New House!

On Saturday morning last week (a week ago), we were notified in the morning that although the bank (still) has yet to produce papers for signing, that we were allowed to move in. See we got a friend to buy the house for us and then finance it to us. So he has paid for the house in full and owns it, but the bank still needs to get him papers to sign. Anyway, because it's bought and paid for, we were allowed to move in. So we did. That afternoon. We moved our storage unit into the house and I got half my kitchen unpacked that day. We didn't move ourselves in until Tuesday when I was able to get the water and electric utilities turned on. We moved our bed and clothes in that night and slept in our house. Oh, it is sooooooooooo wonderful! We love it, even with all the kinks that still need to be worked out...leaky sinks and tubs, mostly. But it is fantastic.

Wednesday was awesome. I had 3 Relief Society sisters come over and clean my bathrooms. Let me tell you, that was wonderful. It looks like I got a new tub. Remember the grungy nasty bathtub that I thought might just need to be replaced? Maybe you didn't see it:

Ewww, yuck. Well apparently there is this really nifty steam cleaner thing. Probably not the technical term, but it is amazing! It's like a jumbo spray bottle that you plug into the wall. You fill it with water and it heats up. You flip a switch and steam is forced out through a small nozzle and that's how you clean. It's really slow going but really effective and easy to use. Much easier than when the ladies tried using a razor blade to scrap off the soap scum. Martha brought her steam cleaner over and here is the difference:


Holy smokes! I could not believe the difference.

You know what makes life so much easier? Having cabinets and places to put things when I unpack! My last kitchen has been rightly redubbed a hallway with a sink. There was a fridge, 8 inches of counter space, a sink, 8 inches of counter space, and a stove. With the few cabinets that fit in around those items. It was sooooo hard to get unpacked in that apartment because I had nowhere to put things! That is definitely not the case in this house. I am loving how easy it is for me to unpack and empty boxes every day. I've got my whole kitchen unpacked and still have cabinet space. I've got my bathrooms assembled and have cabinets galore to spare in them. I've got half my office unpacked. I think all we really have to do now is to finish unpacking a couple boxes in our room (well, that's me, really), and then decorate the place. Get my pictures and other decor out of their boxes and up on walls.

Okay, so a few fun things. Tommy loves bath time and he thinks that shower time for Momma and Dadda means bath time for him too. Shad got fed up with Tommy pulling the shower curtain back a couple days ago, and pulled Tommy into the shower with him.


Tommy was a little confused and slightly concerned at first, but then thought it was REALLY cool. And he just sat there the whole time. Talked a little bit occasionally, but mostly just sat there in the water. He was disappointed this morning when he didn't get to have a shower again.

In case you noticed, Tommy did get another haircut a week ago. Here's some pictures and videos from the past couple months to update Tommy's life and show what his hair was like before the cut.


Tommy loves his Ultraman toy. I bought the thing when I was in China. Ultraman is all the rage there with the kids. He's their super hero. So think Superman, but better because he has Kung Fu skills, too. Ultraman ran into a little accident when we were visiting my parents about a month ago. Tommy dropped him on the kitchen floor and his right arm popped off beyond repair. So now we have amputee Ultraman. And still love
him:)


And here is the boy with his mop and his phone.



Tommy loves dancing to the King of the Hill music. He will stop whatever he's doing when it comes on and dance.


Tommy also likes to play with his Uncle Levi's laser gun...










and fall asleep in any available lap...








and play with his Dadda at the end of the day.





We watched Mulan almost every morning while my semester was still going. That's how I got my breakfast eaten and homework done. One morning, Tommy was ready for a nap already and just cuddled up on the floor with his blanket. He was out in 3 minutes.





Dale is one of the young men in our ward and he gave Tommy his first skateboard ride last week. Tommy thought it was pretty cool.










And sometimes Tommy gets to play Magic with his dadda...sort of...






I think that concludes our life thus far...for those of us outside my body, anyway. Our new little shrimp is just 2 days shy of being 3 months cooked. There have been a few times when I think I've felt her moving. No, we haven't had the gender ultrasound yet. But we figure we'd rather call our child by the wrong gender than by IT. I don't particularly feel like putting house pictures up right now, so if you can, check them out on Facebook. If not, send me your email address and I'll email you my Shutterfly link.

