Sarah and Patrick's first year

[uptowngirl]

Since I have been gone so long, I thought it would be a good idea to do a mini-journal of our first year. I have a ton of pictures and so much happened! The brief outline:

Patrick and I got married in August 08, and just celebrated our one year anniversary (woohoo!!). Three days before our wedding he was offered a job on the other side of the country - we lived in Washington State, and the job was in NH, so we went on our honeymoon then headed back to get our house ready to sell. After replacing all the floors, remodeling the kitchen, adding a deck and patio, and packing all our stuff into a moving truck we listed our house the day before we were scheduled to leave for NH (the end of September 08). We ended up staying with my parents waiting for our house to sell...which took NINE MONTHS. Patrick hated the new job, and within a few months started looking (all over the country) for something else. The same week that our house sold (May 09), Patrick got notice that because of budget cuts his position was being eliminated at the end of July. He had already been interviewing, and actually got a job offer a few days later. PHEW!! SO, we ended up moving to Portland, Maine in July and have finally settled in.

[FFC]

Oh yayyyy!!!!!!!!

:band: *waiting patiently - listening to Nickelback* :band:

[uptowngirl]

I wrote all about our wedding here:
http://forums.onewed.com/showthread.php?t=19781

and you can see the gallery of the album with our pro pictures here:
http://www.uptownimages.com/proofs/randykepple/album006/

So, after we got back from our honeymoon we jumped right into finishing up the projects we had started on with the house. Patrick had ripped out the kitchen while I was out of town before the wedding, so we needed to finish that project, and we were halfway through replacing our deck and installing a patio in the back yard.

Here is picture of our kitchen from when we first bought the house:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/P7210026.jpg
and some in process pictures:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/P7060001.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/P7090006.jpg

And the almost finished product kitchen:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/P7210004.jpg

[gwenshack]

Cute kitchen! :heart:

Glad you started an after wedding journal! It's nice to see familliar faces come back and hang out again! :star:

[uptowngirl]

The deck was a huge job too -

we started off by ripping off the roof/awning thingy, and the steps and rails, then we rebuilt the main part of the deck...and then we lived with the deck like that for almost a year. :realmad:Seriously, we had a bucket upside down on the ground that we had to use to climb on and off the deck.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/deck%20build/P7250006.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/deck%20build/P7260017.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/deck%20build/PB230009.jpg

[uptowngirl]

We dug the veggie gardens out for the patio, and then ended up running out of time before the move so we hired a crew to come finish the deck, siding, and patio...
(notice the upside down bucket?!?)
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/DSCF0530.jpg

And finally finished!! I was sooooooo happy with the way this turned out, but unfortunately this picture was taken just a few days before we had to move, so we never got to enjoy it!

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/DSCF0625.jpg

[Mrs.Johnson111111]

:congrats:

Definitely looks like an awesome new start for you and your DH

[uptowngirl]

Going through all the pictures for this post I found a few good before/after comparisons from when we first bought the house and right before we sold it...

Front before:

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/P7180008-1.jpg
and after:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/DSCF0630.jpg

[uptowngirl]

Back yard before:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/P7210019.jpg
and after we removed the lilacs, chain link dog run and the concrete slab!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/around%20the%20house/DSCF0626.jpg

[MrsDM]

Oo! Love the after picture of the yard! Can't wait to hear about the rest of your year!

[uptowngirl]

Okay, so the house was done, and all our stuff was either sold or packed up and we were ready to list it but our realtor was being difficult and finally - two days before we were supposed to drive across the country - she basically told up that she didn't think she could list the house for what we owed on it. We scrambled around and found another realtor that specialized in houses in our neighborhood and they were confident that they could list it and actually get some money for it, AND they would stage it and have someone come in to dust and make sure everything looked nice for viewings. PHEW!

So the house was finally for sale, and we spent the last night in an empty house on an air mattress on the floor with our car all packed up and ready to go. The drive across the country was a lot of fun, and a great way to relax after the crazy few months of working, packing and stressing.

