Moving day!

After 2 weeks of somewhat packing, about 50 hours of painting, and 2 major days of packing, we are finally getting to move into our house! We are already running on vapors, but thanks ahead of time to all that are helping, and that have helped so far. We can't wait until all is done & tomorrow morning we'll be able to sleep in & walk to church!

It's official!

We are officially homeowners as of last Thursday! So we have tried to kick packing into high gear, but with 3 running around and 1 begging for attention, it's more like parenting interuppted by tasks of "get done what you can while you have a moment".

We will start painting EVERY room in the house tomorrow & whenever we get that done, we will start moving in the rest. We are pretty excited, but this week will certainly be quite busy considering it's also the last week of school.

Reap what you sow...

Every year, sometimes twice a year, the women's organization that I volunteer for, the GMT Women of Today, cleans our 2 mile portion of County Road 3 for Adopt-A-Highway. I am amazed by the amount of garbage that accumulates and what people toss out their vehicles.

I guess I shouldn't be too surprised and I am realizing that I am paying for the acts I did when I was a teenager with a license and a desire to be wreckless. We have certainly picked up some interesting items, but most of all I get upset how much it is EVERY time we clean! I think all of the volunteers that clean ditches agree that anyone applying for a drivers license should be required to clean up so they realize how much work it is & how gross it can be. It has certainly worked for me!

Laney's big week

This past week has been a busy one, with many things going on with Miss Laney Beth. She had dance rehearsal last Monday for an hour and a half, which she sat surprisingly well through.

Then on Wednesday, Daddy pulled out her first loose tooth...(there's another loose one as well!)

On Thursday, her and the other preschoolers moving on to kindergarten next year, spent the whole day at school to see what next year will be like. She was in AJ's class with Mrs. Hart, who is a WONDERFUL teacher, and had big brother show her around the classroom. She really enjoyed it.

Then Friday entailed a dance recital at the local nursing home...(she's the first one in the back row)
And then the final dance recital yesterday. She did so well & I was moved to tears how cute she was. After over 7 months of practices once a week, she is done with dance until the fall.

She also just recently had 10 inches of her hair cut off for Locks for Love. She was ready (as was I) to have shorter hair. Faith decided she wanted a haircut too, so hers is shorter as well. It turned out cute, and now, from what I hear, they look even more alike.

Oh, here's a picture of Ian in the sling, piggyback style...*see May 12th post*

Let the packing begin!

This month has certainly had it's moments of frustration! Now I remember why we rented for so long...it's such a pain to close on a house! Our May 1st closing date obviously didn't happen, but after jumping through some hoops (and signing off our first born), we are hopefully going to get the papers signed this week. I have put off packing for the very reason of lengthy processes, but today decided to tackle the kids' toy room to get myself motivated & to just clean some stuff out.

We are hoping to start painting in the new house on the 25th and will get things moved in as soon as we get those that done and hope to be settled in (well at least moved in) by June 1st. Settling may take longer considering we have a fishing trip and deacon classes all in that first week! It's going to be a crazy couple of weeks, so please pray for us that things go well and that all settles in nicely. We can't wait to be in Minneota...it will make the summer activities so much easier!

Gas & grape kool-aid...

So this blog has been in my mind since Wednesday because I haven't had a chance to sit at the computer until now. I have lots of stories to share, but will start with that day so I don't forget.

My new nickname for Ian is my little "nebble", which is a word I learned at diaconate class last month. It is the Hebrew word for "puff of wind", in other words...a fart. Not only is he a gassy little one, but he packs quite a punch and has been known to wrinkle a few noses. It's a good thing he's so cute or most would run from the room to get some fresh air. That day was no different in realizing his "air power" when I ran errands and Jason sat in the suburban with the kids. When I opened the door to get in, a wall of aroma hit me & Jason actually thought Ian had filled his diaper. Nope, just lots of nebbles. (By the way, I have no idea how we got into that subject during class!)

Later, as we were finishing up dinner, I started nursing Ian & poured myself a glass of kool-aid. I started drinking it & Laney came over to get her baby fix. As she lifted her head from kissing him, she hit the bottom of my cup. It's entire contents poured over my face and my shirt and of course, Ian's unsuspecting head. Needless to say, neither of us was too happy to have cold, wet grapeness spilled on us, but Jason was there to save the now screaming baby & get him dried off as quick as possible. We smelled like grape kool-aid all night, although it could have just been the kool-aid that went up my nose that I continued to smell. That still didn't manage to cover up the potency of Ian's "outbursts", but they were a little sweeter that night.

Work smarter, not harder ('cause we know it can't be less!)

As much as Ian loves the swing, there are just some days that he wants nothing other than being held...enter mei tai carrier! Thanks to the cultures that realized that in order to get things done as a mom, you just have to carry baby along sometimes. (Well, they probably do it all the time and don't have baby swings...)

This he will be able to fit in until he's two...well, granted he doesn't go over the weight limit! Yesterday, a mom compared his size to her 6 month old.