Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Packaging Tape, Pink Duct Tape & a Sharpie
Before I talk about the major things that are happening our lives, I thought I'd share some of the holiday fun we had this past weekend! Friday night we had a surprise 30th b'day party for our friend from church, Sheri Elzinga! We met at a restaurant and then went out for drinks/dancing/karaoke after that. Let's just say the night got interesting, some wigs and some costume outfits came out and we had a blast, laughing a lot!
Here is one photo to give you an idea of the night we had.... and there wasn't even that much drinking going on..... just good clean fun! Then for the 4th, my friend Amanda and I did our 3rd annual Beecher 5K Walk, running 1/2 and walking 1/2 (we still have to be able to talk to one another!) Haha! And for the rest of the day/night we spent over at The Wheeler's house (the husband is on the fire department with Matt). Thank goodness it at least stopped raining before the guys blew off some fireworks!! Nathan and Leah were there with their 5 girls... so I just had to get in some cuddle time with Brietta and Dehlia too!!!
Here is one photo to give you an idea of the night we had.... and there wasn't even that much drinking going on..... just good clean fun! Then for the 4th, my friend Amanda and I did our 3rd annual Beecher 5K Walk, running 1/2 and walking 1/2 (we still have to be able to talk to one another!) Haha! And for the rest of the day/night we spent over at The Wheeler's house (the husband is on the fire department with Matt). Thank goodness it at least stopped raining before the guys blew off some fireworks!! Nathan and Leah were there with their 5 girls... so I just had to get in some cuddle time with Brietta and Dehlia too!!!
(My hubby will make a great dad someday)
(me and brietta... nathan and leah's 2nd to youngest girl! she's such a sweetheart!)
Now on to the big news that is happening in our life! We have a contract made up and the buyer has signed, we are getting things checkout with house inspection and termites and all that fun stuff and as of right now, the closing date on our house is August 5. So, to say the least, I need to do a lot of packing!! I have started a system of organizing and packing (trying to make it as easy as possible for everyone involved for moving/unpacking. So my 3 new best friends are PACKAGING TAPE, PINK DUCT TAPE (for labeling - very eye catching!) and a black Sharpie!!
And to throw a little extra FUN to our excitement already, we need to find a place to live before we go on vacation to TN, August 14!! Haha.....
As for buying the lot for our NEW HOUSE .... we are getting stuff done for that too! We have a contract that we will be signing that soon and the closing is supposed to be on July 31st! We have met with an architect and hopefully in 3 weeks or so we should have those back so that we can start getting bids! Here is a preview of the IDEA behind our house:
It will be close to the same layout with some minor changes!
Matt is planning on being the General Contractor on the whole project. With that I am super excited, but also nervous! He will do a great job, I know that for sure, but I know that he will get very stressed and that will add a little strain to everything. I just know that I need to be the most prepared I can for everything that he is going to ask me to pick out and just roll with the punches! So many people have told me.... if your marriage can survive building a house together, there isn't anything you can't do together! So, here's our test... haha... just kidding! I have total confidence that we will work very good together. We have the same taste in most stuff and we are both pretty easy going people! But I guess only time will tell!
(me and brietta... nathan and leah's 2nd to youngest girl! she's such a sweetheart!)
Now on to the big news that is happening in our life! We have a contract made up and the buyer has signed, we are getting things checkout with house inspection and termites and all that fun stuff and as of right now, the closing date on our house is August 5. So, to say the least, I need to do a lot of packing!! I have started a system of organizing and packing (trying to make it as easy as possible for everyone involved for moving/unpacking. So my 3 new best friends are PACKAGING TAPE, PINK DUCT TAPE (for labeling - very eye catching!) and a black Sharpie!!
And to throw a little extra FUN to our excitement already, we need to find a place to live before we go on vacation to TN, August 14!! Haha.....
As for buying the lot for our NEW HOUSE .... we are getting stuff done for that too! We have a contract that we will be signing that soon and the closing is supposed to be on July 31st! We have met with an architect and hopefully in 3 weeks or so we should have those back so that we can start getting bids! Here is a preview of the IDEA behind our house:
It will be close to the same layout with some minor changes!
Matt is planning on being the General Contractor on the whole project. With that I am super excited, but also nervous! He will do a great job, I know that for sure, but I know that he will get very stressed and that will add a little strain to everything. I just know that I need to be the most prepared I can for everything that he is going to ask me to pick out and just roll with the punches! So many people have told me.... if your marriage can survive building a house together, there isn't anything you can't do together! So, here's our test... haha... just kidding! I have total confidence that we will work very good together. We have the same taste in most stuff and we are both pretty easy going people! But I guess only time will tell!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
New Bed, Dresser & a new house????????? WHAT?
Well.... I know it's been a little bit since I updated you all on the adventures of Matt and I's lives! Matt is out of town this week, working the 12 hr night shift on a hydrotesting project... so I thought I'd have a little bit of time to update you all on what has been happening with us! Nothing really fun has been happening until NOW!!!! (i'm going to work backwards.... starting from the most recent thing that has been going on, to some other little things!)
at least 5-7 people call/ask about it and yesterday, we actually had a family walk through it. They seemed very interested... they rent a duplex right now in GP and would like to own a home, just waiting to see about the money situation (he went into more detail, but it's not relevant!, no money, no sale!) So we'll see what happens! As for building the new house. We are planning on staying in Grant Park and building in the new subdivision called Prairie Estates. There are a couple of lots available to buy right now and we really don't see them moving very fast. But there is one that really caught my eye (and I think matt likes it too!), but it is 1.25 acre on a cul-de-sac. The sun sets in the back of the house and has an open field behind us! (same kind of scenic view we have now!!!!!). I called the owner of that lot about a month ago and I sure hope that no one has bought it yet!
