Saturday, January 9, 2010

Won't you be my neighbor

Wow, life has been busy around our house.


Too busy... and I don't like "too busy".


Over the holidays my hubby and I celebrated our 10 YEAR anniversary, Wahoo!

Not only does this anniversary mark 10 years of marriage but also 10 years of school. That's right, my husband has been in school/ training full-time for our entire marriage, 10 YEARS!

But all that changes soon...

This summer he finishes up his residency in emergency medicine and at 32 we will finally get to be real grown-ups with a real job... I'm a little nervous.

We've been students for so long (and when I say "we" he is the one in school but when daddy is in school the whole family is in school... you know what I mean).

The good news is he has already lined up a job in Richland, Washington (tri-cities area). The bad news is we don't know anyone there and we have to sell our house and leave our wonderful friends in Kentucky and move across the country. :(

Such mixed emotions.

So while the blogging world is busy cleaning and organizing, well I am no exception, only that I am cleaning our cute little home (and taking lots of pictures) so we can put it on the market.

This is what I've got so far...




My front porch swing. Here's the before.

Wondering what is above my cabinets??

It's fake grass and I love it!!


See my funky framed chalkboard in our loft/ craft room/ playroom? I still love, love, love it!!

And of course you remember that $5.00 dresser the "silly lady" sold me.


Inside the playhouse of course.

.



This is my girls room with their "blooming" dresser.

Boy's room re-do.


Remember my master bathroom re-do?
I added some dark brown ribbon to the sides of my curtains to give them more weight and tie the brown in on that wall.

I still have a few rooms to go.

It feels so good to de-clutter...

if only it would stay this clean!!!

36 comments:

mommieof4munchkins said...

I will sorta be your neighbor, I live farther north near Everett, WA (about 3 hrs away) but we LOVE LOVE LOVE the pacific northwest! How sad to have to leave such a beautiful house that you have put so much work into but how fun to be able to start such wonderful projects on a new house! Can't wait to see what you do with the new house!

seven thirty three said...

Ooooo - you have a corner fireplace with a nice state;u mantle! My corner fireplace mantle is a fraud. Just this little meesly stinking board! I am going to have to show my husband yours so we can figure out how to fix ours! That is like the one thing in my house I really hate! :) You can see it in this post.

Good luck on the move... I'm sure you'll make lots of new friends in Washington.

And congrats to your hubby.

Amanda said...

My brother and sister-in-law moved from Oklahoma to Richland, WA. They LOVE the Pacific Northwest also. I've not been there, but they say the area is just beautiful and the people very friendly. I'm sure you'll feel right at home in no time.

Anonymous said...

You will love the Tri-Cities - so many great people! My hubby and are are both from WA and have cousins and tons of our college friends in Tri-Cities! You'll have a temple close and there are a LOT of members in the area. Warm summers, and a bit windy but you'll get used to that. Good luck! If you need specifics about wards/areas just let me know! :)

Liege said...

Everything looks great. Very good job.
Can I ask where you got the bedding that in the crib in your boys room? It is so beautiful and I love those colors.
LiƩge

Crystal said...

I grew up an hour away from Richland but have some family still there. Its a great little city and I love Washington! Also your house is so pretty thanks for all the great ideas.

-Crystal

arah said...

You will love Richland. We live in Spokane, about two hours north of the Tri-cities. It's really beautiful in the Northwest. Lots to do, lots to see, especially if you like the outdoors.
Your house is beautiful an I can't imagine that it will take long to sell.

Lynn Kellan said...

All your beautiful work in your home will pay off; I'm certain you'll sell it easily and quickly! Best wishes on your upcoming move East.

Wendy said...

Your house looks great!!! Look at it this way you will get to find a home you will get to redo all over!!! Can't wait to see what lies ahead in the new home!

Mama Thompson said...

I guess the good news is you will be closer to you sister in UT. I grew up in Seattle (miss it) and am now in UT...actually just made the drive and had a pit stop in Richland...took us about 10 hours to get there...see? so close:)

Carrie Snider said...

Oh you will love Richland! I moved to Yakima several years ago. The PNW is such a great place. I especially love WA.

Charlotte said...

I am so jealous. My husband is an ED physician and I have TWO siblings living in the tri-cities area. I fact I have been half heartedly trying to convince my husband to look at the hospital there for a couple years (but he is pretty happy with his director position across the country). Good luck with your move. I'll tell my brother in Richland to keep an eye out (especially if you happen to be LDS?)

Connie Babe said...

i do love your house...and can't wait to see what you do in your new place.

and i do know some folks in oregon that are excited about having family closer! :D

Suzy D. said...

hi,
your home is beautiful!
i've been married for 31 years and being in the ministry... we've moved 13 times in the first 20 years!!!! As creative as you are you'll have just as beautiful a home as this one :)please keep us updated on all the new creations you come up with

Natalie said...

Hey Katheryn, I recently found your blog. You have the cutest ideas and such a cute house! Someday when we're not poor students anymore I want you to come decorate my home. I wish we could move into yours!
I'm sure you'll love WA. Tri-cities are has decent wards as far as I know and it's closer to family than KY right?

Katie said...

congratulations! My dh is also in residency, so I feel your pain!! Good luck with the move. You'll love WA!

p.s. I love love love love love the playhouse/loft!!!

Goings on at the Glenn's said...

Best of luck changing from that good old Student Status. Those were some of our funnest years of marriage. Also good luck on your move. If we lived in Kentucky I'd love to come look at your house to buy it. We started looking this last year and haven't found what we want. I too will sort of be your neighbor. We live more North though. About 40 minutes North of Seattle. It really is a beautiful place over here.

The Mom said...

Welcome to Washington. I live in Federal Way, Washington just south of the SeaTac Airport. No where near you but you will enjoy WA.

blairsblog6 said...

