Our Family Happenings: April 2013

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Kitchen Update

Well, this has been a long time in coming! When we moved in, we knew we wanted to do something different with the kitchen. The appliances were mismatched, and everything was lighter oak... Home projects are pretty foreign to us since this was our first home. So we definitely learned a few things along the way...!

Not horrible, but had something different in mind!

Before

Seth adding crown molding (twice... home improvement lesson learned there)

Seth is always great at making good work areas. I figured it took me about 40 hours to complete this project. We did it in 3 days which made for some crazy long days!

AFTER: Appliances all matching
Rustoleum Cabernet kit used on cabinets
Stone backsplash put up
Wall's freshly painted

AFTER

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how it turned out!!

Girls Weekend

I was so blessed to be able to visit my momma & sisters. Seth was sooooo sweet and sent me to MI for a long weekend.

Love to be able to love up on my nieces!!

Beautiful bouquets my baby sister did for a friends wedding!

She is so talented!

And it would not have been a complete girls weekend without a surprise baby shower!!

Still can't believe there's a little BOY in there!! So excited for Allie & Ben!

American Girl...

American Girl dolls were a huge deal to me when I was a little girl. Last summer I brought my childhood doll to our house from my moms. On a few rainy days, the girls and I would get her out and sort through her collection of dresses. The girls were in love!

Hailey really started wanting one (we had attempted the knock-off "Our Generation" doll, but she totally knew the difference). So one day we started a little money jar, put a picture of an American Girl doll on it, and Hailey started "saving". That afternoon a big box showed up on the front porch, and this is what was inside....

An American Girl DOLL!!

That smile doesn't get any bigger! And there tears of joy!

And a Bitty Baby for Mellie!!

So Hailey didn't quite grasp the concept of "saving" (put a few coins in a jar and a package shows up on the porch!)
These were from Dustin & Dena! Dustin & Seth have known each other since Freshman year at Ferris. They were both hired in by Chrysler at the same time, moved to Denver, and even moved to Montana around the same time. Dustin was out in the area a few weeks ago so we were able to visit with him. The girls absolutely adore "Mr. Dustin", and that must be when he picked up on their love for AG! What sweet friends we are blessed with!!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Easter

This Easter seemed different than most. I attribute it to the 27 degree weather we had and the still slushy snow piles dotting the yard. Thankful to be celebrating our risen Savior though!

We attempted ONE outdoor picture and none of us could tough the cold!

I am jealous of my sister's amazing photography... and warmer weather!

Funny story on the girls dresses... I always love shopping around for Easter dresses... trying to find unique ones so all the girls don't show up matching at church on Sunday. This year was a success:) until I pulled up Facebook and saw my sister's Easter pictures. Sure enough we had picked the exact same dresses (different sweaters) for our girls. We are such soul sisters :)

Egg hunt...

She is forever being the ham!

New Home!

We are getting all settled in at 365 Coral Dr!
Just a little insight as to how God has worked out so many little details with this move.First we drove up to Montana shortly after Seth took over the area to look for housing. We came away from the trip quite discouraged because housing was outrageously priced for a house in these crammed in subdivisions. We looked at a couple that we figured we would settle for one if it came down to it. One was very, very new, but on the small side and off of a main road. The second was new also and in a subdivision we really liked; however, it was over what we initially wanted to spend by quite a bit. As we drove around the second subdivision we told each other we would love any of these homes if they were just in our price range.
The following week we were back in Denver and a house in the exact subdivision @ we liked & at the exact price popped up on Craigslist. We were soooo elated. We immediately jumped on it and after much praying we were approved. Since we hadn't seen the actual house (except a few pictures) we were extremely nervous. But from the beginning God's hand had been it and we love it here. Also come to find out the landlord and his daughter's family (who lives a couple miles away) are all Christians! So neat!
The first week we were in Montana we all traveled with Seth to some of his dealers since our moving truck was about a week behind us. The girls have been awesome car riders and have certainly made the process easy on us! The movers came and everything arrived safe & sound.We only have a couple of pictures since the rest of the house will be having a few upgrades throughout the next couple of weeks.
Thank you all for your prayers as we have continued on this journey!

Busy Winter!

Seems like this Winter has been a complete whirlwind! We were able to make it back to Michigan twice. Once for Christmas and then again towards then end of January. Seth had training in Auburn Hills and he was able to take us girls along. We had a wonderful time! Hailey got lots of "cousin" time and I got lots of "girls" time.

February has been just as busy as January. On February 4th, Seth was given a promotion as Area Manager of Western Montana. So for us that means yet another move! The following week Seth had to travel throughout Montana to meet all of his new dealers. During the week he was gone all three of us girls came down with the stomach flu. Not a fun week!

Last week we all headed up to Montana to see the area and look for housing. We had narrowed our housing options down to the city of Bozeman. Bozeman is absolutely gorgeous! It is in a valley so in any direction there are beautiful views of the mountains. I feel so blessed to see such a vast part of God's creation everyday!We didn't nail down any housing in Bozeman the week we were there. It is incredibly high living and many of the subdivisions had the houses crammed sooooo close. That kind of living is just not us. And to top it off we were discouraged because we couldn't find a good church either. We have since found an awesome house and two really good church possibilities.

We are now currently in the moving process. It looks like it will happen in just a few days!Thankfully Chrysler is sending in packers and movers. So I'm hoping this move will be a little less crazy!