On My Mind Today

. : I could almost wet my pants I'm so excited to move into our lovely little place tomorrow afternoon!

. : Honey Bunches of Oats on vanilla yogurt is quite delish

. : A red door in our new kitchen would make that room pop.  As would the other yummy things I plan to do there

. : Household necessaries make for a slightly boring list

. : It's kinda awkward when I realize the first and most important room I want blinds for is the bedroom {cough}

. : Hubs is such a hero to say he will work another hot day in the sun tomorrow, then move our stuff in the afternoon

. : I really think I'm getting addicted to that stupid show 'Love in the Wild' {Check it out on Hulu.com}.  Why else would I have been so excited to watch it this morning.  I am really so lame and shallow?!

. : Baskets are my new favorite thing. Ever.  Period.  End of story.  And I'm in love with all the ones from Target that I got for wedding presents.  Too bad I can't live in a basket. Kidding.

. : Kinda embarrassed it's taken me so long to work on thank you notes for said gifts.  Lame person, I am.  

. : I love coming up with solutions for our no-shower-in-the-bathroom dilemma and having Hubs think I'm smart.

. : I'm still mad at the person who broke into our new house and left their - - how shall we say this nicely - - body waste on our bedroom floor.  You are a mean person and I don't like you.

. : I miss China.  And I kinda want a chinese baby.

. : Put on long pants today and it gave me a tiny ache for fall.

. : Decided today was a good day to pack.  Way to go self, you move tomorrow!

. : Tonight Hubs and I will clean through this house like crazy, ninja workers.

. : THEN we will go to Applebees and treat ourselves to Half-Aps

. : When the worship songs from our wedding ceremony play on my fav Pandora station, I feel all warm and fuzzy and exhilarated! 

. : Thankful for a reminder from a Mars Hill sermon that stuff can become my idol in life.  Jesus, guard my heart.

Food Lovin'

This is what we had for dinner last night.  

Wait.  Before I have a hoard of people after me for only feeding Hubs veggies for dinner and denying him his rightful entitlement to Meat, there WAS more!  {This is the only part I got photographed}

Dinnertime is one of my favorite moments everyday.  I love making food for Hubs and watching him goo and gah over the littlest things.  {And have a mentioned that he eats like a crazy person?!  I mean, eating and eating and eating.  It's kinda cute.  And the best part is that even if I'm making mac-n-cheese with chicken, he is excited and grateful as if I had made him steak and potatoes and salad and dessert.}  

Hmm.... I love him.

Moving on... 

So, not that this blog is turning into a foodsie blog or anything, but this little recipe I created after we got married is super easy and delish.  It's kinda like stir-fry meets spaghetti meets - - yeah.  This isn't selling it too much.  Moving on once again. *ahm*

FOR THE YUMMINESS:

:: Fry one pound of hamburger, drain grease and set aside 

:: Wash and slice your choice of veggies {I like carrots, broccoli, onions, zuccini and garlic}

:: Fry the veggies in a little olive oil until they are tender and lightly fried.

:: Salt to taste.  {I also like adding a special garlic spice mix from Henry's Grocery Store}

:: Stir in the hamburger

:: Pour half a can of Hunt's Pasta Sauce and warm through {This adds flavorful juice to the mix}

:: Serve over cooked pasta or rice AND maybe you could make some yummy Garlic Cheddar Bread.  Another of my brave little recipes. *huh*

See how easy that is?!  Yeah.  I thought so.   And I promise the husbands will love it!

- - - 

When The Rednecks Come Out

Friday night was a big moment in the live and history of Adam Neesby.

The entire blasting hot week, Washington County put on the annual summer fair.  

{Brilliant timing folks, brilliant.}

The demo derby was held Friday night and so Adam and I joined the fam to watch the cars demolished.  

One point I feel needs mentioning.  I had No.Idea. there were so many rednecks in Washington County. It's like they all crawled out of the woodwork for the event.  Scary, almost.  I was hoping I didn't blend in.  

