WE ARE MOVING!!!!!!!!!

Yes - you did read that correctly.
This is why I have not been on my blog
- or any others for that matter since December.

I have been BUSY!!!
Did I mention that I have been BUSY?
Let me repeat that one more time - I HAVE BEEN BUSY!
Now I can sit back and relax, right? (We shall see)

It is hard to maintain the life of a wife (whose husband is going through transitions at work to transfer and is also in the Bishopric where the other two members are gone the vast majority of time), mother of 5 wonderful children, having a part time job from home, and over all busy person (serving and helping others, helping at the school, kids activities - you name it) AND get a home ready to sell.

Yet - through it all - Here it is.
Our little beauty that we are selling.
2200 Sq Ft, 4 Bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths + Den + Huge Loft.

It has served us well and I have been so grateful to have had such a wonderful place to call home for the last 4 1/2 years.

Josh and I have felt strongly that we need to move back (I say back because I am from there) up to the Phoenix Metro area. It has been a long process to figure all things out. We have been extremely prayerful about this for about a year now. We have taken this to the temple a few times and fasted about it often.

When things seemed to come to a stand still and we couldn't find answers that we needed or didn't know how to overcome the next hurdle we would turn to our Heavenly Father. Within a couple of days I would feel a strong prompting to speak to someone specific about what we were trying to accomplish. And after each little trial the miracles occurred and that person always had the answer that we were looking for.

Because we were trying to spare the emotional side of it from our children as long as we could we didn't tell them until two days before it went on market. We didn't want it to slip out from someone else to our kids before we had a chance to tell them - yah, that wouldn't go over well at all - we chose not to tell anyone about what we were doing, except for those few people who helped us along the way (afterward we swore them to extreme secrecy).

I know this is in God's hands, including the timing, and we have not really stressed about it (until the last 2 weeks). Things finally started moving along when we got the letter from Josh's employer outlining the plan so we had something concrete to go on to sell our home here and purchase one up there.

We thought we would have 30 even up to 60 days to get things ready while we sat around waiting for a pre-approval to sell it (yes, unfortunately we have to short sell. We have crunched the numbers for any other possible scenario and it is our only option. We feel at peace and know that it is right so we are moving forward). Instead, it could go up within three days of moving things forward with our realtor. I begged for another week.

Needless to say there were many sleepless nights - or nights with only 2 to 4 hours of sleep while I painted, touched up, de-cluttered, organized, got carpets cleaned, and worked like mad to get our home spotless. I know it is a short sale and comes "As-Is". However, I wanted a buyer to walk in and feel like they walked into "home". I wanted them to see how meticulously we cared for our home and know that there isn't a single thing that "has" to be done. Of course they could change colors or whatever, but it wouldn't be necessary.

Our hard work has paid off and after 3 days on the market it looks like we may have a buyer. It is actually some friends of ours. When they walked in they seemed to feel what I wanted the buyer to feel. I was so excited to see their excitement about our home. I know if things work out that our little baby would be taken care of and that it would be "home" to another wonderful family. I pray that if they are really that excited that things work out that they can get it.

Now with tears I see that our life it about to change drastically. Yes, we will dearly, dearly miss our wonderful friends here in Tucson. They have become our family. However, I am also filled with joy to be closer to family, closer to the temple, continue with our goals to get out of debt, and to just feel like we are making headway in life.

It will be interesting to see where this next chapter in our life takes us.
We are ready and waiting for it to start.

Maybe now I will have some time to document the last seven months. I have taken plenty of pictures. I just have to get them loaded and explained. So, today is the first of many updates of our last few months here in Tucson.

The True Meaning of Christmas

The True Meaning of Christmas....
(Don't forget to pause my music player on the right).

Surprise, Surprise

I was cleaning out Bailey's backpack last night getting ready to put it away for the weekend when I came across a letter.

"Dear, Bailey Anderson, Congratulations for winning your class Spelling Bee. You now get to participate in the school wide Spelling Bee...."

Whoa! What?!?! Bailey? My Bailey Anderson won her class spelling bee???? This can't be right!!!

This just couldn't be. I just started laughing I was so shocked. I didn't know how else to respond. MacKenzie won her's last year, but that wasn't shocking. In fact, I would almost except it. (I was surprised she didn't win it and only came in second in her class Spelling Bee this year - but super congrats to her best friend, Hannah, who did win it).

Back to Bailey. As the evening wore on last night I wondered why I was so shocked. I didn't think she was capable of something like this. I was bothered by this realization. That really bothered me!!! Why would I think something like that??

