Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas Letter - for those of you who we didn't mail one too :)
Dear Family & Friends
We hope this letter finds you all doing well and in good health. We have had a big year, including a new job, an amazing trip to a tropical island, some very good news, and one great, big purchase – a new house! As you can see, it’s been a good year in Northern Virginia!
Let’s start with that new job
In February Allison started a new job at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC). She works as the head torpedo designer and submarine captain…just kidding! The TFAC actually was originally opened to design and build torpedoes for the US Navy, but was later converted into 82 working artist studios and galleries. Allison is working as their graphic designer and as the gallery assistant in their national exhibition space, the Target Gallery. She really loves working there – not to mention playing with her boss’s new puppy Ralphy, who has become the unofficial gallery dog!
Bermuda, Bahama…
…well we weren’t exactly sipping pina coladas while relaxing under palm trees and listening to the beach boys, but we did have a great time on our annual trip down to the Dominican Republic. This was our third time visiting Orfanato Ninos de Cristo, and each year we fall even more in love with the kids! This year’s trip was a lot different from our past ones; usually we only travel with a small group of young couples from our church, but this year we partnered with our church’s teen ministry and brought down around 150 teens and chaperones. The group was fantastic and we were able to accomplish so much within the community, including visiting hospitals, jails, and rehab centers, washing the feet of hundreds of children and distributing new shoes, constructing a new home for one of the orphanage workers (who has been living in a shack with no running water), and SO much more! (We have several videos and photos on previous posts, but you can also see a video by clicking here and click on “Videos”, it is the 3rd video titled “Dominican Republic”) Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us over the years through financial contributions, time, and prayer!
Sign right here…and here…and here…
We’re home owners! Wow, this was a big step and we are having a blast. We bought a cute, two bedroom row house in the Del Ray area of Alexandria, VA. We started looking at places at the end of September, and by October 24th, after signing lots and lots of papers we were officially new home owners! It has been a lot of fun picking out paint colors, and we are taking our time settling in and making the new place truly our own. The house was built in 1942 and has a lot of quirks, but also a lot of charm. The previous owners left us a bundle of old letters that span the 1930s and 40s that they found in one of the vents when they were renovating the basement. They are all in German, but we can’t wait to have them translated. (Allison is hoping they are love letters, and Kevin is hoping they will be Nazi spy letters that will be worth a lot of money ☺. Our new address is below, and we hope you will come visit us in the new year!
Drum roll please!
Itching to know what the “very good news” is, aren’t you? We’ll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with diapers or bottles. Nope, no baby news yet, so stop asking ☺. The great news is that Allison’s dad, Dan, has finally been given a clean bill of health. After four long years of surgery, tests, chemo treatments and blood transfusions, the cancer is officially in remission! This is a huge relief to all of us and makes for a very happy Christmas.
This past year has had it’s ups and downs (as all years do), but God has blessed us in so many areas of our lives, and we have more than plenty to be thankful for.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!
God bless
Kevin & Allison Nance (and Francesca the bunny)
We hope this letter finds you all doing well and in good health. We have had a big year, including a new job, an amazing trip to a tropical island, some very good news, and one great, big purchase – a new house! As you can see, it’s been a good year in Northern Virginia!
Let’s start with that new job
In February Allison started a new job at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (TFAC). She works as the head torpedo designer and submarine captain…just kidding! The TFAC actually was originally opened to design and build torpedoes for the US Navy, but was later converted into 82 working artist studios and galleries. Allison is working as their graphic designer and as the gallery assistant in their national exhibition space, the Target Gallery. She really loves working there – not to mention playing with her boss’s new puppy Ralphy, who has become the unofficial gallery dog!
