Appraisal and a Long Overdue Post

I know I have been a bad blogger lately but Lance and I were back to working on the house and right through the holidays so it's been crazy! Here are some photos of how the house looked for the appraisal today. Please keep us in your prayers - we really need this refinance! We should know the results by Friday!

Front Entry

New Fish Tank cabinet doors Lance built

Front Room

Yes Lance is sleeping - we were up until midnight last night working on the house and he has been working on it the last 2 and a 1/2 days straight!

Dining Room

Kitchen Table w/ Flowers

Main Kitchen counter

Main BathroomTrim work Lance did in our door frame into the main bathroom
Clean back hall w/ our new Doggie Door (best investment ever - except when the raccoon came in)

Laundry Room

Our Office - used to be our bedroom

Our storage room - it may not look clean from this view but you have no idea!

Here is a closer look at the texture Lance did in this room - kinda like venetian plaster
Master Bedroom
Master Closet

What you can't see here is all my shoes at the bottom of this photo - it turned out a little dark

Master Bathroom

That is all for now - keep your fingers crossed for us!

Kreativ Blogger Award

The rules are I have to list 6 things that make me Happy and 6 other bloggers to give this award to!
1. Having a job that I can truly say I enjoy 99% of the time! In this market, that is huge!
2. Having a wonderful husband and a home to call our own.
3. My health!
4. Having my family close by and my in-laws as well, yes I love them too! This includes watching Kaylie grow up!
5. Good friends I can count on even if they live in Utah!
6. Living in a country I can freely and openly worship God

2 People I want to pass this on to are:
1. Trisha Clark - her blog is great!
2. Ashlee Rutter - she has a young mind and figures out all these cool things to show off her blog!

Girls' Nite Out!

I was at Tammie's house last night doing a Body Shop at Home party and from this you can tell how much fun my nieces had!

From Left: Julietta, Melania, me and my other sister-in-law Cameo. We snacked, laughed and tried everything! That's all for now. I'll post a final on my house soon.

Before... and After...

The master bedroom before carpet.The master bedroom with carpet and baseboard!!
Here's the vent style I chose.
Here's the beginning of my master walk-in closet!

Here's a shot of the fancy trim work Lance did around the french doors.
We hope to be moving in this weekend but we'll see! I'll post again as soon as we are moved in!!!

My Grami's Birthstone Ring

One thing I will always remember about my Grami is how beautiful her hands were and how she always wore numerous rings and it looked elegant on her not gaudy. When she passed away in early 2004, way before her time, my family was going through her things to see what each of us wanted to have of hers to remember her. This ring was the first thing that came to my mind - I didn't know at the time that it was her birthstone ring. When I realized that, I knew my mom would want it and that was fine with me. My mom did know however that I wanted the ring so this year for my birthday she gave it to me. Whenever I wear it I think of my Grami and miss her but I am comforted knowing she is in Heaven with God. I will wear and cherish this Peridot ring and the memories for all my days.

Thank you mom!

Tagged...

Here goes . . . .

4 random things about my husband:

• I think he has a fetish for a cheap vehicle. In the last 6 months he has owned a 1990's Toyota 4-Runner, 1990's Dodge Shadow, 1980's Subaru Hatchback, ummm I am sure I am forgetting more...
• He is working on converting the Dodge Shadow to an HHO system - instead of gasoline. He already built and installed a HHO fuel assist.
• He rides a Unicycle.
• He used to race street bikes at the Portland International Racetrack.

4 movies that I would/could watch more than once:

• Grease - the original
• The Usual Suspects
• Jim Gaffagan - Beyond the Pale "Hot Pockets anyone?"
• Honey

4 tv shows I watch: I have Windows Media Center (Microsoft version of TiVo) So I will keep the list short...

• One Tree Hill
• October Road
• My Boys
• So You Think You Can Dance

4 places that I have been:

• Germany (Konstanz, Berlin, Tuebingen, Frankfurt, etc. I lived in Germany for a year)
• Ensenada, Mexico
• Italy (Venice, Sienna, Milan, Rome, Naples...)
• France (Paris, Nice)

4 people who email me regularly:

• My Mom (Brooke)
• Lance
• Trisha
• My Aunt Jenn

4 favorite foods:

• Italian - anything except seafood
• Mexican - anything except seafood and my favorite is El Tapatio
• German - anything, I think... Even Sauer Kraut!
• Doenner Kabab!! A wonderful middle eastern burrito/wrap with shaved meat that I believe was pork... I dunno but it was GOOD!

4 places I would like to visit:

• Germany again with Lance this time
• Italy again with Lance this time
• Cancun - I am working on earning an all inclusive trip with The Body Shop at Home!
• Jamaica

4 things I am looking forward to in the coming year:

• TRISHA COMING TO VISIT!!
• We are getting carpet installed in the Master Bedroom and closet Monday 9/15 so I am looking forward to moving into that room!
• Earning a free trip for Lance and I to Cancun, Mexico!
• Maybe planning to start a family?

People I have tagged:

• Laura Plunk
• Mark Spires

The Memory Game

I participated in this on a friend's blog and thought it was kind of fun. Leave it to Trisha to break me out of the "house update" mold! Everyone please join in on the fun and leave a comment with a memory that you have of me, or Lance, or a memory you have of us together! Then if you leave the same post on your blog, we'll leave a memory of you too! Thanks!