Showing posts with label Matt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

never again......

..... and probably the worst day so far with building our house!

So, last week Wednesday, Matt and I decided we were going to tackle the blowing-in the insulation in the attic. I had Wednesday off as my normal day off, and Matt decided to take a vacation day so that we could get going with it.  We knew that we couldn't start right away because the drywallers were still finishing up the garage ceiling, so we headed out to price out the different brands and ended up at Security Lumber with a decent price, but they would deliver it to the house, blower and all. So we decided to that so we didn't have to go get the trailer, go back and hope that none of the insulation or anything blew off the trailer. When we got back to the house, we were hoping to be able to set the blower up inside, but to our surprise, found out that the garage door was "mysteriously broken."  Which Matt knew that it was working the night before.  But after Matt tried awhile to fix it, we decided to just "set up shop" with the blower outside and run it through the window. Well, it started out ok, but then it was......
just a stop-go-stop-go-stop-go, 
 jenni rip the top off and rip the wires for the remote start,
fix the blower, 
reset the blower, 
stop-go-stop-go-stop-go, 
go turn the power back on in the house... 
stop-go-stop-go. Ugh!!! 
So annoying. 
And Matt would have to come down from the attic, 
every single time to help me fix it!
But then we got the hang of it..... 
but what was supposed to take 3-4 hours... took 8-ish hours.
AND we had to go back Thursday night and finish up for an hour b/c we ran out the night before. 
I'm glad it's over and I'm glad that we had the experience, but i won't say that I'd love to do it again!

here are some more recent photos... 
 

 So, these next couple photos show just how MESSY it got. i was outside, where it was windy and damp with it being cold out and matt was in the attic where it just blew around... so we look like a bunch of crazy people with gray hair & insulation in and on parts of our bodies that we didn't think it would get to (well, for me at least since I was outside with it blowing in my face & up my nose).
Someone on Facebook suggested that we use this as our Christmas card for next year... haha...
probably not, but maybe i'll include a little snapshot of it or something.  It was a exhausting day, but it was nice to do something with Matt. I enjoy doing projects with him.... as long as we don't get too mad at each other! haha....

 Here is part of the finished work Matt did with the insulation.....
   
 Taped and Mudded for the 1st time!
  
 ("great room" - kitchen & family room)
  
 Ahhh... the tile I picked out for our Master Bathroom..... i absolutely LOVE it!!!
We are going with the middle color and then mosaics that have all 3 colors in it! I can't wait to see it go up in the bathroom! YEAH!!!
 

I think that's all for now......

Thursday, January 28, 2010

part 2 ::: (catching up on our lives)


continued.....
: As a couple :
1.Church. Before we got married, we had decided that we were going to look at different churches once Matt was done being a deacon.  We both had gone to the same churches our whole lives (practically) and we just want to see what else is out there and maybe find a church that might fit us better.  A church that we can call our own.  Since the beginning of the year, we haven't done too much looking around yet, just one church so far. But who knows what will happen and where we will end up. We just have to trust in the Lord and listen to His calling of where he wants us to be.


2. Starting a family. We would really love to start a family. But God must have different plans for us right now. We have now been trying for over a year now and in the past months have been getting some tests done to see what the "problem" might be.


3. Apartment Living. All I have to say is. It has been interesting. (it's been good for awhile, but i know now that i write something, i'm jinxing it and there will be drama tonight!) Haha. But let's just say that after a couple of ambulance calls, two girls OD-ing, a stabing, and a LOT of yelling and screaming at weeeeee hours of the night (early morning), we are ready to get OUT OF THERE! 

4. Wedding Album. I forgot to write that we had got our wedding album (seen in this post: wedding album). It is wonderful and I absolutely LOVE how it turned out. It's always different seeing it actually printed out than just on my computer screen!!!! =) 


5. House. Yes, it's a BIG PROJECT and it's pretty much consuming our lives! Surprisingly, it has gone quite smoothly. I think that it has gone by pretty quick (considering it's winter and Matt did the electric and some other stuff "on his own" - with some help from family & friends of course!). We are anxious to get the drywall up, but we are waiting for the fireplace to come in (which has really been our only hold up so far, but we are starting to get a little pissed). But it's looking like we might be able to get the inspection and hopefully the inspector will tell us that we can start drywalling and avoid the fireplace area and at least get it started. But then it REALLY gets exciting for me, here are the things i'm excited for:
 - our NEW KITCHEN TABLE - it's ordered from Ashley Furniture back in November (day after Thanksgiving Sale!) and WAS going to be delivered to my parents' house, but now, if drywall is up... IT WILL BE  DELIVERED TO OUR HOUSE!!!!

- Tile for our bathroom. I found the most perfect gray tile that I have been imaging this whole time. 
- Painting.