The reason finally hit me....

Bailey is such a goof off. She doesn't like to do her homework. It takes me erasing it and her redoing it a minimum of about three times before it is neat. Her teacher tells me that she doesn't do her best effort the first time. I see the work that comes home. It is sloppy and careless. She just rushes through everything. She acts irresponsible and extremely childish (Yes, I know she is a child, but maybe you understand my point here).

For some reason my brain interprets that as "my child isn't doing well in school." To see something like this letter it reminds me that just because she chooses not to focus and chooses to play around, and chooses to rush to get onto something else - something more fun - doesn't mean that she doesn't know how to do it, or that she is not measuring up.

So what does this mean??? Don't judge a book by its cover. Everyone has value and just because it may seem like one thing - you never know what is going on in the heart and mind of that individual!!


Bailey girl, I am so incredibly proud of you!!! I am sorry I misjudged your actions for your level of intellect!!! I look forward to watching you up on the stage and cheering you on as you compete in the school spelling bee. Daddy has a seminar for work that day so I don't think he will be able to make it, but I will be there and I alone will be your absolute BIGGEST and LOUDEST cheering section ever!!!!

I love you so much!!!!
Mommy

Arianna 4 months old

4 months old now - Where has the time gone?!?!

These last two months have brought the following...

Meeting new family - Here she is meeting Auntie Avalon (Josh's younger sister).

Here with Cousin Roxie. Roxie was born the day after Arianna.
This was on the day Roxie was blessed.
I don't know if you can see the size difference in these two,
but Arianna was literally almost twice the size of Roxie - crazy!!

And of course her first solids.
Single grain oatmeal. She LOVED it.
(Thanks AB for bringing me a bunch of baby food so I already had it on hand when it was time!)
I would grant the experience a success!!!
Smiles to start....
And smiles when finished...
The week she turned 4 months she starting rolling over from her back to her tummy - it came out of nowhere. She LOVES to talk and make sounds.
She is finally realizing that she can make different sounds too.

She doesn't like laying down. She would much rather be sitting up.
If I lay her down, she tries with all her might to sit.
She is not there on her own yet, but making great progress.
She also loves to be upright when we hold her.
When I sit her on my lap she grabs my hands and pulls herself up into a standing position.
I think we will have an early walker with this one.
I am excited and scared for that at the same time.


Arianna is also a lot more awake and a lot more focused. She watches everything around her.
She grabs at things and EVERYTHING she can get her hands on goes straight to her mouth.

She has lost about half of her hair - and has a large bald spot, more like a bald ring around the back of her head.
Still in these last two months the number one comment is her hair.
I did have a couple of people think I was pushing around a doll in the stroller.

A lot of snuggles. The connection I feel grows deeper.
I am just enjoying this girl. I hold her as often as I can.
We have a lot of fun together.
She is just so beautiful. I know I am biased, but still.
Who couldn't love that smiley face of hers!!!!

She is now 13 lbs 6 oz and 25 inches long. Growing like a weed!!

We love you baby girl!!!!!

Community Helpers

On Friday, Oct 29th, Bailey took part of the Kindergarten's annual Community Helper's Parade at the school. They were to think of a community helper that they would want to be when they grow up.
They had to draw a picture of this person and then dress up like that person as well.

I gave Bailey many suggestions - vet, Doctor, Nurse, police officer, garbage man, Mommy, teacher, baker, etc. The list went on and on.
All she wanted was to be a Ballet Teacher (just like her sister, MacKenzie, had chosen the year before). So that is what she went with.

Leg warmers, a skirt, and her ballet shoes in hand (or tucked under her arm) she went marching along in the parade.
She was lucky and got to be the first in line in her class and that meant holding the hand of her teacher, Miss Tucker. We love Miss Tucker!!
Miss Tucker trying to fix Bailey's sign. It was quite windy and kept flying behind her and choking her a little.
I love the innocence of her smile in this picture!!
Got one of her looking directly at me...
And while we were out there, we saw Mrs. Rupel and MacKenzie.
We also love Mrs. Rupel!!
(This was the last day of Red Ribbon week, hence the reason everyone is in a red shirt.)
We tried to find Alexis, but I didn't ever see her. I found out when she got home that the third through fifth graders were in the MPR listening to the speeches for the Student Body elections that were held that afternoon. So, we didn't get to see her, but she had fun listening and enjoying her first voting experience!!