Bermuda, Bahama…
…well we weren’t exactly sipping pina coladas while relaxing under palm trees and listening to the beach boys, but we did have a great time on our annual trip down to the Dominican Republic. This was our third time visiting Orfanato Ninos de Cristo, and each year we fall even more in love with the kids! This year’s trip was a lot different from our past ones; usually we only travel with a small group of young couples from our church, but this year we partnered with our church’s teen ministry and brought down around 150 teens and chaperones. The group was fantastic and we were able to accomplish so much within the community, including visiting hospitals, jails, and rehab centers, washing the feet of hundreds of children and distributing new shoes, constructing a new home for one of the orphanage workers (who has been living in a shack with no running water), and SO much more! (We have several videos and photos on previous posts, but you can also see a video by clicking here and click on “Videos”, it is the 3rd video titled “Dominican Republic”) Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us over the years through financial contributions, time, and prayer!
Sign right here…and here…and here…
We’re home owners! Wow, this was a big step and we are having a blast. We bought a cute, two bedroom row house in the Del Ray area of Alexandria, VA. We started looking at places at the end of September, and by October 24th, after signing lots and lots of papers we were officially new home owners! It has been a lot of fun picking out paint colors, and we are taking our time settling in and making the new place truly our own. The house was built in 1942 and has a lot of quirks, but also a lot of charm. The previous owners left us a bundle of old letters that span the 1930s and 40s that they found in one of the vents when they were renovating the basement. They are all in German, but we can’t wait to have them translated. (Allison is hoping they are love letters, and Kevin is hoping they will be Nazi spy letters that will be worth a lot of money ☺. Our new address is below, and we hope you will come visit us in the new year!
Drum roll please!
Itching to know what the “very good news” is, aren’t you? We’ll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with diapers or bottles. Nope, no baby news yet, so stop asking ☺. The great news is that Allison’s dad, Dan, has finally been given a clean bill of health. After four long years of surgery, tests, chemo treatments and blood transfusions, the cancer is officially in remission! This is a huge relief to all of us and makes for a very happy Christmas.
This past year has had it’s ups and downs (as all years do), but God has blessed us in so many areas of our lives, and we have more than plenty to be thankful for.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!
God bless
Kevin & Allison Nance (and Francesca the bunny)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
I am a big fat liar!
pictures...I know! This week...we cleaned up and put up some christmas stuff up...so stayed tuned!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Why do I suck at blogging???
seriously....it's like I just can't stay focused! I think my New Years resolution will be to blog at least once a week...well how about twice a month :)
So what is new with us? Well, as everyone already knows, we moved to a new house at the end of October. We've been painting and doing a few minor fixes around our new place. We painted our living room a beautiful (to us) chartreuse. It really looks great with our orange and dark brown furniture. The walls are pretty old and plaster, so it took several coats to get our tiny living room covered....and I think it still needs one more, but that's on hold.
Dining room we painted...wait for it...pink! ok I know you are probably wandering what the heck were we thinking, but the color actually looks great next to our black dining furniture - and it's not bubble gum pink, its a dark salmon. The world's smallest kitchen is a pale yellow - we knocked out part of the cabinets to move the fridge out of the way from the door to the basement (don't ask me why it was ever blocking the door to begin with). Next on our list is to change some light fixtures around, paint the master bedroom, paint the basement & install flooring down there too. Kevin ripped out some nasty carpet down there - covered in cat hair (I have a big cat allergy). Kevin also scrapped and sanded out upstairs banister (had about 60 years of paint built up on it).
We bought some new Christmas lights for our front porch (yay!) and will hang them up this weekend I hope!. I plan to take some good, new house photos and post them by next week. (I think I've said that at least twice already - but this time I PROMISE!)
So what is new with us? Well, as everyone already knows, we moved to a new house at the end of October. We've been painting and doing a few minor fixes around our new place. We painted our living room a beautiful (to us) chartreuse. It really looks great with our orange and dark brown furniture. The walls are pretty old and plaster, so it took several coats to get our tiny living room covered....and I think it still needs one more, but that's on hold.
Dining room we painted...wait for it...pink! ok I know you are probably wandering what the heck were we thinking, but the color actually looks great next to our black dining furniture - and it's not bubble gum pink, its a dark salmon. The world's smallest kitchen is a pale yellow - we knocked out part of the cabinets to move the fridge out of the way from the door to the basement (don't ask me why it was ever blocking the door to begin with). Next on our list is to change some light fixtures around, paint the master bedroom, paint the basement & install flooring down there too. Kevin ripped out some nasty carpet down there - covered in cat hair (I have a big cat allergy). Kevin also scrapped and sanded out upstairs banister (had about 60 years of paint built up on it).
