New ceiling and a BBQ

The living room is completely gutted a new ceiling is up.  Our old ceiling had some old water damage and so it was sagging. Because we started with 10 ft ceilings, it was no big deal to drop down 6 inches and build a brand new ceiling. We didn't tear out the old because sitting on top of that ceiling is about 100 years of insulation, dirt, gunk, etc. No thanks! We hope to order a woodstove this week so we can have it in before the cold weather. The only way I agreed to having a woodstove plopped in the first room you see as you walk in the house, was to help pick it out and to have a nice hearth and back drop. Sold! Phil was really excited to go by a new toy...a chainsaw! The ultimate tough-guy toy.  The story that goes along with that purchase is a little entertaining, so I'll share.  We went to the store that has been around since dirt. It's around 100 degrees outside and as we pull up and shut off our air conditioned car I see a sign that is never a good one...the door to the store was propped open. Yep, you guessed it, no AC! So here I stand with a bunch of sweaty men, looking at chainsaws. Phil was like a kid in a candy store. Later he told me he didn't even notice there was no AC. Pitiful.

So, next step is to patch up the floor a litte and lay OSB. Then we'll be ready for sheetrock and flooring!!!

We had our first BBQ with some friends. We've had a few people over here and there, but never a planned, group BBQ.  I of course, bought wayyyy too much meat and buns, but nobody went home hungry. It was fun and hopefully once the living room is done we can have friends over for game night! This may sound cheesey, but there may be beer/wine/rum involved, making it all the more entertaining :o)  Catch Phrase is sure to get a giggle, or all out hysterics. 

On to save the world...or to do laundry.
Kristy

What I like right now

Sometimes silly things stick in my mind and right now it's 90 calorie Snickers ice cream bars, new babies and my Leaves scented candle from Bath & Body Works.  I really like them all and yes I do realize it's not even close to fall.  I busted out some of the fall decorations, hoping that I could encourage it to come a little sooner. It actually feels like fall outside tonight. It's such a nice change from the 105+ temps we've been having the last month. My flowers say "thanks", our dog Jack says "thanks" and I do too! Thanks to the 70 degree weather.  70 degrees is what I consider PERFECT weather!  The kind of weather that you can still wear shorts, but you better grab a sweatshirt for the evening.  LOVE it!

As for the ice cream bars I was thrilled to find one of my all-time faves in a 90 calorie portion...I was quickly taken back to reality when I opened the box and saw they're no bigger than my thumb.  They're still amazing and I am able to stop after just 1(insert pat on back here). 

As for new babies, our good friends are expecting a new baby anytime! An even better reason to be eager is that they didn't find out the gender. Aren't they crazy!  I don't think I can do that.

House update:  We hope to start demotion of the living room this weekend!

Still learning

So I'm still trying to figure out this whole blogging thing.  I plan to do a better job at keeping it up once there are little ones around, so I want to be a pro by then because I know I won't have time to figure it out once that happens.  For example, I want to add a picture right here ->

There isn't a point to this picture but it does a great job showing our awesomeness.

Success!  My first blog picture!  I've used up all the extra brain power for the night, so I'm out!

Blogaholic. Just not my own blog...

Here lately I've been addicted to reading a few other blogs.  During this obesession I remembered, "hey, I have one of those too".  At this point I haven't shared my blog with anyone, but still want to keep up on it for my own journaling purposes(aka sucky memory).  Someday, when my life is a little more exciting (insert kids here), I'll open this blog up and tell the world about it! 

We are all married off!  Everything went great!  We had our small ceremony on my parents back deck.  Parents, grandparents, siblings and the judge.  Phil and I were in our jeans and didn't have to worry about Phil passing out from being in front of too many people. The next day was our reception.  The food was amazing BBQ, the cake was perfect and tasted perfect, my photographer was FREE and awesome (good friend of mine), the music was good and the beer was good!  What a nice, relaxing way to marry your best friend. 

Our house remodel is moving right along.  We have finished the master bedroom and it's my favorite room in the house so far!  The ceiling shelf, recessed ceiling, whatever you want to call it-adds such a nice touch.  I also loooove the gray walls.  Yep, I said gray.  We bought a closet organizer system and realized once it was all put together and screwed to the walls, that we hardly have any room for hangy-up clothes.  Dern!  We have been working outside when we can-the temps have been over 100 degrees for WEEKS now.  We gathered up limestone rock from a friends' pasture and built flower beds.  Our house is almost 100 years old and we're trying not to make it too modern looking.  We also got the kitchen tile done and it looks amazing!  We (okay, it was mostly Phil) made a tile "rug" pattern in the middle.  Our next project will be the living room.  This is our biggest room so it will take some time.  We're also putting a wood stove in this room so that's a project in itself.  We're trying to decide on a stove and what material the back-drop will be (I vote for stone). 

