Weeks #8 & #9

I didn't post last Friday, because I thought we'd be doing our walk through this week, and then I'd post pictures of the final product. Well, the different contractors have created a stall in the progress. We're still waiting for the stupid sod to be laid in our front yard, and 2 little cabinet doors to be fastened on in our master bath vanity. So, we won't be closing this week like we all thought. Hopefully we'll do a walk through by next Monday/Tuesday and be able to close by next weekend. We'll keep you all posted.

Just Thoughts

* We went to our new ward today. It was scary. Not very many people talked to me, but they all just looked at us like "should we know who they are?". I hope we make friends fast and that it doesn't stay scary for a long time.

* I will be visiting the TC (Tri-Cities for those unknowing) more often than I thought. I guess the groceries and prices in Hermiston are bad enough for most people to make weekly trips to the TC for their food at Costco, or any other place that Hermiston does not have. All we do have is WalMart and Safeway. They told me to do all my shopping at Safeway. Noted!!

* Lucas is very enthusiastic about Primary. Maybe a little too enthusiastic. His first Sunday as a Sunbeam, he went to the microphone about 5 times, and kept trying to pull things off the front table and off the walls. He was getting better, but now we have a new Primary room, with new stuff on the tables, and new things on the walls. Oh boy.

* Easton is very good at making friends. He sat next to a boy in Primary and they talked to each other the whole time. Very quietly of course. His name is Aaron, and I think we will have to invite him over soon after we get settled.

* I tease Scott often about being in the Bishopric someday. He doesn't think it is very funny. Well, the people in our ward think it is funny too. The 1st Counselor is moving out soon, and they had to poke fun at Scott, tell him he moved into the ward just in time. That is not to say that it will actually happen, but I got a good kick out of it. Scott, of course, still doesn't think it is very funny.

* We went to our house to look at everything before our final walk through, and there are things that I already don't like. The color pallet. Floor samples, and counter top samples look a lot different in 2x2 format, than on the larger scale. Some things don't match right, and it bugs me. Oh well, we won't live in this house forever. This is what I keep telling myself.

* Final thought/rhetorical question: Why do I always get the church meeting times, that don't coinside with my children's nap/eating schedules? I vote to go back to the old way, sacrament meeting only on Sunday, primary during the week. And then when my kids are all the age of 4 and above, we can go back to the 3 hr. block schedule. You think the church would go for that? :)

Schools Out for Summer

Next week is Spring Break, and then we will be moved into our new house, so Easton had his last day of preschool on Thursday. He doesn't really understand what is going on, which is a good thing, but I think he will miss his friends, and be very bored at home after a few weeks.

His teachers are going to miss him so much, and so is Hayden. I wouldn't necessarily call Hayden his girlfriend, but she is a girl and is probably his best friend in school. He often came off the bus and told me all the silly things that Hayden did or said that day. I brought cupcakes to the class, and Easton helped hand them out. Guess who he gave one to first? Yep, Hayden.

They gave Easton a great send-off. He even got a birthday crown and a prize, since his birthday isn't until June. I'm so sad that he won't get to go to preschool anymore, but he is so ready for Kindergarten in the fall now.

p.s. Easton's class had just finished learning about insects, especially Ladybugs. So the cupcakes are little ladybugs if you couldn't tell. They were a hit!

Simple Earthly Pleasures

My boys can be entertained by the simple things that we find in everyday life. Today, while waiting for Easton's bus, Luke and Max had a fantastic time in our front yard with sticks, rocks, dirt, and grass.

Max, of course, loved the taste and feel of everything, except the grass. I don't know what it is about my kids at that age, but they have always disliked the feel of grass. I loved that he kept putting rock after rock in his mouth, hoping that just maybe, one of them wouldn't taste like a rock, but like something a little yummier.

Luke liked to imagine with his objects. His stick was a sword, and then he broke it in half and then they were spaceships flying through space. I love Lucas in his BYU hat, he reminds me of the dorky kid in Sandlot.

No, my boys don't need much to be entertained. Even when we took our boys to Disneyland 2 years ago (Easton was 2 1/2, and Luke was 14 months), Easton's favorite things were swinging on the ropes while standing in line, and 2 leaves that he played with the entire time while in line for Pirates of the Caribbean. If only kids could remain this easily entertained while growing up. It would sure save me a whole lot of money!

