So, my sweet husband told me to go ahead and sleep in on Monday morning while he watched the kids, so I did. And then, he being a sweet guy who can fall asleep anywhere and anytime, fell asleep while watching the kids. And left Grace to dump an entire bottle of water on our modem.
You know, the box that allows us to have a phone and internet connection.
EMBARQ replaced it for free, though, which was totally nice of them. And, we survived 2 1/2 days without the Internet or phone. And I didn't really miss the email or the blogging, really. However, I realized how entirely dependent I've become on it for everything: banking, bills, making grocery lists, directions, etc. It's crazy.
So, sorry for being M.I.A. the past few days... we're back!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Frustrated
Grace has now thrown up twice today. WHAT?!?! It's like she has something against going to church. I was very much looking forward to going tomorrow and talking to an actual adult... so, hopefully this is just a 24-hour thing, and she can sit with me through Sunday School. Because, I still wouldn't want to send her to nursery.
But I really, really also don't want to be inactive anymore. :)
But I really, really also don't want to be inactive anymore. :)
Friday, April 25, 2008
All About Adam!
Last year, I did a fun survey with Adam for his scrapbook. I love reading his answers and seeing a glimpse into him that pictures don't capture. I had planned on doing it yearly on his half-birthday... well, I hadn't gotten to it this year, so I finally did it today. Better late than never, right? I thought I'd post his replies on here... hopefully he will love looking at his answers someday.
If you could have one super-power, what would it be?
I could make everything change to money
I could make everything change to money
Cleaned my room
“We Will Rock You” by Queen
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
I helped Gracie feel better after I knocked her down
When I have to clean my room, when I can’t do stuff I want to like play Xbox
To the beach
Daddy, because he knows how to fix cars and I think he knows how to fix everything but washing machines
We both have blue eyes, and the same ears, except my ears don’t have holes!
42 (I’m 26)
40,000 (He’s 29)
Clean your room, Put away your toys, I love you
Go to bed, I love you, Do you want to help me?
Changing the tires on the car
Transformers!
Because you are nice and do lots of stuff to protect me and play with me
Lucky Charms
Curious George and Caillou
Transformers, Finding Nemp
Red and yellow
Carrots with dip
My Bumblebee Transformer
Clue Jr.
Curious George, Olivia
Candy!
I like Adam… Adam Michael W* Big Brother
At Halloween, seeing all of the skeletons
Messy!
Applebees
Baby Ruth
Adders, Addy
40, because then I could stay up late!
When she plays with my toys
Storage boxes, my Hot Wheels cars and Transformers
Christmas
Tell Me What You're Like at 4
I have a job. I race cars at Racing Zone. Except I might get fired because I was late. I love to play Xbox games. I love to play basketball except I still need practice at dribbling. But I'm good at shooting the ball. I love to cook. I am taking an Itty Bitty Chefs class. I love to eat sugar. It is so, so yummy! I like to dance crazy. I love listening to music super dooper luper loud. I LOVE Transformers. I hate that I have to go to bed at night. I hate sleeping. I am a big helper. I can help Daddy clean the car and change the oil. When I grow up I want to be an archaeologist and a race car driver.
Some of his answers I found QUITE funny... like our ages, and his favorite cereal (I never let him eat that!) and going to Applebees. We've never eaten at Applebees, but he is obsessed with the place. I'm thinking of doing a 'church' one for his church pages every year... with name of teacher, favorite church song, etc. It's fun.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Bath Time Fun!
Grace has been pretty scared of the bathtub lately. I'm not sure why. Adam did the same thing when he was her age. She screams and pulls at me the entire time to climb out. Not very fun.
So, I've been trying to find things to make the bathtub fun, while not going out and spending a bunch on bath toys. I came across a super fun idea last night: Toy Ice Cubes!
Basically you take a bunch of freezer-safe toys, put them in containers (like Tupperware, small bowls, etc.) of water and freeze them. When it's time for baths, you pop them out of the containers and put them in the bathtub. And then the kids get to have fun getting the toys out in the water.
I'm freezing ours now, and can't wait to try them in the bath tonight! Hopefully Grace likes them enough to let me rinse her hair BEFORE she rubs her soapy head all over my shirt like she has done the past 2 nights.
