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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

What we've been up to!

Well both houses have been inspected and Alec has fixed everything he can on the old house (including sawing off then replacing the door knob to the utility closet which he accidently locked even though it hasn't been locked in the 6 years I've lived there). There are a few things that popped up on the new house but nothing too disastrous. So we’re packing and waiting. While we wait we plan out the new house – what color to paint this room and what furniture to put in that room – something to pass the time while staring at blank walls and empty shelves and tables.

My sister and I are throwing my grandparents a 65th wedding anniversary reception on May 10. I’ve volunteered to make a slideshow that we’ll play during the reception. Grandma gave me about 6 photo albums and a bag full of pictures to go through – a lifetime of memories! I started the process of picking out the slideshow worthy pictures last night and who knew it would be such an emotional experience?!?! I broke down on a few occasions – after reading a love letter from grandpa to grandma that he wrote while he was overseas in WWII and she was pregnant with their first child (my mom); after reading a letter from grandma’s brother Harold who went overseas during WWII but never made it home; and finally when looking at more recent pictures of my grandparents and noticing how they smile and hold each other – just like they did when they were married! I thought – what a rarity in today’s world – to see that kind of love and admiration after so many years! I only hope Alec and I will be just as happy, as we are now, in 65 years!

We’re just about finished planning our trip to Nantucket and the wedding. I still need to find a place to have my hair done and I need to confirm my flower arrangements. Oh – the other night, Alec’s mom gave me the sweetest bouquet of hydrangeas and lily-of-the-valley (which smelled amazing!). I was so happy to have something sitting on my kitchen table again (everything else is packed)!

The last “major event” to finish planning is our reception/ housewarming party. We’re hoping to have at our new home but don’t want to jinx anything by sending out official invites or anything just yet! More to come on that…

So even though we seem crazy busy, we’re staying right on track! We keep saying we can’t wait for June but I think I’m ready to slow down and savor May!

Thursday, April 24, 2008

A Big Deep Breath

There! That's better!

So we now have a nice spreadsheet listing out specifically what we need to do to complete our ever growing To Do list. There are tiny things like order bouquet for wedding and big things like buy furniture.

I figure if we can knock out a few things each day, we'll be A-OK!

We've had several offers from our family and friends to help: help paint, help move, help with reception...You guys are the best! Believe me...if something pops up, we'll certainly take you up on your offer!

I told Alec that I think sometimes my determination is a bit underestimated. Oh - there's also my stubbornness. I'm horribly stubborn, but it helps me get things done! Once I have my mind set on something, I do it.

Also, if anyone is up for anything that does not involve houses or weddings, we're up for it! Honestly these last few weeks have been a bit maddening! All work and no play...well... you know!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Calgon Take Us Away!!!

So between selling a house, buying a house and our wedding, there have been a million other things pop up! Well...they were actually there all along, we just didn't realize how many there were until now!

Here's a little run down of what we have going on between now and the end of May (in no particular order):

House closing x 2
Jenny's b-day
Sister Kim's b-day
Alec's mom, Marge's, b-day
Friend Dotti's b-day
Friend Bryan's b-day
Friend James's b-day
Friend Steve's b-day
Friend Steve's wedding
Thomas family reunion (Grandma Violet's family)
Grandma and Grandpa's 65th Anniversary Reception (which my sister and I are planning)
Grandma and Grandpa's 65th anniversary!
Mom and Walter's (Jenny's 'rents) anniversary
Mom and Dad's (Alec's 'rents) anniversary
Alec's Dad, Frank's, retirement
Mother's Day
Bedlam baseball
Move!
Trip to Nantucket
Wedding!
Wedding Reception/ House Warming Party

And somewhere in the mix - have a huge garage sale, pack and buy new furniture!

Geesh! I think that's it...is it? I'm sure I've forgotten something! It it June yet?!?!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

The offer is on the table!

So we decided to place an offer on a nice home near 121st Street in Broken Arrow. But before we could call our Realtor, a new listing popped up!

Ooh…this one looked nice! I quickly emailed my Realtor: Stop the presses! We MUST see this new listing ASAP!

So we saw it. And we LOVE it! Sure there are a few things that need to be updated, but overall…it’s perfect! It’s so Alec and Jenny…so absolutely sweet and charming (ahem…like Alec and Jenny!). There’s the nice back yard begging for a little garden and a cute front porch that must have a little porch swing and then there are the 3 extra bedrooms – perfect for…more furkids!

So we put our offer out there. Our fingers are crossed. It’s on the table. Our toes are crossed. It’s just sitting there. EVERYTHING is crossed!

So now we wait…

Monday, April 14, 2008

A Hunting We Will Go!

