Hostetlers

Great Trek 2013: part II, Beach House in Destin

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000

We drove from West Palm Beach to Destin, Florida, where we had rented a beach house for a week.

We stopped off to see the Grandparents in Orlando...

..and then stayed the night in Gainesville with Jeff and Alison.

They then joined us in Destin for the weekend...

{start of pictures I stole from Alison}

cousins

red-headed baby who gets to stay in shade so as not to get burned

Brothers and their boys

{end of pictures I stole from Alison}

Jeff and Alison left and we stayed on for the week.

...here's the house we stayed in...

...it was really nice. So relaxing to have your own space and kitchen, etc...

...the house came stocked with a wagon that we took on nightly walks...

While the beach was lovely, we actually spent a large portion of our time at the community pool.

...it was just cleaner, not very many people were there, and we could see it from our front window...

It was a wonderful week.

We then packed up and headed West for the next portion of our trip.

Great Trek 2013: part I, Family Fun in Florida

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:31:00 +0000

We left Michigan on April 10th and drove down to St. Pete's Beach, Florida.

{with a house hunting pit stop in Atlanta}

Curt's cousin, Robert, was getting married to his sweetheart, Dianna.

Poor Des had a flu bug so we did a lot of cuddling and Curt lost the game of hot potato and was the lucky one to get puked on at the end of the evening. That might be a little TMI, but it does explain why my usual trigger happy self came away with way fewer pictures than this gorgeous setting deserved.

I didn't take this next photo, the wedding photographer did, but this post felt incomplete without including the bride and groom.

We then drove to West Palm Beach to stay a few days with Curt's parents.

Des slept a lot and then transformed back into his very energetic self.

Curt's cousin, Chris, and his family were in Florida for the wedding also and they popped in for a visit.

We visited a couple different beaches {one with an "A-ground" that Des was thrilled about}

And then we were off onto the next leg of the trip in a different part of Florida.

kids

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:43:00 +0000

Evie - almost seven months old

Des - two years and four months

our new house...barring any unforeseen problem

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:16:00 +0000

So, we're under contract on a house in the Atlanta area.

It's a pretty awesome house that will be a lot better with a few tweaks that I have in mind.

I'm sure I'll come up with even more tweaks after we close on it and live in it.

Pros:

Over an acre and a half, wooded, house set back from street a ways

Plenty of space for the many kids that I want to have

The neighborhood and amenities rock

Schools are the best you can have

Cons:

Longer commute than ideal for Curt

Will probably need a new roof in the next few years

Overall, I'm giddy at the prospect and itching to get my hands on it to make the style more "Carmen"

{forgive the picture quality, I lifted them off of the listing}

Previous owners put on an addition to make it a 4 car garage...sweet, Carmen gets a workshop

The deck has a natural gas line run for the grill. That's pretty cool.

Room off of the entryway...

Dining room, also off of the entryway...

Kitchen...not really my style, but good space...nice enough counter tops that they're staying even though they're not my favorite.

We'll see what we can do to the room.

Built-ins...love

Powder room on the main level. I can't decide if I like the wallpaper or not.

Pinkish-red wallpapered master bathroom. This is coming down as soon as possible.

Red is the opposite of me.

bedroom...

bedroom...but not, as it is also happens to be the entrance to the large party bonus room that went with the garage expansion.

We'll see how we use the space.

Party bonus room. Pretty neat.

Upstairs bathroom...

This was an unexpected room that I'm super excited for. It's an exercise room that is off of the garage space. Maybe I'll actually start, you know, using that exercise equipment we've gathered over the years.

I can build a cordoned off play area in the corner so I can bring the kiddos.

pack it up

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Thu, 30 May 2013 03:27:00 +0000

We went under contract with a builder to build our Michigan house I think around June of 2008.

We were fortunate in that we paid near the low of where new home prices went after the whole housing crash thing, but I realized fairly soon after we moved in (Thanksgiving of '08) that there was a pretty strong possibility that we were going to be selling at a loss as there were an awful lot of short sale and foreclosures happening in our general area.

So we prepared.

I did my thing and made improvements to the home on the cheap and we worked the budget and plowed through a significant portion of our mortgage...I think we would have paid it off completely had we been there another year.

In the end, our preparation took the anxiety out of the situation.

We were under contract two weeks after listing and for a price that left us with some very workable equity.

