Our Life And How It Is

It has been awhile since I posted. I know there are times I have had time, but that is the funny thing about time it just keeps moving on. So, where is my time spent. Mostly with my kids and house is the answer. I am still not all settled in my house. I don't have pictures hung, most boxes are unpacked although the basement still has quite a few, although I have made headway there. It is starting to come together, I just totally underestimated how long it would take to do the little things to finish up 'moving in.' It just takes awhile to find new homes for everything and try to make those where it makes the most sense. It's fun to have space for everybody and everything but sometimes a little complicated in the actual implementation of those plans. We are getting there though and hopefully within the next week I will be able to get some pictures up, but we will see.

The twins are down to one nap now and so that kind of cuts into my productivity time, mostly by choice but also because they undo or make it impossible to do somethings. I love watching my kids play. All of them are fun, but these two twinsies get the most time to do it right now and they have each other and so that is so fun. They generally play around each other all the time. Every once in awhile they will play together. I would say there favorite activity to actually do together right now is play on the slide. They take turns, they crash into each other and laugh, they pull each other down, they push the slide all over the house, which today I learned I have to be careful of because today they pushed it till the kitchen table stopped it. Then Kade climbed up it and was standing on the very top pound on the kitchen table. I have a counter height table, so this was kind of crazy for me to see. They both love the attention they get when they 'free stand' or try to walk. Abby has successfully taken steps, like her first time was 3 or 4. My non-walker days are coming to an end I think. It is so funny though, because if Abby gets attention for standing or walking, Kade almost immediately starts trying to do the same. His best efforts come when he is competing with Abby for the attention. It is really fun to watch. Also because the weather has been nicer, and we have time to do it we got the park right by our hose. The twins are figuring out how it all works and are loving being outside.

Kade's smile here gets me every time.

As opposite as ever. 

How we swing twins when there is only one baby swing at the park

Abby's first ponytail

Kade

Kylee and Tia are quite the characters as always. They are both kind of struggling in school (okay that might be an understatement), but they love school and they are learning. However, it has kind of made homework a non-negotiable item at our house. We usually do at least one homework thing a night. Sometimes, I wish I had kids that just got it so quick because doing the work is often in the middle of crying, whining, piano practicing, other siblings playing, cooking dinner, and other stuff. It can get kind of crazy, but they are getting pretty good at it. These two are also figuring out the basement and having a good time down there. We just need to fix the lighting so its all on a switch, however they have a great time down there. They also have a great time playing in empty cupboards in the kitchen, their room, the play room, family room, and anywhere else. Those two have a great time with each other. I love watching them play. I love that they love each other and really never tire of being together. It is awesome!

Playing in their 'cabin'

These four adore each other.

Kylee is super excited to get baptized here in just over a week. Last Friday night, we went and found her dress. She had a great time at Sam's Club trying them all on. Tia was a good sport and was always trying to help and often told Kylee how cute she looked. It is so crazy that she will be eight. I can't believe I have an 8 year-old. She has really grown in the past few months and I am very excited for her to be baptized and to receive the Holy Ghost.

The one she would have picked if I let her. I just really didn't like it.

I would have picked this one in the size smaller for her.

The one she got.

Kylee and Tia

For the most part my life is unpacking, cleaning, playing with twins, doing homework, and making dinner. However, I now have a calling of Activity Day Girls leader. So, twice a month I will plan and run activities for about 10 to 13 girls ranging from turning 8 to turning 11. It will be quite the experience. They all seemed really nice at the last meeting, so I am excited to get to know them, and to stretch my skills of teaching, and womanhood. Because all of this isn't enough, I am also going to coach Tia's soccer team. I am actually looking forward to it quite a bit, I just hope it turns out good. It was fun last time and this time I don't have a nursing baby, so I am hoping it will be even better. I love associating with the kids and making plans and seeing them develop.

I am not quite done but here is me stocking the shelves that Gaupo built me.