Kathryn,
We spent the first ten yrs of our marriage in school as well. Matt finally finished his residency and we moved here. This is such an exciting time! We took a big trip-alone-before he started his job. I would highly recommend it. We will miss you here in KY. You will make so many friends in your new ward. I hope there is a temple nearby. We love living so close to our temple. Good luck! I hope to see you at institute before you leave!

Lindsey said...

So one day we will be done too? You give me hope. The hubs is in the middle of residency interviews right now. UGH! I joke with him that his midlife crisis will be getting his first real job instead of quitting one :) (Of course all of this seems like a real job even though he isn't a fully trained MD yet.)

Lettie B. said...

How beautiful is your house?! It's like magazine perfect. I'd be sad to move from it too. I've only driven through the Tr-Cities area, but one of my most favorite friends of my life moved there oh, 7 years ago and has really liked it. She lived in Kennewick for awhile and in now in Othello, which is a smaller town just north of where you are going. I think pretty much anyone who meets her loves her, so if you ever cross paths (and I don't want to write her name here) you will likely have somemone you will want to be friends with right away!

Valerie said...

congratulations on the anniversary, finishing school, new job. 2010 sound like it's going to be amazing for your family. i love all the projects you've done on your home. it's beautiful and i'm sure will sell quickly.

luvmy5boyscora said...

Congratulations! You will love Tri Cities. We moved from Spokane to Walla Walla (an hour away from Tri cities) for my hubby's job and often go shopping to Tri cities. I have some family there and they love it and there are a lot of LDS people there too. Good luck! Oh, and I love your blog. Thanks for all the inspiration! :)

Kristina said...

OH MY GOSH. Your house and decor are SO CUTE and I am SO ENVIOUS! I'm still in the "hoping to be a grown-up someday" stage, too. I just wish mine had more of a foreseeable (sp?) end date. :) Congrats, it must feel wonderful!

The Dutch Girl said...

You should have no trouble at all selling your house, who would not want to live there? And just think; now you get to start all over again (and we get to read about it and be inspired)!

Having lived in Olympia for just over three years, I can tell that Washington is one of the most beautiful places to live in. I am sorry we just left for Wisconsin, I would have loved being your neighbor.

Brenda said...

My sister (Charlotte) sent me a link to your blog this morning saying that you were moving to the area. I live right here in the Tri-Cities (Pasco) and love it. We didn't know anyone when we moved here 4 years ago but now I think we will stay here forever. If you need any tips on housing let me know, I would be glad to fill you in on the good/bad parts of town. Good luck.

Alison said...

That is just crazy! My hubby is just finishing residency and I was nodding to all your comments about years of school and being a "we" thing, but then my jaw DROPPED when I read where you are going...we are hoping to go there, too! My hubby is flying there in a couple weeks for another interview. I would love to hear your experience and mostly which hospital you signed with. My family is about an hour away and it is a great place! But it is always hard to leave good friends! My email is princessalison2002@juno.com.

Washington Mama said...

You will love the TriCities! I love about 2 hours west on the Idaho-Washington Border. Washington is a lovely state with even lovelier people! Congratulations on all the new adventures going on. I love your blog and look forward to reading about your new home nesting skills!

Shanna said...

I've been married for 3 years and my husband finished his bachelors in May, and just got accepted to medical school to start this fall. We've had a year break from school, but we have a long ways to go. We just sold our house in Utah and are heading down to AZ most likely. It's just really nice to see someone on the opposite end to know that someday we'll be where you are! By the way I love reading your blog! Thanks for all the great ideas!!

Anonymous said...

Love your house. It is sure to sell. I hope the market is a seller's on behalf of you. Question. What kind of paint did you use on the porch swing? What kind of paint do you use for your wood furniture make-overs? Thanks. e-mail me please at doloresmccune@yahoo.com

Wes and Dani said...

Sounds like us--we are moving from Utah to Albuquerque. We don't know anyone in Albuquerque, we've never ever been there, and both of our families are still going to be here in Northern Utah.

It's freaky to think of just me and my husband all alone in a new city 800 miles away from anyone we know. :S

PS If your house was in Albuquerque I'd totally buy it--way cute!

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

Good luck. I grew up in Kennewick WA and my parents still live there. I think it's a great place to raise a family!

Salisbury's said...

I just found you blog today and it is so fun, my list of to-do just BIGGER!! Love you home it gives me hope that things can lget done! We LIVE in the tri-cities (West Pasco) and we love it!! I'm from Idaho and it reminds me alot of the Idaho Falls area just a little bigger. We LOVE our ward and neighbors. The schools are great. We couldn't be happy with the area. Maybe we'll see ya around!!

Darin said...

I know exactly how you feel. We built our house in Denver and then moved to Tri Cities a year ago. While I was sad to leave (and still a little sad to be honest) I really love it here! We live in West Pasco too-same as above- and agree with her wholeheartedly! You can email me or whatever if you want to have some advice from another newbie or want a friend before you even get here! jenn warnick at yahoo dot com.

Liz Johnston said...

Hey I've been reading your blog for a little while. I read about your moving plans. And no joke.. my husband was just offered a job today in the same area.. I'm so scared and sad. We want to go but we don't want to leave.. too bad we can't do that. We live in Idaho Falls around family and are not sure about moving further from our southern goal.. Anyhow how is the move going? Are you liking it already. We are planing on going ASAP that is if we say yes. which I think we will do. I guess we can be happy any where.. Sorry for the gushing when I don't even know you.. good luck with your move.

Kathryn-nannygoat said...

Hi Liz!
we haven't moved yet. We were there just last week looking for a house. Email me and we will chat.
kathrynsphotography@gmail.com