We bought some new Christmas lights for our front porch (yay!) and will hang them up this weekend I hope!. I plan to take some good, new house photos and post them by next week. (I think I've said that at least twice already - but this time I PROMISE!)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Halloween 2008
we have a lot more HILARIOUS photos from the night - think Kevin in very short running shorts rocking out to Billy Idol, Beastie Boys & Bon Jovi while singing/playing Rockband :)
Friday, October 24, 2008
yay new house!!!
we have done it...we signed the papers today. we are now home owners, officially in debt and as my dad says - we are now true Americans :)
the last home owners left as a stack of old letters & photos that they found in a vent! the letters are span the 1920s-end of 30s. isnt that SO romantic. snag - they are all in russian and german to a guy named Wilhelm Bumenthal & we found one document in english stating who is german, but also went to school in Latvia. All postmarked to New York & then to DC on Connecticut Ave. and I guess at some point in our little home. I cant wait to find out what they say. I hope they are love letters (sigh) & kevin is hoping they are spy/war related :) Check our facebook page out for pics of our new place. tomorrow we are going in to spruce it up :)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=57260&id=716052586
the last home owners left as a stack of old letters & photos that they found in a vent! the letters are span the 1920s-end of 30s. isnt that SO romantic. snag - they are all in russian and german to a guy named Wilhelm Bumenthal & we found one document in english stating who is german, but also went to school in Latvia. All postmarked to New York & then to DC on Connecticut Ave. and I guess at some point in our little home. I cant wait to find out what they say. I hope they are love letters (sigh) & kevin is hoping they are spy/war related :) Check our facebook page out for pics of our new place. tomorrow we are going in to spruce it up :)
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=57260&id=716052586
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Our new house - almost !!!
we made an offer on a rowhouse in Del Ray, and they accepted our offer! yay!!! We are going to the home inspection on Wednesday & if all goes well then we are scheduled to close on October 24th. It's in Lynnhaven neighborhood (off East Glebe) 2 bedroom, 2 full bath, finished basement. There are a few things we want to do right away, like open up the kitchen and make it a little more than a hallway :)
Friday, September 26, 2008
Rachel Yamagata at the Birchmere
we went to see one of my favorite singers at the Birchmere on Tuesday. it was great!
House Search
we are house hunting! We have been browsing online for a long time and now our lease is about to be up at the end of October. So we went out with our agent on Wednesday and saw 4 properties in Alexandria - 2 townhouses, a house, and a condo - all in Del Ray. We really like one of the townhouses and also the condo. The house was the teeny tiniest house ever! and the other town house was a mess and spider infested.
We have plans to look at a few Old Town properties & one further up Duke St. on Monday, but we really really like the townhouse in Del Ray. We're going back on Sunday for their open house so we can see it in the daylight. We'll keep you posted!
We have plans to look at a few Old Town properties & one further up Duke St. on Monday, but we really really like the townhouse in Del Ray. We're going back on Sunday for their open house so we can see it in the daylight. We'll keep you posted!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Finally some videos...
here are a few videos, the quality is kind of low so I could fit them on here with out having to wait a long time for them to load, but if anyone from the trip wants high quality ones, or to see more then just send me an email. (sorry these are SO shaky)
First Day - This cracks me up (watch how Michele runs to the front and Marisol pushes her to the back)
Third Day (Monday) - Graduation Day - Paola, Glenni, Yulissa, & Heidy all graduated from highschool (you can see Kevin, Antony & April all running up to the front to get better pictures)
Fifth Day (Wednesday) The teens arrive
Fifth Day - our awesome step team - the teen girls from the orphanage loved these guys! (this ones long so I suggest just watching the first step part)
Last Day - Going away party
First Day - This cracks me up (watch how Michele runs to the front and Marisol pushes her to the back)
Third Day (Monday) - Graduation Day - Paola, Glenni, Yulissa, & Heidy all graduated from highschool (you can see Kevin, Antony & April all running up to the front to get better pictures)
Fifth Day (Wednesday) The teens arrive
Fifth Day - our awesome step team - the teen girls from the orphanage loved these guys! (this ones long so I suggest just watching the first step part)
Last Day - Going away party
Friday, August 1, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
We are home...
