9 Years and Growing

Once upon a time in January of 2004 my best friend, Jenny and I were looking for a drummer for our band. Little did I know that the guy that would fill the position in our band would also play such a huge part in my life. I didn't realize that when we were praying for our drummer that I was also praying for my future husband.

Matt joined our band that January in 2004. We spent a lot of time together playing music and hanging out. It didn't take him too long to steal my heart. His heart for God was apparent from the start and he was funny and smart. I had never met a guy like him before. I remember getting so excited to see his screen name pop up on MSN messenger and getting to chat with him after school on days that we didn't have band practice. We began to hang out more outside of band stuff and on March 13, 2004 he asked me to be his girlfriend. 9 years ago from tomorrow. It's so crazy to think that was 9 years ago!

 

9 years ago. Matt couldn't take a serious picture then either.

I am writing this post because I was just thinking about how much my life has changed in the last 9 years. Normal changes like growing up, getting married and having a family. And to think that this journey started 9 years ago when I met my love at the age of 17. It's all I've ever really wanted; to be happily married and have a family.

Matt and I were engaged later that summer in Aug. 2004.

We were married a year later on June 11, 2005. We were 18 years old and had just graduated high school.

After we got married in 2005 we spent a few years just enjoying the married life and working on our educations (Matt still continues doing school stuff).

In July of 2008 Matt got his LPN. He is now currently a Wound Nurse, Licensed Massage therapist and is working on a B.S. in Pshycology and is also working on getting his RN as well.

Soon after Matt graduated from LPN school we got the exciting news that we were expecting our first child! We were super thrilled! If there was anything that I wanted more than being married, it was to be a mama.

We found out we were pregnant Sept. 1, 2008 and our sweet little boy was born exactly 8 months later on May 1, 2009.

We have so enjoyed our little family. Over the last few years we have moved a couple of times and saw a few minor job changes.

Last summer we were super blessed with the opportunity to buy our first home. We have had a lot of fun making the house our home and adding our own personal touches. 

Our home:)

A current photo of our family taken in November 2012.

I just feel super blessed looking back on the last 9 years. God has brought me major joy in the man he gave me to be my husband 9 years ago and the growing family he has given us...

Baby Arthaud #2!:)

The awesome announcement photos are courtesy of my sister, Sarah Johnston (Sarie's Photography)!

Basement Makeover!

I didn't post anything on here last month, however it was a pretty busy month. For one, I wasn't feeling so great the last few weeks and still feel a bit icky- just couldn't muster the energy to sit and look at a screen and type. Nonetheless, I did manage to finish our basement makeover!

When we bought our house last summer, a friend and myself painted the whole upstairs in 2 days. Up until earlier last month I couldn't even think about painting anymore of this house. Painting is such a chore and hassle. But, I got sick of looking at the buttercream-yellow on the basement walls and wanted a more cozy feel for the basement.

 Here is what the basement looked like when we first bought our house:

 

We started by painting the walls Earl Grey, adding this cute vinyl quote and moving in a couch my sis gave me.

Then I decided to paint the foyer a different color. I had left the "foyer type area" the yellowish and at first decided a cool orange would go well with the earl grey: WRONG! Epic fail. The orange looked so different in that lighting than what i thought t would. So then I pulled out some dry sage green that the previous owners left in the garage and it looks SOOO MUCH better!!

After the painting was finished we moved Matt's drum set to the office to make more space since we ended up getting rid of the leather sofa and getting a sectional (second hand deal!) The space is SO cozy now and a great place to relax or entertain. :D