Playing Catch Up

We spent our 4th of July out at the Shenandoah River, which is the second year in a row for us! We love being out there we have so much fun on the river with our friends, and the Fireworks our there are to die for!

My Brothers 20th Birthday (June 7th)

So I have been totally horrible about posting things lately, I guess I just lost the blogger bug! Things are going fairly well for us lately, all things considered. We love being homeowners and have already gotten a lot of work done around the house.

Photos of Us

My very good friend Elizabeth is getting ready to launch her own photography business, and we were fortunate enough to be able to be her "clients" for the day! She took us to the beautiful Belmont house overlooking the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg. Enjoy her portraits above!

We're Moving!

It's official!!! Jason and I are moving to Fredericksburg this May. Only a few more weeks, and we will be residing in our quaint little home with our two pups. The house was built in 1984 (same year as us) and it feels just right. It has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, and we have not nearly enough furniture for it! Enjoy the picture above!

We built this!

As all of our friends know, Jason and I had been working for over a year to make a little apartment space in his mothers basement, to tide us over until we were able to buy our own home. It has been such a grueling project, and now we are just down to the finishing touches! Although there is still work to be done, I will post pictures of the living room, which we are now enjoying all the time, instead of finishing up the last little things that need to be done. I am not sure why, but there are specs in the picture (probably dust). There is an endless amount of dust down there, being that it has been a construction zone for so long. Enjoy!

Visiting with the Hitt Family

All of us at church on Sunday
Big Smiles:-)

Heather at the Mini Horse Farm

Me in the Abe hat

Jason in front of the gun display at Gettysburg

Well, Jason and I had such an awesome weekend visiting with Brandon, Heather, and sweet Grace in Pennsylvania. This was the first warm weekend of the season, and I think we took great advantage of that, with a trip to Gettysburg on Saturday. On Sunday we went to The Greencastle Bible Church, to see just what Brandon has been up to over there! The church was just lovely, and he really speaks with passion! Brandon truly makes a wonderful pastor.

Winter Wonderland

Imagine my surprise this morning when I woke up to this beautiful snowstorm that hit Virginia last night. Around here, they always make a big hype about snow storms, so I was definitely expecting there to be just a light dusting this morning, however, I was pleasantly surprised to see about 6 inches of white fluff out there! I wish I could have stayed home today and played with Jason and the puppies in the snow, but alas, work was still awaiting me. I was so lucky that Jason didn't have to work this morning, so he was the chosen one to start shoveling the driveway and warm up the car. I hope that this post finds everyone happy and warm!

Valentine's Day Weekend!

One of the over looks.

Cameron and I

Melissa and Lee

Jason in Action

Last weekend Jason and I went on a ski trip to Massenutten! His sister Melissa and her boyfriend Lee met up with us and we all shared a room about 20 minutes from the mountain. My college best friend Cameron met up with us on Saturday, and it was so good to spend some time with him, since all we ever do anymore is talk on the phone! We had such an awesome time but I can promise you we are all very very sore from spending eight hours on the mountain. I stuck with skiing all day but Jason has his own snowboard and he rocked it out! It was so cool to see how athletic he is, I am very proud of him and his smooth snowboard moves. We all had our tumbles but overall it was a great time! On Sunday we had big plans to spend a second day on the mountain to go tubing, but we all were too exhausted for that! Jason and I decided to make our way home early, and take a more scenic route! It was such a beautiful sunny day with clear skies so we headed through Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah Mountains and stopped at all of the scenic overlooks along the way. It was simply breath taking, and I am so glad we took advantage of our time together to take in some nature! Check out all of the pictures from the weekend above.

Birthday Boy

Jason turned 25 on February 11th! We had a yummy steak and shrimp dinner at home to celebrate his special day! It was quite the occasion so Jason's mother and I made a four tier "eyeball" cake that will be hard to upstage next year!

Visiting Grace

Kisses from Auntie Tara
Big Smiles for Uncle Jason

Scooting around in her walker.

Last month Jason and I headed up to Waynesboro PA to spend some time with Brandon and Heather and sweet little Grace. She is growing up so fast and we were hoping to catch her first "crawl". We didn't get to see it, but the good news is, last week she officially started crawling! We had a great time with Brandon and Heather, who are awesome hosts! Posted above are pictures from the trip.

25 Random Things About Me

So, today there was this survey that Elizabeth sent me on Facebook. I took awhile to think about 25 things about me and I figured maybe some would like to read this, fill it out for themselves and send it back to me!

1. I love coffee. But some might say I like coffee creamer more<3

2. I have a weakness for old men. I feel like every one of them could be my grandfather, and I think they are just adorable.

