Windows

I'm sure you have heard the saying, "Whenever God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window." (Okay, I should not have put that in quotes because I really have no idea what the actual saying is, but you get the idea). Lets just say that this ENTIRE house building process has seemed like one door closing after another. The loan process the same. Two weeks ago Rick's car died. I have also had to downgrade my car for mortgage reasons. SLAM! But just like always there is an open window. Ours came in the form of a new job.

I just found out that I got a job that I applied for a month ago. For most of my parenting life I have always said I would love a part-time job in my field. You get the benefits of being at home with your children most of the time, you use your education doing something that you love, and a few days a week you have to get out of your sweat pants. I am so excited! Two and a half days a week I will be working as a Health Educator for Summit County. It means working a few more hours a week then I do now, but being all lumped together will make it feel less hectic (I think). It seems perfect. I just hope it turns out that way!

Ta-Da!

Get Ready! Here is the big reveal.

(okay, just parts of the big reveal, but hopefully enough to keep you happy.)

Here is a view of the front.

I can't wait to take a picture in the spring when the grass is green and the trees are in bloom. (more about the wonderful tress when they are in bloom and we can really see "popcorn" out of the window.)

Welcome! Coming in the front door.

(Don't mind the blue painter's tape. We'll get to that someday.)

Master bathroom. Ahhhh, I love to have my own sink. AND my own closet there at the end.


Our own indoor hottub!
(The boys quite like it too.)

The beautiful master shower.
My dad did the tile in the showers and it looks amazing. Thanks so much dad.

The great room.
(Rick was on a ladder on the scaffolding to get to the top!)

A look into the kitchen from the eating area. I love it so much. It turned out so beautiful.

The lonley loft.

Futre home of a beautiful custom desk and window seat with flanking bookcases.

(Current home on one lone chair and a single bookcase that doesn't even fit half of our books.)

A look to the entryway from the loft.
(Is that painter's plastic still attatched to the top of the window? Yep.)

Looking out from the loft.

(The railing is two-toned for a reason. That reason being that we haven't finished stiaining it yet.)

The boys bathroom.

A closer look at my dad's wonderful tiling job.

Well there you have it. Eleven pictures of the house. I hope that everyone has had their fill for a while because I can't imagine that I will get the rest "picture ready" for quite some time. I'm much too busy LOVING my new place.

Alive and well

I know, I know. I have been VERY delinquent on keeping up with my blog. I would like to cite ONE THOUSAND things that I have been doing instead, but I don't want this post to sound like a whine session. I have been feeling overwhelmed by the thought of catching up on all of the things that I have missed blogging about, so I have decided not to even try. The holidays were fabulous, and best of all we were able to spend Christmas in our new house. It was truly the best Christmas present I have ever received. We have been in the house for a little over a month and are finally settled in. Most of our stuff has found a place and it is really feeling like a home instead of just a house.

I know that everyone is anxious to get some pictures of the new house, but there are still a number of little project we need to finish, and some cleaning and decorating to be done, before I feel like having the big reveal. Maybe I can take it one room at a time. We'll just have to see. For now you will have to be satisfied with a picture of the boys on Christmas Eve. Ah, blogging world. It's nice to see you again. Let's stay in touch a little better.

Severe Weather Warining

The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather warning for Woodland, Utah. The storm is small, but powerful. It has tornado like gusts of activity that can leave your house totally destroyed in a matter of minutes. Do not sit idle thinking the storm won't hit, because it will. It always does. Do NOT try to clean in another room, do NOT try to make a phone call, and by all means do NOT hide in the bathroom (even to use it!). Hurricane Elijah is currently a category 4 storm, but gains power everyday. It is assumed that the storm will quickly become a category 5 and leave a wake of destruction in it's trail. TAKE ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS!

Ninja, Super, and Bat....oh, my!

I love Halloween. For me is perfectly starts the holiday season. We had quite a few activities in the days that lead up to Halloween, which just added to the CRAZY life we are leading. Oh well, the effort is always worth it when it comes to making your kids happy. I am always quite frantic when I am trying to get things done, but end up being so thankful for the time and memories I have with the boys.

