Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Fingers Crossed!

We returned LATE last night from our whirlwind Midwestern house-hunting trip and are happy to report that it was very successful!

We are under contract on a house that we are very excited about.  It is 3300 square feet, on over 1/3 of an acre of land, with 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, and a finished basement.  Here's a picture of the front of the house:
And here's a picture of the back yard taken while standing on the back porch.  The house you see in the center across the way is Aunt T and Uncle T's.  We're very excited about living so close and having our kids go to the same schools!
It's a little nerve-wracking to be so excited in this housing market.  I think I'll be holding my breath all month long in hopes that nothing falls through on either the house that we are selling or the house that we are buying.

We feel very fortunate that each and every time we have moved, it has been to a less expensive housing market.  The house that we are buying costs two thousand dollars less than the one we are selling and has much more to offer.  Just how funny is this God that we serve?  Five years ago when we helped T &T move I saw this house model and fell in love with it.  I wished with all my heart that we could move right then and there, but felt God telling me to wait.  Isn't it amazing that in an area where not many houses are for sale, the exact one that I had my eye on for all these years was ready and available for us to buy?  God is good, isn't he?

Friday, April 24, 2009

Spring...

...has sprung!

We spent the afternoon with our favorite girls (and a few dashing gentlemen as well!) at the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival.
Sparkle and her friends had a grand time!
Sunny, on the other hand, well... she wasn't so sunny.  More like a little thunder cloud.  I think that she's going to more than make up for the fact that Sparkle was an easy two year old!  She wasn't much for being photographed (so sad since I worked so hard to coordinate the girls' outfits today!), and this was the happiest she was all day long.  At least we have some proof that she was there.
My heart is more full than I can describe looking at these photos... it's really hitting home lately how short a time we have with our sweet, sweet friends here in Utah.
On that note, we have VERY good news to share today:  our house is under contract!  We are happy with the deal and if all goes well, we should be closing a few days after graduation.  We leave tomorrow for MO to search for our new home.  Wish us luck!

*Thanks again goes to MI for her pictures.  Mine remain trapped in my camera.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Sparkle testifies...

to my spectacular mothering ability...

and has me completely humbled (and laughing!) in a moment:

"Mommy, Sunny's crying a lot because I have the Elmo Ice and she wants the Elmo Ice but I fell and bumped both of my elbows AND both of my knees and I NEED it.  She doesn't need it and I didn't do ANYTHING to her, but she won't stop crying..."


(long pause while I finish brushing my teeth)


"You can start yelling now."