It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like.....

Well, Christmas. Cute little questionnaire I stole from Amera and Christina.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? Hmmm....surprisingly, I don't really know. Stuff for the house is always good! A Bose speaker for my iPod (not happening, I'm sure). A bookshelf (also not happening). A blu ray player. A Dyson (another one that isn't happening). Gift cards to Home Depot and such.

2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received? Anything from Amaria. She always makes cute pictures and drawings and she has also made me a really cute picture frame, although it wasn't for Christmas.

3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? I just wish I could hand make something and it would actually turn out like I picture it in my head....

4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? I got a blow up tent one year that I thought was the coolest. I also got a Cabbage Patch Kid every year from my parents.

5. What items are on your kid's wish lists this year? Well, since I don't have any kids....Amaria wants a zhu zhu hamster (who doesn't??) a Barbie Motor home and various Littlest Pet Shop things.

6. What is your favorite holiday food? I like the traditional stuff...turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie (and roll) etc. etc. etc.....

7. What will you be hand crafting for the holidays? I'm sorry to say, probably not a darn thing.

8. What is your favorite holiday movie? Probably A Christmas Story. I also like Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys.

9. Favorite holiday song? O Holy Night.

10. Favorite holiday pastime? Shopping! I just love buying things for others! I always get carried away and spend way too much!

So, I am done with everything in the house but my office! I finally got my couch and love seat from the storage unit in Las Vegas! I even splurged and bought myself the TV to go in the niche above the fireplace. And it's a perfect fit! I don't know how I watched anything but HD. What a difference! I'm excited for Christmas this year, although I don't even know what my plans are. I don't have a lot on my list (mostly big things that I'm sure I'll buy myself later). I just love this time of year! I love the snow, I love the music, I love the lights, I love the gifts! Today was the first real storm of the season (out here in EM at least) and I got to use my new snow blower! Slick as a whistle! I cleared my driveway, my neighbor's driveway and the sidewalks in less than 20 minutes. I should have made that purchase years ago! I also got to use my snow tires on the way to work this morning. Too bad it took me 1.5 hours to get there! But I felt safe the whole way there. And I guess that's what's important. So, nothing else to report. At the rate I'm going, I probably won't make another post before Christmas so everyone have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS! And a Happy New Year of course! I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season!!

U2 360

Yes I know this concert was several weeks ago. I can't believe how busy I have been!! I have either been gone or had people in town since the second weekend after I moved into my house. So every minute I have free I am either trying to catch up on sleep or get my house organized. I have a never ending to do list!! My mom and Brent came to town Halloween weekend. We got all sorts of chores done! Brent put in my garage door opener (HUGE pain in the rear!!) installed the rest of my blinds, hung pictures, fixed my lamp etc. etc. etc.......I am having Thanksgiving at my new house this year! I'm totally excited! But kind of freaking out! I have my kitchen, living room and spare bathroom done. I have set a goal to finish my bedroom/bathroom/closet today. Which still leaves the office and spare bedroom. My dad is bringing me all sorts of fun treats when he comes down at Thanksgiving, including a queen size bed for my spare bedroom. So the pressure is on to get that room cleared out in time! I have a feeling I will just end up piling everything out of the way so that I can fit the bed in. Whatever. I have the rest of my life to get things organized, right??

So, on to the concert! U2 always puts on a good show! Our seats were not as good as I had hoped, but it was still awesome! There was also a drunk guy getting entirely too close but Marija put her anger to good use and he got thrown out! Yah! U2 is touring again next spring/summer. They have yet to announce a date in Salt Lake but I have heard rumors. Of course I will be going! I suspect that I will be on my own this time because I think I am going to spring for the expensive seats which are over $200. I know that is an exorbitant amount but U2 is my all time favorite band and I may not have many more chances to see them live! On to the pictures!!

Forget the Black Eyed Peas!!! We want U2!!!

"The Claw"

Bono.

Marija and Daniel. And his peanuts which handily doubled as a weapon against obnoxious drunk guy.

