats, or getting a photo of me and my new mother-in-law. But of all the minor things we forgot, it didn't make a bend in the perfect of that day. Our special day was completely about us. You know that today photographers convince you to take your pictures before the wedding. That it isn't bad luck to see the Bride before the wedding. Well we decided to NOT see each other prior to the ceremony and I strongly recommend it to anyone. It was so magical walking down that aisle, seeing Justin for the first time since midnight the night before. It was the most beautiful moment of my life and will always remember it.

enough about the wedding....

here is the progress on our house : )

house progress....

all the framing is done! The roof is being put on. You can see the windows laying against the garage wall. They will be going in soon and then the actual roofing and then the bath tubs!! whaawhoo.. so much progress!

summer is going by so fast...

It sure has been a busy summer. I had two close

girl friends get married this summer so it has been really crazy and busy trying to balance all the events with work and building our house. With the two weddings also came two bridal showers and two bachelorette parties, so I had 6 saturdays busy busy with wedding events this summer. Yesterday was the last wedding, and it was absolutely beautiful. I have happy that they are now over though so that I can focus on work and building the house and not have to stress about events.

The house is coming along quickly! We have made so much progress in the last 2 1/2 months. It has been really exciting and I hope we can get alot more done in the next few months so that we can be indoors during the rainy seasons. I hope and wish we will be done by Christmas. But that is a huge huge goal!

1 year since marriage.. 2 months since breaking ground : )

Sunday, August 1st 2010 was our 1 year wedding anniversary : ) This picture was taken at the fort (where we got married). We had a wonderful anniversary. First we drove to Fort Worden, toured around the Fort. Walked the trails and walked around where we said "I DO". Behind us in this photo is where our reception was held. It was truely the most magical day of my life. After we were done wondering around the fort we went to check into our hotel, The Tides Inn. This is where we stayed on our wedding night. Then we went and walked around the town and went into shops. Port Townsend is such a beautiful town and has so many friendly people. We ate dinner at a very nice restaraunt, wish I could remember the name.. hmmm? We then made a list of 50 reasons why we loved each other, and then read them to each other. It was very romantic : ) All in all we had a wonderful anniversary.

It has been two months since we broke ground and our house is coming along beautifully!

The exterior walls are up and the interior framing (on the first floor) is complete : )

Antsy pants

I am feeling very antsy today!
This sunday will be our 1 year wedding anniversary : ) We didn't know what we were going to do because we are on a budget. This morning I called the hotel we stayed at our wedding night (Tides Inn Hotel in Port Townsend). Suprisingly they give a good special for Sunday nights so we were able to book the same room. I can not wait! It will be hard to leave the puppies at home but I am really looking forward to our mini vacation. We are planning on hiking arond the Fort and visit our ceremony site as well as reception hall. We haven't been back since the wedding.

This saturday we are going to Justins Aunt and Uncles for his Grandpas 80th birthday celebration. We have a very busy weekend ahead!

I am also getting really antsy about our house! It has been 7 1/2 weeks since we "broke ground". If we only do our minimum hours then it is going to take forever! We need more hours in the day so that we can put in more hours! As of now our house has the excavation (digging, dirt moving, leveling) complete, as well as the foundation. Today and tomorrow the floors are being set and then the walls will go up shortly after. We really want to be done by Christmas but we need more volunteers!

Ready for the flooring : )

YIPPIE!!!!

We just received our lumber for the flooring on Friday (July 23rd). We will being laying the floor this coming week and then the walls will be shortly after. Time flies when your having fun : ) Can not wait to live in our home.

Foundation

Our foundation was poured last Tuesday (July 6th 2010). We haven't had a chance to work on our house at all but we have already put up the walls, inside framing, second story framing and today the roof framing is going up on someone else's home in our group. We are supposed to do "step by step" on everyones house but since we have been putting in so many hours, we have gotten really far on Cindys house. We have to wait for the rest of the foundation to be finished before we get to start on our house.

We should be able to start working on our house in the next few weeks but it just depends on what work is ready to be done. According to our supervisor, we are ahead of schedule, which is always awesome : )

almost a year..

