Sunday April 3, 2011 - Sunrise/Sunset

We have really enjoyed the views here at the new place. We woke up Sunday morning to a dusting of snow on everything. Have I mentioned that there are several horses in the field behind our backyard? The girls love to see them at the window. Anytime Elizabeth remembers them she goes to the window looks at them and says, "Neigh, neigh"! It's so cute.

Sunday morning from the dining area...

and of course, the sunset over the mountains.

Saturday April 2, 2011 - Progress!

Michael went for a run on Saturday morning and the girls and I got this picture from their window of the sunrise over the mountains. It was beautiful!

Saturday was our first time to cook in our new house. We made breakfast - waffles, scrambled eggs, and bacon (at Madilynn's request). Then I made spaghetti for dinner.

Playing and having fun "breaking in" the new house

bath time!

By Saturday night we had the furniture arranged

in the living room...

and the downstairs den...

Friday April 1, 2011 - It's a...

GIRL!!!

We had our 20-week ultrasound appointment Friday morning. Baby girl is looking great, everything was measured and checked out. Her heartbeat was 152bpm. I can finally order the crib bedding I've been wanting, then decide on the color for her room! Now if we can just pick out her name!!

Afterwards we went back over to the old house and cleaned. We really just had the floors left to do so we both got to vacuuming and mopping and we were done pretty quick. Then all we had time to do was grab something to eat for lunch and pick up Madilynn from school.

Some flowers are blooming already in the front flower beds!

Friday night after dinner and a Wal-Mart run for groceries we came home and enjoyed the backyard and sunset while the weather was pretty mild. The girls running around.

Elizabeth went down the slide a few times

Sunset in the background - two pretty girls!

Thursday March 31, 2011 - Moving Day!

We just got our internet up and running at the new place this morning! I wanted to get caught up on all that's been going on with us since last week. So, back to Thursday moving day... We had some great friends offer to take care of the girls throughout the day and evening on Thursday, so we could both concentrate on what needed to be done. I spent the morning finishing up packing our bathroom, our room, and cleaning, while Michael taught class. Then in the afternoon Michael picked up the u-haul truck and a few friends came over and we started loading. We had a couple of vehicles packed up already with "fragile things" when we got the news we could go pick up the keys...it was 4:55pm. I left with a few girl friends and we got the keys and took our cars to unload at the house...meanwhile the men were still loading the big u-haul truck. They showed up at about 6:30pm to unload the truck and just a few minutes later more friends brought some pizzas over. While the truck was being unloaded me and 3 other girls stayed in the kitchen and just unloaded the kitchen boxes as they came in. It went so smoothly! I thought I would spend all day Friday just doing the kitchen, but it was done Thursday night! After they unloaded the truck they ate and went back to get the last few things. (We didn't want to overload the truck and risk damaging any of our furniture!) By 8:50pm everything was moved to our new house and all of our friends had left. Michael took the truck back, and I went to pick up the girls. I wish I had taken pictures in action, but I was too busy (obviously), we had 15 or more people here helping and we are sooo THANKFUL for all of their help!! Here's what the house looked like that evening...

Kitchen

Living room Madilynn & Elizabeth's room

Our room

living room/dining

the furniture wasn't "arranged" in any of the rooms at this point.

What we've been up to...

When Granny & Pepaw were here a few weeks ago we drove out to Hardware Ranch to see the elk. In the picture below you can hardly tell but they are back in the field eating hay.

Isn't she getting so big, I just can't believe it!! The girls spend lots of time at the table coloring, painting, and making crafts. I think it's their favorite thing to do. Here they are doing what they do while enjoying their afternoon snack.

Last week Michael's dad and brother Kyle came to visit for a few days during Kyle's spring break. They were able to get up to Beaver Mountain for some skiing/boarding! I'm bad and didn't get any pictures, so I stole this one from Facebook. Here's Michael and Kyle at Beaver!

Oh, yeah....and one more thing....We're buying a house!!! We closed yesterday afternoon. Today we'll get the keys and move! Here we are in front of the house before the final walk-through.

So our current place has been looking like this...

lots of boxes everywhere! Elizabeth has had a bit of a hard time with it. She doesn't know what to think about the boxes everywhere and mommy just keeps getting another one to fill. Thankfully, today they will get to spend time with friends and play (with toys - since ours are all packed up!)

Yesterday I caught this scene out the window...ducks in the river, and deer over in the field.

So, here's a little tour of the new house, all empty...

the living room

kitchen

another angle of the kitchen

dining area

Madilynn & Elizabeth's room - it's purple!

the new baby's room

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Downstairs den

laundry room

another angle of laundry room

kids play nook off the downstairs den

guest room

guest bath

I guess, the two rooms not pictured are the upstairs hall bath, and the 2nd guest room downstairs.

We are so excited, and TODAY is the BIG moving day!!! I've been awake since before 5am and couldn't go back to sleep! We'll be without internet for a few days (till it gets all set up at the new place), so I may not get to update again till then. Can't believe tomorrow is April 1st! March just flew by for us...

Elizabeth's Dedication

We had Elizabeth's baby/child dedication at church yesterday.

Here's a picture of her write-up in the church bulletin along with her picture at 9mo. old...

Just before the service started
The girls didn't know what to think about being up on the stage, but they found people they knew out in the audience who waved to them and that made them smile and feel better!

Granny & Pepaw are in town this week - group picture. They also got it all on video, but the video is too big to post on here or email. So, we'll have to show you when you come visit!

Afterwards we all went to lunch at Olive Garden. Then to the park. It was such a beautiful day!

California Beach!!!

Wednesday morning we ate at IHOP for breakfast in Huntington Beach and walked down to the beach. It was Elizabeth's first time to go to a beach! So fun!!

Elizabeth started pointing and talking to the seagulls and birds immediately!
Huntington Beach pier

we found lots of shells to bring home

Madilynn showing me a shell she found!

going to get the birds

it was sooo bright - but I still think it's just beautiful!

this turned out so good

After the beach we were headed out of town and back to Utah. Elizabeth was enjoying some raisins. The girls wearing their new shirts from Disneyland!

Madilynn watching a movie. She did well with the movies and coloring in the car. Elizabeth on the other hand wasn't interested in the movies too much and didn't really like being in the car so much, but we made it!

the shells we collected!

We got home Thursday afternoon at about 3:30pm. We had a great time, but have enjoyed being home to rest the last couple of days.