There's No Place Like Home......

TODAY IS THE DAY!!!!!

What day?? September 20....the date I have been counting down for 2 whole months!!! We put a contract on this house July 20 & after much impatience on my part, we finally OWN IT!!! This morning we met with all those business people to sign the papers & they handed over the keys to us....what a great feeling!!

During that 2 months I made a paper chain & ceremoniously tore a link off every day until there was only ONE LINK LEFT - SEPTEMBER 20.

I had taken about 30 photos of the house & have been staring at photos every night, dreaming of each room for 2 whole months. I have spent hours wandering the aisles of Hobby Lobby, Marshalls & Pier 1 Imports,  imagining all the great decorations I could put in my home. I have made list after list of all the things I want to do to give the house my own touch.... plant trees in the back yard, build a clubhouse & sandbox for the kids, a big sectional couch in the family room, paint every room a different color, a big wreath on the front door, etc, etc.... 

So, I'm off to work making it all happen!!! If you need me, you know where to find me.....HOME!!!
 (but possibly Lowes or Home Depot too =)

Pulling out the "for sale" sign

I Blame Gender...

As I watch friends with their perfectly behaved little girls, I sometimes wonder "what am I doing wrong that makes my boys so wild?" I read a great article online today that made me feel better. Maybe I'm not doing anything wrong (yeah right), maybe it's just a gender thing.

And so I justify my boys' wild behavior.......


"Boys are also more physically aggressive and impulsive, as revealed by studies of their brains. The pleasure center of the brain actually lights up more for boys when they take risks. That's not to say that girls aren't active and risk-taking, only that on average boys are more so." (www.babycenter.com)

Up to no good....

You may ask what and where we've been for the past month since I haven't blogged the whole time....???  This summer has been the summer of traveling! Since going to SeaWorld in July we have also been to Oklahoma (twice) to visit Jason while he was working. We later DROVE the 23 hours to Utah where we visited friends, drove up to Bear Lake, Idaho for a family reunion, then Jackson Hole, Wyoming & Yellowstone Park. Last week we spent visiting with my sister's family in El Paso, Texas. Unfortunately summer is over and so is my leave of absence from work. I started working again & just finished my first week back. It's tough to go back to work at a new store & not know anyone. I miss my friends in Orem. This hasn't been my favorite week of work, but I'm trying to keep positive because I work full time to provide health insurance for my family. BTW, anyone have a great part-time job with health insurance that you can recommend to me??

Josiah enjoying his cousin's barbie car & helmet (which he wore on his head for HOURS every day!)

The boys are getting bigger, smarter and crazier every day. They are becoming more independent & opinionated every day.  I feel like I'm entering a tough age right now..I hate to call it the "terrible twos" because they're so cute, but more like the "do it myself, climb on furniture, i don't share, i'll hit you if i don't like it, cry/whine about everything" twos. Most days I just referee fights non-stop.  I just have to ask...did anyone else feel this way about their toddlers??

Josiah all dressed up as a cowboy with his holster, guns, hat & backpack (naked, of course)

 

Arlo's "I'm so cute" smile =)

 Between all their craziness, they are just the cutest and funniest little guys ever. They keep my laughing all the time (sometimes I have to laugh in the closet because if they see me laugh, it'll encourage their crazy behavior!!)  Josiah's new past time is undressing himself & changing back into his PJs. The other option is to just be naked all the time - Arlo loves that idea too! Arlo is turning out to be quite the comedian - he'll do anything for a laugh!! (then do it again, and again, and again!!)

After we went swimming in the lake, the boys took off before we could finish changing them!

Sea World

So, for the 4th of July we met my sister's family in San Antonio for the long weekend.
It was the BEST weekend EVER!!! (Now, repeat this phrase & try to replicate the scene in "Tangled")
I have not seen my sister for 11 months....it was the longest we have ever been apart from each other in our whole lives. (aside from her 18 month mission.) Rest assured, I will never let it happen again that we apart for that long of time.

Day 1: Schlitterbahn Water Park.
Water Park + Camera = Bad idea...therefore....No photos to show you.
We didn't do all the big rides, but had lots of fun in the kiddie area.
After the water park, we walked the Riverwalk & ate BBQ outside by the water.

Day 2: Sea World
One word: A*W*E*S*O*M*E
We are definitely going back again and again. The place had something for everyone: animal shows, sesame street shows, indoor aquarium, a huge waterpark, kiddie rides and roller coasters. We went on the busiest weekend of the year (38,000 people on the day we went), but no fear because we had a "fast pass." You pay extra for this wrist band & you LITERALLY cut in front of all the lines!!!!!! Worth every penny, we will do it every time we go because it was THAT awesome!!

The boys had the best time are still talking about cousins, dolphins, cousins, sharks, cousins, penguins, cousins, whales, cousins, cousins, cousins.....
(PS - they had a REALLY good time with their cousins!!!!)

This group shot was at the end of the day....we were all pretty worn out, but boy, was it fun!!!

Last week a friend passed away.

I only met him about a year ago, but he and is family left quite the impression on me and Jason. Wes Truman was diagnosed with a brain tumor a few years ago, it was treated & he went into remission for a bit. A year and a half ago it returned with a vengeance. No amount of treatment could stop the disease. Wes left behind a devoted wife, Lori & 2 young children, Lucy & Spencer. Anyone who knew this family has been changed for the better. Through their trials this family has been nothing less than devoted to their God & family. Wes & Lori have a love story that you only find in movies. Lori's strength & commitment to her husband is inspiring. If you'd like just a glimpse of this amazing family, you can visit their Family Blog or the Wes Truman Memorial blog.

You may want to grab a box of tissues.

7 years & going strong

On June 30 Jason and I celebrated our 7th Wedding Anniversary. It's hard to believe we've been married that long...time has gone by so fast! I become more in love with him every day. He has a heart of gold and is a genuine person. He doesn't do things for show, but gives service behind the scenes. He loves me and our children so much. Our temple marriage means that we can spend an eternity together and it's going to be GREAT!!

I love you Jason.

Jason brought these home the other day and I don't think I have had flowers this beautiful before....ever!! They make me smile every time I see them.

2 in Texas

The boys turned 2 in Texas. We didn't have any wild party on their birthday, but were able to spend time together as a family for the first time in months. We had lunch at Chick Fil-A and later the boys rode their new bikes to the playground.

It was the perfect day.(The boys borrowed shoes from other kids at the chick fil-a playground - I couldn't say no, it was their birthday)

Arlo riding his bike with rainboots (my boys have a shoe fetish, it's genetic from their daddy)

Josiah & his bike

Happy Birthday boys. Daddy & I love you more than you could ever understand.

We now have two - 2 year olds in our house.
Happy 2nd Birthday to Arlo & Josiah!!!!!!!
Before we left Virginia we had a family BBQ to celebrate.

This is what the boys & cousins were doing while we were all singing happy birthday!!! No time to waste!!

Uncle Travis provided us with some music...

Great Uncle Kenny, Great Uncle Boone & Grandaddy Hall

Great Aunt Dixie, Aunt Renee & Great Aunt Jean

You may never believe me except for this photo is small proof that my boys love new clothes as much as their momma does!!! Can't you see the excitement Josiah has for his new clothes!?

And even Arlo was SUPER excited for his Crocs from Aunt Susan. (Both boys insisted on wearing them to bed that night!)