The Home Inspection

We had the home inspection today. Overall it went well. There are several projects for us to do, some that we will need to complete before we move in (some minor plumbing issues and definitely some painting), but nothing major. The rest will keep us busy for awhile, but we are excited to learn how to do some home improvements and beautify our OWN house! Now we are just waiting for the loan docs to arrive so we can get all that moving. Other than the money stuff, it's a done deal! We are hoping to move in by the end of the year or early January. Fingers crossed!!

Our Front yard (looking from the driveway). Our front door is beyond the window seen here, back by the wooden fence. The door on the left leads to our garage.

Our front yard (looking from the front door).

The kitchen.

The dining area. You can see the brown and blue tile pretty good in this pic. Can't wait to get rid of that...but until then, we'll get some area rugs!

Our living room. A bit dark, but you get the picture!

Here is the interesting lady with her harp that is tiled in our master bath. Hmm...

The kids' walk-in closet!

The kids call this the Harry Potter closet. It runs under the stairs and is HUGE. They want to make this their play area.

Our back yard.

And the side yard.

November 30, 2010

Our Second Thanksgiving

We headed out early Thanksgiving morning for a quick visit to see my Mom, Aunt, and Uncle in Palmdale. The baby did wonderful on the long drive there and back. We were able to eat another delicious turkey dinner, Savanna and my Aunt hit the stores for Black Friday (She made out! She got over $150 worth of stuff for under $60!), and we even squeezed in a short lunch with Heather and Sofi! It was nice to see family, but it was nice to come home the next day also. Traveling without my husband with four kids is a little tiring for me, especially with the baby still getting me up several times a night. And, we will be traveling again in just few days to see James' family for his birthday and to do our monthly temple trip! I'm exhausted just thinking about it!!

Sofi is such a character! She had us cracking up all through lunch.

She loved bee-bee Em-mah. She kept kissing her and talking to her.

(Here Emma is sporting her new hat from Rita!)

November 25- 26, 2010

Dancing at Grandma's!

Happy Thanksgiving Birthday

James had to work on the Thursday of Thanksgiving (yay for overtime!), so we celebrated our Turkey Day on Tuesday like we have for the past two years. It was a special Thanksgiving for us because it was also Emma's 3 month birthday! I can't believe she is already 3 months. Time sure has flown by and yet I can't imagine life without her either. I am so very grateful this year. I am grateful for family and friends, new babies and a new home, and I am especially grateful that I am no longer pregnant- man, I really disliked that!

I am grateful for good food, and lots of it! Savanna and I put together the full on spread: Turkey, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, baked potatoes, salad, french bread, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and apple cider.

I am grateful for friendship and missionary work. We were able to have the missionaries and our neighbor Diane join us for our dinner. Diane lives alone, far from her family so it was nice to have her company. The missionaries in our ward right now are wonderful. We enjoyed their sweet spirits and were able to share our gratitude and testimonies with each other.

The next day we were able to participate in an annual charity that a family in our ward organizes called "Families Feeding Families." We all brought items to the church Wednesday night and assembled close to forty full boxes of Thanksgiving Dinners to deliver to housebound senior citizens.

Our family was able to deliver four meals that night. Three were quick stops, but as we approached our last door we were greeted by Rita, a spunky 90 year-old wearing nothing but her bathrobe! Regardless of her attire, she ushered us into her quaint apartment and insisted we sit down and visit. We talked with Rita for close to an hour. She told us about her family and hobbies. She was enamored with Emma and took out a bag of knitted baby caps and allowed me to pick one out for her. Benjamin was especially chatty that night and informed Rita that he had a small head and would like a hat too. There weren't many masculine ones, so he went home with a white and pink knitted cap to the utter dismay of his father! Savanna and I also received knitted caps and matching scarves from Rita.

Rita was an outspoken lady, and we enjoyed her frankness and wit immensely. At one point she asked us if we were Jehovah's Witnesses. Savanna told her we were Mormons. She said, "Mormons, huh? I was just watching a program on TV about you guys...it wasn't good." We just laughed. Rita shrugged and then began talking about something else. I think she was simply lonely and needed someone to talk to. More than the meal, it was great to be of service that night and bring some joy to a sweet, old woman. It also made me extra grateful for the companionship and love I have on a daily basis. Life is good!

