Fare Thee Well...

So... 3 blog entries in 2 days! Pretty impressive. I thought I'd make up for this upcoming week, for I will be on Nantucket with the family I work for until next weekend! Pray for us! :)

Throwback Thursday

I know it's kind of late, but I wanted to join in before today was over. The girls at Pinks & Blues host this every week, and I've been dying to play along! So here is my attempt... not too far back, I'll have to get scanning on those older pics! :)



Venice, Italy, late November, 2004. Ryan and I had gotten married a mere 5 or 6 weeks prior, and were already taking a "second" honeymoon. As some of you may remember, he was working in admissions at RWC and the fall schedule had him traveling for 3 weeks straight right after the wedding, so we were only able to do a few short days in the Poconos right after the wedding. Let's just say... this trip made up for it! :)



Basilica di San Marco... see all those pigeons? yeeahh... remember the scene from the movie "Just Married" when Ashton Kutcher was flailing around the piazza with the pigeons swarming around him? It was no exaggeration, they really were like that!!!



See?! hehe!!! It was so cold, do you see how my mouth is so stiff? It was frozen. The only good thing about the cold was that is was the off-season, tourism wise, so it wasn't so busy. Plus we heard that it smells really bad in the heat with all of the water and people around.



Real Italian pizza!!! Pizza margherita!!!!



The Rialto Bridge



Hope to join in on TT again! :)

Diary

I'm usually not big on forwards and stuff like that, but my dad sent this one to me and it was too funny not to pass on... (AJ you may not want to read it for it may undo all of our therapy)...


The Dog's Diary

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Dinner! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!


The Cat's Diary

Day 983 of my captivity.

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates my capabilities. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow, but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released, and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded. The bird must be an informant. I observe him communicate with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now...

My Baby Brother

So... my little (but wayyy taller than me) brother graduated from high school today.... I really can't believe it. I also can't believe that it's only been 6 years since I graduated in that very same auditorium.... here are some pics!


very typical...



proud parents



the kids



so proud... love him!!!!




Oh, and yeahhh house updates... well, I'll definitely be sharing them as they happen (meaning we've pretty much done NOTHING in the past week)... hope to post an update in the next few days :)

The Crazy Kirnans

GOODBYE FOREVER...

TO MINER HALL!!!!! Tonight Ryan and I had a last visit/cleaning/pick up the rest of our crap at the good old apartment. I am trying my hardest to refrain from singing the hallelujah chorus in 4 part harmony (not sure how I'd do that, but I'm sure I could)!!! We wanted to do the clean up job before the new RD moved in, not just because we are good people and felt that this was our responsibility (ha) but because I really wanted to be the one to clear every last bit of our DNA from every inch of that place! My vacuum(please please never buy this vacuum and spend a little more on one that won't decide not to work after 2 1/2 measly years), aka "Backfire" decided, as usual, to only suck up what it wanted, not what I wanted, so I refrained from picking it up and throwing it out the front door (along with the sour milk one of the darling boys decided to dump all over the entryway during the last week of classes) and simply retired it to the middle of the lounge, verbally vowing to never even touch the vacuum ever again. Whew. Soooo..... Ryan retrieved me a different vacuum.... it was one of the cleaners'. It was in the form of a backpack (it was something like this and no that's not me)... yeah I was excited at first but the novelty wore off after about 5 minutes when my shoulder muscles began to burn. Fun times. Anyway... we are out. For good. I am ecstatic, yet (sshhhhhh don't tell anyone) a little nostalgic... I mean come on, we did spend 2 years of our married life there, got to spend endless time with our sisters, and hey... got free rent and stuff. I am even more certain now that it's time to move on (especially since this next year would be my 7th and Ryan's 8th year at RWC).... I was asked the other day about what it was like to actually have a HOUSE and be living in it. I answered that it felt completely natural, and that now that we're here I feel like we always have been here, regardless of the piles and boxes and huge amount of work to still be done. I just feel at peace (for once in a long time)... it's funny how God works like that. :)



(How do you like my linkage JK???)

