GOOD NEWS!!

I just heard from my friend Diann, who's not quite 2 year old daughter Madeline had her tonsils out this morning. The news is very good!! Madeline is out of surgery and resting comfortably, "cuddling with Daddy". Though she will have to spend the night at the hospital at least the procedure is done. Rest well little one. Love Kate

Encouragement Please

So, I know that this sounds pathetic, but with us moving away from family and friends and me not having any siblings, I need some encouragement. As some of you know Mike and I have been trying for about 7 months to have a baby without any success. This is very disheartening, especially for me working in a clinic and seeing all the pregnant women, half of them not even wanting to have a baby. Added to this is the fact that though we are very happy for our new nephew, but somewhat jealous and wondering why it can't happen for us. So if anyone has any encouragement or inspiring words please share them. Thanks for letting me pour my heart out. Kate

California here we come!!

So Mike and I are going to get an early Christmas present. Mike's company is sending him to California to train some other employees the second week in December, and I get to go along!!! We are going to leave Dec 14th and return on the 21st. Neither of us has ever been to the West Coast and are really excited to take a vacation. We will be staying in southern California, near San Diego. If anyone has been there, or know anyone who has, we would appreciate any info. Looking forward to the sun, fun, and time away. Kate

Another Birthday Shout Out

I would like to send another birthday shout out to my little guy Owen. The big "O" is 4 months old today. He is growing up so fast already. Here he is reading a book with Dad.

Look at that concentration. He's going to be a smart one!

Happy 2 week Birthday Peyton Delaney Sanford!

I thought that everyone would enjoy a picture of Peyton Delaney Sanford. She is the 2 week old daughter of Jack and Lori Sanford (Hiligan). I recieved this photo last night and since she is 2 weeks old today I thought that I would share. ENJOY

Isn't she a serious little thing.

Busy Weekend!!

This past weekend was a very busy one for Mike and I. We started out with a 4 hour drive back to MI on Friday afternoon. We wanted to get their early to visit our favorite "Little Monster" Owen. He was actually only dressed like a monster and as always was a adorable angel.

Saturday was a very special day that started with Mike and my first visit with our new nephew Cohen. Though Cohen is proving to be quite a fussy baby, he took to me right away and was content to lay in my arms and "talk". The hour visit went by much too fast and before we knew it it was time to head to our next engagement.

The original reason for our trip back to MI was to attend the wedding of Amber Frost and Ben McClain. Amber is one of my sorority sisters and was a bridesmaid in our wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and really fun reception. A huge CONGRATS goes out to the new Mr. & Mrs. McClain. Mike and I were blessed to share in your special day.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!Enjoy the cuteness that is Owen!!!

It's Pumpkin Time

I just thought that that since tomorrow is Halloween I would take this opportunity to share a picture of the cutest little pumpkin in all of the patch.This is baby Owen who belongs to my best friend Leslie. Though he may not be my "official" nephew, I will always be his Auntie Kate. This picture is one of my favorites since the outfit that he is sporting was picked out with love by yours truly, right down to the strippy orange socks. He REALLY is a little pumpkin!!

Welcome to the Family

Just a little update on the post that I brought you yesterday. I just got off the phone with my sister in law Renee and the meeting last night went well. Sunday morning I will be an aunt for the first time when Casey and Renee bring home their new son Cohen Adam Stormes. Mike and I are very happy for them and look forward to meeting him when we visit MI next weekend. I hope to have pictures to share soon. Kate


Updated 2:30pm WI time:
Here are a few photos I just received of Cohen's first meeting with his new parents:

Welcome Baby Girl Sanford!!

I know that some of you remember Lori Hiligan and Jack Sanford. What you may not know is that they were married a few years ago, moved down to NC, and were expecting their first baby. Well, as of 4:30 am this morning, they are no longer expecting, but welcoming Peyton Delaney Sanford into their family. She is 7 pounds 13 oz and gorgeous. I wish that I could show everyone her picture, but the only one that I have is on my phone. Mom and baby are doing well and I will keep everyone updated. Please keep Jack and Lori in your thoughts and prayers in this happy, but stressful time. Thanks! Kate

New Nephew

I just thought that I would ask everyone to think and pray for my brother and sister in law. They have been trying to adopt a baby for about a year. Yesterday they found out that there is a one month old boy in foster care that's Mom choose them to be the adoptive parents. They are going to meet him today and then can go from there. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers and I will keep you posted.

