Lots going on

Well, first of all, we are 9 days away from closing on our new home. We are beside ourselves really. It's simply flown by. And we are (wait for it...) still friends with the Curtises!!! In fact, there are many things that we will truly miss once we move out. Now that's a strong relationship! Thanks Curtises. We love you guys!

So, in honor of 9 days, here's a picture of the almost finished outside of our home. The shutters and door will be painted this week - a dark burgandy-ish brown.

And on to the 4th of July. We had a blast. I would re-create it every year. First of all, we went over to the stake center for a fireside/potluck, where a couple spoke about their experience with him being over in Afghanistan. It made me truly appreciate the sacrifice it is for them and their families, and it humbled me to know that there are so many of them out there, giving all they have so that my family can enjoy what we have. It really put a face to the whole thing. Thank you, Brother Whose Name I Can't Remember, and your wonderful family.


After that, we went to the Curtis' ward party, which meets in South Carolina, where fireworks are completely legal. They put together a fund from donations from ward members (not intended to be an official ward function, mind you), and bought enough fireworks for about a 30 minute show. It was so awesome. One of the best fireworks shows outside of Stadium of Fire that I've seen. AND it was the girls' first fireworks show. They've always been too little to stay up that late, so this was the big one. Once the show got started, Leah said, "Oh, so that's what real fireworks are like!" Bekah clung to me for dear life for the first several, but once she realized that they weren't going to hurt her, she really enjoyed it. I tell you, fireworks will always be cool, but it's like Christmas. It's best when you're a kid, and again when you get to share it with your kids. Leah decided that it was the best day ever. And I tell you, one Mormon potluck after another... never having to cook all day... it was heaven!



They had a sprinkler out on the lawn at the church, and the kids, well, you can tell from the pictures that they loved it. And it was so warm that evening that by the time we got in the car, they'd completely dried off. But not so hot to be uncomfortable. And no bugs ate us. I mean, could it have been more perfect?!





Happy (belated) 4th everyone!

For the record...

Dear World,
Just so you know, THIS... ...is what I look like when I'm pregnant. Since I do not currently look like this, you should kindly assume that I am NOT currently pregnant, and you should refrain from asking me if I am.

Thank you.

Our Crazy Leah (years 1&2)

This is put together from the video I took with my little digital camera (i.e. only 13 seconds of video at a time). Once I figure out how to upload the video from my video camera, we'll have some real fun. Anyway, Leah's always been a lot of fun to watch, and I hope you enjoy some choice moments.

Make me cry...

So last night Bekah was saying her prayers. She's just learning to (and insisting upon) saying them by herself. Well, we usually get things about dinosaurs and bandaids, but last night was precious. She was kneeling next to me, and went into the whole "Thank thee for Unka Chad, and Aunt Linda, and Wes (the Curtises), and Dad, and Leah, and Dad, and Mommy - she's my best friend..." And then she starts patting my arm and rubbing it with her sweet little hand. And then she said, "She's a good sister." Well, A+ for effort. :) Yes, there were tears. What a sweet moment.

And then this morning she woke up, and since we're all sleeping in the same room right now, came up into the bed with me and said she wanted to snuggle. What was I supposed to do? NOT snuggle?! I love those little moments.

PS We have wood flooring and chandeliers...

Home Sweet Home and Ice Cream

First of all, yes. Yes, my children have lost their minds. Leah actually took this first picture. It's probably the first one she took where there was an actual subject IN the photo. Go Leah.

Second of all, YAY house!!! It's coming along so quickly now, and it SO much fun to see it come together (right now... over me...).

We are so excited to have an actual dining room, so we can have actual guests over, and actually NOT have to move the kitchen table into the other room and squeeze between the piano and desk. Nothing says "welcome to our home" like, "here, you can either sit here on the piano bench, or next to the toddler - just watch out, she spits... or throws, or any number of things..." Now if we can just find a dining room table...

Oh, you wonderful cabinets that will be big enough and plentiful enough to hold all my junk so I don't have to keep kitchen things in the laundry or garage... I love you cabinets!



And other than that, I have to report that I have a new favorite ice cream, and I want to thank the good people at Harris Teeter for giving it to me BOGO every once in a while. Or maybe I should be cursing them... It is Blue Bunny Super Chunky Cookie Dough. Oh. my. word. It's so good. I've always been a fan of the cookie dough in the ice cream, but this one takes it to some sort of nirvana-esque level. If you can get Blue Bunny where you live, and they have a BOGO sale, do yourself a terrible favor, and gain a new addiction in your life. Your thighs will thank me! You know they were feeling neglected...

and finally...

I have finally uploaded my pictures from my camera, so here's about where we are with the house (actually, we now have full siding, and I didn't have my camera last time we were there, so imagine this, except with siding... oh, and windows).

I LOVE this movie