So, I've been trying to find things to make the bathtub fun, while not going out and spending a bunch on bath toys. I came across a super fun idea last night: Toy Ice Cubes!
Basically you take a bunch of freezer-safe toys, put them in containers (like Tupperware, small bowls, etc.) of water and freeze them. When it's time for baths, you pop them out of the containers and put them in the bathtub. And then the kids get to have fun getting the toys out in the water.
I'm freezing ours now, and can't wait to try them in the bath tonight! Hopefully Grace likes them enough to let me rinse her hair BEFORE she rubs her soapy head all over my shirt like she has done the past 2 nights.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Adam's Memoirs of our Drive Home
So, I was finishing cleaning out our car today, and came across a book. My mom had given Adam a blank book (kinda like a journal) so he could have something to entertain him on the way home. As we began driving, I suggested he draw pictures/write stuff he saw, so he could kind of document our way home. He was excited.
I brought the book inside, and sat down to look at what he had done. He had written across the first four pages:
BEER
CIGARETTES
SPIRITS
BEER
GAS
BEER
SODA
CIGARETTES
What?!? I was a LITTLE worried until I realized that he had copied the signs of every gas station we stopped at! So, we don't have any Word of Wisdom issues to discuss quite yet, but I think we're probably going to have to think of a different activity on the next trip. :)
I brought the book inside, and sat down to look at what he had done. He had written across the first four pages:
BEER
CIGARETTES
SPIRITS
BEER
GAS
BEER
SODA
CIGARETTES
What?!? I was a LITTLE worried until I realized that he had copied the signs of every gas station we stopped at! So, we don't have any Word of Wisdom issues to discuss quite yet, but I think we're probably going to have to think of a different activity on the next trip. :)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Thankful
We just got back from an incredible vacation! We attended Kelli and Patrick's wedding, had an Easter party/birthday party with the R* family, and Family Home Evening with the W* family. We LOVED being able to spend time with everyone, see our super-cute nieces and nephews/cousins (they are all growing up way too fast), and visiting/catching up on gossip (just kidding). I woke up this morning, and just felt SO incredibly thankful:
- For us having a safe trip there AND back! Our car worked perfectly, and both drives went well... if not a bit long. :)
- For the blessing of temples. I loved being able to see Kelli and Patrick sealed and the advice that the sealer gave. I love that my family is together forever.
- For family. We have lived out of town from our family for almost 5 years now. And it's hard. It's almost harder in some ways AFTER we visit, because then we truly realize how much we miss out on. Sometimes I get really bummed out on being the ONLY family who lives out of town on both sides. And not a week goes by that Adam and I don't cry about it (we're crybabies, what can I say?). But, I'm grateful to have such a wonderful family (on both sides) that we do miss and get to visit and who love and support us so much.
- For a loving Heavenly Father. I can't even tell you how smooth this trip went. From getting the full deposit back from our apartment right before the trip to use for gas, to our car running perfectly, to Mike getting the days off, to the kids doing well and the cold we all had disappearing right before the trip. It amazes me that He would love our family so much to know how much we needed to see everyone and bless us with a safe and easy trip. Amazing.
So, today I am very thankful.
And doing lots of laundry.
- For us having a safe trip there AND back! Our car worked perfectly, and both drives went well... if not a bit long. :)
- For the blessing of temples. I loved being able to see Kelli and Patrick sealed and the advice that the sealer gave. I love that my family is together forever.
- For family. We have lived out of town from our family for almost 5 years now. And it's hard. It's almost harder in some ways AFTER we visit, because then we truly realize how much we miss out on. Sometimes I get really bummed out on being the ONLY family who lives out of town on both sides. And not a week goes by that Adam and I don't cry about it (we're crybabies, what can I say?). But, I'm grateful to have such a wonderful family (on both sides) that we do miss and get to visit and who love and support us so much.
- For a loving Heavenly Father. I can't even tell you how smooth this trip went. From getting the full deposit back from our apartment right before the trip to use for gas, to our car running perfectly, to Mike getting the days off, to the kids doing well and the cold we all had disappearing right before the trip. It amazes me that He would love our family so much to know how much we needed to see everyone and bless us with a safe and easy trip. Amazing.