One Year Later

I know that it is hard to believe, but it has been a whole year today that Mike and I left everyone we knew and loved and moved across the pond. Lake MI may not seem very big, but it was a HUGE leap of faith to leave the home that we had always known and move to another state. Looking back I wouldn't change a thing. Mike has a great job that he loves. I am working normal hours and love my job. Last, but not least, we have made a few GREAT friends here that make our time away from work tons of fun. Speaking of those friends, today we took a trip to a local pumpkin patch with Diann and Nadine, my friends from work, and their beautiful daughters. Here is a group shot from the wagon ride that took us through the pumpkin patch.From left to right: Mike, Giana, me, Megan, Madeline, and Diann (Nadine was taking to photo)
Hopefully the next year will bring an addition to our family and many more happy memories. I keep everyone posted.

Making Our House a Home

Well, Mike and I have been in our new house for almost 3 weeks. A lot of the unpacking is done and now it is time to decorate. In the last few days we have been putting our own personal touches up that make a house a home. Many of you have been asking to see the inside and how things are shaping up...so here go's.

First is our kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances and a large wooden dance floor. What, doesn't everyone dance in their kitchen?



Second is the dining room which is much bigger then our last one. I hate to say it, but this is the first time we have been able to see the top of the table since we moved in.



Last for right now is a few shots of the living room, which is really cozy and a great place to curl up and watch a movie.



I hope that these pictures tide everyone over. I will post more as the decorating continues.

ALL MOVED IN!!!

SO, the BIG move is over and we are OFFICIALLY living in the new house!!! YIPEE!! The only down side is that we can't find anything and have boxes, boxes everywhere. On the bright side, we had our new bedroom furniture delivered yesterday and it is even better then we had hoped. It was great to actually sleep in a real bed last night. The next to weeks will be filled with lots of unpacking and organizing, and then it is back to MI for GVSU Homecoming Oct. 11. We are very excited to see friends that haven't been together in a long time. Most of all I can't wait to spend time with my little Owen who is growing up so fast. I am looking forward to some cuddle and dress up time with my little guy. Well, there's lots to be done and never enough time, so I should get to it. Hope to see everyone soon. Kate

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!

Today is the much anticipated day that Mike and I become home owners again. At 4:30 central time we will be closing on our new home. Though there is still a few touch ups that need to happen, the builder assures us they will be done today in time for closing. After many late nights this week and 5 days without a normal dinner due to running around, inspections, and lack of food, the BIG DAY is here!! I am sure that this weekend will be very busy with moving, so when we are settled and have Internet hook up again I will post pictures. Please keep us in you thoughts that things go smoothly. Thanks for every one's support and encouragement. Kates

Our New Home!!!

Here is what everyone has been asking for:
The Finished Product!!!

All it needs is carpet and appliances. 5 days until move in!!!

This is our new address, if you're ever in the neighborhood, give us a jingle!!

ONE MORE WEEK!!!!

So, it's one week and counting until the construction is complete and Mike and I can move into our fabulous new home. Things are really coming together and the finishing touches are being done this weekend. This last week will be really busy, but at the end Mike and I will be the proud owners of our custom home. Monday/Tuesday the carpet is going in, Thursday brings the delivery of my appliances, and Friday is the big closing. As Mike and I's dream becomes a reality I thought that I would share a few pictures of my favorite features with everyone. So here goes...

The fireplace has a GORGEOUS custom mantel that is more then even my OCD mind could imagine

The kitchen counter is textured to add drama and the window over the sink was the reason we choose this floor plan

This is our master bathroom that's color scheme was inspired by a piece of pottery I purchased at the Madison Art on the Square. I think that it turned out great!

Last but not least this is the most difficult to find oil rubbed bronze faucet and framed mirror...It only took 3 months to find these and more then 10 stores.

Well, since this week will be CRAZY busy and you've seen all the best parts of the "while under construction" house, I'll catch everyone up after the big move. Thanks for every one's ideas and thoughts, they were very helpful. Kate

TWO WEEKS TO GO!!!

Well, as many of you know, Mike and I have devoted the last 4 months of our lives to building a custom home in an upscale neighborhood here in Janesville. The word devoted is not an exaggeration, since we spent at least 3-4 hours a week and countless trips to Menard's and Home Depot (we should have just moved in) for what seems like FOREVER picking out every little detail that is in this house. Who knew that heating vents came in so many colors, grout color has about 30 options, and that trim should be custom stained to match your wood flooring. UGH!!! Despite all of the choices, stress, and time invested in this house Mike and I both think that it was totally worth it and are slightly nervous as to what we will do when it is all done. Taking a deep breath and settling in will be first on the list. So, now what you have all been waiting for, pictures of the house as it is constructed.

This is our lot before the digging began

Me at the construction site after the flooding from early June finally subsided

Mike and I went home for 4 days in July and came back to this from a hole in the ground

This is the outside of the house as of 9-13-08. Just 2 weeks before closing and moving in.

