Sappy Stuff

I'm in a very sentimental mood today.  Maybe it was because I was listening to our play list Brittani Lufs Sean.  Maybe it's because I am so super excited about some future prospects coming up in our lives.  Maybe it's because I am just so gosh darn proud of all Sean's hard work.

As I was painting today the song You Had Me From Hello by Kenny Chesney came on.  I forgot it was even on that play list.  It reminded me of just how easy it is to love Sean.  The #1 question I get from people about our relationship is, how/why did you forgive Sean when he got home from his mission?  If you don't already know, he wrote me off about a year into his mission.  Everyone who knew me at the time knew just how mad I was.  We're talking, don't even say the name Sean around me or I'll blow, kind of mad.

When the day came that he was coming home I was a total basket case.  That's all I could think about at school.  During school my mom called to let me know that he had just left our house, and that he'd be back later to talk to me.  I couldn't even believe the audacity he had to just pop on over to my house!  At the same time I was also super excited.  My friends at school we're super cute and helped me get all cute before we left that day.  One friend even had me borrow her necklace because it went so good with my outfit.  I had to go straight to work and there was no way I was going to change into that Sport Clips uniform!!  What if he decided to stop by there?!?  That was a big no no, but it seemed like nobody wanted to be the one to tell me that I needed to change...haha.  As my shift passed I grew more and more nervous.  So nervous that even though I had taken Midol that is full of caffeine, I still got a caffeinated beverage.  Suddenly my nerves turned into nausea and a headache.  Looking back I realize I totally overdosed on caffeine!  I had to go back to the shampoo bowls and sit in the dark with my eyes shut.  After an hour nap (again during which no one wanted to be the one to tell me to get back to work, I can't even imagine how I must have been acting for everyone to let me do whatever I wanted that night) I felt a lot better and it was closing time so I closed everything up and headed home.

Now, I knew that this was the day he was coming home for months.  I conveniently had a date planned for that evening.  Even as I was sick with nerves at school and work, all I could picture was Sean coming over and me saying, "oh, sorry....I have a date.  I have to go."  Ooooo, it was going to feel SOOOOO good to tell him that!!!

Then I saw him.

Crap.  My plan was foiled.  (I was 3 hours late to my date...and that poor guy actually waited...I felt bad because he was a pretty nice guy-but what can ya do?)  Sean and I left that night with the promise of him coming to my school in the morning for a haircut.  We hugged.  Like, a lot. 

It was weird cutting his hair.  After not seeing him for 2 years and spending 1/2 of that time hating him, here I was running my fingers through his hair.  I could barely keep my smile and the butterflies contained.  My friends helped me convince my instructor to let me go with Sean after his haircut.  That was a pretty big deal since it was a Saturday.  I think anyone who saw us, knew we needed to be alone.  Wink, wink!

We went to a park and talked.  He kissed me, and let me tell you something!  It was the best ever!  Talk about moving fast!  This was the guy who took 3 months of seeing each other every single day to finally get the guts to kiss me the first time.  Not to mention the awkward missionary opposite sex thing.  Apparently Sean didn't struggle with that awkwardness!  It was conference weekend October 2006.  The next day we made a date to go look at rings.  Two days together was all it took to decide.  Nine days after returning from his mission I had that sparkly ring on my finger. 

Some people called it, some people were shocked.  No one was more shocked than me though.

So my answer to that question is pretty simple.  He seriously had me from hello.  That is all it took.  I can't explain it, I'm just glad that it happened.

Oh my word, look how young we look!  Sean looks like a baby!

One word, that's all you said
Somethin' in your voice caused me to turn my head.
Your smile, just captured me
And you were in my future as far as I could see
And I don't know how it happened, but it happened still
You asked me if I love you, if I always will

Well you had me from "Hello"
I felt love start to grow
The moment that I looked into your eyes, you won me
It was over from the start
You completely stole my heart
And now you won't let go
I never even had a chance you know
You had me from "Hello"

Inside, I built a wall
So high around my heart, I thought I'd never fall
One touch, you brought it down
The bricks of my defenses scattered on the ground
And I swore to me I wasn't gonna love again
The last time was the last time I let someone in

But you had me from "Hello"
I felt love start to grow
The moment that I looked into your eyes, you won me
It was over from the start
You completely stole my heart
And now you won't let go
I never even had a chance you know
You had me from "Hello"

That's all you said
Somethin' in your voice caused me to turn my head
You had me from "Hello"
You had me from "Hello"
Girl I've loved you from "Hello"

I need your help

I mentioned in the last post about needing your opinion on something so here it is.  