The painted cars of all sizes would line up in the arena and at the signal they would begin smashing and crunching into each other as quickly as they could.  You could hear the hick hollars of guys surrounding us when their dude got a good hit.  I leaned over to Adam at one point to mention the obvious point, "Gosh, there's a lot of testosterone in that arena!"  

Besides taking advantage of that brief moment to play hick by yelling "Com'mon now", my favorite part of the whole night {and not counting the enormous tenderloin sandwiches for dinner} was watching the pure delight on Hubs' face as those overgrown boys crashed their cars into each other.  Funny how boys never grow out of somethings.

And apparently next year he wants to get his own car and win.

- - - 

We are finally on the countdown for moving into the house!  Ahhh!!  Can't wait.  I've been pouring over blogs and books, combing for ideas on decorating.  Also trying to connive a way to add a decorating tab to our budget.  Oh yes.  And a baby tab too.  Cuz I'm gonna be an auntie in January and I'm ridiculously, beside-myself excited!!  Those teeny baby shoes and little tiny hats are calling my name.  

Come.Buy.Me.

Happy Monday, Lovelies!!

He's Cute When He's Deciding What To Eat {and other things that i love about him}

I just love this boy.  Can I just gah over him for a minute?!

This week has been blistering blazing baking hot.  Bless his cotton socks, the boy never complains.  He comes home all dirty and sweating and usually has something good to say about the day.  

Sooo on Tuesday night it felt too hot too cook I wanted to do something special for Hubs.

After I picked him up and he came home to shower, I told him to get in the car because I planned a special surprise.

Funny thing I'm learning about him.  He gets really giddy and excited about surprises.  

{note to self: surprise Hubs more often}

I took us for a wonderful dinner at IHOP, which he kindly paid for and then we took a swim at the hotel pool next door.  It was a perfect time to just B.E. together.  

- - - 

Speaking of just being together.  Last night I had to babysit these lovely darlings who stole the show at our wedding in their puffy yellow dresses and the knickers and newsy hat.  

Hubs came after work and played all night with the darlings.  Check out what a hot little daddy he's gonna be someday.   

We walked to the library and each got two books.  Ate dinner and sipped on cold popsicles for dessert.  Read stories and took bathes.  Watched an ancient Mary Kate & Ashley movie and I told Adam that I am the same age as the twins.  To which he replied, 'gosh, we used to watch them when we were little.'  {I think he was implying that I'm kinda young}

And then we had some good cuddle time after the darlings were in bed  - - something about making up for all the lonely babysitting nights I spent alone all those years.

But you wanna know my most favorite part of all yesterday?!  It was those last moments before cuddling off to sleep when we tried miserably to get comfortable in the bunk bed we are sleeping in.  (Yup.  You heard that right.  Bunks bed, baby, oh yeah! )

Anyways.. moving on.  We started talking about baby names and proceeded to laugh our heads off until 1:30 as we discussed all the wonderful potentials.  Hmmm.... these are the moments that make it all worth while.

How Bowling Reminds Me Of China

Did you know that long yellow buses act like metal furnaces in the middle of an Iowa July day?!  

Shocking, but true.

Yesterday I drove for a summer camp that was going bowling.  Those 45 minutes I spent in the bus to and from the lanes gave me an entirely new appreciation for Hubs and everyone else who has so work in the heat.  Gosh.  Like a burning furnace.

- - -

As I sat in the bowling alley I couldn't help but smile at the memory of camp last summer.  The hotel we stayed at had a archaic place to bowl and each week we took the kids for a once in a lifetime experience.

This is no place like you will ever experience here in the US.  The lanes were angled and walking down them to get a better vantage point for a strike was a non-issue.  The bowling balls were cracked and some even looked like someone had taken a big bite out of the side.   I couldn't stop laughing over the hilarity of it all.

And the kids?!  They loved every second.  I wish you could have seen the complete mayhem that ensued.  Kids and bowling balls going everywhere.  They were running up and down the lanes.  Throwing multiple balls after another.  The gutters were getting clogged.  And no one could remember whose turn was next.