Best. Band. EVER.

During Sunday Bloody Sunday.

"One."

During my all time favorite song...."With or Without You." Absolutely amazing.

Moved!

It has been quite some time since I posted! Well, I have been a little bit busy with other things, as I'm sure you can imagine! First of all, I think everyone thought I was exaggerating when I said I had been sleeping on a cot since May (not counting the time I was in Las Vegas). So I took some photos just so everyone could see how much fun it was! I even took a picture of it folded up so that it is clear that, yes, it really was a cot. Excuse the poor quality, I had the camera on the wrong setting. I just figured that out, literally like one minute ago. Duh.

Please excuse the mess...it was moving day. So in any case, I went from that to this........
Oh how I missed my bed!! It has been fantastic to sleep in it again after over a year! I have been sleeping quite well! You can also see that I am not exaggerating when I say that my bed weighs hundreds of pounds. It's no wonder nobody wants to help me move any more!

And everyone has been asking for pictures of my house with furniture in it, so here you go! I am a little ashamed to be posting a picture of such a mess, but we have all moved before and know how it is, right? Right now I am done with the kitchen, and hoping to finish up the living room today. Then on to my bedroom (the bathroom is the biggest chore there)! and then to the extra bedrooms. Only problem is that I cannot find the screws to my spare bed or to the legs for my desk. I guess that is what happens when things have been packed for over a year! I'm sure I put them in a "safe" place somewhere and I'll run across them....eventually. The move went really well, especially considering that most of the people I was counting on ended up not being able to help! Thank heavens for the Linnell family and Mike, who seem to be the ones there helping me every time I move! My cousin also showed and her husband came and hung my blinds the next day, so kudos to them, too! Things are coming along slowly but surely. I have been working (gotta pay the mortgage now!) so I'm sure it will still be a while before I get everything put away. Not to mention that I am headed to Las Vegas for the U2 concert on Thursday! I can't believe it is finally time for that concert! I have been waiting for that longer than for my house! I don't want to leave the fun of having a new house, but I know the concert is going to be awesome!! So, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just having fun getting settled! Hopefully Iwill be ready for a housewarming party soon so I can show everything off! :)

FINISHED!! Part 2.

My house is all the way done now!! I wondered if I would ever get to say those words! It just needs to be cleaned!I am so happy with the way it all turned out! I think all the colors look great together! I think these last two weeks before I acutally get to move are going to be killer! But what do you do, right? My final walk through is scheduled for this Friday. Can't wait!! I just ordered the blinds for my bedroom, bathroom and living room today and I got my garage door opener. Things are moving along! Now if these next two weeks will just go quickly.......

FINISHED!!

At least the outside is! As you can see, there are still stickers on the windows so it obviously still needs to be cleaned on the inside. But, the outside is DONE!! I am so excited! And happy with how it turned out! I was out there on Tuesday and the door was painted a somewhat hideous red/brick color that I did not like at all! Not to mention I picked a dark blue color. Anyway, my builder realized the mistake before I even brought it to their attention and apparently it is already fixed. The inside is done also except for the carpet. Obviously the carpet is a big deal, but really only a one day job. So....looking like we are right on track for the walk through next Friday! I can't believe I am a week away!! I'm going to head out on Saturday and hope to see my carpet. But trying not to get my hopes up too much! Definitely an exciting couple of weeks coming up!!!!

Summer Lovin!

I was reminded today that it's the last day of summer and I started thinking about what an awesome summer it was! Summer isn't my favorite season. I LOVE fall and the holiday season, but I really did have an absolutely amazing summer this year! First of all, I was in the process of building my very first home this summer. Really, it doesn't get more exciting than that! In May I went to Boston and New York for the first time ever. In June, of course I turned 30 and had a fabulous birthday party! In July I headed to Las Vegas to work for 9 weeks. It was so much fun to hang with all my Vegas friends and my family down there. I mean, really! Who gets an opportunity like that? I basically got paid to go on vacation! And of course I have been staying with my AWESOME cousins while my house is being built. It has really been perfect and I am going to miss them a lot when I finally move into my house. Good thing I am so excited for my new house or I might really be sad! So thanks to everyone who made my summer so great and memorable. Hopefully things will only get better from here! Of course I have new pictures of my house. Hopefully blogger will cooperate and let me post them properly...