More exciting news:  I got a new car!!!  Yes, the 13 year old Honda finally gets a breather.  Yolanda the Honda was good to me.  She just needed a nap.  Her windows didn't always roll back up, her seats were starting to rip, her A/C didn't work at stop lights, and her exhaust was exhausted.  We bought a 2007 Honda Accord.  It's bright white and I just can't stop looking at it.  The A/C on this girl will blow you out of your seat!

Annnnd I'm done!

I know...

I suck at keeping this thing updated.  I really like to look back at the journals I kept in grade school and high school and am trying to make a point to start doing that again.  You'd think it would be easy as often as I'm on the computer. 

Update on the house remodel:  The master bedroom is soooo close to being ready for sheetrock!  We have a few things that shouldn't take too long.  We are moving the door over about 6 or 8 inches so we don't have wasted space behind it.  This might be a challenge.  Although I did help Phil hang the 2 other doors in this room and it only took us a few hours.  We didn't even growl at each other! Yeah, we don't yell, we growl...or snarl as he calls what I do.  I'm hoping to start hanging sheetrock next month and be in it by March!  Phil doesn't like to put an estimated completion date on anything so I'm keeping that guess in my own little head. 

We're taking a little trip this weekend with some friends to Middleofnowhere, KS and I'm pumped!  Sometimes you just want to be where there are no crowds, cell phone towers, buildings, etc.  Wide Open Spaces (insert Dixie Chicks here).  Next big trip will be our Honeymoon!!!  We're taking a cruise to the Bahamas!  I have never even seen the ocean, so I'm freakin excited about this.  Speaking of the wedding, we have booked the 4 most important parts:  Building, DJ, Caterer, and Beer.  Now I just need to call the flower lady and cake people.  Come on May 15!

Better get back to work.

What's sparkly and is worn on your left hand??

Yep, you guessed it. We're engaged! I picked it out and knew that Phil bought it and was expecting it around the 1st week of September. So, when the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of Sept. went by I started to wonder if the ring people had forgotten about us. Then finally, on the 14th of October I got my ring! We were getting ready to go eat at our friend's house and Phil casually (with a big grin) asked me if I'd like to take my ring. Yes!!! Of course I do! We didn't tell our friends, we made them spot it. Next it was the text to several friends and a trip to my parents. Now by trip I mean 2 blocks away :o) We have picked May 15 for the big day. We decided not to have a ceremony for more reasons than one. I am so glad, as this means a lot less stress! I found a casual wedding dress at www.target.com for $39.99 and I love it! So far in the planning we have found so many bargains and will be able to pull this thing off for less than $3,000. I have had a lot of fun planning and picking out decorations. I should have it all planned soon and will be able to sit back and wait.

Shelley Jenson took our engagement pictures last Saturday at Ward Meade Park in Topeka. They should be online soon and I can hardly wait! I think Phil actually smiled and he even told me that they were pretty painless. This is coming from a guy who HATES to have his picture taken. Our photographer was really easy-going and I think this helped.

That's all for now.

October has great things in store

We have a couple weekends to work and prepare for Oct. 17th and 18th. On the 17th our friend Mike is willing (and a little excited I think) to bring his trailer and his new demolition tool and help us tear out the old bathroom and bedroom to make it one big bedroom (our master BR). This will be followed by a trip to the dump with thousands of pounds of junk and then building a new closet in that room. Hopefully our sheetrockin buddy will be available soon after and we can get this room in working order. We are so lucky to have such great friends! This has saved us so much money. We've been able to trade electric work for our (more Phil than me) tile talent. Our plumber was a friend of my brothers and worked very cheap and then a few handy-men willing to dive into the destruction part. Both of our family's have rolled up their sleeves and helped as well.

On the 18th we're taking our annual pumpkin patch trip with the Tarbutton side (mom's side). We have found a great patch close to home that has a horse and trailer to haul us to the pumpkins. Grandma LOVES the horses and even gets to sit up front and lead them! After this we'll do a weiny roast. We can say we only do this because Grandma Donna makes us, but we all know we enjoy it. I love family traditions! I really hope our family traditions continue because my dear grandma has been diagnosed with Alzheimers. She has her good days, but on many days she gets confused and just isn't quite herself. She is also very hard of hearing, so this makes it more difficult for her to keep up at family events. She is an amazing woman! It is because of her that we do the bunny hop in the front drive every year at Easter and the 12 Days of Christmas-with actions, every year. She's a retired RN and they say nurses are the worst patients...THIS IS SO TRUE!

Happy Fall Ya'll!