Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner!!!

The day has finally arrived! After a lot of ups and downs, many stressful nights, and lots of prayers, we have finally purchased our first home!

 Jer and I couldn't be happier with our decision. It seems like Heavenly Father was guiding us in this direction without us even being aware of it. There were a lot of lessons learned. I know especially for me personally. I feel like He knew my wish list and wants and said "yes, I know what you want but THIS is what you need and will be better for you."

It just amazes me how aware of us our Father in Heaven is and he knows us better than we know ourselves. Two years ago I don't know if I would have been satisfied with our little house. Now I know that all of those "almost" homes were preparing me to take a step back and say in the long run, this is exactly what our family needs.

I am so grateful for family who have supported us, for a small town with people who are so helpful and friendly, and for my husband who literally lost sleep over this. I feel very blessed today!

Almost There!

Well, it is Thursday September 13, 2012. I don't know if I ever posted about us buying our rental, but we are.

I think the reason I haven't announced it is because it has been too good to be true. In the past so many things have gone wrong.

I am not saying that this hole process has been smooth sailing. We have had our share of roadblocks but it really helps to have a landlord who is willing and has the means to speed things along.

Somehow the whole paperwork aspect of this precess has gone by much more quickly than it ever has before. Possibly because we have gone through it a few times. Ha ha!

We've had all our inspections done and the appraisal finished but the appraisal was contingent on our roof getting replaced and the AC finished.

This week, Rick's guys were here and they redid the roof in 2 days! It rained yesterday so the AC guy didn't get finished until today. It feels amazing to have the whole house at the same temperature!

I can't believe we close tomorrow. We have just a couple more glitches to sort out but it is really happening!!!

Testing and Canning!

What a busy day!

Yesterday was Brooklyn's DIBLES testing with her teacher. We met at the Fort Morgan Library again. I have to admit that we almost did not make it. School was especially challenging that day. Dallas was really on a roll with interrupting and getting into everything. I told Brook's teacher Ms. Deb that and she just  laughed.

While in the library, Dallas and Mason made themselves busy by scooting a giant checkers piece and a hotwheels car around the floor. Yes, they were a little louder than they should have been in a library but they let Brooklyn do her test and I was pretty relieved with that.

Later that evening, I got the BRIGHT idea to try to can all the apples Jer's mom gave us. It only took me 2 hours!

 I have had my pressure canner for a long time now and I figured I better learn how to use it. I didn't have a good recipe for canning applesauce so I looked it up on pinterest and then I finally called my Grandma Philip and Dad for tips. I loved the flavor of the brown sugar and cinnamon but I think next time I will definitely peel the apples before I chop and boil them. It gave it a gritty texture that I am not a huge fan of. Oh well. At lest I know for sure that the pressure canner works and the lids are properly sealed. Trial by error I guess!

Looking back...

It amazes me that Jeremiah was on his mission the day the twin towers fell.

If you ask him, he can still tell you how it felt to be on a mission with such chaos all around 

I still remember clear as day that I was working at Subway in down town Easton. The radio announced the plane crashing. No one spoke, everyone just sat in booths in shock. Then when the plane crashed in Harrisburg, PA so close to home it really hit me that our country was attacked. It was the first time I ever felt the full impact of such evil.

That time was so full of sadness and fear but I also remember the following weeks and months. People were kinder to one another. If we knew of someone who had been spared, we felt the tender mercies of our God. I can't even count how many people I heard that were supposed to go into the city but for some small miracle they called in sick or stopped to get breakfast ect... It is still a wonder to me.

To me, when I look back at the day the twin towers fell, I feel sad for what happened but more than that I feel a great pride in our Country and in the men and women who lost their lives to help another. I feel closer to our Father in Heaven who is aware of us and if it wasn't time to be called home, he blessed those who still had work here to do. It reminds me that we are stronger than our enemies give us credit for.

Shayla and Kevin Visit!

Shayla and Kevin came to Colorado this week! It was so nice to see them and talk with them.

Today Jer's mom and dad and Shayla and Kevin came for lunch. We had bbq ribs, buffalo wontons and Jer's mom's frog eye salad.

 After we ate, Jer took them for a ride around town and showed off his fire department where he volunteers and his office at YW where he works.

It was hard to say goodbye. I wish we could live closer sometimes! The kids had a lot of fun showing off for them.

Camping!!!

August 31 through September 2, 2012

Jer and I decided last minute (like usual) to go camping this Labor Day weekend. We packed up the car around 5pm and headed up towards Estes Park. When we got to Estes, every thing was booked! Around 11pm we stopped to talk to a Ranger who told us that there were camp grounds that are free but they were only in certain areas. We finally found a site in Jonny Park and set up our tent by 2am! After a fitful sleep, we got up and ate breakfast. The kids discovered a great place to play on some rocky boulders in front of our camp site. They also had the wooded hill behind our camp site.

You know your husband loves you when he constructs a potty with privacy just for you! Jeremiah and I played a few games of phase 10, poker (which I smoked him!) and slap jack. We had smores on the fire, and tested out our propane cook stove. The kids got to take turns shooting at bottles with Jer's 22. It was perfect! The only thing I would have done differently is bring a rake to get all of the pine cones out from under the tent. Also, bring an air mattress. It was a very fun camping trip and definitely something we will make a tradition!

Getting school done!

August 29, 2012

Well, we've made it through a full 2 weeks of school now. Our routine is getting all worked out. Both Brooklyn and Mason have full plates this year but we are able to handle it so far. I am amazed at how much Mase has changed even from last year. He has to write more sentences this year. Last year he would have cried and fought me tooth and nail. This year I get a whine but then he buckles down and writes them. I'm so proud of him!

Brook is such a big girl. She pretty much gets going on her lessons all by herself. I have my teacher's manual out and read her the instructions, but I pretty much leave her to do her thing. I check her work and if she seems like she is struggling, I have Mase take a snack break while she and I go over it. Its been working out so far!

Little Dallas is the one I need to give a little extra attention to this year. I usually give him some toys or books and put on a movie (sometimes) and he is pretty good. Every once in a while it gets too quiet in the living room so I find him smashing his fishy crackers into the carpet or pulling all of the baby wipes out of the container. He loves to climb onto the counter and help himself to snacks! Every once in a while he will just barge into the school room and demand attention. But for the most part, he is a pretty good boy. Nap time is a great time for us during school! Dallas loves to watch Mason do his Reading Eggs on the computer and I even noticed Dallas copy Mason every time he reads. No wonder our baby boy is speaking a lot better these days!

Golfing!

August 24, 2012

Jer called me after work and told me he really wanted to go golfing but didn't want to go without me so the kids and I went. I'm happy he "guilted" me into it because it was a lot of fun!

We played with the Lucero family here. Brooklyn got to drive a cart a little and she loved it! I didn't even play too badly. I was afraid I would really embarrass myself since its been more than 6 years since I've played. It was a beautiful night with a light breeze. We played until we couldn't see where our balls went anymore. Then, we came back to our house and ate pizza together.