Back at Bailey's classroom.
We stayed for a little while. Brendon enjoyed a snack with Miss Tucker's class and even got to play on the playground for their recess before we had to be off to head home.
(Darn Blogger, flipping my pictures again - does anyone know why it keeps doing that?!?!?!?)


At recess with good friend, Jade.
It was fun to be there to support her and see her in all her glory.

Unwanted Critters

The other day (meaning last month) I was watching my friends kids,
when I went to shut the door I found this sitting on my mat...
A little closer up - that is the head off of the side of the mat (can you see it's eye?)
GROSS!!!!!!
And a back shot so you can see how big it was sitting in the groove of the mat. At first I thought the horned side was the front, but I quickly figured out that I was mistaken. My kids were mesmerized by this thing. When I went to open my garage door for Bailey to come in from the bus it was right there going across my driveway. AGH. I went and grabbed my dust pan that is stored in the garage and moved it to the side of the house under some bushes.
They were constantly asking to go out to look at it.
This thing hung around for several days.
At one point MacKenzie went and moved from leaves by it and it rolled down some rocks and didn't move for hours. We thought she had literally scared it to death. Her sweet personality was distraught over it and she even cried.
When I showed her the next morning that it was moving again she was VERY pleased (I, on the other hand, would have been ok if it had died - sorry, just don't like critters).

However, that first day - the day I found it, when my friend came to pick up her kids I went to the side by my bushes to see if I could find it to show her and low and behold, I find this instead...
Mud colonies for termites. UGH!!!
"Luckily" we have a 5 year warranty through our builder
- but at the same time I must say the warranty STINKS!!!
All they do is spray, they do no drilling or the real way to get rid of them.
I guess we will have to do that part on our own.
Another reason to NEVER purchase another DR Horton Home!!!


And just a couple of days after this we had Fly Larvae in the kitchen. YUCK!!!
We had so many flies in the house over the last couple of months between people coming in and out while I was on bed rest, then having a baby and finally while I coordinated three different shipments of UT fruit.
We were killing a minimum of 5 or 6 flies every day.
I guess one of the "prego" ones got past us and laid some eggs.
I had sprayed with bug killer all around the perimeter of the dining and kitchen areas, but it didn't do a single thing. After an evening and morning of killing over 30 larvae I had had enough.
I went to the internet to research. I found out that bug spray does nothing to them - DUH - figured that one out on my own.
But, I did find out that boiling water kills them. But you have to find the source.
So after looking around for a while I finally figured out that it was in the well of our sliding glass door.
I poured the boiling water down the well and they were "popping ".
GROSS - however, at the same time (Sorry to have to say this), but it was music to my ears!!
Within 30 minutes of that boiling water, there were not more larvae. Trish = the winner!!!

Halloween 2010

Halloween has come and gone and I am just now getting these pictures posted. As you can tell - I have been playing catch up over the last week. Still more to come so stay tuned!!!

So, on the Wednesday before Halloween Josh reminded me that his work party was the next day. A quick panic and then I remembered a conversation I had with a friend just that afternoon. I made a quick phone call and hooked us up with some "incredible" costumes. Let's just say that Josh and I are a little taller than the friends we borrowed them from but they were great for the reaction if nothing else.

I got these while we were there...

What can I say???
You know they say - a picture is worth a 1000 words. Hmmmm.
What does this one say to you????

I wasn't going to tell Josh that I had borrowed the Mrs. Incredible cosutme. I was just going to show up and surprise him at the work party. But when I was showing him the costume for him I said, "Sharon said that she and Lance both made it work with the mask and having glasses." Oops, that was the reminder to him that there was a Mrs. Incredible costume. He was being such a stinker about it and was even going to get the keys to the car to go get the Mrs. Incredible costume. I finally fessed up and told him I already had it and that he ruined my surprise!!
Still he didn't see me in it until I showed up at his work that day. Let's just say that the three places we wore them to we had a HUGE reaction. Mostly laughing, a lot of "that's great", a couple of "there are just no words". I don't think people were surprised by Josh. He just has that kind of personality - but me? Whoa! I tend to be a little more reserved in my personality when it comes to things like this - I think I shocked a few people. But let me tell ya, it was well worth it!!!!


These next few were taken before I left to go to the lab party.

Brendon excited to be Buzz
This is him "flying"And the back (Josh says it looks like he is peeing on the wall, sigh).
Our cute Bumble Bee - this was another one of the quick calls that I arranged the night before.
Thanks Karla for the hook up. I think Arianna pulled it off fabulously!!
We had sooooo many compliments on our cute bumble bee.