So, today I am very thankful.
And doing lots of laundry.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Happy, Happy Day!
Bunch of good stuff today!
- Adam got into the charter school! Yay! Now he won't have to go to a ghetto school that failed the requirements last year AND had 57 incidences of violence against a teacher that resulted in suspension/expulsion (I won't go into how many were against students... school reports are scary!)
- Adam LOVED his new cooking class! And the teacher told the parents that it was fine to leave, and Adam was completely okay with it. I left, but stayed in the community center, just in case and played with Grace in the hall, but he was fine. Grace and I going to have fun having some 'girl time' during his classes!
- We got ALL of our deposit back from our old apartments! Yay! They didn't even charge us to clean the carpet, because they are going to replace it. Wow!
- AND... to quote Adam: "We get to see all of our most favorite people in the ENTIRE world tomorrow!"
- Adam got into the charter school! Yay! Now he won't have to go to a ghetto school that failed the requirements last year AND had 57 incidences of violence against a teacher that resulted in suspension/expulsion (I won't go into how many were against students... school reports are scary!)
- Adam LOVED his new cooking class! And the teacher told the parents that it was fine to leave, and Adam was completely okay with it. I left, but stayed in the community center, just in case and played with Grace in the hall, but he was fine. Grace and I going to have fun having some 'girl time' during his classes!
- We got ALL of our deposit back from our old apartments! Yay! They didn't even charge us to clean the carpet, because they are going to replace it. Wow!
- AND... to quote Adam: "We get to see all of our most favorite people in the ENTIRE world tomorrow!"
Monday, April 14, 2008
Adam Funnies
This kids just cracks me up! Some quotes from today:
- "I love me a good cheese stick!"
- "I think I finally understand how it feels to be a grown-up!" (After getting to push the cart at the store).
- "I'm just glad that I don't look like a dad or an old man." (When I asked him what he thought of his haircut).
He's too funny sometimes. At least, he's constantly making me laugh.
- "I love me a good cheese stick!"
- "I think I finally understand how it feels to be a grown-up!" (After getting to push the cart at the store).
- "I'm just glad that I don't look like a dad or an old man." (When I asked him what he thought of his haircut).
He's too funny sometimes. At least, he's constantly making me laugh.
BEST Workout Ever!
When Mike and I were first married, we watched our super-cute nephew dance and sing to The Wiggles. I had never heard of them, but thought it looked fun.
Fast forward several years. Adam was 2, and Mike felt he had been deprived because we didn't have Disney, so Adam had never seen The Wiggles. He won several videos of the group on eBay for cheap while I was in school one day. When I came home and he told me this, I started laughing. Adam is NOT into singing and dancing. At least to kid music. He ADORES Queen, Lenny Kravitz, and anything rock 'n roll (he also adores rap, but I won't let him listen to it).
Sure enough, when the videos came in the mail, we popped them in, and Adam gave us this, "Are you guys kidding me? This is DUMB!"
So the videos have sat untouched for years.
A few weeks ago, while we were getting ready to move and I much needed a kid distraction, I popped the video in, thinking Grace might like it.
She didn't like it.
She LOVED it!
Since, we've borrowed some CDs from the library, and our house has been consistently filled with the sounds of four men with thick Australian accents singing, "Hot Potato," "Here Comes a Bear," "Watching the Ponies," etc. She LOVES singing and dancing and The Wiggles are right up her alley. She loves them.
On Saturday, she was being cranky, and finally having some space in our family room to move and dance, I put a video in, and danced with her to it.
Oh my heck! I have got to give those guys some props... I know I'm out of shape, but wow! My workout videos don't compare to the jumping and swinging and dancing that The Wiggles do, WHILE singing! After a half hour, I was tired!
So, I got to spend some quality time with Grace and got in my exercise for the day.
Unfortunately, I also got "Uncle Noah's Ark" stuck in my head all day, too.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Reading the B.o.M. with Kids and Caramel Dip (aka Cool Links)
We have always tried to read scriptures as a family. Mike and I used to read several chapters a day together, when it was just us. And then as we've added kids, we began reading less and less a day. Adam and Grace have the attention span of about 3-5 verses, so that's what we've done. And it makes for SLOW reading.
