4th of July weekend 2011

We normally go to Eagar for 4th of July but this summer was VERY different from any other. We had home repairs that needed to be done to get the house ready to rent and also many others things to get ready to move. Preston took advantage of the 3 day weekend since the 4th fell on a Monday and the lock shop was closed. His brother Kendall came and helped lay tile in our kitchen on Saturday the 2nd.

My brother and his family took care of our kids for most of that Saturday so I could paint while the boys laid tile and not worry about kids being bored or under foot or wanting to "help". We were in demolition mode for quite a few days. Our table and microwave were in our family room. Our stove was in the entryway, etc. etc.

On Monday the 4th Preston took a break from laying tile and went to see Transformers 3 with Nathan. While the boys were at the movie I took Taylor shopping for new school clothes and we went to Cold Stone for some ice-cream.

The evening of the 4th we went to my older brother's house for a BBQ/ swimming and fireworks. It is kind of cool that some fireworks are legal in our state now. My brother put on a pretty cool show.

Natalie is still not a fan of the loudness of fireworks.

We left my brothers and met up with Preston at a place by our house that was doing a big fireworks show. We ended up leaving early because the kids were bored. We figure we were there for them so if they didn't want to be there we would head out early and beat the traffic.

After we got home Preston went back to work on the tile and went to be about 3 in the morning. So like I said not our normal 4th of July weekend. Hopefully next year will be better.

2011 School year begins

Taylor at meet the teacher. Nathan at meet the teacher.

The kids started school on Monday July 25th. Nathan started 4th grade and Taylor started Kindergarten. Because it was Taylor's first official first day of school she got to pick the breakfast. Her choice was waffles with strawberries and cool whip.

It is a good thing we have 2 red plates at our house for occasions that require 2.

Nathan was so proud that everything matched including his shoes and backpack.

Taylor picked out this shirt at Kohl's and from that moment we knew what her first day of school outfit was going to be.

First we walked Taylor to where the Kindergartners play before school starts.

Then we walked Nathan to his side of campus. We stayed with him until the bell rang. This was a bit of a hard day, I cried most of the way back to the car. Because we were moving a couple weeks into the school year we started the kids at the new school from the very first day. It was harder for Nathan because most of the other 4th graders knew each other from the previous year and were excited to get to see each other again. Nathan on the other hand was the new kid and was a bit nervous about it all. I think I was more nervous about how the other kids would treat him than he was. He ended up making friends in class and at recess and is enjoying school. He is a great kid and outgoing which allows him to make friends.

We are well into another year of school. We have been impressed with the new school.

Natalie's 3rd Birthday

Natalie is now 3 and according to her she is a big girl now. For breakfast on her birthday Preston made pancakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse (one of her favorite things) and the #3. Just love her bed head in this picture.

The Saturday after her birthday we had a family party. We did a dinner spread of a lot of finger foods like nachos, wings, meatballs, taquitos, veggies.

Natalie before opening her presents.

Opening presents.

Momentous side note. While Natalie was opening her presents, Taylor lost her very first tooth. Taylor came home from school on Wednesday the 24th telling me that she had a loose tooth. She continued to play with it and wiggle it with her tongue and voila out it came 3 days later.

Blowing out the candles.

The reason for my recent blog neglect

WE MOVED!!!! The first weekend in August we moved out of our cozy home that has been full of memories the past 11 1/2 years. We were pretty cramped and excited to get a bigger place but it was still pretty emotional moving.

The month of July was FULL of improvements on our old house to get it ready to rent. Preston did this custom backsplash in the kitchen.

He also spent MANY hours tearing out the linoleum and laying 18" tile in the kitchen, dining room, entry way, laundry room and bathrooms. Confess that he ran out of time to get it all done himself so we traded some security work with Preston's uncle who owns a flooring company and one of his laborers came and finished the job.

I repainted Nathan's room to a tan color and replaced the wallpaper border in the girl's room.

Along with all the home repairs, packing, getting the kids ready to start school, training a new office assitant, to name a few things July was INSANE.

The following are some pictures of our new home. We are loving all the space. This is a picture of our staircase. It is beautiful. I should take a better picture of it because this one doesn't do it justice.

Our pantry prior to moving in.. It is so nice to actually have my food storage in my pantry instead of underneath everyone's beds.

Our kitchen

For a history record of what our kids looked like when we moved in to this house.

The outside of our new home.

We are close to being settled in and adjusting to our new home. Natalie is still scared in this home if she is ever left on the 1st or 2nd floor by herself. The first couple of nights Natalie would cry that she wanted to go home. I think she has finally come to terms that this is her home now. She is still getting used to having her own room but once the baby comes she will share again. I am getting more used to the stairs and believe it will be easier when I am not pregnant. Our new ward is HUGE there are 650+ members. 400+ that are consistently in sacrament meeting and there are about 200 primary kids including the nursery. It is a big ward but is friendly and we are trying to get to know the other members.