A House is Not a Home

After 10 months of unemployment, our savings was wiped out, and we were in deep, deep credit card debt.  The total was so much higher than I thought it would be, once I added it all up, but hey, 10 months without a regular paycheck or unemployment benefits will do that to you.  I’m just glad that we had the resources SOMEWHERE so we could keep living!

My parents had offered to let us move in right after Chris lost his job, but we kept hanging on because we really did not want to turn to that option.  Chris and I had done it once before when we were first married, and there was such conflict that our marriage almost didn’t survive it.  Moving out was the best thing we ever did.

But this time around, we recognized that in our current situation, it could take us, literally, years and years to get back to where we were before the unemployment.  We had to acknowledge that maybe the best thing to do would be to take them up on their offer.  After assurances that things would be different than last time, we took the plunge when our lease ended last month.

Sadly, things have not been any different.  I was truly hopeful that they would be but Chris’ and my relationship with my family continues to grow more strained, and we’ll plan to move out sooner than we would have if boundaries and basic considerations had been respected from the get-go.  It will mean it takes longer to get back on our feet, it will mean taking longer to meet all our financial goals, it will mean uprooting ourselves again too soon after a move that was stressful in the first place.  But all those things are better than the alternative.  

It was very generous of my parents to finish their basement for us – it is beautiful, really, and we have more living space than before – and I am and will be eternally grateful for that.  Unfortunately, a beautiful house is not synonymous with a happy house, when there is discontent as there is now. 

I don’t think I will ever stop calling Garden Park home. When I’m in Orem for school, it feels like I should just drive up the hill to get home, not get on the freeway.  We made wonderfully close friends there that I hope we will keep forever.  It was the first and only home Averie ever knew.  It was actually the first place that ever felt like home to us. 

I hope we can find our next home soon.

Peter Cottontail

This is Averie’s bunny.  You will rue the day you accidentally try to put her down for bedtime or a nap without realizing she does not have the bunny.  Heck, should you ever even try to take it from Averie when she doesn’t want to give it up, you may wonder if she has begun lifting weights in her free time seeing as her grip will suddenly be ten times stronger than yours.

We even have multiples of the same bunny that we rotate so they are equally loved (translation: dirty :P) in case one should be lost or become so gross that I can’t bear to let her have it anymore.

Averie is more attached to her bunny than her pacifier, and that’s saying something because this girl LOVES her binky (it’s next on the wean list as soon as her molars cut through – that should be fun!). 

Sometimes we sit with her and sing “Here comes Peter Cottontail, hopping down the bunny trail…” with her while the bunny hops up her arm to her neck and then tickles her with his little whiskers.

Cute bunny story: Last night when it was time to go to bed, while we sang the song as we walked, Averie chose to hop all the way to her room instead of walking!  I love when she surprises us with some silly behavior – it can brighten even the worst day!

New Toy!

I have wanted a DSLR camera for years, but we had a perfectly good point-and-shoot and other expenses always took priority (rightly so, but still).  When I opened the box last night and saw the camera, "blown away" doesn't even begin to describe my excitement!  How Chris managed to keep it from me I guess I'll never know -- I am terrible at waiting for surprises.  

It’s a Canon Rebel T3, which is a fairly entry-level camera, but that’s perfect for me since, well, I am entry-level at shooting with a DSLR.  

Even better, Chris also got me photography lessons so I can learn all the ins and outs and features of my awesome new camera.  I’m glad Averie loves the camera because I have a feeling she is going to be my favorite subject! 

(Chris' gift was much less exciting than mine -- a new fog light assembly for our SUV, since ours was broken when we hit a dog running into the street a few years ago.  Chris was still very excited though, so that's all that matters!). 

7 Years!

Chris and I celebrated our anniversary today!

I can't believe it's been so long.  Time just seems to fly by and I love that seven years later, we still go to the grocery store together and text "I love you"s throughout the day like when we were newlyweds.  I hope we stay like this forever.

Chris surprised me on Friday by having flowers and chocolate-covered strawberries delivered!  Oh my, so delectable (the strawberries, not the flowers :P)!

Today, we FINALLY saw the final Harry Potter in the theater, although we had to take a raincheck on our romantic dinner for two.  As much as we both love Averie, it was still nice spending the afternoon together, just us.  

I really couldn't have picked a better spouse.  Chris is just downright amazing.  Of course he's not perfect, but he is perfect for me.

Looking forward to celebrating an eternity of anniversaries together!