Getting Started

We finally have our house plans and are working on a few last things before construction on our house begins. We had a culvert put in this week for our driveway. Once we have a silt fence installed then the clearing of the lot can begin. Hopefully, we will start actual construction in about a month. That mainly depends on the rain though. Oh by the way, if you aren't interested in our home building experience then just ignore these posts. I'd like to have this experience documented to be able to look back on this in the future.

Here is a picture of our culvert. Exciting, huh!

The Hill Country

We had a great time in the Hill Country, even though it rained several inches during the beginning of our trip. The bed and breakfast we stayed at was neat. The main house was an old plantation home. They served a three course breakfast that was very good.

We went to some neat shops in Fredericksburg. Once the rain stopped, we went to a wildlife management area to try to take pictures for Shawn's publication he is writing on turkey habitat. All of the rain caused many of the roads to be closed on the way there, but we made it by taking a back way. We got about 3 of the 4 miles into the management area and saw that the road was underwater. At the end of the 4 miles is where the turkeys roost, so we missed the best part. Fortunately, we were still able to get some good pictures.

We also went to Wildseed Farms. We saw lots of beautiful wild flowers and had some great chocolate fudge and honey toasted pecans.

We had a really great time and would love to go back.

We are headed to the Hill Country

Shawn and I are getting out of town and heading to the Hill Country for the weekend. Shawn needs to take some pictures for a publication he is writing, so we are going to a management area to take pictures of turkey habitat. Exciting huh!!! It won't be all about work though. We found this cute bed and breakfast to stay at and we are going to go to the shops in Fredericksburg.

Learning to Faux Paint

The faux clinic went well. We decided to go ahead and get some paint and a piece of sheetrock to practice.

First we primed and painted the base coat.

Then we tried 3 different options for faux painting.


The first is called ragging off. You paint the glaze on and the dab it off with a rag. This is our favorite.

The second is similar to ragging off except you use a plastic bag instead of a rag. I think it is more consistent than the first one, but we like the look of the first one better.


The third one we tried making the glaze darker and then did the ragging off technique. I think it looks ok, but we like the lighter one better.


Overall, I was very surprised at how easy it was. I think we need more practice at making it more consistent and less blotchy in areas, but I think that will come with practice. I would like to start with something small like at bathroom before we try to tackle a living room.

Bridal Portrait

Finally, over a year after our wedding my parents received the bridal portrait from our wedding. It actually is a picture of both of us. I didn't take bridal portrait pictures before the wedding, we were just going to try to get a good one the day of the wedding. Well, I didn't like any of the pictures of just me so we went with the best picture of the two of us. I think it turned out beautifully. My parent's hallway is now complete with portraits from all three of us kid's weddings.

Faux Finishing

This weekend Shawn & I are going to a faux painting clinic at Home Depot. We are hoping to be able to faux finish some of the rooms in our new house. Has anyone tried this before? Do you have any tips?

Happy 4th of July

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July tomorrow. We are at the ranch hoping it doesn't rain, so we can enjoy a day at the lake and pool. Today Lindsey and I took the boys swimming for the first time.

Don't they look adorable in their swim outfits.

Happy 1st Birthday Luke!!!

Father's Day

We stopped in Fort Worth on our way home from Colorado

to spend Father's day with Shawn's family.

Here are some pictures from the day.

Shawn and his dad

Shawn's sister Shannon, niece Courtney, Dad, and Mom

Colorado

Shawn and I went to Colorado last week with my family. Sadly Lindsey, Kenny, and the boys weren't there. We drove there and back which was a pretty drive. We saw lots of pronghorn, mule deer, buffalo, and hot air balloons.

Mule deer

Buffalo

The tiny dots are the hot air balloons.

The weather was perfect, much cooler than Texas!!!

Shawn and I with our niece Lauren

Lauren rock wall climbing

(She is very brave for 3 years old)

My brother Casey and his son Luke