Lots of New Things

Uncle Aaron is right--I have been kinda quiet on my end the past few weeks. I've been busy finishing up my two online classes and running around with Tommy and taking naps, etc. School is over at the end of this week though, and we are soooooooooooooo looking forward to being done. For the most part, I am done. I just have to keep monitoring my ridiculous Russian instructor to make sure she has all my assignments. I've been emailing her back and forth for a week and she finally answered the question yesterday after dancing around it all the other days. I'm so glad to be done with her. She's been a headache all semester.

Anywho, happier things: We got a house! i can't say that we bought it...because we have yet to hand over the money and sign the papers, though we do have the key. Weird, I know. We are hoping to be able to move in soon...but we're still just waiting on the bank to produce the papers. I suppose I should get over there sometime to take some pictures so we have the full before/after experience. It is a 3 story house. Huge living room, dining room, kitchen, office, laundry room and 3/4 bath on the first floor with a door to the oversized 2 car garage. Downstairs is a half basement that reminds me a little of Aunt Mary's basement in Fairfield. It's a big long room that's really just perfect for a tv room. We'll get Shad's total gym set up behind the couch down there for a combo exercise room. There is a crawl space and some unfinished space in the water heater room, where we'll keep our food storage. Upstairs there are 4 huge bedrooms and 2 full baths. The master bedroom has it's own full bath and big walk in closet with lots of shelves and hanger rods. We're really looking forward to getting our shirts back on hangers! The house needs a bit of work, but we'll work on it here and there when we can. We're really looking forward to doing the work and making the home OURS.

Part of the fun of me being done with class is that I have time to take Tommy out on play dates and other social activities. Yesterday a lady in the ward stopped by in the morning to leave something for Shad's dad (he's the bishop). She invited Tommy to go to the lake with her and her dad. Tommy turned around to me and waved goodbye! He was not a happy camper when she left without him though, because his carseat wasn't here. He was climbing all over me and I knew I just had to get him out of the house to do something. Our neighbors weren't home...they have a 7 year old boy, 5 year old girl and a 1 year old boy that Tommy loves to play with. So instead we set a play date with some other friends in the ward and Tommy was sooooo happy to play there for somewhere around 3 hours. I was shocked that he was so happy and perky being awake from 9:30 to 3:30 when he finally took a nap. Normally he has 2 by that time! And today we went up to the library for their Reading Corner. Tommy really enjoyed the books and all the kids. And half a cookie:) He let me know when it was time to go home for lunch and a nap, though.

I mentioned before, but I'm second counselor in the Young Women's program at church. I noticed that my 17-yr-old laurel has about 3 or 4 goals done...and that's it. I just started redoing my own goals on Sunday, so I gave her a challenge last night to compete with me and get hers done before me. She thought it sounded like a great deal and we agreed to set rules and a prize for the winner. I really hope this works. I think she's only got about a year left.

Last update to include--we are pregnant! We are due on Shad's birthday, November 17. I apologize to those extended family members that heard it first from my mom. I meant to tell you first, but I've just been busy and apparently she beat me to it. This pregnancy thus far has been a polar opposite from Tommy. With Tommy, 2 weeks after I missed my period, I was throwing up 2-3 times a day. I'm 11 weeks pregnant and I've thrown up 3 times. I almost have a celebration every time because I'm just so thankful that it's not a daily occurrence again. I've been tired, but not as tired as I was with Tommy, and I think I can attribute that to the fact that I can keep food in my stomach. What a wonderful experience that is! Well, I should get off to Tommy who just woke up, and the rest of our things we need to do today.

Old man chewing, or Bushman clicking?

Oi, I didn't realize just how long it's been. I knew I was behind, but I didn't know it was that bad. Well, Shad started working for a septic tank company two and a half weeks ago. He gets off work at different times every day even though this is supposed to be an 8-5 job. He needs to get his commercial driver's license and thinks that he'll get off at a more regular time when he has that because he'll be doing different work. However, when he doesn't get home until 6:30, 7:00, or after 10:00, it's really hard to study for it. By the time he showers, eats something, unwinds and has some play time with Tommy, it's time to get ready for bed and start all over again.

