We're homeowners again!

Last August {2011} Nick and I decided to make the move to Houston, Texas.  And on October 1st we were already official Texans.  Because the move happened so quickly we moved first into Nick's parents' house.  Well, his parents own a trailer park in southern Texas where old fogies like to spend their Winters, so they were spending their Winter down there.  We decided then to stay in their house for the Winter.  That was AWESOME so we could spend some time looking for a house and saving our moneys!

By the time April came, Nick's parents were back living in their home in Houston and Nick and I had still yet to find a house we liked.  And let me tell ya, we were taking this whole house buying thing seriously.  We wanted to find a house, move into it, and never move again...or at least not again for a very long time.  The problem was compromising on the many things that we both wanted in our future home.

Anyway, so Nick and I moved into one of his parents' rental homes the second week of April.  Two weeks later, Nick and I found a potential home for us. 

Pros

• Location: It's in an area with tons of trees, has a country feel, but is only a couple miles from the freeway and shopping
• 1/2 acre lot
• No deed restrictions and no HOA, meaning we can do WHATEVER we want with the land
• Big-ish kitchen
• Inexpensive

Cons

• Built in 1980
• Ugly flooring in entire house, each room has a different type of flooring than the room before
• Old and outdated kitchen cabinets
• House wreaks of smoke 'cause they were smokers
• Run-down, detached garage

In the end, we bought it.  But it did eventually get it.  Nick had to do A LOT of convincing on his part to get me to agree to it.  Eventually I agreed because since the house was so inexpensive we would be able to spend the money needed to renovate the entire house and make it OURS!

Despite the fact that there is a whole lot of work to be done on the house, I'm actually very excited about it all.  We are finally homeowners again!  Nick is particularly excited to begin all his new projects on the house.  I'm so grateful to have a husband who loves to do all the hard work!

The grass is greener on the other side...literally!

Husband and I have now been in Texas for a grand total of 119 days {4-ish months}
It's still crazy to me that we made this move...and that we did it so quickly.

And so far I'm still very happy with our decision to move here!

That doesn't mean though that I don't miss Arizona.  I'm really missing...

{My family...especially these munchkins!}

That face is seriously so cute!!!!

{Arizona Roads/Freeways}

Seriously people, the roads in Houston STINK!!!!  A lot of them are old with cracks.  They are almost ALWAYS congested with traffic.  None of them actually go North/South or East/West.  Many of them are beautiful with huge trees lining the medians, but they also have stop signs every block.  And one of the main freeways to go downtown is tolled so you have to take surface streets to avoid paying the toll.  Stupid.

{In-N-Out}

Especially this one!

However, there are some In-N-Out's in Dallas.  Husband and I actually took a daycation to Dallas JUST so that we could go to In-N-Out.  We had it 3 times while were were there...all in one day.  Actually when we first got there {just before 10 am, 'cause we left Houston at 6 am} the regional manager was there and heard our story, so that first meal was free!  Holla!

And I miss going to the grocery store, or going out to eat, or even just driving down the street and seeing people that I know.  It's kinda weird for me to live somewhere where I really don't know many people.

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BUT...

There are a lot of things that I love about Houston, TX!

{People here say "Yes, ma'am!"} 
or "Thank you, ma'am!" or "Can I help you with that, ma'am?" Which makes me feel kinda old, but I also kinda love it.  It's that southern charm that really makes me love the people here.

{These bumper stickers...}
And yes.  I do actually see these bumper stickers on cars around here.

And my favorite...

{Green grass, trees, and something called RAIN}
Which I've only ever heard about until I moved here.

And now that I'm teaching more dance it's beginning to feel more like HOME.

Oh, and husband's work schedule is MUCH better now!
{No more working on Sundays!!!!!}

PS...Mason comes home from his mission on March 9th.  Husband and I are going to AZ then to see him!  I'm seriously so excited!!!

2012...You've got big shoes to fill!

I don't think there is any way that 2012 could possibly top 2011.

2011 was by far the best year of my life.  Here's why...

Met Nick

(technically that was in 2010, but it was at the end or 2010 so it counts!)

Dated Nick
Went to Vegas with Nick and met his parents

Got engaged to Nick

Married Nick in Mesa, AZ Temple

Went to Rocky Point for Honeymoon with Nick

Gained a whole new family
Ate at In-N-Out a lot

Sold a house

Moved to Texas

Bought our year-supply

Put together our 72-hour kits

Learned to bake good bread

Taught lots of dance to awesome students

Went to Disneyland

Became more informed and opinionated about politics and local, national, and world issues

And while I hesitate to write down any New Year's Resolutions, here are the things that husband and I have already been, and hope to continue, working on...

Decide on a home to buy

(city or country or somewhere in-between)

Become more self-reliant

Continue to add to our year supply

Garden

Stay in shape/get in better shape

(running together is actually one of our faves)

Pray often

Cook new things

Stay informed

Balance Balance Balance
Enjoy life
and
Love each other more and more each day!
(that one shouldn't be hard to do)

{WELCOME 2012!}

Hey y'all!

We're moving to Texas.

HOUSTON, Texas.

When husband and I were engaged I remember asking him, "Do you ever want to move back to Houston?"

{His whole immediate family lives there and he lived there for 3 years.}

His response, "Maybe.  In the future if things work out that way.  But I'm happy to be here in AZ!"

That was approximately 5 months ago and already we have put our house up for sale and have made the plans to move!

So why are we moving to Houston?

Well...for lots of reasons. 

But mainly for husband's job.

Poor guy is scared to death that my family hates him and think he's "taking me away" from them.

But I assure all y'all...it was mainly MY decision to move.

Obviously, we wouldn't be going if it wasn't for his job.

But I had ultimate VETO power.

It is all kinds of crazy though!

The weekend we are planning on moving out there will be exactly a year from when he first asked me out.

Weird.

And so therefore, we will be moving there a little less than a year from when we first met.

Weird.

Crazy how much can change in just a year.

A year ago from now I had no idea that I would be moving to Texas.

And with a husband!

Anyway, we spent 2 weeks in Houston this summer so I could get to know his family and get to know the area, "just in case" we ever thought of moving there :)  

Well, now we actually are.

And we're super excited for this adventure!

Now I just gotta go find me some sassy boots :)

I'm thinking these will do!

Random Texas Facts:

• One must acknowledge a supreme being before being able to hold public office.
• Texas is the only state to enter the United States by treaty instead of territorial annexation.
• It is illegal to sell one's eye.
• The state was an independent nation from 1836 to 1845.
• It is illegal to take more than three sips of beer at a time while standing.
• It is illegal for one to shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
• It is illegal to milk another person's cow.
• The first word spoken on the moon was Houston.
• Texas possesses 3 of the top 10 most populous cities in the US.  Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio.
• Beer may not be purchased after midnight on a Sunday, but it may be purchased on a Monday.
• Texans fought a battle after the end of the Civil War because they hadn't heard the war was over.
• Ima Hogg was the real name of a Texas governor's daughter. {Hahahahahaha!!!}