ok so our plans to post the video's didn't work, so I will be adding pics & video tonight :) Thanks for everyone's prayers & support, the trip went really great & and we can't wait to share more with you!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Greetings from the DR!
So we have been here for 3 days (including our travling day. Saturday we left at 5:30 to get to Dulles airport, flew out at 8am, had a short layover in San Juan, and finally arrived in La Romana around 2ish. I slept the entire time so it went very quickly. We checked into our rooms at Casa de Campo & went to the pool right away - we knew this would be our only chance and it was great!
Sunday, we met with some girls that have been volunteering at the orphanage & compared notes about our needs and goals for our work there. They have been working with SCORE a group that has been working with the orphanage and they are gathering information about each orphan so that they can try to set up a sponsorship program. We ran lots of errands and then headed back to the hotel. Kevin and I squeezed 2 hours of beach time in at Playa Minitas which was SO beautiful! We even got a little bit tan - just a little though :) We then all took a few hours to visit the kids at the orphanage. It was a lot of fun to play with all of them and see how they are all getting so big - this is our third year here & some of the kids have changed so much. Also, the property has really grown - a new laundry/shower facility & the church and tech school is mostly finished. They have a ceramics teacher there that is teaching them a lot of cool things & one of the women at Casa de Campo is selling some of their pottery at the Marina & her store at the airport.
Today, Monday, we had a lot of planning for the girls retreat to get done. We are leading 2 sessions - one about the family & one about marriage. After that we went to Altos de Chavon, a great cobblestone village on the Casa de Campo property for lunch.
Tonight we went to 4 of the girl's graduation - it was of course a million degrees in the gym! All the girls were very dressed up (they wear what we would consider prom dresses under their grad gowns) & then we took them out to a fancy pizza place called Limocello's that was at the Casa de Campo marina. Afterwards we took them for ice cream & then gave them some "driving" lessons on our golf carts. Zuleika & Yulissa took turns racing around a parking lot :)
All right, that's it - we have a lot of errands to run tomorrow & logistical stuff to get done before all the teens (150 of them) come to town.
Thanks for everyone's prayers!!!
Sunday, we met with some girls that have been volunteering at the orphanage & compared notes about our needs and goals for our work there. They have been working with SCORE a group that has been working with the orphanage and they are gathering information about each orphan so that they can try to set up a sponsorship program. We ran lots of errands and then headed back to the hotel. Kevin and I squeezed 2 hours of beach time in at Playa Minitas which was SO beautiful! We even got a little bit tan - just a little though :) We then all took a few hours to visit the kids at the orphanage. It was a lot of fun to play with all of them and see how they are all getting so big - this is our third year here & some of the kids have changed so much. Also, the property has really grown - a new laundry/shower facility & the church and tech school is mostly finished. They have a ceramics teacher there that is teaching them a lot of cool things & one of the women at Casa de Campo is selling some of their pottery at the Marina & her store at the airport.
Today, Monday, we had a lot of planning for the girls retreat to get done. We are leading 2 sessions - one about the family & one about marriage. After that we went to Altos de Chavon, a great cobblestone village on the Casa de Campo property for lunch.
Tonight we went to 4 of the girl's graduation - it was of course a million degrees in the gym! All the girls were very dressed up (they wear what we would consider prom dresses under their grad gowns) & then we took them out to a fancy pizza place called Limocello's that was at the Casa de Campo marina. Afterwards we took them for ice cream & then gave them some "driving" lessons on our golf carts. Zuleika & Yulissa took turns racing around a parking lot :)
All right, that's it - we have a lot of errands to run tomorrow & logistical stuff to get done before all the teens (150 of them) come to town.
