Damn YELLOWJACKET

Everything was going great today, I was cleaning my room picking up clothes and getting ready for our company. I picked up the last 2 pieces of clothing, my jacket and dress that was hanging on the bed post, when all the sudden... I felt this overwhelming stinging sensation in my index finger. I run out of my bedroom screaming SH*T and jumping up and down shaking my hand. Markus thought I saw a bug and was laughing til I started balling. I think the venom was creeping into my finger. You talk about hurt. I couldn't even think to tell Markus what just happened. I told him KILL IT, KILL IT. I still can't believe it. I thought it was a wasp. he thought it was a hornet. After digging it out of the trash and studying it on the internet, we determined it was a yellow freakin jacket. I wish I could've done worse to it than kill it. I feel terrible and it was all I could to frantically scramble around the house to find some Benadryl.

Markus claims it's the biggest yellowjacket he's ever seen.

Naturally that didn't help the swelling go down in my finger. It has crept into my middle finger and my hand. It feels terrible and of course it would be my right hand. This typing isn't good for my fingers, but avoid the stupid yellowjackets at all costs.

Swiss Chocolate

I must admit I always look forward to Markus' aunt Ursula coming in from Switzerland because she always bares CHOCOLATE. Ok for those of you who know me well enough might know that I'm not a chocolate person. I just don't like the way american chocolate tastes. This chocolate melts in your hands before it even reaches your mouth. I just had to take a few shots of the beautiful chocolate she gave me to remember how awesome it is. Look how danty.



My favorite was this little thing with dots in it which turned out to be crispies covered in different kinds of chocolate. Divine

A Few Things Real Quick

So of course after I vent about my boss she gives me this $100 gift card to Red Door Interiors. I've never been, but have wanted to go sooo... bad.

We are dog sitting for the Rawsons. I realllllly want their dog. He is sooo... Sweet. I want a dog period.

Nursery @ church is working my nerves. We had 9 kids yesterday. I'm so over it. Maybe that is why we don't have kids yet. Just a thought.

Christmas- Seems to come at the best time of year... WHEN WE ARE POOR! Next year Markus and I are giving $30 from every paycheck to the Christmas club. The Lord has blessed us so much and I don't feel like anyone appreciates my handmade gifts anymore. haha.

Z Gallerie never ceases to amaze me. Ahhh... They have really opened my eyes to the possiblities... the endless possibilities.

P.S. Markus' cousin told me she read in the newspaper that we are getting a POTTERY BARN. Yep I said it. POTTERY BARN. I don't know if I want to leave the BR yet. :) I know MIL would be happy to hear me say that. HA

The Boss

Why is it that bosses can be so dumb and you can be so smart? I'm not intelligent by a long shot, however I have more common sense to outsmart them any day. These people don't want to get me an assistant in my office and throw so much crap on me it's ridiculous and expect me to perform miracles. Did it not occur to them that I am only one person and that I can only do 5,000 things at one time not 5,001. Ugh! I guess common sense doesn't want to step into the scenario. My favorite is when they offer you time off like they are doing YOU a favor. I finally told my boss yesterday that I can't afford to take anymore time off because I have so much work to do and Christmas holidays will be interfering enough. She had the audacity to tell me I could work from home if I needed to. Like I don't have a husband or something or a life a outside of work. HELLo! Must love these people I suppose. I feel like I can run a business now after all of this. HA! And I haven't even been to college for this kind of thing.

Common sense can take you places... TRY IT!

The Solution

Markus and I have come up with a temporary solution to the paint spilled on the ugly pink carpet. We have decided to rip it up and stain the concrete. I must say I really wanted this done since we moved into the house, but have gone back and forth. I really want bamboo floors in the office/scrapbooking room, but that will take some time to save for. But for right now we will freeze our feet on the concrete.

Patience

If there is one thing Markus has taught me (and the Lord too) it is patience. As I have posted before I promised Markus a tv. And not the ones you see in people's kitchens the ones you have to rationalize to buy because they seem so unrealistic. Markus has decided he would wait til we actually had all the money in hand to buy the tv. huh? What? Could you repeat that? I was confused but glad he sensed that I felt the same way. Ever since I have started listening and reading Dave Ramsey's books I have really been all about paying for things with cash money and not credit. So I just want to say how happy I am that Markus has once again chosen patience over instant gratification (what the world revolves around) and will wait til the money comes in.

Just a few quotes from a book that I was glad I read in my early twenties instead of my early thirties. Taken from the "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey

"Debt is not a tool; it is a method to make banks wealthy, not you."
"Don't even consider keeping up with the Joneses. They're broke."
"You have to tell money what to do or it leaves"

So even though Markus won't be able to enjoy the game on his own big flat screen, I think we both agree it will be nice not to have another payment. After all what is one to do without any payments? haha.

Yesterday's Intensity

Markus and I have been trying to decide what color to paint the office/scrapbooking room for a while. I couldn't decide which color I liked until I saw this beautiful color at Sherwin Williams. Well Markus' cousin gave him a giftcard to Home Depot so we matched this "Aqua Chintz" up almost perfectly. I painted it on the walls and was worried at first because it looked baby blue. Well it dried and here is what it looks like NOW.

New Color vs. Old Color

Here it is the first coat!

