I knew my camera was at my parents house! We went there last night for my nieces b-day party and I found it! Here are a few Christmas Break pictures:

Project Feed Me + other donations for the family whose house burnt down

Dave's SUV was so full we had to load stuff onto the trailer!

I was overwhelmed by the donations from others given for this family.  We actually had to turn a few things away because we could not fit them in the SUV or trailer!  It was an hour and 1/2 trip to deliver the items, so we had to pack it all into one trip. There was also a lot of money donated in addition to all of these items!  We ended up having TONS of food thanks to my sisters and parents donation of their PFM stash. I also donated my PFM collection to this family, it was perfect!  It was very humbling to visit this family in their temporary residence and see how much the didn't have.  They seriously had nothing. I thought we might be overwhelming them with things they didn't need or things they already had, but I was so wrong. They had nothing.  They had a sofa, a tiny Christmas tree, and a few clothes. Every time we would bring in a new item they would get so excited and express how badly they needed that specific item.  With the help of others, we unloaded almost 4 times the amount of items they already had into their home that night.  The items filled their entire living room area. They were so thankful and grateful.  It was a wonderful night. This family was in need and they needed our help. I am so thankful for all of you who helped and made it possible. I really only asked for items, and delivered, all of your donations are what made this possible!! Thank you so much!

Making Spiced Pecans….yummy!
(he didn't want to be in the picture so he ducked his head…what a dork)

We burnt the first batch..but the second batch was perfect!

Christmas Day

is he not the cutest?

Our Christmas Lights

I FINALLY took down our Christmas Tree on Saturday.  The house looks empty without it. Turtle is trying to find a new home, since she had taken up residence under the tree for a few months. We still have our Christmas lights up, Dave thinks we should leave them up all year round. I think he just doesn't want to help take them down…

I just found my OLD camera in a box that we unpacked yesterday. I was looking through the memory card and found so many fun old pictures! I thought it might be fun to share some of them with you and give you a look into my past….

Our Story
Dave and I were "set up" through my friend Annie. She and her husband were living in Seattle at the time and they met Dave through a mutual friend.  She told Dave about me and suggested to look me up on myspace. (yes i had myspace at the time…embarrassing).  Annie told me that he may try and look me up. He sent me a message and asked for my email. We emailed a few times, but I was dating someone so it kinda faded. Then a month or so later he emailed me again. I wasn't dating the same guy anymore so I responded this time.  We chatted over email for a week or so and then talked on the phone. Our first conversation lasted 7 hours. We stayed up until 4:00am talking. There was an instant connection.  After that we talked every night 4-5 hours a night for 3 weeks straight. 3 weeks after our first phone chat, he flew to Utah to meet me. (we had seen plenty of pictures of each other).  The first time I saw Dave, he seriously took my breath away. He was not as good looking as his pictures, but ten times better. I got so nervous and acted like a nerd for the first 15 or 20 minutes. I couldn't even find my car in the parking lot because i was so frazzled. I knew I was going to marry this man.

After our first meeting, we spent a month flying back and forth between Seattle and Utah. Everyday we emailed (multiple times) and chatted for hours.  Things moved super fast.  I would come and visit him for a week at a time (I worked from home and was able to) and he would come to Utah on the other weekends.  At the end of November Annie (my friend) and Mark let me know they were going to Utah for 14 days and if I wanted I could stay at their house so we didn't have to fly back and forth to see each other! We were super excited! I packed up my things and drove to Seattle 2 days later! (Crazy???….na….just in love). The rest of our story can be told with the pictures I found on my camera….hope you like it!

Christmas 2006
This was our first Christmas together. I had just gotten back from Maui with my family and I couldn't wait to be with him! We had only been dating 4 months at this point, so we were all googily. Dave flew me to Seattle to share the Christmas with him.  He didn't have an extra bed in his condo, so I slept on a miniature couch (it was all they had). 
It was just us over the holiday. One on one. We had so much fun! We delivered "bum" packages, made a yummy Christmas breakfast, opened presents, watched movies, drank hot chocolate and had a Christmas feast at McDonald's.  It was the only restaurant we could find open.  We ended the night going to a movie with Annie (my friend who set us up) and her husband Mark!

A week after Christmas, Dave got a job in Portland so we packed up his things and moved him.  It was really sporadic and last minute.  He left a job at Boeing for a new adventure at Freightliner in Portland.  I drove behind him in his car while he drove the Uhal.  It was only a 4 hour drive, but it felt like forever!

