May the fourth be with you

I gave myself permission to take a break from blogging, and it felt good I gotta say.  But now I think I might want to post a few things for the (maybe 2?) people who might still read this.  And it is a good way for me to record things so I don't forget.  So here it goes.....


Connor turned 7 on Wednesday. We had a family party that night and also the missionaries came over for dinner (it ticked him off for some reason, maybe because they were sister missionaries?  Who wants girls over for dinner when it's your birthday anyway??)  On Friday the 4th of May, Connor had his friend Alton and brother Everett over for pizza and a movie.   Alton and Everett are friends of Cameron and Connor's from Wisconsin who happen to live less than 10 minutes away from us now.  How cool is that??  I still remember how sad it was for my boys to say good bye to them almost two years ago when we moved from Wisconsin to Indiana.  I never would have imagined things turning out like this, with all of us ending up in Utah.  It makes me so happy!!  

Pizza party!

Ha ha! Caught him before he could make a face for the camera.

At least Kate will pose for me!

He's even cute eating pizza.

Opening presents :)

So Keith apparently works with some pretty nerdy guys (of "The Big Bang Theory" variety, for anyone who watches that show.)  One of these guys happens to have a replica of a Storm Trooper costume that he has spent hundreds of dollars putting together to make it as authentic as in the movies. So he offered to show up for Connor's party.  We were outside talking with friends when all of a sudden this storm trooper comes walking down the street (neighbors weren't sure what to think about that one!)  The best part was bringing him into the house - as the boys are watching Star Wars - and seeing the looks on their faces as he walked into the room.  Pure awesomeness.  I bet this is a birthday Connor wont forget!

Happy birthday Connor!

With some friends and neighbors

Thanks random storm trooper!!

January stuff

Hmmm.....guess I need to come up with a new blog title!  I'll add that to my list of hundreds of things to do.  It has been a busy few months but somehow we managed to survive the move, get unpacked, have Christmas, and then get unpacked some more.  The boys started school and are loving it, and Keith and I are working hard to de-80's the house. And I get to look out my back window and see the GORGEOUS mountains every day.  I have missed the mountains :)


I'll put up house pictures soon, because I still need lots of ideas (help!)  But for now I just had to post a few pics I came across on my phone.  Sometimes those impromptu pictures really are the best!

 OK so this was obviously taken last summer, but this was just one of our many trips to Kroger.

 Cutie pie!

 Three Harry Potters!  If you look carefully you can see the scars they made me draw on their foreheads.

Here are a couple from Keith's phone:

Sandy

Last week I was in Utah with Keith house hunting!  It sounds more fun in theory than it is in reality, unfortunately.  I am not a very good decision maker, especially when it comes to big things, and Salt Lake is such a huge area with so many options, that I felt pretty overwhelmed the entire time.  We spent the weekend driving and driving and driving, and trying to decide what locations we liked.  Then I spent a 12 hour day Monday with the realtor (Dave came since Keith had to work, and I was so grateful!) We found a house in Sandy that I liked, and a few others in Draper, and then that evening Keith checked the houses out too.  We liked the one in Sandy enough that the next day we made an offer, and after they countered and we countered, they accepted our offer.  Yay!  And then I went into shock thinking oh my goodness this happened so fast and is this really what we want???  A few more days for that to settle though and I am doing fine now.  So assuming everything goes well with the closing then we should be moving in by the beginning of December :)


OK so here's the story on the house.  It is in an awesome location at the end of a cul-de-sac and has the most beautiful view of the mountains.  The bedrooms are big and the house has been kept up really well.  It has a three car garage and an unfinished basement (I am so excited to have a basement again!)   The bad news is that it must have been decorated in the late 80s/early 90s because the inside is a floral wallpaper nightmare!!   So you have to use your imagination looking at the pictures and help us figure how to update it.  It's going to be awesome.  

Just a few pictures.....

View from the backyard.  I am so in love with this!!!!

Remember don't focus on colors, just potential :)

Master bedroom.  I don't know how these people slept at night, it's just so.....flowery.

Master bathroom.  Yes that's going to need some work too!!

Other bedrooms.....

A few more backyard shots.

I have been watching a lot of HGTV and I am welcoming all ideas.  Any thoughts?

