Easton is "2"!!!

We celebrated Eastons birthday last night with both sides of our families. It was so much fun. We just served appetizers and cake and ice cream. Brandon let the kids pick out the food. It was hilarious what they came up with. We had squirt, grape soda, and orange crush to drink. Then we had orange swirl, cookie dough, and reeses ice cream..and ice cream sandwiches. And for the appetizers, there was salsa, onion dip, and nacho cheese dip! Not really my usual spread, but certainly interesting. No one complained and it all got eaten so it must have been acceptable.
Easton got his first tricycle, clothes, star wars toys, a football, money, and a tetherball set! He seriously just sat on his bike all night, he even watched cartoons on it this morning.
He was scared of his candles. He folded his arms and walked away murmuring "hot, hot, hot."
The theme of his birthday party was "Thomas the Train." He chose his cake at the store and we worked the party around that.
I still can't believe he is two. He is learning so much so fast. Here are a few things he is doing right now that I want to remember:
*he can say all the sounds that animals make
*he can already catch a ball quite well
*he loves to do the sign "peace out" and holds up three of his fingers
*he gives "bones" to everyone
*he gets super hostile when he wrestles with Chance or Brandon
*when we ask him to "shake his bootie" he puts his hands on his knees and bounces his little bum from side to side
*he just learned to tell everyone he is "two" and hold up three fingers again
*he loves to sit and read books
*his favorite shows are Barney and Caillou
*he won't go anywhere without his blue blankie

We are so blessed to have this little boy in our family. He is such a joy and so fun to watch grow. Some days I find myself just staring at him. I love those big brown eyes and super long eyelashes. He is truly a beautiful child, and we love him soooo much. Happy Birthday "E."

My cousin Nicole finally had her baby!

Baby "Kit"

5 lbs. 2 oz.
19 inches
February 21, 2009
Parents: Aaron & Nicole Sain

Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m., I get a call from my Aunt Di to get to Cottonwood Hospital quick if I want to get there before Nicole has her baby! So I literally jump out of bed, throw on my sweats, and charge out the door. I get to the hospital within 20 minutes and swing open the doors only to find my Uncle...sitting...holding a little bundle! Seriously...I missed it in 20 dang minutes????
Well, come to find out that Nicole only pushed 2 stinkin' times to get that baby here! No fair!
Anyway, she is absolutely perfect. What a blessing. We are so lucky to have a new little baby in the family to spoil.

My first "RENTAL" agreement!

Please try not to "covet" my front door...it's sweeet!

So, while we are waiting for the PeRfEct house to plop onto our doorstep...this is where we will be staying! Yes, I have signed my VERY FIRST rental agreement in my 34 years of life. When we first got married we lived in my grandparents basement apartment, then we bought a condo, then our house.
Can I just say how hard I had to search for someone that would do a month to month lease, had the landscaping put in, and would allow pets!!!! Not an easy task. But I think I did pretty okay. We will still be about a mile from our final neighborhood that we hope to buy a house in, but this is pretty close.
The point was to get the kids in school and let them meet some friends before summer. Hannah doesn't want to go to Junior High not knowing anyone next year, and I don't blame her.
Kitchen...cute.

The best part is the backyard. Right in the back, there is a little gate that goes directly into a big park with a playground and basketball courts. And off in the distance a bit is the elementary school. I can literally watch my kids go back and forth to school. Kind of funny though because my kids couldn't wait to move so they could FINALLY ride a bus. Hilarious.

Now I ask you, how can I not love a town where a "John Deere" is going straight down the middle of the road? My kind of place for sure. I might even get ME one.

Valentines

Friday we had a fun party in Chance's kindergarten class. We played musical chairs to this dancing frog's music. It was hilarious. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that it had the word "sexy thing" in the words. We were all laughing so hard...hopefully the kids couldn't really understand what it was saying.
Bree brought this fun craft of one eyed valentine's hearts. I laugh just looking at them.

I love watching Chance write his name. So cute.

Chance and Mrs. Rasband.

Addie came home and threw this bear at me. She was so embarassed because some boy at school came up to her and gave it to her and said "Happy Valentines" and ran away! I'm sure she was secretly flattered.

Friday night we went to the "Outback" steak house with The Culley's, Lybberts and Erskines.

As usual...there was a lot of laughing going on!

Jason is such a dork. This is his "Simpson" face or something. He is going to be so mad I posted it! Ha, ha Jas...just remember that I have the total upper hand on you for awhile.

PrAcTicaLlY HoMelEss!

Our house is under contract. Wow, what a whirlwind. We hoped it would go fast but never imagined it would only take one week. We have to be out in three weeks...as long as everything works out on the buyers end. They are prequalified and pretty serious though, so most likely it will be a sale. We will hold our breath for a couple of weeks.
The buyers are a cute couple, about 29 years old with a six month old little boy and a dog. They brought their extended family through yesterday to see it again and we were able to meet! I have to say that it was bittersweet....I am very excited for them, but as I walked through and pointed things out, I couldn't help but have an aching in my heart. I will surely miss this home we have created for our family!
I will miss my hibiscus flowers coming up late summer. I will have to tell her the tomato sauce secret to help them bloom. If I forget, please be a good neighbor and tell them.

I will miss sitting on the front porch and listening to the waterfall while I watch the kids play on the front lawn and waving to the neighbors as they drive by.

The thing that kills me the most...the hand and footprints in the concrete. If anyone has a solution for this, I would appreciate it. I need to take them with me I think!!!!

Hannah was 3 years old!

Addie...just one year old!

I will miss the kids playing in the sandbox for hours on end. I will not miss the sand they drug in the house.

It will be sad to leave the playhouse. I made the curtains in the windows. There is writing all over the walls. I loved to watch the kids come out in all different costumes from the dress up box that we keep inside. We used to sleep out there in the summer with the kids. We would take out a t.v and watch movies, have popcorn, and play games.

I will miss the fun parties in the backyard with family and friends. We've had blessing, baptisms, birthdays and more!

I will miss my fireplace that is two-sided. I love that thing!

I will even miss my small kitchen.

When we first bought the house, the old man that owned it and had raised his own kids here, told us that we would love watching our kids run around the circle in this room. And that's exactly what they do, they run around the island, banister, and fireplace in a circle. He was right...we will miss that so much! We have made so many wonderful memories in this house. We will take them with us and hold them close forever!

Helpers

For years and years, my family has used this cute little man "Dave" as our handyman. My mom, grandma, aunts and uncles all just love him! And my kids have really grown up with him around. With a husband that travels all the time...it's great to have a "Dave."

So he's here repairing some walls and doing a little paint work and the boys are just right in his "biz." He doesn't care...he treats them just like his own grandkids. They are such helpers!

Hope I get an "A"

I mean, I hope my girls get an "A" on their science fair projects! Okay, lets face it...the parents have to do just as much for these stinking projects as the kids. I'm so glad they are done.
Addie chose to test expensive and cheap shampoo to see which one cleaned better. The answer was: EXPENSIVE OF COURSE!

Hannah chose to take pictures of feet and see if people can tell the gender of a person just by looking at their feet! The conclusion was: NO
They both worked really hard! Even though it's such a pain, I really enjoy the time spent with my girls.