We had a Christmas Party to go to last night so I got 3 walls painted with the first coat and the ceiling and baseboard trim done. I was excited and proud of myself. It only took 3 hours I think. Not bad. So after the party I really wanted to get to a good stopping point for the weekend. I came back and did the 2nd coat. Not long into it I was screaming for Markus. Let me show you what he found.


Umm... yeah that was me in the background scooping the paint up off the carpet. I mean I hated the pink carpet and everything, but it wasn't supposed to happen this way. OOOPS!

Blood

Since Markus and I have bought this house I found it very important for both of us to get life insurance, just in case. Well I had been thinking about it not really looking for a company until one of his friends called him up one day. He had started selling life insurance. How funny. Well long story short we were both all about getting it and from someone we could trust. Until he said we have to take your BLOOD. WHAT? Ok suddenly I was like uhhh.. what. I told him to forget it. I was soooo..... serious. I don't do blood or needles. Long story short a month later, tonight to be exact they came to take my blood. I am such a baby, but didn't even pass out. I am proud of myself. Now if I could just get past this when pregnant I'll be doing good. So if you don't have Life Insurance yet and are thinking about getting it, let me just take the surprise out of it...THEY HAVE TO TAKE YOUR BLOOD!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!

Okay so I had to calm myself down before I wrote this. I have just found the store I have been looking for, for years! Markus and I went to Perkins Rowe tonight to see Fritz's new theater and check out the Fresh Market. We really hated the concept of the whole thing. It is so close together. BUT in the middle of it all is the store called Z Gallerie. It is all that and more. I just can't even describe it in this blog. You have to go and visit, oh and buy me something too. :) It's amazing. I've waited patiently and it has arrived. They have the colors I love and the furniture and textures and accessories and the EVERYTHING. Tell me what you think! Z GALLERIE

I hate that I cannot do anything on this stupid website. I cannot make the link to save my freakin life. Sorry but that is the website.

What a SURPRISE!

Well Markus' surprise party was successful. YEAAH! Boy was I stressin. He really made it easy for me though. He believed everything we planned on and I kinda knew he would. See Helen and Heber our really good friends took him to play tennis. Well that meant I had like 2hrs to clean our house and get the food together while picking up Bday cake and getting a few last minute obvious things. VERY HARD. I drove myself mad. But in the end it was all worth it. He was surprised. He later told me when he walked in he saw what looked like Jared Rawson (it was) with a video camera and was like, what is going on and looked to the left and saw the food and was like huh? THEN everyone screamed surprise. Oh I guess everything can't be perfect. HA! Even though Josh H. told me it was. I promise I can't believe that. So thought I'd share some pics. His friend I asked to take pics didn't really get any SURPRISE shots, so that was a bummer for me b/c I had to push him into the room b/c he wasn't moving forward and I was behind him and didn't see anything. Oh well.

I Can't Decide

Not that these are like the best pics we have ever taken, but I really can't decide which one to send in our Christmas cards. Which one do you like better?

Tag your it

I was tagged for the Seven Things Meme by Ann
The rules are:

Share seven random facts about yourself, in your blog.
Include these rules.
Link back to the person who tagged you.
Tag seven more people and list their names & blogs. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged.

I had this under a comment, but couldn't find it when I was ready to do it. Sorry Ann. so here goes.


1. I got held back in the 2nd grade.
2. I'm scared of the dark (VERY)
3. I absolutely cannot stand tunafish (it won't exist in my house, sorry kids)
4. I went to hair school AND graduated
5. I'm a perfectionist (horrible disease, haha)
6. I don't really care for chocolate (unless its Swiss)
7. The L in Jennifer L Wilson is Lynne not LeBlanc (I still don't know if my granny knows that)

I don't think there is anyone else left to tag. So maybe in a few months we can try this again.

Holy Shizzy

I can't freakin believe it. We're going to be playing in the National Championship GAME! Ahhh... Suddenly my heart is racing. Yeah. But do I try to get tickets from our hook ups or do I get the TV. Oh decisions, decisions. Oh dear. And we thought when Markus went in 2004 that is was a once in a lifetime thing. more later

Spoke too soon...

Holy freakin cow! Tigers win! Loved the 2 point conversion. I secretly knew they would go for it and MAKE it. Wow. Love the tigers and I am sooo... proud of them. BUT: Markus and ESPN are saying LSU could still go to the National Championship game. I mean yeah I'm happy and all but I guess we'll be making a trip to Circuit City to look at tv's. I think Markus knew this would happen that is why he drug me there earlier this week. I actually wanted to look at the tv's for longer than he did. He wanted to go because it was depressing him. HA! What a trip. Ok so tomorrow the news will come out about the National Championship Sugar Bowl. Markus was going to try to get tickets. Does that mean my deal could be off? If we get tickets and can afford them those were the conditions. I knew we wouldn't be able to afford them and that is why I promised him the tv. Crap. I think I'm screwed either way. I haven't even picked a tv stand. OH well. tomorrow will tell all. Peace

Officially December

Markus has really hated the whole Christmas season this year. That is why I wasn't going to put our Christmas decor up on the blog until December. Last weekend we got our tree. Markus hates the fake one his mom gave me and wanted a real tree. We really didn't need to spend the money on one, but our first Christmas in our house... oh why not.

