Breaking the Home In

This past Memorial Day weekend was super jam packed with memorable events. The first one was obviously seeing Waffles, and that's ALWAYS memorable. But the second is having my housewarming bbq! It's been a long (long!) journey to finally get to say I'm a homeowner, but the time is here, and I could't be happier!

In this burgeoning economy where housing prices are skyrocketing to unimaginable prices (especially here in the Silicon Valley!), I am pretty blessed with parents who can help out any way they can. We all know that teachers can't purchase a single family home on our income alone. I wouldn't even dream of it! But with my parents help, they have made one of my dreams come true. Don't know if you're reading this Mom and Dad, but thank you for all that you do!! :)

I am a strong believer in throwing a housewarming party, even if you've moved in to a new apartment. You can only imagine how bored my friends are of my housewarming parties. Haha! But I do believe it should be broken in with people near and dear to your heart. It's where we will share some lasting memories with! For instance, 2 apartments ago, it's where I lived on my own without ANY roommates for the very first time. It's also where my first keg stand IN A MAXI DRESS went down as well! You don't want to know how that ended... :P But most of all, it's where a lot of my early memories with the boy are. It's where I cooked the boy his very first meal as a couple. Tuna Puttanesca to be exact. I still don't know what a puttanesca is but he loved it and that's all that matters! I also have memories of him coming religiously every Wednesday for date night to watch The Amazing Race and laugh hysterically at all the hicks traveling the world for the first time, all over a jug of Amber. Our beer from our very first date. And yes, you heard that right. A jug. Wow, we used to drink a lot!!

The last place I was at didn't have *too* many happy memories, which is why my living situation there only lasted 9 months! The only thing I remember is the god awful traffic that I had to endure on a daily basis. I wanted to shoot myself every. single. morning. It was the most horrific way to start your morning. It was 40 minutes going there, and 30 minutes coming back. I wasted countless hours sitting in the car, stewing in my own fury with each passing idiotic driver. I'm getting amped up just thinking about it! >:(

I just had to get out of there, which sped up the looking process for a new house. After months of remodeling, living with my parents (ACK!), and unpacking for what I hope to be the last for a while, the rooms are almost all ready. I knew that if I waited to make it a perfect home, I'd never be able to get guests in here to break the place in. The perfectionist in me cringed, but after all that's said and done, I'm so glad I did.

I wish I had taken some photos of the tables all set up and pretty, but in the flurry of trying to get everything set up, it just completely slipped my mind! Yes, me. The picture taking whore. The must-record-everything-or-the-whole-world-is-gonna-fall-apart picture taking whore.  So you can *only* imagine how stressed I was playing hostess! I'm glad that I got some pictures in to remember the day.

But before I say anything else... I just have to say. This boy...

The day couldn't have been possible without this amazing dude. He slaved for hours assembling the bbq grill, untangling the Xmas lights and stringing them around my patio, and if that wasn't enough, bbqing some damn yummy burgers and hotdogs! Thank you so much babe!! :D

Love you to pieces!!

My beautiful girls, minus 2. We missed you Jennie and Sammi!

And this girl, Erin, is just all kinds of awesome. She is literally fresh off the boat a week ago, and she braved her first American BBQ! Hope we didn't scare you off! :P

Never thought this day would come, but our 4some is now complete! :) 

How can you not love these reres?? 

The gang. It only took us 17 years to FINALLY be in serious relationships all at the same time! 

After a *minor* incident at a 6 mo. old birthday party a couple years back, I am now cut off from holding my friend's children after 4 beers. Can you believe they put a limit on my drinking just to hold their stinkin' kids?! Yeah... I do... And here, you see why! I think it's safe to say I've hit my limit. :P

There are a couple of others here that made it to the party but didn't get around to taking photos with. I also have a lot of other friends who I woulda loved to break in the house with, but due to the holiday weekend, many were out of town. :( BUT, I have all summer, and once Waffles is done with all her shots, I foresee many bbqs and puppy parties galore! With Waffles joining the boy and I in 2 weeks, I am looking forward to making so many great memories in this new home.