And of course, my little poser. She saw me take a picture of Buzz while he was sleeping (see below) so she posed and said, "Mom take my picture too."
This costume was another borrowed one. I was talking to a friend about what the kids wanted to be. Bailey really wanted Sleeping Beauty. I told her that it just wasnt going to happen. I was telling Laura about it and she said, we have a costume you can borrow. Really??? I have such wonderful friends don't I!!! I always feel so blessed!!!!
This was the after-the-fact picture. I guess the party wore him out.

I never did get any pictures of Alexis or MacKenzie - shame on me. MacKenzie was an evil queen. She was beautiful, but an "evil queen" doesn't suit her personality!! Alexis was Super Girl for our community event and our ward party. Then for a friends birthday/costume party she switched to a 70's Peace Out Girl. Lovely. She enjoyed both costumes. Brendon also made a switch. After the initial Buzz costume, he also wanted to be Dash Incredible. Since I had just borrowed the entire bag of Incredibles from my friend it was possible. He loved it, but wouldn't stand in for any pictures.

Here are the last two taken.
And of course the full length for the full effect. From one Incredible Family to another - Halloween down and the rest of the holidays to come!!!
Let me be the first to wish you a Happy Holiday Season this year!!!!!

Arianna 2 Months

Ok, so I know I am a little behind in this post, as of the date I type she is already 4 months, but I have to back up and catch up on this post.

My little munchkin went from these at two weeks
(here is that Blogger turning my picture thing again):

(I had to get her slippers in so you can ooh, and ahh over them like I do)...

To this at 2 months
(Again don't know why blogger is turning my pictures, but I am NOT happy about it):

She is my chunky little bundle of love.
We just love the squishy cheeks and all of the rolls.

I know this one is a little out of focus, but something about it just captures me.
I love it!!

At two months she was already rolling from her tummy to her back and holding her head up very well.
She has always been full of smiles and giggles.
She captures the attention of everyone
- if not for her smile and sweet looks then it is her hair.
That still continues to be the number one comment by every individual.
"Look at all of that hair."
"Her hair is so soft."
Yes, it gets touched and oogled over by complete strangers.She weighed in at 12lbs and 1oz and was 21 inches,
she grow three inches and gained almost 3 lbs from her birth.
She was really starting to develop herself.
I don't think there isn't a day that goes by that the older children are NOT fighting over her.
She still continues to be loved "to death".
Some days I am praying that the "to death" part doesn't happen. I don't know if it is the nursing thing (which still continues to go very well!!!!) or what it is, but I have a stronger connection to her than I had when the others started out.
She definitely knows who her mommy is.

She is very loved in our family. We can not imagine a day without her.

Cousin Time

Several months ago we got an annual pass to the AZ Desert Sonoran Museum. We were very excited to hear that our cousins just got a pass through Groupon (although I am slightly frustrated that it came out through Groupon after I got one and I could have saved half of the cost had I waited, but of course we wouldn't have been able to enjoy it the times we had gone before too - double edge sword).

So, during our fall break the beginning of October we made plans to head out together to the Museum. It is a ways out there, but we were excited. The kids had to earn the trip with good behavior. With some ups and downs they were able to complete this task. So off we went. All they knew was that we were meeting "friends".

This is how Arianna was waiting to get going - sound asleep (I have the picture correct, but for some reason Blogger keeps turning it when it gets uploaded. I have deleted and tried several times and it does this every time - Sorry).

The girls patiently waiting with smiles on their faces.
And then our "friends" aka, Uncle Craig, Aunt Jen and the kids got there! Yippee!
Starting out on the trek of the museum.
Once we got started I completely forgot I had the camera, that is until I came around the corner to see my kids sticking their fingers through the wires to this....
The kids had been eating Goldfish Snack Crackers and the raccoon could smell them. He was right up on the other side of the wires and the kids enjoyed seeing him up close and personal.
Brendon didn't want to ride on the double stroller, but he was also having a hard time being one of the "big" kids. Finally I said, "Brendon, go hold Chalyn's hand." Now, Chaylen is feisty and NEVER lets anyone hold her hand. He ran up and she let him hold it. Yippee!! It was a much needed miracle at this point in our little adventure.
Our last real exhibit as we left was the turtles. The kids loved the big turtle and even got a chance to "be" the turtle at the shell (sorry no pictures of that).
Then lastly, as we were walking out was the Butterflies. So many and so beautiful. It was amazing. The kids would put out their fingers hoping that one would land. We got very close several times, but no such luck.



All in all it was a grand day that the kids loved. Many more cousin adventures to come here!!!