I spent a few days at his new condo and then flew home. The next day I packed up my car and moved to Portland. It was impossible for us to date in separate states, we HAD to be together. I worked for my brother at the time and he was so awesome and gave me a job working from home so I could be with Dave. I moved into an apartment complex across the street from his townhouse.  All I had with me was my clothes, bathroom stuff, and a blow up mattress. NOTHING else.  I was living on love!

Here is a picture of my "bed". It was a blow up mattress. I didn't have enough money for furniture and since I moved with such short notice, this was the best that I could do.

I spent all my waking hours at Dave's town house.  Since I worked from home and needed Internet, I had to go to Dave's house to work.  We ate dinner together every night, hung out…and then when it was time to go to sleep, I'd get in my car and drive 15 seconds across the street! (it was cold or I would have walked). It was important to us that we didn't live together before we were married. Although I really only slept and showered at my apartment my apartment was good for something. It was the principal of a deicision we felt was important.

Valentines 2006
This was our first valentines.  Dave left me a basket of chocolates and the sweetest note on my doorstep.  I decorated his house the night before and came over first thing the next morning to make him a yummy breakfast!

A month later, Dave went on a business trip to Germany and I came to the airport with a little surprise…I had died my hair! He barley recongnized me!! It was funny!

March 28, 2007 (the engagement)
I was sound a sleep and around 4am I heard Dave come through the door (this was pretty normal because we used to workout together in the mornings and he'd come get me). I was really tired and knew he was early, so I rolled over.  I felt him lay down next to me and grab my hand.  Then I felt him try and push something on my finger. After a few seconds I realized he was trying to slip a ring on my finger.  I didn't want to ruin the surprise, so I pretended to be asleep. He kept trying. I don't know about you but my fingers swell up at night, so there was no way this thing was going on.  He pushed harder and even pinched my skin. I still tried to act like I was still asleep. After several attempts, I knew he'd never get it on so I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him.  He pushed again, this time with my help and it went right on. He then leaned over and whispered "will you marry me". ….and guess what? I said yes!

His plan was to put the ring on my finger while I was sleeping, then I'd wake up and see it while I was working out! lol it cracks me up to this day!! It was super cute even if it didn't go just as planned! This is me after he proposed.

We got married in Utah, So I came home 10 days before the wedding to help prepare. While I was there I had six super fun wedding showers thrown by friends and family!!

June 1, 2007
Dave and I were married June 1, 2007 in the Bountiful, Utah LDS temple.  It was a perfect day.

We went on our honey moon to Maui and had SO MUCH FUN!

When we got back home, I moved out of my crappy apartment and into Dave's our town house.

After a few weeks of living together, we realized there was not room for the both of us. One day as we were looking for a new place to live, our car ran out of gas.  We ended up in front of a bunch of town houses……..these town houses, ended up becoming our home for 1 1/2 years!!
(we took a bunch of pictures to pass the time while we waited for AAA)

After we moved in to our new home and got settled, we made some car changes…
We set out to buy one car, and left the lot with two. It was fun/long. We negotiated with them for 5 hours until they finally gave us the price we wanted. We let with an even swap!!

ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR(sound of car breaks screeching) 

Ok, sorry about the interrupt in the story…but that is where the pictures end. I have more pictures to describe our journey from that point forward, but they are on my lap to and would make this post…WAY TOO LONG. How about I sum it up with words…
 We lived in our town house in Beaverton, OR for a year and half. We prayed everyday for Dave to find a job in Utah so we could move close by family and buy a home…our prayers were answered! We packed up and moved! As  you know, we lived with my parents for a year and 3 weeks ago we moved into our very first home!
……..and then they lived happily ever after

If you're still reading, I'm sorry to bore you. It was super fun for me to look back on all these pictures and think about all the good times we've had. I totally forgot about my old apartment complex and our first town house. I was reminded of inside jokes, butterfly feelings, and tons of other wonderful memories while looking at these pics.

I love taking pictures and am so thankful for all of the pictures we took and continue to take.  To me, pictures are the story of our life! Each year since we met, I have made a photo book with pictures in it of the year. I love both of the books and look back on them often! It is something I will continue to do year after year. I'm also setting a goal to put all of our pictures into a slide show DVD. If I to do this every year, it will be super easy in the future to whip the DVDs out and have a mini blast from the past session. 
Ok people, I think I'm done writing now……………………………………………………………….yup, I am.

