Corrine, you are so cute!
4 days ago
Monday, September 13, 2010
Ava's big summer
Here are some pictures to go along with the post I did a few weeks ago about Ava learning to swim and ride a bike. She really did have a big summer; learned to ride a two wheeler, swim, and moved.
Here she is getting ready for a dive.
She swims with her face in the water, and is so good. A true little fish.
She LOVED swimming lessons. She couldn't wait to go everyday.
She looked so cute in those goggles!
She also learned how to ride a two wheeler. She has two bikes, this tiny one and a big one. We took the training wheels off the tiny one and she went for it. She is so proud of her new ability.
She is pretty speedy on that little bike!
Here she is getting ready for a dive.
She swims with her face in the water, and is so good. A true little fish.
She LOVED swimming lessons. She couldn't wait to go everyday.
She looked so cute in those goggles!
She also learned how to ride a two wheeler. She has two bikes, this tiny one and a big one. We took the training wheels off the tiny one and she went for it. She is so proud of her new ability.
She is pretty speedy on that little bike!
Friday, September 10, 2010
Our big move
Who is ready to go? The girls were! Here they are inside the moving van. I had tried to tell Jason that I thought we needed TWO U-hauls, to which he replied he thought we could "get away" with one. Um. 15 years and 4 kids worth of stuff is a lot of stuff.
How heavy is a piano? Just look at this picture and take a guess.
Here is our caravan. Not a very good picture, but we had our extremely overloaded U-Haul, Marlene's horse trailer packed full, a trailer Brian borrowed from a neighbor at the last minute when it became clear we needed more room, and my dads little trailer. All overloaded. We could have used a second U-Haul. Oh, well, we made it! We had many ward members help us load up, and lots of friends and family who helped clean, pack, load and drive.
Here is a picture of our new house. I thought I would show you these, then show you "after" ones later! This one is like Where's Waldo only Where's Corrine.
Oh, boy. I packed it all up myself, and unpacked it all myself. What fun.
Our first night there, we went out to eat with all of our helpers. The second night, we toasted to finally being in Utah!
Ahh, together at last!
Too cute.
Such a gourmet dinner to go with our toast, I think it was bratwurst!
So there you have it, here at last. I am so glad to be here, all together, and finally unpacked!
How heavy is a piano? Just look at this picture and take a guess.
Here is our caravan. Not a very good picture, but we had our extremely overloaded U-Haul, Marlene's horse trailer packed full, a trailer Brian borrowed from a neighbor at the last minute when it became clear we needed more room, and my dads little trailer. All overloaded. We could have used a second U-Haul. Oh, well, we made it! We had many ward members help us load up, and lots of friends and family who helped clean, pack, load and drive.
Here is a picture of our new house. I thought I would show you these, then show you "after" ones later! This one is like Where's Waldo only Where's Corrine.
Oh, boy. I packed it all up myself, and unpacked it all myself. What fun.
Our first night there, we went out to eat with all of our helpers. The second night, we toasted to finally being in Utah!
Ahh, together at last!
Too cute.
Such a gourmet dinner to go with our toast, I think it was bratwurst!
So there you have it, here at last. I am so glad to be here, all together, and finally unpacked!
Monday, August 30, 2010
We did it!
We are finally here in Utah, together. I wish I could post pictures, but we just got our computer set up and are not that far yet! Just in the knick of time, we were able to find a house to rent that would accept our pets, and I have to say, it is a pretty nice house. Could be cleaner, but I fixed that. We really like the layout. We found out we got the house on a Tue., and had to be out of our house on SAt. It was a pretty crazy couple of weeks. Jason had been down here in Utah trying to find a house during the week, while I was all by myself packing the whole house, working, taking care of the kids, cooking, cleaning, you get the idea. It was rough. We were so grateful to get this house, and there is just one house between us and Jon and Carrie! (Jon is Jason's cousin, he was staying with them while he was here during the week for work.) When Jason heard about the house, ( through Jon, I might add, that was a huge blessing) I told him we would rent it sight unseen. We were that desperate. Jason got to see it, but the first time I saw it was when we moved in. That was an adventure!
For those of you who don't know, we were unable to sell our home, so we rented it. We will rent it for two years, then see if we will try to sell it again or rent it again. That forced us to rent in Utah, until we file our taxes. At that point, we can count the money collected for rent on our home as income, and can carry two mortgages. Then we will buy down here. It actually worked out great, because now we have time to look for a short sale or bank owned when before we didn't.
The girls are all in school. Michaela's Jr. High is just one year old, and huge. She loves it. Payden is in 5th grade at an enormous elementry here. She is making new friends and loving it. Ava started kindergarden at the same huge school (1100 students!) . It was so hard to drop her off at a school I had only been in to register her, not knowing any of the staff or teachers. But Ava was her usual friendly self, and made friends the first day. She loves her teacher and loves to go to school. Payden and Ava are in year round school, which is interesting. Michaela is not. No teasing goes on about that at all.
