still here...

I am currently sitting by a bonfire and realizing two things.  1- summer is officially over which totally sucks and 2- I m a horrible blogger!  With all the house stuff and moving and my MIL's illness, I feel like summer came and went in the blink of an eye and I am not ok with that at all.  I am so thankful for all the fun memories we made in between all the work, but I still can't believe that we are headed back into fall and winter already. I will touch on my blogging status in my next post.  For now, I am doing some serious catch up of summer.  I finished June last post but totally forgot swimming lessons.  Grant was a trouper this year compared to last year.  He actually had a desire to learn which made me so happy.  Ashton was a maniac and in true Ashton form didn't hesistate at all to learn or attempt to jump in when the teachers weren't looking.

The beginning of July we were busy packing.  It is amazing how much stuff we accumulated over the last two years.  Once the weather gets yucky, I plan on going through all those boxes and purging a lot of treasures hidden away.

We were able to escape to Indiana the week before we moved just to relax a bit before the storm of moving hit.

I usually don't put pics of people on here unless they are family because I had someone yell at me once for not asking first.  Hopefully you don't mind S that I am sharing this one.  A couple years ago, this little cutie, A, gave Grant his first kiss on July 4.  This year I asked them to all smile for a picture and what does she do.... plant a kiss right on him.  So cute.  Grant loved it!

The rest of the month was spent moving.  Here is a sneak peek at my favorite "room" of our house.   Our dining room, living room and kitchen are all open onto each other with a two sided fireplace in between the living and dining.  I am so happy with the way it turned out!  I just about cut this out of our plan after seeing how large it was.  Thank goodness for our decorator that Jason called at the last minute to play referee.  I can't imagine our house without this beauty!

 It took the boys about 2 minutes to settle down and take over my two brand new comfy chairs in the living room!  Kitchen sneak peek in the back:)  Don't mind the mess- this was the night we moved in.

 

I promise more pics to come! 

Rest of June

June came and went in a hurry. I was busy packing and Jason was busy putting the finishing touches on the house. I am glad this is the last time we will ever move because those days were long and exhausting! This is what we were up to until the move...

A little sprinkler fun while we still had a yard with grass!

Crocodile night at the library. Have I mentioned how cool our new library is???

Boys checking out our new shower. Grant still refuses to take a shower - he hates water on his head. He has screamed since he was a baby every time water hits his head.

At least someone was relaxing during the move!

He must have been a cat in his former life. Every time he sees a box he jumps in it and that is what my cat used to do!

Up next July....... Internet coming Monday wahoo!

I have never gone this long without posting anything. It is liberating to not have internet at our new house yet but also super frustrating. Posting from my phone is like pulling teeth since autocorrect and I don't get along well.   Here are a few pics from our summer to keep you here until I can get back to posting regularly.

Visit to Boulder Ridge Wild Animal Park in June. 

July 18

We are taking a break from unpacking to spend the day together remembering and honoring our baby girls. It is hard to believe it has been six years since we held them in our arms. We love you and miss you and think of you every minute of every day Brooke and Alexcyn.

Boxes, boxes everywhere...

There are so many things going on right now. Sickness, emotions of July, finishing up the house and moving. I promise I will post more once we are settled but right now I am busy packing!!!

Weekly ten in pictures

1.  Grant and Ashton started swimming lessons two weeks ago.  I was nervous since Grant was very resistant last year.  I tried to build him up by telling him that he needed to take care of Ashton and show him the ropes.  So everyday when Miss T` called them to class, Grant would grab Ashton's hand and walk with him- it was so cute!

2.  I love this picture of Ashton and his out of control temper tantrum at the ODC the other day.  He cried like this for about an hour because I wouldn't carry him through the trails. Persistent little boy he is.

3.  A sneak peek into my fabulous new laundry room.  The rest of the house is very plain and neutral color wise but since I hate doing laundry I wanted to make this room as fun as possible.  I am so happy I did! 

4.  My little fish...

5.  We stopped by the house the other day and they were pouring our driveway.  The boys were thrilled to be able to watch the cement mixers in action.

6.  Annual family night at the strawberry u pick farm.

7.  We drove an hour to go to a zoo the other day only to get there and find out that it was closed due to imminent severe weather.  Thankfully they let us hang out in the gift shop until it blew over.  Ashton found this cork gun and instantly turned into a crazy kid with a gun.  It was kinda scary!

8.  Ashton had no fear in swimming lessons.  They actually had to hold onto him to get him to wait his turn to go down the slide and jump off the diving board.

9.  Grant improved so much this year with swimming.  His teachers were shocked he was the same boy that refused to put his head under the water last year.  I am so proud of him!

  

10.  Blessing of the week:  Our house is almost done!  Sometimes I walk into the door and can hardly believe it is all mine.  I am so grateful. 

weekly ten

1.  Grant is out of school and Grandpa Pat is out from CA.  That must mean that summer is officially here! 

2.  I am a little bummed that we are not in our house yet.  I intended on Grandpa being here to help me watch the boys while I unpacked.  But unfortunately, our move in date has been moved back to July.  Whoever said it took 6 months to build a house is a liar! Hoping I can at least get packed.

3.  Grant asked me the other day if he could take a selfie.  89 pictures later......

4.  Now that the warm weather has arrived I am itching to do fun things outside.  I am desperate for some new and exciting ideas though.  What do you do with your kids for fun in the summer?

5.  Ashton was watching Frozen the other day and when Anna and Sven kissed at the end proclaimed,"ewwwww."  It was hilarious.  Where does this 2 year old come up with this stuff

6.  Family barrel train ride at fun night at Grant's school. 

7.  Only two more decisions left to make for the house!  I am so sick of decisions and shopping and these last two are making me crazy.  Who knew bar stools and an entry light would put me in the looney bin???

8.  Grant and Ashton start swimming lessons tomorrow.  Here's to hoping Grant actually puts his head under the water this year:) I would hate to see Ashton pass him in swimming lesson class.


9. Pretty sure the employees at Joann's were REALLY excited when we left.  At this point of house shopping, I have lost all ability to care. 

10.  Blessing of the week:  a lunch play date with a good friend.  We have been through a lot together- divorce, infertility, infant loss, moving across the country, etc.....   but our friendship has never changed.  It is so wonderful to look back at all we have experienced and see us both come out so happy on the other side.