New House!

So Tom and I both had a four day weekend for Thanksgiving...but it actually felt like a break to go back to work! In order to get all the remodeling done in time, there wasn't a single night we went to bed before 3 A.M. But it's mostly done now, just a few loose ends to tie later. I could kick myself for not having my camera to take before and after pictures; we really changed it a ton! For starters, there was a full wall between the kitchen and living room that we took out to open the room. Then, the kitchen was the most offensive shade of robin egg blue I've ever seen. Plus, the living room was a yucky, chipping, yellowed color. Needless to say, repainting was a must. Then add a few curtains, some blinds, and of course, a Christmas tree...and call it home!

The carpet and kitchen was brand new, which is great. I LOVE our shower, the shower head is like, 10 feet tall! And the shower is done in sandstone tile, so you feel like you're under a waterfall or something. It's four bedrooms (well, 3 and a half) 2 bath. The outside doesn't look like much; just a simple grey house on the corner. But it's OUR simple grey house. Plus, the inside is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside, so I'm thrilled. Here are some pictures! There are a few boxes in the pictures; we're still working on it. When it's done though, you're all invited to our housewarming party! Archway Tom made; and yes, that's a PINK kitchen. I still giggle every time I look at it.
Still can't believe he let me paint it pink :0) Little office

front entry way

Tom's carport

Front of house. It kind of looks like a trailer house from this angle...but it's not

Master bath shower

Master bedroom (messy, I know, I know. I'm getting to it)

Living room

Living room from the another angle

Hallway

Guest bathroom

Guest bedroom

Lucy's bedroom

offcially home owners!

A month later...it finally happened. Tom and I closed on our first home yesterday!! We already took down the wall between the kitchen and living room we didn't like. Tom let me take the first swing at it, and let me just say, if you've never hit a wall as hard as you can with a hammer...put it on your "to do" list. It's an incredible feeling.
Anyhoo, so it's going to be a time crunch, but Tom and I both have a four day weekend, and we're hoping to get everything painted, cleaned, and moved in by Sunday. I'm so mad at myself for not taking pictures of the demolation, but I'll be sure to post pics of the final product :0)
Happy Thanksgiving to all, and wish us luck!

Simple Bliss...

So I just woke up from a nap to find, to my wonderful surprise, that Lucy is still napping. Tom is at a church meeting, so I am left in a quiet, peaceful apartment. I'm sipping a french vanilla steamer, soaking in the moment, and feeling rather content with life right now. Wishing you all a peaceful Sabbath :0)

First Race; First Place!!

For my birthday this year I decided to run my first 5K. My parents recently ran one in Florida, and as my earlier blog posts suggested, I "caught the bug". I've been training hard for almost a month now. I was so nervous for the race. As Tom and I pulled up and I looked at the hundreds of other runners (it was a smaller race, but there were still in the neighborhood of 300 runners), I actually said out loud, "What have I gotten myself into?"
I was so intimidated by their long, skinny legs and lengthy bodies. They all looked like bred runners to me! I literally felt sick, and arrogant for ever thinking I could compete with real runners. I wasn't much of a runner in high school or middle school, and those gym class horrors came back into my mind real quick.
Anyway, I took a deep breath and reminded myself that I'm not here to win, I'm just here to run. To finish the race.
It turns out, I exceeded my own expectations! I finished the race in 25:37, which put me in first place for the women age group 20-24, and 22nd overall! I was very happy with my time, and with the race in general. It felt so great! I even got a little medal that said first place. I can't wait to run another one!
As my husband and father both pointed out, though, I may want to wait until the baby is born. Training that hard while pregnant is tough, and will only get tougher. I will definatly keep running as long as my little zygote will let me, though.

What a great birthday! Thank you to everyone who came to the race to support me! Me after the race, sporting my 5k shirt and medal
Just got my award and some flowers Tom had for me at the finish line.

Just crossed the finish line; Tom was waiting there with flowers!

I'm just behind the tree in blue and red

Standing at the "Start" line, waiting nervously

My own office...

Today I went in to fill out new employee paperwork and get a tour of the office building. I was pleasantly surprsied to discover that I get my own office! Not as in, I get a desk in an office, or a cubicle in a room. No, there is a door, with my name on it, and behind that door is an entire office that is exclusively mine! I got butterflies just looking at it. I CANNOT wait to fill it with personal little knick-nacs (okay, I have no idea how to spell) and make it my very own :0) Each of the other offices I went into had their own personal touch; music, colors schemes, smells...so I guess I'll be given the same liberties. I cannot wait to start Monday!
I did buy Lucy a few new toys that I'm hoping will distract her enough to help ease the transition into daycare twice a week. That's the only part I'm not looking foward to :0(

I GOT A JOB!!

I was offered a job today that could not be more perfect. I will be the volunteer coordinator for the Family Support Center. It's a non-profit organization that works to prevent child abuse and strengthen families. They offer counseling, parenting classes, and work with women to become economically independent so they can leave abusive situations. I will be recruiting and coordinating volunteers to help this program. I'll also be giving presentations and pulic speeches to different groups in the community about who we are and what we do.
The job is only 20 hours a week, and I set my own schedule. So it's perfect because I won't be away from Lucy too much. I also already found childcare for Lucy. I feel like it all just fell in my lap! I feel so blessed! Because it's so part time I'll still be able to do it after the baby is born as well :0)
I am so honored to have been chosen because I know a lot of qualified people interviewed; I heard one of the inverviews through the door while I was waiting for my first interview. I also saw many of the people who applied, and they all looked very together and professional. So I can't believe they chose me, two interviews later!
I start Monday, which is perfect because the race is Saturday. It feels so great for things to be coming together after such a trying few weeks. (They weren't all bad, though.)

Halloween Fun!

Well, Lucy is too young to trick-or-treat, but the bunny costume was too cute to pass up, and she was too cute in the costume to not show off! So you see my dilema? So we went to a ward party thing where they were showing a movie, just so everyone could see how sweet she looked :0) She loved her costume so much we let her keep it on all night. We carved a jack-o-lantern, made popcorn balls (thank you Cody) and after goose went to bed (I don't know if I've ever called her that on my blog, but we call Lucy "goose" at home) the adults all watched two scary movies we rented. I'm a big baby when it comes to spooky movies, so I only watch them once a year. It was very fun!

Mommy's 'lil bunny!

Look at that cute bum!

Melts my heart. I'm a puddle right now.