We took a little break!

Hi all! It's been a little while since I've updated the blog and there's been lots of good reasons! No I'm not preggers. We had a whirlwind July and August and really I have just been trying to work through it all. The hubby lost two family members between Father's Day and 4th of July so we had grief and funerals to deal with. It was rough and trying to stay positive was all I could do for him. Losing family is always hard, especially when they are so young.

Right in the middle of all of this we had some happy news! We bought a home! It's been so surreal and I feel like we are now #adulting! It's so silly. We have a baby and have lived on our own for 8 years and have been married for 8 years, but until you sock in cold hard cash on a piece of land and a little property you don't really feel like an adult! We are so excited for our little 3 bed, 2 bath on a 1/4 acre! Land in CA is sparse so when you have a decent amount for your kiddos and pets you scream and jump for joy!

Do I have some plans. Mostly for the landscaping! (Please excuse the photo's a lot are from the listing)

The front yard had sod recently laid and in the main photo it looks bad, however it has greened up nicely. The rock garden next to the bridge needs to be cleaned out and re-established because its pretty over grown. The planter next to the house needs ground cover because its mostly just a dirt pile that washes into the front doorway. The trees along the roof line were trimmed because the roof needed a little repair, so that was already done! Yay!

In the backyard.....oy! It needs help. We have beautiful pine trees and they give lots of shade, but they also have left lots of droppings in the yard and over the deck. First off is sweeping and clearing out of oddities, IE the random fire hydrant, pole for nothing, parking curb in the yard. The gate needs repair because our pooch already figured out how to escape the yard. Sigh. Next up, see the large rock pile in the 3rd photo? That's going to be our new flowerbed liners along the back retaining wall. Leveling of the yard and grass seed. Cleaning out existing planters and sanding and painting the benches is on the list also. We also see a swing and maybe built in bbq later. Dreams.

The main living area has been updated. New paint and carpet. I will definitely be re-painting! It's so pink with grey carpet! WHAT!?! The wood trim around the fireplace will be removed and a large mantle will replace it. Maybe some wainscoting. Maybe a built in? We shall see what the future holds.

Kitchen and dining. The owner replaced the counters, fixtures and lighting so for right now all that we are doing in here is the backsplash and of course painting out the pink. The backsplash doesn't match AT ALL! They also cut into the existing beadboard so that may have to be replaced. We shall see. We are also planning to put a decor shelf over the sink in the kitchen and some drapes.

Master and guest bath. They were updated finish wise, but we need to replace the exhaust fans and I plan on tiling behind the mirror in the master and putting a framed one up in its place.

And finally this room off the kitchen is going to be so fun! This is Emma's future play room! I already have plans to make it a vintage inspired kids room because of all the things she has that are new, but vintage inspired but don't fit the theme of her bedroom.

There she is. What has been occupying our minds and time for the last 6 weeks. I'll do another post on packing and moving with a toddler because UGH! It was interesting! Happy Tuesday!

What is an adult?

Merrium - Webster defines this word as "fully developed and mature" "Grown-Up." Ok well this doesn't really help define it now does it. Mature: a (1) : having completed natural growth and development : ripe (2) : having undergone maturation b : having attained a final or desired state. Hmmm still not getting there. Yes by definition a person at the age of 16 years old, because they have fully developed physically would be considered an adult, but maturity wise they aren't. When is a person fully mature? How do we define this in actual terms?

In our society most people go through stages of life. Childhood - where we live at home with our parents, progress through responsibilities such as chores and homework and learn the difference between right and wrong. Adolescence - We have learned all the necessary tools to get a drivers license and be able to keep a temporary job, but our responsibilities are still limited and we are under the control of parents. Early adulthood - Responsibilities become more abundant. We are required to keep a job to pay for our own needs and most of the time have kept a steady relationship and have moved out of our parents home, and most have gone or are in college. Adulthood - We have graduated college, gotten married (most of the time), purchased a home, and prepared or started to have a family and have careers. Now granted this is not the case for some people, but most go through this specific coming of age process.

What has brought this topic up. Well I have gone through this specific process and have come to the adulthood portion. Darin and I are looking into buying our first house. We went out yesterday to look at some properties and were greatly pleased to find much more out there in our price range than before and the likely-hood that this year might be "the year" we do it. Yes its a big step and a lot of money but I think we are ready to do so. But here's the question. Are we considered adults now that we have decided to take this step? Or were we adults before? Sometimes the line seems blurred. I see "adults" on a daily basis that act like children. They cut in line in front of you and pretend like they didn't see you. Don't return phone calls because they don't feel like it. Tell you that you are not being mature for stating a fact. They misinterpret things and don't want to speak to you because of something they thought you said. I am sorry, but all of these examples can be seen on a daily basis in a 6th grade elementary school classroom. Add in social networks like Facebook and Twitter and they get even worse. Playing point the finger on someone's page, adding in their two cents. I am sorry, but if you don't want somebody to air their dirty laundry, then don't ask them on a public forum to do so....it only sparks the curiosity that is en-grained into us mere humanoids. Don't delete someone because you are mad, just to re-add them a day later. (Yes these are "adults" and over the age of 30 that do these things) It has taken me many years to get here, and granted it's still a learning process and I can't always do it, but if you have something that you need to say to someone just SAY IT, and if it is said on a public forum, don't get mad if all 200+ of your friends see it. Your fault!

Another thing that bothers me is these "adults" act like because you are younger than them that you couldn't possibly have the insight into things of substance like politics or business. They are always shocked when we say something of pertinence. I personally almost never talk about politics because it only causes friction and anger when you don't see eye to eye. I do pay attention though and listen so that I am aware of what is going on. Next time your stuck in the situation of listening to a political debate in a room full of adults, just sit back and listen.....back to 6th grade we go. Sure the words are better, and the sentences make sense, but they attack each other and point the finger. It's really amusing if you can get past the tension. Why is it that just because we have less years built in that we can't possibly know a thing or two about life? I mean, we have made it this far haven't we? I have a friend that is much younger than me, but acts so mature that sometime I forget her age. Then I will mention something about a TV show or movie from the 80's and when she say she hasn't seen it, I am brought back to reality.

I guess what I am trying to say here is that being an adult shouldn't be brought up to age, money, what kind of job you have or you living situation. It really has to do with your maturity level. I am not saying that acting child-like doesn't have its place in an adult life (hell I still go to Disneyland and play board games and color, I like to stay young at heart) but when the time comes to really act like one, to be mature and be the one that people look up to, all I ask is that you try.