Weekend Recap! Rockstar style.

Party like a Rockstar~

This past weekend we ventured out of our house after begin house stuck for a week an half with Tom, as he was getting over his aliments. We hopped in the Volvo and hit the open road, it was a nice feeling to get out(even if it was just to Molalla). We went to my sweet little brothers Baseball game , then jumped in the car and drove to our NEW house and walked around, meet some our neighbors who told us we were building a monster house, and i simply smiled and said "oh! Thank you I guess?!" Because its not big its normal size. I think that was their nice way of saying...."we enjoy our quite neighborhood and all the traffic with building supplies, electricians, plumbers, cement trucks.....is annoying us! 
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Roof Half done,but stairs complete!

Next day, roof done, windows in!!!

Then we went to my brother in laws concert. How cool that he is so talented and gets to do this! My sister is a true Rockstar. She is their manager, sales rep, and pretty much all around band keeper on the straight and narrow girl, who happens to be crazy for the drummer! :) It was cute these Jr. High girls were swooning over the band, they got all their autographs and even went up to Noelle to get hers!!! OK seriously adorable

*spotted up their getting autographs too....we may be a little older then Jr. High but what can we say?! WE LOVE SAWTELL, and are so proud of them. 

My Rockstar Brother in Law Isaac McKinley- The drummer! 




Then on Sunday we went and hung after church at our house!!! We showed it off in all the framing to our parents and friends. Then we just walked around and sat there for 2 hours. We got to leave some inscriptions on the walls, The entire process has been really awesome, just knowing that I am the first one to live in this house, and those are my 2x4's makes me excited.
*I may have taken some extra technically not being used boards to make some art to hang in my house! It will be awesome when its done, but for now I have a pile of board ridding around in the trunk with me! (pictures to come)


Nic & Cole

Time Flies WYNN you are having a great time.....

My mom use to tell me..."Dont wish your life away, enjoy each season. And once you start getting older time just goes faster." And how true is that?! I feel like I blinked and here I am 26, married, building a house, and the list goes on. Its like the country song "Don't Blink" Well I have got to stop doing that. Maybe permanently keep my eyes open or something. And then I start thinking about where i will be at next year this time. What new adventurers I will be doing...going....getting ready for. 

April 2010: ohhh man I miss the sun!

Oh man how wonderful that sun was....nice 85 degrees everyday in the dry dessert a girl can get use to this kind of life. 
My *at the time soon to be in laws decided they wanted to spend time with us and flew us out to Vegas 2 months before our wedding for a nice relaxing getaway. It was AMAZING. we just RELAXED...and after wedding planning it was just what I needed. 
Next few pictures our Vegas Brittingham style.

I could not have asked for better in laws. They are truly amazing.

It took 4 action shots to get this one with no people walking through and me smiling.... well worth it though. 
We did all the touristy things, and then hung by the pool and went to Cirque du Soleil , that was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. Then Phantom of the Opera. Toms favorite hotel "Caesars Palace" my favorite "The Ballagio"
And this why people get married in Vegas...this is the loby to the new hotel "The Wynn" 

I walked down this Isle and fell in love. I told Jim and Kathy..."Find me Elvis" :) but no we did not get married like everyone told us to in Vegas. We waited 2 more moths to do it in front of our family and friends :) But seriously slap me in a dress and I would walk down that isle in the Wynn in a heart beat. I might in fact pretend we didn't get married fly down there and do it all again right there in the middle of the lobby!!! its wedding perfect! 


So the moral of the story is "Time flies WYNN you are having a great time...and my life this last year has been great, in fact the BEST year of my life. And for now I love where I am and am not wishing my life to go any faster! 


NIC & COLE

Day 83 Of Project 365

Tuesday 3/29

Do you ever just have one of those weeks....nothing goes right, you say the wrong thing, you feel used and just spent, you are not sure why you are where you are, not sure if you are doing the right thing EVER.....

