Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Life

Life is hard. Life is messy. Life is unpredictable. It has been a difficult month and half or so. We had a good summer. Got the kids started into school here in Rigby and were anxiously awaiting the move. Long story short, due to unforeseen paperwork issues and then an issue with our well we ended up living with in-laws for three weeks because we had already moved out of the old house after being told we would be closing "any day". That was stressful but I learned some good lessons in the midst of it all.

Then our life was turned upside down on October 2 when we found out that our beloved brother-in-law, Lynn (Sarah's husband), passed away. It was very unexpected and made me wake up and realize how unimportant so much of the junk we deal with in our daily lives really is. We got into the house the next day which was helpful with having family in town, etc. But I would give my house back in a heart beat if it would bring Lynn back. Every day I struggle with some aspect or other of the whole situation and that is not even a tip of the iceberg that Sarah and her girls are dealing with.

So, to be brief, hug your loved ones. Cherish them. Value them. Deal with whatever family issues may be unsettled. There's not enough time. And to prove to you just how quickly time has been going by for us, here are some pictures to update you.
 Fun summer camping, trips, and play dates.











 I refinished our kitchen table. I will most likely never, ever do a project of this magnitude again. Ha! That being said, it looks nice in our new house and it would have clashed so much if I hadn't done it.



 They all had so much fun building this giraffe, then asked me to take a picture and somehow ended up making it look like I had threatened them to build it, or else!


 This is how Jonas spent his day for the three weeks that we were making three trips a day to and from Rigby. It was an adjustment!
 This sweet little pumpkin turned one on the day that we loaded up the old house. I can hardly believe it's been a whole year. He is a great baby and we are so blessed to have him.
 This baby got packed clear to the very top Tetris style. It was unreal. And we still had about five truck loads of other random garage, outdoor, and leftover stuff. Yuck. So glad that is over.
 These three shared this bed at Sid and Gaylene's for two weeks. Needless to say, there were a few issues.

 Miss and Shane were able to come home for the funeral. It was nice to see them. Just wished it was under different circumstances. Poor baby Emmett wasn't feeling well and just let them cuddle him. And then Channing started dressing him up. Pretty funny how he just laid there and let them!

 Our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. Minus daddy since he was in New York for work that week.




 I bribed these guys with books from the book fair if they would be good while I hauled them to Saydi's parent teacher conference. I love that my kids love reading.
 School pics! Which I refuse to buy because they are priced ridiculously and don't really show their character anyway. But they do have some pretty cute faces!

Thursday, July 31, 2014

New House

We are so grateful for the opportunity to build a new home in Rigby. Mark's uncle asked us, "What makes you think your marriage is strong enough to withstand that?" Ha! Honestly, it has been one of the funnest things we have ever done together and has been practically stress-free. A lot of that is because we are totally on the same page with things though and he trusts my judgment on colors and what not. =) It's been fun to see it progress so here are pictures of the journey thus far.


 This is the view from the kitchen looking into the living room.

 Same shot a few months later.

 The stucco got painted this week! I  LOVE the way it is turning out. Looking forward to seeing it with the rock and my yellow door.
 I adore the molding around the windows. It looks so much better in person.
 From the living room looking into the kitchen.
As of right now we are scheduled to be finished September 13. Sometimes it feels far away but for the most part it is flying by! And that's a good thing because I am losing sleep over the whole process. Decorating and re-decorating it in my mind and envisioning moving day, etc. So very excited!

Update!

Emmett is growing like a weed. He is crawling everywhere and loves to pull himself up on anything and everything. He has his two bottom teeth and is cutting teeth on the top but it's his eye teeth, not his front teeth. That will look interesting! He is such a happy, content little bug (unless he's tired or hungry, but aren't we all that way?!) and we are thankful every day that we didn't have a little girl because we never would have had him.

This is probably my favorite picture ever of these two. They posed themselves and everything! Such cuties.

 Blocks! Every day, blocks! Right after breakfast just about every single day the kids break out the blocks. They are so creative and imaginative and I'm so thankful they got that from their dad.

 I left Emmett at home with Mark with a double ear infection and a heavy duty antibiotic so I could go to girl's camp for one last time with the Sageview ward. It was so nice to be out in nature and spend time with the girls and leaders I have come to love so much. It was a bittersweet experience for sure!


 Goofy kids. Love them all.