Emotional Roller Coaster

Mid Janurary has been an emotional roller coaster! So much has happened exciting and kind of sad! 

On Thursday, January 17th, they FINALLY laid our foundation!! The weather has been kicking our houses butt and the builder has not been able to do anything. 

Kevin and I had plans to go to lunch that day because he was off and of course we had to go drive by just to see... And we were extatic to see it being worked on. It seriously made my week! The funny thing is that it looks so small when it's just the slab! All I could think of when I was standing there was "there is no way a bed will fit in that front bedroom". Haha 

On Saturday, January 19th, it was a little more depressing. My sisters, parents, and I spent the entire day packing up most of the house we lived in for a good portion of our childhood. My parents have been trying to sell their house and have receive positive feedback but no offers due to the work that needs to be done on the house. Fun things like scrapping a rediculous amount of that stupid popcorn stuff off the ceiling, updated floors, and new counter tops. They deciding they would rather move into an apartment for a couple of months and nock it all out at once instead of living in mass chaos for who knows how long.

It was really sad to find so many things that brought back so many memories and then see the house basically empty. You realize how much your home is really about who and what is in it than the building itself. I guess it's a perfect reminder for me right now with us building. The building might be perfect or end up nothing like we thought but in the end it's the love we bring into it that will make it our home.

 I spent all but the first 8 years of my life in that house... It was fun to find old pictures. My younger sister found this great pic of all four of us girls. It was from the day we moved out of our 1st house and into this one.

Aren't we a cute bunch of weirdos! Haha Sadly, she found it after we had left... It would have been a great one to recreate. Techniqually we haven't moved everything out yet upstairs... We may have to add it to our bucket list for the day we completely move everything out for good and the house is sold! 

2013 Already?!

I can't believe it's already 2013!! And not just that it's already the second week of January! Everything goes by so much faster as an adult. We received an email from our builder that they are supposed to lay the foundation on our house on Wednesday if the weather cooperates. That's the key word "IF"... They were supposed to have laid it last week but Oklahoma has a habit of surprising us with unpredictable weather. It can be 60 degrees one day and freezing the next.

We did finish out 2012 with everything going great though. We went to our first real Christmas Party with just out friends. We really are adults aren't we? lol Christmas was great. We got to spend lots of time with family. Isn't my nephew just the cutest!

The Hubby was overjoyed by the present he was able to get with his Christmas money. He finally got that iPad he has been wanting for so long...the iPad he has gone on and on and on about all the things he could do with it...the iPad I am currently using to write this blog. Haha yeah... I've kinda taken over it when I'm home. Isn't that how marriage works? What's mine is his and what's his is mine? Haha I don't think he minds.

For New Years we went to dinner with my 3 sisters and their significant others. Then we went to my older sisters to hang out and play games until we rang in the new year!

I can't wait for all 2013 will bring!!

Water Is A Go

I have been trying my best to not drive by our lot every chance I get and so far I haven't done so bad. Once a week seems reasonable right? Haha Not much had happened in the first few weeks. They flattened out the lot and added some of the wooden planks for laying the foundation.

 Thursday, December 13th, we met with the actual Builder to finalize the building plans so they could get started. We were so excited to sign off on the release and have it officially being built. I made it to Monday, December 17th, before I drove by again. YES... I know.. that is no where close to a week later... but I couldn't help it! They had layed all the plumbing pipes. Who knew I would be soooooo excited about having water pipes ready to go! Hahaha 

I managed to control myself and haven't been by since. Haha I think Monday's will have to be my once a week cheek in. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get the Christmas Present I want tomorrow on Christmas Eve when I stop by... A concrete foundation finished! 

Winter with Mr and Mrs Winters

Christmas is probably my favorite time of the year.  Let me clarify... All the fun things to do at Christmas make it my favorite time of the year NOT the cold weather, dry skin, and ice on my windshield that I have to scrape off! Those things I do not like... I would much rather it be 105 degrees outside than 45 degrees. 

I do love all the fun get togethers and things to do though. This week has been a fun one. Work has been busy but I officially hit my 90 Day mark at my new job and passed all expectations! I even got my first raise. Not a bad way to start out the week.

On Thursday I went to a painting class with my friend Mrs. Winter sand her mom.

 It was so much fun. We drank wine and painted Santa Clause. I was a little freaked out at first because when we showed up there were blank canvases on our tables. I am not and have never claimed to be an artist! Haha The only real painting experience I have is from painting ornaments/boxes/mugs/etc for Holidays at my Grandmothers as a child. I recently found some of these crafts and realized ... I SUCK! lol I was hoping the gap of 6 years since our last Holiday Crafting Session gave me enough time to really improve on my artistic skills with no practice at all. Surprisingly, mine didn't turn out too bad.

I could sit here and point out all the things I did bad but let's just leave it at the painting is not perfect. Haha

Saturday the Hubby and I met up with Mr. and Mrs. Winter to go ice skating. I realize every year how much older I am by how out of shape I am and how much my feet hurt in those terrible skates! lol I always forget how uncomfortable they are until I'm there. It was fun though! While we were there we had some yummy hot chocolate and took pictures in their little prop sled. 

Later we went to dinner at this wonderful little Italian restaurant and stopped next door to watch some glass blowing. Sadly I didn't get a pic of that. Guess that means we'll just have to go back sometime!

After that we went and looked at Christmas Lights and man did we hit the jack pot! There was a neighborhood that had a competition and the 1st and 2nd Place winners houses were CRAZY! This was the second place winners house. 

From the picture it looks like a normal house with Christmas Lights but these were tied to the peoples own radio station. You could pull up in the neighborhood community area's parking lot across the street, tune into their station, and watch  all the lights dance on and off to the music. It was AMAZING! 

