tony's new truck

Well. We have been thinking for a while about getting a truck as our next car to replace Tony's VW Jetta. This was supposed to be down the line. But after realizing the convenience of having a bigger car, and and oil change that turned into the Jetta needing more than $1000 of work done, we decided to start LOOKING.

So Tony started looking, and lo and behold, he finds, literally, the PERFECT truck for sale through Enterprise's Car Sales department- and I mean PERFECT. The right color, transmission, features, size, interior, everything he would have picked out new.

A few months ago when he was looking for fun, he said he couldn't' find anything even close in a reasonable price range that was used. Alas, he wanted to buy new. And yet, here God goes and plops this is our lap.

So after a short test drive, we end up sitting down and purchasing it last night.

These are the pictures from the Enterprise Car Sales website, since we haven't even had a chance to take pictures of our own.

Tony is very happy, and it even fits in the garage with some minor renovations (like taking down the work table).


Alas, we decided that we should take advantage of the great opportunity that God placed in front of us and get ourselves a new truck.

Camping is in the future :]








PS: Enterprise Car Sales is AWESOME! It came with a free car fax, warranty, 190 point inspection, the works, plus they were super nice. I would recommend them for anyone in the market for a previously owned vehicle. MENTION TONY'S NAME IF YOU USE THEM!!!!!!

clearly, these books are the cutting edge for financial advice

nothing better than soy chorizo

we live in such a beautiful city

it's on my permanent christmas list

holden being a goof with athena

such a sweet phone call

After I sent my letter in, the director of the chorale personally called me.

Don is 75, and remembers everyone of his 130+ chorale member's names and faces, and uses them on a regular basis when talking to you.

He was so sweet when he called, saying he would personally miss me a lot and how good it was of me to send a letter, and to come back to the chorale when I could.

I almost cried it was so nice!

I will always remember him and my time in the chorale, and hope I can fit it into my schedule better in the future.

the FRG

Family Readiness Group Leader.

4 little words have grown to consume much of my time, energy, and attention.

But, someone has to do it and truly, it needs to be done, and I am glad to do it. Somewhere deep inside I am glad.

i'm out

I sent a letter to the chorale saying I wouldn't be participating next season. what a relief!

no more chorale

to be, or not to be?

should I give up chorale for the season or should I figure it all out?

I am leaning towards OPT OUT and instead tune up the piano, make myself sit down and play it, and have more jam sessions with mom and austina.

I think that going to church and taking care of myself, my family, and our relationship with God is winning out right now over being in the chorale. I could have most weekends off, enjoy my husband and dog, and hopefully get outside and enjoy myself more!!!!!, and go to church EVERY WEEK.

thoughts? comments? opinions?

hm.

oh

sorry i forgot what a cute blog i have!

what is your passion?

dear austina
thanks for having such a cute blog where I can steal the link to your free blog background site and make my blog almost as cute.

enjoy the new cuteness

cruisin'

On May 15th, I enjoyed a little social time with my buddy Erin and Jeremy at Jer's VW shop and we enjoyed a cruise. I was busy taking pictures for Jeremy during the cruise but got some shots on my phone when we stopped briefly at the GOG visitor center before heading back to the shop.

It was so much fun to cruise in tybalt (erin's VW rabbit) and see how the community reacted to all the vintage, restored VWs.

On

view from the top

a couple weeks back, Tony and Brad took me along to go "hiking." I didn't know until we were almost in the car that we were doing the incline. genius. do the incline with 2 fit guys and a fit dog.

So I started out feeling a little down on myself even though the boys were very positive and encouraging. I had planned to go half way and then back down on bar trial, and let the boys go all the way up; half for time reasons, half for being out of shape and wanting to take it easy.

Within the first 20 steps, tony and brad were far ahead of me (I told them to go ahead I knew I would feel back if I held them back) and I just tried to focus on slow and steady, water, and breathing.

I called Tony to see where he was at and to see if he saw the half way point, and he pointed it out (which doesn't really help when you are looking almost straight up a mountain).

So, I kept treking on. and on. and on. I kept looking for the magical half way point, and couldn't believe I hadn't found it yet. but then again, I wasn' t exactly moving right along so I thought, must be just a little further.

This continued on until... my goodness- I was at the top. the VERY top. I had never been here before! I was so shocked I made it that I took a picture of the view, and a picture of me resting while at the top.

I didn't enjoy for long, because by this time we were running VERY late, so I headed down bar trail.

Tony called half way down to check on where I was and he was so excited for me! He is so good to me :] It was so nice for him to be as excited for me as I was for myself.

I finally got to the parking lot and Tony greeted with with a big congratulatory hug and kiss. It felt so good!

Then I took of my shoes in the car and that felt awesome.

I came through with some wicked trail rash on my side from wiping out (do not hike down bar trail and talk on your phone- stop hiking first), and a blister on my right foot, but it felt good.

I hope I can keep up the motivation to try and drop the many pounds I have gained since the holiday season.

So here are the pictures for you to enjoy.

I hope to get back on that incline sometime soon and get back to the top!

yes, i do remember i have a blog

right then.

long time no blog.

we have been very busy moving in to the house and getting settled. we are officially completely unpacked, but are still missing our permanent fridge and have a few touch up paint jobs, and of course cleaning and organizing.

we are putting a door in our kitchen's bay window to walk out to the porch, which is being donated by my dad. should be a nice addition when it's finished!

work is going well, but keeps us both busy. things are slowing down at the hospital as we get out of the winter time. it's a little sad, but lately being at work has been my down time!

tony got promoted to 1LT!!!!!!!! and he will be testing for his promotion to management assistant at the end of this month, and then hopefully getting an assistant manager job at an enterprise branch shortly after.

may is busy (as i think it is for everyone) with graduations and the ending of the school year for everyone else in the family. lots of events this may!

Courtney is graduating from the USAFA and we are so proud! it will be fun to watch the thunderbird show in the stadium instead of looking on from the highway.

Also, Austina is having a graduation ceremony for her bachelors, though she is still actively in school finishing her masters.

And of course, all the other friends we have graduating from either high school or college.

The big event for me this month is my first FRG event as FRG leader for tony's ARNG unit. CRAZY! it is coming up this Sunday. I am excited for it to happen, and for it to be over!!!!!
I hope it will be a success and lots of family members turn out.

We hope things will calm down a little next month, but Tony will be going to AT for 2 weeks, and the FRG will likely have an event at the end of that. We want to have a house warming party in June too, as we get things more polished at the house.

I am trying to get better about taking pictures, and hope to get some nice pictures at the FRG event and at all the graduation festivities to post :]

I am also trying to get back on the saddle with a good healthy diet and activity level and drop the weight I gained from all the stress in the last 2 months!

We are also really trying to get back to the church after allowing our work schedules to pull us away. We are needing to connect back with God. Pray for us!

Well, back to life. But I will try to share more of it on here!

home in progress

upstairs hall/bedroom while the carpet is being installed

upstairs bedroom

2nd upstairs bedroom/guest bedroom

master bedroom with accent wall

master bedroom looking to bathroom and closet to the right

office

stairs down to basement

looking down into basement

basement

family room

living room/front room

newly refinished hardwood floors!

where the fridge will be after cabinent was demolished

new washer and dryer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

moving sucks! but now we have a new piano

there is something to be said about random cell phone pictures

SOLD!

2215 Parliament Drive

Thanks to Kelly Price with Remax Advantage!!!!!!!!!