I am really getting pushed beyond my limits living with the in-laws. Honestly, I'm almost ready to dig my tent and camping stove out of the storage unit. Shad and I end up eating out 2-3 times a week because there either isn't food, or it's inedible. Last night was Ruth's night to cook, but she had a school project to work on with a friend. She didn't come up with something to cook for dinner until 5 at which point she sent Priscilla to the grocery store to get ingredients. At 5:50, nothing was cooking yet. Ruth was still working on the project and Priscilla was reading on the porch. I finally left to go get something to eat before meeting with someone at 6:15 to talk about options with getting the house we want. When Ruth did finish her project, she didn't cook dinner. She went out to help another friend with her cheerleading fundraiser. I've decided that I'm just going to have to start cooking again...but just for me and Shad. I'm sick of this crap with dinner here.

Tommy is just changing all the time, it's almost hard to keep up with him! He army crawls all over the floor and is starting to get into things. He stands himself up at the couch and tub all the time and is so proud of himself and excited when he does. He loves bath time now! He even asked for a bath a few weeks ago. He stood up by the tub, slapped his hand on the side and said, "Mom?! Mom?!" He is really good at saying mamama and dadadada. Vern served his mission in England and wants to be called Bumpa. Pris has decided on Nana. I like these new names because they're sounds that are easier for Tommy to make. He's already starting to say babababa and nananana. He's also recently started this thing where he just chews...with nothing in his mouth. It reminds Shad of old folks in nursing homes that just sit there and chew:) It's also a little like Bushman clicking. We're not really sure what he's going for with this, but it's funny. He really likes it when I let him hold the remote while he watches a movie. I'm going to have to lower his mattress soon because he's starting to sit himself up...and since he can already stand himself up, we don't want him falling out of bed.

I think that's mostly it. Whether it is or not, I have to go take initiative and babyproof the house. I can't wait for the owners to do it in a way that they would like it, because then it would never get done and I'm tired of pulling Tommy away from the VCR every 5 minutes.

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Hmmm, well it's been a long time again. I meant to write on Tuesday, but then I got distracted with homework and Tommy and family history and cooking, etc., etc., etc. Tommy's new thing is popping his lips open kinda like a fish. He smiles really big when someone does it back with him. Today he was sitting by big storage tub of jumbo Legos and realized that he couldn't reach the Legos very well. So he stood himself up, butt sticking out and wobbling side to side, and fished out some blocks. He was very good at entertaining himself for a long time so that I could play the piano. We had the house all to ourselves today; Shad, Vern and Levi were helping someone move, and Pris and Ruth were at the seminary activity in Kearney.

I've been getting fed up with the cooking situation for a while. I cook every day. They don't eat leftovers if I say we're having leftovers. Nope, they just have popcorn or microwaved chicken tenders with chips. I've been especially having a hard time with Levi, who doesn't really eat much besides popcorn, Lucky Charms, chips and Poptarts. Occasionally he'll actually like something I make. So I made pasta with shrimp scampi tonight because that's something he's liked before. Let's say it one more time: I planned this meal because he LIKES it. In the past, he's had second helpings. Granted, he picks out the shrimp and doesn't eat any vegetable side dish I make. Today, he didn't like it. THERE WAS NOTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT IT!!! But he didn't like it. Didn't recall having liked it before. Maybe he liked it before because it didn't have shrimp in it. Nope, it had shrimp in it before. So guess what happened to the mound of uneaten pasta on his plate? It went into the trash when he got up to clear his place. I think this is the last straw. I'm through. I don't give a crap what they eat anymore. I'm fed up, burned out, DONE!

On a happier note, Shad got a job yesterday. He starts Monday. He'll be working with septic tanks and is excited. We're thrilled for this job. It's a great working environment, Shad will be able to work with his hands and learn a lot, and the pay is excellent and they'll give him a lot of raises. The employers are excited to hear that Shad is looking for this to be more than temporary. We're also excited because we found another house that we love. It's bigger, better and cheaper than the other one we liked. We're looking forward to having paychecks so that we can make an offer!