I have to say this week was full of Christmas Cheer! Hope yours was too. Merry Christmas!

Puppy Getaway

The Hubby and I were excited when our friends, Candace & Tyler asked us to puppy sit and watch their house this weekend! Of course we took up the offer. Roxy and their puppy Louie and best buds so we brought her with us.

Friday night Kevin and I went and ate at a new restaurant called Five Guys. I had eaten it before and knew he would love it. It's these really good burgers! Then we rented "Step Up" and picked up some ice cream. We spent the rest of the night curled up on the sofa watching the movie and watching these two play tug-a-war.

Aren't they adorable? They spent all day Saturday doing this too! The Hubby and I worked Saturday morning and then went shopping. Can I tell you how wonderful and how terrible of an idea that was!! I found a great jacket... A Tan London Fog Trench Coat. Not a long one but a thigh length. And I found some adorable Ralph Lauren Cheetah gloves. (I've decided Marshall's is my new favorite store!!)

We were going to have my friend Katie take some family pictures Saturday night but it was WAY TOO WINDY! If your not from Oklahoma you probably don't realize how windy a normal day in OK can be. If your not careful all your pictures will look like you were standing in front of a fan! Haha which looks great for those Victoria's Secret model shoots but not so great for a family pic! We decided dinner with her and her husband was a better idea!

Sunday the puppy's finally had worn themselves out.

It only took 2 days! The Hubby was thrilled because this meant they wanted to snuggle on the sofa all day while we watched football.

Candace and Tyler are great friends and had left us an easy cook meal to eat and so we decided to cook it Sunday.

(It's really Candace knowing my terrible ability to cook and trying to teach me simple recipes when I'm not looking! Haha which thumbs up to her because it worked!) It was this chicken taco crockpot recipe and it was delicious!!

Now it's time to go back to the in-laws and get ready for a full week of work. I'm so glad they asked us to watch their house and puppy though! Always fun to get a weekend away!

The House of Robinson

The Hubby and I are THRILLED to share that we are officially building our first home! We had been looking for an older home and decided the better route for us was to build. For the past 6 months we have been going around talking to different builders and looking at different neighborhoods. Finally, it has all fallen into place! On October 4, 2012 we signed a little slip of paper to get it all started!

We are so excited and couldn't wait to take a picture of that sold sign!

It will take approximately 6 months to build depending on the weather which puts us moving in sometime during April of 2013! I can't believe we are building a house!! 

I don't think we had prepared ourselves for what to expect. There are so many little decisions that have to be made and they are ALL up to us! I am sure we will be able to handle it all but that doesn't mean we might not have a few panic attacks along the way. lol

 On Monday, November 19th of 2012, the Hubby and I met with Amanda, the design and architectural consultant, to go over all the small details of the actual house itself. Below is our new floor plan!

We were able to pick out where we wanted our windows, doors, ceiling heights, cable and ethernet hook ups, and even the light switches! Kevin and I both left with headaches from all the decision making! We still have two more meetings to go for flooring, finishes, lighting, etc. I just hope we can survive them!  It has been a really amazing experience so far and I can't wait to keep track of it all on this blog! 

Messages From Cookies

I am not one for believing the non-sense fortunes I typically see in those fortune cookies I get at chinese restaurants. You know, the ones that every one says you should add "in bed" to the end every time. Sometimes they turn about to be really funny and typically they don't relate to anything in real life but I have to admit... the last few I have gotten have been spot on and it's a little creepy! 

The first one I posted about back in July when Kevin and I moved in with his parents.

Like I said in my earlier post... it was actually perfect timing because I was starting to really worry about whether we were doing the right thing.  

*As of last month we are officially building our first house!!*

The next fortune cookie came the night I decided to call my wonderful friend's mother about applying for a job at the company she worked for. I had been debating for weeks if I should do it or not. I knew I was miserable at my current job and I was just nervous it wasn't going to be what I wanted or that I wouldn't even be considered. 

It was almost like it was the exact statement I needed to hear. As soon as we got home I picked up the phone and then sent in an application! My friend Katie's mom was more than willing to help!

 The next one is kind of blurry. Somehow I managed to eat chinese a second time at the end of that same week... I have no idea how that happened!!   (It's kinda a problem I have. haha) I had not heard anything back about the application and was starting to think I might not. I was really having a hard time at my job and I was starting to wonder how much longer I could deal with it all and still be happy. I opened up the fortune cookie and this is what I read.

SEE!! CREEPY RIGHT?! 

I tried to be patient and a week later I got a call. I did two interviews over the phone, took a couple of tests, and then had an interview in person... I wasn't out of the building before they offered me the job! I cannot even begin to tell you how thankful I am for Katie's mom. I know I would not have been considered for an interview let alone for the actual job itself had it not been for her!

The last one came on my last day at my old job. I worked in retail and it had been a CRAZY busy Saturday. Not only was I exhausted and had to close the store on my last shift but the other manager that had opened had done NOTHING that day so I knew I wasn't going to get out anytime before midnight! I managed to take a 15 min break and picked up this fortune cookie....

I laughed it off but in the back of my mind I kept thinking that I really hoped I would be part of a real team that actually does work cooperatively for success unlike the team I was currently on. 

I can officially say that this one was exactly right too! At my new job we are seriously divided up in actual teams and I have never been a part of a team that has worked so well together. See CREEPY! I don't think I'll be shrugging off my fortune cookies again for a while! haha

On a serious note, I do think this was a little bit of comfort sent down in God's perfect timing and in just another random and unexpected way!