QA: How did you and your husband/boyfriend meet??

Yesterday after work Dave and I did nothing but this…..all day/night long.  (it was heaven)

No joke! I got home from work around 4:00 and we layed on the couch watching TV and movies all night long.  We did do a little work maybe 30 minutes worth, but we were so tired we couldn't move (literally).  Dave's back was killing him and my foot and back were killing me. We still have SO MUCH work to do, but we HAD to take a day to rest..it was necessary.

We both feel much better today! I actually slept through my alarm and Dave's and didn't make it to work until nearly 9am! I feel like a new woman! Rested, relaxed, pain free (minus my stupid foot) and ready to go!  We are going to be closing on the house today! FINALLY!  Then we will go home to a house that is actually ours! We plan on hacking a bunch of stuff off our list tonight!

At your request, here are some pictures of the inside of the house.
I really don't have very many "clean moved in pics" of the house. It's still a mess, but here are some for now…..(excuse the disaster zones!)

We don't have a kitchen table yet, which will go in the area between the kitchen and Great room (obviously)…we can't find one we like….any suggestions?

Both the chair and the couch are going to go upstairs in the bonus room, we still have to find some furniture for the front room, Dave does not like that leather couch. But for now they will have to stay there until we get someone really strong without back problems to move them. That huge open book shelf was something we bought at an auction six months ago. It retailed for $10k and we got it for $400! We LOVE IT!

Dave in the process of hurting his back… (Master Bedroom)…No pics of the bathroom yet, oops.

Guest Bedroom

Computer/Office

I'm posting this pic of our closet to show the hard work my cute PREGNANT sister did! Yup, my sister is PREGO! I wasn't able to tell anyone until NOW! I am so excited for her!  She is my little sister and always beats me to the chase at everything! Married 6 months before me and now a baby! ha ha!! I seriously couldn't be happier for her. I'm not ready to have a baby quite yet, so this is PERFECT! I feel like it is happening to me! It almost feels like I am pregnant, it is seriously that exciting for me!  She is so awesome and is going to be the best mom ever!! I can't wait for everything that is to come! I am SO HAPPY FOR HER! She is due around the first of June! I can't wait to have another baby in the family!! So SO HAPPY! Yay Jac!! Here is just a taste of what she did for us this weekend…pregnant and all!!

Great Room/Living Room (my favorite place in the house)

Ok, I'm sure that is enough pictures for now. I'll post more once we get everything up, decorated and in place.

Thanks for all of your excitement and encouragement throughout this entire process!  We have had so much fun moving in and making it our own. We have a long way to go, but are just happy to be there!! 

Little turtle had a rough night her first night there. She was really scared. She is used to being in a 500 sqft area and I think all the space and openness scared her. She sat outside our door and meowed constantly for 4 hours. At 3am I finally brought her in the room and let her sleep with us. She got under the covers and went right to sleep. We were trying to be strong and teach her that she can't sleep in our room, but after 4 hours, no sleep and constant meowing we gave in. I actually feel bad for her because I think she is scared. She didn't leave our room the entire day until we got home from work. She was asleep under the covers in the exact same place we left her! haha! Poor little kitty! I'm sure she will get used it it, but for now, it is just a bit overwhelming!

We don't have internet yet, so I can't check my personal email.  If you have a question or need to email me in the next few days email me at natalie.k.shaw@l-3com.com. This is my work email, I will respond quicker that way!

Tonight I am starting day 3 of Widdle My Middle. I'm sure I could have worked in a 10 minute workout over the weekend while we were moving, but I just didn't have it in me.  Who cares if i'm a few days behind….Its doing it that matters!!

We STILL have not gone shopping, NO TIME. But lucky for us my parents brought us over groceries on Saturday! Enough to last us until I make it to the store. I read through all of your comments again and added so many new items to my grocery list I am pumped!! I know a few of you pointed me in the direction of some great granola and granola bar recipes…I can't find them. Will you send me the link or leave a comment with your favorite? I want to start making some bars asap. Dave eats a nutri grain bar everyday and I want to replace them with something healthy and natural!! Thanks for ALL OF YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT! YOU=THE BEST!