Before:







After:
We used to clippings from the tree on the mantel as garland. I think it is going to die soon though.


More later. I hate how long it takes to load pictures on this thing. 5 mins plus is too long for me for just one pic. I'll be back to post the rest.

No VOICE!

I never knew how frustrating it would be not to have a voice. Tues night I went to watch Markus play tennis at the Country Club. Anyone who remembers Tues remembers how windy it was. OMG, I think the temp dropped dramatically and here I am sick. Wednesday my voice started getting scratchy and yesterday I was struggling to get sound out along with today. I was pissed because I had someone yell through the phone at me. I was thinking if I only had a voice and I swore she was only doing it because I couldn't talk over her. Nonetheless I talk a lot and now I can't. This sucks. I have to go to the DR. today because I can't keep letting this go it's just getting worse as the days go on. And to think we got tickets to the SEC game, but turned them down because I was getting worse. UGH! oh the timing.

The Game

I guess now that it has been a few days I can talk about the LSU game. I didn't go. I chose to give my ticket to one of Markus' friends while I decorated the house. It's tradition like 6 years running. Thank goodness I didn't have to freeze my butt off and see them lose. I always hate how OT goes. Even if it is good, it makes me too nervous. In the first OT I really thought they would pull it off. After the second I could hardly stand to watch it anymore, but had to make sure Markus got the whole game on TIVO. It did happen to get cut off and I quickly recorded the rest of it. I let Markus know how hard I worked to achieve this for him only for him to say, "we lost, I'm not watching that again!". Duhhh... why didn't I figure that one out.

Ok so I know this is horrible to say because I really wanted LSU to win, just to get to the National Championship Game again, but I'm glad they lost. I promised Markus if LSU got to the National Championship and we obviously couldn't afford the tickets (he lucked out last time) then I would buy him a TV. OH WELL. Tigers didn't come through for Markus. Who knows when the TV will come now.

Geaux TIGERS!! Now if they could just win SEC title and maybe go to the Sugar Bowl... that would be cool to go see.


Markus' Papa at Thanksgiving. Uhh.. He's from Arkansas

I'm Thankful for...

I thought it would only be fitting to list what I'm thankful for on the one day a year we celebrate it. In no particular order (except Markus) here goes:

1. My husband/marriage-best thing that ever happened to me
2. My family- crazy, but love them
3. My friends who are truly friends and have been there for me
4. My house even though it's not perfect, I'm still thankful I can have one
5. My cooking- I can't live without it, just ask Markus when I get hungry
6. Creativity- It has gotten me out of a lot of binds (birthdays, Christmas, etc.)
7. The temple- The best place on earth and a privilege to be married there
8. Vacations- help keep me sane
9. Green- My favorite color and thankful it's all around me
10. Cheese- I can't live without it (unless the DR. says)
11. Love- What a beautiful thing!
12. Sunshine- can't imagine life without it
13. Women- we can produce life! enough said
14. Pictures- help me remember the memory
15. My Church- I need it always!

I could go on forever, but I'll spare myself and everyone else who reads this. I love this time of year when all the beautiful colors show their faces and the cool weather finally gets to us and we can think of how blessed we are to be living and have the life we enjoy. I'm so grateful for everything that I have and don't have and the things I've learned because of it.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

The Sweetest Prayer

Tonight we went over to Markus' grandparents house with his family. His grandma is on her death bed and his mom says it's just a matter of time. She seemed to think she might not make it through the night, so Pete (father-in-law) insisted we go to his parent's house. It was different for me. I wasn't sure what to do or say. Last time I went over I cut his grandma's hair, she was talking then, but still not the way she was tonight. After a couple of hours we all gathered around her bed and Papa said a prayer over his dying wife. I hadn't cried at all since I had been there until I heard the words, so sweet and loving. I burst into tears trying to be quiet to hear the rest of the prayer. He said things like,"Lord you have given us 70 years together, beautiful children and grandchildren, you have prepared us for this and we know when we come in this world we must die, it's a part of life." I could go on, but I won't. I guess I should have expected this out of a Baptist preacher, but I appreciated everything he said. It's just amazing to me how the Lord knows what He is doing when He sends us here. He knows how long we should live and won't let us stay a day late. When driving home Markus says, "I'm just so glad she didn't die why we were there". I was like "why"? He said he just didn't want to see that, and I must say I don't blame him. I'm thankful to have known Clara Richardson Wilson.

Late Bday present

On Wednesday we went to my in-laws for cake and bday presents. Very crappy day for me, but it was made better by my brother in-law telling me Michael Buble was coming to New Orleans. The tickets go on sale TODAY!. Needless to say I was waiting by the computer until they went on sale. I can't believe I spent the money I did. I'm not the concert goer therefore have no idea how much they cost, but I've been to his concert once and swore I had to go back. I got floor seats 17 rows back, ok so he can't sweat on me but it's pretty close. Thank you Markus. Oh the things husbands do for us.

P.S. Markus hates Michael Buble, but thinks he's the funniest guy on VH1 flashback to the 80s and 90s. He's more than a singer, he's an entertainer.

Happy Birthday to ME!