We had the cats in the back with a pet barrier up - they actually spent a lot of time watching the scenery go by! Here is Sissy in her usual spot:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF0663.jpg

And some scenery... The first day we drove from Vancouver to Salt Lake City. We got into Salt Lake after dark, and left very early, but Utah at sunrise was beautiful!

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF0641.jpg

[uptowngirl]

Then we went through Wyoming and into Nebraska where we spent the second night. Wyoming was really pretty on the western side, but as we drove east it started looking like some planet from outer space. Here is Wyoming before it got weird...:laugh2:
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF0658.jpg

We took pictures all the way, but when we got home we couldn't tell Nebraska, Iowa (third night), Illinois, Indiana and Ohio (fourth night) apart! So here is our "midwest" picture! Haha!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF0680.jpg

[uptowngirl]

By Pennsylvania and New York (fifth night) we hit rain and fog, but it was still pretty...
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF0698.jpg

And finally we made it into Vermont.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF0725.jpg

[uptowngirl]

The plan was to drive to my parents house where we were going to stay in their apartment (in what used to be the hayloft of the attached barn). When we were out for the wedding in August, Dad had been working on it, and was supposed to have it done and ready for us to move into once we got out there. When we arrived with our cats and suitcases, this is what we saw...
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF0862.jpg

ACK!!!! Actually - it didn't look like this yet, but it was very definitely NOT finished. (The spots are from trying to cover all the knot holes in the wood so they wouldn't show through the paint). So, after spending months working on our house, we ended up spending a few MORE months working on the apartment. We got to Vermont the first week of October, and finally moved in by the middle of November. In the mean time we stayed in my old bedroom that mom had turned into her sewing room. Once the apartment was done it was GORGEOUS.
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF0892.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF0875.jpg

All of our stuff was in storage this whole time, so the furniture is all mom and dad's...in the second picture though, you can see the small hall table that my dad made for our wedding gift, and the tray on the coffee table we used to hold favors at the reception. :)

[uptowngirl]

So, we spent the next nine months all cozy in our little apartment. It was interesting to get a real winter for the first time in 12 years (that's how long it been since I lived there!!) and Pat has never been thorough a New England winter...
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF1019.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/ice.jpg

And a little perspective - the first picture was taken the day before our wedding in August, and the second one was January
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/seasons.jpg

[Goin2thechapel]

I am sooo happy you're back!!!! You were such a positive influence for everyone!!!

Loving these pictures :)

[uptowngirl]

For Valentine's day we decided we needed to get out of town - since it was hard to be very romantic at my parents house - and decided to go to Portland, Maine for the weekend. We had an amazing time, and fell in love with the city. At about the same time Patrick was starting to get frustrated with his job. He was working closely with my brother, which added to his tension because he felt like he couldn't complain, but he was miserable. We started looking anywhere and everywhere for new jobs, but were in a bind because our house hadn't sold yet, and we couldn't afford to give up our free rent situation. He applied for jobs all over the country and twice got contacted for interviews only to get a phone call the next day saying that they had to put a freeze on hiring because of the economy.

Needless to say it was pretty stressful for us both. I work from home, and so do my parents, so we were together all day every day...which made for it's own kind of stress! :blink: Patrick and I got away for the weekend as often as we could, but BOY were we ready for a place of our own!!!

When Patrick was contacted by a company in Portland ME we were sooooooo excited, since we LOVED the city, and it's only a three hour drive from my parents, so getting to an interview wasn't going to involve paying for a plane ticket. Patrick had three interviews (each time meant a weekend in Portland - so while he was sweating about the interview I was off having a blast!) and finally they told us they would be making a decision. Some time in between interview two and three our house sold, so things were really looking good. We ended up traveling back to Portland OR/Vancouver for a week in June - the same week that they were going to be making the decision about the job - so Pat made sure that thy had his cell phone number and we hoped for the best!

[FFC]

I'm with Amanda on this - I love hearing about your year away! I can only imagine how trying it could have been with all of those trials in your first year of being married! It's awesome that you and Patrick were able to work through it all and still come out together and happy :) Looking forward to more pics/stories!

[uptowngirl]

While we were on the west coast we spent a few days out at the coast to relax and unwind...and totally lucked out with this awesome condo, right on the beach...

