The House, outside

So we've been taking pictures of our new home and we still have a few to take. So, I'll present you with some teaser pictures of the outside for now.

More to come...

It's a Girl!!!!!

Pictures to be posted later - ultrasound pics that is.

And the Piano goes to ... Launi!

I feel like I just did one of those blog giveaway things (that I never do and don't picture myself ever doing - sorry if that disappoints.) Congratulations Launi, and sorry to everyone else who would like a free piano. I will surely let you know if another one comes my way. Doesn't seem likely, but who knows. It seems that many people have asked me if I want stuff they are giving away before. It's kind of crazy and also awesome.

Just thought I should let everyone know that Launi did decide to get it.

Anyone Want a Free Piano?

Someone in my old ward just called and asked if we were interested in a piano or if we knew someone who was. As we have inherited two pianos (I know, spoiled), we are not interested.

I know from time to time someone will say that they would love a piano but that it's not as high on their priority list. They'd wait til they could afford it better. This friend said the only charge she'll give is for professional movers to come move the piano. She doesn't want liability for the piano getting damaged by unprofessionals. (The piano's in her basement.)

Is anyone interested? Let me know.

Money money money

We've been spending a lot lately. For example, the new laptop we just bought so that we can have a computer that can access the Internet. We also bought a new dishwasher (being installed on Tuesday, the 4th) and a brand new washer. I was sick and tired of buying one off KSL for cheap, hauling it, practically killing myself and anyone trying to help me by moving it (esp. now that our laundry is in the basement), and then finding out it doesn't work well enough to call functional even though the previous owner thought it did... Okay, so we've only bought a washer off KSL once, but that was at least 100 times too many. So, our new washer is being delivered (and put into place and hooked up all by professionals... the delivery and all that was free, so who's going to say no?) on the 4th as well. In the meantime, laundromats it is.

Now I know many of you would like to see pictures of our new home. I would like to take pictures of our new home too and get them online for you all to see. Let's be honest, with such an investment, who doesn't want to show it off a little?! Hopefully we can pull that off soon. With 2.5 days left before going back to work, I'm hoping we can get to a point where we feel "moved in" before the holiday break ends... we'll see!

Status Update

  These are somewhat random and in no particular order.

  Painting is done. Internet is set up. Our computers are... not yet set up. We have some Internet access through Bonnie's brother's and dad's laptops that they brought with them, but we still can't get pictures up. We will when we can and we look forward to doing so.

  We got a nice wreath for our door from my brother - Thanks Lance! It's my first wreath ever and, given that Christmas lights are way down on our list of priorities right now, I'm happy to have something festive showing. We also set up our Christmas tree in our bay window which helps lower our grinchy-meter... at least when the blinds aren't closed.

  On Friday night Bonnie's Brother Andy and his family came down to visit for the weekend. They arrived after 10pm or so as I recall. A few minutes after they came in and things had settled down a bit, we started hearing someone singing. Bonnie said "What the..? That's Dad!". I thought at first someone had a recording or something they were playing since it sounded a little faint and distant. Her brother T.H. (His nickname is T.H.E. (not the, but T - H - E) but we call him T.H. for short) got an intense bewilderedly excited face on and ran outside as though being chased by a banshee. He was rightly excited to see his Dad as he is hoping to bless his baby (if she comes in time) before he goes out to Nebraska for work and really would like his Dad to be a part of it. So yes, surprise of surprises, Andy and Nita picked him up from the airport and brought him down. What fun!

  My rents* are coming home tonight from their second 1.5 year mission in New Zealand. It will be good to see them again! I'm still not sure about what we'll figure out for the holidays, but we'll figure out how to schedule things. I'm excited to see them again.

  I think that's the end of my babel. I'm working Monday through Wednesday and then will have the rest of the year off.

* rents - I had no idea what that meant when Bonnie said it the first time and it took me a while to figure that out that 'rents' is short for parents. Now I say it too without thinking about it.