At 25, I'm now closer to 30. Yikes! And I don't even have kids yet! Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I have talked so much about kids and base everything on and around the fact that I don't have them. But that thought has become more pleasant to me now than ever before. I'm trying to learn to take things as they come to me and just appreciate the now and what I have and not what I want that isn't in the NOW. Hard, but I'm so grateful for my life and the man I chose to spend the rest of my life with. Lately I've been blinded by what is right in front of me. Not sure how that happened. Now to what I'm getting at... Markus did the simplest thing today for my birthday that just made a huge impact on my whole day. I had to go to work and wasn't happy about that, etc. He took the day off to be with me, but I was stuck at work. He went shopping for a gift. Came up empty-handed (or at least I thought). Get home with my small assortment of gifts from people at work and he says I have something for you on the armoire. I didn't see anything until I walked right up to it and found a pink envelope waiting for me to open. It was a birthday card. I don't even know the last time I got a card from Markus. Never since we have been married, but today for some reason he decided I needed one. I don't think I smiled that big when I opened it than I have for a while now. That meant the world to me. He wanted to take me to the mall so we went, and I just didn't want anything. Couldn't make my mind up, etc. So we left with nothing for me, but it's okay because we were together. Oh how I cherish the togetherness. That is more to me than any gift a store can offer. I love you, Markus!

Fair or Unfair? That is the Question

Saturday while speaking to my sister in law I learned that her parents are buying her a washer and I think a dryer. She stumbled on her words while dryer was coming out, so I didn't quite get all that down because my mother-in-law was standing in the sme room looking at her daughter and me like, uhhh... Here's why I'm annoyed and well think it's unfair. Sister-in-law is engaged to be married at 20, and the fiance was asked to wait until she graduated school. (That'll never happen for the record) They decided they were going to buy a house, did I mention she was engaged supposedly 2 years out from being married? Dumb idea, but glad it's not me. Anyways, so she's telling me the things his parents are buying them and the things the in-laws are buying and all I could say was, "Aren't you lucky?". Markus got a $50 gift card to home depot for buying his first home and making the big step and we were freaking married and could BOTH enjoy it. What the hell? I guess being responsible and making good choices Oh and being the oldest doesn't warrant much. I mean I am grateful for anything they give us, but I don't know. I didn't expect anything from them until now.

So, fair or unfair? That IS the Question

State Tennis Tournament, New Orleans, La.

Markus and I have been going back and forth all weekend to New Orleans for the State Tennis Tournament. I'm proud of him and his contribution to the team. It's exciting they made it as far as they did all the way to State. That's pretty huge. Markus didn't win any of his matches, but that definitely doesn't mean he didn't play his heart out and kill his arm in the process. I felt so bad for him. The pain never let up. I got sunburned in November too. haha. It was fun and naturally I was out there trying the camera out. Got some cool shots. Just wanted to share and say how proud I am of my sweetheart and his accomplishments. Maybe next year we'll go again and win out. :)

The Never Ending Day

Just so that I will feel better, that is the reason for my writing this. First off my day began to me waking up to a horrible night mare of Markus dying in a car accident. As a lay in bed almost crying, I could not help but be sooo.. grateful Markus was right next to me. That was probably the scariest feeling I've ever felt before. Then I start my day as usual. Get to work, the AC still didn't work from yesterday. Meanwhile, I'm worried sick that Markus makes it to New Orleans safely. The CPA comes to work on the same old crap that we've been working on for like oh 3 weeks. She doesn't get to leave until early afternoon. By that time I was about to pass out b/c it was so hot, I decided to take an hour and a half lunch break. Only to get back to work at 4:15 and everybody needs stuff and I'm not able to get busy until about 5pm. Of course I would love to go home, but way too much to do for that. Finally get to leave and without thinking (literally) I ran out of my office only to look for my keys once downstairs and yep they were definately locked in my freakin office. Markus is still coming home from New Orleans at this point, so what to do. Call the bosses see if they are around the club, nope no answer. Call Steph to come pick me up. By the time we get back to my sis's apt. Markus was waiting to pick me up there. Then off to LSU we go to deliver a football ticket, pick up dinner and get home for 9pm. My boss had called me earlier to tell me his wife was at church and she had the keys and to meet her there for 9:30 and she would give me all the keys. Went to pville got the keys, drove back out to LSU to get the keys out of my office. Oh the club was closed by the way which made me very nervous because I wasn't familiar with the alarm system. Well that turned out to be ok and on to home we go. Finally 10:40pm and I'm home. Wow! I can't believe it. I am soo.. embarassed. I think I have officially lost my mind. Would pop-a-lock have been a better alternative? Oh another day.

Addicted

I cannot stop listening to "Bubbly" by Colbie Caillet. It's soooo... addicting. I'm still trying to put my finger on who she reminds me of. I need this CD and quick. I asked for it for my bday, but I don't know if I will be able to wait that long. I haven't even bought it from I-Tunes b/c my money card ran out. It's a must to listen to all day every day.

http://www.colbiecaillatmusic.com/

Markus and Lydia

Oh my gosh while looking through pictures on the computer I happened to stumble across this one and just had to share. It was taken by the camera on the top of the computer, so I'm thinking Markus just did this to make Lydia happy while he got to look at what he wanted on the computer. At least that is what the pic sorda tells me. Lydia loves her Uncle Markus. It is sooo stinkin cute to see them cuddled up on the couch watching football. She will only do this with him, not me. But I love it. Well judging by the background we hadn't even moved my scrapbooking junk out on the desk so this pic is prob a month or so old. I can't believe I just found it now. Markus wouldn't admit it to me, but after our 2nd stint in the nursery and everyone around us having kids, he has really takin a likin to them and it makes me very happy.

