This is the post where we become adults

Before we were engaged, it seemed like there wasn’t a stress in the world. I always told myself that whenever my time came to be engaged I would make sure the wedding planning would be as stress-free and fun as possible… This idea lasted for about a week.

Over the last few months, life feels like a constant roller coaster for Jon and I and what better way to remember it all than to Blog about it?

• May Jon graduated from ASU with his MBA and soon after, he was offered a job with Boeing. He was sad to leave his job of 3.5 years working as a manager for Standard Register and all the good friends he made while working there.
• July 1st-29th we searched and discussed hundreds of different options for living arrangements for when we got married. We walked thru what seemed like a million different model homes and finally we signed the papers for this:

07.29.10

8.20.10

 

09.29.10

10.18.10

So far things seem to be moving pretty fast. Within weeks of signing all the paperwork the foundation was poured, the frame was up, now the electrical and plumbing is almost finished!

• If the stress and craziness involved in getting a loan and signing all the papers for a house wasn't enough... The builders made us pick out EVERY single thing that we wanted to go inside of our house...From carpet, tile, cabinets, counter tops, to appliances, blinds, light fixtures etc. I figured this type of stuff would all be decided over the 5 months the house was being built but instead we had to have it all picked out in ONE day! Who knew this could be so much fun yet so stressful?
• After making all these difficult decisions we decided the next best thing would be to start preparing for our wedding. Since then I've tried on far too many wedding dresses, made way too many stops at Hobby Lobby (the best store ever invented) picking out stuff for the reception, and most importantly I've realized no matter how hard you try, you will always end up spending way too much money on a wedding.
• Being the smart people that we both are we went out and bought expensive cars because we could afford them during the "dating phase" of our lives. Now that we are becoming responsible adults we had to learn that cars are a waste of money. (Yes family I FINALLY admitted that) Next on our list, was to sell our cars and only have ONE car payment. Weeks of searching through Craig lists adds, emails, annoying car dealerships and possibly one of the saddest days of my life we finally traded in both of our cars. Ugh...

I made the car salesman take a picture of us with our cars one last time. I'm sure he was thrilled

but he owed us after we put up with their bidding wars ALL day long...

The newest additions:

The Silver Rocket

The Family Wagon aka "The Marshmallow" or “The Mallow” thanks to my nieces :)

• We were sad to see our cars go but we have been more than grateful to get rid of our crazy high car payments and we have definitely been humbled as we try to become adults and learn to better manage our money.
• Now that i've written most of this post I realize almost everything I have mentioned so far has been about material/money items which I am not very fond of. However, I do want to document everything possible to look back on someday.

I would also like to add that we have received several comments from people as to how we are able to afford such a huge house? No we are not rich and no our house isn't huge. Our house is average size and because the interest rates are so low we felt it was the perfect time to buy a house at such a good price. Jonathan and I both feel that we are very blessed at this time in our life because we aren't just out of high school or just returning from a mission and trying to get through school. We are well past that point and we look forward to all the new and exciting changes in our lives!!

• Currently my job has been kind enough to let me work 3 days a week working 12 hour shifts so I can get ready for the wedding, move, and most important see my soon to be husband on my days off :)
• Jon has recently moved back in with his parents which has been a huge help in saving money until our house is finished in January.  We are also hoping that by then I will be able to quit my job and no longer have this long distance dating/marriage stuff.
• Last but not least, our wedding annoucements should be mailed out next week and we have an appointment with the builder on monday to do a walk-thru of our house so they can start on the drywall. We are so excited and cannot wait for everything to be finished! We will keep adding more pictures of the house once there are more noticable changes.