This is a bit of a delayed posting, and I know I need to post the travel log from our recent trips, but this is what you get for now.... 

So we're always thinking of ways to improve our home.  Yes it's a new build so it's not really in need of repairs or upgrades so much, but it was pretty barren when I moved in and there are always simple touches you can make that add a lot to a home.  Plus whenever Dan is working from home, he gets stir crazy and wanders every room in the house and outside around the house, trying to think of projects we could work on.

Project #1-  we installed dark walnut laminate (Pergo-like) flooring in our entire kitchen area, that project was very hard and time consuming, but it looks SO much better than the linoleum.  No before and after pictures, but trust me, it looks great.  That was pretty much completed before we were married.

Project #2 - painting over the school bus yellow walls Dan had in the living room and master bathroom.  No explanation needed.  I don't really like the color we have in our living room, but after 2 trials, this will have to stick for now.

Project #3 - front and back yards.  When Dan moved in here after the house was built, he planted citrus trees, three of them, one orange, one grapefruit, one lemon.  I don't think they've grown more than 6 inches in the last 3-4 years since they were planted.  But we haven't given up hope and after Dan installed a sprinkler system and planted grass, we figured we should highlight the trees a little, give them some motivation to do some growing!

Before:  (ignore the center one...we started that one early)

After:  (the grass is doing better now than this shows)

And last but not least (for the yard anyway.)  We planted a couple more oleander bushes (white and crimson) in the empty space of our front yard.  This picture was taken shortly after the planting.  They are the two small ones just behind the tree.  They are still alive, we think, they aren't totally blooming even now, but we're hopeful.  The orange flowered bushes and the white flowering bush by the driveway are really growing like crazy right now though, so at least we're doing something right.  Oh we also added that brick curve in front of the tree.  We think it looks nice and a little more groomed than before.

Project #4 - vinyl tiling in the downstairs 1/2 bath.  Again, to hid the tired looking standard linoleum.  Dan still need to work with the caulking some more, but here are a couple pictures of the mostly finished product.

We are pretty proud of all our work so far!  Hopefully it will help when it comes time to sell.....if that day ever comes....

So I returned from Girls Camp at Camp LoMia in Pine, AZ on Friday.  It was a blast!  I had sooo much fun with the other leaders I was with and every one of the girls was just awesome!  Camp is such a high for everyone involved, however I feel like I may have gained more from it than they did.  But I feel that about being a YW leader too.  We arrived at Camp LoMia on Tuesday morning and left Friday morning.  I only got two nights of decent sleep this entire week – Wednesday and last night.  Everyday, was jammed full of activities so the days went by pretty quickly after my feet got used to all!  I was the 3rd year leader, all of whom are my Mia Maids (except for two who were 4th years), so it was fun getting to know them more!  The highlights of camp were the skits (mostly the Stake one- Pres. Thornack is hilarious!) and the Boot Camp games where a handful of us ate a live cricket (soooo funny!  No, I wasn’t brave enough for that one…well someone had to take the pictures!) and of course, the Bishop’s night with testimony meeting.  I posted a few pictures below…I’m not in any of them though since I was the photographer.

Dan had gotten into town Thursday night so he was able to pick me up Friday afternoon and the first thing I did was get cleaned up and laid down for about a 2 hour nap, though it would have been longer if Dan didn’t keep trying to wake me up.  We got a call from someone in our ward inviting us to “Date Night” at the church.  She had reserved the cultural hall for volleyball and people were bringing snacks and board games too.  We decided to go because we thought it was so cool that they thought of us!  Granted we were the youngest couple there, but it was a lot of fun and we’re glad we went!  Today we’ve been finishing up some projects, doing loads and loads of laundry, and getting things together to pack for our trip!  We’re getting excited!  Two more days until take off!   written by- Kristen

They were 30 min. late in getting lunch served on the very first day!  The girls thought they might die!!

On the 3rd year hike.  It was actually more like a stroll...the 3rd years didn't have a mileage requirement so we got back after only 1 hour and got to the showers first and had plenty of time for a nap!

