we have a patio!!!

I tried to come up with something clever for a title, but that's all I could come up with.  Informative, isn't it?

So, this week, we poured our back patio.  And by "we," I mean Ryan and some family members and some other people we hired.  I observed and took pictures, and made sure our children were out of the way.  Oh, and also cleaned, clothed, and fed them, but I don't think I get special recognition for that since that's what I do everyday, and also because I'm sort of expected to take care of them.

Moving on.

Mia was very entertained on Tuesday while the prep work was done.  She stood there for at least twenty minutes.

Wednesday was pour day.

  

And last night, we put it to use with riding toys, pets, and bare feet.

  

Then Mia dragged her toes across the concrete and split her toenail in half.  So, I found some shoes that fit her.

And big sister helped her walk.

Then Mia tried to wreck herself by walking off the edge of the concrete.


So, I built a cage.


Ryan and I sat in the middle of the cage, happily sipping some ice water, watching the kiddos play, and enjoying the evening.

Then, Mia stole my drink.  And I decided it was time for a bath and bedtime.

awesome

We are moved in, passed the final inspection this morning, still have a bit of unpacking to do, and life is a little hectic, but so very awesome.  Awesome like I made lasagna for dinner last night and we lit a fire and ate ice cream.  Yes, THAT awesome.  I don't have internet hooked up yet, which is basically like oxygen to me, so I'm having a little trouble breathing.  Okay, I'm exaggerating, but I did make a special trip to my mom's house today for a little internet fix, and does it sound crazy when I say I feel like I've missed SO MUCH!?!

Really!  How dare people continue to write blog posts and send me emails when I can't read them.  Speaking of emails (and comments), it has come to my attention that there are some really awesome people who read this here little blog.  People who are willing to send a shout out of encouragement to me when I'm drowning in unpacking and organizing, and people who are kind enough to say, "Hey, I like what you write and I like your pictures."  And that, THAT, is what makes this blogging thing so darn cool.

I started blogging a few years ago to keep in touch with family and friends, but it has become so much more to me.  I love sharing our story, and as much as I hated writing essays in school, I love the therapy of writing out what I'm thinking/doing/dreaming.  It's like a filing system for my random thoughts, and I'm a sucker for a highly organized filing system.  Yes, I'm Type A like that.

So, this is just a quick shout out to thank you for commenting and emailing and cheering for us, and thank you even to the lurkers who read but don't comment.  And, just so it's clear, lurking is A-Okay with me.  I've lurked plenty all around blog-land, and the fact that you even take the time to visit our world and snoop around brings a little smile to my face.

 

I'm hoping for internet soon, and then I can get back to blogging on a regular schedule.  Oh, who am I kidding? Schedule, schmedule!  I'll get to blogging sporadically like I always have.  I have lots of new pictures to share, all of which are still in my camera, so these shots from last week (or the week before?) will have to do.

And if I'm not back for a few days, I hope you have a great weekend!

our last night

It is Sunday night, my last night in my mama's home. I feel like a kid again, getting ready to go out in the world and spread my wings. Except, I already did that once before, and this time, I'm not headed out into the wild unknown. I know exactly what lies ahead of me and it includes a husband, two kids, and lots of cleaning. But it is a good thing to know what is ahead of me (at least in the short term) and I am happy with what I see.

We moved almost everything into the house this weekend (rescheduled inspection be damned) and the disorganization of having nothing in its place, not even knowing what that place is, has me feeling slightly out of control. Change is tough, you know, even when it is change for the better. I know I've mentioned it before, but I get comfortable with how things are, and though I'm beyond excited to be living in a real house again, I really dislike the transition period.

"New house! Yay! I'm excited! Really!"
This is getting me through the stupid part of moving in until I get to the awesome part of being moved in.

Looking at my new stove doesn't hurt either.

A part of me is a little sad too. Although we have managed to basically terrorize my parents' house over the past several months, we have so very much enjoyed spending everyday with Grammy and Papa and they have been such a big help to me when Ryan has been busy working on the house.

Moving out means I will no longer be sleeping on the living room floor, something my aching back and hips are rejoicing about, but I will miss my mom getting up with the girls when they rise long before the sun. I will miss my mom's cooking, but look forward to creating meals again. I will miss having another adult around during the day, but then again, it isn't like I'm moving far away. It's 10 miles and she will visit often.

As strange as this sounds, it will be the first time our little family of four will be living together in our own house. It has been 7 1/2 months since we have had anything that resembles a "normal" life, and no I don't really know what "normal" is, or if it even exists. But if it does, I can assure you it does not look like living under different, roofs - at least not for us.

To be together again is probably the best gift I can think of right now, at least for Ryan and me. Mia isn't really aware of whose house is whose. Laci is completely confused. She calls our house "daddy's house," which makes me kind of laugh and kind of sad. I spend a good amount of time talking about how we are all going to live there together and she will get a special big girl bed in a new room. She alternates being excited and saying "Yeah!" with frowning and saying, "Stay Grammy's house." She has formed quite a bond with my parents, especially when they were taking care of her while Mia was in the hospital, so living without them will be an adjustment for her. And them. And I'm fairly certain Maverick will be the saddest of all. We spent all day at the house today while he stayed home and hasn't left Laci's side since we returned.