Gaupo is still being a great provider, husband, and father. He supports me in all that I want to do and really pretty much goes with the flow. He is doing his first travel trip for the library. He went to Nashville and seems to be having a good time. The library is such a good fit for him. It is a miracle we ended up where we are and I can't be more grateful. He is in a place that loves him for all he does right now, but also continually challenges him to grow and be better. Plus, it provides for our family, is close to home, has a flexible schedule when needed, and has great people we love it!

Here is Gaupo setting up the TV.

As far as adventures go, this last weekend we got invited by Kylee's friend Harper to go to rope zone. Its a school gym that her dad sets up all kinds of rope things in. He is a PE teacher, so that is why it is setup, but its cool that the kids got to go for a couple of hours and just play play play. They played hard. They voluntarily took a nap that afternoon. It made the night a little tough, but it was AWESOME! I had to take the kids by myself as it was Gaupo's Saturday to work, but it worked out okay. The girls favorite thing to do was the swinging ropes and the zip line although, they pretty much liked it all. There were friends, food, and tons of activities and fun. It was such a great thing for a Saturday.

This is the family on President's Day. We went to DQ to celebrate our doing Come Follow Me for 7-days straight. 

Tia on the 'swingy' rope.

Kade crawling around

Tia and Kylee on the rope bridge

Abby and Harper's cousin. Harper's cousin was trying to play with her.

That's pretty much it from here. We just live our life. We like it. We love our house I feel like it is just so what we need. We now have enough space, but not too much and if/when we need there is still a little space to grow. Our ward seems good. Carpooling to school seems to be working still. I love the close park. It is all really wonderful I feel so blessed.

Moving To Our New Home

This last weekend was officially moving weekend. I feel like it has been forever since we started this journey and really the very first inklings that we were even considering maybe moving was September, we found our house in Dec., and here we are 2nd week of February in our house. It really isn't that long of a time to go from maybe we will look and see to moved in but it seems like FOREVER. It seems especially long since we went under contract until now, but you we are here and loving it.

Back in December, I texted my family that we had made an offer on this house and then said, "But, it will take a miracle for us to get it." Well folk miracle happened. We listed our house on Dec. 13, and it was sold by Dec. 14 making this house go fully under contract. Since then, we had our old house miraculously appraise for the amount it needed to, the buyers didn't make any requests for fixing things, and our seller made some concessions and fixes for us. Then it is no small miracle that the house was packed and ready to go despite having my two big kids home sick most of the week. I really think the Lord has been steadily preparing us for this for a long time. It could have started 8 years ago when we decided to buy and weren't quite sure how we were going to make it work. But it for sure started with finishing the basement. For one, it up-ed the value of our home. For two, it made us go through EVERYTHING in the basement and clear out and make room in the blue room and throughout the house for everything we kept to be out of the basement for about 7 months. Then early November I got the hankering to clear out closets and clothes and that got rid of a ton of stuff. So, really when packing time came we were down to what needed to be packed. We still got rid of stuff, and threw stuff away, but a huge chunk of what would have needed to be sorted was already done. This whole move has been a series of miracles. I don't know why now was the time to move or why we felt so sure this is the house we wanted, but I can promise you with how things played out this is where we are suppose to be for this next adventure chapter of our lives.

Tia adding pictures to the moving boxes.

The artist and her artwork.

THE MOVE. It all started on a very, very snowy Friday morning. The closing on our Alpine house happened at 9:00AM. It was a good thing that it was okay if we were slightly late because we were. It just took us awhile to get the kids to the right houses, and then I forgot the babies sippy cups and my friend Megan doesn't have any so I needed to get those and drop them off again. Plus, we had to drive carefully because it was so snowy. Anyway, we got there and were finished with our part of closing before the buyers were done. We had to meet separately at the beginning because the buyer speak Spanish and needed a Spanish speaking closer. So, we meet separate then together to work out possession details and then split up. Thus, we were homeless, but we had a lot of money. Then we went to the next closing, and we signed a bunch more papers, got codes and keys for the house, spent all our money and then some, but now we have a new home.

