Project Home

I just build & put up this cornice board. I have 2 rods tucked under there, so I will be getting fabric to make curtains too. I know the sheer I made is too long, but should I have it an inch off the floor or higher? The wall is a light toupe too (like Crab Apple, but called Khaki), this is not the avacado green.

I will also be doing a cornice board for the window next to it too. I just wanted to make sure I could do it before starting 3.

I also plan to do crown molding. Dad J...would you teach me the beginning of Oct??

Here is the exterior. I installed black coach lights & Jeff did the black door knob...so much prettier than the gold. I also did the wiring for the fans and figured out how to transfer a normal light fixture over to a fan. Now we have a fan above the kitchen table. Maybe that is only appreciated in AZ?

The skies here are always that blue. Makes the brown more bearable. :-)

Here is our backyard. It's a good size for us. I really want to build a pool in January. Jeff wants to wait till the kids are teenagers.

I raked the rock into piles last night while the kids swam in the kiddie pool. They aren't ant hills or anything worse.
I love that there are no homes behind us. It's just a green area, with a walking path & a picnic table. That open feeling is something that I loved about our other house, so I am glad to have it the same here.

That's all for now. I am ready for your decorating advice!

In Need of Friends

When summer starts dad is home, vacations begin & visits from friends slow down. Well, with summer ending, school in full swing, it has been fun to get back to playdates.

Life is so much better when Ty has a buddy come visit. I am not claiming to be Super Mom...I really don't like to take care of the needs of more kids. Rather I like the friends that occupy Ty. It's when more kids Feel like less kids, then I am a happy mom.

Here is one of his little playdates. We made worms & dirt.

This is my new table that Jeff got for my birthday. I love it. The only problem is that it scratches, so if you put your keys on it & I yell at you...that's why. ...for real though, is there anything I can do besides a constant table cloth or glass? I friend of mine covered her's with plastic, but she says it ruined the finish. Yikes! Let me know if you have a secret or not so secret solution.

We Are In

We moved in August 14th. Our phone # is the same. If you want our address, just leave a comment & I'll email you.

The move went great. We had so much help! (I think there were at least 20 guys!) A sweet friend picked our craziest day to bring my favorite meal...Chipotle. What a treat & relief not to think about dinner! Another friend brought a load of yummy bread & jam. It had a note that said: We hope your new ward is like this bread, so incredibly wonderful that you don't even notice the crummy parts. How cute is that!

My parents & brother agreed to my last minute request for their help & came out the following day. My mom watched the kids while the men loaded & uploaded the truck, then my dad & brother did all the installs I directed them too. It was great!

Since the 14th I have been working like a mad women. Whenever I think life can't possibly get any busier...it does. I think back to when Ty was an infant & I would be home playing with him, watching the Price is Right & Oprah...I can hardly imagine having that much time.

We love having a bigger home. The kids love the stairs (my least favorite part!). I love being able to do noisy things like unload the dishwasher while the kids are asleep.

NOW THE KID UPDATES:

Ty started at his new preschool. His teacher is fabulous. He has made new friends & gets to ride a little bus with a few other pre-schooler on it. They have a green/yellow/red card system. So far he has had a green card every time. Jeff & I expected that. The little monster only comes out when Sydney is around.

We had rain the other night & tons of lightening. Ty was saying "I'm scared of the rain". So together we watched to storm, oo'd & ah'd for about 15 minutes. Well, now every night at bedtime Sydney has wanted to mimic Ty's fear & says that she is scared of the rainbow. I guess we get a lot more rainbows than rain, so that is what she knows. Another thing she does is say her prayers. She says, "Heaven Father, Thank you for this day. You're welcome."

I'll post pictures as projects are done. For right now just imagine walls the color of 70's avocado green Tupperware. :-)

We Got It!!

The Seller agreed to come down $15k, so our bank is willing to finance it. How crazy eh? What a blessing & relief! Things should get wrapped up in underwritting during the next few days and then we will know for sure. We should be moving in 11 days...guess I don't have time to make the 2 blankets I had planned for tonight. That's ok though, it's hardly blanket weather around here!

New Home Update

When we bought our 1st home is was so simple. We walked in, picked a model, a lot, filled out a few papers & moved in 6 months later. I totally took that for granted!

This process of getting a 2nd home has been a huge headache (like throw-up migraines, yeah bad!). Seems like everyday there is a new problem. The latest problem is that the appraisal came in $15k under our purchase price. Yikes! Of course the lending bank doesn't want to be bottom-up in a new mortgage, SO either the seller goes down $15k OR we lose the home.

This could be a HUGE blessing. To get a home that much cheaper than we already are getting it would be amazing. However all the packing, painting (more neutral for renters), lease set-up, etc, could be for nothing. I'll keep you updated on the crazy mess.

First Nightmare

Sydney had her first notable nightmare. Can you guess what terrifying creature played the starring role.....











none other than Chuck E Cheese

On our way to San Diego we stopped at every kids favorite play place. Sydney was having a great time until HE came out. She couldn't take her eyes off him & was so afraid he would get her. How could you not laugh at that?

So last night just before bedtime Jeff remembered & teased Sydney by asking her about the mouse. She started getting nervous about it again.

Then 1am she woke up calling me. When I got in the room she was repeatedly saying, "Oh no Mouse!" I told her there was no mouse, to go back to bed & she responded, "Oh, ok Mom."

Aren't those your favorite pictures though, of you or your kids crying on Santa's lap, or standing in total fear next to the Easter bunny? Yet it's a good thing when they sneak into your home while you sleep, leaving presents and candy. Such a funny concept!

Tucson and Possible Trouble in Paradise

We just returned from the Tucson conference...I mean my birthday trip. There were no near-drownings or lost children this time. This resort was all about its pools. Ty & Sydney had just finished another round of swim lessons a week ago. It was so nice to have Ty be comfortable in the water & be able to swim for short distances.

Sydney was the center of attention with her little noodle. She could swim, jump, spin. I even had one mother concerned about her sons development because tiny little Sydney was jumping in & swimming to the edge so well. She's our little over-achiever. Luckily hours & hours in the pool led to good naps from both kids & early bed-times.

This water slide was a total hit. Jeff & I kept hoping it would be our turn to go up with Ty. It's kind of awkward to be 30ish & go up a slide w/o a kid in tow.

Luckily we didn't see this "little" beauty until we were on our way out. That would have made sleeping a bit difficult. *To the family we are trying to drag out West: We have never seen tarantulas within 20 miles of where we live.
The stress-free vacation-mode ended quickly. At home waiting was a phone call from our mortgage company. Apparently the 10% down & 2 month reserves on both homes is now not enough. They now need 6 months reserves on both homes, yikes! We are trying to think outside the box, knowing if its right it'll work out & if not, then no. It's just incredibly frustrating!