Okay. . .moving is NOT fun, but I am trying to be positive here.
We have been in the house for 12 days and it seems like we have been here 12 weeks! This is crazy. We love the house and the floor plan is awesome. Ella's bathroom is all decked out with handrails and step stool. We have also been working hard to get unpacked. We are mostly unpacked and are 100% in living mode, no more "Big Daddy's $5 pizza" for dinner and I do not have to hunt for towels and hand soap.
We are still getting some project done. Yesterday we mounted the flat screen to wall in the basement. On Saturday Dave finished building my floor to ceiling book case in the study. I love it!!! Dave also installed my chandelier. I have also ordered my green office chair and my blue flower rug.
We still have lots of little projects. We call the storage room "the dungeon." It is kind of a mess. Lots of stuff everywhere, but the good thing is that it has a door. We just leave it closed :) That will be a work in progress.
Carpool is kicking my trash. I am making about 3 trips a day. I am glad I love my minivan. I will be spending even more time in it.
Good news about Japan. We are now #1 on the list to be matched! I am so excited about that. We got leapfrogged and the family behind us in line just got matched with a little girl :) I am so happy for them! It is really feeling real. Josh comes over tomorrow and he will update our homestudy, once it is updated and approved by USCIS we will be matched with the next little one.
Well, I am off to pick up Spencer from school. I just wanted to write a bit about what's happening here :)
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Moving to the Blue house
I am so sore. . and totally tired. It has been a busy and jello-muscle inducing 36 hours.
It all started yesterday, Friday morning, when we got a call that we had a showing! I was so excited. Yippy! Hopefully the market is picking up and we will be seeing more showings in our future. So, I had 3 hours to whip the house in shape. . . I must admit I have been a little lax about it lately. The showing was going to be right during the time when Dave and I were closing on the Blue House. My mom was suppose to be at my house watching the kids. So we juggled some car seats, called in a solid from a neighbor and between grandma and our amazing neighbors, we were off.
By the time I got to the closing I was 15 min. late, frazzled and a little sweaty. I at least hoped that the house looked good during the showing. After we closed and got the keys to the house we got our new mail key and finished up with a few more things at the blue house.
That was followed by picking up the U-haul and loading and unloading. Thanks again to grandma who watched the kids from 7PM to 11PM. By the time we got home I was sweaty tired and bruised.
Saturday morning started at 7AM. Dave and I organized and loaded a few things. Our slave labor (Janelle and Chris) arrived at 10AM with delicious muffins in hand and totally stepped up to the plate! Wow! It was crazy how much we got done. With the help of Chris and Janelle we got all the truck loaded and unloaded in time to return the truck. They are really worth their weight in gold. . . Chris said his moving motto is "100% satisfaction or your money back."
Dave started to put up the blinds and I was was trying to organize a few things with the rest of our afternoon. We let the kids be screen time zombies; TV, tablets and even watching "Frozen" on the laptop.
In this photo you can see the boys watching the laptop in the new house. Our agent gave us "Frozen" on DVD as a welcome home gift. Ella is at the table eating popcorn. You can see the Dave had installed one blind on the window.
This whole move is really a process. On Monday we have some furniture deliveries, water softener install and internet install. Lowes is also delivering the refrigerator Monday. Just lots to still do. I think within the next 14 days we will be living there. I really love the house and we met a couple neighbors too. They seem nice and I can't wait to make some new friends.
It is 9:01PM and I am the only one awake. But. . . not for long. I took two advil and will be drifting off soon. Just wanted to give you the update.
It all started yesterday, Friday morning, when we got a call that we had a showing! I was so excited. Yippy! Hopefully the market is picking up and we will be seeing more showings in our future. So, I had 3 hours to whip the house in shape. . . I must admit I have been a little lax about it lately. The showing was going to be right during the time when Dave and I were closing on the Blue House. My mom was suppose to be at my house watching the kids. So we juggled some car seats, called in a solid from a neighbor and between grandma and our amazing neighbors, we were off.
By the time I got to the closing I was 15 min. late, frazzled and a little sweaty. I at least hoped that the house looked good during the showing. After we closed and got the keys to the house we got our new mail key and finished up with a few more things at the blue house.
That was followed by picking up the U-haul and loading and unloading. Thanks again to grandma who watched the kids from 7PM to 11PM. By the time we got home I was sweaty tired and bruised.
Saturday morning started at 7AM. Dave and I organized and loaded a few things. Our slave labor (Janelle and Chris) arrived at 10AM with delicious muffins in hand and totally stepped up to the plate! Wow! It was crazy how much we got done. With the help of Chris and Janelle we got all the truck loaded and unloaded in time to return the truck. They are really worth their weight in gold. . . Chris said his moving motto is "100% satisfaction or your money back."