So, at the beginning of the year, when I saw this chart in the Friend magazine, I was excited! Each month, it has a reading assignment (the whole book for older kids, selected chapters and verses for younger kids). After you finish each book in the Book of Mormon, you get to cut out a picture and glue it on the arch. SO, we've began at the beginning of the year, and by just reading 2-3 verses each day and following the suggested chapters/verses, we've actually been able to get out of Nephi within the year! It's been a lot of fun, and Adam loves cutting out the pictures at the end of each month.
And onto a completely different topic...
I saw a recipe for Caramel Dip/Dulce de Leche last year on this website, and found more detailed instructions as well here. This is probably another one of these things that everyone else has known for years, and I haven't. But whatever. It looked super cool. You boil a can of sweetened condensed milk in water, and it turns into a caramel sauce! And then you can just store it in the can on your shelf, and eat it just like that, or put it on top of ice cream, or a cake filling, dip apples and fruit in it, etc.. The possibilities are endless! SO, anyways, I saw it last year, mentioned to Mike that I wanted to try it, and forgot about it.
So, last night when he walked in from work and handed me a can of sweetened condensed milk, I was a BIT confused. And then he reminded me and I am so excited to try it. We are going to attempt it tonight, and I'll let you know how we like it.
More later. Have a great Sunday!
So, at the beginning of the year, when I saw this chart in the Friend magazine, I was excited! Each month, it has a reading assignment (the whole book for older kids, selected chapters and verses for younger kids). After you finish each book in the Book of Mormon, you get to cut out a picture and glue it on the arch. SO, we've began at the beginning of the year, and by just reading 2-3 verses each day and following the suggested chapters/verses, we've actually been able to get out of Nephi within the year! It's been a lot of fun, and Adam loves cutting out the pictures at the end of each month.
And onto a completely different topic...
I saw a recipe for Caramel Dip/Dulce de Leche last year on this website, and found more detailed instructions as well here. This is probably another one of these things that everyone else has known for years, and I haven't. But whatever. It looked super cool. You boil a can of sweetened condensed milk in water, and it turns into a caramel sauce! And then you can just store it in the can on your shelf, and eat it just like that, or put it on top of ice cream, or a cake filling, dip apples and fruit in it, etc.. The possibilities are endless! SO, anyways, I saw it last year, mentioned to Mike that I wanted to try it, and forgot about it.
So, last night when he walked in from work and handed me a can of sweetened condensed milk, I was a BIT confused. And then he reminded me and I am so excited to try it. We are going to attempt it tonight, and I'll let you know how we like it.
More later. Have a great Sunday!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
I'm Done!
I am officially done un-packing. Yay! The house is clean. And I'm going to take a nap.
Just kidding. (About the nap... I really am done unpacking and my house really is clean).
I'm a bit happy about making my goal, though, of having our apartment in order within 2 weeks. So I had to share!
Just kidding. (About the nap... I really am done unpacking and my house really is clean).
I'm a bit happy about making my goal, though, of having our apartment in order within 2 weeks. So I had to share!
Church Slackers
So, 3 weeks ago (Easter), Adam and Grace were too sick to go to church.
2 weeks ago after the move, better, but still coughing/throwing up and tired from the move, so we skipped again.
Last week, was Conference, so we stayed home and watched it on television.
We were all set to go tomorrow, and I've been talking to Adam all week about his new Primary class and to Grace about her new nursery. We were all excited.
Mike just found out today that tomorrow is Stake Conference. And while we're going to go, not having Adam and Grace go to actual class for almost a month has made me feel like a huge church slacker.
2 weeks ago after the move, better, but still coughing/throwing up and tired from the move, so we skipped again.
Last week, was Conference, so we stayed home and watched it on television.
We were all set to go tomorrow, and I've been talking to Adam all week about his new Primary class and to Grace about her new nursery. We were all excited.
Mike just found out today that tomorrow is Stake Conference. And while we're going to go, not having Adam and Grace go to actual class for almost a month has made me feel like a huge church slacker.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Itty Bitty Chefs
So, Adam's never been to an official preschool. And he's only been baby-sat outside of family twice (years ago). And outside of park days and Primary and a few play dates, he hasn't really interacted a lot with other adults.