I'll leave you with some more photos from the wedding we went to a couple of weeks ago (Dawn & Andy's - friends from church). We had a fun time!







Oh... and I haven't written this either.... my AMAZING & WONDERFUL FRIENDS, Amanda and Brett are getting married!!!! Brett finally popped the question! I'm so excited I get to be in their wedding on July 9, 2010. LOVE YOU GUYS!










Wednesday, January 27, 2010

part 1 ::: (catching up on our lives)

Let's catch you up on what is happening in our lives.... BESIDES the house!

: Matt :
1. Work is going good.  He doesn't have as much pipe to take care of as he used to, so that is quite an adjustment for him.  He is not gone out of town at all anymore really. Which I know that he enjoyed doing (and i'm not going to lie, I didn't always enjoy it, but it was nice to have the bed to myself!).

2. Church. Ever since I have known Matt, he has been a deacon at his (our) church.  And just recently at the beginning of the year, his term was up.  That is an adjustment for him I truely feel.To not have any responsibilities after church, to count money, to fix thing or that thing is something he isn't used to.  But I think this will open up some opportunities for us to experience church together a little bit more. (more on that later).

3. House - i know I said i was going to tell you what's going on besides the house, but that is just such a big part of his (our) life right now. He is there every night working on pretty much everything. He leaves for work in the morning, doesn't come home, but goes straight to the house and works there from anywhere between 8-10:30 depending on what he needs to get done.  I bring him dinner and help him if I can help with anything. I really appreciate all the hard work that he is doing though. I am so proud of him and I take pride in that MY HUSBAND (along with some family & friends) did A LOT of work on this house (sheesh, he wired up the whole house with electric, how awesome is that!).  I am so excited to call that house our HOME.

: Jenni :
1. Work is slow. But that is very typical of this time of the year.  Hopefully it will pick up again around Valentine's Day.   I am still off one day a week (which i LOVE).  I use it to do some grocery shopping, see friends, or just catch up on business stuff (which actually was the MAIN REASON why actually started taking days off in the 1st place, haha - but the other things are starting to take over and become a little more important to me). I actually came quite close to changing jobs. I am not always the happiest at my job and I feel like I drive pretty far just to sit on my butt and not do much during the day. So, the bank in town had an opening for a teller/sales rep position.  I actually went pretty far in the application process (and the girls at the bank know me and actually really wanted me to work there), but then one morning on the way to work, I just kinda had an epiphany. I have it way to good at THE SHOPPER. I have the days off already that I want, I have vacation time already built up. So why am I giving all of that up just to work a little closer to home. For right now, the best decision for me, and for us was that I stay where I'm at.

2. Business is slower right now too b/c of the time of the year. I do most of my portrait sessions outside, so the winter is not ever my busy season. But I'm hoping to put together a couple of PHOTO SHOOT EXTRAVAGANZA days starting in May where I go to one location that day and see how many appointments I can "knock-out" that day, so i'm not eating up all my Saturdays of the summer. One will be at a county park in Hobart, IN - one will be at the beach/downtown area of New Buffalo, MI - and the other one will most likely be in fall probably at a state park.  Right now, the places I have thought of are all in Indiana, but I also want to "cater" to those that in the Kankakee area that I think might come out for this.  So.... i'm opening to anyone's ideas (not that I really have any followers of my blog, but i can dream, right?)




to be continued......

Monday, November 16, 2009

Something different than house stuff!

Well, here is something a little different than house stuff! (i promise to actual update on other things in our lives sometime, but right now, i'm kinda ready to go to bed, so i'll just post these photos!)

I have FINALLY finished our WEDDING ALBUM.... can you believe it?
Here is the the final product! (i think.. as long as matt approves it!)























Sunday, October 18, 2009

1 Year of Wedded-Blessings

Today is our
1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!

I can't believe that one year ago today,
I married my very best friend. He is the most amazing man...
the man that was truly meant for me in every possible way.
I love you honey and I am excited for the many
more years that God blesses us with together!

MUAH!
-------------------------------

To my husband.... Matthew Dale Hoekstra
Thank you...

For loving me....
For making me laugh...
For comforting me and encouraging me....
For being goofy with me....

For sharing your emotions and feeling with me...

For kissing me....
(even when you really don't want to because you've already kissed me 10 times 2 minutes ago! haha!)
and most importantly,
for being the wonderful God-fearing man
that God has created you to be.
I love you with all of my heart honey! Now, forever and always!!
You are my best friend, my love, my life!
MUAH!
-----------------------------

What a BEAUTIFUL and AMAZING day that was!
It was perfect in every possible way.

Friday, June 5, 2009

Happy "1st Date" Anniversary Baby!

Dinner tonight:Place of our 1st date! I can't wait!



Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Looking back 2 years....









