The before/beginning stages of our little beauty

I know that many of you have been dying to see pictures of our little beauty!  The flipping part of the house purchase began this week.  Some of the pictures are pre-flip, and some are from today.  So far the cabinets are out, the central air is in. 

As the remodel goes on we have been bargun hunting for appliances. We have found managed to snatch up an oven, dishwasher, fridge.   The exciting purchase of the week was our washer and dryer!  I am so excited to actually be able to do laundry whenever I want.  Who would have thought being able to do laundry would be a blessing?!!!   I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking.  Remember, it will be quite a gem when it is all done, but right now you may not believe me!

Living Room Before

What it looks like 1 week later!

View from the front door into the kitchen and back to the mud room.

All of the stuff that has been ripped out so far!

And here it is now:

The Bathroom

The Mud Room- right off the deck where the washer and dryer will go

The bedrooms

Thermostat!  We have central air and heat!

In this crazy life

Some of you may recognize this post title because they are some lyrics from a Michael Buble song (one of my favorite artists!), but they fit my life so perfectly right now. Life has been crazy buying a house, making decisions about remodel stuff for the house, and teaching on top of it all.  In the midst of life's rushing around, I managed to celebrate my birthday.  I am one year older, maybe wiser, and slightly more insane!!  

I am one of the lucky people who every few years celebrates a birthday on Friday the 13th! ( I turned 13 on Friday the 13th.  That is about as freaky as you can get!)    Unfortunately, nothing too freaky happened.  I don't know why, but I have always loved my birhtday.   Okay, that is a lie, I know why I love it.  I adore my birthday because it is all about me!!!!  I love being appreciated and knowing that I am thought of, so my birthday is a day that I feel those things ten-fold.  Yes I know you may be thinking that this is very self-centered and childish, but I don't care because it is simply true!

I could not have asked for a better birthday.  My day began with a message left at school for me by my husband wishing me a happy birthday.  He knew that I would appreciate a memo from him wishing me a happy day!  Then my students showered me in their love and a few presents.  I can't believe how thoughtful their gifts and notes were, each one made me feel like I am making a positive impact in their lives.  The teachers on my team treated me to a fabulous birthday lunch, complete with a table decorated in pink.  I was reminded of how lucky I am to be a part of their team.

Upon arriving home we signed the closing papers on the house!  (I don't think I could have asked for a better present!)   As soon as the papers were signed Stinson presented me with a adorable pink, black and grey coat, complete with a fur hood!!  I love that he has such a great sense of style.  After doning my new coat it was off to dinner at a secret location.  We pulled up to a quaint little Italian restaurant.  The first thing that came into view as we approached our table were these flowers!!!  Seriously,  my husband is awesome!  He sure does know me.  To top off the evening we enjoyed a Christmas Carol in IMAX 3-D, which was an experience in and of itself. 

My Beautiful Birthday flowers!

Me and my flowers

Whew..... what a birthday!  I feel so lucky to have been showered in so much love.  The house stuff will begin soon.  I know you are looking forward to the before pictures that will hopefully be posted by the end of the week!

Sweet 3-D Glasses (check out my new coat too!)

My Hunky Hubby

I don't know what to say about this one!

One more of the pretty flowers

You did what?!!

We bought a house this weekend!  Holy cow, it all happened so quick, but we are so excited!  It all must have been God's timing because we weren't really looking (at least I had no idea that we were interested in looking), this house came across a friend's list of houses to "flip", it fit what we could afford, and a few days later, we are home owners!!

We will not be moving in until the end of December due to some of the work that needs to be done.  The excitement of talking about where to arrange things, what colors to paint, and what "things" to buy has monopolized most of our conversation lately.  The house is not what you would call a mansion, but it fits us and our needs for now.  It is cute, and will be even cuter when we are done fixing it up.  Here are some pictures of the outside of it.  Sometime in the near future I will post pictures of the before, in between, and the after.

Close up of the front

Cute little mail box!