Our buyers worked with us on the closing date so we didn't have to move out until we were ready to leave the state.

There were some little drama things that did happen {the closing didn't actually happen until two days after we were planning/after we were out of state, messing with utility shutoffs, worry about sump pump failures/floods, etc}, but what real estate deal ever goes down without a little drama?

We were saved by some really great friends {Hi Quinns! and Sylvesters!} and everything worked out.

One of the most wonderful things ever is that I didn't have to pack, we had movers.

They came and boxed up everything one day, loaded a truck the next.

They are keeping everything in a climate controlled storage area until we are ready for it, and then they'll come and unpack for us.

Huge stress reliever for me.

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Wed, 29 May 2013 17:13:00 +0000

So it's been a pretty long blogging break {Easter to Memorial Day} and boy do I ever have a long list of life updates to document.

I think the best way to go about this is to have this post serve as a summary, and then I'll flesh out the details with additional posts.

Curt finished his MBA at the University of Michigan
to go along with that, Curt got a new job in a new industry
that new job is in Atlanta and starts in June
Curt left his previous job in early April
we sold our Michigan home
movers came and packed all of our stuff
we're closing on a new (to us) home at the beginning of July
we're on the last leg of a crazy, amazing, two month long vacation leaving Michigan and including stops in:

Atlanta, GA

St. Pete's Beach, FL

West Palm Beach, FL

Orlando, FL

Gainesville, FL

Destin, FL

Atlanta again

Phoenix, AZ

Saratoga Springs, UT

Marina El Cid Resort, MEXICO

Saratoga Springs, UT

and finally ending up in Atlanta

over 5,000 miles of driving plus flights to Mexico have already happened.

It's been nothing short of epic.

Easter Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 01:12:00 +0000

Kid Pics

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 01:36:00 +0000

3 months old

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:29:00 +0000

I'll let the pictures do the talking except for one comment...don't you just want to eat those cheeks up?

maps as art

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:42:00 +0000

At the end of a post on the guest bedroom three years ago I was contemplating using a National Geographic map as art in that room.

Well, that never happened.

But I did use one for art in my room recently.

It was a total spur of the moment thing.

I was walking down an aisle in Target and *bam* there were three largish frames on clearance for $10 each.

I got them, not knowing what I'd use them for, but knowing I liked them.

After I got them home Curt reminded me of the map...awesome.

Cut it in thirds, popped it in, popped them up.

Done.

some new hardware

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:27:00 +0000

For Christmas I got new hardware.

Now for some girls, that might mean new jewelry or something, but for me it means making my dressers more my style.

Here are some horrendous before pictures.

Really, I don't know what I was doing, the lighting stinks, they're blurry, my house is a mess.

But I guess they give you the idea.

The old handles weren't terrible.

They were good quality, heavy, and not bad to look at.

But I wanted something better.

Enter better:

{to me...I know not everyone will agree}

...and I don't think that these pictures convey just how good they look.

I love them very much.

And for just over $80 for 33 pulls, it feels like I got a whole new dresser set.

Des turns 2

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:09:00 +0000

Desmond's birthday serendipitously landed on President's Day this year.

Meaning we were able to have Curt home with us all day.

"cool, candles" | 'blow' candles out by scrunching nose | get help from Dad | high fives

We took a morning trip to the University of Michigan's Museum of Natural History.

Des had a blast jumping and pointing out the animals he knew.

We ended the day with some true two tantrums.

Despite those, Des is really a good kid and we love seeing him grow and hilariously imitate us.

Bring on this next year.

right now...

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:58:00 +0000

I used to blog a whole lot more before I had kids.

Which is a shame because blogging is my journal and I find myself wishing I had a better record sometimes.

So, here's a little bit of right now...

Curt:

-finishing up the last two classes of his MBA at the University of Michigan

{he'll be done February 26th...time is tricky, it feels like it's taken forever yet flown by too}

-at church he's serving as the executive secretary, one of the organists, and a stake auditor.

-work deserves and will get its own post...later

Carmen:

-still staying at home with the kiddos.

I feel like I'm on top of the whole 'having two kids' thing when I am home.

The concept of going out somewhere with just me and them though is still slightly terrifying.

-finished the basement. still savoring that.