Jingle Bells

It seems most everyone knows some invented lyric to the tune of Jingle Bells, and many know the same one or two. However, Amy has taught me a knew one that I had never heard before. It goes like this:

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells
Jingle all the way
Oh what bum it is to ride
in a one horse open sleigh! Hey!

I just caught on today that that's what she says. I'll see if I can get a video of it. It's pretty funny!

No Internet, No Posts

  I am posting this from work. We have no Internet so we can't post much right now. I'm working on shopping for a new ISP today. (The fiber-optic that we had at our condo isn't available where we live now. Bummer.)
  While you wait, may I recommend this wonderful little video (about 16 minutes long). It's a most pleasant experience to watch.

Bonnie's Birthday

Today is Bonnie's birthday. As such, I was hoping to take Bonnie out to dinner tonight. When I told her that she said, "Um, but what if I don't want to go out to dinner tonight? What if I'd rather just keep painting? It's my birthday so... since it's supposed to be for me, can I just choose that?"

Like a hog on corn, a dog on meat, a cheetah after a gazelle, or me on ice cream, Bonnie is onto moving. Move over first trimester, you just got made priority number two!

Closing

Mark today on the calendar: we officially CLOSED!!! We went to our new home at 1pm to do a final walk through (aka. get-super-excited-and-plan-where-everything's-going-to-go). Then we went to closing at 2pm.  I highly recommend 'Equity Title' at 3?? West Center St. in Orem... they give you free Otis Spunkmeyer cookies and if that's not reason for choosing them, I don't know what is! The sellers came in one hour after us so we got to meet them. That was fun. They built the house 25 years ago (when their first child was 14 months old) and raised their family there.

So... yes. We're excited beyond all reason. The funding should go through tomorrow which means hopefully we can pick up the keys tomorrow! Yaaaaaay!!! (Did I mention yet that we're excited?) It's a 5 bed 3 bath in a lovely neighborhood in North East Orem. So yes, that's our news today. Something tells me going into work will be... well... not as exciting.

June 14

I forgot to mention the due date. June 14. That's only 12 days after Noel's birthday. I'm destined to have summer babies. It makes birthday parties fun in my opinion. (I guess I don't know from the kids' perspective as I have a winter birthday - in 1 week from today in fact.) At least these last two are beginning of summer rather than end. Anyway, that's the rest of the news.

Amazing News

I had an ultrasound today and found out that I'm 12 weeks! I was thinking around 8 weeks, trying to not get my hopes up that I could be 9 or 10. I hadn't dreamed I would already be 12 weeks. I'm thrilled! A month off of pregnancy from what I expected - sounds great to me! The other crazy part is that next week is my first official appointment with my doctor, and I'll already be finishing my first trimester! (And I always say good riddance to the first trimester!) Wahoo!

Amusement

Sometimes we spend time on things for sheer amusement. This is one that didn't take a lot of time and gave me significant amusement. Follow the simple instructions on el blog de mi cuñado and enjoy... and let me know how it goes if you ever take the trip!

Proud of Us

So far today has been one of those days where things have just been going well. I love those. I'm proud of the kids (and of myself) and decided to share.

I woke up motivated - I love that - and got us all ready to go.

First stop - the car needed to be reinspected. (It failed because we needed new tires. I got new tires this week - another thing I'm proud of because who likes that task?) Everything went smoothly there, and we did on the spot renewal for our registration. Happy to have that done.

