Summer 2012 update

July 12, 2012

My posts seem to be staying pretty far apart.  Not sure why, other than its been busy. So, here's an update:

Mom's house is almost done.  Should be complete within the month.  Next week they install flooring, countertops and finish up the siding also.  This week, they installed the interior trim and did some yard cleanup.  I will posts pics shortly.

Kris & Carly are doing well.  Little baby Ogren is due in October and is keeping Carly up at night.  He doesnt like to sleep more than a few hours at a time, so plays trampoline on mommy in-between.  Carly is a trooper.  They have taken a few days away to California before Carly gets much bigger.  I keep finding things to buy for the baby....diapers, diapers, diapers and some cute stuff too.   We are working on having a baby shower the week Mom, Cheryl, Sandra & Bob are here, moving some of Mom's stuff up.  Should be a busy week!

Trevor & I continue to do the week on/week off between houses.  Seem that our 'weeks' become longer here & there.  Kelly continues to live upstairs at the Royal house, so sometimes its just easier to be in a separate space, so we stay at Trevors longer.  I picked up a bunch of boxes from Trevor's sister yesterday in hopes of trying to consolidate for an upcoming move.  We'll see how easy that is.  We will be having a LARGE garage sale in the near future, so will post that here too.

Work is good.  I dont do as much traveling in this position, but I am having fun managing a couple configurations of the workflow management software I work with. 

Trevor's 40th is coming up in September, so am working on a few surprises for him...all in time =)

We have set a date for a June 2013 wedding....more details to come!

Well, time to get moving & get home...have a concert in the park tonight that we are going to try to attend unless we die of heatstroke.

-g

Wow, its been a while since I posted!

A lot has happened since November.....time for an update!

Mom's house

Well, its underway.  We have walls, trusses & they are putting on he subroof today (in the snow).

It took forever to get the permits going, but once they were done, Scott & crew have been working fast to get it put up.


This year has been a busy one so far.

February
Trevor and I, took a cruise for my sister Cheryl's 50th birthday (along with my Mom, Uncle, & a HUGE group of Cheryl's friends).  Was lots of fun.

Our group at Papas & Beers (well, those of us left at the end)

We spent the first night on the Queen Mary in Long Beach - what an experience!!!!  Would love to go back soon!

Then the 3 day cruise.

Lastly, 2 days in Anaheim where we went to the Disney parks.

It was like 3 vacations in one. And believe it or not, it didnt fly by, so we had lots of fun.

During the cruise on the last night, I drug Trevor up to the observation deck, expecting it to be lit up but it was pitch black.  I then proceeded to propose to him & gave him a ring.  He said yes.  We then proceeded to where the whole group was hanging out and celebrated our engagement with them!

What a way to spend a vacation!  We had lots of fun!!!

Later in the month, we had dinner with Kris & Carly for my 44th birthday at the Melting Pot.  We ordered drinks & Kris handed me a birthday card.  I opened it and it was very sweet and hand written.  I had a hard time reading the final line on the card, but noticed it said something about Legos.  At that point, I looked up at him and he slid this picture down in front of what I was reading:

My jaw immediately dropped and I started to cry.  He then proceeded to tell me the last line of the card said "It's time to dust off the Legos".  Kris & I always enjoyed playing Legos together.  I had saved my legos for when I had a child....then when Kris grew up, I put his away for when I had a grandchild.  The time has come to 'dust' them off.

Both Trevor and I are very excited about being grandparents.  I have always looked forward to this part of my life and feel that I have earned the title, Grandpa.

Later that weekend, we attend the Spokane AIDS Network Oscar Night Gala and had a great group of friends attending with us.  I am on the board of directors, so was fun to be able to share this wonderful event.

 

March has already been a busy month, and its only the 21.  This coming weekend I will be donating my time & use of an auction db for the American Childhood Cancer Organization Inland Northwest (previously known as Candlelighters) Dinner & Auction.  Then next week, my friend Kelsey is getting married!  I am the official wedding photographer & have enlisted the help of Kris, so we can get more shots....along with his abstract eye, it will prove to be a good partnership.

Well, better move along.  I'll write more later..

big dig....

The first swipe at the foundation dig was today.  Not sure if its done at this point or there is more to go tomorrow, but the dirt has sure been moved around.  Mom's land seems a bit more rocky than mine....well, more than seems, it is!  Enjoy today's pics.

House staked...check. Backhoe...check.

Well, Scott came by yesterday to stake the house and its ready for the foundation to be dug out today.  They are starting at any moment.  We did decide to move the house a little further forward.  Here are some pics I took yesterday.

In position to dig!

Standing in front of the garage looking towards the back of the house

From the front of the garage looking towards back

Behind house looking towards street

Standing at back corner looking to front

10-25-11 - Clearing of the land for Mom's House

Yesterday the land was cleared to make way for Mom's house.  In the process, they took out my Comcast cable so no TV or internet at the Ogren household last night.  Thank god for my DVR.  Enjoy the pics below.

From the far side of the property looking towards my house

From my driveway

Notice the pole to the left....minus the comcast underground cable that was ripped up.

The Royal Adventure continues - Mom Style

Today they broke ground for Mom's house....next door!  Well, they dug the test holes for the septic system, so I guess that is considered breaking ground.  Later in the week, they'll bring in the big excavator and clear out the area for the foundation and remove trees in order to put in her driveway and her well.  I will post pics as more happens.  Below are some pics...

1st Test Hole

2nd Test Hole

Looking towards where the well will go

Looking towards my house at the 1st test hole

Mom's Spokane Ride...

Long time no see...

Sorry that I havent been on here for a while, but its been a busy few months.

June came and went with a nice family trip to Oak Harbor for Becky's graduation.  We rented a beach house for everyone to stay at.  Much cheaper than a hotel & was nice to have everyone together.  This was Trevor's first 'Full Family' experience and he's still around, so it must have been okay. 

July and August have been busy as well.  In early August, we attending the wedding of friends Crystal & Mika on the Spokesman-Review top floor. What a beautiful wedding....my first gay wedding.  Such a treat to be included in both the bachellorette party & the wedding.  Best of luck to two beautiful women.

Later in the August, we attended my 25yr high school reunion and the county fair in August, in Grass Valley/Nevada City.  Trevor was a trooper and hopefully enjoyed himself as well.  Had lots of fun catching up with old friends.  Its funny how I never felt like I belonged in high school, but everyone else thought I did.  I truly did enjoy catching up and getting reacquainted with everyone.

The week after we returned from CA, we went to 'bring your family to work' day at the State Penitentiary in Walla Walla.  Trevor's mom works there in Accounting,  Was an interesting look into the prison.

As August comes to a close, our temperatures are already dropping & fall will be here soon.  I am hoping to have the new patio done in the next few weeks so we can have some kind of fall get together.  More to come soon....