Sunshine

Let me just say that I love when the time "falls back" because I get an extra hour to do whatever, but the best part about it is the Early Sunshine. My window in my bedroom along with all the other windows in my house have a half circle as part of the top. IF that makes sense and you can buy those little half moon things that look like fans to cover the window, but I took those off when we bought the house. It looked to old fashioned to me. So because of this, the sunshine just peaks right on through it and it just wakes me up so happy. Same goes for the bathroom, we have a sky light in our bathroom. If we used it for something other than to brush our teeth in, it would be awesome. But even when we do, the light brightens up the whole bathroom so much that I don't even need a light and there is just something about that natural God-given light. Makes me thankful for the sunshine, even though I don't always feel like sunshine. It reminds me of the simple things life is about that brings things into perspective. And boy do I need a change of perspective, and what better time than early in the morning as the day begins.

WORK KEEPS GOING AND GOING AND GOING AND GOING...

I am so sick of work I just want to scream. I am so sick of working til 7:30 at night. I mean I'm not good at working 12 hour days. I drop dead when I get home because my brain is so exausted. To top it all off... I'm not even experienced in what I am working on (business plans) so how do you tell your boss who knows just as little as me that I cannot do it. I have tried to put my best attitude forward, but can I say, "I'M READY FOR A FREAKIN DAY OFF AND SALARY SUCKS!". Ugh, why is it that bosses get to have all the fun and spend all the money and you just have to fix their damn problem. I'm a little bitter right now. Forgive me. But gee wiz. And then when she asked me if I was still going to Houston for my B-day (had to take off the day after because my b-day just happens to fall on a payroll/payday) and I told her yes that is the plan if she could give me money and she laughed I was thinking if this isn't done by then that sucks for you b/c I'm not coming into work, even if we don't go to Houston. What's she going to do, FIRE ME? That's a joke and I should really play it more in my favor, but I'm a better person than that. Haha!

Halloween Candy

This is my second week in a row where I have craved candy corns. Well when I went to Target this week they didn't have the kind I wanted (original), so I ventured out for the pumpkins. These things are sooo... good. Course yesterday is when my toothache started, so hopefully that doesn't mean cavaties. Anyway, I love Halloween for the candy corns that are readily available.

I'm WAITING...

Lately I have been super pessimistic and in a bad mood. There are several different reasons why, but the one I'll talk about is the FREAKIN house. I was in the bathroom while Markus was taking a bath and he loves the run the tub up with water almost to the top. Well he heard the overflow thing draining and turned the water off. It's what he always does then when it goes down a little more he'll fill it back up very full. Well long story short I started to see water come up out of the floor and along side of the wall. We have that linolium (sp?) and I was like what in the heck. Well go in the computer room which is next to the hall bath and the wall that the water was coming out of, was also on the other side along the base boards and into the carpet. Markus seems to think it the overflow might not be hooked up to drain out of the house therefore it is under the flooring and coming up out of the flooring. HAHA! So I'm just gonna sit back and see what other kind of BS is going to happen. Cause I know it's not done yet. Does anything else want to hit me while I'm down, please go right ahead! I won't be getting up any time soon.

Material Things

Ever since I bought this camera I had been dreaming about and dreaded the day it would get hurt. I am really amazed at how in one split moment it can go bye bye forever or so I thought. About 1-1/2 weeks ago I was pulling the camera off the table and the strap got caught on I can't even remember what and the next thing I knew as I was trying to get the strap unstuck and I lost my grip and BOOM went the camera on the floor. I remember being devastated and tried to see if the camera would still turn on. Oh it turned on alright and that was the ONLY thing I really checked for. Of course Markus got the camera and tried to take a few pics with it and noticed the screen was just black. I never told him it dropped (I didn't make it fall!). So immediately my heart sunk (yes, I'm for real) and I thought of course I would break the dang thing and haven't even used it to the best of its ability. Well long story short Markus fixed the camera yesterday, just in time for the game. The mirror was stuck or whatever the thing is that moves to reflect the image. Why and how can we be so in love with "things" that in a split second it can be lost or taken from us. Luckily in this case it wasn't a total loss, but still for a whole week + I thought it was. That camera is how I see the world and how I remember the moment and cherish the memory. Ahh... I'm so grateful it wasn't taken from me this time. One of my favorites shots after the winning touchdown pass was caught.

Prioritize- What comes First?

So now that Markus and I are homeowners it just seems like our wants and wishes list has just tripled x 10= unrealistic all at once. I am starting to feel overwhelmed at all the things we want and/or need to buy. It also seems they are all around the $2000.00 range give or take a few hundred. But what comes first, what do you think? I need help making up my mind. Here goes, in no certain order:

-Sheet rock (to replace termite damage)
-Range (the glass top is cracked, but it still works)/ dishwasher (I won't even tell yall what I found)
-New countertops for kitchen (we have gross laminate right now)
-tile for the shower (it's plastic junk right now and is disgusting)
-TV (I know)
-New couches (it would go with the house better and be pretty)
-king size bed (FULL SIZE, enough said, right?)

