Market Pictures

I asked my real estate agency if I could have some pictures that were used in advertising our house and here they are. Proof that my house occasionally gets spotless clean :) Right now we just made it past the appraisal hurtle and it was nearly a deal breaker so I'm glad it went through. Selling the house has been a lot of ups and downs and I"m grateful that the people buying the house want it so bad because they've had trouble with their loan and there were a few things the had to get figured out in the inspection. But now that the gutters are being replaced they can finally get the FHA approval that they needed and I think that means we're really gonna start getting ready to leave this place. It's been a great home and it makes me sad that Gage isn't going to have this place forever. When ever we're on trips he always eventually asks to go home and when we get here he's so happy. We'll just have to find him a place just as cool to love.

 I really need to kick my packing into high gear but me and the kids keep switching off being sick. It's like we're stuck in a perpetual cycle of cold, flu, fever, cold, flu... and on and on. But I think this next week I'll get rid of them for several days at different times so I can get this house packing started. My original plan was to move on the 23rd of this month but because of Stake Conference (a big church meeting) I wouldn't be able to get a lot of help from the people at church so I'm thinking we'll move March 2nd instead after Cody has take the bar. And really I'm all on my own for this move because Cody is killing himself with bar prep. He leaves by 9 and I don't see him again till about 9 so things have been pretty hectic at home without Dad. But I know it's what's suppose to happen. We really feel like we came to Denver for a reason and now we're leaving Denver for a reason too. Anyway, enjoy the pics and I'll try and keep everyone updated on what's happening as soon and I get my life figured out!

Gage's room

Backyard (pity it's in winter)

Asher's room

Dining room

Front yard

Living room

Living room into Kitchen

Kitchen

Family Room

Front entryway

Master bathroom

Master bedroom

Guest bathroom

Much to be thankful for

 We had a great visit with our Idaho family for Thanksgiving and I think Gage had the best time of all. He loves his cousins so much and there really isn't any feeling better than your kid getting to have a sleep over with cousins. It just does a heart good to know that he'll have those friends all his life. We started the trip at Cody's sister Kaiann's house and she was brave enough to do Thanksgiving dinner with all of us there. It was delicious and was a huge hit of course. Then we moved on to Cody's parents place where we were able to honor his Grandma Brower who had passed away just before Thanksgiving. It was actually really wonderful that it happened so closer to our trip cause I don't think we would have made it up otherwise. The funeral was very beautiful and touching and I think it gave Cody a lot of closure to be there and be a part of it all. We tried to get a family picture organized but true to family reunions some family members got sick so once again no picture of all of us together. I wish we could have stayed longer but it was still a good opportunity to be with family and enjoy each other. I sure am a lucky gal to have such an awesome family in law!

Playing race with Grandma. Gage didn't want to leave his Grandma Browers arms

Asher and Eliana born the same day

So on our way home Cody wanted to pass through the canyon he grew up next to (his parents just moved from his childhood home last year) and we thought we'd check out our engagement tree. For those who don't know Cody proposed to me at this tree. On a camping trip with his family in his early 20's he was feeling lonely and decided to carve his name into a tree, just hoping he could bring his wife there someday to put her name on it. Well that girl was me and after proposing to me he had me carve my name in the tree. Well now almost 5 years later we finally got around to adding Gage and Asher to that same aspen. 

And it wouldn't be a trip to Idaho without a cattle drive down the main road. Gage was so excited to see the hundreds of cattle. When they passed on he kept saying Again Again! Almost we were tempted to turn around and go back through.

The Kitchen Reveal!

 Ok here's the big kitchen reveal we've been working on FOREVER! We feel like this is the last big thing we need to do in our house to really bring it out of the 70's. This project had so many steps that it literally has lasted close to a month, often with the kitchen out of commission. So yeah it's been a long time in coming! Things to look for in the kitchen re-do:
-Painted Cabinets
-Crown molding on Cabinets
-New Flooring (from last years project)
-Hardware
-New light fixtures with new sink light placement
-Outlets relocated and switched out (they were all beige and old and ugly and in the wrong places)
-New white microwave
-New counter top finish
-New sink faucet

Before

(When we were looking at houses before we even bought)

 After! 

(Almost 3 years later)

 This was where all the kitchen stuff went in the meantime

 Cabinets being sanded and painted

 Where we did all the painting in the basement. Sideways but you get the idea

 Doing the counter tops were crazy. We applied a tar like paint on the counter top after a vigorous sanding and spread hundreds of thousands of plastic chips onto the surface to give it the stone effect and then had a top coat over that to seal it in. The little plastic chip pieces got everywhere and I'm convinced they'll be found for years and years to come

 Here's the hardware that I totally love. It pulls a lot of the black and silver elements together in the kitchen

 New updated light fixtures that add a whole lot of light to the space

We wanted to tile a back splash as well but the counter top sags to the side so doing the tile job would be hard without the slant being obvious. We're hoping to straighten the top out but it could crack our enamel job on the counter top so we're still considering the option but it's on the back burner for now. Anyway, that's the kitchen and I think it is such a bring happy place to be now!