March 11

March 11, 2013

Today was one of the first absolutely gorgeous spring days we've had this year. I have a practical tomorrow that I really need to finish studying for, but I just couldn't pass up laying out in the backyard with my favorite pup. Granted I could have taken my flashcards outside and killed two birds with one stone, but seriously whats the fun of that? I'd much rather take pictures with Killer than study.

Killer just loves to be outside. More than anything. She'd sit outside all day and just watch the squirrels and birds and eat sticks if someone went out with her, but she gets a little nervous when we let her out and then close the door behind her. So usually what she does is whine to be let out then whine to be let back in 30 seconds later once she realizes no one has accompanied her out. Today she definitely got her fill of outside time with me.

She played and played with her golf ball and rocks and sticks and dirt, then I called her over and made her participate in this photoshoot. She looks miserable, but I know there wasn't anything she'd rather be doing :)

Courtney

I love this girl

When we first moved to Georgia from Provo the first thing I wanted was a puppy. When we were in school we didn't have time for one, and our landlords didn't allow any pets. But I had always planned on getting one as soon as I possibly could. After tons and tons of research on tons and tons of different dog breeds, colors, hair types, temperaments, personalities, etc. we decided on this cute little puppy Brad found on Craigslist.

She was 5 weeks old and had been taken away from her momma too early. Her mom got really sick after the puppies were born, so they all had to be taken away so they wouldn't get sick too. Killer went to a pit bull who had just had a litter and was still nursing them. She was put in a kennel all day and didn't get any cuddles or loves. She had fleas all over her and her claws had been cut too short. And she had a ball of worms in her tummy. She wasn't even a pound soaking wet, and we immediately fell in love with her. I just had to scoop her up and take her home and show her how much she'd been missing with no one loving her.

We couldn't get enough of her. Her adorable floppy ears, her millions of wrinkles from skin that was too big for her little frame, her bright blue-green eyes, her little cries in the middle of the night when she'd up wake lonely, her sharp little baby teeth, her constant cuddling. She was so tiny we had to buy her a cat collar because even the smallest of the small dog collars slide completely off her.

This little puppy softened my heart to everything in the world. I noticed I was more kind and considerate to everyone. I was more understanding. I cried thinking about all the stray animals outside cold and lonely in the middle of the night. I couldn't stand hearing stories about animal abuse. I loved taking care of this little living thing. She needed me. I fed her and gave her water. I played with her and bought her treats at the grocery store. I was constantly reading about how to train her and what foods she couldn't eat. I took her to get shots and just like any other good momma I winced at her pain and sheer terror of being in a new place on a cold steel table.

But soon she grew up. Between her second and third vet visits, a matter of 3 weeks, she had doubled her weight. She'd gone from 4 pounds to 8 pounds. My little puppy was getting bigger, and stronger, and faster. She loved to run, and she was good at it. She could run circles around the other dogs she met, and she liked it that way. No one could ever catch. She was wild and free.

Sure she got into messes. And sure she drove me crazy sometimes. But I always loved her.

When we knew we were once again moving, and after we had decided we would buy a house the first thing I would always ask Brad about the newest Zillow listing he had found was, "Does it have a fenced in backyard?" I knew Killer would absolutely love to run wild in a backyard. She could chase squirrels and dig and play without having to be a leash. I wanted that her for. Because I want her to be happy.

We found her a backyard that's just perfect. It's got lots of trees, which are perfect homes for squirrels. It's got a garden made of cross ties, which is perfect for jumping on. And it's got lots of good digging spots. It also has a nice shaded porch for when the playing pup gets hot and tired and needs a break.

Brad has had the wonderful luxury of being able to work at home this past week. We've been blessed in that his job has allowed him to go completely virtual so we could move down here to Augusta. This morning while he was on a conference call Killer and I went outside so we wouldn't be in his way. She's gotten to the point where she'll go outside and play by herself, but she really loves it if someone comes out with her. After running around and jumping and chasing and barking she got tired and jumped up in the chair beside me, which is when I snapped this picture:

It was a beautiful morning and it hadn't gotten too hot yet. And just sitting on the porch in the backyard of our new house I got an overwhelming feeling and realization of how blessed we really are - in all aspects of our life. But since this post is about our sweet loving pup, I'll stick to her. For the past (almost) two years my life has been enriched by this little creature. I know that sounds so silly, but she has seriously changed my life. I learned so much about myself and I've developed a greater sense of charity all from being the proud momma of this little dog. Every day she makes me laugh, and I smile just thinking about her.

