Backlog of life happenings

Passing the time at Grandma's house with a game of cards.

Crashed out at Grandma's house. The kids were incredibly well behaved last weekend when we stayed at my mom's because of all the showings we had for our house. It was just easier to not even try to live at home and keep it impeccably clean at the same time. They went to bed when they were told and even went right to sleep--highly unusual!

My Dad always used to take pictures of us sleeping, there is something charming and loveable about a high energy kid so peaceful in sleep--I understand now.

Ashley and Camille LOVE "baby oranges" and they have a fettish with making designs with them on the table. After this picture Ashley said, "where is Grandma?" and ate an orange. Then, "where is Grandpa?" and ate another, then "where is Jamesie?" etc. Apparently it was a little family of oranges!

This is Emma with her good friend Tory who lives across the street. I went on a field trip with her a couple weeks ago, and we had a great time. We saw a children's production of Sleeping Beauty. I love to see Emma interact with her classmates, she is a different person than she is at home. Emma saved me a seat on the bus on the way home, it had been a while since I rode the bus.

I have lots more, but it is after eleven and I'm exhausted! Ashley and Nate tag team me at night, so I haven't gotten much sleep lately. A couple nights ago Ashley told me to leave the ladder up for her (she sleeps on the top bunk) because she was going to be scared in five minutes. Nice.

It begins

Yesterday my mom brought over some boxes and we started packing away clutter so that my house might actually sell. I spent most of the day packing up and cleaning out the office. It is looking better! Tonight Justin's job is to make a storage unit out of his parking space in the garage (I'm sorry Justin, I wish we had a better alternative) so that we don't move the clutter from one corner to another.
Justin's start date is April 15th. We are planning to have him go out ahead, and we will follow at the end of April. That way he isn't swamped in a brand new job and moving in at the same time.

Things I will miss:
*Crazy weather changes. In Denver we say if you don't like the weather wait 5 minutes and it will change. Saturday it was the most beautiful day, around 70 degrees and we went four wheeling up in the mountains. Sunday it snowed all day, and I considered ditching stake conference.
*Trading off making dinner with my mom, and eating with her two or three times a week.
To be continued...

News, news, and more news:

So Justin got the job in Dallas! He got a call this morning, and when he called me I knew before he said anything because his excitement was vibrating over the phone. We don't know anything yet about his start date, so that will be news for another post.



Emma Kay, who has been having digestive problems since I started potty training her, got diagnosed with celiac disease this week. The pediatrician called me during our pancake dinner to give me the news, and then Emma had cereal for the rest of her meal. Luckily she has two aunts with the same thing, so they have already been giving me tips and good info. Looks like we have some big adjustments coming our way.



Nate Dawg, who has not slept well the last two nights straight, has a double ear infection. Whew, this has been a big week for me! I'm still reeling from all the events.

Good News x 2

Justin passed his third (the biggest) section of the CPA! Yippee! He was so happy we celebrated by frivilously sitting on the couch all night and watching a movie. That doesn't happen around here much. He did great and has one more section to go, which he is scheduled to take next Thursday. I'm pretty proud of his hard work, it has been a long haul and we are both so excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The second bit of news is that he got a second interview for the job in Dallas. They are flying him out Monday. There were 12 people in for the job, two from Dallas and 10 external--only two of those ten got flyouts, and Justin had the least experience out of all candidates by two years! We really feel like the stars are alligning on this one and there is some reason our family needs to move. But you never know, right? "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans..."

Why Sunday is the best day

We went to church and a very nice lady in my ward stole Nate during sacrament meeting, and didn't give him back until church was over. I love our ward, there are so many nice people in it. The only bad thing is that there are so very many good people if you don't come to church early you have to sit in what my dad called "outer darkness," which is the hard cold metal chairs set up behind the benches.

We came home, ate lunch, and once the little ones were tucked in Emma Camille and I held down the couches for a rest. We all fell asleep, but I fell first. That has never happened before, to have 5 out of 6 of us asleep when it isn't night time. How loverly. I woke up to a phone call from my little bro telling me to hurry up and get to my mom's house for dinner, and after that I went to Stake Choir practice with my mom. Since we have the best director and organist in the state, it was fabulous! We are singing an arrangement of Be Still My Soul by Mack Wilberg, and I got so choked up that I couldn't sing. If you have never been a part of making music like this, you are missing out! Listening to it doesn't compare to having it all around you and being a part in it. I'm so lucky to have had such great music experiences in my life. I think my favorite verse is #2

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Such a nice change from my normal life, it is rejuvenating. I think I'm ready for a new week.

Loving the baby

Nate is so chubby, cute and smiley. I can't help but love him. I just took him to the doctor for his shots this week, and at four months he is close to 17 lbs. He is so good natured, and unlike my other children he takes a bottle so I can escape. Another great reason to love him. He reaches for toys, although he doesn't hold them very well. He doesn't roll yet, which I like. I'm not in a rush for him to hit milestones at all. I just want him to be the baby, chubby and very sweet. He is doing a great job! He loves to talk, and likes to blow bubbles. He also loves to eat and still takes his time enjoying his meals. Every time I sit down to nurse him the exhaustion hits me and I want a nap.

In other news Justin is applying for a spot with his company in Dallas. It would be a great promotion, so we are hoping he gets it. (Although I am also secretly hoping he doesn't and I get to stay here with all my friends.) I can't decide what I want more! We have a little family down there and the houses are cheap, so I think it would be a good spot for us. He has a phone interview next Wednesday, and after that we'll see if he gets a fly out. Keep you posted.

Response to recent complaints

There you go Cat, you big baby. I rearranged my playlist. But those are great songs!