-at church I'm serving in the stake young womens presidency

Desmond:

-turning two next week

-he's looking like a little boy now, he's lost that baby chub

-currently is loving letters

{he knows all of the capital letters and their sounds...when driving he's calling out everything he sees}

-he also cracks us up constantly with his ever expanding vocabulary and the sentences he strings together

-is OK with nursery now that the new year came and all of the older kids went to sunbeams

Evie:

-is almost 3 months

-has gained her chubbers rapidly, was 12.5 lbs at the two month checkup

{which equals very kissable cheeks}

-lights up with a smile most times you look at her

-is very vocal with her own form of 'talking'...sounds like a cat to me

-has cradle cap something fierce

-still has red hair

{please forgive the blurry/cut off head...I want pictures with me and the kids, but am far from adept at the self timer as of yet}

Basement Update: Finished

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 16:23:00 +0000

When I last updated you on the progress in the basement (back in October), we had just had the drywall hung.

Well, in between then and now we had a baby and Curt had school, kind of putting a damper on the progress.

But Curt got down there and installed a floor and a toilet and after I physically got back up to speed I got down there and painted, tiled, plumbed, and did trim and other miscellaneous items galore.

And we're done.

Phew.

{If you want to review the whole basement project: plans, pre-insulation, drywall}

8 Week Update: Ginger

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 22:33:00 +0000

I know that it will probably go away as it did with Des, but I'm currently loving my red-headed baby.

Christmas 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:07:00 +0000

This year we spent Christmas in Florida.

Rough life, huh?

Curt's parents recently moved and we love the new location and home.

This post is going to be a little Des heavy on the pictures.

What can I say, I think he's cute.

Des loved the baby grand piano at the grandparent's house...

...and getting to know all of his aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc...

{he pronounces Megan as "Bacon", hilarious}

...he figured out this whole present thing...

{Des with his new xylophone, which he calls his "iphone". Again, this kid cracks me up}

...Evie enjoyed the festivities also, obviously...

Des thought great grandpa Hogie was really awesome, all based on his mad basketball twirling skills.

If you look closely this picture caught Des mid "oooh".

...we had some cousin bonding time, Des and Riley are only 4 months apart...

We went to the beach.

Oh yes, the weather was in the 80s. So gorgeous.

{and yet, the Floridians are wearing sweaters, as demonstrated by Shauna below}

We got the car washed.

Which is a big deal because you can't really do that in the winter in Michigan.

Our car was so, so crusty.

But then looked so, so nice.

And then we drove home to many inches of snow on our lawn. bleh.

But, it was a good trip and a safe drive to and from...I am very thankful.

a month old today...

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 21:55:00 +0000

baby blessing

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 19:37:00 +0000

Miss Evie's baby blessing was yesterday, December 2nd.

She wore the blessing dress that I was blessed in as a newborn.

Mom was the only family who made it, and we were so thankful for her presence.

"mom, are you really taking more pictures of me?"

I had to multitask while it was going on because this little guy is having jealousy issues and was upset that his daddy was holding the baby at the front of the chapel and not him.

But everything was beautiful and Evie was a perfect angel.

And now my mom is back home and I get to figure out this two kids to one me thing.

I am so lucky.

(not being sarcastic)

big brother

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:07:00 +0000

Baby Evie

noreply@blogger.com (Curt Hostetler) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Evangeline Melody Hostetler (Evie) made her debut at 1:14am on Friday morning (11/16/12).

My water "broke" either sometime Wednesday or Thursday morning (I say "broke" because really I just sprang a pinhole leak).

The UM Birth Center Triage had me come in Thursday afternoon, confirmed that that was the case, and admitted me.

Contractions would come for me when I walked around (for hours), but stopped as soon as I stopped.

The doctors and nurses wanted to start me on pitocin, which I have in general been against because I think hospitals a lot of times push it to keep people on some artificial schedule and because in my opinion inductions have increased rates of c-sections and go hand in hand with people thinking they can't do labor without an epidural.

But, I agreed and they started me on a low level drip of pitocin at around 10:45pm.

(and, at least for my body, I didn't think it made the contractions any more intense, it just got labor going...and fast. So, my soapbox stance may need some modifications.)

About an hour and a half in, the nurse said to let her know in a few hours when I felt any pressure, etc...I called her back in 5 minutes later feeling kind of silly doing so...but they checked me and everyone started hopping because apparently I was in delivery mode. A couple of pushes later she was here.

I'm so thankful everything went well. I love this little being so much already, and I know I'm biased, but I think she's pretty cute.

