What a difference a year makes...

I got caught up reminiscing about how much our lives have changed in the last year, and how much more they're going to change in just the next few days. I started looking through some pictures, and decided to do some flash back blogging.

This one is of me on our 2 year wedding anniversary. We went back country hiking and camping in the Citico Wilderness with both the doggies. It was a wonderful experience and I would go back today if we could! (I do so hope to get that figure back ASAP!)

Even the girls wore packs! The funniest part was that we got their packs mixed up at first, Abbey looked hilarious and totally off balance with Lacey's pack on. She tried really hard to manage it, but finally just had to sit down. It was so funny we were almost delirious before we even started the hike!

Old House into New House

This was the basic plan: old house is the grey part on the left, new part is the Tyvec covered 2 story addition. Notice the port-a-potty positioned at the foot of the driveway. I almost cried when that thing was delivered. Chris threatened to hang a wreath on it at Christmas.

I should look at these pictures on a daily basis to remind me "that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger." These pictures are a brief and tiny reminder of our renovation journey last year. This time in '06 we were living in just a few square feet of open space. Everything we owned was boxed up and shoved, and I do mean shoved, into the living room, kitchen and dining room. It's amazing we're still alive and here to marvel at our beautiful "new" house. Lacey sleeping under the chair,
and Chris working on his computer. Since our office became the entrance to the "new" house we had to move his work space. He had to sit on the cedar chest at the foot of our bed and his comp was positioned on a TV tray just inside the bedroom door!
kitchen and living room

The living room as things got worse. You can kinda see the couch covered w/ the yellow sheet and the side of the entertainment center (front right). That was our "recreation" area. I usually did all my computer work from there or my bed (or Starbucks). That's the same ent. center that now has been painted white and is in the "play room" which used to be our bedroom!

The view from the living room, through the old dining room, and into the "new addition" dining room.

The view from the old dining room into the kitchen. Yes, there is an ugly brown chair and ottoman parked in front of the fridge. We had to move it every time we needed to get something to drink, and then move it back to get out of that room!

These are just a few pictures of the chaos we lived in for almost a year. It was worth it, though. I'm very glad we did it BEFORE we had a baby. It definitely has paid off, and we enjoy our dream creation more every day. But, as anyone who has ever built or renovated a home will tell you, there's always something more you want. So, although it's a dream house, it's not the dream house, so in the coming years, we'll end up doing this again. But the next time, it will be a new house on the lake!