3 Year Anniversary

On Tuesday, Covey and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary!  It's hard to believe that it's been 3 of the best years of my life already {cheesy, I know!} but it feels like it's been so much longer than that at the same time!

Since most of our money is going towards our new house, we didn't really have a lot of money to spend on something big for our anniversary but we still wanted to do something to celebrate.  So, we decided to go to Famous Dave's.  It is this absolutely amazing BBQ place and if you've never been there you haven't lived!  We first discovered Famous Dave's when we were out in New York the summer after we got married and we were hooked.  We seriously *love* BBQ food!

 We go this amazing feast of food and we were so excited to dig in!

 One minute it was there...

 The next minute it was gone!

 This picture pretty much sums up how Covey felt after eating so much food.

This sums up how I felt after eating (no, this is not a pregnancy picture even though that is what it looks like)

After dinner, we decided to go to the furniture stores across the street from IKEA and see if we could find a bedroom set we liked.  Turns out, they were having their Spring Clearance sale so there were a lot of good deals.  We found a set that we liked and bought it!  I'm so excited to have a new bedroom set!  It is going to look awesome in our new house!  We got 2 nightstands, the dresser with the mirror and the bed frame (we decided against getting a chest of drawers).

All in all, it was a good, fun night!  Happy 3 years!

Moving Part 1

So we moved yesterday.  We actually got done pretty quickly and within an hour and a half we had everything moved into my dad's trailer.  Then we took another 20 minutes or so to load up mine and Covey's cars with the stuff we needed to take with us to his parent's house.  We dropped it off at his parents and then went back to clean the place.  

We had been cleaning for an hour or so when the people who were going to be moving in knocked on the door and asked if they could start moving their stuff in.  We told them that we weren't done cleaning yet and we still had a few things we needed to load in the car.  They then proceeded to tell us that they didn't mind if the place was clean or not.  I was thinking, 'Really?  You've got to be kidding me.'  But they were just overly anxious to get in and even asked if we would move our car so they could back their truck in and start moving in while we were moving out.  I was getting kind of bugged with them at this point because Covey had told our landlord, Nate, that the place wouldn't be available to move into until 4pm and here were these people wanting to move in.  So I was probably a little more rude than was necessary and I told them that 'no, we weren't going to move our car because we still had things we needed to load into it and they could just wait until we were done'.  Not the most diplomatic approach but I was tired, hungry, sweaty and annoyed with them.

Covey and I finally got all of our stuff moved out of the apartment and into the car.  I went and gave the keys to the new renters and then told the landlord that we were leaving and that the people were already ready to move in.  He was surprised at this because he had told them it would be ready at 4pm.  Oh well.  We were outta there and so happy to be gone.  

I took some pictures of us in the car after we had to cram everything in it after being pushed out.  We didn't have a lot of time to pack everything up very well so it was really stuffed.  I had a box at my feet and one on my lap and Covey had Saffy (our fish) on the floor between his feet plus our garbage can in between us.  It was crazy.

 

At least next time it will be us moving into our new place, which will make the whole process a lot more fun I think.  Here's to doing this all over again in a couple weeks!

Moving Day

Tomorrow is MOVING DAY!

We are officially moving out of our last apartment and we are so happy!  Granted, we are not moving into our new house yet because it's not done, which would make the moving process a little more exciting, but it's a step in the right direction. :)  We will be staying at Covey's parent's house for the next 2-3 weeks until we close on our house.  It is pretty close, but there are still some things that need to be done.  We are just crossing our fingers that the house will be done by the 9th.  I guess we'll see.

Speaking of crossing our fingers though, we had really been hoping to sell some of our furniture:  a papasan chair, a high heel shoe chair and our bedroom set that I've had since I was thirteen (needless to say, it was a little out of date).  We've actually been trying to sell the two chairs on and off for the last year or so but haven't had any luck.  That is, until this week.  We sold the papasan on Wednesday, the high heel shoe chair on Thursday and the bedroom set today!  Talk about cutting it close to the deadline!  We are so happy to have those things gone though, especially the bedroom set because we were really wanting to get something new when we moved into our new place.  And now we get to!  

It's kind of hard to get it to sink into my brain that we are going to be moving into our first house in the next couple of weeks or so.  Even though we've watched our house be built, it's like a dream that even when we actually move in, won't seem real.  We are so excited to be able to start this new chapter in our lives and can't wait to get in to our new place!

Now it's off to sleep.  Tomorrow is going to be a long day...

New Home Update #13

I have good news and bad news: 

The bad news is that I do not have many pictures of the progress on our home.