This began to worry me, because I'm a worrier, and because he's starting school in the fall. So, last year, I found a class at the community center for 'Basketball Skills' and signed Adam up for it. I couldn't believe what a difference it made. I told Mike after he was done that it was the best $12 I've ever spent. And I totally meant it. Before he was definitely shy, quiet, and wouldn't talk to adults. He would ignore them. I have NO problem with the shyness and not talking to strangers, don't get me wrong. Every child has their own little personality that they came to this world with. But, I didn't want him to be so scared in social situations, that he would miss out on meeting people and having fun experiences (he used to not want to try ANYTHING). After taking that class, he began talking with other children and making friends; he raises his hand and volunteers answers in Primary. He will shake adult's hands. I mean, amazing. I felt SO much better about him 'leaving me' and going to Kindergarten after that.
I've wanted him to continue taking classes, but things kept interrupting us from signing up: being sick, being out of town, finances, moving, etc.
Well, we're finally settled, and I got on-line to see if I could still register for anything. All of the sports classes were filled, BUT they offer an "Itty Bitty Chefs" class for 4-5 year olds. They learn about math and science while learning to cook healthy meals. Adam helps me make dinner every night, and LOVES baking, so he is SO beyond excited about this class!
He is pretty much through the moon with happiness: he begins his cooking class on Wednesday next week, and then we're going to see family! And I'm so excited to see him so happy. He's been such a trooper through the move and leaving his friends and our old apartment.
This began to worry me, because I'm a worrier, and because he's starting school in the fall. So, last year, I found a class at the community center for 'Basketball Skills' and signed Adam up for it. I couldn't believe what a difference it made. I told Mike after he was done that it was the best $12 I've ever spent. And I totally meant it. Before he was definitely shy, quiet, and wouldn't talk to adults. He would ignore them. I have NO problem with the shyness and not talking to strangers, don't get me wrong. Every child has their own little personality that they came to this world with. But, I didn't want him to be so scared in social situations, that he would miss out on meeting people and having fun experiences (he used to not want to try ANYTHING). After taking that class, he began talking with other children and making friends; he raises his hand and volunteers answers in Primary. He will shake adult's hands. I mean, amazing. I felt SO much better about him 'leaving me' and going to Kindergarten after that.
I've wanted him to continue taking classes, but things kept interrupting us from signing up: being sick, being out of town, finances, moving, etc.
Well, we're finally settled, and I got on-line to see if I could still register for anything. All of the sports classes were filled, BUT they offer an "Itty Bitty Chefs" class for 4-5 year olds. They learn about math and science while learning to cook healthy meals. Adam helps me make dinner every night, and LOVES baking, so he is SO beyond excited about this class!
He is pretty much through the moon with happiness: he begins his cooking class on Wednesday next week, and then we're going to see family! And I'm so excited to see him so happy. He's been such a trooper through the move and leaving his friends and our old apartment.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
She Likes Her Veggies Slightly Under Grown...
So, our new apartment has a cute 'greenhouse window' in the dining area. We were SO excited to be able to plant a little garden in it! Adam was especially excited to get started, but I didn't want to do it until I got unpacked (just so that I had some order before moving onto a big project).
We compromised by getting a few of the little pots with dirt and seeds in the dollar spot at Target. Adam got oregano, I got tomato, and Grace got green beans. We planted them last week, and Adam has faithfully watered them daily.
On Monday, we finally saw some green! And they've shot up to be about an inch tall since. He was SO excited (okay, I was, too... I love this kinda stuff).
Last night, though, while I was making dinner, Grace apparently got a bit impatient to eat. She ate our garden! I heard her choking, and turned around to see her sitting on the table, surrounded by dirt. She pulled up the greens and ate them, and then proceeded to wash them down with a bit of dirt.
Turns out dirt isn't so tasty.
After a quick call to Poison Control (I know, sounds paranoid... but I wasn't sure what was in the soil), I cleaned up the mess, and tried to calm down Adam. His plant was spared a bit (Grace is more into under grown veggies than the herbs, apparently). We only have a few boxes left to unpack (yay!) so we are heading out to Home Depot today to get some more seeds and dirt.