Second stop - the hospital. I have been wanting to take Amy in to get tested for allergies for a LONG TIME. I just never manage to do it. Today I took her in. Apparently it was the perfect day to do so. I told her she was going to have test. She was a little nervous that it would be owie for her like when she gets shots, but she didn't fight or protest about it. Just expressed that she was a little nervous. We had to wait about half an hour because there was quite a line at the lab. The kids did great. When it was our turn, Amy walked in, again a little nervous but not fighting it. I got to hold her on my lap for the blood draw - that's nice. The girl taking care of us was so nice and kept praising Amy like crazy for how brave and beautiful she was. Amy still never fought and only cried a little when the needle was in. She got quiet in her nervousness - that's typical of Amy. Quiet is a common response for her to many situations and emotions. But when the lab person asked if she had a favorite color, she promptly said orange. After getting bandaged, Amy got to pick a toy - a small orange bear - and got a sticker and a cookie. They spoil us. Wonderful of them. In fact, the lab tech gave Noel and me cookies too. Awesome. We both praised Amy some more, and we were on our way. On our way out the door, Amy said, "I had fun at that doctor." You've got to be kidding me. What three year old says that on her way out of getting blood work done? Amazing. We called Daddy to brag about how brave Amy was.

Before I continue with our day, I have to say how wonderful an experience we had at the hospital because people were far kinder and more courteous even than they had to be. I was so impressed by how we were treated. Especially by three people.
1 - There was a crew fixing something in the hospital, some construction-y work. Right as Amy was trying to get a drink at the drinking fountain, one of the men of the crew stopped and offered to help her get a drink. I thought she'd be too shy, but she let him hold her up. So nice. He totally didn't have to do that. Amy could either reach or ask me for help. I was grateful.
2 - A worker at the hospital saw the girls and me sitting on the floor while we waited. The chairs they had for people waiting at the lab were full - too busy this morning. We were fine and content on the floor - in fact I think the girls behaved better there than when we moved to the chairs later. But the man stopped and talked to us and asked us if he could get us some chairs. So nice. Later, he was passing by where we were again and noticed Amy interested in the fire alarm - even before I had noticed her. Instead of freaking out, he and I politely joked about how that was not such a good button to push, and Amy didn't mess with it any more. I realize that some adults would not be so nice - to Amy or to me - about her getting close enough to push the fire alarm. He didn't draw much attention to it, and it ended up being no big deal.
3 - The lab tech. Not only was she totally amazing, kind and complimentary to Amy, she was telling me what a good mom I was for preparing Amy for what was to come. She told me that makes a big difference and was probably why Amy did so well. I thought that was really sweet. Amy and I talk a lot about what we are going to do, what we are doing, and what we did every day. So it seemed pretty natural to me that I would talk to her before hand about getting the test done. No one made a big deal of it, and Amy had a positive experience. I give most of the credit to Amy about that, but I also think that those nice people helped it be a good experience for her, and I am grateful.

3rd Stop - Visiting Teaching. The girls came with me. (Thanks to Jessica for letting me bring them! That's a big help.) Everything went well there. I like Jessica and always feel edified from being around her and from her example.

Off to home. The girls behaved so well almost the whole time. This is impressive too considering that Noel usually naps in the morning and didn't get to. So I was proud of her too.

THEN, after lunch came nap time. Amy's pretty much given up naps for the most part. But lately I NEED to sleep during the day. The baby in my tummy says so. I keep trying to figure out ways to get Amy to have "quiet time" without it feeling like a punishment for her. After a little play time together, she lay on the couch with her books and her Joy School music. A little later she wanted to play with toys in my room, and I told her she couldn't talk. She whispered with the toys for I don't know how long while I slept. Finally she climbed into bed with me and played right by me. I smiled to myself. By then I was awake, but I didn't let her know. I was still happy to lie with my eyes closed and having her have quiet time. She finally started talking to me, and I was happy to interact with her again. We talked about how wonderful she had done at letting me sleep, and she told me with a proud smile that she had done service for me. My heart melted.

Night with the Girls

I just came home from a bridal shower - bless it. It was wonderful and refreshing to be with girl friends (from college - how fun!) It was fun to hear my sweet friend, Mary, talk about her sweetheart and how excited they are to start their lives together. It was all romantic and cute. And I love that I have many, many friends who are trying to live the best way they can. What a strength they are to me! I came home excited to see my family and to love on them more. What a boost!