New Things!
Last week Sunday, Leiser's Furniture had one of their furniture AUCTIONS! Well, we were planning on going there to see what kind of kitchen tables they had because let's face it... our could fall apart any day (ok, maybe not any day... but it's kinda fragile!). So we thought goign to the auction would be the perfect opportunity to see if we could find something that we liked for CHEAP! Well, we got there and didn't really see any tables that we liked, so we almost just turned around and went home, but actually ended up staying to just check the auction out since neither of us had been to it. Well, walking around and check different stuff out we actually saw a bed (headboard & footboard) that we really liked, so we bidded on that and actually ended up getting it. Then just down a little ways from the bed was a dresser that went really well with the bed, so we bid on that too and won! And the BEST PART, what made it worth the day (well, besides getting great furniture!) was that when we got home and checked about how much these 2 pieces cost orginially, I was so excited! Each piece was about $1000 or more and we ended up getting the bed for $275 and the dresser for $200! So for about $500 we got 2 things that were originally over $2000! WOW! =) Here are photos of the 2 pieces:
And also, just a week before that, I bought this baker's rack from my sister-in-law's friend!
I absolutely adore it! I wish it went better with my kitchen (ok, let's face it, the carpet thing in the kitchen just really throws me off and i don't think really anything goes with it! haha), but I'm glad I got this very sturdy, handmade, by a guy a Vans Iron Works... for only $75 =) !!! YEAH!
Family Fun!
Besides that fun news... a couple of weeks ago we had a DERKS family "Father/Mother's Day" Party at my parents house. We took the opportunity to take family photos b/c everyone but one family was there.
Grandma & Grandpa Derks
The Colvin Family
The Craig Derks Family
The Jerry Derks Family
The Dan Derks Family (minus Katie + Tim + kids)
The Whole Clan (minus Katie + Tim + the kids!)
Exciting news! 
This past Thursday night, we put a FOR SALE sign up in our front yard. We have decided to sell our house and BUILD a new one. We have been talking/thinking/deciding for awhile now that we would just like to have a bigger place and something that is right for us. It is nice, and it could work, but it is quite small (we aren't able to have my whole family over without it being VERY VERY crowded!) So..... we put the sign out there to just see what happens! We know that not many people are buying houses and houses really aren't selling that fast, so we're not sure what is going to happen. But since we have had the for sale sign up (4 days so far!)... we have had
at least 5-7 people call/ask about it and yesterday, we actually had a family walk through it. They seemed very interested... they rent a duplex right now in GP and would like to own a home, just waiting to see about the money situation (he went into more detail, but it's not relevant!, no money, no sale!) So we'll see what happens! As for building the new house. We are planning on staying in Grant Park and building in the new subdivision called Prairie Estates. There are a couple of lots available to buy right now and we really don't see them moving very fast. But there is one that really caught my eye (and I think matt likes it too!), but it is 1.25 acre on a cul-de-sac. The sun sets in the back of the house and has an open field behind us! (same kind of scenic view we have now!!!!!). I called the owner of that lot about a month ago and I sure hope that no one has bought it yet!
New Things!
Last week Sunday, Leiser's Furniture had one of their furniture AUCTIONS! Well, we were planning on going there to see what kind of kitchen tables they had because let's face it... our could fall apart any day (ok, maybe not any day... but it's kinda fragile!). So we thought goign to the auction would be the perfect opportunity to see if we could find something that we liked for CHEAP! Well, we got there and didn't really see any tables that we liked, so we almost just turned around and went home, but actually ended up staying to just check the auction out since neither of us had been to it. Well, walking around and check different stuff out we actually saw a bed (headboard & footboard) that we really liked, so we bidded on that and actually ended up getting it. Then just down a little ways from the bed was a dresser that went really well with the bed, so we bid on that too and won! And the BEST PART, what made it worth the day (well, besides getting great furniture!) was that when we got home and checked about how much these 2 pieces cost orginially, I was so excited! Each piece was about $1000 or more and we ended up getting the bed for $275 and the dresser for $200! So for about $500 we got 2 things that were originally over $2000! WOW! =) Here are photos of the 2 pieces:
And also, just a week before that, I bought this baker's rack from my sister-in-law's friend!I absolutely adore it! I wish it went better with my kitchen (ok, let's face it, the carpet thing in the kitchen just really throws me off and i don't think really anything goes with it! haha), but I'm glad I got this very sturdy, handmade, by a guy a Vans Iron Works... for only $75 =) !!! YEAH!
Family Fun!Besides that fun news... a couple of weeks ago we had a DERKS family "Father/Mother's Day" Party at my parents house. We took the opportunity to take family photos b/c everyone but one family was there.
Grandma & Grandpa Derks
The Colvin Family
The Craig Derks Family
The Jerry Derks Family
The Dan Derks Family (minus Katie + Tim + kids)
The Whole Clan (minus Katie + Tim + the kids!)Tuesday, June 9, 2009
A little fun at the BEACH!
Friday, June 5, 2009
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.... =)
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