house fun

I am seriously struggling with this blogging thing lately. It's been cray cray lately to say the least. Sooo, in a nutshell. I'm looking super fat and preg which is AWESOME, we've been to California a few times, I made it through the hardest semester I've ever done (just to start up again last week! ugh), and we have been doing lots of house projects (surprise, surprise!).

Today we went to home depot on the way home from Wes' piano recital to grab some gray paint chips for the house, because as it turns out, it is impossible to find a good gray, instead though, we ended up coming home with a million bushes and some edging, and decided today was the perfect day to tear up our yard. WHAT?!! But it worked out and it's looking really good. Physical labor is fun sometimes! Seriously, I love it. Although, lets me honest, I'll let Tanner do the rest of the yard without me. I'm tired!  

Se here is what we did today! I wish I had a before because it's a lot different. But instead, just imagine lots of weeds. And... after.......

We dug out a bunch of grass, and dug a trench to put this edging in. I saw more spiders today then I have seen in my entire life combined. Such a treat. We really need to call a bug guy. 

We are super excited that our house doesn't look like a meth house anymore! haha. We've still got more to do in front along the side of the driveway, but after today I don't want to think about that.  The thing I am MOST excited for though is what I have in store for (hopefully) next week. I am going to paint our door a fun shade of green like the one below. Crazy that I don't like that beautiful brown we have now, I know. I am going to paint the inside and outside the same color.

And since I always love stalking peoples bump pictures... I've basically ballooned over that past two weeks. Maybe it's the stress? Or maybe I just have a human inside of me.  So here it is. The 24 week bump. (and a messy house) I feel like I look like I'm due any day now. 

we are baaaack!

I think I'm going to make a thing to just not blog from January through March. Mainly because there is nothing good that happens during those months because it is just TOO COLD. But, the sun is starting to shine again, this semester is over in about a month, and we are even getting out on our bikes tonight. Good things are happening. Our house has been a bit of a construction zone the past little bit and we are both so happy that it is at least semi put back together (actually it never was put together so this is a first for our house:) 

It is so nice to have a couch back in our family room. Let me tell ya. 

my happiness project.

I have hesitated posting about this sooo much, because, well, by actually putting this out there, that means I have to stick to it, which scares me. So, I don't know exactly why I am sharing this little project of mine. But, for whatever reason, a moment of insanity has lead me to share some goals I've outlined for the next year.

The idea for my own happiness project came from the book The Happiness Project (who would have ever guessed?!)  I took this book with me everywhere this summer as a fun read --- I actually didn't even finish it, but that Gretchen Rubin inspired me to take on my own Happiness Project in just the first half of the book.  (Maybe one of my goals should be to finish the second half?) In the book, the author focuses on ONE THING every month to work on. Just one thing. And she works on it all month. I think this approach makes goals much more achievable, while giving you time to see the fruits of your work.

Disclaimer: We are happy! I am happy! Actually I am the happiest I have ever been in my whole life. No contest. Tanner has blessed my life beyond comprehension --- I wish life could just be as it is, right now, here in this moment, forever.

But with that said, I KNOW  there are some things that I could be better at, some things that I believe if I were to focus on, there would be greater peace in our home & in our hearts. I hope that by focusing on these monthly goals that we will be able to live life more fully, and gratefully. I want us to be savoring this time.  Every last moment.

So, here we go!!! Gretchen did hers for a whole year, but I'm sort of terrified that I won't last a year (seriously though), but there are lots of things I want to work on so I still made goals for mostly the whole year, even if some will change as I go!

January :  Cleanliness and Organization

February :Bettering our Marriage

March : Budgeting

April : Take Risks + Try NEW things

May : Serve Others

June : Outdoors. Everything outdoors.

July: Be Creative

August : Healthy Living  (No eating out?!) 

September : Kindness & Patience

October : Strengthen Relationships (friends + fam) 

November :  ????

December: ????

There they are. Let's do this!

welcome 2013

This past year was a good good year. There were so many moments this past year where I felt so amazed by how blessed we have been. It was a happy, healthy year full of beginnings and ends, each of which brought us much joy & at times, sorrow. 

In January, Tanner started a new job. He has worked so hard, and has so much to be proud of. He amazes me. If I do say so myself...

We celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary, and our 3rd Christmas season together.

We traveled to.... oh wait no where. Let's hope that changes in 2013! But, really, we did go to St. George a couple of times, Vegas, and Palm Springs for a day. Next year, I really really hope New York City, and Redfish can be added to that list! 

I started and finished a job that I loved at the Credit Union, and now I "get" to focus on school in the coming year. It totally is a blessing, but I am going to miss my job.


And best of all this year? We bought our first house! 

>>------------------------>>> here are a couple pictures 
                                      (i'll post more when I have 'em)

This picture is super pixely but I love how our new comforter goes with my chair//dresser//mirror. We also hung some new pretty gray curtains in here. 

Our yard! We don't even know what to do with it. Maybe we'll build a snowman when it's not 6 degrees outside!? 

Bring it on 2013!! Something tells us this year is going to be the best yet... :) 

my little wes is sort of amah-zing.

Seriously though. This is the first video of him that we have (that isn't on my cell phone) I love hearing all the music he writes. There is a new one (with lyrics) nearly everyday!

Tanner can attest to the fact that I'm sort of a creep about him. I listen to his music as I drive to work, and the first thing I want to do when I get to my parents is hear Wes play! I am just jealous.

So anyways, this is the song he wrote for reflections. So far he has made it to region! What an awesome little guy. (who also has an affinity for cat videos - you'll see)

I'm so proud of Wes for finally making his cat video debut!!!

(^^^ a little clip of a sunday jam sesh) 

yesterYAY!

yesterday was a lovely non-eventful sunday.

we woke up to a snowy surprise, ate too many bowls of lucky charms, and then headed to church.

at church, we played too much fruit ninja and talked to friends during library - we are sure going to miss this calling.

from church, we headed straight to my parents for dinner. we had STEW. i have to say, there is nothing quite like a good bowl of stew on a cold snowy day. on our way home, we drove past our house, and wished it was our house already.

after we got home i skipped studying (like i currently am) and ordered christmas presents. jake and maki's are my favorite.

a good day. i wish we could have 2 sunday's in a row.

our new home

This time of year is always bitter-sweet for me. I love the holidays, gift-giving, work parties, sparkly sweaters, family gatherings, christmas lights, and fun memories. I love these things even more with Tanner by my side. But this time of year also brings stress with finals, moving,  busy days at work, buying a house, finals, and did I say buying a house!? 

Yep, because we didn't have enough going on already. We are oooooh so excited for our first little house. It's not fancy, but it is perfect for us, and we cannot WAIT for the fun projects that we will take on after we move in. We are planning on replacing a lot of the carpet with wood floors, this should make the house even better! We will see how installing those go... I'm so glad Tanner is so patient and willing to take on just about anything I foolishly dream of doing. So far nothing has gone horribly wrong. 

Our favorite past time is talking about and dreaming about the house. We stay up too late at night coming up with ideas for it, we sketch ideas during church, we sit out in front of the house (creeeepy!) and just about die because we can't wait to just pull into the garage & be home. We dream of planting a garden, building benches, and built in's, and finally being able to paint whatever we want!

I cannot wait to post pictures of all this fun. 

First things first, a new front door color! (blue or black?)