The joy that was there in that rickety bowling alley is something I will never forget.  It's what I'm missing as camp marches forward in China right now.  It's what I'm asking you to help make happen.

Bring Me Hope has a sponsorship program where $125 will send one child to camp.  The sponsor gets a phone call from their child while they are at camp AND a thank you letter and photo.  It's such an incredible way to make these moments possible.

If you would be willing to help sponsor one or more the {last 25 kids} that need sponsoring, you can click HERE and make it happen.

I know they would hug you and tell you thank you.

We'll Call This Serious House Cleaning

I had sky-high hopes of us and the fam power cleaning the entire 2295 square feet house newly acquired house last Saturday.  Yeah.  Not so much.  After spending almost three hours in the kitchen alone, I realized I needed to lower the expectations slightly.

My mom and dad far exceeded expectations though.  Gosh.  They are hero cleaners.  Would you guys believe that my dad almost does a better job cleaning than I do?!  For reals people.  He knows the perfect products for cutting grease, removing crust on stovetops and just about anything else we'll need to know.  And my Mom is pure encouragement.  It's really cute how she's so excited about our house AND the way she cleans and cleans and cleans like a crazy professional or something.  {Even though it was about 50,000 degrees in the house without the air!!}

The house looked pretty spiffy by the time we wimped out from the heat and headed to the pool.  I'm super stoked to move in in just 11 days.  The thought of unpacking all those wedding lovelies makes my little heart shiver in delight.  

It will be like house-wife-nicole rocks the world with .... I'm not even sure what.  But it kinda sounds cool.  For whatever it's worth.

I kept calling for Hammer Boy to pull out a bajillion nails all over the walls.  Lucky for me he has such big muscles for the job 

Do you see what a champ Hubs is?!  He took the nasty fridge and completely transformed it.  I must say I was quite impressed with these new-found cleaning skills.  It pays to marry the right dude, girls.  Yes it does.

Weekend Lovin'

It was seriously about 10,001 degrees outside this weekend.  And I must say I'm not lovin' it.

Ok.  Not exactly the truth.  I'm really lovin' it all.

From the comfort of our nice little air conditioned cocoon of a house.

Except for the few hours we spent out of the house yesterday, that is.  Saturday morning, the family rallied around us and helped cleaned the first floor of our {almost} new house.  

{more on that coming tomorrow}

I was in a somewhat stinky mood after cleaning in the boiling house and feeling all dirty and nasty.  I almost let said mood keep me from enjoying pool time with the sibs and Hubs, but thankfully I was able to snap out of it quick enough to enjoy the sun and water.
{Bad moods are dumb.  Why do I ever contemplate letting them control me?!}

ps.  do you see how super darn cute my brother is holding that baby?  that little guy fell asleep right in his arms.  i'm telling you, he'll one champ of a great uncle someday.  {this is not an pregnancy announcement.  i repeat.  NOT an announcement.  just in case you were wondering.}
- - -

Speaking of food - not really, but it's truly something Hubs and I talk about a lot.

I've really been hankerin' for a roasted hot dog and particular random moments the last couple days.
And since the thought of rounding up stuff for a fire, then sitting in the humidity and the clean-up afterwards made me break out in a sweat, I decided to improvise.

We had our own little roast in the comfort of aforementioned cocoon complete with smore's, country music and glasses of sparkling lemonade.

Now tomorrow is back to work ... my these weekends fly by.
Happy Monday!!!

 {Day Zero Project: 101 in 1001} 

Ever heard about it?!  No?  Ohmywor-da.  Then it's so good you are here.

101 things I would like to complete in 1001 days.  {2.75 years}    

Yeah.  Take that you mile long bucket list!  Here's my shorter version that I've broken down for the next 1001 days.  Stick around and you can follower the journey.

So glad you're here!!