Here is the short list of our weeks activities

Preschool Halloween party

2nd grade class party

Sugar cookie decorating GALORE

Luke's breakdancing solo at the "Spooktacular"

Pumpkin carving

Trunk-or-treating

Trick-or-treating

(we wouldn't think of missing out on our Aunts, Uncles, and Grandpa)

Scary Movies

(Mostly Ghostly: 4 times!)

CANDY, CANDY, CANDY

Decorating cookies at the preschool Halloween party.
Noah got a little carried away with the black sprinkles and ended up with black teeth and lips.

Trying to carve his very own.

The frozen, defrosted, mushy pumpkin.

Elijah knows what Halloween is all about!

The cutest bat. EVER!

Dash showing off his muscles.

Nothing but speed.

Ninja Luke

I tried to get a good picture of all of the boys together, but Elijah was having none of it!

This is the best I was able to get.

Happy Birthday, Noah!

Okay, it is only 9 days late, but here are a few pictures of Noah's fourth birthday. I usually say something like, "where does the time go?" But for some reason it really does feel like four years (or more!) have gone by since I had my beautiful black-haired baby boy. A lot has happened during these last four years, and I know that there will be even more exciting things to come in the next four.

Noah is such a case of extremes. He is the child who can TOTALLY exhaust you of all patience, but then is full of hugs and kisses. He is stubborn from head to toe, but can out of the blue surprise you with thoughtful deeds and sayings. He didn't even say "mama" until he was 18 months old, and now knows all his letters, sounds, colors, shapes, rhymes, and initial consonant sounds and letters. He LOVES being outside playing and getting dirty, but wants a bath every night. He jumps at the chance to go out and "work" with Dad, Grandpa, or any other worker who may grace our house, but whines that he "just wants to stay home" every morning we are headed out of the door.

Noah is unlike any other. And that is just how I like it.

Blowing out the candles on his transformers cake

Displaying all the birthday loot!

Noah got a kitty for his birthday from Uncle Chris. THANKS A LOT!

He LOVES the kitty and named him Tiger Shark. Tiger for short.

Elijah also loves Tiger. I'm not sure if the feelings are mutual.

House Update

I know that it has been WAY too long since I have taken the time to update this blog and show you the progress we are making on the house. I can't even take 5 more minutes and explain WHY I am too busy, because the few minutes I am on the computer are making me feel guilty about all of the things I SHOULD be doing! Last week the cabinets were installed and it is finally starting to feel like a real house. We really had to push fast with the travertine in order to have it all laid before the cabinets came, but we made it. Rick has been AMAZING. He has had some help, but for the most part he has done all of the travertine by himself. I love the way that it looks, especially with the cabinets. We (and by we I mean Rick) just have to finish grouting the travertine and then seal it and we can move on to the next project. I'm not sure what that will be, the list is a mile long! We are heading into the final stretch, but it seems like we have more work than ever. I hope that Rick can hold out for about 6 more weeks.

a> Here is the bench in the back entry. I have aleady informed the boys that this is where they sit to put their shoes on and take them off! I love the hooks for their coats. No more shoes and coats past this point.
The back entry/laundry room.
Lots of storage for coats, hats, gloves, bookbags, etc. You know, all of the things that are strung out from the front door to every room in the house!

I have a hanging bar above the dryer. Everyone keeps telling me that I will LOVE it. It certainly will cut down on the ironing (which I HATE to do.)

(Kitchen)

Looking toward the range, microwave, and sink.

(Kitchen)

Hutch on the left down to the pantry on the right.

Yes, the cabinets reach to the 9 foot celings. I am going to have to have a step ladder to reach anything in the top!

I wanted black as an accent and I think the hutch was a perfect choice.

Here is the full kitchen (from the dining room) the lighting isn't very good, but the beadboard on the back of the bar is also black to match the hutch.

The dining room travertine.

Our bathroom.

I love the turned feet. They make the vanity really seem like a piece of furniture.