Summer 2010

Things have been great around here lately. The sun has finally come out, our kitchen cabinets have been installed, and the subsequent necessary housecleaning got a great head start last night thanks to Jason. He decided to take a few hours to clean and sent me out of the house to relax. It was awesome! One great thing about marrying a Marine - they sure know how to scrub a "latrine!"

I colored my hair recently, to something closer to my natural honey brown. I love blonde, and I love highlights, but every once in awhile it gets to be too much for me and I go back to my 'roots.' Ha!

The house is progressing nicely. We're on the downslope now, just needing to finish the kitchen (countertops, backsplash, sink and fixtures), laundry room (level the floor and frame a wall and a half), and freshen up the bathroom (paint and a new sink/fixtures). We've taken rooms down to the studs, replaced walls, added insulation, installed light fixtures, woodwork, moved doors, paint, paint, and more paint... Sometimes, we feel frustrated at all there is to do. It's tiring and expensive and stressful. But every once in awhile, we look at pictures from two short years ago and realize just how far we've come. This place feels more like home every day.

We went to a few open houses yesterday. Haven't done that in awhile. I realized, while walking through houses at all price points ($260k-400k) that our house is literally in better condition than all of them. Better kitchen, better structure, better surfaces. When we go to Texas, we're always impressed by the quality of materials used. We've taken that spirit with us in improving our house, and I really think it makes a huge difference. Every person we've had come over comments before they step off the welcome mat how nice it looks. I just hope that translates to a full-price offer when the time is right!

Well, I need to get back to work. Pictures and posts about our 2nd anniversary, my trip to Texas, and our home up here coming soon!