Thanks for everyone's prayers!!!
Saturday, July 19, 2008
DR here we come...
We are off to the DR (in less than 5 hours). Please keep checking back, we'll be posting videos during the week (well we will try to anyways :)
Thanks for everyone's support!!!
Thanks for everyone's support!!!
Sunday, June 22, 2008
DR here we come...
we are on our way to the DR from July 19th - July 30th. We just sent out support letters and included our blog address so people could stay up to date with our planning schedule. Here are a few pics from our last trip in 2007. Email us if you would like a copy of our support letter to find out about our upcoming trip! The last picture in the collage is from the first few years of the orphanage in their original location.
We'll be having a Wine & Cheese fundraiser at the Target Gallery (where I work) at the Torpedo Factory Art Center on July 11th at 7pm. Mark your calendars!!!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
2008 in review (so far anyways...)
Hi all...so I haven't posted since early February. I'm going to post several in a row (mostly pics) from what's been going on in the life Kevin, Allison & Francesca :)
So scroll o down and check it out!
So scroll o down and check it out!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
reunion...
We met up with a bunch of friends from past DR trips to celebrate the return of Joey & Tracy Johnson, who had been living/traveling around India and into eastern Asia. We ate delicious Indian food at Panjshir in Falls Church (down the road from our place) & it was great to hear stories form their trip!
In the picture: Dave & Risa Marburg, Antony & April Fletcher, Joey & Tracy Johnson, Caroline & Tedd Baker, & us
In the picture: Dave & Risa Marburg, Antony & April Fletcher, Joey & Tracy Johnson, Caroline & Tedd Baker, & us
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Corbin's 1st birthday
we had lots of fun at corbin's first bday ... who wouldn't with a moon bounce, elmo, and balloon animals :)
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Trip to the National Portrait Gallery
There was a great hip hop exhibit that featured graffiti, video, photography, installation & spoken word...and my favorite or the day- paintings by Kehinde Wiley
here are a few pics from our day there (I even went back with Mary for a work fieldtrip - you know, gotta keep in the know about the DC arts scene :) One image is from the hip hop show and the others are from 2 permanent exhibits in their modern art section (sculptors Duane Hanson & George Segal).
Check out the show here...
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Sheryl & Joey's Wedding - May 3rd, 2008
Sheryl is a good friend of mine from high school. Morgan and I were in the wedding party and we all had a great time. We stayed at the grand hyatt in Reston town center, and the rehearsal dinner was right there at McCormick and Schmicks. In the morning MOrgan and I walked to meet the gals to get our hair did at PR at Partners. There was a huge dog festival going on so that was a lot of fun :)
Her cousin from NY did our makeup and she did a fantastic job. We then all got dressed and took a limo to Raspberry Plains in Leesburg, VA where Sheryl got ready. The ceremony & reception were both there & everything was SO beautiful. The cake was made by her sister Alison who hand painted hundred of sugar flowers over 2 months to decorate it. She is so talented.
The wedding was a lot of fun ... the 80's rock band & the jelly bean favor bar was my favorite part...and I think Kev loved the sliders (mini burgers) we had at cocktail hour :)
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Baby Adeline!
Cheryl & Matt's new baby!
On the way home from Jason's wedding we stopped outside of Richmond to see my good friend from high school's 1 week old baby Adeline...so tiny & cute!
On the way home from Jason's wedding we stopped outside of Richmond to see my good friend from high school's 1 week old baby Adeline...so tiny & cute!
Jason & Gray's Wedding
We took a trip down to NC for our friend Jason's wedding. Kevin was one of the groomsmen and so was his brother Brad.
We stayed at the Crumps and had a lot of fun with them....as you can tell from all the photos :)
We stayed at the Crumps and had a lot of fun with them....as you can tell from all the photos :)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Easter...
The Easter Bunny...
Easter dinner at Allison's parent's....Cousin Jayna & Jeremy with one of may favorite little people Gianna!
Easter dinner at Allison's parent's....Cousin Jayna & Jeremy with one of may favorite little people Gianna!
