Babymoon Part One: Hawaii!

So it seemed reasonable to spend a last vacation together, before Ellie arrives, in a warm tropical place!  Fortunately I had a conference in Hawaii in October.  

 We can't wait to bring Ellie back to play in the sand and surf!

 This is the trip that solidified Ellie's name!

 A growing Ellie at 26 weeks!

Let the decorating begin!

So Ellie's arrival is less than 2 months away....wow!  We've started to transform the "yellow future baby's room" into Ellie's Jungle Book Room!  A few pictures below to track our progress...

Housewarming 2011..."Stock the Bar"

Once the tree and tinsel came down and the gingerbread house disappeared (AKA slowly nibbled down to its foundation) it was party time.  My cousin threw a "Stock the Bar" housewarming party for us...with a theme like this, it was a late night!

 

First Christmas on Vacuna - 2010

So nothing says Christmas more than a tree with some disco lights?!?  We didn't realize we had chosen the dance party version of Christmas...that was bright enough to light up the street!

And what adds to the holiday spirit...a giant homemade gingerbread house!  I'd love to say that the house was for children or some other good cause, but as it turns out I am just an adult who really hearts gingerbread houses!

 Yes it was built on plywood while enjoying old episodes of the office.

 Not sure if 2011 will bring such an ambitious holiday spirit with the ever growing belly in the way!

 And Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the family party!

First Year Transformation

A whirlwind of projects began the first few weeks and months we were home.  Greg became quite the do-it-yourselfer during the fall.  His painting skills were definitely put to good use!


We don't want to make assumptions, but we are going to assume that the owners had leftover "cool cucumber mint" from the outside of the house and continued the color palette inside...on the walls, as in 95% of the walls. 

And then the deconstruction became just plain destruction! A man and his sledgehammer...became a man and a pile of bricks!  Bricks for a future endeavor...outdoor fireplace anyone?

The second to go were the floors!!  Don't get us wrong, we were thrilled that we had floors and that they were in good working condition.  Functional laminate is nice, but carpet and hardwoods seemed like a cozier choice.  One surprise we did find, they covered the original hardwoods with laminate?!  Didn't matter though, destruction continued...

Things started to come together (phew!)  

 Some paint on the walls, a new fireplace, and new cozy floors!  We quickly learned it was time for a break from the "light cosmetic" changes.  Time to get rid of the plastic tubs and bins and get some real furniture!

But amongst the makeshift furniture, unfinished changes, and settling in...Thanksgiving happened!  Just enough seating for all and even some room for dancing!  Now about those outdated windows...

 

Better Late Than Never?

So this might be a little late.  We bought a house in SW Portland and moved back to the "Lower 48" in the fall of 2010.  It's pretty 1987-ish, but we're working on that.  And whose to say that a pink and teal bathroom circa Miami Vice won't be back in style next year?  And yes that is a cool cucumber green if you were wondering.