Well I could keep going, but I don't want to be excessive or anything. I don't actually know how much the sheet rock is going to be, we are still trying to find someone to replace it for us. Any suggestions will help.

Housewarming to be announced once we get everything on this list! Yeah right. But the Master bath must be decent before the party is thrown.

TIGERS WIN, TIGERS WIN!!!!!!

Ok so now that I have my voice back I feel I can talk about what an AWESOME game it was. I must say that was truly the BEST game I have ever been to in Tiger Stadium out of the meager 6 years I've been in attendance. The best part is when they announced Stanford beat USC. Instantly the crowd rose and was insanely loud. I myself couldn't stop screaming. After that I knew we would win. I still can't believe it. But let me just say all of you that watched it from home, I just want to tell you how sad I am that you missed the best game in person. I must say all the people who paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for this one definitely got their money worth. There hasn't been anything like it. NO ONE left early. I haven't seen that in a very long time. Everyone was so dedicated for once and I was just so happy to see it and make history at the same time. That was so great. So I just want to make this public announcement: I have promised Markus that if he isn't able to find a ticket under $500 to the National Championship Game that I will buy him his TV. Party at Jenn's on the BIG 50"! and GEAUX TIGERS. I'm so excited.

Happy and Sad

Well we found out on Friday we don't have any live termites and that the termite company is going to have to treat our house for free since the guy with the State Dept of Agriculture did't approve of how they did a few things. Now all we have to do is fix the damage the termites caused and hopefully move on. I think at this point I just want this bad dream to go away, oh wait its reality. Nonetheless I am still very happy to have my own house. It was been lots of hard work, but so far very rewarding. I guess when you make such a huge decision like buying your first home their are plenty of emotions that run through you. As I lay in bed last night I finally let it out. I have been so emotionally stretched it is crazy. Everything that I have really wanted to do with my house my daddy could have been right there doing anything I could wish for. I mean my mom has been great helping me do so many things, but I think she too knows how much daddy could do with the house. It's amazing how much you miss someone when you hit another big and happy time in your life (milestone), yet at the same time can be sad because they are not here to see you through it. Everytime someone comes in my house they comment on he beautiful crown molding. My daddy as far as I was concerned was the master of all of it. My front rooom is the only room that has it and I sure wish that every room could have it, but now I have to hire someone to do it along with building me more kitchen cabinets and a cabinet for the master bathroom, etc, etc. I know he would be so happy to do any of it. He loved to leave his stamp on things and had no problem telling everyone about it.

hahaha!

I feel like I am being laughed at by the previous homeowners of our house. I could really give those people a piece of my mind. A few days after we moved into our house we started ripping down the ugly wallpaper in the master bathroom. My sister happened to find these weird looking holes in the sheetrock. Then those turned into tunnels. Well if you haven't guessed by now that was from TERMITES which they apparently had less than a year ago!!!! Oh I bet you guess we knew that and still bought the house. WRONG! We even called them to tell them what we found and they still claimed they have never had termites. We called their pest control people who confirmed he had been treating the house since Feb 2007. I think the thing that pisses me the most off is that they didn't "disclose" to us that this was the case with the house and then lied again about the whole mess. Naturally I want to get them back. But at what cost. I mean for crying out loud we have the dang house. Long story short the Dept of Agriculture is coming out to see if we still have termites thanks to the wonderful people at Massey Services who we will be signing a contract to treat our house after the one on the house is up and force the pest control people who gave them a termite certificate to fix the damages. We are currently attempting to pursue legal action against the former owners. I haven't decided if it's worth it yet. But we are just getting advice right now. I'm just ill about the whole thing. What would you do?

Homeowners!

Well we closed on the house yesterday. It wasn't as emotional as I thought it would be. I was actually relieved because I might actually be able to sleep now. That seemed like it took forever. Then I had to go to work. What a blow, but after I ran payroll my boss let me leave early. Then the fun starts. Markus and I went to Lowe's because there is no such thing as a perfect house right? We of course wanted to paint, change the locks, light fixtures... blah blah. Sooo... now all of the sudden that I have my own house it's like I don't know what I like and can't make my mind up. Long story short, Bless Markus- we spent 2 hours in Lowe's picking stuff out. I miss the days where I would spend $20 there. We spent $600. I almost flipped. And to think we have plenty more of stuff to buy. I almost threw up at that. Funny how I didn't feel that way at closing when I borrowed all this money to buy a house! Markus told me just think of it like these shows you watch on tv, spend $500 make 10,000. haha! If it was just that easy. As I was starting to rip wall paper off in the Master Bathroom where it had begun to come away from the wall I noticed there was sheetrock underneath, not good when ripping off wallpaper. Always better to have a treated wall underneath. Bad news is the sheetrock was damp, THERE IS A LEAK SOMEWHERE! That was like a punch in the stomach. Oh the joys of homeownership. To think I was excited for this. haha... Markus was like that is why the seller's bought the Home Warranty for us. I'm reading up on it today and might call the inspector to see why he didn't catch this.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love you Tomorrow