- - - 

Start: September 16, 2011

End: 

Inspirational:

1. Write a letter to myself to open on our 5 year anniversary

2. Write 5 letters to 5 people who have changed my life {0/5}

3. Find a vulnerable child to encourage and help

4. Take a day for just Jesus and me

5. Leave an inspirational note in a library book for someone to find

6. Spend more time talking with Jesus

Health & Fitness:

7. Run at least twice a week

8. Do a pull-up

9. Run a 5k

10. Drink more water

11. Find out my blood type

12. Avoid gaining post-marriage weight the first year

Travel:

13. Train trip across Europe with Hubs

14. Take a spontaneous road trip

15. Visit Hubs college friends in Arizona

16. See New England in the fall

17. Back pack to Havasupai Falls with Hubs

18. Float down an Italian canal

19. Road trip to see friends in Tennessee

Crafty:

20. Design stuffed toys

21. Open an Esty shop

22. Complete 10 Pinterest-inspired projects

23. Make awesome fall decorations

24. Create recycled bead necklaces

Food:

25. Find and make 50 new recipes {0/50}

26. Decorate gingerbread houses with Hubs

27. Surprise Hubs with lunch at work

28. Buy a ice cream maker to use often

29. Eat lots of food at the Kalona Fall Fest

30. Make menus for delish meals

Photography:

31. Upgrade to a Rebel T2I

32. Attend a photography class

33. Do a 365 Photo Challenge

34. Do a balloon-theme photo shoot with Hubs

Hobbies & Skills:

35. Complete Chinese books 2 & 3

36. Ski a double black diamond

37. Learn to design websites in HTML

38. Take a dance class with Hubs

39. Learn to crochet

Family:

40. Go to a corn maze with Hubs

41. Make a baby

42. Go to a drive-in movie

43. Begin adoption exploration

44. Kiss Hubs under the Eiffel Tower

45. Go to a hotel just because

46. Do something special for Hubs' 30th birthday

47. Spend the weekend at our honeymoon hotel again

48. Volunteer at the MidWest Old Thresher's log village

49. Go on a camping trip with our new little tent

50. Take a hayride with Hubs

51. Take one weekend and lock ourselves in the house just like our honeymoon

52. Cut down our first family Christmas tree

53. Take a photo of Hubs and I kissing at 00:00 on the New Year

54. Visit Adventureland

55. Go to an apple orchard and pick apples with Hubs

56. Go ice skating with Hubs

57. Visit Disney again - - kiss on every ride.

58. Weekend getaway to Chicago

59. Have encouraging words and a massage ready when Hubs gets home from work everyday.

60. Take a weekend and go to Omaha Zoo

61. Watch the complete seasons of Psych with Hubs

62. Canoe trip with Hubs

63. Go back to Silver Dollar City

64. Do a huge zip line

Random: 

65. Have flowers sent to my mom and mother-in-law for no reason

66. Watch Brian Reagan live

67. Send 5 random friends a birthday gift {0/5}

68. Start a business with Bethany

69. Redo the kitchen

70. Redo the living room

71. Paint our bedroom

72. Redo the downstairs bathroom

73. Become debt free

74. Write a book

75. Host a Christmas cookie exchange

76. Compliment 10 strangers {0/10}

77. Buy a couch

78. Help my bro go on a mission trip

79. Plug into a home group through church

80. Build a massive snowman with Hubs

81. Go skinny dipping

82. See a midnight premiere of a movie

83. Host a big dessert Christmas party

84. Find a massive fireworks display to attend on 4th of July

85. Read 5 books recommended by friends {0/5}

86. Start a plant from a seed

87. Take my three little sisters on dates {0/3}

88. Hot dog roast on a cool night

89. Start a calendar journal

90. Host a themed baby shower

91. Make canvas prints for our house with fav photos

92. Give a Christmas gift to a random friend

93. Take one week off of all social networking sites

94. Repaint our kitchen table and chairs

95. Create a frame wall in our house

96. Send 3 care packages to sis in Mexico {0/3}

97. Do another girls weekend with Bolts and Tiff

Bloggity Blog:

98. Reach 1000 followers

99. Encourage other bloggity friends on a daily basis

100. Inspire one person to start their own 101 in 1001

101. Guest post on 10 blogs {1/10} here

Our Very Own 427

Well kids, we've gone and done it.  Gone and got ourselves a big 'ole house.  A house that we could fill with a million little blonde and red babies and never run out of room.  A house that is big enough we could invite all the cousins and aunts and uncles and sibs over to and have royal good parties.  A house that has lots of walls that I can't wait to paint delicious colors.  A house that the Hubs and I get to call all our own.  

We are so blessed.  {And yes, a little bit scared!}

Our goal was to find a place that was priced to fit our newly-married-budget.  {Translation: the-budget-where-you-live-on-love-and-not-big-paychecks}  A place that we could invest money into rather than throwing to the wind for rent every month.  A place that could be a blessing to others.  A place we could come home to between trips to China or California or anywhere else the wind blows us.

We became quite the experts at all the questions to ask when house hunting 

"So tell me, how many years does this roof still have?  How about the water heater?  What would you recommend fixing up to make this place more sell-able? ... ..."  

We learned so much and laughed more times than you want to know over our pure ignorance when it comes to houses and loans and realtors.  Ahhh... open mouth, insert foot.

It was beginning to get a little discouraging as we look at multiple house that were absolute dumps just in our price range.  It was starting to feel like that little apartment above the General Store was gonna be our new little money-hole home.  

But would you believe that in a way that only God can, we got a tip on Thursday about some home owners who were desperate to sell their 2200 square foot home, looked at it that night, made an offer Friday, talked to the bank and filled out paperwork on Monday, agonized over the indecisive owners on Tuesday and had the offer accepted on Wednesday.  

Can I hear somebody shout out a war-whoop for God?!  He faithfully comes through again.  Duh, like that's a surprise.  And the incredible thing is that the house fits our needs so perfect.  The upstairs has already been turned into a second apartment and so this fall we will be looking for renters, which will help this newly-married-budget out immensely.  And as our family grows in the coming years, we will already have a home that fits our needs.  I couldn't have even asked God for something more perfect.

He's pretty awesome... I'm not gonna lie.

{the hubs is pretty awesome too. also true story}

Summer For Realz

My spring was a crazy blur of wedding plans and house hunting and all the other crazy things that happen when you start this awesome thing called marriage.  After we got home from our honeymoon I spent a lot of days laying around doing nothing.  Just trying to recoup.  

{Thanks Hubs for working hard and letting me do this.  xoxo}

But something happened on our fun Fourth of July day together.  It felt like summer started for realz for me.  Ahhhh!!  I have a feeling this is going to be the best summer ever.  All the memories we will make send fuzzies around my heart.  So here's my list:

:: Girl's weekend with my new sweet friend, Amy, which will involve lots of chocolate, shopping and talking!! {She and her husband went to school with Adam and last weekend we got to have dinner with them on our way home from our mini vaca.}


:: Eating more fresh fruit and make yummy things with it.  {Like the perfect blueberries in the garden here and the watermelon smoothies I made today}


:: Take a camping trip in our new little tent and stuffing ourselves with s'mores  {Talk about serious, quality cuddle time with the hubs in our little zip-together-sleeping-bags.  Yeeeessss!!!}


:: Go swimming with the sibs at the pool enough times to finish the tan I started in the Bahamas

::  Introduce Hubs to the epic good times to be had at the Midwest Old Thresher's Reunion

:: Take more walks in the cool evenings on these nice deserted gravel roads.

::  Cash in those flight vouchers and spend a week with Tiffy in Mexico and maybe even sometime with my bestie girls in Fallbrook.  {Ahhh more girl time!! AND I must promise myself to eat loads of frozen yogurt while I'm there.}


::  Take advantage of the outdoor movies that are playing on Friday evenings in Iowa City.  {Can someone say more cuddle time and please let's bring lots of snacks.}


:: Hopefully move in our new house and set up our house for reals this time.

