Merry Christmas

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What this holiday needs is some gratitude...

Here it is, a little bit of gratitude from yours truly. Most of you know that Judd and I moved into the Money Pit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj15gi7x6mg about a year ago.... Wow, has it been that long?
Originally the venture seemed like a good idea. A fixer-upper house that we could make into a home. Judd and my brother Andrew had a vision of the potential that day they looked at the house. If it were my eyes seeing it I would have seen all sorts of nightmarish outcomes... no visions. Funny how something can look different to two people when they are gazing upon the same thing. After seeing the house Judd returned like a warrior to our tiny one bedroom apartment and announced that he had liked the house, and then with hesitancy followed that with "it has potential". It could have been the pregnancy hormones, or the fact that anything bigger than a one bedroom apartment seemed like heaven that I actually agreed to buy the house after SEEING it. That's right, I did see the house first. Actually, I think that I smelled it long before I saw it, but let's not get technical here. The first three months were what I would call "roughing it" kind of like camping except without a warm fire, hot cocoa or marshmallows. Because there was no kitchen we lived on grilled cheese, tomato soup and anything microwavable. I would load up our dishes into an all-mighty Hefty garbage bag and haul them off to moms to scrub me some dirty dishes. It was that or the bathroom sink and I just couldn't bring myself to do that. There is something innately wrong about doing dishes where you go to the bathroom. After a few months like this we slowly whittled away at the layer of yuck. So for this holiday season I am grateful for:
A warm, CLEAN, nice home.
For a husband who is such an amazing man to take on this project and come out on the other side in one piece.
For my neighbors who brought us warm dinners to break up our bean and cheese burrito routine.
For my moms dishwasher
For Hefty bags (which can hold quite a few pots and pans with no problems)
Dust masks
Carpet!!!!!! (You know who you are)
Last but not least I am grateful for the family I have to fill this home.

Here are a few before and after pictures, pull up a fire, grab some marshmallows and take a look :)

Front entry way before
Entry way after
Entry after
Hallway before... Blue anyone?
Hallway after
One of the bedrooms before
Master bedroom before
Kitchen... You thought I was exaggerating the "No kitchen" part
Kitchen.... UGH! look at the floor. How do people live like that?
Office before
Office.
Kitchen after (the tile is now done, I just haven't taken new pictures)
Kitchen
Oh, another kitchen before. YUCK
Kitchen
Another kitchen... holy smokes, I didn't realize how many of these I downloaded
Family room before

Family room before
Family room after
Family room after

Family room after
Master after

Living room after

As Per Justins Request

Lately we have been pretty busy at our house trying to get the family room finished so we haven't updated our blog (Justin so kindly informed us of this). So here you are, a few pictures from the last couple weeks.....

Ok, I can't help it, I just have to say that she is ADORABLE:)

Going for a run. If you look closely at Kennedys face you can tell she isn't very happy about being strapped down. She does really well once I start running though, and falls asleep within a few minutes.

On Thanksgiving, Kennedy and Grandpa Z

daddy and his little girl :)

2 Months ALREADY?!

Actually, a little over 2 months now, Kennedy is 10 weeks old! It has gone by so quickly. Part of me wants her to stop growing and stay this small forever, but the other part wants to see her grow. I am seeing her personality come out more and more every day. Here are a few pictures from the past week.

Here she is in a little knitted hat that Leesa gave us. It's been cold lately so she's been bundled up when we are out. Judd thought she looked so cute in it that he went a little crazy with the pictures.... Well, I lied I took them, but only because he turned into mush when he saw her in her hat. You can tell she is really happy about having to sit still to have her picture taken. She definately has Judds eye lashes, you can see them from a mile away.
Yes, I did go crazy with the pictures, but she looks so cute!
This one is my favorite. We were up at grandma and grandpa Zimmermans this Sunday to celebrate grandpa Z's birthday. Grandma definately knows how to cook! Best cake I have had in a while! Anyway, while we all played games grandma worked her magic and got the little ones to hit the hay. It was very nice to have a rest for a bit while I kicked butt at Phase 10 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase_10
Judd took this picture of Kennedy holding my thumb, he is so sweet.
Judd, his cousin Spencer, Kennedy and Addison after Addison's blessing.
Hands down the most adorable frown I have ever seen.

Judd's Shoes?

Judd got new shoes a little while ago. They don't look much like shoes, more like rubber socks but he LOVES them. So he wears them everyhere now the same way a child with a new toy would. His face lights up like a proud parent when anyone mentions his "shoes". He loves these shoes so much that he wears them to work even though he knows he has to change into steel toed shoes when he gets there. Similar to how Mr. Rogers would slip into a new sweater when he got to work ;). This is all fine and dandy, EXCEPT he always forgets socks! I have driven down there in the middle of the night with poor Kennedy in tow several times out of pity for his poor sweaty feet. In fact, he is at work again tonight without socks.... I think my pity has ran out and now I just laugh at his poor sweaty feet. I opted to write this blog instead of bring him socks tonight. Love you Judd!!! :)

All Smiles

My "Get Out of Speeding Tickets" Sticker

This sticker came in the mail today. I ordered it last week online at this site -http://myservicepride.com/ . I had one on my old car and it worked like a charm. I was pulled over a total of 5 times and only received 1 ticket :). Maybe it is all in my head that it works, but hey, its worth a shot right? Oh, and for those of you thinking "why are you speeding anyway, you shouldn't be speeding... etc" My answer to that is I know :) and I only speed a teeny bit, and only when absolutely necessary.