But even as tough as life transitions are, and as tough as the last year has been for us, there are always things to be thankful for. Family and friends, jobs, health. Life is just plain hard, for pretty much everyone, so you just do what you have to do to survive and hopefully find moments of joy in between all the yucky stuff. And every once in a while, everything settles down, and you get to be really excited and happy about something really BIG. I feel very blessed and grateful that that is where I am tonight.

getting things done

It's a getting-things-done kind of day today. There is laundry in the wash, the bills are paid, and there is a pink toilet seat around the dog's neck.

For real. I don't make this stuff up. See exhibit A.

~ this is exhibit A ~

Since I'm trying to make this a productive day, I decided it would be a good day to post house pictures. Just another one of those things I've been meaning to do, but it keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the list because kids need to eat, chores need to be done, and I'm just plain too tired most of the time.

Except, it's like the kids know I have this goal of writing a post and they have made it their sole mission of the day to prevent me from reaching that goal. Please refer again to exhibit A if you would like a better understanding of the shenanigans happening around me.

Anyway, here it is, in all its (poorly lit) glory. I snapped a few quick pictures late yesterday afternoon, throwing proper photographic technique out the window in exchange for just getting the job done.

The front view, in need of a pump house, and the rear view, in need of some concrete (patience, Tonya, patience):

I moved some kitchen items in over the weekend, and spent yesterday afternoon cleaning floors and a few windows. New houses are just plain dirty.

Obviously, there are still some things we need to install before we are done, like a stove and bathroom mirrors, but we are really so very close.

The kids' bathroom:

Our bathroom:

With his and hers closets and vanities.  We aren't good at sharing.

The living room and dining room (pre-floor mopping):

Yes, it appears as if the kids have already moved in.

Because I'm a nosey kind of person, and I'm sure you are too (or you wouldn't be reading this blog), I thought I'd include a shot of the whole yard. I'm terrible at merging pictures to create a panoramic scene, so this will have to do.

And, now, on second glance, this isn't really our whole yard, but I think you get the idea.

We weren't ready for an inspection last week, as I had hoped, but there is one scheduled for today. As with all things government related, final inspections involve a ridiculous amount of rules and codes, of which only half can be understood by the average person, so I honestly don't expect us to pass on the first inspection. But, one inspection or two, we should be in by the weekend! Hooray!!

and BAM! it's March

And just like that, March is off with a bang. Yeah, I just started this post like we are in the middle of a conversation. I'm allowed to do things like that because I make the rules around here.

But, really, March is off with a bang. We are having amazing, sunny, warm weather, and we all have rosy cheeks and noses to prove it. The trees are budding out, blossoms blooming, and due to the ridiculously dry Winter, the plants already need watering.

Laci has been spending most days in her pajamas lately. Lately? Who am I kidding? Pajamas are a regular thing in these parts. And I consider myself lucky that she has agreed to wear anything at all, considering she spent an entire day, night, and part of another day in just her diaper last week.

However, at this very moment, she is fully clothed in a shirt and jeans and her hair is contained in two braids. I feel like I need to document this moment as proof that I do in fact have some authority over my daughter, that she does not make all the decisions all the time as it may seem.

Did you know she knows the letters of the alphabet? Not just how to sing the ABC's, but actually recognizes and names letters, even when they aren't in order. I'm asking, because she learned it somewhere and I had no idea until a few nights ago when I started randomly writing letters on the chalkboard and she's all, "B! Buh, Buh."  I'm guessing someone out there has been secretly teaching my child how to read. Or, and this is probably more likely, somewhere between me singing the alphabet three billion times and a few hundred episodes of Super Why (her current favorite), her little sponge brain absorbed some of the information. Oh, and because she's a genius.

Little Toot, as I often call her, has already learned that everything big sister is doing is amazing. As Laci and I played blocks the other day, Mia sat gazing at those brightly colored blocks wanting nothing more than to be in the middle of it all. I let her have a couple to chew on, much to the dismay of her older sister who cried about them being "All Slobby!" which means "all slobbery" for those who don't speak Laci-ese.

Oh my goodness, can I ever get distracted! March is off to a bang, not just because of the weather and my children's abilities to amaze me, but because I got a new cousin on Saturday! He is my first cousin (as in, my aunt's baby, certainly not because he is the first cousin), but will be more like a cousin to my girls and I am so excited! Little Justin Michael, who weighed 9 lbs 4 oz and therefore isn't really little, arrived healthy and happy and I can't wait to meet him.

I stole this picture from my cousin's Facebook because I just had to share his adorable fatness! Can you believe that is a size one diaper on the big guy? I could go on for days about how awesome it is when babies are born and they are healthy, and how my perspective has changed so much now that I have my own babies, but I'll save that for another day when I'm not wrestling a not-so-smallish child on my lap.

Instead, I'll talk about Ryan's birthday, which was Friday, and how I successfully pulled off a surprise picnic dinner in our new house. He usually likes to go to Red Lobster for his birthday, so I brought the seafood to him. King crab legs, copycat cheddar bay biscuits, and fresh green salad were on the menu, served up with chilled Corona for him and a root beer for me. It was the perfect combination of surprise, special, and simple, if I do say so myself. I did good this year, which makes me feel like awesome wife of the year and also makes me wonder, "Oh crap, what will I do next year?" And the best part:  Häagen-Dazs Caramel Cone ice cream for dessert, which, if you ask me, is ice cream perfection.

And one final piece of early March news is we are hoping to get a final inspection on the house this week. Of course, nothing is set in stone yet, but I can finally say I'm ridiculously excited about finishing up this project.  Especially as we approach the one year anniversary of moving out of the double wide.  No, I still haven't taken any pictures of the house, but I will.  Soon.  Hopefully.