3. I have been trying to quit cursing for about 3 years now, and just can’t seem to quit. This habit is particularly bad when I am around people who don’t curse. It’s almost like I have to make up for the fact that they don’t do it. Some times I am so backwards.

4. I can never decide what I career path I want to go down. Mostly because all I really want is to be a mother and wife more than anything else in the world. It’s the only vision I get.

5. I wish I was born in a different decade sometimes. Like maybe the 50’s. Things were a lot lovelier then.

6. As excited as I am to have a beautiful wedding, what really motivates me is getting to marry the man that God intended for me. I never want to go a day without Jason by my side.

7. Everything really goes much easier when it goes my way!

8. I am blessed to have two really awesome parents. There is nothing they would not do for me, and I for them.

9. I love “reality” television.

10. I am a super top secret book worm:)

11. I just so happen to like Martha Stewart. So what if she is a little on the dry side, she is entertaining and has great ideas!

12. I truly can’t wait for Jason and me to have a home of our own again.

13. I miss my Grandma Marika so much. I wish could spend just one more day with her. I don’t think I will ever get over her…

14. I am the eldest of three children, and I definitely was built for the role. I love being a big sister!

15. I wish I could have a horse; I would love nothing more than to live on a farm in the country and go riding everyday.

16. I am really prissy, unless I am prepared to get dirty, then I go all out like a little kid!

17. I only watch the Superbowl for the commercials.

18. Whenever I am irritated, embarrassed or anxious I break out into hives all over my
décolleté. It itches and drives me crazy.

19. I am a clean freak. Friends call me the “Bleach Queen”

20. Although I never, ever did well in Math during my time in school, I enjoy the accounting aspect of my job more than anything else. I wish it was a bigger part of my job.

21. I was picked on pretty badly during high school. Sometimes I wish I could go back as the woman I am now, and not let the stupid kids get to me like they did. I now realize it only fed their attitudes towards me.

22. Ever since my car accident (a year and a half ago) I am absolutely terrified to let other people drive me around. I feel like people just don’t take the value of ones life seriously on the road. It’s just not something I take lightly anymore.

23. I wish I could be on “Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style” I just don’t know how to dress this new fuller figure of mine.

24. I think everyone should watch and carefully consider the movie “Pay it Forward”.

25. I have the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Love you!

Thanks Melissa

Group Photo (Above) Awesome Dessert (Below)
Melissa and her boyfriend Lee (Below)

Jason's sister Melissa was so thought full this Christmas! She gave us a gift certificate to our favorite restaurant Bone Fish! It was only natural that we decided Melissa and her boyfriend Lee should join us for a really awesome meal out on the town. The place was packed, but luckily I made some reservations, so we were able to get seated right away. Our meals were so awesome, and the dessert was incredible. Check out the pictures above from the night out!

Childhood Homes

Jason's Childhood Home (Above) & Mine (Below)

Jason and I were up in Woodbridge visiting the massive mall for a little after holiday shopping, when I suddenly had the notion that we should venture a little off the path and go visit our childhood homes. We both moved when we were pretty young from these homes, but I know for me, some of my earliest memories took place in this house. When I close my eyes I can still see my father coming up the stairs sun burnt from his deployment in Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm or My mom changing my baby brothers diapers in his bright yellow nursery. Jason recalls being in the backyard of his home in a little blue pool playing with a frog he had captured earlier that day. I made sure to take some pictures so I could show our parents, just how things looked. Enjoy!

Dinner at Outback, with Friends

Meet the Newlyweds on the block! Elizabeth and Brandt are two of our best friends! They just got married back in September! We finally had a chance to catch up with these two over an awesome blooming onion and steaks at outback! I think being married really agrees with them as you can plainly see by their glowing faces! Jason has been best friends with Brandt since they were about and his family moved right next door to Jason's. Elizabeth and I met during English class on my first day at a new high school when I transferred for 11th grade. Over the years we have all grown so close, and really enjoy getting together, for game nights, good food, and now we even go camping together. Enjoy the pictures for our night out above!

Hello Out There!

Me and the Siblings. (Stephen 19, Emily 13)

Getting Down! Playing Rock Band!

Pool Sharks:)

My mom with Johnna, Jason's mom.

Meet Mayble, Jason's fathers new little puppy.

I know I have been so horrible about posting, but I just have not gotten around to getting my photos uploaded on to the computer! I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas and a very Happy New Year! We had a wonderful time this Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve with Jason's fathers' side of the family. On Christmas Day Jason's mothers' side of the family came over to my parents house and we all had a nice feast together. I sure do miss all of the good food. Enjoy some of the photos from the holidays.