10 Years Together

10 years ago Thursday Mike and I started dating, after talking on the phone through an entire Viking Pre-season game.  It is really hard to believe that we have been together that long, I am starting to feel old.

 We have been through so many things is the last 10 years to list just a few of the happy memories:

• ·         started and graduated high school
• ·         met at the Mall of America for numerous dates
• ·         went to 2 proms, and at least 5 Home Coming Dances
• ·         made it through college, including me being in Sweden for 5 months
• ·         got Java in 2007
• ·         we have vacationed to Colorado, Maine, Hawaii, Sweden, Minnesota and numerous camping trips in Alaska
• ·         Mike took a leap of faith and moved to Alaska when I got a job out of college
• ·         moved into our first two condos together in Anchorage
• ·         Got married in 2008
• ·         Adopted Cora this past January, although it feels like she has been in our family for nearly 10 years
• ·         I  took a leap of faith and moved to North Dakota when Mike got his dream job as a Police officer
• ·         We bought our first home together

And those are just a few of the highlights.  I am in no way saying we have not had hard times.  Moving to Alaska, away from everything and everyone who we were close to was challenging.  Mike has lost both of his Grandfathers and we lost Callen.  But we have been each other’s shoulder to cry on.  Have made each other breakfast in bed, so the other would get up and go to work.  And have made each other laugh I am so thankful to have had Mike by my side through the good, the bad and the everyday.  He has kept me grounded and adds a bit of adventure into my life.  I can’t wait to see what the next ten, twenty, thirty and more years will bring.            

Last Picture Together in Alaska

Home Sweet Home

We are finally in our 1910 House.  We moved in on July 15th, my 25th Birthday.  It is great having our own space to do what we want in.  There are a few pictures above.

Granted I have not had a ton of time to "do what I want" since I have been working around 80 hours a week.   While nice for the bank account, not so nice to relax or do things around the house.  But miracle of miracles Friday I got off work at 3, after only working 9 hours and I also had today and Sunday off. AMAZING!  Friday we went to a few garage sales and found a new chandelier for the dinning room for only 10 dollars.  This morning we were both awake by 7:30, yeah we are getting old, so we we hit up a few more.  We found a couple games, a paint roller and some canning jars.  Then we dropped Cora off at Grandma O's for the day and  Mike and I made a big trip to Minot.  Primarily to go to Menards.  But we also went to Hobby Lobby, the Mall, Target, and out to eat at Ruby Tuesday.  I also got my hair cut, finally.

Any who at Menards we bought 3 ceiling fans for the up stairs bedrooms, a 6 foot ladder, and a bunch of painting stuff.  We also bought the game ladder golf and some cream soda.  We plan on painting the main floor bedroom which will by my craft room and our office soon.  White/cream on 3 walls and a magenta color on one wall, which will brighten up the room since it is currently wood paneling.  My parents are coming up on labor day weekend!! Mike and my dad will install the new lighting.  Dad is also bring us a new water heater and a conversion for the claw foot in the upstairs bath, to make it a shower too.  

We are loving the new house and are so excited to have guests.  The guest room is ready so just let us know when you are in the area.  Until I have time to write again.  Love ya Megan and Mike

1 night

One more night and Grandma "O's" place and then to our own home :)  We close tomorrow at 2:00 PM tomorrow.  Wish us luck!
I will post pictures when I can.  We still have not decided what to do for Internet yet.

Alive

We are alive... barely but here we are.  Mike has been working like normal.  Megan has been working up a storm, think 75+ hours a week, which is why there has been like no post lately.  Last weekend, for the 4th Megan had Friday-Monday off and we headed down to Huron South Dakota to visit our "Alaskan" Friends Hans, Samantha and Jacob.  It was a great weekend and really felt like summer.  Mike and Hans took a trip to Mitchell to go to  Cabela's and Home Depot.  They also stopped by the Corn Palace.  Samantha and I went to the city pool, while her mom had Jacob at home.  We had a great time relaxing and sitting in the sun.  Saturday Night we went to some fire works.