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF1349.jpg

Hubby having a little down time...
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/cross%20country/DSCF1337.jpg

So, while we sat and watched the ocean we started planning our move to Maine. Patrick hadn't got the job yet, but was really feeling confident based on some comments and feedback that he got. Our last afternoon at the beach he got the call on his cell - they were stuck between him and another candidate, and would he come in for another interview, with the CEO of the company!!! SO FRUSTRATING!! We were on the other side of the country and weren't due to be back until the next week, so he had to ask them to postpone the interview, which made him feel really uneasy about his chances.

The interview was scheduled for the day after we got back (Monday) - so we flew red eye into Burlington VT, drove to my parents house (1.5 hours) to shower and pick up his suit, and then drove the rest of the way to Maine, another 3 hours. Pat had a meeting with his boss scheduled for that day, and had to postpone it so he could go to the interview...

[MrsDM]

Wow, great pics so far and great story! I feel like I'm reading a book (in a good way)!

[uptowngirl]

Okay, things are a little confusing here, so I'll try to keep it straight!

On Monday Patrick had his interview and we drove back to Vermont.
On Tuesday morning he had the meeting with his boss that he was supposed to have had on Monday, and found out that his position was being eliminated in six weeks.
On Tuesday afternoon we were both FREAKING OUT
On Wednesday Patrick got the job offer in MaineHe ended up working things out so that he was able to get full severance, and not work on site at his old job for the last four weeks, so he started the new job two weeks later - July 1st!

We ended up driving out for one day to try to find an apartment, and found our dream place, right in town in a newer building, and walkable to all the cool shops and restaurants...Pictures next!

[uptowngirl]

I'm with Amanda on this - I love hearing about your year away! I can only imagine how trying it could have been with all of those trials in your first year of being married! It's awesome that you and Patrick were able to work through it all and still come out together and happy :) Looking forward to more pics/stories!

We were just talking about this - all the things they recommend you DON'T DO as newlyweds we did - major remodel, long distance move, living with relatives, and job hunting!! :boggle: I really think that it helped us solidify our relationship, and if anything we are stronger because of it - still, I wouldn't recommend it! If we hadn't lived together first I think things would have been a lot harder for us - I know it's not for everyone, but I am so glad that we made that decision for ourselves.

[uptowngirl]

Home sweet home!!
Here is the view out of the living room window...you can't really see it well in the picture but we can see a bit of the cove just behind the church...
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/move%20to%20maine/DSCF1419.jpg

Having our own furniture in our own space is one of the best feelings!!

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/move%20to%20maine/DSCF3321.jpg

And for the first time in over a YEAR we have a fully functioning kitchen!!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/move%20to%20maine/DSCF1415.jpg

[uptowngirl]

My mom painted the picture over the table before I was born, I was so excited when she said we could have it!

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/move%20to%20maine/DSCF3362.jpg

And I had to share this - the Patrick and Sarah sign from our wedding has a new home in the bathroom. Haha!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/move%20to%20maine/DSCF1471.jpg

[FFC]

We were just talking about this - all the things they recommend you DON'T DO as newlyweds we did - major remodel, long distance move, living with relatives, and job hunting!! :boggle: I really think that it helped us solidify our relationship, and if anything we are stronger because of it - still, I wouldn't recommend it! If we hadn't lived together first I think things would have been a lot harder for us - I know it's not for everyone, but I am so glad that we made that decision for ourselves.

I agree- if anything it's strengthened you since you lasted and you're still with each other :) I think it's awesome what you two have been through and survived together to tell the story :)

[Goin2thechapel]

I remember that SIGNNNNN!!!!!! Awwww...Memories :)

[FFC]

Oh I loooooove your kitchen :hearts:

[uptowngirl]

I remember that SIGNNNNN!!!!!! Awwww...Memories :)

I love seeing it everyday! I wanted to hang it up in the living room, but Hubby thought that was a little too cheesy. :)

Oh I loooooove your kitchen :hearts:

Me too!!! We haven't had a full size fridge or stove EVER since both our house and the apartment we were in before that had apartment sized ones. It's so nice to have life sized appliances!