Slackers

Um yeah. No house updates.... we've had many visitors this week, yet no progress. It's been hard to muster up the motivation to get painting, cleaning, sanding, etc. when we're actually living here. Not sure why. Ryan's been having fun ripping out the basement this week, but I am utterly too proud/embarassed to even take a picture of that disaster, let alone post one. Maybe I'll take some when it's finished. We had a fun weekend; celebrated my baby brother's 18th birthday and had a fun visit and cookout w/ Jason & Amy today... I haven't even touched a paintbrush in more than a week. Here are some shots from the weekend....


he had to ruin it!!!


Z with his birthday/graduation/rest of his life present


I told you so!! lil weirdos. And no, they did not eat that whole piece! :)

oh, and hate my blog layout thing? yeah, me too. I spent hours messing with it the other night (I was wired on excedrin tension headache) and this was as good as it could get. I'm going to have someone who knows what they're doing make one for me... I've had it.

THINK PINK

I can't believe I've waited so long to sign up for this one... prob cuz I haven't had internet for a week, ha! The amazing ladies over at Pinks & Blues are having another fun & girly contest to win undies from Victoria's Secret, a Juicy Couture shirt, and a Dooney & Bourke bag! Wow!!!!! AJ and Carrie, you guys better get on this one!

Piles

Well, we're in. I'm ashamed to say that we haven't done much unpacking... there is still soooooooo much to do in the house, plus I literally CAN'T put much away due to the fact that a)I hate to put stuff on shelves that I need to paint still b) we still need to buy a few armoire/cabinets and c) we still have cabinets to BUILD!!! AHHH!!!! Piles are my biggest pet peeve, ask my husband. I freak when I find hidden piles of randomness.... but now they are all even BIGGER and in plain view!!!!


Check out Couch Mountain... the biggest and funnest pile in the house :) It's up like that to give us more room and we're keeping it there til the basement is finished and we can put them down there (they're our old couches)


yeeeaaahhh!!!! it still needs a lot of work, but at least now it looks like a real kitchen!


definitely my favorite room.... NOTHING is organized... don't worry... but isn't the bedspread pretty?! I'm going to do a lot of black & white w/ limey green accents


and the most extraordinary transformation of all!!!! AJ you did so well, I was SO PROUD!!!! thanks to you and JK for being our first extended visitors:)

Oh... and our cats love watermelon... who knew!!?? We finally have internet now... so hoping to blog more in between the unpacking... or lack thereof :)

ADDISON MARIE!

Now presenting her royal highness Addison Marie Morgan! She sure is a princess... a whole 12 (or so) days late! Addie was born Thursday night... Carrie was due the 20th... how beautiful is she?! I wanted to hold her and stare at her forever. Congrats to Carrie and Paul... LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!!

"Addie, it's your Daddy!" Sorry, no pics of Momma... Care you were so beautiful though! I love you!

Running on Empty...

Oh man. The last few days have been stressful, overwhelming, but yet super joyful (see above post for details). Ryan and I worked at the house for like 12 hours today... and we didn't start until 1pm! So we're getting up at 6am (it's 1:30 am now), finishing packing and waiting for the Kirnan clan to help us out (thanks a lot to my mom and dad for going to Florida and deserting us this weekend... hehe). Of course, I stay up and blog instead of getting sleep... you know how you get so tired that you feel not tired?! I'm flying now! Here are a few pics to share w/ you... AJ and JK should be pleased. :)


Overwhelming transformation #1: Master Bedroom

4.16.07

6.1.07

4.16.07

6.1.07
HOLY CRAP! How freaking awesome is that?! It's not even done yet! Thanks to MOM for her design expertise in the sweet wall molding (she really did design it... I told her what I wanted and she seriously read my mind) and DAD for his expert craftsmanship ("Brian, you are too good!") and humility... ha! Oh and thanks to ME for painting my life away, all day every day!!!!!!!


Overwhelming transformation #2: Bathroom

4.16.07 Darnit it's sideways and I can't fix it but you get the idea

5.6.07 ugh!

6.1.07 ta-daaaa!!!! check out my sweet clear shower curtain... haha jk, I have yet to find one I like, I need to keep looking. I'd like one in black

Gorgeous faucet... one of my favorite things in the whole house!


So.... tomorrow (well today in a few hours) is the day.... so anxious yet excited!

*Jane (P&B G) I'll get the kitchen wall color name to you! I have to see if my mom has the paint chip, it was in one of those paint fan book things, so I'll have to look :)*