In a few weeks it will be our 1 year wedding
anniversary. We plan on going to Fort Worden (where we got married) and camp. I can not wait to go back there. We haven't gone back at all this past year. It will be fun but a little sad to think that its all over. It was so magical and so special, I just wish we could do it all over again.

It is so weird to celebrate "1 year" when this
Christmas it will be 10 years together.


((This picture is from 2003 Homecoming))

Breaking ground..

This photo was taken last Friday (June 18th). This is the excavation and the foundation has also been completed this past week. Justin, Michala and I worked hard last Friday and will be going up again tomorrow.

So exciting : )

June 6th 2010

Last Wednesday we closed at Title and Escrow. YAY. We officially own our land and have the loan for our build. Today (Sunday June 6th) we had our Housing Ceremony. All the families were there and we decorated our signs to officially start our build..

Thank you to everyone who could come support!

Mom, Dad, Michala, Lily, Julia, Johnny and Ryan

PROUD DIRT OWNERS

YAY!

We are supposed to go close our loan at Escrow next Wednesday, June 2nd. Then on the following Saturday we will go to our lots and decorate signs and put them up on our lots, and there they will stay until our home is done! Then it's the excavation and foundation, which we do not do, that part is contracted out. But after that, we will get building!

We are building a 4 bedroom 2 bathroom : )

Home sweet Stanwood WA. Can't wait!!

: ( sad, but not sad, day

Today I attended a dear friends bridal shower. It was beautiful outside and inside. All in all the shower was amazing. BUT it did make me miss this time last year. This time last year I was finishing my own bridal shower. It was so much fun and the people who came were so special. Weddings are amazing and obviously once in life time. But I never knew how sad I would be to think back on it and miss that fun/crazy/stressful/magical time. I wish I could do it all over again. Why oh why did I not video tape every second of it... BOOOO. It was the most special time of my life and I miss it so much.
Lisa

For my sisters...

"SISTER"

Passing time with you in mind
It’s another quiet night
Feel the ground against my back
Counting stars against the black
Think about another day
Wishing I was far away
Wherever I dreamed I was
You were there with me

(Chorus)
Sister, I hear you laugh
My heart fills full up
Keep me please
Sister, when you cry
I feel your tears
Running down my face
Sister, sister, keep me

I hope you always know it’s true
I would never make it through
You could make the sun go DARK
Just by walking away
Playing like we used to play
Like it would never go away
I feel you beating in my chest
I’d be dead without

(Chorus)
Sister, I hear you laugh
My heart fills full up
Keep me please
Sister, when you cry
I feel your tears
Running down my face
Sister, sister, you keep me

I hope you always know it’s true
I would never make it through
You could make the heavens fall
Just by walking away

(Chorus)
Sister, I hear you laugh
My heart fills full upKeep me please
Sister, when you cry
I feel your tears
Running down my face
Sister, sister, you keep me

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

great quote

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.”- Jimi Hendrix

A great quote by a great man...

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Personal Quotes...

"The best kind of love races the heart, explodes the mind, lightens the soul, and makes each day an epic adventure."

"When you find what you truely want and deserve, a little persistence and alot of nerve."

"Surround yourself with those who love you unconditionally. For your happiness and pain should both be cared for."

10 minutes later, I am 23?

Time has gone by so fast. Justin and I were only 13 when we started "dating" or whatever you would call it at that age. And now we are 23 (well he will be 23 in March). It is so interesting to reflect on the past. Mistakes that have been made, life altering decisions, people who you met and how you met them. Even to think about family members that have changed or grown up in ways you never expected. Time has gone by so fast. I don't feel like I am 23 years old. I don't feel like I should be married already. I feel like Justin and I should be getting ready for a high school football game, or a school dance. Don't get me wrong, I love my life and I love where I am at in it, but 23? I feel so old! Remember being 15 years old and thinking a 21 year old was OLD? Haha, I wonder how old those 15 years think I am now. But life is good. Another NON rainy day. What a beautiful February we have had...

LET OUR OWN LIGHT SHINE

"our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. it is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. your playing small does not serve the world. there is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people wont feel insecure around you. we were all meant to shine, as children do. its not just in some of us, its in everyone. and as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. as we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.. " - Coach Carter version by Marianne Williamson