Somewhere that’s green.

This is the view from our kitchen window.  We love it!  We have a pretty good size yard-- this picture doesn’t quite do it’s size justice.  Right in front of this window is a pretty long and deep patio, and the length of the entire yard is about twice what the picture shows.  Our favorite thing about this yard is the gate that opens into the park.  You can see that right beyond the gate is a play set—we’ll never have to set up our own, and once they’re old enough we can just watch them from the kitchen window. 

The little vases along the window sill are from our wedding luncheon in Utah.  One week while I was home in CA, my mom and I spent an afternoon hunting for old vases and jars for centerpieces.  These were a few of my favorites.  I love green and blue glass jars!   

Sometimes I pinch myself.  I didn’t need this much.  I just wanted a nice husband.  I got way more than I asked for.  We’re so grateful, and so deliriously happy.  What a wonderful life!

Closet organizers.

Who doesn’t love a man who can build anything? 

There’s just something quite attractive about this:

And here’s cute Brian, looking quite proud of his accomplishment:

We’re getting so close!  Closet organizers—check!  I’m excited to hang things.  Do you think we’ll have enough room?  Probably.  But, I think Brian is planning on each of us only using our half of the closet…

Blazers game.

 

Last Friday night, Brian’s company treated us and the rest of his coworkers to a Blazers game.  Having grown up in Portland, Brian is real fan of the Portland Trail Blazers—and I’m planning on being one too! 

I got all gussied up (translation: I actually did my hair and makeup) and took public transit downtown.  Before the game, we all met at a bar, where I was able to meet Brian’s coworkers.  Brian is rather new to this company, so this was my first time meeting everyone. 

After a good deal of drinking (root beer, for us, of course) and a little bit of pool playing, we all headed over to the game.

The game was pretty ho hum until the very end, when Washington started to get some points.  They were tied going into the last minute or so, and in the last few seconds, the Blazers made a great shot and won.  (I think that’s about what happened.  For a more accurate and exciting report I think I’ll leave game recaps to Brian)

Here we are right after the game:

Note:  I wrote this entire post about the Braves instead of the Blazers.  Brian happens to love both the Portland Trailblazers and the Atlanta Braves.  With all of those B’s, a girl can get confused!  I’m glad I decided to look at the Braves website for a (blurry) logo before posting this, and realized that we, in fact, went to a Blazers Basketball game Friday night rather than a Braves Baseball game. 

Always one step ahead of me.

I want to tell you story about a generous mother-in-law.

A few weeks ago, on my way back from picking up a toilet seat (a wood one-- painted white, of course-- I say, 'of course' only because it wasn't actually so obvious to me.  I had fought the wood toilet seat for some  time because I was picturing an oak colored lid.  I never knew there were painted ones...) I saw a thrift store and decided to look around for a few things our little house needed.

Among other things, I found a $2.00 white plastic little silverware tray.  Brian and I had seen one we loved at BB&B a few days earlier, but it was at least $26.00.  Well, this was nothing fancy, but it would work.

So, I drive back home (after calling Brian a few times at work because I get lost easily).

I washed that silverware tray so nicely, dried it, and went to go put it in it's drawer.

This is what I found:

A beautiful, wood, expandable cutlery tray! (just like the one Brian loved)

My mother-in-law saw our need and bought one before we could.  I'm embarrassed that it had been there for a few days without me noticing it.  Thank you, Mom!

House pictures (before).

                                                                                                       

Our house is finally wrapping up.  The remodel has taken much longer than we anticipated.  Brian bought the house in June while we were dating.  He originally thought he would only knock down 2 little bathroom walls and move in long before we got married.  Well, it’s almost been 4 months since we got married, and it’s still not done.  We knocked down much more than just 2 little walls.  It’s been a huge overhaul, and is now just beautiful!  But, you might not appreciate the after photos if you don’t see the before photos.  So, get a look at this!

 

Hall bathroom (with the weird little wall between the sink and the toilet that we knocked down—we also took out the vanity, flooring, toilet, tub and anything else you see)

Note:  now when I used the word “we” I didn’t actually mean mean me.  I meant “we” as in Brian, his dad, Chris, his mom, and occasionally I would show up on weekends and pretend to help—but really I was more of a distraction for Brian than a help.  That’s what I mean by “we”

Master bath—again, we had to tear out the weird little wall between sink and toilet.  We also took out the bath tub, toilet, vanity, flooring…everything really.

Living room—took out wainscoting, wood floor, and reshaped the step-down part.

From the dining room into the living room—knocked down that half-wall on the left. From living room—took out all pink carpet throughout house.  You all know how I love pink—but not pink carpet…it had to go! 

 

I kind of liked the kitchen, but since I wasn’t a big part of the “we” as I explained earlier…it got taken out, all cabinets were removed, the window on the right was revised, the flooring ripped up, and the ceiling was raised. 

    

Family room- changed fireplace, revised windows, removed flooring.

                                 Me and Brian in front of our house. 

Sunday drivers.

Brian and I woke up Sunday morning, looked outside at the blue cloud-less sky, felt the warmth, and knew that we had to take advantage of a lovely day in Oregon by going somewhere.  After church we got in the car and headed to Astoria.  The drive was beautiful!  We walked along piers, through the quaint little town, and drove up to the Astoria Column, which overlooks the mouth of the Columbia River.  We climbed the 164 stairs to the observation deck on top.  Neither of us are huge fans of heights, but Brian was definitely better at facing his fear—several of these pictures are from the top—he took them while I was hugging the center pillar, too scared to near the edge.     

From the top we had a great view of the sun setting.  Wow!

And a great view of the WHAT BRIDGE—which connects Oregon to Washington.

Here we are at the bottom of the column.

With Brian’s busy season in full swing (working early mornings, late nights, and weekends) we are giddy when we get a few solid hours together! 

Sunday drivers.

Brian and I woke up Sunday morning, looked outside at the blue cloud-less sky, felt the warmth, and knew that we had to take advantage of a lovely day in Oregon by going somewhere.  After church we got in the car and headed to Astoria.  The drive was beautiful!  We walked along piers, through the quaint little town, and drove up to the Astoria Column, which overlooks the mouth of the Columbia River.  We climbed the 164 stairs to the observation deck on top.  Neither of us are huge fans of heights, but Brian was definitely better at facing his fear—several of these pictures are from the top—he took them while I was hugging the center pillar, too scared to near the edge.     

From the top we had a great view of the sun setting.  Wow!

And a great view of some bridge—which connects Oregon to Washington.

Here we are at the bottom of the column.

With Brian’s busy season in full swing (working early mornings, late nights, and weekends) we are giddy when we get a few solid hours together! 

(I wrote this back in February, and somehow forgot to post it.  It’s going to take quite some time to catch up.)