I'm thinking of painting the section of cabinets between the fridge and the corner wall a different color, and putting up some bead board for the "back splash", also changing the counter top to wood, adding some corbels to attach the top and bottom cabinets, and lastly some furniture feet at the floor.  My hope is that it would then look like a custom furniture built-in.  Here is my sad attempt at a drawing of it.

 

This is that section of cabinets.  It goes right up to the fridge on the right hand side, and the very left of the picture is the start of the stove section.

So what do you think?  If you walked into a house as a buyer and saw it, what would you think?  Would you think it was really neat?  Or would it turn you off completely from the house entirely?  I guess I should mention that I haven't decided what color to paint it.  Maybe yellow?  I don't know....  Maybe I could keep the color the same (white) but still add the wood counter top, the bead board, furniture feet, and corbels?


Here is a pic of a corbel incase you are wondering what the crap I am talking about:

So the bottom of the pic would be attached to the bottom of the top cabinets and the top part in the picture would go straight down and end on the counter top.

Also, Ikea has a size of wood counter top that would fit for only $49.99  I think that is pretty amazeballs.

So, what do you think?  Good idea?  Lame attempt?  PLEASE let me know....and give your honest opinion.  I won't hold it against ya ;)

Kitchen Progress

When we moved in the kitchen looked like this:

Ummm...yeah.  Not gonna work for me.  The plus side was that I absolutely love white kitchens.  Not that this white was working, but at least the really hard work had already been done and I could have an "easy" job re-doing them.... yeah right!

Oh, and no, that is not wallpaper.  It is hand painted stripes and argyle...vomit and double vomit.  Let's not even discuss the nasty wood molding.  Can you say hunting lodge anyone?

You might be wondering why we would choose a place where I hated everything but the appliances.  Well, let's just say that in our price range it was either full-blown meth house, or a little elbow grease-and besides, it really was nice (I just threw up in my mouth while saying that) but just not for me.  Sorry if any of you fall in love with the before pictures.

 Even though we painted the walls and molding before we actually moved in, the cabinets still needed to be done.  Once the busy walls were taken care of, the yellow cream cabinets with a really sad attempt at a brown glaze didn't bother me as much.  I think it is safe to say that most of that probably had to do with the fact that the very idea of picking up a paint brush made me want to puke.  Lately Sean has been maxing out on overtime on top of doing his internship at the Alzheimer's Association.  We already had the primer and paint left over from painting the molding.  Add those 2 together: bored wife + "free" supplies and you get =

Step Four: Admit defeat.  Just kidding!!!!  Decide what doors need to be replaced first (medicine cabinet, silverware drawer etc.) and start priming and painting those babies!

I will say that everything looks so much better already!  The wall color I chose looks so much nicer than before.  Although in these pictures it looks quite boring, but it is a nice dreamy blue.  I've primed the front side of the doors for the bottom, and tomorrow I will turn them over and prime the back side.  Then Monday I will paint one side...you get the picture?  It is such a process, but I've already decided that it is so worth it.  Not only does it look better already, but it keeps my mind off the fact that I virtually have no husband to speak of.

The kids are also loving it.  I already mentioned that Logan is having a blast with the doors off, but they also think I'm pretty much the coolest mom ever because we eat every meal on the family room floor (on our picnic blanket).  Every meal is a picnic!  I am so over it, but I will admit that their excitement makes me a little excited about the change of pace as well.

Obviously it isn't finished yet, but I am really loving the results so far!  I need your help because I have a couple of questions about the kitchen design aspects, but I will save that for another post. 

Sick of our Trip pictures yet?

This was the last morning of our trip.  We finally had some good weather, and Scott was home, so he brought out a horse for the kiddos!

Mara thought she was pretty amazing (which she totally is)

Logan was holding on for dear life, and then realized it was super duper cool

I think Logan was yelling like a he-man

gorgeous!

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He thought the tractor was pretty sweet, then Scott started it up, and I think he pooped his pants.  This was the look on his face!

We had SOOO much fun, and cannot wait until the end of June when we go back again!  This time with daddy!

Even More Trip

 Scott caught a Gopher in the field.  He hid it in a bucket until we got home.  It was hilarious! 

 Logan was pretty scared, but eventually warmed up.

 Mara just ran around imitating Shelbie that was screaming bloody murder and running away.  Mara would actually get quite close to it.

 I got Logan's big Evan's head stuck in his sweatshirt

 This is Mara doing the "mermaid".  That's how we get her hair wet with out any tears .

 Thank you Stacie for getting a good picture of them together!

 Poor girl was so exhausted

Logan loved all the wide open space!