So, that's the outside and though it's hard to capture it in photos here are some of our favorite features from the inside. Our favorite part of the whole house is the warm cozy feeling that we get from the rich colors, and that's without any furniture!!


As you can see, I love the walk in shower in the Master Bath. I never have to stand up to shave me legs again. It's the small pleasures in life!!!

This is the tile in the foyer, it is 18x18, and adds a WOW factor when people enter the front door. The grout is not in, in this picture, but it is a rich Terra Cotta color. LOVE IT!!

The corner fireplace in the living room is one of Mike and I's favorite features, who am I kidding the whole house is our favorite. The stone is supposed to look like the side of a European castle, which reminds us of our time in England.

This is one of our favorite rooms in the house, even without the stainless steel appliances. Since this picture was taken wood floors, stained doors/trim, and rich textured counter tops have been installed.

As you can tell from the way that I have written this Blog, Mike and I LOVE our new house and can't wait to move in and make it even more of our own. The closing is set for 4:30 in Friday Sept. 26, then we can move in and enjoy all of the hard work that we have put in. We look forward to having lots of house guests, we have 2 spare rooms and a guest bath, so just call and make your reservation at La Casa de Stormes. We'll leave the light on!!

SUPER Busy Weekend

This past weekend was Super BUSY for Mike and I. Saturday we started out at the Babger football game up in Madison. It was a blast and made us remember our long ago days at GVSU. The crowd was crazy and the students drunk...those were fond memories. The Badgers won the game against Marshall (as in We Are Marshall). The final score was 51-14.


Mike and I in our Wisconsen RED

Following the fun and game, it was off to do errands for the house. That took the rest of that day and ALL of the next. This house really is going to be the death of me, or at least my one way ticket to the nut house. We were able to accomplish alot including ordering our new bedroom furniture, delivering all of the lights/closet organizers to the site, and packing. Overall it was a really good, though extremely busy weekend.

Labor Day Weekend

Mike and I were very excited for this Labor day weekend, because it meant 4 days off to do whatever we wanted. What we wanted to do ended up being projects for the house and posing as beach bums. Every morning we started out working on one thing that needed to be finished for the house. Saturday that meant measuring for appliances and starting to shop for them. Little did we know that this would actually take 2 days of shopping and A LOT of negotiation!! In the end we got a really good deal on all stainless steel appliances that would make Rachel Ray feel at home in our new kitchen. Saturday afternoon we headed up to Mad Town/Madison (for those not from WI) and tasted some tasty treats at Taste of Madison. Who knew that you could say taste so many time in one sentence!



Sunday after the finalization of the appliances, that required another trip to the construction site, we headed off to the beach. We had big plans of going to Big Foot beach on Lake Geneva, but got tired of being in the car and stopped in Williams Bay. To our surprise it was also on Lake Geneva, BONUS! Little did we know the cost to swim in the "prestigious" lake was $6.00 per person. Being the cheapskates that we are we refused to pay and camped out in our lawn chairs just outside the "beach area". When the lifeguard wasn't looking we swam into the "pay to swim" area and had ourselves a good ole time. Here are some pics from our beach day #1.




Me in my biker beads that I found on the side of the road

The restaurant with a GREAT name that we had dinner at.




As if the world isn't small enough already, the waiter that took this picture is a Lambda Chi Alpha Alumni from UW Whitewater. He kept calling Mike "bro" which was really funny.

Monday, the actual holiday, we set out early to pick out cabinet pulls for the house. This, of course, required YET another trip to the construction site to count the number of cabinets and drawers. If people took the time to count all the cupboards and drawers in their whole house they would be surprised haw many their are. Then it was off to Menard's, our home away from home, to buy 50 pulls. Man, was it hard to carry them all!!

With our daily mission accomplished, we headed off to the next beach bum location on our list. This was a small lake that I heard about from a friend that was about 30 miles away and supposed to be CHEAP. Lake Ripley was really nice, since it was smaller, there were not as many boats stirring it up and the water was cleaner. Also, the beach was larger and not as crowded. We spent about 3 hours soaking up the sun and swimming

Me taking a swim...How Refreshing!!

Mike being a Beach Bum


To continue with the traditions of the Labor Day Weekend, Mike and I left the beach in search of a restaurant with a cool name to have dinner and I drink. This took us to the nearby town of Cambridge and a little place called "The Sports Page". The food was great, drinks strong, and the decor WI sports EVERYTHING. What more could we ask for.

The Happy Couple after a Couple

Well, with one more day off to go, I'm sure that we can find plenty of house projects left to be done. With move in day just 3 weeks away, there are lots of loose ends to wrap up. Pictures of the house will be coming soon. Until then, LATER.