After spending the night in the ER with my very sick husband this is how I remember Tuesday:

3 hours of sleep (not enough these days for me)  got myself up went to Target first thing, did a side trip (its hard because its a ONE STOP SHOPPING) got some shoes while I filled his prescriptions, asked for a triple shot in my coffee (Did nothing for me), did not even taste my scone because I ate it so fast, I had forgot to eat dinner seeing as I was in the ER, took him his medications (he is on 5) ,  turned right around and went to work. The next few hours were just a blur, between making copies and helping everyone I am actually not sure what I said or did. I then set up for our Line Dancing (super awesome) hung out with my wonderful friend Sarah, got ready,  then went and hosted our TCC "Country Meets Classy" Line Dancing and danced the night away, in my new REAL Texas boots (thank you GL and Carolyn)  I do not remember even driving home....at that point I should not be allowed to drive, which makes me say this "I can not WAIT till I live 5 min from everything rather then 35-40 min."

Here is our dancing recap:

Sarah , Carol our amazing instructor and myself *my new boots!!!

Our Theme: Country Meets Classy....way to represent Vanessa!

My wonderful, amazing Friend Sarah

  We kicked up our heels and had a blast with the woman of TCC. 

So now I am here , and I feel like I need an extended get a way vacation. Somewhere warm, somewhere far far away, maybe for like 3 months. My perfectionist personality (I put on myself) is getting the best of me. I am frustrated and defeated. Then something happens just like a little reminder,just a little "something"
 
"it's the little things that change my perspective."

As I am finishing this I get this: helps to remind me, why I work here and not really far away, and it brings tears to my eyes. Because she doesn't even know how much this cut out heart means to me.

Thank you Madison. You have hugged me everyday on your way to Recess and then made this for me, I am truly blessed by my 2nd grader : Madison.

Nic & Cole

Day 82 Project 365

Monday 3/28

Holy guacamole BAT MAN!!!! As I drove past my house, I looked down the ally way and SAW THIS... and we pulled a Nascar move to go and see it!!

 I was not expecting to see walls!!! Made my heart sing and dance and I just might have did a little happy dance!!! 

Thats MY SIGN!!!!!!!

Brittingham Project!!

And as my little Kennedy told me yesterday "It better have walls, it will be done in 52 days!" She has a count down on her Ipod :) (melts my heart)

Nic & Cole

Day 81 of Project 365

Saturday 3/26/2011

"Capture the Cruze" (Amazing Race style) 

500 teams (this is over 1000 competitors!) racing in this "Little" competition. We raced around downtown Portland and answered clues and questions ranging from Math, to building construction,historic questions. I learned one thing that we were not prepared AT ALL!! We did not even have a map or pen to help us, and I call myself a competitive person.....Fail. BUT all in all we had a blast , we work very well in a high/fast pace team situation. 

Picture of the Day:

 So they were giving away for 2nd place- a Cruise to the Bahamas, and 1st place got a 2011 Chevy Cruze

 The rain did hold off until after we raced. One of our clues was to the DragonFish Asian. So after the race we went and ate there, I am not going to lie....it was AMAZING!

And for the record I am going to try to be on the Amazing Race!!!

Nic & Cole (Next Amazing Race Star!)  

Day 80 of Project 365

A few things Friday-

I am 100% competitive and I compete with myself ALWAYS. But I am 100% not a thrill, adrenaline seeker. I would completely be content never doing anything dangerous. you know, Keeping both my feet on the ground, no harnesses, no safety packs , no emergency training...and yet I keep doing these things that I would never imagine myself doing. And my one question is "Why in the world do I KEEP doing these things?"  Sadly I have no answer for you ....

2008 My second trip to New Zealand

This is sadly not my first time buggy jumping....but in fact my 3rd!!!! I may look cool, calm and collected...but please do not be fooled. Now Amanda on the other hand was openly terrified I believe that these words came out when they were strapping her harness on ..."I think I might pee my pants if you continue to strap this to me" and the good ole kiwi's just laughed :)

This is my first time Sky diving. We were supposed to do it in Queenstown (in the South Island) but the wind was to strong and they said we may break our ankles when we land. So we ended up being super disappointed and flew back up to the North Island and when we landed we saw a sign for the same company to sky dive with and 10 min later here we are. 