I have not started at my new job yet, I am working on getting my Utah license. Lots of hoops to jump through. I am anxious to start. I will only work one night a week here, I am looking forward to that! Two nights a week just got to be too much sometimes.
Jason has a 45 minute commute each way, which has been a change for us. More gas money, and he is home much later. Oh, and his car doesn't have air conditioning. Feel very sorry for him!
We really like our area. We went to church for the first time this Sunday and enjoyed meeting new people. No callings yet, but expect them soon. I heard they were having trouble with nursery leaders, oh help me. Maybe they will forget about us.
We are adjusting to the bugs, namely mosquitos, here. We also live close to the airport and hear planes all day and night. The worst are the fighter jets, sooooo noisy. But not as loud as a train whistle, so there ya go.
We really feel so blessed to be here, all together. They kids are all adjusting very well, even Corrine went into nursery on Sunday without a problem. I haven't gotten lost once, and have been quite a few places. We are almost all set up here, the downstairs is unpacked, now I am starting on the kids rooms. Ava and Corrine are sharing a room, which has its problems but is only until we buy a home. I will post pictures of the house and first day of school when we finish setting up the printer.
Thank you so much to our friends and family who went above and beyond the call of duty to help us move. We couldn't have done it without you Corey, the Merrells, Marlene, Mom, and all of the help we had from our old ward. (It sounds weird to call it that!)
For those of you who don't know, we were unable to sell our home, so we rented it. We will rent it for two years, then see if we will try to sell it again or rent it again. That forced us to rent in Utah, until we file our taxes. At that point, we can count the money collected for rent on our home as income, and can carry two mortgages. Then we will buy down here. It actually worked out great, because now we have time to look for a short sale or bank owned when before we didn't.
The girls are all in school. Michaela's Jr. High is just one year old, and huge. She loves it. Payden is in 5th grade at an enormous elementry here. She is making new friends and loving it. Ava started kindergarden at the same huge school (1100 students!) . It was so hard to drop her off at a school I had only been in to register her, not knowing any of the staff or teachers. But Ava was her usual friendly self, and made friends the first day. She loves her teacher and loves to go to school. Payden and Ava are in year round school, which is interesting. Michaela is not. No teasing goes on about that at all.
I have not started at my new job yet, I am working on getting my Utah license. Lots of hoops to jump through. I am anxious to start. I will only work one night a week here, I am looking forward to that! Two nights a week just got to be too much sometimes.
Jason has a 45 minute commute each way, which has been a change for us. More gas money, and he is home much later. Oh, and his car doesn't have air conditioning. Feel very sorry for him!
We really like our area. We went to church for the first time this Sunday and enjoyed meeting new people. No callings yet, but expect them soon. I heard they were having trouble with nursery leaders, oh help me. Maybe they will forget about us.
We are adjusting to the bugs, namely mosquitos, here. We also live close to the airport and hear planes all day and night. The worst are the fighter jets, sooooo noisy. But not as loud as a train whistle, so there ya go.
We really feel so blessed to be here, all together. They kids are all adjusting very well, even Corrine went into nursery on Sunday without a problem. I haven't gotten lost once, and have been quite a few places. We are almost all set up here, the downstairs is unpacked, now I am starting on the kids rooms. Ava and Corrine are sharing a room, which has its problems but is only until we buy a home. I will post pictures of the house and first day of school when we finish setting up the printer.
Thank you so much to our friends and family who went above and beyond the call of duty to help us move. We couldn't have done it without you Corey, the Merrells, Marlene, Mom, and all of the help we had from our old ward. (It sounds weird to call it that!)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
This and That
I wish I could get pictures on here, but I can't do that at work. Soooo, you will just have to believe me when I say that Ava is a little fish. She has been taking swimming lessons and doing so well. She took level one once and passed it, took level two once and passed, and is taking level three right now and I believe will pass that as well. I'm pretty sure she will be the only 5 year old in level 4! She can retrieve rings from the bottom of the pool (without plugging her nose!), swim from one side of the pool to the other with her face in the water, and float on her back. She gets so excited for swimming lessons, and it is very neat to watch.
Ava also learned how to ride a two wheeler just last week, and now is all over the place. It has been a big summer for her!
I am going to girls camp for the first time with Michaela, her first time as well. We are both very excited about it.
Jason starts in Utah on Aug. 2nd, then will take the rest of the week off for girls camp!
Jason and I have done a lot of praying, and have finally come to peace with wating on the Lord's time. We don't know what is going to happen or when it will happen, but we are ok with that. We are so blessed on so many counts, it is hard to stay feeling upset for long. Things are not going the way we wanted or expected them to, but things are still good. We are listing the house for sale by owner for a while rather than relist it with a realtor.
On a completly random note, I have noticed that I say "like" way to much in my conversation. It bugs me and I wonder if it bugs anyone else. I have been trying to curtail that, as it sounds like I am 14. Since I am obviously not 14, I figure I should maybe sound my age.