I'm also thankful to have my mom here (she arrived on the 10th).

I think it made all the difference to Des to be able to stay at home in familiar surroundings while we were at the hospital.

He has moments of anxiety at sharing his momma (and daddy), but overall is doing so good and loves to kiss and hold his little sister.

Don't mind the picture overload...I just can't help myself.

I think she looks like Curt's sister, Megan, and a lot like Des looked when he was first born.

We'll see what the next few weeks hold...babies just change so very fast...I have to drink it in while I can.

38 weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:18:00 +0000

We are now to the point where I could theoretically have this baby girl at any time.

Yes this top gets worn frequently.

No, it is not technically a maternity top, but a mini skirt dress.

Works for me though.

shopping for kids clothes

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 02:54:00 +0000

I was so pleased with my haul from the consignment shop tonight.

That is 17 onesies, 4 pairs of pants, 3 footie pajamas, 3 shirts, 3 sweaters, 2 denim dresses, 2 pairs of shoes, a skirt, a dress, and a swim suit.

37 items.

Total: $24.80

That's an average of 67 cents per item.

And these are not worn out clothes at all. Several still had original store tags.

Some people try to tell me that they do just as well shopping sales in the malls...but I just don't buy it. For less than one hour of my time spent I found this quantity at this price.

Granted, this was notable, thus the blog post.

...but I typically average around $1-1.50 per clothing item.

Budgets are sexy, spreadsheets make me giddy, and shopping like this is deeply satisfying.

Life is good.

Basement Update: Insulation & Hanging Drywall

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Well, things are going about as planned in my last update.

I had the basement insulated and inspected by end of day last Thursday, drywall was delivered yesterday, and three guys showed up today and hung it all in between 9:00a-3:00p.

A guy is showing up at 8:00a tomorrow to start taping and mudding.

The following are views from this morning and then {roughly} the same views this afternoon.

It really is amazing the visual change of making the walls solid.

...standing in the bathroom looking down the hallway...

...standing in the alcove in the bedroom looking into the closets...

...standing in the bedroom closet looking at the alcove...

...standing in the storage area looking toward the hall {on the left} and the bathroom {on the right}...

...the bathroom...

a Fall walk

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 21:44:00 +0000

It was a beautiful day outside today.

Basement Update: Pre-Insulation

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 23:17:00 +0000

I last updated you on plans to finish the basement clear back in February.

Well, first let's go over some before pictures.

Coming down the stairs...

...looking at the space that will be a hallway and a bedroom...

...slightly shifted view, the heater and the electric panel will be in the utility room...

...the small window to the right of the heater is the window for the bathroom...

...and the sub plumbing sticking up out of the concrete for the bathroom...

...and finally, the view of the area we are not finishing, the storage area.

Curt helped me put up the top and bottom plates of each wall, and then I completed the framing by installing all of the vertical members and the doorways.

Then I had to think.

I want this project to be done before the baby comes, so that I don't need to worry about it anymore and so that our guest capacity is increased.

I had planned on doing all of the electrical and plumbing...but judging by how long it took me to get the framing done while being a mom to Des this plan looked to be in direct conflict with the deadline I wanted.

So I gathered estimates from contractors.

Sidenote: always get multiple bids for every trade...you save a lot of $ that way

Rough electric, plumbing, and HVAC were completed in the last couple of weeks.

I've passed the municipal plumbing, electric, and mechanical inspections.

I'm insulating today and tomorrow, getting that inspected Thursday or Friday, and hope to have the drywallers in next week.

Here are pictures that were current as of this morning:

In the bathroom looking down the hall...

...in the bedroom looking at the closets...

...in the bedroom with my back to the closets...

...utility room...

...view from the storage room looking into the bathroom, the end of the hallway, and the utility room...

...bathroom...

...am I the only one who thinks rough plumbing and electrical are pretty?...yes?...just checking...

After the drywallers it's all back on me (and Curt, when he has time to help).

I've ordered and received the flooring.

I've ordered and received the subway tile that will line the shower floor to ceiling.

I've got an old, beautiful buffet that I'm turning into a vanity and I've got the bathroom mirror.

I'll prime and paint.

I'll do the finish plumbing and HVAC.

I take it back...the electricians do come back and install all of the outlets, switches, and can light trims. Sweet.

I have right around a month to get this all done...I think I can do it, but I'll keep you updated.