The good news is that the reason for this is because there have been people working on the house every time I stop by to look at it!  (I'm not supposed to go in if there are workers there.)

Basically, this is what they have done since the last time I posted:

• finished painting
• finished putting cabinets in kitchen and bathrooms
• measured for granite countertops in kitchen
• electrical outlets have been put on
• finished stucco on the outside
• finished with the stone on the outside

 It's possible that more than this has been done but we don't know for sure because they have put the locks on the doors to the house and so now we can't get in to walk around and check things out.  I am kind of bummed about this because of course I want to see the progress and take pictures but it's a good thing they have the locks on because now anyone working on the inside has to have a key to the house so it is more regulated.

In talking to my dad this last week (he built his house), he said that it sounds like they are working pretty fast to get everything done--hopefully this means it will be done BEFORE May 9th, but we will just have to see.

The things they have left to do are:

• put the carpet in
• install the granite countertops
• install the garage door
• pour the driveway
• pour sidewalk and steps to front porch
• put steps out the back door
• plumbing
• lighting

Eek!  It kind of sounds like a lot when I start listing it that way but I know that multiple things can be done at a time and even multiple things in a day.  I should probably just stop thinking about it (yeah right!) and focus on getting my house packed up.  Again, I say, eek!

Easter in St. George

This year for Easter, Covey and I got the chance to go down to St. George with my dad, step-mom (Sharon), step-sister (Brooke), her husband and their kids.  My dad and Sharon partially own a condo down there and it happened to be available over Easter weekend so we though 'what the heck' and decided to go down.  I am SO happy that we did!  The weather was beautiful and sunny and just what I needed to give me a little pick-me-up in the midst of the crappy northern Utah weather that can't decide which season it wants to be.  (Sorry to those of you stuck in that this last weekend!)

Covey and I drove down on Friday afternoon and got to St. George around 6:30.  We really didn't do a lot besides relax and just be with each other.  We went to the pool (hallelujah!) and soaked up some sunshine, watched movies, played card games with Sayler and River (niece and nephew), did a little hiking, went to sacrament meeting in a random ward and had Easter dinner with my aunt who lives down there.  We left on Monday afternoon around 2:30 and got a little delayed by the stormy weather.  We stopped by our house to check on the progress (this will be in a separate post).  Then we went to Sonic and got some yummy Chicken Club Toasters, got home, unpacked and relaxed some more.  It was a great weekend! 

More Than Just A Pretty Face

I don't claim to know everything about Audrey Hepburn.  In fact, far from it.  I've seen a handful of her movies and I recognize her face but that is about the extent of it.  Every once in a while, I come across something she said that makes me smile and wish that I knew her a little better.

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others."

"I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls."

"Nothing is impossible; the word itself says 'I'm possible!'"

"The best thing to hold onto in life is each other."

Thanks, Audrey.  I needed that.

Chick Sick

I would have to say that one of THE WORST things in the world is being CHICK SICK.  

You know what I'm talking about.  That wonderful time each month when Mother Nature comes for a visit.  Some months, I really just want to kick her in the butt because she makes me feel so crappy.  Other months, I don't mind her visit and it's like she's not even there.  

This month does not fall under the second category.

New Home Update #12 and An Unusual Date Night

A couple of days ago, I was telling Covey that I was bored and we needed to get out and do something.  He suggested we go out on a date the following day (Friday) and I agreed.  (We go out most weeks but I was just especially bored this last week.  Darn weather!)

After work on Friday, we met at our new house to take a look at it.  When Covey got there, he motioned for me to come over to his car and surprised me with flowers!  So sweet!  I love that he picked out a gerbera daisy because that was the flower we had at our wedding.

Then we went into the house to check out the updates.  The most noticeable changes were first layer of stuff they put on the outside of the house for the stone and stucco (you thought we'd picked a gray exterior, huh?), the new laminate hardwood flooring, the baseboards, the windowsills and the doors on all the rooms (p.s. we LOVE our doors.  They are called 2 panel v-groove and the are AWESOME).

We stopped home to drop off one of the cars and then went to Arby's and got some food.  You really can't go wrong with Arby's.  Love it.  Then we stopped by a furniture place to take a look at a bedroom set we thought looked nice and was within our price range (turns out it was not very high quality, hence the low price).  