As for our house :)  We had the appraisal last Thursday. And sadly it can in at $6,000 below what we offered.  And the bank wanted them to fix a toilet in the basement bathroom and the sink in the closet in the basement.  I freaked out.  Thinking there was no way the home owner was going to go down that far.  Guess what she came down $5,000 and is going to fix the plumbing issues.  As long as the plumbing issues are fixed by Wednesday we will be closing on Friday at 2!! Happy Birthday to ME!!!
 
We plan on cleaning most the afternoon/evening on Friday.  And actually move in all out stuff on Saturday.  Well we will move in at least a bed on Friday so we can spend the night there.  I am taking Friday and Saturday off of work so we will have 3 days to get the house in order!      

Great Weekend Again

Yesterday was a great weekend!!  I worked 13.5 hours on Saturday so Sunday was my only day off.  Mike and I made the most out of it.  First off we set and alarm for ten thinking that we would play hooky from church, unless we woke up in time (tsk, tsk I know.)  But I woke up at 8:45 so we had just the right amount of time to make it to the 9:30 service. Plus I felt well rested!  We left Cora with Grandma O. And after church we headed into Minot.  I like the town we live in but the only "Big Box" store is  Wal.mart.  Which I prefer not to support, but shop there since it is the only real option for a few things.

On the drive to Minot we made a list of he things we would like to upgrade in our new house!!  Lets just say the length of the list is much larger than our bank account will currently allow.  but we think we have the projects which we are going to tackle this year nailed down. 

I was awesome to be in a real mall in Minot.  We went to Target, Sears, Old Navy, Scheels, and many other stores.  We ate lunch at Grizzlies, it was fabulous.  Mike ended up getting a Under Armor Shirt for work and I got a super comfy long skirt from Old Navy.  And we picked up a few items from Target.  Then we went to Menard.  If only money were not a problem.  We looked around at the the prices of different things and got ideas on how to update the "Red Bath of Horror".  

We cannot wait to move into the house.  I cannot wait to get a kitchen of my own again.  Mike can't wait to have a lawn of this own to manicure.  Only 3 weeks 4 days!!     

Theodore Roosevelt Nation Park

Saturday the construction crew took the day off!!!  Which was perfect because my Mom and Dad were up for the weekend.  Saturday turned out to be a BEAUTIFUL day!  So while Mike slept, since he is on night again, we loaded up the car and drove south to the North unit of Theodore Roosevelt Nation Park.  We did about a 2 hour hike, the canons are breath taking.  We also saw 4 bison, some flowers, and birds. Here are just a few pictures

Mom and I at the Trail head

Dad and I on the trail

Bison

Mom and Dad

On the way back

On the way to and from the badlands we drove through my construction project and then across the Missouri River.  Which if you have not hear is at a record high of 29.02 feet, the previous record was 28.00 feet in 1912.  Thankfully right where we live there has not been property damage yet, but is both Minot and Bismark the flood fighting started a month ago and continues on.  I really hope they do not have the close the road shown below because it would add 20 minutes to my drive to the construction site.   

Missouri River 

Construction Season

So for the next 90 days I am in Construction Mode. I am an Inspector/Engineer on a 20 mile road project in Western North Dakota.  It is a 25 miles drive from our office.  Tuesday started our Project.  This week I worked an average of 12 hours a day! Tuesday to Saturday.  I start on Monday morning.  We work 6 days a week and if the Contractor had it his way it would be 7 days.

What it boils down to is ZERO Free time.  And a TON of Over Time pay or Comp Time coming.

On a house update we have our appraisal date set for July 7th.  That is only a week before our Closing Date, YIKES!!  I hope and pray that everything goes O.K.  Our Realtor said the seller is still working on fixing the leak in the Master Bedroom.  Mike and I have been looking at ideas for our Bathroom and Kitchen!!  I plan on using some OT Money and Comp Time for some DIY improvement projects on our house!!