2+2=4

On Friday, Kyle and I drove back home to pick up our doggies and bring them back to our house to live with us!  This has been discussed ever since we moved to Wichita but we were waiting for the right time to add to our newlywed lifestyle.  The time finally came and our household of two has become a household of four!  We were so excited up until Friday actually got here.  It was then that we became pretty nervous about the whole ordeal.  What if they don't get along like we think they will?  What if we are taking Legit back to his old personality by taking him away from where he's comfortable?  What if we can't keep up with Caya's endless supply of Husky hair?  What if? What if? What if?!

But we still went through with it.  They had never met until they were both in the car and even then, it wasn't a good opportunity to meet each other.  They both tend to get carsick and with the hour drive, they were definitely more fidgety than happy to see each other.  I was disappointed that when we all got into the house, there was no rear-sniffing or anything to meet each other.  They didn't really seem to acknowledge each other until we were walking around on leashes out in our backyard.  Once we got inside, Caya tried to play with Legit but he snapped at her and since then, I have been on edge when they're next to each other.  They seem to have no problem following Kyle and me around the house together, but if she's right up in his face, he's going to make it known he doesn't want her there.  (Legit is a bit of special case for those of you who don't know about him already...)

My sense of contentment with the situation didn't really start until last night when I witnessed this:

They both finally ate their food today and we have gotten a pretty good "potty schedule" down so that this week while Kyle and I are at work and school, we can know that they should be able to hold it while they are at home alone.  (Still a little bit worried though...) The dogs aren't getting along as well as we would like but I do honestly believe it will come with time!  Kyle's and my void has temporarily been filled.

Now if we can just find time to cuddle again without our furry friends in between us... :-)

2011..

My 2011 consisted of 11 major things:

1) recovering from the most painful surgery I've ever had...just a tonsillectomy, but still! (I'll spare you the picture, it's not pretty...)

2) my first "big girl job" interviews

3) kicking into high gear with wedding plans (first time going to a bridal fair, first wedding shower, first time registering for gifts, etc..)

4) accepting my first teaching position!

5) experienced the happiest day of my life by stealing Kyle's last name!  May 21, 2011! 

ps-within a few months, all of my bridesmaids were blissfully married as well!

nothin like a family picture...lol

6) a honeymoon and my first cruise!

the Disney Dream!

7) moving into our first place together in Wichita

I actually took this as we were moving out of it because I forgot to take any when we moved in!

8) my 24th birthday! (and i forgot to take any pictures?! what?! haha)

9) the beginning of my first year of teaching

10) moving into our first house (those pics were just posted not long ago so I won't repeat them!)

11) our first holidays as a married couple (those were also posted a post or two ago..)

I know that there were more things that happened but those events stand out among the rest.  I could not have asked for a better year.  Getting married was something I've been waiting on for a long time and it happened in 2011!  The next step is getting ahead financially so that we can start planning on....BABIES!  But, unfortunately, that financial stability could still be a few years off so it might be a while!!

Enjoy your new year everyone!

new.

I have a ton of stuff to blog about!

First, I want to ask for help from some of my blog expert friends.  How do you guys get the cute header designs?  I finally figured out how to get a new background through a design website but I'm not finding any header templates to use instead of my picture that I have.  Since I know so many bloggers have all the info on the creative designers and whatnot, I figured I should just ask!

We have moved into our new place and while it does have its little quirks, it is finally starting to feel like home.  I have pictures of the house from before we moved in but the proof that it's actually lived in will come later after I get it all decorated!  

I'm not proud of the exterior.  I think it looks ugly.  But the inside...

This is the living room!  Yep..hardwood floors!

The green kitchen!  It was an ugly color at first but it has grown on me quite a bit!

The spare bedroom.  Must have been a little boy's room previously!

The master bedroom!  I'm not a big fan of brown but I still like it!!

I also got my Christmas tree!

This was a new experience for both Kyle and me this year.  It was our first Christmas as a married couple!  We got to celebrate with both of our families and it was perfect!  