Friday, March 21, 2008
My "office" in Old Town
well I wouldn't call it an office, let's call is a work space :)
and 2 pics of old town taken while Kevin was driving us home.
and 2 pics of old town taken while Kevin was driving us home.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Monday, March 17, 2008
Heather's visit home from Iraq & Saint Patty's Day
Heather Roed (my close friend from the church I grew up going to - Mexico Mission Shout Out!) came home for a week in March & we met up with her and her boyfriend Steve & Allison (another close friend from church & highschool/elementary school- and name stealer) and her husband Greg. We went to La Tasca in Old Town. Heather comes home for good in June!!
We celebrated Saint Patrick's Day & Claire's 1st anniversary of her 30th birthday by meeting at O'Connels with the Torpedo Factory gals and then moving the party to Union Street for one of their awesome burgers!
We celebrated Saint Patrick's Day & Claire's 1st anniversary of her 30th birthday by meeting at O'Connels with the Torpedo Factory gals and then moving the party to Union Street for one of their awesome burgers!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Sheryl's Bridal Shower
A super cute brunch at The Heart and Hand in Clifton...
in the picture ... Morgan, Sheryl & Me
in the picture ... Morgan, Sheryl & Me
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Valentines Party!
We hosted a Valentines day dinner party. We held it at our Condo's club room which was a great space - lots of room, big kitchen, pool table, comfy couches, etc.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
A long over due update
ok, so I did just post about my new job, but here are a bunch of pics of the last few months.
Kev & I doing the tourist thing...in front of the white house after visiting the Corcoran's Ansel Adams/Annie Leibovitz exhibit on New Years Eve.
Later that night we went to dinner at Argia's & then to Falls Church City's First Night Block Party (Jason & Gray were visiting, along with Brad & Jen and Sheryl & Joey). Here is a great pic of Joey & Kevin with Sheryl...getting ready to run and jump onto a velcro wall.
And then at midnight...watching the Falls Church Star drop...
I'll post a few more later :)
Kev & I doing the tourist thing...in front of the white house after visiting the Corcoran's Ansel Adams/Annie Leibovitz exhibit on New Years Eve.
Later that night we went to dinner at Argia's & then to Falls Church City's First Night Block Party (Jason & Gray were visiting, along with Brad & Jen and Sheryl & Joey). Here is a great pic of Joey & Kevin with Sheryl...getting ready to run and jump onto a velcro wall.
And then at midnight...watching the Falls Church Star drop...
I'll post a few more later :)
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Torpedo Factory Job
wow...I haven't posted anything new since December 4th! I will add some pics on here tonight, but for now the new news is...I got a great new job :)
I have been working for Blue Tulip as a graphic designer & invitation consultant. I was really enjoying it, but I saw a posting for a gallery assistant/graphic designer at the torpedo factory(an amazing art center in Old Town, Alexandria). I applied and I went on an interview & then they wanted me to do some sample design work for them for an upcoming exhibition and for their Spring open house....
well...I got the job! I am really excited. I loved working at emerge gallery when I was in school, and this is such an amazing opportunity. I am sad about leaving my current job b/c I love my boss Susan and district manager Lauren. It was certainly tough to give them my notice b/c I have a great time with them and it is so close to my home...but I just can't pass up the torpedo factory job :) And, who could ask for a better environment, right on the water front!
I have been working for Blue Tulip as a graphic designer & invitation consultant. I was really enjoying it, but I saw a posting for a gallery assistant/graphic designer at the torpedo factory(an amazing art center in Old Town, Alexandria). I applied and I went on an interview & then they wanted me to do some sample design work for them for an upcoming exhibition and for their Spring open house....
well...I got the job! I am really excited. I loved working at emerge gallery when I was in school, and this is such an amazing opportunity. I am sad about leaving my current job b/c I love my boss Susan and district manager Lauren. It was certainly tough to give them my notice b/c I have a great time with them and it is so close to my home...but I just can't pass up the torpedo factory job :) And, who could ask for a better environment, right on the water front!
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