Monday, December 27, 2010

Have you received your Christmas cards yet?

Well, you shouldn't have received anything from us! Why...do you ask? Well, let's say Lauren had a few blonde moments between Thanksgiving, moving, and well Christmas. Whoa! Hold the phone.... you are probably thinking "Lauren, it is December 27th...Christmas has already come and go! Yes, you are correct. However, thanks to silly postal service and my brain I just received my cards in the mail this weekend. I accidentally put the wrong zip code. You see we are moving from our current home to our new home! So, my brain up there isn't working as it should be. I am packing, moving, organizing, and shopping 24/7 it seems to get this little beauty in time for the new year!

here is a sneak peek picture of our new home!









Stay tuned...I will be having a house warming party in February! We will show you all the new house and of course food, food, and more food will be provided :)

Back to my blonde moment....

I don't know how I mailed the Christmas cards to the WRONG zip code, but I did. It was lost in the U.S.A. some where, so I had to RE order my cards. Now, lucky family and friends you will receive your cards within the next few days in time for New Years!

Here is a sneak peek of what the cards look like

And I am one happy girl because I got them in the mail without having difficulty :)
You just have to smile when things like that happen! Definitely, it has been an interesting and unforgettable 2010 Christmas Holiday!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Dear Santa

Dear Santa!

We are soooooooo million times excited for this Christmas season! We have been extra extra extra good this year! We know you check your list not once but twice to see if we've been (ughhhh) naughty or nice!
Well, this year Santa we wanted to tell you how much you mean to us! We absolutely love this time of the year where we get to celebrate Jesus birthday and enjoy our Americanize traditions as well.  So far...this year we have trimmed the tree(literally 6 inches), decorated the house( even though we are moving in days), and baked all sorts of goodies for you to enjoy as you fly in to see us!
I forgot what your favorite cookies are? Please, make sure you tell me in time (in case) I didn't bake  your favorite ones!
You see Santa our address that you've been flying to for the past 3 years will no longer be where you thought. We are moving! Can you believe it, Santa? I know... I know.... but it is a way cool house with a big kitchen, bigger rooms, and guess what a fireplace! You can actually use the fireplace, so no more using your" magic" to squeeze in to drop off presents! Oh, don't worry about Cooper he will behave this time around, so Mrs. Claus won't have to patch your pants up again!

If you run into a WHITE fluff ball that is just-- Bentley. He is our new addition to the family! No kids, just dogs Santa Claus!

Well, I guess I better go! If you were curious what we would want for Christmas our lists are noted below!
Thanks Santa!
Love,
The Peterson Bunch

Erik's Wish List:
  • Home Depot Gift Card
  • Game table ( Air Hockey)
  • Cranium (The game)
  • Tools
Lauren's Wish List:
  • Visa GC or cash( home decorations)
  • Hobby Lobby GC
  • Epson Workforce 1100 printer( amazon has FREE super saver shipping)
  • William Sonoma GC
THANKS SANTA! Can't wait until you stop by!
Excuse the flowers coming out of my head, please!

                                                                                                         Credit: The Elite Image

Monday, December 13, 2010

And the house is SOLD!

Yep, that is right! Our beautiful 1600 sq ft house that Erik and I made good and not so good memories in is officially in pending mode! God completely led people to our house and it SOLD after 4 days of being on the market! If that is not a God thing then I don't know what is.

Of course, we are sooooo million times excited about this decision because we are moving on up(la la la) but we also have made some unforgettable good and not so good memories in this house that we are kind of having trouble letting go.