Killer's birthday is on Sunday, and we'll definitely be celebrating it. She'll be spoiled with treats and presents and a special doggie peanut butter and carrot cake...yum! I'm so thankful for my little 19 pound ball of constant energy. I sure do love her.

Courtney

we're homeowners!

We first went to Augusta on March 17 to look for houses. We looked at probably 12 different homes. And I naively assumed that one of those 12 homes would jump out at us, and we'd fall in love with it right then and there. After we viewed the last house I honestly thought to myself, "That's it?!" We really felt like buying a house was the best thing for us. It's so much cheaper to buy than to rent right now. We're going to be in Augusta for the next four years, and over that period of time we'd save so much money by actually owning the house we lived in. But I couldn't believe that we didn't just LOVE one of the houses we'd seen. 

All along the way I had been taking notes on all the houses. I even had a little heart system going on - 1 heart meant we liked it and 2 hearts meant we really liked it. There were 4 houses that had hearts, so it was pretty easy to cut 3/4 of the homes out of the running. After lots of deliberation and going to back to see 2 of the houses again (thanks to a wonderfully patient real estate agent), we finally made a decision.

That day we made an offer. After some counter offers and lots of negotiating we finally signed a contract. 

Then the wait began.

I guess the closing could have come much later than it did. But the 51 days from time we found the house to the time we actually owned it seemed like an eternity.

I felt like I was constantly on the phone or always responding to emails and always sending tons of papers to work with Brad so he could fax them. And I had to go down to Augusta for home and termite inspections.

But in the end it was all worth it. And the house that we weren't completely crazy about in the beginning we absolutely love now.

During those 51 days of waiting we couldn't stop thinking about the house and how we would soon own it. I was (and still am) constantly brainstorming how I would decorate each room, and with the help of pinterest I think I've got a pretty solid plan.

We drove to Augusta yesterday to sign all the final papers to make the house officially our's. We took some boxes and picture frames that would fit in our car and left them in OUR new house. We spent some time cleaning while I washed and dried a load of laundry. The house came with a washer and dryer, but we have both of those currently that we had to buy for our apartment. So I wanted to make sure that I liked how they worked so we could sell the ones we have now.

We aren't moving for another 2 weeks. Brad can't go virtual with his job until then, I have a final, and we still have to finish up packing.

My family is fantastic, and they're coming down from Tennessee to help us pack up our moving truck and then unload it at our new house.

So I guess what everyone is really wanting is to see the house! Here's a little video Brad made from when we first went to see the house back in March.

Also, if you've never bought a house before, here's what it looks like:

Lots and lots and lots of paperwork. Millions of signatures, thousands of initials.

Anyone is welcome to come visit us in OUR brand new house (so it was actually built in 1999, but it's brand new to us) just as soon as I get it all together in, let's say, June.

Brad and Courtney

out with the old, in with the slightly newer

We finally got rid of our terribly ugly 70s couch which we picked up from the roadside a couple days after we moved into our new little house.

A couple in our ward manages an apartment complex that was getting new couches. This wonderful couple kindly informed the ward members that if we wanted different couches now was the time since the apartment complex was just giving their old ones away. Here are our slightly newer than the 1970s couches:

a much needed trim

We've been bugging our landlords for about 2 months to come cut back brush behind our house. It was so ridiculously overgrown that I usually walked a different way just to avoid having to walk through weeds and thorns. After lots of prodding, phone calls, and letters they finally came to cut it!

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

home sweet home

For those of you who have not seen our quaint little basement I figured I would post some pictures just for you!

Dinner the first night in our new house. At this point we didn't even have a bed, much less a table or chairs.

We got this couch on the side of the road right by our house. Someone had plopped it out there with a huge "FREE" sign on it, so we jumped at the chance. It's hideous, I know. People who stop by try to comfort us by telling us how cute it is, but really...look at the thing...it's not cute.

This table, along with the majority of the other furniture, came from yard sales. It came red like this, but needed a little work, so Brad sanded and repainted it.

Our kitchen

Our closet; think we have enough clothes?

Our bed; my best friend and maid of honor at the wedding, Sara, and her mom maid the quilt at the end of the bed and we love it!