I finally have a driveway! The outside is almost all the way done!
I'm pretty excited about the cookie sheet divider in my cabinet!

They finally took the packing off the "logs" in my fireplace! I even turned it on!

My kitchen with the light fixtures and appliances in! Gotta get a new kitchen faucet, this one is pretty ghetto! But other than that I LOVE it!

As I'm sure happens with every new home, the dates that I am supposed to do my final walk through and closing keep changing. Right now, my walk through is supposed to be on October 2 and closing on October 6. But of course that could change! In any case, I am so close I can almost taste it!! I can't wait to sleep in my very own bed again!!

Viva Las Vegas!!!

Amber and the birthday boy!

Kind of blurry, but the whole crazy group! And some guy with a Michael Jackson glove!

Check out my new tattoo!!!

Brycie got a new tattoo as well!!

Mike and Amber.

Amber, Sandee and me.

Again, I am having some issues with blogger and my pictures going in the right place. Anyway, Amber's little brother Bryce turned 21 on Sept. 1. And no 21st birthday is complete without a trip to Las Vegas, right? Conveniently enough I was already here! There ended up being a group of about 15 of us. Gladhes joined us for a lot of the fun as well. Everyone arrived on Thursday night but since I am an old fogey, I was way too tired to join them for any sort of action on Thursday night. We did a little bit of everything the rest of the weekend...soooooo much fun! Some of the highlights were a trip to Pure, Fremont Street, and the Stratosphere where everyone but me rode all of the rides. This is definitely the funnest group of people I know! I can't wait to hang with all of them again!

Moving in the Right Direction!

First and most importantly, I have cabinets and countertops! It is starting to look like a real live house! Well, at least from the pictures. I have yet to see it in person.

I don't know what the deal with blogger is, but I am having trouble moving pictures into the proper position....is anyone else having issues? Anyway, I will be heading back to Salt Lake on Monday and of course Eagle Mountain will be my first stop! I have a tentative closing date of October 7. I can't believe it is that close! I will potentially be sleeping in my very own house one month from this very day. So exciting! Notice in the top picture my drop in sink! I am beyond excited about it. It might even be my favorite option that I picked out. It wasn't cheap but I think it will be more than worth it!!

I Love Color!

Colored stucco, that is! Not much was different when I was out at Eagle Mountain on Sunday. I did take one picture because I had to get one of the AWESOME rental car I was driving! ha. Try not to be jealous of my sweet ride! haha. I was so happy to get home to my own car. It actually goes when I push on the gas. I got an email from the community manager today and I have colored stucco! They always do things the day after I am there! Oh well.

Woo hoo! Pretty exciting! Cabinets should be going in any day now! At that point I will be 4 weeks out. It's so close to being done I can almost taste it! I don't know how I am going to wait until it's done, I'm so excited!

I went to a boring orientation class at the U yesterday. What a long day! I am back in Las Vegas now and working the next two days. My friend, Marija, went to Italy with her boyfriend for two weeks so I am staying at their condo while they are gone. It is so convenient! Not to mention it is on the 28th floor with a fabulous view of the west side of the valley.

This is the view I'm forced to look at. It's a tough life.

I have extended again, but this time just for a week. So I will be back in Salt Lake two weeks from yesterday. The 15th, I think. It's definitely bittersweet. I am excited to get back and hang with all my Salt Lake peeps again, but it has been so fun to be here in Vegas and hang with all my friends here. I have missed them so much! And the time has flown by. I haven't had nearly enough time to do as much as I want to do. Oh well, my house will be done within weeks of my return!!! And I will be back in Las Vegas at the end of October for the U2 concert! I can't believe it is less than two months away! A bunch of friends are coming to Vegas this weekend for one of their 21st birthdays. It is sure to be a fun and crazy weekend!