[uptowngirl]

For our first anniversary we decided to spend the day close to home, exploring the area. We ended up booking a 5 hour harbor tour that went all around the islands in the Bay - it was AWESOME. WE both got the worst sunburns of our lives, but it was such a fun day we didn't care - although I didn't leave the house for almost a week after until my lobster face faded!

Some pictures...

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3136.jpg
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3138.jpg
Here is the map of the harbor, and our wedding rings - you might want to come back to this one for reference later! :)
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3139.jpg

[uptowngirl]

We ended up with matching sunglasses burn lines by the end of the day, but it was so beautiful we didn't want to go inside!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3145.jpg

There are lighthouses all over the place - this one is called Bug Light

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3147.jpg

[uptowngirl]

Some pretty pictures...
The forecast was rain all day, but these were the only clouds we saw!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3155.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3167.jpg

The water was sooo calm
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3156.jpg

[SerendipityCrafts]

The reno handiwork is fantastic!

Now that you have your passports and we see what you can do, I will prepare a little "to do" list (for the guys) to complete, when you come to visit LOL

[uptowngirl]

We docked at an island for lunch - thought the name of the boat was fitting...
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3200.jpg

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3185.jpg

You know you are in for a good lunch when you get the paper "How to Eat a Lobster" placemat!
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3177.jpg

[uptowngirl]

The reno handiwork is fantastic!

Now that you have your passports and we see what you can do, I will prepare a little "to do" list (for the guys) to complete, when you come to visit LOL

That's exactly why we decided to live in an apartment for a year - NO MORE PROJECTS!!! Haha!! And not that I am offering,:p but I actually did a lot of the work (tile in our kitchen, textured the walls, painting and sanding at mom and dad's...) I am pretty proud of myself!

[uptowngirl]

Mmmmmmm Lobster!!http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3180.jpg
Happy Hubby...
http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3181.jpg

Funny thing about Maine - lobster is priced VERY differently for tourists. WE paid over $20 a plate for this meal, and after we got back from the cruise we went to the grocery store to get stuff for dinner - and lobster was $4.99 a pound. :doh:

[uptowngirl]

The BEST part of the day was coming home, sipping wine and making dinner together. (apps: shrimp cakes with chili-lime cream sauce, dinner: seared tuna with wasabi-butter sauce, cesear salad and fresh homemade bread, dessert: pumpkin spice cupcakes - YUM!!)

Well, almost the best part. :) After dinner Patrick got down on one knee next to my chair and told me that he'd marry me all over again...and gave me the wedding band to match my e-ring!! I was planning on just wearing the e-ring since it's such a unique shape and I didn't think we could get a band for it, but he'd been secretly saving and surprised me with it!!

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd79/sarahmoto/first%20anniversary/DSCF3245.jpg

It made the print of Bellingham Bay (his favorite place in the world) that I had gotten for him seem really silly in comparison, but hey I was thinking PAPER for the first anniversary, not DIAMONDS!! Haha!

[Goin2thechapel]

OMG...HOW SWEET!!!!!!

And I LOVE the set :)

[f77g4]

Beautiful pictures Sarah!!! Your whole set is beautiful! What a wonderful surprise.

[MrsDM]

Gorgeous ring, Sarah!!! Great pictures too. I went to Maine several years ago and your pictures made me miss it! I love all the quaint fishing towns and the lighthouses!

[WBandMe]

I've loved reading this and seeing the pics. Thanks so much for catching us all up on your first year! Congratulations for one long year being over, for the beautiful place you've found to live, and for your gorgeous wedding ring!!

[Danielle9608]

Wow Sarah, just wow! You certainly had a jam packed first year! I feel totally lazy reading everything that you and Patrick accomplished in just one year. Oh and your band is gorgeous! You have one sweet hubby!

[uptowngirl]

Wow Sarah, just wow! You certainly had a jam packed first year! I feel totally lazy reading everything that you and Patrick accomplished in just one year. Oh and your band is gorgeous! You have one sweet hubby!

I think it all went by so fast, so it only feels like a lot when I actually sit down and list it all out! And yeah - hubby did a good job with that ring! :luxlove: