Belated Anniversary

Remember our Anniversary? Well within the week we got a chance to celebrate our 2nd anniversary! It wasn't the day I imagined because we decided to celebrate our anniversary on a whim. Ben was scheduled to work but at the last minute they had a low amount of kids so he didn't have to. I was suppose to spend the day in Lansing for some one on one training time in the Department of Education but that got cancelled so we decided to celebrate! I planned on pulling out some of the crafts I made last year but no time! Like our honeymoon and our 1st anniversary - Ben planned the day! (Prepare yourself for a long post!)


We started at...

The hospital for Ben to meet the man I spent our anniversary waiting for! 

Okay this is super cute.. I love their little grins!

We then went to John Ball Zoo. We haven't been there in years and Ben hadn't been back since his last day of work. Ben worked there for three summers and built quite a few things that you can see as you wander around in the zoo. 

A lot had changed but many of our favorite animals could still be seen!

Ben is almost as tall as a Kangaroo! 

Me.. not so much... 

I loved these little guys! I just wanted to jump in and cuddle with them. 

We hung out with the birds - and didn't get pooped on!

We took a cute picture under here many years ago...
2007

(pre-beard days)

2012

Lazy bear

Baboon, he wasn't into entertaining that day... 

Reminded me of Puss In Boots - sweet innocent face!

This little guy had ADHD! He was HILARIOUS to watch!

Ben saved the best for last!! PENGUINS!

Our day continued with dinner at The Winchester. 

I had the Chicken Pesto - grilled hormone free chicken breast with sun dried tomato pesto and sliced portabella mushroom on a Nantucket Bakery Vienna roll with a Tiramisu Martini! 


Ben had a Tuna Dish with sesame seed encrusted tuna over wasabi and sushi rice with a local beer!


Both dishes were delicious. 


It was clear during dinner that we didn't want the night to be over quite yet. We debated a few different options.








In the end we decided that we really didn't want to spend the extra money at Buffalo Wild Wings (we talked about getting some wings to share and dessert) so the option we looked into was going to see a movie. We decided nothing sounded appealing. In the end we decided to run to a RedBox and look at movies there. We had never done that before. We picked out a movie and enjoyed the comfort of our own home.


We rented..



We Bought A Zoo!


WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE! LOVED IT! This movie was the perfect end to our 2nd Anniversary!

This year we moved into our apartment, Ben and I both got new jobs, we furnished a large portion of our apartment, made incredible progress on our banking goals, bought a family ready vehicle, watched all the LOTR and Star Wars movies, fed ourselves throughout the winter with food we grew, and most importantly continued to learn about one another and grow in our relationship. Here's to Year 3!

Small Group Adventures

Ben and I started attending his family's church when we moved here 13 months ago. Sometime later we were approached by Ben's mom about the possibility of joining a small group bible study. We spoke with a Pastor who suggested we join a group of young people who were led by an energetic couple. We were intrigued and said yes. We met up with two young couples, a single woman and our fearless leaders. We have studied a few different topics, explored a book, and lost one of our couples to a new job but are now taking some time to relax and get to know one another. So far we've gone on two adventures together: BrewFest 2012 and an outdoor concert! 

BrewFest 2012

Kurt and John working on the brew - similar to Two Hearted. 

The final stage for the day. Transferring the beer into this glass container where it will ferment and age. 

Kurt's daughter studied up as her dad made his beer. 

Outdoor Concert

Instead of meeting for our regular small group meeting we attended an outdoor concert and had a picnic! Nothing says summer like big blankets, watermelon, beer/wine and babies!

Such a cutie pie! She was hilarious eating the watermelon and even feed it to me!

Enjoying the beautiful weather and beautiful company!

Kurt and his daughter.

Bonding with Linda.

She was such a good girl!

We've really been enjoying our time with our small group and have enjoyed these extra little adventures together!

OH: Week 21

Organize Your Home: Week Twenty-One

Organize Dining Room 

Our Dining Room is quite bare. In the past it has become a dumping ground for my work but I've really been trying to keep the table cleared off. Since Ben made our new dining room table I have been MUCH better with keeping our dining room clean. So this challenge was very easy because there really isn't much in our dining room so there isn't anything to organize. But here is a glimpse into our dining room and I'll still record the steps suggested for this weeks' challenge here. 


1. Consider How You Want To Use Your Dining Room Space
2. Declutter Your Dining Room 
3. Make A Home For The Stuff You're Keeping With Storage Solutions


Our Dining Room is a work in progress. Here is a glimpse at the first pictures I posted of our Dining Room. 

Before

Our dining table was so small and looks so silly in this large room.

We did have artwork on the wall and at this point Ben had made our pallet mirror. 

Again this picture shows how funny the proportions are.

After

Big table for a big room!

The room works so much better now with a bigger table. We also have switched around the artwork. Our art never stays in one place for too long 

Two new chairs. We are making plans for seating on the other two sides of the table. We are thinking a bench and two low-backed chairs. 

Table Runner from World Market. 

Hosta leaves from our yard. In a Mason Jar of course! I love the look of Mason Jars as a vase! 

Summer Starter Recap

My summer started a few weeks ago and we've been quite busy enjoying all that summer has to offer. Staying up late, sleeping in, quiet evenings on our porch, spending extra time with our friends and family, trips to the ice cream shoppe, baseball games, visiting parks and the zoo, outdoor concerts and relaxing! I did get behind in posting about our summer fun so here are a few of the events that occurred as our summer started! 

Baby Shower

My co-worker Ariane is expecting baby Keghan to arrive in the middle of July. 

We celebrated with a baby shower at her home. Baby K received an art piece, two onesies and two lollipop suckers (made from bath towels and a spoon). 

Her older sons always talk say, "I'm Awesome!" Baby K needed to join his brothers in declaring his awesomeness! 

Errands with Addie

Addison came with me to run errands one day. She was a good helper and enjoyed hanging out the library. The puzzles were her favorite part. 

Checking out the art outside the library. 

Our adventures brought us to our home and we played with chalk outside waiting for Uncle Ben to get home. 

DIY Adventures

Ben continued is Dining Room DIY spree by making a dining room table. 

Meeting Kelle Hampton

Author of the book, Bloom. 

The book reading and signing happened at Wiegand's Nursery in Macomb, MI. 

Kelle's dad introducing her. 

Reading an excerpt from her book.

From the chapter discussing a fundraising walk they attended as a group named, Nella's Rockstar. 

We had to wait in line for a long time to see Kelle but she made sure to talk with everyone for a few minutes, hand out hugs and take pictures. Well worth the wait! She was so nice! 

We actually go to meet Kelle's husband, Brett, and girls Lainey and Nella (who the book Bloom is about). 

OH: Week Twenty

Organize Your Home: Week 20

Organizing Living Room

The living room challenge came at a good time. We bought new furniture for our living room so it was a good time to put together the new furniture, clean every nook and cranny and rearrange our room. Honestly, I didn't do much organizing. The living room was the first room that I organized upon moving in last July and our system has worked out great. If you are following along (or just curious) here are the steps of this week's challenge.


Read more about the challenge here.
1. Think of What You Use the Living Room For. We gather with friends and family, play video games, entertain little ones, watch movies, read books and magazines and relax.
2. Declutter The Room, Rearrange Furniture as Needed and Move Things Out That Don't Belong.
3. Set Up Stations or Center That Reflect the Room's Functions
4. Make Sure You've Got Adequate Family Room Storage Solutions
5. Create A Daily Pickup Routine For The Room

Before

Mismatched colors/fabrics

Boring window sill. It was a main focal point int the room yet nothing exciting was happening here. 

Too much blank space.

After

New chair and footstool are next to the window. Perfect for reading!

New layout! We love how the paintings Ben got for his birthday bring out the red in our new chair. 

The photos above the couch might go and a big piece of artwork above the couch.

We love our new couch!!!!

We choose a layout that didn't put the TV in the center of the room. We wanted the focus to be on the room itself. 

Before this space was very bare with our TV stand. Our TV stand was too short and looked funny in this tall space. With a taller bookshelf and a piece of art this area fits well in this space. 

Our blanket/my craft basket looks so out of place. I hid it in the corner until I can spray paint it. Maybe red?