Well, well, well the time has almost come for Markus and I to close on our house. The last walk through was yesterday and I invited my Mother-in-Law to come with us. See she kept bugging me to come see the house and I kept telling her that I wanted her to see it when we got a few things done/replaced. Through this whole process I was a little annoyed at their lack of support. But I guess that was the way I was trying to take that out on them. Anyways, nonetheless I could not take her nagging anymore. She loved the house and even went as far to say she was envious of my bathroom. What a crack. So she insisted Markus and I take this picture in front of the house. She didn't know how to use the camera and that is the reason for the blurry picture, but Markus just looked so inthused I had to post it. Long story short tomorrow we close. I hope I get some sleep tonight. Yeah right! I am finally excited and it's starting to sink in, HOMEOWNERSHIP> here we come.

A Miracle

At first everything with the house was going okay. I wasn't experienced to know the difference anyway, right? So this week has just been hilacious. At one point my realtor was telling me we would lose the house if we didn't make people get up off their butts and get to workin. Apparently the kind of loan we are getting, RD (Rural Development), takes a little bit of time and that is the line of bull the lender kept giving me until yesterday. I told him basically that we cannot push the closing back any further or else we will lose the house. These people won't sign and extension.... blah blah. So he did what he had to do while I made our insurance agent feel the same way that he was holding things up, but for good reason. He couldn't bind coverage when a storm is in the gulf. Who would have thought. And lastly the STUPID realtor of the seller's decided she just wasn't going to answer her phone or return messages, (can't wait to see her in person) so the wonderful realtor that I have was sick of it as I was also and just went straight to the sellers home and demanded the termite inspection which had to be given to the RD people or they would not release any funds. AND SHE GOT IT! She was amazing. So hopefully today the good news will come that our packet will be ready and the funds will be wired to the title company's account. What a day it was yesterday. A Miracle to me. I almost think it was meant to be. :)

Let the GAMES begin

I have been really looking forward to football season this year. I think it has something to do with the fact that we had to buy our own season tickets this year. See Markus' parents always paid for them and we intended on paying for his ticket when we got married but it always seemed like something would come up for us and we couldn't swing it. Well this year his parents were like you kids are going to have to pay for your own tickets. See I have never had my "own" ticket for the 5 seasons I have been going with Markus to the games. So I was just interested to see how it was going to work. I never really knew when I was going to go to a game with Markus becasue it depened on if his sister would use her ticket or not. She didn't want to go unless her boyfriend could. So the sharing a ticket was always so annoying to me because I was never the daughter in the scenario and it always made me feel so uncomfortable. Long story short Sarah (Markus' sister) couldn't pay for "her" ticket, so the in-laws offered it to me. Which Markus and I jumped on that opportunity. We had such a great time at the game it was soooo... awesome and we got some really great shots with the new camera. So ultimately we get be together always now and not worry if Jenn comes to the game who will she sit with. I can be with my husband every play of the game!

Good Game

For some reason I had really been looking forward to Football Season this year. It probably has something to do with the fact that Markus and I actually had to pay for our season tickets this year. The past 2 years that we have been married his parents helped us out, but this year when it came time for my father-in-law to renew he made the kids pay for their own tickets. Well let me just say that for the 5 seasons I have been going with Markus and his family to the games I have never really had "my own" ticket. I have always borrowed his sister's when she didn't go or whatever the case would be. So for once I really feel like it's for me now and I have a right to go to the game. It was always a huge issue between Sarah (Markus' sister) and him. They would like trade off and Markus would never want to. It was so annoying because I'm not the daughter. But Markus and Jenn officially have their own tickets and it is GREAT! That was a huge lesson to us when the money came due, but I'll save that for another post. So here are some pics we took with the NEW CAMERA! I'm still trying to learn how to use it. Oh by the way that game was soooo... awesome. It was the largest attended game in LSU history. The other largest attended game I was also at and this one beats that one. We were a part of HISTORY. I know it sounds silly but it's cool in its own way.

Just Waiting

Seems like the older I get, I come to realize the Lord knows that I am sooo... impatient and helps me out with that. Right now I'm just kinda waiting around to hear from the realtor about a closing date everyone can agree on. Who was I kidding that the date I would choose would work out perfectly with everyone else?!? This process of "waiting" sure can be nerve racking. WOW! But I am getting very excited about it all. In my mind things won't be final til we sign on all the lines. I'm sometimes scared to call it my house yet. That will hopefully be over very soon. But until then I'll just wait and pack too.

2 Years and 1 month vs. 1 month

As I was thinking of today and what it has meant to so many people on the gulf coast I thought about this day 2 years ago. When we woke up to no electricity and the horrible sights of Katrina aftermath we were really bummed. But for silly reasons like no electricity, which brought no AC or TV or home cooked meal. See Markus and I had only been married for 1 month exactly. And that very day we were both just so grateful to have weathered the storm and to only have been effected by no electricity for 1 1/2 days. I was so grateful that we were together and that we were able to be married and if anything happened to us, were were sealed together, forever. That brought me great comfort in such an unpleasant time. But now 2 years later it is still affecting us. We are about to buy a house and our insurance carrier still isn't writing homeowners'. WOW. I feel like the people have recooperated better than these silly businesses we rely on for service. I am just so thankful to be with my best friend for life and even a storm can't tear about what we have, share and believe in.