100th POST

I thought for my 100th post I should say something of significance.  OK, so here it goes:  We are moving to Utah!  Trust me, these are words I never thought I'd ever say.  Nothing against Utah, it just seemed a very unlikely place for us to end up considering the company Keith works for and the field he is in.  I used to say that the only way we would end up there is if the perfect job fell into his lap. Well, I guess it kind of did :)    


Keith was put into contact with someone who works for a company based out of Salt Lake called Brahma Group (hooray to my cousin Nate Barnson for making the contact!!)  Anyway, Keith spoke with them on the phone, then flew out to interview, then they made him an offer, and he accepted it (in a nutshell.)  Keith was very impressed with the company and it looks to be a very good fit for his experience and also what he would like to do going forward.  So cool!  I have been praying for a few years now that he would find something to lure him away from Bechtel. Bechtel has been great to us but the prospect of moving around every 2-3 years for the next 30 years just did not appeal to us.  And it is only going to get harder on the kids as they get older.  We have been wanting to get back west, maybe Colorado, Washington, Idaho, something like that.  Really Salt Lake was never on my radar screen.  But can I just say that I AM SO EXCITED!!!


Of course these kinds of things are bittersweet.  I have made some wonderful friends here who I love dearly and I am sad we'll be leaving sooner than planned.  There will be some back and forth as Keith starts his new job, we look for a house, and then we'll have to transition the kids to a new school.  My head is spinning constantly and I can't sleep at night.  And I wonder if I am emotionally and physically ready to do this again.  But it is easier to stomach knowing that (hopefully) we will actually get to stay put for awhile.  That is such a blessing and I am so grateful for that.  So wish us luck these next few months.  We're gonna need it :)

And this is totally off subject, but I had to include some pictures of Kate - in her giraffe-print pants and zebra-print apron - helping me make banana bread.  She is one sassy girl!

Adorable!!

Day trip to Dayton

Recently we took a little road trip to Dayton, Ohio.  "What is in Dayton Ohio?" you might ask.  Well.........not much.  The main reason we went was to check out the Air Force museum and I've got to say it was much much better than I thought it would be. Yes, totally worth a trip to Dayton!!


So these pictures are kinda boring but I jut loved everything there was to see there.  You'll notice I seem especially fascinated by propellers for some reason????  Anyway, we had a great time!

Cameron and Connor are both in there, you just have to look carefully....

Kate was the only one who didn't love it here. She asked me to take her to the bathroom at  least three times, because apparently going potty is more interesting than looking at planes.

Owen was incredibly patient and had a good time as well.  

We are so grateful for all the awesome places we've been able to see in the 6 years we have been in the midwest :)

It's Kate's party and she'll cry if she wants to

Kate turned 4 this week!  She had a very eventful birthday - first a party at preschool, then a party at the house with friends, then a family party in the evening.  


I was very nervous that morning because Kate has been unsure how she feels about preschool and has been dragging her heels a little about going (ok actually kicking and screaming each day I drop her off.)  But on her birthday she didn't give me any trouble at all. Whew!  Things didn't turn weird until we got home and I told her 4 of her good friends would be coming over for lunch and cupcakes.  When they showed up she locked herself in her room and said NO ONE could come in and she was NOT coming out.  That lasted about 20 minutes then I coaxed her out with some food.  She ate and then locked herself back in her room. I was kind of embarrassed.  What do I do?  If it's her party and she wants to hide in her room then I guess she can.  Luckily she eventually let her friends in and then presents and cupcakes made everything all better :)  Man kids really keep you on your toes!


Some Kate quotes for the day I don't want to forget:  


"Everyone eyes at me!" (when she was opening her presents and Cameron and Connor weren't paying attention.)


"Besides Mom I don't even care" (when I told her I would be visiting her class to celebrate her birthday.)   Not sure if I should grateful for her independence or sad that she really doesn't care about her mother being there.  But I'm sure she actually does.  I hope.


"I-can-do-what-ever-I-want-because-it's-MY-birthday" (with hands on hips shaking back and forth for each syllable.)  Thank goodness birthdays are only once a year, I think I will need the next 12 months to recover!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATE!!!!

Hanging out with her cute friends :)