Goodbye House

We sold our house. We were toying with the idea for months. In December we were set on staying in our house for a few more years. Then in the beginning of February, Aaron told me he wanted to move, and since I had wanted to move for quite some time I was on board. We listed our house on the 10th of February and the first person who looked at it made an offer on the same day. And as of a week ago it is no longer our house. I would like to say that I will miss it, but to be honest I was ready to move. I will forever be grateful for the little first home it was and what a blessing it has been. I wanted to write down some of my favorite memories of our time in our first home:

• We brought two children home from the hospital to this house. Both times by Mom was there and the house was clean. Two things I really appreciated.
• Even though in the end my poor kitchen cabinets started to fail...I am still really proud of myself for taking on such a big project and it came out looking half decent. (Aaron would disagree).
• Even though I hated being separated from Aaron during the six months he was doing his military training, I enjoyed the time I got to just be by myself  in this little house. I got to decorate and live by myself for the first and probably last time. 
• I remember the morning Aaron left for boot camp, we both went into Daisy's room and were just together looking at her. It was the last time we would be together for months. I don't think I will ever forget how that felt.

Overall my memories of our first home will be mostly the little things, like dinners together, movies watched, and time together.

My attempt at a goodbye selfie...not the best.

And just a side note, moving is the worst. I love these sandwich eaters.

He's My Brother

Today at a church we sat behind a family that has a little boy Daisy's age. We missed getting to sit in the pews so we got the folding chairs in the back. Anyway, this meant that there was more access between rows for kids to see one another. This little boy and Daisy ended coloring together. Aaron passed the sacrament today so that meant I had Rocky and Daisy to myself. I was kind of glad she had a little friend to help her keep preoccupied so I could make sure Rocky was quiet. I made special care to not let Rocky see that Daisy was coloring with a friend. This went on until after sacrament when Aaron sat back down. Rocky finally noticed Daisy and her friend. I had kept him away partly because I was worried that Daisy would throw a fit if Rocky started intruding in on her space and her friend. I didn't stop him and was bracing myself for the frustration about to come from Daisy, from having her little brother ruin her fun. But, I was happily surprised. She looked up and gave him a hug and with a proud little expression she told her friend, "he's my brother". Then she looked at me with a smile. Made my heart melt.

I know they will fight and genuinely not like each other at times, but I hope they will always be friends and proud to call each other brother and sister.

Life

Life is about to get back to normal here in the next few weeks. Aaron hasn't worked since Halloween Day. Some plans didn't go accordingly and he ended up with a few more weeks at home than we had previously planned. It has been nice to have him around so much. Our kids have especially enjoyed his presence. He starts his new job next Tues. the 13th. We have been waiting for this since he got the job offer last September. I think he is very ready to start. He has been twiddling his thumbs a bit with boredom and I didn't know someone could sleep so much. ;) Almost there...

As for me I am ready to get back to a routine. Back to preschool, back to regularly gym attendance, back to church meetings, and now figuring out when to do my new job. Two months ago I was blessed to get a stay at home job with a company that creates, maintains, and updates school websites. I am still in the training phase and probably will be for a few more months. So far I love it. I make my own hours, have something that has nothing to do with my mommy life, and am getting paid for it. I do all things related to content updating for schools. Sometimes I even get to write for the websites. There has been a major learning curve, but I would like to think that I am getting the hang of it. I am just so grateful to have it.

For years, I had looked and prayed to find a job I could do at home, that didn't require set hours or a designated quiet space. There is no such thing as a quiet space when you have kids. No such job ever appeared. I found a lot of fake jobs, I even tried taking surveys. I know some people who have legitimately made extra cash from survey taking. I only make one whole dollar after a month of diligent survey taking. That's when I slowly started watching kids. Obviously, the Lord knew that for me and our family at that time, watching kids was what I needed to be doing. Once, I got over the fact that I was watching kids, I was never one who liked watching kids growing up... ever, I actually found some pride in taking care of children. I liked getting to talk to grown-ups everyday when they dropped of their kids. As Daisy started to grow all the kids did was play by themselves for hours. It was nice. I was also nice to help ease the financial burdens. During all of this time Aaron was working and going to school 70 plus hours every week, with military stuff thrown in every so often. He is a hard worker and I liked helping him.