Once we got home we loaded up the truck with a few things like the grill, smoker, outside toys, and such. Then we loaded the van with the kitchen table, and cleaning stuff. We had a quick lunch and then arrived at our new house to clean. I had some help coming from our new ward (Highland Lake). Although the night before, our realtor Craig Cowley, asked me if I would like it if he paid to have someone clean the kitchen and bathrooms. I was like Yeah! That would be awesome. So, I used the wonderful ladies that came to help and the sister missionaries to clean blinds, baseboards, and run carpet cleaners, so that my house was actually clean when we moved in. It was so nice to have everything clean. I have been able to just unpack and not worry about having to clean first. It is AWESOME!

So, I cleaned until about 4:30. Gaupo left around 4:00 to get the twins and the girls and then came and picked me up, so we could go get dinner. We went to Sams Club and got the family bundle. We dropped it off at the old house and went to get the moving truck. It seemed like it took forever. Really the kids were just hungry and ready to move around and be out of the car. Finally, we got it and we went to the old house and had dinner which wasn't the original plan, but in hind sight was great because we made the mess there where I hadn't cleaned yet and then the new house was still clean. After dinner and loading a couple last things into Gaupo's truck, we went to our new house for the night. The big girls slept on their 'new' beds that we bought from the seller, the twins slept in their normal beds, and Gaupo and I slept on an air mattress. The kids slept great. I didn't so much, but its okay we made it.

Tia and Kylee the first night in the new house.

Saturday was the big move day. Blessedly, the snow stopped for Saturday. I woke up around 5:30 to read scriptures and get ready. We were out the door around 7:15 to return carpet cleaners and pick-up donuts. After we did that, I dropped the kids off at my friend Janelle Bailey's house for the day while Gaupo went to the old house to meet the guys helping us move. Ute Creek Ward Elder's quorum was loading the truck. Those poor guys hauling heavy boxes from the basement, playing Tetrius trying to get everything in the truck, but everything that was left was packed in the moving truck, Gaupo's truck, my van, and David Detro's truck (a guy from Highland Lake Ward), but 10:00, so about 2 hours. We arrived about 10 minutes late to the new house where Highland Lake ward Elders met us and unloaded the truck in about an hour. They were fast. They ran a crew outside unloading and a crew inside moving boxes to where I said they needed to go. They were so fast and worked hard they were so great. So, when they finished Gaupo decided to just get the truck returned and then go grab leftover pizza at the old house which perfectly lined me up to meet with my friends Siri Jacobson and Danette Hillman to clean my old house. We were there for about 1.5 hours and got it all cleaned up and ready for the new people. Then I went back to the new house to start unpacking.

It was so overwhelming. Oh my goodness. I knew there was space for everything, but trying to decided where it should go, and trying to remember what all I need to have room for. Needless to say, I didn't get a whole lot done because it was just so much. I didn't have a ton of time anyway because I was picking up the kids at 4:00 from Janelle's. So, I went and got them and we came back and I got a little more done. I kind of worried about sending the twins away to 'strange' houses and then bringing them back to a place that wasn't the home they had been in, but they haven't missed a beat being here. I think they are totally good as long as mom and dad are here. Anyway, the big girl pretty much got settled in their room and played for an hour and half it was AMAZING and during that time I tried to organize the kitchen more. At 5:30 we met the buyers at our old house, and turned over the keys to them. I think they will love house and I am excited for them. Its kind of weird knowing that, that is no longer my house, but I still have my memories and a great new place to make more. After turning over the keys, we went out to eat at Wendy's. Our kitchen and I were not up to making dinner, so Wendy's was a good treat. Once we were done there, it was home for baths and bed. After all the kiddo's were in bed I worked really hard at getting the kitchen to the point were I could make mac and cheese with chicken nuggets and have cereal for breakfast on Sunday. I almost didn't make it, but luckily Gaupo stepped in at just the right time and I made it before I just gave up.

Moving truck at Alpine house.

Moving crew enjoying their donuts.

Piles of boxes like this at the new house everywhere.