Today will be day 3 of our house hunting adventure and we're getting so close to finding our new home!

Alec created an awesome binder with all of the listings so we could make notes after viewing each house. As soon as we would leave a house, I'd jump in the car and quickly jot down the pros and cons and any other remarks we or our realtor made about the property.

We began on Saturday and was completely dismayed when not 1 of the 8 houses we visited was even near our dream home! We almost threw in the towel and took our house off the market! After crying (Jenny), cussing (Jenny) and a whole lot of frustration (Alec and Jenny), we separately sorted through our list and checked for any listings we may have missed previously. We then reconvened and realized we only picked 2 of the same houses out of a list of 100! So we argued our cases for each house and came up with a new list.

Sunday proved much more successful! We actually found several to include in our Top 3! So far we have 2 that we both love and we can actually see ourselves in. One is a 4-bedroom 2-story home with a huge back yard and a gorgeous kitchen. The other is a 3-bedroom 1-story that has been completely remodeled -new carpet & tile, updated kitchen and baths. We may have to flip a coin!

This evening we are checking out 4 houses in Tulsa. We're hoping to find one that will blow our 2 favorites out of the water! I really think we're close to finding our home sweet home!

Friday, April 11, 2008

We have a bite!

FINALLY...after 8 months we finally got an offer on our house! Of course the closing date is less than 1 week before our trip to Nantucket. And of course we haven't even begun looking at houses for ourselves!

But crunch time is my time to shine! I never know what I'm going to wear to a party till about an hour before when I'm driving like a mad woman from store to store. But I always come through and find the perfect thing! So I'm not too worried.

Our goal is to look at about 30 houses this weekend. Yes...30 houses in 2 days! We've sent our wish list to our realtor so she can come up with a game plan. Hopefully we'll find our dream house this weekend. I mean, that's not getting our hopes up or anything, huh?

I told Alec that I bet we'll just know. We'll walk into a house and it will feel like home. We'll see ourselves there and our furbabies and our little family. And we'll call it home sweet home.

Friday, April 4, 2008

A Place to Lay Our Weary Heads

Finally, we get a moment to relax.

I was worried about where we were going to stay. I can honestly say that this has kept me up at night. Wanting the place to be nice enough for a Honeymoon, I dreaded making any sort of decision that would prove otherwise. Not being familiar at all with any of this Island of Nantucket, we were torn between a few quaint Bed and Breakfasts. We wanted to experience the REAL Nantucket. Is there a better way to do this then by staying in an original home of one of the whaling captains?

There were other factors that had to be considered. Even though we wanted this to be quaint and true to the island’s history, we also had to be realistic and truthful with ourselves and our situation……

1) We needed a place that could provide a back up location for our nuptials should the weather prove less than ideal since we are working with a pretty tight timeline.
2) We want to have a great view for the small amount of time we are there and be comfortable.
3) We need a place that can arrange a few things for us, or at least make a few suggestions, prior to our arrival so our day can be perfect.

Anyway, the decision has been made. Let me announce our accommodations without further ado…………

The White Elephant (check it)

We’ll be in a one of the Harbor View rooms. Have access to a Concierge (who is supposed to call us before hand to arrange whatever we need.) Receive “free” coffee and Danishes in the morning and be able to attend a Port and Cheese reception every afternoon. And enjoy luxury linens and crisp cotton bathrobes.

Balconies… Beaches… Boats… Brant Pointe… what more could we ask for?

With a hearty Thank You, feeling ultra-appreciative, and after a quick relaxing break…. Back to planning!

“She's starting to come together Pepper.”

To Register or Not To Register

Is that even a question?!?!

So we were conflicted about registering. I mean…this isn’t our first rodeo. We have lots of stuff but the stuff we have is from our former lives – a little bit of his…a little bit of hers, but not a whole lot of ours!

I happen to own the most recent Etiquette book by one of my favorite experts...Ms. Emily Post. I also have one from the 1940’s but it tells me things like “don’t wear pants” and “hold a teacup like this” so I’ll consult the more modern one for this question!

Ahem…Ms. Post – Is it appropriate to register for gifts when it’s an “I Do Take 2”?

Ms. Post so graciously responds: Registering for gifts is a courtesy to your guests.

Works for me!

So we registered! Alec used the gun: I just pointed and he shot. We were quite the team! Of course the first thing we registered for was a 40” Sony LCD flat screen TV and I think there are a couple cases of beer in there to. Guess who shot without someone pointing?!?

We still need to add to our registry. Hopefully we’ll have a new house soon and we’ll know what else we need (linens, towels, etc!). Or we may just shoot from the hip and pick what we think will work!