Ready to get moved in!

Garage

Back yard

Deck

It's the Simple Things

Today my mind has been focused on the simple things in life.  Things like a refreshing morning at church where you feel warm, welcomed, and like you're home.  Simple things like the power of God is wrapping around you as hundreds of people lift their voice together in song.  Or the words of a pastor ringing true in your heart, so much so you think he wrote that sermon just for you.

It's simple things like sipping a homemade eggnog latte after finishing lesson plans with the sound of football announcers in the background.

It can be a kiss from a loving husband on his way out the door, or a hug just because he loves you!

Today has been simple, which I am learning is not a bad thing. Here is to a simply wonderful day!

Absolutely Nothing

Today I have done absolutely nothing.  Well nothing too productive that is.   There is a list of things I could be doing that is probably a mile long, but I feel that reading, blogging, facebooking, playing around with my new phone and contemplating when to shower and run an errand or two, a much better way to spend the day.

Did I mention that I made an eggnog latte?  They are one of my favorites.  I know that it is a little too early for eggnog, but I saw it in the stores and just had to have it.  It will be coming to a Starbucks near you soon.  But if you can't wait, come on over and I'll make you one!

Here is to a day spent relaxing (much needed after talking to parents for like 12 hours yesterday!)

Yummy!

Just thought I should make your mouths drool a little bit about some yummy treats I've made lately.  I meant to post these muffins a long time ago, but I am not just getting around to it.  These bring back memories of picking blueberries on the blueberry farm back in Washington!

Before Baking

After Baking!

The Recipe for: The Best Blueberry Muffins

1/2 C Butter @ room temp

1 C granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 t vanilla extract

2 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

2 1/2 C blueberries (mash 1/2 C with fork)

2 C all-purpose flour

1/2 C milk

1 T sugar mixed with 1/4 t ground nutmeg

Heat the oven to 375.  Greese 12 regular muffin cups, including the area between each cup, or use foil baking cups.

In a medium size bowl, beat butter until creamy.  Beat in the sugar until pale and fluffy.  Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Beat in vanilla, baking powder and salt.

Mixe mashed berries into batter.

Fold half the flour in with a spatula, then half the milk.  Add remaining blueberries.

Scoop batter into muffin cups.  Sprinkle with nutmeg sugar.

Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.  Let muffins cool at least 30 minutes in pan before removing.  (I like to eat them warm!)

The next batch of treats I made were ones that I found on Bakerella.  When I have time I like to try out her creations, mine never look quite as good, but I am enjoying getting better at decorating things.  My class devoured these!

Before Baking

Fresh out of the oven

Decorated and ready to be eaten

Happy Eating!

A freezing homecoming

I thought it was about time to write a post about my trip to Wyoming for homecoming.

Before heading off to Colorado and Wyoming my sweet husband sent flowers to school to let me know that he would miss me and to say have a great time.  They were so beautiful and filled my room with wonderful smells!

I think the weather wanted to give me a reason not to miss Laramie, so it snowed!  Not just a little bit of snow, 6 inches of fluffy, white, freezing flakes.  But do you think I let that stop me from going to a football game?!  Oh no!  Here are some pictures from the game.  Jamie and I left at the end of the third quarter because we were winning and we could no longer feel our toes. 

Here is Pistol Pete working the crowd!

Of course I had a wonderful time catching up with friends and some of the basketball coaches.  I truly miss all of them and feel so thankful that I was able to go.  Enjoy the pictures of my friends!  I am getting tired of writing today, so maybe tomorrow I will be more creative with my posts!

Amber and I hanging out in her awesome house with her hubby and adorable puppy!

Night out in Laramie after the big win!

I love these girls!  I am so happy that I got to see them!

This is what happens when you get stuck in the car for 3 hours in bad weather....you take random pictures.  Oh how I don't miss the road closures!

I hope you enjoyed the pictures.  Like I said, there is a more interesting post to follow tomorrow!  (I hope!)