Sigh... at least I have a child that likes veggies. I just wish she liked them a bit more grown. :)
We compromised by getting a few of the little pots with dirt and seeds in the dollar spot at Target. Adam got oregano, I got tomato, and Grace got green beans. We planted them last week, and Adam has faithfully watered them daily.
On Monday, we finally saw some green! And they've shot up to be about an inch tall since. He was SO excited (okay, I was, too... I love this kinda stuff).
Last night, though, while I was making dinner, Grace apparently got a bit impatient to eat. She ate our garden! I heard her choking, and turned around to see her sitting on the table, surrounded by dirt. She pulled up the greens and ate them, and then proceeded to wash them down with a bit of dirt.
Turns out dirt isn't so tasty.
After a quick call to Poison Control (I know, sounds paranoid... but I wasn't sure what was in the soil), I cleaned up the mess, and tried to calm down Adam. His plant was spared a bit (Grace is more into under grown veggies than the herbs, apparently). We only have a few boxes left to unpack (yay!) so we are heading out to Home Depot today to get some more seeds and dirt.
Sigh... at least I have a child that likes veggies. I just wish she liked them a bit more grown. :)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A (Slightly Gross) Perfect Moment
This morning, the weather was beautiful; sunny and slightly breezy and warm. The kids were playing on the porch, coloring with chalk. We had some fun music playing. I was sitting out there with them, eating a bowl of my favorite cereal. And thinking, "Life is pretty good."
It was a perfect moment.
And then Grace just walks up, puts her chalk-and-dirt covered hand IN my cereal and grabs a handful before walking away. Nastiness. What IS that?
It completely cracked me up, though, so it made our perfect moment even better.
It was a perfect moment.
And then Grace just walks up, puts her chalk-and-dirt covered hand IN my cereal and grabs a handful before walking away. Nastiness. What IS that?
It completely cracked me up, though, so it made our perfect moment even better.
Monday, April 7, 2008
We Heart Small Homes
So, our move went INCREDIBLY well! We began at 8:00 in the morning, and had the van packed at 9:30. We had 5 five INCREDIBLY nice people from our ward come and help, along with one of the sweet kids from my Primary class. I think he just wanted to see me cry... :)
We left at 10:00, and headed to D.I. to pick up a mattress for Grace's bed. She's been trying to climb out of her crib for a while now, so we moved her over to a 'big girl bed.' We got to our new apartment at about 11:00. Two members from our new ward came to help, and they got the ENTIRE truck unloaded in 45 minutes! Wow! I thought it was something that would take all day, and by 1:30, we had the truck returned and were done!
So, since, we've cleaned up our old apartment, turned the keys in, and have been un-packing and cleaning our new apartment. We are on the lower level (SO happy about this! Grace and Adam can run and stomp and jump without abandon now!), and totally lucked out: we live under an older couple who have lived there for the past 18 years, and plan to stay there. They are totally quiet, and it's SO nice. We haven't been to our new ward yet... when we moved in, Grace and Adam were still coughing and throwing up, so we kept them home. I felt super bad asking the ward to help us move in, and then not showing up for church the next day (slackers much?), but I think I would have felt worse, introducing ourselves by Grace throwing up on the pew or something.
Our apartment definitely has some quirks that we hope get worked out in the next week:
- the shower won't turn on without using a wrench
- there is a crack in the middle of the bathtub
- the dishwasher isn't attached; if you open it, the entire thing comes out
- the sinks and toilet leak
- the phone jack doesn't work
- there is no wood under the kitchen sink cabinet... just a partially rotted piece of wood and grossness
So, it's been an adventure.
One thing that has completely surprised me, though, is how much more homey this apartment feels than our last. It's a LOT smaller (I think about 400 square feet smaller), but it feels so much better. Everything is right there, including the kids' room. Mike and I were talking about it, and we think it's because the quirks and the smallness remind us of our dorm at NAU. We lived in a 423-square-foot dorm for almost 4 years and LOVED it. I don't remember complaining about the size too much... I knew it was small. But, it was were Mike and I 'grew up' in a lot of ways. We learned to depend on each other. We went to school and learned and grew. I became more independent. Mike's more confident. Adam literally grew up there, and Grace spent her first half-year of her life there.