Sunday was a welcome day of rest. Also, it started snowing heavy snow again. We had a good breakfast of donuts and cheese eggs. Trent and Tori and Siri came over, so that Kylee, Tia, and Tori could practice the song Kylee's baptism. So, they played for a bit and then I finished getting ready and it was off to church in our new ward. They were all very welcoming. It was weird to be the new person again its been awhile. It was also weird to feel like a 'young' family. I didn't feel like there were a ton of kids, but there were kids in primary, so I guess there are kids. I think it will be a great ward, we just need to get in there and give it time. After church it was lunch and naps. Then we video chatted Grandma and Grandpa. Then we went to my friend Megan Von Neiderhuasen's for dinner. It was so nice to not have to do dinner, because I just wasn't ready for 3 meals in my house in one day. So, we had fun visiting with them and the girls had a blast with there kids. They played and played. The girls feel asleep so fast that night it was awesome. That night the Relief Society President came and visited with me. Her son came too, and Gaupo played games with him while us ladies chatted. It was really enjoyable to visit with her and get to know a smidge about someone new. After she left, I talked to Papa for a little while and then we went to bed.

Since then it has been unpacking amid our 'normal' schedule. The kitchen is officially unpacked. I think I need to trade my knife and serving spoon drawer, but other than that I think it is going to work. I got a lot of the 'playroom' unpack and put away today, so that is nice. I am making progress, but it is definitely taking some time. I love our new house and am excited to make it our home. Our kids have handled it great. I do think it helps we didn't change schools, and so that aspect of their life is the same. Its been fun to find how to use the spaces and get things worked out. We feel so blessed to be in this home, and to be starting a new adventure as a family here.

Moving

I think I mentioned on here that we are moving to a new house. We will still live in Longmont. Gaupo loves his job and so we plan to stay here, but we feel a little cramped in certain parts of our house. We could totally make bedrooms work as we had to, but the kitchen and living room were just starting not to cut it with this family.

Two weeks ago I wasn't quite ready. I was feeling like maybe we had bought too big, and done something we didn't need to do. However, over these last couple weeks, at least to me, it has become blatantly obvious that I need more space to be a family. It sound crazy I know, but its true. I get so frustrated that Gaupo and I can't make sandwiches at the same time. If I want to cook with my kiddos we are so crammed and usually only me and one kid can reach the bowl at a time. Family Home Evening has a least one person laying on the floor not necessarily because they don't want to be on the couch but because there isn't enough seating in the living room for everyone and we can't fit enough and still have room to play. I mean we did have the loveseat in here at one time but there is no way with 4 kids the piano can be in the kitchen, so no loveseat. Plus, when all the kids play up here which is totally cool with me, by the time they get setup there isn't really room for people in there and that isn't even if they are playing family or something. We do also need slightly bigger bedrooms. Of the three rooms we have right now 1 fits two twin beds and everything 2 kids need like clothes. The basement room can fit to kids but the closet is tiny, so it couldn't fit two kids as teenagers, and the other kid room only has room for one twin bed maybe a toddler bed, but it has two closets. I know weird. Anyway, we really kind of did need a little bit bigger bedrooms. Consequently, we decided to move. we have quite a lot of equity in the is house and even though the market is high now we figured it was a good time to move that equity to a new place.

Once we found our new place, we were excited and nervous all at the same time. It was at the bottom of the proposed bunch which we were very excited about it has 5 rooms, an unfinished basement, kitchen with lots of cupboards and counters space, it has a front room and family room. It has everything we need, but its in a new ward. Which, will be good. I am kind of excited actually just worried a little too. Sometimes making friends can be hard, but this is going to be great, and I am not moving too far away, so I can still hangout with my friends in Ute Creek ward. All that said, once we found our new house, we invited the kids to fast and pray with us about it. This move even just up to this point has been a great thing for our family to talk about. We have used it to liken the scriptures to us, to teach about fasting, watching for the Lord's tender mercies, and depending on each other. It has been really good.

It has seemed like FOREVER though. Man it seriously feel like months since this all began and its only been about 1.5. However, this Friday is closing and Saturday is the big move day, so everything is going into boxes. It is kind of crazy, and made crazier with sick kids. Although, we are praying it stops with Kylee and Tia. Yeah, my 'alone' packing time hasn't really existed, so I hope I can get it all done. There are just so many 'little' things. I guess next week I can hope to report on the move the new house, but thought I would give the move its own official declaration and post.