Even while watching kids I still looked for a job I could do at home, still nothing came along until last September. A friend of mine thought I would be good for an opening in the company she worked for. One thing lead to another and I got the job. The timing of course is ironic. The moment I don't really need to work, I find the job I was wanting for years. Obviously, I am doing it and trying my best. I am excited to have this option. I was looking to go to school and finish the second half of my bachelors as soon as it made financial sense to do so. But, it hasn't felt right, I needed to be fully in my kids lives. So this has been a nice way to earn a little extra cash, and still be fully present at home.

My Mom told me before I had kids that I should always pray that I can be able to stay home with them. I know that I am not a perfect Mom. I have only been one four short years, but I am thankful for answered prayers, the Lord's timing, a hard working husband, and two kids.

Christmas Day

Last year on Christmas morning we woke up before our kids. This year was no different. Aaron kept waking up through out the night thinking he heard Daisy, but I think the bounce house from the day before wore them out. We opened presents around 8 o'clock and it was wonderful.

Santa came! Christmas a parents is almost as fun as Christmas as a kid.

After presents we went over to Grandma's and ate some cinnamon rolls. This was Daisy helping Grandma finish up some treats for the coming festivities. We spent the morning at Grandma Davis's, then headed back over to Heidi's house to spend some time with my family. Then we headed back over to the Brooks's house for the Brooks family party.

I didn't take to many pictures of Christmas day because it was a busy day. I did take these few though.

This was a game where you had to stuff balloons into panny hose and then put the hose on your head. It was entertaining watching great grandpa do that.

We finished the evening with sparklers. 

Christmas Eve

Grandma Rena rented a bounce house for Christmas this year again. It was a good one to, with a slide. We spent the afternoon of Christmas Eve day over at the Brooks house. Kids played on the bounce house for hours.

This picture is of Bode flying through mid air. Made me chuckle.

For the evening my parents came down to spend Christmas Eve with us and Heidi's family. It was a  laid back evening with yummy food. We also watched Wild America per Grandpa's choosing.

Of course Maggie got to come too. These two liked her the most. They are the cutest.

I love this picture. The look on Rocky's face it pure innocence. I laugh every time I look at it.

This picture makes me laugh too. The look on Daisy's face on the bottom photo and then the top where she makes him be quiet. Plus everyone's face, its just a good picture.

They were thrilled to get Christmas jammies.

I found Aaron's shirt at Ross for only a few bucks. I am glad he was a good sport and wore it. 

I like Christmas Eve better than the actual day of Christmas. The anticipation that fills the air is the best part of Christmas. I love it right before the sun is setting, there is just something about that time on Christmas Eve that  lets you know Christmas is almost here.

Brooks Grand-kids

A few days before Christmas we had the Brooks family gathering. This is all the Brooks grand-kids minus Brandon and Brooke's four. The numbers are growing, :)

The Zoo

There is a Zoo here in the West Valley only about 20 minutes from our house. We decided to go the Saturday before Christmas. Aaron is good to create experiences for us. If it were up to me, we would stay home, simply because I don't think about going out and having adventures.

They had some impressive aquariums. Rocky loved the fish. I think he liked how close he could get to them.

I love penguins.

We got to feed the Lorys. I don't recall if I have ever held a bird before this day. To be honest I am not the biggest fan of birds. Their okay I guess. It was fun to hold them though. Daisy did not want to hold one, which was no surprise. She doesn't like new things. Rocky tried to feed it, but that was about it.

We fed giraffes, and rode a merry-go-round, and saw all the animals. When we were driving home, we asked Daisy what her favorite part was and she said the stick she found. Kids are great.