Our Visit to Grandma and Grandpas

We were able to go visit my parents, a few hrs away from us here in colorado. Lindsey had the great idea to can peaches! Mom was so nice to teach us. We learned some great tricks. It was just so fun in their little old house they live in while they're there. Grandpa's new toy kept us entertained too. They did get it stuck on a ravine, and had to walk back for chains. Nia was riding with grandpa, Uncle Leland and Aunt Lindsey at the time. I think she enjoyed being carried as they all took turns. :)

 The girls enjoyed holding baby Raegan. We all loved seeing the cutie pie.

 Yum! they turned out delicious!

 Nia loved her jeep rides.We all got a turn. Mae and Q loved it as well, it was so much fun! We hoped to see one of the bears that stalk grandma on her walks...but to no avail.

 Oh the fateful journey!

Q enjoying a chocolate covered pretzel from Grandma on the drive home. 

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! It was so much fun.

Our New Home

We were able to move in April 15th, the day of closing. We had a crazy day, we hurried and packed up our hotel room we had been staying in for 1 week and a half (mike for over a month) and headed over to closing. As we pulled in our van started smoking like crazy! I ran in with the kids while mike looked things over. Everything went well, we had the keys!! But were stuck. We decided to risk the drive back to the hotel where our moving van was parked, loaded full of our stuff, but then we had to end up having the van towed to be fixed, while the kids and I hung out in the lobby. They were able to get it fixed in 2 or 3 hrs and we were on our way. (phwew!) We had lots of help unloading the van, even though it was snowing like crazy outside! Hooray for Elders Quorum! After weeks of scrubbing and decorating and about 5 trips to Ikea, we are settled in. Ok, we've been settled for awhile, but I put pretty much everything first before the blog, like baking cookies. :)
We are so blessed to have a new job, which Mike likes, and our first house. I feel like it was totally worth being apart and waiting so we could buy and move in right away, tho it was hard!
There are a lot of adjustments, but we love it here in Denver, and we enjoy our little (HUGE) neighborhood. Our ward is great and we are gradually making friends. One big change is how far away it is from everything. I pretty much plan on a 10-40 min. drive for shopping. With the exception of a King Soopers a couple blocks away, which is a lifesaver. A big change from Rexburg where everything was 2 min. away. But there is everything you could imagine. Ok, ok, here are the pictures.

The Front, We planted flowers and Mike did a ton of work cleaning up the lawn/weeding everything out.

 The view as you walk in, to the living room.

 Half bath, right by living room.

 To upstairs, and a view of the office by the front door.

 Living room into the kitchen.

 To the basement, these stairs were a pain! We had to sell our other set of couches because they were not going to fit. Dad even tried to see if we could take them apart. :(

 We have an exercise spot to the left, and the girls have a craft/play area to the right.

 My sewing corner and our food storage to the right.

 The Office.

 View from upstairs.

 Upstairs hallway.

 Guest bedroom and a bathroom to the left.

 Master Bedroom.

 Our master bath. I love my tub!

 Our backyard. It wraps around the house, but is pretty small. I have plans for a garden along the back right, and we want a fire pit in there somewhere.

 Upstairs Laundry.

 Q's bedroom.

 Girls Pink Room!

 The pantry and garage door. I LOVE having a garage so much!

SO there it is, finally. :) We have changes we want to gradually make (you can't tell, but these hardwood floors in the kitchen are really getting bad in some areas, maybe refinish and stain a darker color? I would love to paint the cabinets as well. We love it tho!

First Day Of School

Nia officially started kindergarten this week! She was so excited, and has been completely brave and loves it. We live just a few blocks away from her school so we've been walking there. Here she is on the first day. They all line up in front of the door and walk in when the bell rings. It was very crowded and hectic!

If you can see through these indecently clothed women (do they realize how cheap they look?) you will see Nia standing in line. 

I already (Wednesday) had a terrible mom moment. It started this morning. I walked her to school with babes in tow in the stroller, and got there right at 8:30, so i sent her to the line, and watched her walk in, then turned around and headed home. I was talking to my sister on the phone later that morning and saw it was 11 already, I said "oh,  i'd better get going and get ready to get Nia", who was released at 11:30. While talking to her I noticed an unknown number was calling, so I ignored it. When I hang up I saw I had 5 missed calls and 2 voice mails! My friend, and a fellow mom had called a few times as well as the school. On Wednesdays kindergartners are released early, at 10:50! AHH! I had missed the announcement I guess, because I got there late and left right away. My neighbor and a church member had tried to just bring her home for me, but I only had my parents and mike and I signed up to pick her up, so they wouldn't allow her. Well, long story short I finally made it to pick her up, sitting in the office with two other boys whose parents didn't hear the early release. AHH, I felt so bad! I am glad that I have some fellow moms keeping an eye out for me tho. :) Needless to say, they have been added to my pick-up list. 

The funny thing is, I had been feeling bad/sad/guilty because I didn't give her a hug and kiss when i dropped her off because we were in such a rush. Poor little Nia. She seemed fine. She just asked me "why didn't you pick me up?" 

I am a first-time school parent. How strange!

Valentines Day and A trip to Utah

 We had a great valentines....holidays are so much more fun with kids!!

 My surprise I woke up to, we agreed not to get each other anything, due to the no job...stinker.

 Mae is always up on the counter with me, helping. She is an awesome egg-cracker, bowl stirrer.:)

 We were able to go watch one of Mike's ward basketball games. I wasn't able to get a good picture of him actually playing, but I have to brag about him. Not at this game, but the one after it, he made 12 3-pointers! And He really isn't a ball-hog, he makes excellent passes. :) But, he must have been feeling it that night I guess.

 One our drive down to Utah to see Bub and Lindsey, and our newest little niece!

 He slept the entire time! (4hr drive)

 Our kids are so spoiled with their ipads to entertain them...

 Aunt Lindsey has the funnest house ever! Little girls playthings galore. She had this ridiculous peacock costume in Mae's size, but she didn't want to try it on. Nia squeezed into it.

 Come on Bub, your the baby holding your baby! What in the world! Where is the little chubby boy i used to pinch? He is the cutest Daddy ever.

 Quinton surprised us all and was Mr. Social! He ate up all the attention and loved Grandma and Grandpa.

Baby Raegan is an absolute doll...bub and linds are great parents. Lindsey is amazing and they have already moved and gotten their home all ready and un-packed just a few weeks after having her baby.

 Nia got to feed her and felt so big!

Mike and Mae stirring the fondu-pot. We had some delicious snacks sunday evening, mmmm! We were able to catch mom and dad saturday night and sunday on the tail-end of their visit. We had a blast shopping and hanging out on Monday.
Oh, P.S., Mike found a great job! He works with AT&T in their new home security starting up in Denver. He starts today, so the kids and I are finishing packing up and we will head out to meet him the end of the month.