The good memories:
  • we will always remember walking down the hallway and seeing our made with love hardwood floors that dad, hector, and Erik did all on one weekend 
  • I will always remember the 1st time Erik picked me up and took me over the threshold as Mr. and Mrs. Peterson
  • The 1st time I had a dinner party and gave almost cooked chicken to my guests before checking to see if the chicken was done
  • The parties I had or hosted at my house for Stefanie's bridal shower, Hector's baby shower, My graduation party, Bi-weekly bible studies, and many many more!
  •  We brought Cooper home for the first time!
  •  We brought Bentley home for the first time!
  • Cooper carried Bentley with his mouth all through the house.
  • We cried, encouraged, screamed, and loved each other for the past 3 years
  • We spent our first, second, and third Christmas together
  • We watched movies in the living room together every single night
  • Lauren had her 1st scrapbook room
  • Loads of laundry never got done
  • Erik, Lauren, and Cooper made Welcome Home sign for Gooma and Grandpa
  • We put Cooper and Bentley's placemats
  • Lauren cut Erik's hair in the dining room
  • Erik grilled his first burger, chicken, and steak
The things we learned about each other in this  house:
  • Erik learned laurens way or hmmmm let's try that again...
  • Erik learned to take care of Lauren when she was sick
  • Lauren learned to take care of Erik when he was sick
  • Fights were made because of the never-ending honey to do list
  • Erik and Lauren learned how to "compromise"
  • Lauren realized Erik's obbession for Football was a hobby and no longer a past time
  • Erik learned Lauren wanted to decorate her nest the WAY she wanted it bc Erik didnt have a clue
  • Erik learned to stop "bucking the system" and let Lauren have her way with things
  • Erik learned if LAUREN isn't happy NO one is happy
  • Erik learned to love dogs because of Cooper and Bentley
  • Lauren learned to give Erik time
  • Lauren learned she CANNOT cut Erik's hair
  • Erik learned to go to a pro for his haircut
  • Erik learned to be a handy man
  • Lauren learned she loves asparagus and Broccoli
  • Lauren learned she HATES fruit but doesnt mind SOME veggies 
  • Lauren learned to be a cook and love it
  • We both learned to be patience with each other  
  • We both learned that marriage isn't easy
 The not-so-good memories:
  • The times we both "yelled" at each other to get our point across
  • The times lauren used the credit card a little too much that month and Erik sat Lauren down and explained finances to her
  • Erik got mad at his computer and nearly threw the keyboard and mother board outside
  • Lauren slipped on the bathroom floor because Erik didn't wipe up his water
  • Cooper threw up in our bed 
  • Bentley decided that all rugs was grass and used it for a rest room
  • Erik made a hole in the wall because he didnt use his stud finder
  • Lauren got glass in her foot bc Erik dropped the laundry canister on the floor(accident)
  • Lauren got mad at Erik and decided to paint POLKA dots on the ceiling to prove a point
  • Erik painted the master green THEN lauren realized she HATED the color so Erik sweetly changed it baby blue
Yes! We have had many GREAT and no so great memories, but we keep on keeping on with LIFE and the many blessings God gives us!

The update is as of now...
 Our house on Brendon Trail Lane will be no longer be ours January 13, 2011. We close on our new house December 17th! We move OFFICIALLY after Christmas!

We wanted to say thank you to everyone who keeps us in their prayers and thoughts! We have had a fabulous 2010, but we couldn't have done it with out your love and support.

Here are some random pictures














Friday, December 10, 2010

Which one...that one!

It's that time of year again...where we all get our Christmas decor, music, and trimmings all out! This year I am soooo in the spirit! God has been so good to us and why not be in the bestest mood to celebrate our Jesus' birthday!
As for the Americanize traditions Erik and I always get our Christmas tree early on... right after Thanksgiving at the Old Christmas Tree Farm! They are the only Christmas Tree Farm that has our special smelling like Christmas Tree! The branches and the smell are the most amazing thing on the tree!

This year I wanted the BIGGEST tree we can fit in our house because I wanted our last Christmas in this home to be most special of them all :)














Here's the rest of the gang...










Every year we like it to be at LEAST 40 degrees, hot chocolate/coffee in hand, and have your "hunt" on for the bestest most beautiful tree out there.
Well, this year it was 60 degrees, no drinks in hand, and we were all a little bummed at the selection this year. However, we FAKED it :) hehe we wore coats and had smiles on the entire time..
The Hunt was ON.....











Now, the tradition is...Dad, Erik, or Ryan stand by the tree(s) we select are okay until we find "THE ONE"
Here is dad manning his post next to the "maybe this is it "tree











Until Erik get dad distracted by talking...









I hear I found it from mom...so Dad rushes over to MAN his other post. The tree they picked out was a bit skinny then normal but it was standing Tall and PROUD.
I was still on the hunt for the ONE.












Finally, we find the beauty! Erik mans his post until "kurk" arrives. Kurk is a tree hauler who works here every year!












They haul the 10 foot beauty off to get shaken and bagged.













We check out with a 10 foot tree and a beautiful Balsam Wreath for the door









Dad loads up the trees and we are headed to the Petersons household!









Upon our arrival, we forgot to "measure" our ceilings! So, we ended up shaving some of our tree. It was 10 foot now it's 9.5 foot.
Picture of it all decorated and trimmed will come soon...

Thanks Mo and daddy for all your help, fun, and laughs!

Next...Trans Siberian Orchestra  at the Toyota Center
We got all dolled up and ready for the best concert in town.










As we arrive-- we realize we have "floor" seats. I was soooo excited to be the 13th from the front on the floor. We could almost smell sweat we were that close!













The pictures are awful quality. Erik took better pictures with his Iphone.
Pathetic...quality...

