On this day in history...

Four years. Yup, four years ago yesterday, I married the most wonderful man. Now, four years may not seem like a big deal to some people (like my parents, who are going on 31 years), but when you think about just how much we've packed in four years, we're doing pretty darn good.

Since that wonderful day in 2005, Chris and I have bought a house, put a roof on the house, went to Disney World, went to family reunion in North Carolina, put in new windows in the house, acted in two musicals (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Beauty and the Beast), remodeled our dining room, moved my parents to Southern California, remodeled our kitchen, danced in two dance shows, remodeled our bathroom, acquired one college degree, and, most recently, moved to Medford.

We've held a total of seven jobs between the two of us, and made countless amazing friendships. We've added two very special dogs to our family and celebrated the marriage of my sister.

Next year at this time, we will have added one more move and a college degree to that list, along with perhaps another member of our family??

Who knows what will happen? But no matter what, no matter where we are or what job we have or whether we are remodeling a house (trust me, if a marriage survives home remodeling, it can survive ANYTHING!), we are doing it together.

I love my husband. He is my best friend. He keeps me grounded and focused when I am overwhelmed. He has supported me going back to school to finish my degree. He eats my terrible cooking with a smile on his face. He makes me laugh every single day. He is kind and generous and loving with my family. He supports my friendships. He gives me foot massages (my favorite!). He takes me out on dates. He is honorable and loyal. He's not afraid to state his opinion. He goes to yard sales with me, with a smile on his face. He kills all the spiders for me. He loves and supports me in everything I do.

Happy Anniversary, babe. Here's to many, many more!

Moving

Ok, here's good news and bad news. The good news is that we are 100% completed with remodeling our house! Every little thing is done and perfect. The bad news? We don't live there anymore! Yes, we have moved! Actually, we moved June 30, but we have been soo busy with everything that's been going on, I'm just now getting around to blogging about it. This is the (sorta) end to a saga that began in March (started packing in March) and is just now coming to an end. Three loads of stuff over, one full storage unit, and about fifty empty boxes later, we are mostly unpacked and settled into our new home. I have to say, I am soooo looking forward to hopefully next year being settled at least semi-permanently into a home. It feels like I have spent my entire life either moving or planning to move - I'm not sure I would know what to do with myself with actually planning on LIVING somewhere for an extended period of time!!! This is the eighth time I have moved, and I AM DONE! NO MORE!! Ok, one more would be good. But then that's it!!

So, we are settling in okay. This is a cute little house with a nice setup, but we definately miss our backyard!! It's also kind of a downgrade from our newly remodeled home in Klamath - I really miss my nice new kitchen and laundry room! And, we are having a hard time adjusting to living an hour and half away from Chris' family and all our friends, but I especially am trying to have a good attitude. I guess part of this situation is difficult because of all the uncertainties - if I will be able to find a job, where Chris will find a job and where we will be living next year - lots for me to stress about, especially for someone who hates change!! But, I have been so busy I haven't had time to stress and worry yet, so I'll keep working on that!

More pics to come of the house soon!

Nature in my backyard

Something I'm going to miss about our house is how close it is to nature. Sometimes this could be a bad thing, I guess, but looking out my front window and seeing this sure can add excitement to the day:

Yup. Deer in our front yard. Now, it's not like we live way out in the country or anything, but we live far enough into the suburbs that this does happen sometimes. And then there's this:

Not quite sure what kind of bird that is - I just know it's big! And it's not every day someone can walk out their back door and see a big, loud bird just sitting on their deck chair. I love our house!

New cousin!

Chris and I have a new cousin (or maybe it's a second cousin? or first cousin once removed? or second cousin once removed by marriage? oh, screw it. It's a new relative). Zander James Clem was born to Chris' cousin Josh and his girlfriend Linda on Friday, June 12 by C-section, weighing around 6 lbs and nineteen inches. ADORABLE!

I have to get me one of these!!!! What a cutie!

Bathroom Remodel Complete (mostly)

Yes! Our bathroom is finished being remodeled, just in time for us to move and not be able to enjoy the fruits of our labor! But that's okay - experience is priceless! As always, I am amazed at Chris' ability to not only rewire electricity and do crazy plumming thingys, but also his ability to not get electrocuted or flood the house in the process! Here's some photos for your viewing enjoyment:

Before: (please especially note the FANTASTIC orange and brown linoleum floor)

After:

Sorry, I forgot to take pictures of the tub surround, which might be one of the biggest changes. Chris did an awesome job on that, even though it was really difficult to do. And now, for the most important change of all: (drumroll please)...

YES!!!!!!! That is an outlet, IN the bathroom!!!!! Not in the dining room, with a twenty foot extension cord running from it into the bathroom so I can use my hair dryer, but not be able to close the bathroom door!!! It is actually IN the bathroom!!!!!!! And not just one outlet, but two!!!! My hair straightener can be plugged in, warming up, WHILE I'm drying my hair!! Could life get any better? I think not. Modern technology rocks. And my amazing husband, who rewired the bathroom specifically for this purpose, rocks too!

So, if anyone needs to use a bathroom electrical appliance, you know where to come! :)

LOVE this book

I honestly think that if I were on an island, stranded, and could choose only one book to have, this might be it. I have read it a dozen times and still love it every time! I have kept an ongoing list of my all time favorite books (beginning with "Little Women" and "The Giver" from fourth grade, right on up to "Gone With the Wind" in junior high and "The Road" from just a few years ago) and this one is my most recent fav. You know those books that you are always in the mood for, the ones that somehow manage to fit your mood, no matter what your mood is? This is one of them. I packed all my other books except for this one, because this book is the perfect read for sad endings and new beginnings. Keep in mind, it is a humongous 1400 pages, but each and every page is FANTASTIC! If you haven't read it and have a few minutes (or years) to spare, read it!

Technology + Mandy = Frustration

GRRR... okay, I know everyone is chomping at the bit for a new blog post (ha ha), but technology keeps getting in the way! First, my camera battery died - maybe it was the 4,000 photos I took at the Altamont Extravaganza! Then, couldn't find the charger... it's because I'm packing and everything's a mess. That's the excuse I'm going with, anyway. Finally found my battery charger yesterday, but now my laptop is dead and won't turn on!!! Having some issues with the charger cord or something... so, I'm using an old laptop for this post, but can't upload photos to this one! sigh. Oh, the huge problems I face. Right up there with hunger in third world countries and the Darfur situation. Anyways, new blog post with pictures coming soon!