Again I was all laughs and BIG TALK and joking around. Then as they walked us to this little plane that should fit 3 people and some how we crammed in 8 people my anxiety kicked in FINALLY...where was that voice saying Nicole do not do this...you will not like it, before I got suited up and paid? And as we flew high and higher I think I might have forgot to breath a couple times. my instructor a big 7 foot tall French Canadian man in a heavy accent reminded me that he has never lost a client (now when I say lost a client I mean you are held on by these little metal clips at your shoulders and then one at the waist! And he is carrying the parachute. so if you come separated you are truly in all the sense Free Falling!!!) 

As he crawled to the edge of the plane and stood on the leg with me dangling out of the plane not touching anything , exposed to the open sky and VERY hard ground below, I am pretty sure I said something like this "I actually do not want to do this anymore. Can we please go back inside the plane and talk about it" But all my effort of asking nicely was lost to the wind and noise of an airplane. HE JUMPED. And after my initial shock, fear, and utter terror went away it was the COOLEST thing I have ever done. 

Then there was Boon Netting! That is where the have a big net on the side of the boat and you jump in and the boat goes as fast as it can and you HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE! you are bouncing and skimming off the ocean and you are holding on to the net BUT also to your swimming suit seeing as they come right off (and yes I am speaking from experience, however praise the lord it was not me but an old man that lost his pants...still not a great thing) The FIRST time I did it, we were in wet suits because the nice Warm South Pacific was like Ice and I got sucked to the back of the net where people began to pile on top of me and I could not breath. SECOND attempt a year later i was smart and was at the front of the net! 

Jump ahead a few years:

Cabo 2010

I have also been parasailing 2 times, and that is not so terrifying after you do everything else.

Then there was our snorkeling adventure that I thought i was seriously going to die. First in my past experience you walk into the ocean and its calm and peaceful and you can stand on the floor of the ocean (and best yet you can see if the sharks are going to come eat you)

 Here they make you jump out of the boat, who knows how deep the ocean is, I can not stand up, and worse yet i can not see if there are sharks swarming me. Waves crashing over my head and my snorkel mask...salt water in my mouth and eyes.....all around very scary stuff for me, I think we maybe looked at 5 fish and one touched me I screamed and almost yelled shark...then my swimming partner (Tom) who would have loved to stay in longer got out with me and we sat and warmed up in fact in 103 degree weather you dry in just a couple minutes. 
And I know you might be thinking...wimp but they did make everyone get out because the ocean was angry. 


Pre Boat Trip....

 Nice and tan! 

After Boat 6 hour boat trip....

 

Yes I am red and look like a lobster...

we had something we call heat exhaustion and decided we needed to cool down we went to amazingly cold and overly air conditioned movie theater to relax.  IT was perfect. 

I am sure I will do plenty of more scary, terrifying things, again I am not sure why I will but I know me....and I will. Thinking about these things I feel the blood starting to pump a little faster and my heart beat begin to race and my hands turn sweaty...ohhhh the adrenaline rush. I think I am addicted !!! 

Tomorrow Tom and I are competing in something called "Capture the CruzeCruze!. It is a spin off the Hit Reality TV Show "The Amazing Race" *side note.I have wanted to race in the The Amazing Race my entire life...and I will one day. So this is a dream come true for me to practice. and i am not sure that there will be anything crazy we will have to do but just the thought gets me excited and pumped. I am not sure if Tom knows what he is getting himself into with competing with me.  I may have said this last night...."Sugar, I play to win. I play big then i go home , and I will be going home with a new car, if you don't think we can win , then tell me now or get a better attitude. " 

Oh boy...did I really say that?!

Babe,

I am sorry in advance for whatever I say on Saturday please know that what I say it only out of love and competition for winning, never directed towards you personal. I would never ever want to race or compete with anyone but you. Thank you for loving me even when i am crazy competitive I know I have a problem.

I love you and we can talk about it later! After we win.I drive home in a new car.

Love ,

Your wife.

Nic & Cole

 

Day 79 of Project 365

Project House: This weeks update~

So the started to dig out on Thursday of last week !!!!

NOT FOR SALE ANY MORE!!!!!

Add caption

Then came the foundation frame on Monday ! 

Not sure what this is but its pretty big and cool!

Good sign: Our Cement truck has flames on it!!! 

Also a good sign(from my mom) : she ONLY lives 2 min and 14seconds walking time from her house to mine. 

Nic & Cole