If anyone sees Jason, pressure him to fix our computer. Apparently my pressuring doesn't work! I want my computer back!
Ava also learned how to ride a two wheeler just last week, and now is all over the place. It has been a big summer for her!
I am going to girls camp for the first time with Michaela, her first time as well. We are both very excited about it.
Jason starts in Utah on Aug. 2nd, then will take the rest of the week off for girls camp!
Jason and I have done a lot of praying, and have finally come to peace with wating on the Lord's time. We don't know what is going to happen or when it will happen, but we are ok with that. We are so blessed on so many counts, it is hard to stay feeling upset for long. Things are not going the way we wanted or expected them to, but things are still good. We are listing the house for sale by owner for a while rather than relist it with a realtor.
On a completly random note, I have noticed that I say "like" way to much in my conversation. It bugs me and I wonder if it bugs anyone else. I have been trying to curtail that, as it sounds like I am 14. Since I am obviously not 14, I figure I should maybe sound my age.
If anyone sees Jason, pressure him to fix our computer. Apparently my pressuring doesn't work! I want my computer back!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Heartbroken
We have been through a whirlwind couple of weeks. Two weeks ago, we had an amazing experience, a miracle really, happen when someone wanted to buy our home. I am not in the mood to tell about the miracle, someday soon maybe. The people that wanted to buy our home wanted to do a lease to purchase deal, where they would rent from us for a couple of years, then purchase the home then. We agreed, it felt right and the timing was perfect for us to go to Utah together. Then we started negotiations of the terms, such as the amount down, monthly rent, and length of the term. They asked for some unrealistic things, and Jason and I felt we were being very realistic. In the end, we couldn't agree, and we lost the deal. When we got the offer, we started negotiations on a home in Utah. Since we were hononring a lease to purchase on our home, that meant we needed someone who would do the same for us in Utah. We found a home willing to work with us, but we lost that as well due to the loss of our offer.
I cried for a while, and am trying to remain positive now. What really hurts is that we thought this was our miracle, our kids thought it was, and it didn't work out.
I am fighting despair, but really am feeling at the end of my rope. Jason starts in Utah next week, and will be traveling home on the weekends. I knew this was a possibility, but since we almost were able to go down together, only to have it whisked out from under us, his being gone seems worse now, somehow.
I know things will work out the way they are supposed to, and I know this post sounds horribly negative. I don't feel like this all the time, just in moments. It seems that the moments are getting to be more numerous, however, and I hope there is an end in sight for us.
I know of families who have had to do what we are going to do for many months. We will get through it and be ok, and I'm sure that when we look back, we will see our growth and learning from it.
I am just feeling like we lost something precious, something we may not get the chance to get again. Like our chance to be together and get into a home down there is gone, and what happens next may not be as good as it could have been if this had worked out.
So that is our update. We would appreciate any prayers on our behalf, and for those of you who have been praying for us, thank you. If there is anything I can do for anybody, PLEASE let me know; I would love to get out of my own troubles for a while and serve.
I cried for a while, and am trying to remain positive now. What really hurts is that we thought this was our miracle, our kids thought it was, and it didn't work out.
I am fighting despair, but really am feeling at the end of my rope. Jason starts in Utah next week, and will be traveling home on the weekends. I knew this was a possibility, but since we almost were able to go down together, only to have it whisked out from under us, his being gone seems worse now, somehow.
I know things will work out the way they are supposed to, and I know this post sounds horribly negative. I don't feel like this all the time, just in moments. It seems that the moments are getting to be more numerous, however, and I hope there is an end in sight for us.
I know of families who have had to do what we are going to do for many months. We will get through it and be ok, and I'm sure that when we look back, we will see our growth and learning from it.
I am just feeling like we lost something precious, something we may not get the chance to get again. Like our chance to be together and get into a home down there is gone, and what happens next may not be as good as it could have been if this had worked out.
So that is our update. We would appreciate any prayers on our behalf, and for those of you who have been praying for us, thank you. If there is anything I can do for anybody, PLEASE let me know; I would love to get out of my own troubles for a while and serve.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Sad, sad, sad
Our computer isn't working, I can't get online. I am doing this at work! I want to post about Corrine's 2nd birthday, Payden's 10th, our camping trip, and lots of other cute things, but it will have to wait. We still haven't had an offer on our house, but are remaining faithful that it will happen. We are actually going to look at houses soon as a leap of faith. So, until we get a new computer, (don't hold your breath!) it will be periodic posts from my office, sans pictures. I miss commented on all your blogs; Stacey congrats on Miles, he is adorable! I LOVE the pictures of you guys, you both look fantastic. I sometimes try to leave a comment with my Ipod, but it is tedious and if I push one wrong button, I lose it. If I have extra time at work, I will try to comment. But I have been reading all your blogs!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