Dave started to put up the blinds and I was was trying to organize a few things with the rest of our afternoon. We let the kids be screen time zombies; TV, tablets and even watching "Frozen" on the laptop.
In this photo you can see the boys watching the laptop in the new house. Our agent gave us "Frozen" on DVD as a welcome home gift. Ella is at the table eating popcorn. You can see the Dave had installed one blind on the window.
This whole move is really a process. On Monday we have some furniture deliveries, water softener install and internet install. Lowes is also delivering the refrigerator Monday. Just lots to still do. I think within the next 14 days we will be living there. I really love the house and we met a couple neighbors too. They seem nice and I can't wait to make some new friends.
It is 9:01PM and I am the only one awake. But. . . not for long. I took two advil and will be drifting off soon. Just wanted to give you the update.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
Slightly crazy
I am driving myself slightly crazy.
I used to write more on the blog and try to make this my journal, but have been so lazy lately (too tired) to do more then snap a photo and hit "post". So I'm going to try and be more faithful with writing about all that is going on in my head.
Our home has been listed "for sale" for a month now. We have only had 1 showing and 2 visits during and open house. It is very discouraging. Of the peolpe that saw our home, we have not had a request for a second showing. This makes me a little crazy. Oh my gosh. . . we have got to sell this house. I have these awful visions of 2007 when it was on the market for 15 months. I finally just disengaged from the whole thing and Dave had to field all the phone calls and emails for our agent. I was a ball of stress then, and just focusing so much on Spencer (who was just born and we were waiting for approval to travel.)
Here we are again, trying to sell the house. *sigh*
There are a couple of things feel different this time. First, most of the time, I feel very calm. I know that selling a house in our neighborhood takes times. So, I am prepared to wait. Also I know that we cannot live in this house. It is not the right house for our family. Just yesterday Ella took a hard tumble down the stairs. No one should have to live in a home that can so potentially hazardous to them. I am not hesitant about the need to move at all, I know this is what is right for our family. Dave and I have both received confirmation about this.
Another thing that is different is where we are moving. In Austin I was moving from my "dream home" to a third story walk-up apartment with old carpet, ants and a neighbor that would play guitar hero at all hours of the night. Here, I am moving from one "dream house" to another "dream house."
I just can't help but feel anxious that we have not seen more action in trying to sell our home.
I am also focusing on the new home and can't wait to move in, decorate and make it ours. I am excited to meet new neighbors, new book group friends and go to church. We already have preschool lined up for Jacob and Ella, and Luke is on the waiting list for 2015-2016.
The downer for schools is that Spencer is not able to transfer to the APLS (gifted) program near our home. We requested a transfer as soon as we knew we were moving, we just got the call this week that the ALPS school closest to our house is "full" and they will not transfer him. With our preschool driving schedule, it is physically impossible to drive to Riverton and also do preschool pick up. It is just too far away. I was so angry when they told me, what a crazy and broken system. Utah schools are so under funded it is a joke. Oh well, I just have to roll with it and now we are on a waitlist for an opening.
Also, our Japan adoption is on hold while we move. Once we are settled we will get Josh back and update our homestudy. Then we go back into the pool for waiting. I think the Japan program has only had 2 placements since Thanksgiving, and we are #2 on the list now. So it could be awhile before we see some movement. Which is fine by me. I have enough sleepless nights :) I won't find a few extra weeks of sleep to stockpile.
Next thursday, April 9th is the final walk-through and on Friday April 11 we close :) I am so excited and anxious. Moving is such an adventure.
Note: a little fort under the stairs. . . it has a little peek out on the side too :)
I used to write more on the blog and try to make this my journal, but have been so lazy lately (too tired) to do more then snap a photo and hit "post". So I'm going to try and be more faithful with writing about all that is going on in my head.
Our home has been listed "for sale" for a month now. We have only had 1 showing and 2 visits during and open house. It is very discouraging. Of the peolpe that saw our home, we have not had a request for a second showing. This makes me a little crazy. Oh my gosh. . . we have got to sell this house. I have these awful visions of 2007 when it was on the market for 15 months. I finally just disengaged from the whole thing and Dave had to field all the phone calls and emails for our agent. I was a ball of stress then, and just focusing so much on Spencer (who was just born and we were waiting for approval to travel.)
Here we are again, trying to sell the house. *sigh*
There are a couple of things feel different this time. First, most of the time, I feel very calm. I know that selling a house in our neighborhood takes times. So, I am prepared to wait. Also I know that we cannot live in this house. It is not the right house for our family. Just yesterday Ella took a hard tumble down the stairs. No one should have to live in a home that can so potentially hazardous to them. I am not hesitant about the need to move at all, I know this is what is right for our family. Dave and I have both received confirmation about this.