I suggested that since we were out and about that we should stop by some stores and see if we could get some boxes for packing up all our stuff we have to store until we can move into our new house.  And let me tell you, we hit the JACKPOT.  Covey saw some people taking boxes out to the recycling bin behind a store and they told us we could take them.  So we did a little dumpster diving. :)

After our dumpster diving adventure, we went and bought some plastic bins to store our clothes in while we are semi-homeless and went home and starting packing up.  It was kind of an unusual date night but we had fun and we were productive too!  Can't complain about that! :)

New Home Update #9, #10 and #11

Our home is moving right along!  I am getting a little hopeful that it will be done before May 9th but I don't want to think about it too much and then be sad if it does take that long.  

Right now, they are working on both the interior and the exterior.  On the inside, they have finished sheet rocking and perfa-taping (making it look like there aren't any seams in the wall) and they have started to texture the walls.  On the outside, they've started putting the tar paper and wire on the wall so they can put the stone and stucco on.  They've also started putting door frames and doors up on the outside walls.  Here's some pics:

Before and after the sheet rock and perfa-taping

Tar paper, wire and scaffolding for the stone and stucco

Our garage!

The walls and ceiling look all spotty because of the texturing.

A view of our master bath.  We have a separate shower and tub and a walk in closet that will actually fit both mine and Covey's clothes.

It's really fun to walk through the house and start imagining where things will go.  I told Covey that by the time we actually move into the house it is going to feel like we've been there for a while since we've walked around it so much!

Another update about our house is that we bought the granite for our countertops that will go in the kitchen.  Goodbye hard-earned money, but hello to fantastic countertops!  Originally, we were going to go with a brown granite called 'Tropic Brown' because we thought it would tie everything together really well.

  

But after looking a little more (and some suggestions from the guy who sold us the granite) we actually chose a different color called 'Nova Brown'.  I guess it is one that not a lot of places carry so it wasn't one that we had ever heard of before, but it is even better than our first choice.  I really like it because it will help our kitchen be lighter.

(This is not the best picture, but I promise this one is better than the first!)

 Covey and I also went and met with the lender again today to talk about locking in our interest rate.  As we were getting some of the stuff ready, we got a taste of how much paperwork there is involved in buying a house!  We are still looking at a home completion date of May 9th (a Monday) which means that we should be able to close by the end of the week and start moving in the week after that.  I am really crossing my fingers that things continue to go as smoothly as possible!

The Truth of God Shall Go Forth

"Of course, our challenges are different today, but they are no less demanding. Instead of angry mobs, we face those who constantly try to defame. Instead of extreme exposure and hardship, we face alcohol and drug abuse, pornography, all kinds of filth, sleaze, greed, dishonesty, and spiritual apathy. Instead of families being uprooted and torn from their homes, we see the institution of the family, including the divine institution of marriage, under attack as groups and individuals seek to define away the prominent and divine role of the family in society.

 

"This is not to suggest that our challenges today are more severe than the challenges faced by those who have gone before us. They are just different. The Lord isn’t asking us to load up a handcart; He’s asking us to fortify our faith. He isn’t asking us to walk across a continent; He’s asking us to walk across the street to visit our neighbor. He isn’t asking us to give all of our worldly possessions to build a temple; He’s asking us to give of our means and our time despite the pressures of modern living to continue to build temples and then to attend regularly the temples already built. He isn’t asking us to die a martyr’s death; He’s asking us to live a disciple’s life.

 

"This is a great time to live, brothers and sisters, and it is up to us to carry on the rich tradition of devoted commitment that has been the hallmark of previous generations of Latter-day Saints. This is not a time for the spiritually faint of heart. We cannot afford to be superficially righteous. Our testimonies must run deep, with spiritual roots firmly embedded in the rock of revelation. And we must continue to move the work forward as a covenanted, consecrated people, with faith in every footstep, “till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” That it may be so for us is my humble prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

 

“The Truth of God Shall Go Forth” by Elder M. Russell Ballard (April 2008 General Conference)

Selling Some Furniture...

Hey all!  Covey and I are trying to sell some of our furniture before we move into our new place.  We have to be out of our current place by April 30th and would like to see this stuff go before then.  Let me know if you or anyone you know might be interested.

5 Piece Bedroom Set

Includes: 2 nightstands, 1 chest of drawers, 1 dresser and 1 mirror/hutch

This is in really great condition and has a couple of small scratches and is missing one handle on the dresser.  There is no headboard or sideboards for the bed.  We are asking $475 for the set but that price is negotiable.

Hunter Green Papasan Chair

This chair is in great condition.  The cushion doesn't have any stains, rips or fading and the frame doesn't have any cracks.  We are asking $70 for it but the price is negotiable.

High Heel Shoe Chair

I seriously love this chair, but we don't have anywhere to put it in our house.  It is a very unique chair and in fantastic condition.  We are selling it for $100.  This price is pretty fixed but may be negotiable to a point.