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!

November 23, 2010

We FINALLY Bought Our First Home!

After months of searching and praying where we should buy, we finally had an offer accepted on a townhome here in Nipomo. It's a little over 1450 square feet with a small fenced yard and a 2 car garage on a quiet, little street. It is definitely an upgrade from our little apartment and will give us some great experience. It isn't official yet (we are doing the home inspection next week), but James and I both feel like it will all work out. We might even have the keys before Christmas!

The back patio/yard area.

We will have several home improvement projects. Project 1: Paint the terd-colored walls (they don't look bad in this pic, but in-person they are a dark chocolate, terd brown). Project 2. Buy a sledge hammer and get rid of the seventies tile in the living/dining area!

Loving my new kitchen. It has a lot of cabinet and counter space for all of my gadgets and goodies!

Seriously, tile must have been on sale or something! I've never seen anyone tile the ENTIRE bathroom (both baths are like this). This is the master bath, and it has pictures of a lady with a harp on some of the tiles...say what? Like I said, lots of projects and experience!

One of the bedrooms.

And, the garage! With Nipomo weather being so great and mild, we are hoping to utilize the garage as additional living space. This may become our play/learning room. :) So many ideas- we can't wait!!

I'll post more pics when we do the inspection. Most of the stuff we don't like is purely cosmetic. We are excited to learn how to do some home improvements. Anyone with experience (YOU know who you are) are welcome to come help!! We are so excited! We've been wanting to own a home for many, many years. And, we really didn't want to leave the area if we could help it. Congrats to us! Yay!!!

November 2010

Our Pampered Princess

She still loves her swing.

All of my kids (except for Savanna who was bald) have these crazy cowlicks that make their fine, little, baby hair stick straight up. I think it's adorable. She's just like a little Cupie Doll!

November 15- 20, 2010

What a Bunch of Weirdies!

Savanna, Emma, and I took off for a day of shopping and girl time. I bought some desperately needed clothes (I love thrift stores!), shopped for James' big 30th birthday, and had some lunch. While we were having fun, James was at home pulling out what is left of his hair. Apparently the boys were not behaving for him. They had several altercations which resulted in the boys running up the stairs and throwing hate mail at him as he sat at the computer! Well, at least they are practicing their writing!

Here is a not from Brad to his Dad- it is supposed to say "You are not fun."

Fortunately a good friend of ours was babysitting for us that night. James and I left the baby for the first time and went to the movies. It was a much needed date night, and all of the kids behaved very well while we were out (go figure)!

AND JUST FOR LAUGHS:

(This is what happens when I leave my camera unattended)

November 2010

More Videos of Our Pampered Princess

Emma is a little over 12 weeks old already! Next week we will be celebrating her 3 month birthday! I can't believe how big she is already. It makes me sad. I don't want her to grow up. I'll get up every night for the rest of my life if she can just remain small and cuddly (and never learn to talk back!). Oh, well. I'm enjoying it while I can!

Here she is chatting away!

Can you tell that I love her voice?

Bradley serenading his Sister!

November 15 - 20, 2010

These Boys Have Moves

Ben can really get down!

Brad was feeling left out...can you tell?

November 2010

Emma Discovers Her Voice

Emma has been cooing and talking up a storm. There is nothing sweeter than her little voice...although I shouldn't say little. She can get VERY loud when she wants to! I love it!!

November 13, 2010

Our Little Girl is 11 Weeks!

Here she is sporting some cute clothes we borrowed from her cousins, Sofi and Gabby!

Emma absolutely LOVES her little play mat that Grandma Patti bought her. She will play and talk on this mat for hours! She can hit the little toys and even grasp them with her little fists. What can I say? She's a child prodigy!

Sometimes on the nights James works, Emma refuses to sleep. She will hold out and wait for him to get home only to fall asleep in his arms within about 5 minutes. It's the sweetest thing...ever.

November 7 - 10, 2010