Another thing that is different is where we are moving. In Austin I was moving from my "dream home" to a third story walk-up apartment with old carpet, ants and a neighbor that would play guitar hero at all hours of the night. Here, I am moving from one "dream house" to another "dream house."
I just can't help but feel anxious that we have not seen more action in trying to sell our home.
I am also focusing on the new home and can't wait to move in, decorate and make it ours. I am excited to meet new neighbors, new book group friends and go to church. We already have preschool lined up for Jacob and Ella, and Luke is on the waiting list for 2015-2016.
The downer for schools is that Spencer is not able to transfer to the APLS (gifted) program near our home. We requested a transfer as soon as we knew we were moving, we just got the call this week that the ALPS school closest to our house is "full" and they will not transfer him. With our preschool driving schedule, it is physically impossible to drive to Riverton and also do preschool pick up. It is just too far away. I was so angry when they told me, what a crazy and broken system. Utah schools are so under funded it is a joke. Oh well, I just have to roll with it and now we are on a waitlist for an opening.
Also, our Japan adoption is on hold while we move. Once we are settled we will get Josh back and update our homestudy. Then we go back into the pool for waiting. I think the Japan program has only had 2 placements since Thanksgiving, and we are #2 on the list now. So it could be awhile before we see some movement. Which is fine by me. I have enough sleepless nights :) I won't find a few extra weeks of sleep to stockpile.
Next thursday, April 9th is the final walk-through and on Friday April 11 we close :) I am so excited and anxious. Moving is such an adventure.
Note: a little fort under the stairs. . . it has a little peek out on the side too :)
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Happy Birthday Jacob!
Our Jacobite is 4! He is currently 37 inches tall and 31
pounds. Until his fourth
birthday he wore his brace at night for his corrected club foot. Now
that he is 4, the orthopedic surgeon has given Jacob the approval to
stop wearing the brace. His foot looks very good. We will see the
orthopedic surgeon again in a year and keep checking the progress of his
foot. He loves to run, jump and do karate. Spencer takes karate lessons, and now Jacob will be starting lessons
too.
Jacob is very active. He is also very coordinated, his favorite sports are soccer, baseball and karate. Jacob also is very talkative. When Jacob first came home it was about a year before he started talking. He was in speech therapy for about year, now he is very articulate. One of Jacob's favorite things is being read to. He could sit for hours and just listen to you reading. His favorite books right now are about "Froggie" a little boy frog who is always having some misadventures. He also enjoys singing and making peolpe laugh.
When we are having family dinner Jacob is always wanting to make his brothers and sister laugh. He is very strong willed and knows exactly what he wants. He is clever and likes to make plans for the future. If Jacob is quiet for too long, you know you need to check on him before he manages to put fingernail polish on his face, Ella's face, the bedding and the chest of drawers. . . just saying.
Enjoy some birthday photos. Tiffani made him a Jake and the Neverland pirates cake. It looked awesome! For dinner Jacob chose waffles with strawberries and whipping cream.
Jacob is very active. He is also very coordinated, his favorite sports are soccer, baseball and karate. Jacob also is very talkative. When Jacob first came home it was about a year before he started talking. He was in speech therapy for about year, now he is very articulate. One of Jacob's favorite things is being read to. He could sit for hours and just listen to you reading. His favorite books right now are about "Froggie" a little boy frog who is always having some misadventures. He also enjoys singing and making peolpe laugh.
Here is a video of Jacob singing in August 2013: http://vimeo.com/71609868
When we are having family dinner Jacob is always wanting to make his brothers and sister laugh. He is very strong willed and knows exactly what he wants. He is clever and likes to make plans for the future. If Jacob is quiet for too long, you know you need to check on him before he manages to put fingernail polish on his face, Ella's face, the bedding and the chest of drawers. . . just saying.
Jacob is a wonderful brother. Ella really looks to Jacob as an example. Jacob loves helping Ella and
also playing games together. Jacob loves his friends and enjoys going
to preschool. He also has some nice friends in the neighborhood that he
plays with. Although Jacob's favorite playmates are his brothers and
sister.
In school Jacob is learning about the alphabet, counting,
science (how the body works, planets and the solar system, nature,
etc.) and how to share, take turns and corroborate. We really love the
preschool Jacob attends and next year Ella will go with him.
Jacob, like very preschooler, can be challenging at
times, but he has a genuine love for his family and has a ready smile
and laugh. We feel very blessed to have Jacob as our son. Our family
would not be complete without him.Enjoy some birthday photos. Tiffani made him a Jake and the Neverland pirates cake. It looked awesome! For dinner Jacob chose waffles with strawberries and whipping cream.
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