May 30 - June 5, 2007


Well, I am kinda a sentimental person... and certain dates that most people really wouldn't consider that big of a deal, I do! Like when Matt and I first "met", his 1st email to me, all the emails that we shared getting to know each other (all 75ish in about 5 days!!) and our first date.... all those things are very special to me! And to believe that it's been already 2 years since that 1st whirlwind of a week, is pretty amazing! I would have never thought (ok, well, I have to admit that I was SURE HOPING) that I would marry this guy that I met online.

So, as I reflect and go through some of those old emails this week..... i thought I'd share with you somethings I still remember about that crazy 1st 5 days, getting to know each other and flirting back and forth through emails..... (although I can remember a lot, i wish I could remember more!)

Here are parts of our 1st emails to each other
MATT's:
I was excited to get a smile from you. I am new to all this meeting people on line, so if I sound stupid please forgive me. I just put my profile on relationships.com and I am still nervous about it. You are the very first person to send me any sort of message. But I guess I haven't sent any out either...I am a very shy person. In your note you said to check out your myspace page, which was set up beautifully. On there you talked about your web site and that is how I got your e-mail address. I feel I know a lot about you already...I must say your pictures did bring a smile to my face, you just look like you would be fun to hang around with...And quite beautiful too. Well I just wanted to say thank you for showing interest in me and if you want e-mail me back..

It was very nice to meet you.

ME:
Wow... I'm glad you emailed me. Made me blush a little I must admit. I honestly had not been on relationships.com in quite awhile and just recently signed back in last night. I typically don't send smiles, messages, anything like that either, but I guess you just caught my eye. I am usually shy and defintely sceptical about the whole online thing too. But, I would love to get to know you better if you are willing to share!

I notice that you have a very DUTCH last name too! =P I am dutch myself. Haha! I won't play dutch bingo though, don't worry!

Hope to hear from you soon!

---------------------

Other email highlights that I enjoy to re-read:

MATT:
So by the way you said you would share anything.......That makes a lot of things run through my head.....But I know what you mean, I don't have any secrets, so just ask away.

ME:
Well, I must admit that.... your last email... showed me a lot about
you. All GREAT things, seriously! Made me smile... the whole time I
was reading it! =) Defintely brightened up my not so fun day! We have
a LOT in common.

MATT:
My first thought....Sweeeet I go digits!!!

I'm glad I could brighten up your day, and if we are admitting stuff I have to say that the email you sent me last night I read before I went to bed. It took me a hour to fall asleep just laying there thinking about all the great things you said. If you knew me a little better you would know that I can always fall right asleep. I can sleep anytime during anything.

MATT:
I don't know if that's such a good deal....I mean a Sox's fan.....I guess I could make an exception....

MATT:
Well, I'll flirt with you latter.. ;)

We talked about the normal stuff, questions to get to know each other. Things like:
food, music, and movies that we like, some crazy quarks about ourselves and also the similarity we have in losing a significant amount of weight. But more serious things... church, our commitment to being virgins until we were married, and what we wanted in our potential mate. Yeah, all that in the matter of 6 days! We were both older and even in those emails, I think we both knew that we wanted to be upfront and find out sooner rather than later if this person was "worth our time" or in other words, what we were thinking for. I remember Matt would actually email me back at midnight... (which is very unlikely that he even stay awake past 10 now! haha.....)!

I hope I never loose or have to delete all those emails.... they are always fun to look back on.... =)

-----------------

Our first date was June 5 (Tuesday night!)
We had it planned that we were going to meet at Popolano's in Lansing (I hadn't met the guy, wasn't really sure if I wanted him coming to my house, so i drove separate!). It was a great first date. I don't really recall everything that we talked about at dinner, but I know that it was already at that point natural. I felt comfortable, I think he did too! So, since Matt is not much of a decision maker (and i wasn't going to make any decisions that night I had already told him!), after dinner we rode around Lansing/Munster area.... he showed me a place that he used to work and then we ended up going past his aunt and uncle's house that just so happened to be a couple of blocks away from my parents' house... so I showed him where I lived (knowing at this point that he wasn't some weirdo stalker! haha!). But then after driving around a little bit, we went to Baker Square for a little dessert... I believe that Matt got the Coconut Cream Pie and I got the brownie ala mode! Yum!!!!!! And I won't ever forget this..... (and I think I recall it different than Matt... but oh well!)... but when we were back at Popolano's for him to drop me off...we were sitting in his truck.... just chatting.... and Matt asked me like 3 different times if he could take me out again.... and I remember trying so hard to play hard to get. But I think he saw right through me and knew that I liked him already at that point! =)

I won't bore you with any other sentimental ramblings about matt and i.... hope you enjoyed the little insight to our first days together.... =)

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Pluggin' Along....

I'm pluggin' along..... only the ceremony pages & a dancing/tosses page! =) YEAH!