Home Sweet Home

Well we put an offer on a house and got the inspection and appraisel yesterday. So far so good. I'm super nervouse, but since last Monday things have gone fairly well. I'm just not ready to call it our house yet, because we haven't signed our life away. Not looking forward to that, but I am looking forward to moving in. It is so cute and so me. I was trying to think what I like best about it and I could't make up my mind between the garden tub in the master bath, the moveable island in the kitchen and the garage. I've never had any of them. Those things really sold me on the house along with the huge open living room with wood floors. Ok so I'm finally getting excited just like the realtor said I would. She promised me I would be a completely different person this week. It's all happening so fast and through it all the Lord has truly blessed us in the process. I'm so grateful I'm not in charge.

House, Home, Santuary

I have not been so nervous and excited as I am now. Yesterday we found the cutest house to call home. As soon as I walked in I was like, I love it, oh my gosh it is so cute. Everything about it was so perfect. I am very PICKY when it comes to just about anything. Anyone who knows me knows that I am opinionated about any and everything. This one we can grow into, entertain in, and well everything else in between. I am just not rehearsed when it comes to the whole process. But I truly am looking forward to something that Markus and I can both have together. When can truly share it and build our life up and coming in and around it. Other houses I have looked at there was always something that wasn't quite right, but this one she's the gem. I hope we can get it an offer is in the near future, maybe even today. Is that too soon? 9022 Alder Drive here we come!

Hair Cuts

I really would like to grow my hair out, but once it gets about chin length, suddenly I can't stand it. I grew my hair out for the wedding, but can't seem to do it again. I hadn't had my hair that long since high school. I love getting my hair cut. Besides taking 5 lbs off it's just so refreshing. I went in and got a cut and suddenly the drab highlights popped out too. I'm just a short hair chick and I decided I always will be.

On Both Sides

Markus and I are so sick of renting. We're sick of the high cost, white walls, people wanting to sell the place we live in, small kitchens, one bedrooms, etc. We have started looking for something to buy and changed our minds all in the same week. Until we found this one townhouse/condo. Markus has made up his mind that he wants it. Naturally I have one foot on one side and the other on one side. What to do. It is a 2 BR 1 1/2 BA, living downstairs, bedrooms upstairs. Cute layout too. Kinda small, BUT we don't have any kids and don't plan on it til Markus graduates, whenever that is. Of course the price is just right and that would afford us to fix it up how we want to. We went to go see it 2 days ago and Markus cannot stop talking about it. I am just skeptical of the 2BR thing. That along with the small living room is bothering me. Is that smart to even consider something for our needs now? I just can't decide. The only bad thing is that we have to be out of our apartment by Sept. 30. Which doesn't leave much time. Oh decisions, decisions. I hate this one!

ON HOLD

The camera is officially on hold and it's all my fault. Markus has been telling me to just get it but I really thought we were going to buy a house. That is out the door now. I am so sick and tired of looking at houses or trying to look at houses and people deciding they don't want to sell, or it's too expensive or whatever. So annoying. Then I think do I really want to settle down here? If only I knew where we would go when Markus graduates. Hopefully in the next week or so I can just order it and stop putting it off. I'm so excited to get it I have put other things in front. How silly of me. I wish I could just be selfish at this point, I would probably have it by now.

2 Years and Counting!

I can't believe our anniversary is here again. It has been a crazy weekend too. I really wanted to have a nice romantic getaway, but that just didn't happen. We did have a fun weekend together just hangin out. Tomorrow we are finally going to go out to eat. I'm excited for that. Our credit union was going through some upgrades this weekend so we weren't sure if Markus' check was deposited or not b/c everything was down. They suggest us not use our debit cards during this process and the ATM machine wouldn't let us take out the amount of money we wanted to, so it was funny. It's our anniversary weekend and we have limited money to do what we were "planning". Sometimes I feel like I shouldn't plan anything because something always comes up or goes wrong. All and all I'm just so grateful and thankful that I have Markus in my life. He is such an amazing strength to me and our marriage. I am happy to be his wife.

Camera

Well this is my first time doing this, so we'll see how it goes. I have enjoyed everyone else's blogs that I have seen so I thought I would give it a shot. Sunday is our anniversary! It's been 2 years. I can't believe how time flies. We were talking about what to do for our anniversary and I came up with a few things, but Markus overruled my ideas. He said, I don't want you to buy me anything, I don't want to go anywhere, I just want you to get your camera. AHH, how sweet. I've been wanting to get a DSLR for a little while now and it just seemed like that would never be a reality, until my sweetie put it at the top of his list. I'm really excited to get it. I love pictures. I love what they stand for and what they mean to me in my life. I love the memories attached to every snap of the shutter. My daddy taught me about cameras, although I still have a lot to learn, I owe my love of photography to him. I miss him terribly, but everytime I pick up a camera, I think about what he would see when looking through the viewfinder and what he would tell me to look for and the advice he'd give. I think of the possiblities and how they are so endless. AHH.. pictures. What a priceless beauty.