We Did It!!

We signed our lives away on each and every dotted line imaginable!!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing We initialed here, here, and here....oh and here. We became the proud owners of our new home on June 26th, 2009.

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And it felt AMAZING!! And it still does!

We have wanted this for so long, Grayson Michael......for you. And us. And Bentley. But, mostly for you!

We were handed the keys at 4:30p.m. and by 7:00 p.m. that evening, we had pulled out all the old carpet
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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingThe next day, we started the long (very l o n g) process of painting the entire house from top to bottom (including the baseboards). It took forever! I seriously closed my eyes and prayed that it would go by super fast.....it didn't.
I think Jesus decided that He had answered enough of my prayers for the time being.

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We decided to stain the concrete ourselves. I think Mommy and Daddy inhaled a little too much paint fumes, because we didn't realize what a disaster our thinking was leading up to.

Stained concrete is beautiful.....but should always be done by a professional. Right, honey?

Grayson, you were such a big help!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingAlways making sure that we worked in a timely fashion. You oversaw all the painting and priming, the drilling and hammering, and most of all, told us when we could take our lunch and dinner breaks!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingYou kept a tight schedule, but always made room for "snack breaks"
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printingand naptime.
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingYour very first nap in your new room lasted 3 whole hours! Mommy did a little rigging to block out the sun
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printingand you fell fast asleep.

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingMommy and Daddy put in several all-nighters! With that and the help of ALL our family and friends (thank you to each and every one of you!), we moved in bright and early, July 4th, 2009!

We still have a LOT of work to do, but I'm just SO happy and content and know that it will all come together a little bit each day. Today we had our carpet installed and tomorrow we should have our blinds.....little, tiny, baby steps.

Sharon,
Thank you SO very much, from the bottom of our hearts for every single thing you did to make our happiness come true! You are a God-send and we are extremely lucky to have you in our lives. You have stuck by us from the very beginning (almost 4 years ago) and have never left our side. You always said we would find the perfect house.....and we did!

Mimi and Pappi,
Thank you for taking us in for the last few months and making us feel like we were in our own home. Mimi, your cooking and your company was so enjoyed and I feel as though we have strengthened our bond even more. Pappi, thank you for always going "Ahhside" in the 108 degrees, even when you were tired from working all day and from jackhammering our entry hall all night. Thank you for instilling prayer before mealtime in our little man....he now expects it daily and I love that! Your kindness and generosity will be remembered always.

Mom and Dad,
You two have to be the most hard-working people that I've ever known! Thank you for lending us your heart and your credit:) and for helping us make our dreams come true!
You never quit at anything and we really appreciate you! Daddy, thank you for mowing my yard....in the torrential down pour and muggy heat....and for cooking our July 4th lunch on our new grill! We love it!! Momma, thank you for painting my living room 4, or was it 5 times?? To make sure it was absolutely perfect....and for the tedious picture frame molding....and for the what was supposed to be a quick-run-in-to-Lowes-to-order-blinds-and-carpet-and-what-ended-up-being-THREE HOURS LATER!! Hey, we got a discount and some mexican food.....not too shabby!

Michelle and Lindsay,
Thank you for my champagne glasses and bottle of champagne that was greatly appreciated at 3a.m. July 4, after having steam cleaned our concrete....yes, I said concrete, not carpet.

Mel,
Thank you for my first bottle of ketchup and my Montreal Steak Seasonings.....did my Daddy tell you we were gettin' a grill? ;)

Jess,
Thank you for all your touch ups and for just keeping me company.....It feels good to be back on this side of town!

Kat and Clay,
Thank you for watching Grayson. It's very comforting to know that your child is happy and safe and sleeping peacefully, while you are sniffing paint fumes and jackhammering tile. Thank you for putting your Fourth of July plans aside to help us load and unload all of our crap.....our home is always open to you, both....and Little Paige, too. Let us know when you're ready for steaks and watermelon.

Mike and Sharyn,
You two.....how anyone could get so lucky to find two friends...sorry, I'm getting all teary. Ahem.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We are SO happy to have you home and we love you both SO much. This is where you are supposed to be. Right here. 20 minutes away. Mikey, thank you for your priming skills and for your beer drinking skills. Without you here, I would have surely driven Kevin off a short pier by now.
Share-bear,.....okay seriously....what's with the tears??? Me, not you. Keeping it short and dry-eyed: thank you. For all that you've done. Your decorating skills and your shoulder. I love you!



Grayson, as soon as we put you down in your new home, you started running and never stopped. You began exploring the closets, the bathrooms, the pantry......you looked in every nook and cranny.....found every perfect hiding place for sippy cups, cookies, and Daddy's drill. We love you, little man.
I promise we will have our wood floors before your birthday.....no more scraped knees or chalky feet from the concrete.

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This is all for you.