Blue or Pink...Which Do You Think?

It's official, WE'RE EXPECTING! Most of you we have already told, but for everyone that we weren't able to get a hold of, this is our big announcement. I went to the doctor yesterday and found out that I am just over 6 weeks along. My due date is July 10, 2011, so we'll have a summer baby. So far I haven't had any morning sickness I've just been extremely tired. And if anyone has any helpful information about anything I am more than open to what you've got.

I'll do my best to keep everyone updated on what we find out through this exciting new journey.

(Oh, and if you are wondering, the dad-to-be is VERY excited)

A Little Face Lift

So exciting news for all of you who haven't heard yet...Brandon and I bought our house! OK, so I'm about a month and a half late with the announcement, but we've been keeping extra busy. When we moved into the house nearly 3 years ago it had an unfinished basement. We tossed around the idea of leaving it unfinished and finishing it. Well finishing it won out. We started the project almost immediately after Brandon come home. It's been a long process but we are finally finished. (well except a little decorating and touch ups). When we were finally nearing the end of this grueling project we started to wonder if it was worth all the work we put in. Then we looked at the before pictures. Just so you can get an idea of how huge the transformation is I put some pictures together for you. Hope you enjoy!

This is what the doorway down to the basement looked like before. We put some bi-fold doors where the deep freeze is on the left.

This is what you see as you go down the stairs. Brandon made me a built in desk for all of my office work and crafting. (He's so handy!)
This is to the left of my desk. We built a wall from floor to ceiling to allow for some storage in the basement. Brandon built cabinet doors to conceal the ledge. (There is one on either side of the wall)

This is what the main living area looks like after all the work. We had to leave the beam in the middle because it was load bearing. So we bought two over sized recliners that fit perfectly on either side. Since this picture we have put two DVD racks along the far wall. This room has kind of turned into a media room.

This is Brandon's little area of the basement. We had started some demolition before the "before" picture. This area used to nothing but walls of shelving that the previous owners used for their food storage. After we took out the shelves we realized there was actually a decent sized little room. Brandon is using it as his photo editing/printing area.

The project has definitely been long and exhausting, we are just looking forward to being able to utilize the added square footage to the house.

So Much Has Happened

In case you didn't know, BRANDON'S HOME!!! It was a long year apart, but he is finally home. We went down on April 1st, braving every weather imaginable, to pick him up. It was really a wonderful day. And now we can really get on with our life together.

We have been extremely busy in the short 4 weeks Brandon has been home. I took the week after he got home off of work. We did a little housework, demolition to the basement, and then went to Jackson for a few days to get away. Since then Brandon has been working hard on trying to get our basement finished. It's been a huge undertaking, but will be worth it in the end. He has also been catching up with old friends, going fishing, golfing, and numerous fire calls. It's amazing how fas real life hits. But we are very happy to be reuinited, and for the record, this was the last deployment fro Brandon. He will be completely out of the military this coming September. We want to thank you for all of your support and love during the past year.

A Few Final Touches

With Brandon coming home in less than 2 weeks I'm working on gettins some final touches done in the house. Basically litte projects I've had in mind to do but have been putting off. I decided to take the Proclamation to the World that we got on our wedding day and make a floating frame with that, a picture of Brandon and I, our last name, and wedding date. And below I put little plaques I found at Quilted Bear (I LOVE Quilted Bear!).

I'm horrible at planning out meals to make for dinner. And with Brandon coming home it means that I'm actually going to have to start cooking again and i needed something to help me. So I decided to make a menu board. I used chalkboard spray paint and painted a board, added some vinyl, and ribbons to make a custom menu board. Now I have no excuse not to have something planned for dinner. I'll be able to write down all of the options that we have to do with stuff that's in the house.

In other news, after only 6 months as our wards young womens secretary I got a little surprise. I was called as the Worland Stake young womens secretary. Just when I got the hang of our girls, why not throw in the whole stake. I'm still a little overwhelmed by the calling, but I think it's going to be a good one. I'm excited to be working with the young women, and now I can be home on Wednesday nights when my husband finally gets home.

Well that's all I have for now, my next post will probably be after Brandon gets home.

A Rose is a Rose...

I have to thank my wonderful husband for an early Valentine's Day present. We had discussed not celebrating this year just because we are so far apart...but of course, he didn't listen. I got a package in the mail a couple days ago that contained the following.
Ever since Brandon and I started dating he has bought me roses quite frequently. They are always beautiful but they never last forever. This rose, however, will never die. So thank you Brandon for being as sweet as you were 6 1/2 years ago when you sent me a rose after our very first date. I love you!

(The rose says "Love for Eternity")

To Shave or Not to Shave...That's the Real Question

Well we survived the holidays, barely. Christmas was different having to spend it halfway around the world from Brandon, but luckily for Skype it was still enjoyable. We were able to open our presents up with eachother over the computer, talk, and atleast kind of spend the holidays together.

We were both excited for New Years, not to stay up late or anything like that, but because it began the year that Brandon will come home. We have heard that he will be coming home sometime in April, and it's starting to sneak up on me.

Brandon had a litle bit of fun with a few of the guys he's serving with. The had bet Brandon that he wouldn't/couldn't grow a mustache, and as you can see, he took on that bet...and I think he won.

Personally, I don't think it's a look that is good for him.

The funny thing is that in the first picture several people have told me that he looks kind of like my Uncle Brent. Scary thought.

As for me, I can't grow a mustache (nor would I want to) so I took on something different to occupy my time. If you haven't noticed by now, I enjoy painting/redecorating rooms. Since Brandon left last April I have repainted our bathroom, our laundry room, our office, our entry way, and most recently our master bedroom. Before Brandon came home for leave in October I had taken out the carpet in our bedroom to reveal the original hardwood floors (which were in really good condition). So with that update, it needed a new coat of paint. So here are some pictures of the before and after of our room.

BEFORE...

AFTER...

Until next time,

Sha