{i love summertimes being married to babes}

10 Things To Love From Our Weekend

{1} Being big grown ups and going on our first mini vaca together  {Ok it was only 3 hours into Minnesota, but this is a big step people, a big step.}
{2} Gooey chocolate chip cookies to stuff ourselves with while driving.
{3} Big hugs from my favorite Hedden people.  Yes.  I really think I want to be adopted by them.
{4} A trip to the 'Riv' {in the zero-air-conditioned-car, no less} where we went bridge jumping into the murky waters below.  It was really quite the experience.  Complete with me contracting some kind of eye/skin infection that left me with a burning sensation for days.  Lovely.
{5} Listening to the latest Brian Reagan and laughing to the dangerous point of wetting our pants.
{6} Half-Apps at Applebees for our Saturday night dinner and table games that left one person chugging a packet of salt.  {Poor Rachel, you should have cheated at the game like I did to protect yourself.}
{7} Watching the boys make plans to use brute force to break a limb off a tree and the hanging, swinging and shorts ripping that followed.
{8}  Dreaming about all we could do if we lived in Kunming together.
{9} Getting a bed covered in rose petals with a bottle of sparkling juice compliments of 'The Hedden Hotel'.  Almost like Honeymoon Two ... except for all the small children that were present in the house. Ahem.
{10} Lastly and definitely not leastly was listening to Hubs make an offer on the phone for our {possibly} very first grown-up, big house.  Gosh.  It's like we've gone from children to adults overnight.

{PS} Wish us luck, the verdict is in tonight.  Who knows, I could be blogging soon about all kinds of adult things like painting and cleaning and lawn mowing and everything else that big people do.

Vaca Time!!

I have been excited for our adventure this weekend in E.P.I.C proportions the last several weeks.  Gaaahhhh!!!

Our darling friends, the Heddens, {who I fell in love with in China back in 2009} are home in Minnesota for the summer.  Adam and I jumped at their first free weekend and are driving up to Big Lake tonight.  

The way that Tim and Amy love their family and serve their God and the people of China, challenges Adam and I in so many ways.  We respect and love them incredibly.  

Sooooo.... the next two days will be packed with laughing, stories, food, adventures, and lots of memory making.  I made Miriam promise me that would stay up all night so we don't miss a second together.  This means COFFEE!!  {Or chocolate for me, cuz I can't quite do the real coffee thing yet.} 

Happy weekend to you all!!

Our Perfect Fourth

Monday was a hugely fun day on many counts.   

First of all it was our make-up date night, as Hubs was sweet and fixed our little car on Saturday, our Real Date Night.  Secondly it was Fourth of July and that is always just plain amazing.  Especially because it's the first time I've been home in America celebrating in the last four years.  {China is a fun place to celebrate too with massive bundles of fireworks you can purchase for super cheap and set off all by yourself!  True story.}  And last {and definitely most important} was our momentous first month anniversary!!  Yay for 31 days of togetherness and 31 days of cuddling every night and 31 days of making memories and 31 days of lots of awesomeness as Mr and Mrs.  

We celebrated all these momentous occasions with a stroll through a pathetic cute carnival, one half-dead corn dog that Adam got for the discounted price of $3 {wow, sir, what a random outburst of generosity *cough, cough*}, a delicious dinner of quesadillas on fresh-pressed tortillas, and play time on deserted park equipment.  Oh yes, I can't forget the drive through the uppity-uppity neighborhood where we admired houses we couldn't even afford to rent for a day.  Ahhh.....   

    

The night was finished with fireworks and the fam and awesome times as we made attempted to make sparkler messages to our special people around the world.

{Yes that's you too Mom & Pops Neesby.  We miss you guys.  AND bro and sis.  And Tiffy in Mexico.  And our pals in China who are about to start camp.  And ... and ... whoever you else people are.  You are loved and missed.}