Shakin our heads to How to Train Your Dragon

The past two weeks have been fun and eventful in small ways. Tommy likes being able to feed himself graham crackers and such rather than being handed bite-size pieces. He makes a fantastic mess, but I love seeing him so happy with his food. He was really funny a couple weeks ago. I set him on the floor to play with toys. I thought I had sufficiently removed hazardous objects and computer cords from his area, but he found a caramel Hershey kiss that I missed. He ate it.

Luckily we were able to dig the foil wrapper out of his mouth before any damage could be done with him trying to eat it.

Last week Tommy learned to stick out his tongue on Sunday. He now spends a lot of his time unconsciously slipping his tongue out, or consciously blabbing it around with someone who will do it back. Then on Monday (a week ago) he started shaking his head back and forth. It doesn't seem to mean "no," although it's cute when he does coordinate it with questions. Mostly it's just something he does to play and be silly. Or dance. He'll shake his head in response to me shaking my head at him, or to music. It's cute to see him sit on the floor and shake his head to a movie score and his whole little body moves with it! He enjoys saying, "mamamamamamamamamama" and "dadadadadadadadada" a lot. Smart kid, he seems to know which sounds apply to which parents. We sure love hearing it:)

On Tuesday last week, Tommy pulled himself up on the couch. It was sure exciting but he hasn't done it again since. We drove to Colorado that day as well. Shad's mom was going to have her friend to her taxes and ours. We decided to ride along for a visit and to go to the temple. We got to see my family, Dan and Ryan, Mark and Robyn, and go to the temple. It was a very productive trip for only a day and a half. We were there Tuesday night to Thursday morning.

We're still waiting hear back from a guy, Larry, on a potential job for Shad. All he's told us is to be patient, and that Shad's at the top of the list of candidates. Comforting, but we want more!

I am addicted to the soundtrack from How to Train Your Dragon! As good as the movie is, the music is better and the movie wouldn't be what it is without the score. It is AMAZING. It plays through my head all the time. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IBlQj2U5kU It gives me chills!

I have all the tracks compiled into a playlist on youtube and Tommy and I shake our heads to it while I try to decipher my crap Russian assignments. Is it bad to want to kill my Russian instructor? Probably yes. But I sure wish the dean would hurry up and email me back so I can find some justice without her death. She keeps giving us online discussion topics that don't correlate with what we're learning in our textbook chapter. In the last unit we were learning about articles of clothing and size/condition/color adjectives. The discussion topic was about our family members, their ages and how much older or younger they are than me. That is unit 5 and we were on 2! I don't have time to try and learn an additional chapter for her stupid discussion. And this time it's even worse: the discussion topic isn't even IN the textbook. AT ALL! If she wants me to go to a translation website, type in English and click a button to translate it into Russian, I can sure do that. But I think my time and learning would be much better spent if she would just ask me to discuss languages and nationalities like we're supposed to in this unit. I don't care how she justifies her crap topics, it wasn't laid out in the unit overview of what we're studying and learning.

Avenue B Photography

We took some family pictures in January before we left Colorado and here are some of our favorites. We highly recommend Becca Morgenegg with Avenue B Photography for any Denver photography needs. She was our wedding photographer as well, and a long time friend of mine. Check her out at www.avenuebphotography.com!

Graham Crackers and Popcorn

Well, I think I'm doing pretty good when I've been telling myself all day today that I need to get on here and now I actually have. And now that I'm writing, I can't think of too much that needs to be written. Nothing is really new. Shad is still job hunting; I'm still just hangin out with Tommy and doing schoolwork. I haven't heard from Nicole (the wedding cake) in over a week. That's a little concerning because if she does still want me to make her cake, we've now got less than four weeks to the date. It's okay if I don't need to make it, but I'd like as much notice as possible if I am making it.

Tommy is starting to work more on crawling. He doesn't like it much when we make him have tummy time and encourage him to move, but he will sit up, lean forward on his hands and rock back and forth on his knees trying to reach something. He can turn himself a full 180 degrees on his tummy to try and get whatever food I'm having. He likes graham crackers and I'm afraid we've started him on an early popcorn addiction:) Even if he's already in bed, he always seems to know when we're having popcorn and he'll wake up just to eat it with us and go back to bed. He loves his popcorn!

We're going back to look at the same house as last week in 20 minutes. We're just absolutely in love with it and the rest of the family wants to see it with us.