Erik...I would like to get a new point and shoot. If you are reading this I would like a Nikon Coolpix P7000 and guess what it's on sale at AMAZON. Or you can tell Santa that is what Lauren wants from YOU this year. Tell Santa Claus I have been such a good girl this year and I just love him too pieces~

I even wrote my letter to give to Santa for YOU!


Dear Santa,

I have been such a good girl this year! I have eaten all my food up and given my veggies to Erik. I haven't gotten one single speeding ticket or changed my car out :) And if you are wondering I have been a good wifey too! If it's not too much trouble I am wanting a few items!
1) MAC computer
2)NIKON COOLPIX p7000 link:http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Coolpix-P7000-Digital-Zoom-Nikkor/dp/B00427ZLRO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292002643&sr=8-1
3) Money for Home decorations

I have a whole lot of other items I wouldn't mind having, but I gave you a few.
I know you are a very busy man, but if you could give me something on my list I would be the HAPPIEST and most grateful person in the whole wide world.
love,
your biggest fan,
Lauren

The search is almost over..

Erik and I have been praying hard about whether God wants us to move or not. We have been diligently looking for 6 months for the "nearly" perfect house for us! God has been so faithful throughout this process, and he has closed doors that we tried to open. snicker snicker... We widened our search from Discovery at Spring Trails, Spring Trails, Creekside, and other neighborhoods in The Woodlands. Our hearts belong to Spring Trail because of the great memories that were created here. However, we knew at some point-- our memories would have to be broadened  a little. So, we began our house hunt in June. We looked at all sorts of builders from building a house, buying new, or even preowned homes. We finally found a beauty in Creekside located in The Woodlands. This builder's floor plan had it all: Gameroom, open kitchen, huge rooms, and of course a scrapbook studio for me. We prayed about our decision and felt God was opening up a door for us. We pursued on signing a contract on the home. However, the contract fell through for several reasons.

Our hearts were broken, but we continued to give glory to God and continue praying! At this point, we felt that God was shutting all doors for "moving" so we continued to seek Him in anything we did! Our diligent house hunt was done. I decided to "finish" decorating my current home. We both love our current home why not DECORATE IT to the fullest. We did that... and we renovated some things and added some! Our house was absolutely breathtaking! It was the perfect home for a little family.

We made a lot of memories looking at all 40 something homes, frames, and land lots.



















In Mid- November I get a phone call from a realtor (Johnny Schiro) who received my information from the first neighborhood we looked at (Discovery At Spring Trails). I answer my phone and we catch up. I tell him our story and how we are done looking. He tells me his listings that he has in those areas we were looking at. I didn't want to talk to him, so I told him to email me the listings. I get home and open my email up. Of course, I knew already I wasn't getting my hopes up on a house. I see a house in Discovery At Spring Trails located on White Sage Cove! I click through the pictures and my heart flutters. Immediately, I fell in love with the house. I got the "this is it" feeling except for the cabinets. I knew Erik wouldn't go for it. So, I prayed about it in peace. I asked God to reveal Himself if this was the house for us. A few weeks went by and Erik and I get a phone call to do a photo shot in The Woodlands. We were on our way and Erik and I got "house" fever. We made our way through all the model homes located in the neighborhood, and I reveal the "house" I had in mind. The one located on White Sage Cove. Giddy at the time revealing to Erik what I have been "secretly" praying for I tell him and show him all the details on my iphone!

Erik and I decide to visit the house with an open mind. We walk in and we both immediately got the "this is it" feeling. I tell Erik I love this house except for one thing! The cabinet color needed to be a bit darker for me to call that my kitchen. He agreed on the cabinet color, and we called Johnny for more details.

Days later we meet with Johnny and discuss the house, offers, and etc. business details. We gave an offer on the house that night. The next day, we get a phone call saying the "man behind the curtain" will meet you at this point. Erik and I pray about it and decide on the highest number we would be willing to go up to. Erik and I thought it was a long shot for " the perfect storm" for all this to work out. So, we wait patiently for days. We finally get a phone call and he rejected it. Erik and I were not heart broken because we knew God was in complete control and we were so blessed to have a place to call HOME.

That next day it was a Friday! I was at work when Erik called me and told me the "guy behind the curtain" will meet us with the number we gave him. SHOCKED as can be....I simply asked God is this you in this situation and do you want us to do this? I have felt peace about this entire situation I told Erik I feel that this is right, however let's pray about it and let him know Monday. We prayed that entire weekend for His will, peace, and direction. On Monday, we both felt at peace about this decision and told Johnny to tell him we will go for it! Before we knew it we had two houses....

We hired Johnny to be our realtor to sell our current home as we got ready for the new house!
Johhny and his team came to the house and took pictures!
Here are the pictures of our beautiful home we are selling...























Now, we are selling! So, please pray for us...throughout this decision! Pray that God is the center of it all and this is Will :)