Rock Solid!

I have sheetrock and the beginnings of stucco! I was out in Eagle Mountain yesterday and they had just put a fresh coat of mud/tape on the walls. How exciting!! Then I got back to Las Vegas today and had some new pictures from the community manager....they painted today!! Yah! It seems like my house might really be done some day!

I am really happy with how the fireplace mantel and "art niche" turned out!

The view from the front door.

Start of the stucco!

I am already back in Las Vegas. Working tomorrow and heading to SL for yet another quick trip on Sunday. Hopefully this will be the last one! The Poison/Def Leppard/Cheap Trick concert was awesome!! I just love USANA! Traffic was ridiculous so we ended up being late enough to miss Cheap Trick. Poison's bass player was sick so their set was pretty short. But Def Leppard played almost all of the good songs in a really long set. They sound awesome live! We met up with some IHC friends Heidi and Allyson and also Levi and Amanda were there. It was so fun!

Allyson, Heidi and me.

Me, Amanda, Erin and Levi

Def Leppard!!

Party on Amanda!!

I am on call at 5 am tomorrow so I am off to bed. More pictures to follow after my next rush trip out to Eagle Mountain.

Put on a Happy Fascia!

I know it has been a while since my last update. I guess I have been putting it off because the internet here is HORRIBLE! But, here I am. I decided not to put it off any longer. And I know everyone has been dying for an update! Right?? In the house department, I now have a roof and fascia. My fireplace and bathtubs are installed! The HVAC, plumbing and electrical are all done. Sheetrock was supposed to be done at the end of last week, so we shall see. I am heading to Salt Lake to see Poison/Def Leppard/Cheap Trick on Tuesday so I will of course take a trip out to Eagle Mountain to see how things are progressing. I suspect they have started the process for the stucco on the outside as well. Here are a few pictures from the last time I was up. Shingles and fascia are done! Looks like they are getting ready to start on the outside. The community manager sent me this picture on Thursday. The fireplace!! I can't wait for winter and sitting in front of the fireplace!The tub/shower in my bathroom. One thing I do not like about this house is that the bathrooms aren't nearly big enough. However, my closet is the same size as the bathroom! I guess you can't have it all, right?

This is looking from the front door down the hall into the living room. I LOVE that big window.

Like I said, I am headed to Salt Lake on Tuesday for the concert and I am coming back to Las Vegas on Wednesday. Unfortunately, there is an orientation class for University Hospital on the 31st. I would just say screw it but I have to have this class to work at the U and they haven't had one since January! SO....I get to fly to Salt Lake again on Sunday the 30th and back to Las Vegas the next day. UGH! Too much airport time! Oh well, hopefully I will be assured all the shifts I want with so much variety of where to work.

I also had a family reunion the weekend of the 15th. I was able to take Amaria with me and she had a blast! The reunion was in the mountains up near Lehman Caves. It was actually a really nice place with plenty of room for the entire family. We did a tour of Lehman Caves on Saturday. I had been there once before but I think I was maybe 5 so I don't remember it. It was really cool! Here are a few pictures...

This is a picture of some aunts, cousins and Amaria swimming. I think this was probably her favorite activity of the weekend! These two were joined at the hip pretty much the whole weekend. Amaria and Josie at the entrance to Lehman Caves. Me and Amaria in Lehman Caves. Amaria, grandpa and great grandpa inside Lehman Caves. Inside Lehman Caves. Pretty freakin cool!

This is the teepee that we slept in. I think Amaria thought it was about the coolest thing ever to sleep in a teepee! It was a good weekend and fun to catch up with the family, some of whom I hardly ever see.

Well, now that it has taken me the entire morning to upload all those pictures to this blog, I am off to pack and get ready for the week of work and travel. I'm sure I will have some more house photos to share when I get back from my latest trip to Salt Lake.