Springtime Fun

We have had some beautiful spring weather over the last 2-3 weeks. The boys have loved to play outside again. They could spend all day in the dirt, which is good, because that is all they will have at their new house for a while. Max watches longingly out the window, dreaming of the day that he can walk and play in the dirt too.

Week #7

I got to see all of the details done today! Our carpet looks lovely, as do the cabinets, ceiling fans, garage door, trim, and doors. When I went down to the house today, the plumbers were there to install the sinks, water heater, and the toilets. Now all that is left are the closet doors, a stove/microwave, detailing and cleanup, and our front landscaping. We are on schedule to close April 1st. Hurry up, April!

Triplets?

This is a conversation I had at Barnes and Nobles the other day.

Lady: So, are they identical?
Me: (laugh) No, they aren't even twins.
Lady: (Jaw drops to the floor) Are you kidding, they look so much alike.
Me: I know, I get asked that question every day!

The conversation proceeded like it usually does: how far apart they are, why they are the same size, how often they get mistaken for twins, etc., etc.

Max is a good sized fella too. He is not as tall as Luke was, but he isn't even a year old and has to wear size 18 mo. clothes. So my question is: In another couple of years, will I start getting the question "Are they triplets?" Or will people just start thinking that Max and Easton are twins and Luke is the oldest?

P.S. Will I ever get the comment from someone that at least one of my kids looks like me, and not just my husband? Or am I doomed because they are all boys?

Week #6

Its all about the details, now. The walls have been prepped, textured, and painted. We have a driveway, and a front walkway, and we also have linoleum flooring in certain places in the house.



And coming next week: trim, outside shutters, lighting fixtures, doors, closet shelves, cabinets, and maybe a toilet or 2.

17 months

We have lived with one of our parents for a total of 17 months during our marriage (this includes part of next month, too, before our home is complete). That is approximately 1/5 of the entire time we have been married.

We lived with Scott's parents 3 different times. First, right when we got married. Our apartment fell through only 3 weeks before our wedding, so we didn't have much choice. That was only for 1.5 months, until a spot opened up at Wymount married housing on campus. Second, while I did my student teaching. You can't really afford to live on your own, debt free, when only one of you is able to work a part-time job. And last, we moved in with them for the last 3 months we lived in Utah, to save money, before moving out to West Virginia for grad. school.

Now, we are living with my parents. It has been quite the long haul, waiting for employment, and now waiting for our home to be built. We have been so fortunate to have parents, with large homes and large hearts, to accomodate us during each of these periods in our life. We don't know what we would have done without them, but we are definitely looking forward to having a place of our own again. So, heres to never having to live with our parents again, but grateful that we've always had their support when we needed them.

We love you Moms and Dads!

Week #5

It finally looks like a house inside! And I cannot believe how much bigger a house can look, after the walls are put up, you'd think it would be the opposite. The boys love roaming freely through the house, but more importantly, running around in the backyard, just dreaming of all the fun they will have back there.






We love the color of our house. And yes, that is the color, it is vinyl siding. It is called Coastal Sage, isn't it pretty?

11 Months

I can't believe we are almost at 1 year. Max's personality is coming out more, and he is such a pleasant little boy, except when it comes to food. If it is not coming fast enough, or he doesn't like what you're feeding him, he'll let you know! He jabbers on throughout the day, and has mastered the art of waving. He has begun to be more bold when cruising around the furniture, and I think he is just fine with crawling for a while. Both Easton and Luke were taking their first steps on, or well before, their first birthday, but I think Max is content on his knees and he might stay that way for a while longer. When people first meet Max, they immediately comment on his big eyes. They don't look that big to me, but maybe compared with the rest of our family, his eyes are extremely large. He is such a sweetie, and it doesn't take long to fall in love with this little boy.

Getting older

Scott, my mom, and I went to the local basketball tournament last weekend, and I saw my old dance team perform. All I could think was, "I can't do that anymore", and I felt terribly old. The flexibility and strength that these teenagers have is all but gone from me, and I should have never taken my youth for granted. This team is awesome! (We weren't that awesome, or at least, I wasn't) They place in the top 2 every year at Nationals, we placed 6th or something like that, and now they compete at Worlds and win! Take a look at what I used to be able to do at this link.