Yummy crickets!  Mmm Mmmm!

Some scenic views.

Pretty...

One of my goals during my hiatus has been to learn how to sew.  My first project was an apron.  And my second project was a pair of pajama pants.  Those ended up being waaaay too big so I had to start over on those with a new pattern.  So I decided to use the circus tent ones as patches in a baby quilt.  What I thought would be a simple cut and sew project, turned into a lengthy lesson on quilt making which took about 2-3 months from brainstorm to completion.  And here is the result!  Let's just hope we have a girl first!

Flights are booked!  Hotels are reserved!  Here’s how it all developed….Our original intent was to have a one week vacation.  We conveniently timed it to immediately follow my return from a sweaty, grueling week at Girls Camp and to fall on the last week of an audit Dan was on so that we were then together for 2 weeks in all.  (one week vacation + Dan’s “work from home” week that was to follow = 2 weeks of together time!)  We were shooting for something exotic and beach-oriented (well, mostly I was) and a return trip to Hawaii was high on the list, however Reward travel isn’t so much a reward as it is a frustrating, hair pulling, complicated game.  Our deliberating was quickly put to rest when Dan was asked to lead an audit in Washington, D.C. instead of working from home the week after our vacation.  This news was somewhat bitter sweet.  We’d be missing out on a week from home together, and Dan wouldn’t have to work, but at the same time, it made up our minds about where to travel and we’d get to see more of the country together.  So the decision was made to travel back east for our vacation week and follow it up with Washington D.C.! 

So our plan right now is to fly into Norfolk, VA and see what Virginia Beach (hotel) and the coast along there is all about.  Next we’ll drive back up to NC and stay in Kitty Hawk (hotel)for a couple days and explore all of the Cape Hatteras area.  Finally we’ll head up to spend the weekend in D.C. (hotel) so that we can do the daytime things together there.  Since Dan will be working the rest of the week we’ll only have the nights to explore together.  We’d also like to try to do a session or at least visit the temple there.  I will be left to explore on my own during the day and I also hope to spend time with a friend who lives nearby who promised to show me all kinds of national treasures, like the Pottery Barn outlet! 

We’re looking forward to this trip and exploring more areas of our beautiful country!  Stay tuned for the travel log and photos!   written by- Kristen

Since Dan mentioned our anniversary in the last entry, I thought I should share the gift I gave Dan with all of you because we both think it’s really cool!  Since it was the “paper” anniversary I decided to have a local, up and coming artiste “re-interpret” one of our wedding photos that I really liked.  It turned out really great and I had him print an 8x10 so we could have it matted and framed.  Here’s a link to the online version.  Oh, by the way, the artist is my brother Scott! J  (his signature is the “string” dangling from my dress sleeve) 

 CLICK HERE TO TAKE A LOOK!  Right click on the picture to zoom in as desired. 

Click here to see the original photo.  (Picture 53 of 88 found in our Wedding Photo Album.  Link on Home Page.)

Kristen and I celebrated our one year anniversary on May 27, 2007.  In Kristen’s words, this first year has “felt like an eternity.”  Not sure how I should take that, but nevertheless we are both happy to be together and looking forward to new challenges and new experiences. 

Currently we are trying to plan for a week of vacation in July (any ideas???).  Using frequent flyer miles to travel on US Airways is a joke.  About the only option we have found availability on is the Phoenix-Saudi Arabia flight in June 2008.  We’re hoping to get to go to Kauai or Maui, or one of the beaches on the East Coast (Cape Hatteras in N.C. or Virginia Beach).  If that doesn't fall through we might end up going to Durango, CO because Kristen has never been there, and also it is a great place to be in the summer.

Other than that we are getting depressed about the onslaught of summer in Phoenix.  Thankfully Jay and Katina built a pool this past year so we plan on spending all of our spare time over there. That’s about it for now.  Adios!  written by- Dan

Kristen is taking a nap right now and won't wake up.....I'll keep you posted on what happens next.