And this apartment, in a lot of ways, makes us feel that we are back in Flagstaff. Things have gone so, so, so much better this week than they have in a year. Adam's a completely different kid. Grace is sleeping through the night. Mike and I have been more happier and relaxed. I know that this probably is due to more of Mike being around more, but I really think that it makes us feel like we're 'home' in a lot of ways. It's familiar to us. Kind of a 'comfort zone' I guess.
But, anways, I'd include pics but the camera is still being crazy. Oh, well. Hope you're all doing fabulous! Can't wait to see our Arizona family SUPER soon!
We left at 10:00, and headed to D.I. to pick up a mattress for Grace's bed. She's been trying to climb out of her crib for a while now, so we moved her over to a 'big girl bed.' We got to our new apartment at about 11:00. Two members from our new ward came to help, and they got the ENTIRE truck unloaded in 45 minutes! Wow! I thought it was something that would take all day, and by 1:30, we had the truck returned and were done!
So, since, we've cleaned up our old apartment, turned the keys in, and have been un-packing and cleaning our new apartment. We are on the lower level (SO happy about this! Grace and Adam can run and stomp and jump without abandon now!), and totally lucked out: we live under an older couple who have lived there for the past 18 years, and plan to stay there. They are totally quiet, and it's SO nice. We haven't been to our new ward yet... when we moved in, Grace and Adam were still coughing and throwing up, so we kept them home. I felt super bad asking the ward to help us move in, and then not showing up for church the next day (slackers much?), but I think I would have felt worse, introducing ourselves by Grace throwing up on the pew or something.
Our apartment definitely has some quirks that we hope get worked out in the next week:
- the shower won't turn on without using a wrench
- there is a crack in the middle of the bathtub
- the dishwasher isn't attached; if you open it, the entire thing comes out
- the sinks and toilet leak
- the phone jack doesn't work
- there is no wood under the kitchen sink cabinet... just a partially rotted piece of wood and grossness
So, it's been an adventure.
One thing that has completely surprised me, though, is how much more homey this apartment feels than our last. It's a LOT smaller (I think about 400 square feet smaller), but it feels so much better. Everything is right there, including the kids' room. Mike and I were talking about it, and we think it's because the quirks and the smallness remind us of our dorm at NAU. We lived in a 423-square-foot dorm for almost 4 years and LOVED it. I don't remember complaining about the size too much... I knew it was small. But, it was were Mike and I 'grew up' in a lot of ways. We learned to depend on each other. We went to school and learned and grew. I became more independent. Mike's more confident. Adam literally grew up there, and Grace spent her first half-year of her life there.
And this apartment, in a lot of ways, makes us feel that we are back in Flagstaff. Things have gone so, so, so much better this week than they have in a year. Adam's a completely different kid. Grace is sleeping through the night. Mike and I have been more happier and relaxed. I know that this probably is due to more of Mike being around more, but I really think that it makes us feel like we're 'home' in a lot of ways. It's familiar to us. Kind of a 'comfort zone' I guess.
But, anways, I'd include pics but the camera is still being crazy. Oh, well. Hope you're all doing fabulous! Can't wait to see our Arizona family SUPER soon!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
You Know FOR SURE You're White Trash When...
You are at RC Willey and your daughter randomly THROWS UP on a brand-new couch and, since it was only going to be a quick stop, you don't bring the diaper bag in, and having nothing to clean up the mess with, you glance around and then TAKE OFF YOUR JACKET and begin scrubbing it with that.
I am officially white trash.
And I have now added another store that I can never go into again as long as I live in Las Vegas to my list.
Oh, well. More about the move to come. I'm off to stop Adam from going to check the mail in his underwear, which would only further solidify us being 'white trash.' Or maybe I should just accept it, and let him run around in his underwear... I WOULD have less laundry to do.
Thanks to the sales staff at RC Willey for being so understanding about our mishap. I'm just glad she chose a microfiber couch to get sick on rather than leather. :)
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