Christmas Eve at his mom's.

Our little family at my parents' house (minus Caya Ann!)

Hope your holiday was just as special as ours was!  Happy New Year to everyone!

new residence!

My husband and I will be moving into our first house soon.  I say "our" but it's actually a rental.  But it's ours!  I'm not proud of the way the exterior looks.  I think my first words about the place were that it looked like "somewhere my grandma would live."  Kyle told me not to judge the place before we go inside and I doubted him.  He was right.  The inside is INCREDIBLE!  It's no dream house, but it's perfect for what we've been looking for!  It's in a good location, it's got great space for a married couple without kids, two bedrooms, a garage, and a huge yard for our puppies to romp and run in!  My biggest setback at the moment is the fact that we will be losing our U-VERSE.  We found out that it's not covered in the neighborhood.  I will have to find something else to do with my evenings I guess..


Maybe if we move quick enough, I can still get a Christmas tree?  Hmm...

tis the season to be happy!

I am joyful today.  I am happy and mostly content with my life.  This morning in Bible class we discussed the difference between contentment and thankfulness.  A Christian should never feel content with where they stand with God.  Chances are, if you are feeling like things are perfect, then you could be doing something that could stand to change.  I am nowhere near perfect in my relationship with God, and that's something that I am working very hard to change.  But, I am happy with my life here in this world.  I have been given a wonderful husband and a roof over my head.  My car gets me from point A to point B and USUALLY doesn't give me any grief in between!  Kyle and I have both been blessed with great jobs that provide a paycheck that is just enough for what we need.  We aren't starving.  We aren't freezing.  We have an awesome church that we have intentions of placing membership with.  I am joyful today because of those things.  It's the season that reminds us to be thankful for the things we have in life.  While it is wonderful to have this reminder every year, we should be thankful for things such as these all year...every year!  Please don't forget to be happy with what you have already.  Things could always be worse.  Take it upon yourself to think of others this Christmas season.  You'll feel better about life!!!

Now, I'm switching gears..  I forced Kyle to take a few pictures with me for our first Christmas card!  If you're on my Facebook, you've probably seen them already.  These aren't all of them but they're a few of my favorites.  Hope you like them!

my face is very pale in this one!

some mush...

my absolute favorite!

earthquake!!!

I just experienced my first earthquake EVER!!  I live in Wichita, Kansas and I felt an earthquake.  According to Facebook, there was another one last night too that was felt across Oklahoma and around the Wichita area, but I felt nothing during that one.  I definitely felt this one!  The news said it was a 5.6 magnitude.  My first instinct was to pray to God for safety.  I had no idea what was going on.  Kyle was in the bath so I grabbed my phone and jumped up to run to the bathroom while calling my dad to see if he and my mom felt it.  They did.

Because I grew up in Kansas, I have not been taught how to react to an earthquake.  I had no idea that you're supposed to hide under something sturdy.  I just sat here on the couch...  Hopefully we never experience one big enough to need something sturdy over my head.  I will die.

P.S. I am thankful for the whole day of relaxation.  I did nothing but clean my cabinets and cook.  Life is good...  God bless!!

thankfulness.

For the last few days, I have been posting reasons why I am thankful on Facebook.  I have decided to take it to the next level and explain those reasons a little more in depth.  Some of them are pretty self-explanatory but maybe it would be good for me to look back on these during days when I'm feeling sorry for myself...haha!

Today I am thankful for my husband's love for math.  Because he loves math, he takes care of the bills and the checkbook.  I always told myself I would never be the wife that lets her husband control how she spends money, but it's just so much easier!!!  Before I buy something (groceries, lunch, stuff for teaching) I always text him or call to find out how much money we have and what bills we still have to pay.

If this task were left up to me, our credit scores would be terrible and my student loans that are taking most of my paychecks would tell me I'm delinquent! I'm not a money person.  I am good at spending but not so good at saving.

Anyway, Kyle does so much for me.  This is just one thing that I'm thankful for today!  I am one lucky wife...

God bless!!!