Happiness is being a mom: Family

I'm so behind on blog posts! I'm afraid I'll forget current stuff, so I'll just jump in here, and try to catch up later.

We thought about building a house for a couple of months. We found a lot that was right in the area we wanted, plus it was owned by my uncle, so we didn't have to purchase it right away. We met with the architect many times, and he delivered our official plans to us. We then went to the builder, and realized that what we wanted was going to cost more than we could afford. Plus, we would still have to put in sprinklers, grass, yard, etc. We decided it wasn't for us, at this time. Then, while talking to the contractor, Jimmy, (who happens to be my cousin--and has been talking about moving for a couple of years now), I told him we would buy his house. He gave me this weird look and asked "What makes you say that?". I thought I had offended him, but it turns out he had just mentioned to his wife the night before that they should sell their house to us! Crazy.
So right now, our house is up for sale, and we are planning on buying Jimmy's house, provided we can sell this one. The first week we had showings every day, 2 on a couple of days. It was so hard. We felt like we weren't home at all, and the girls were being really moody. Our schedule was all messed up, and we didn't eat dinner at home for 5 or 6 days.
This second week has been slower. Only 2 on Wednesday. We got an offer last Saturday, but it was pretty low, and they wouldn't come up to the range we are wanting. I know everything will work out how it is supposed to. I've always felt that way about changing houses. I know that we were blessed to have my uncle offer his property, because if it had been anyone else, we would have had to purchase it, and then we would be stuck. Also, everything in Jimmy's life is pointing toward him leaving, but we had to spend the time making house plans so we could be in the same time range as Jimmy's family.

Annalisa is so talkative! It's funny, because when I brought her in for her 18 month checkup, the doctor thought she wasn't using enough words, so he referred us to "Early Intervention". Some ladies came to our house and asked questions, and observed Anna. Then they took a hearing test, just to rule that out for sure. Her hearing was perfect. They both said they thought she was right on track, and that I didn't have anything to worry about. And sure enough, just 3 months later, she is talking up a storm! She can say so many things. Her favorites are: Kaygee (Katie) Eena (Elayna) Daddy, Mommy, me!, Anna! meow? (cat), ruff ruff, (dog), ball, baba (bottle), and nigh nigh (night night-bedtime). She can usually correctly label yellow and white, plus she normally will wait for us to say a color, and if it is wrong, she will pause for a minute, then say "no!"
When we pass by Wendy's she says "Eat?". Obviously we eat there way too often. She is just so observant. She is also OCD. She really likes things in their places and throws a fit if you don't let her fix it. For a while there, my poor Mother couldn't leave her glasses or phone lying around anywhere, because Annlisa would bring them to her saying, "uh? uh?". It can be cute, and bothersome.

Elayna is just finishing Preschool. She will go to Kindergarten in the fall. She knows all her letters, their sounds, colors, shapes. She is trying to sound out words and understand concepts better. She still loves being read to, playing with Barbies, playing with friends. She has become more responsible for Annalisa, which helps me out. She loves her sisters very much. She loves playing with her "friends" (they are all her cousins) Gracie, Sadie, and Celeste.
Elayna can say the funniest things. Just last night, while I was putting her in bed, she said, "Mom? One day, when no one has work or school, and the house is all clean, you know what I want to do?" "What?"
"I want to do something so fun. Like make candy and play games all day!" She just has such a wonderful way of phrasing things so they are hilarious.

Katie is finishing up 1st grade. She has grown up so much this year, it is amazing! Her reading abilities are fantastic. But she still likes me to read her stories. She is reading "Harry Potter" with Ryan, "The Secret Garden" with Bowman's, and "Secret of the Attic" series books with me. She loves chapter books, as they are called.
Katie wants to be climbing trees, riding her bike, and playing with friends. She is a wonderfully responsible girl. If I get up to get them breakfast, she usually tells me to go back to bed so she can feed them. That could be because we tend to let them watch some shows Saturday mornings while we sleep in. :)
She loves to play with her sisters. She is very tender hearted. If she doesn't get a good night kiss from someone, she gets all sad. Of course, she gets sad about quite a few things, which can be taxing. But she is a girl, and drama has to be a part of her life, I suppose.

Our Church ward was just split up, because the wards were too big. When the ward is too big, people start feeling as though they aren't needed, because there aren't that many callings or responsibilities for everyone. This way, with a smaller ward, everyone should be able to have a job and feel that they are contributing to the ward family. We were put in the 5th ward, but when we buy Jimmy's house, we will be in the 19th ward, with my parents.

Ryan is still working at Westring Technologies, under the umbrella company of Rocky Mountain ATV/MC. He helps with a couple of different websites. He still enjoys collecting toys. He gets to hang out with his cousin, Derek, once a week, and they talk about toys, movies, etc. He is enjoying not being the choir pianist for the first time in 20 years. He is so talented, he gets put into piano jobs in every ward we are in.

I have been pretty busy trying to get the house ready to sell. We filled our garage halfway with stuff that we moved out of the house, to make it feel roomier. Then my Mom came over and helped me decorate it so it looks large and spacious. We are currently borrowing quite a few things from her house. I'm trying to get spring yard cleaning done. It's funny, once the house was really to list on the market, it was clean, and we didn't mess it up much. House cleaning is pretty quick. I feel like I have a little bit of extra time on my hands. I still have a reminder on my phone that goes off every day so I remember to actually fix dinner though.

We are all healthy and happy. Life is good. We are very blessed!

Katie by the Elephants "For both my Grandmas"

Elayna spent a lot of the time in the stroller, and Anna was in it most of the time. All that walking is pretty tiring.

We met Amanda's family there. Katie, Abby, Elayna, and Annalisa.

Abby and Katie, Best Friends Forever!

Posing for the camera in front of the Rocky Shores exhibit.

Elayna wanted a pic also.

Our family in front of the Giraffe homes. I think we got this picture taken as proof that I was actually there.

Inside the Giraffe place. Junior, Abby, Katie, Gracie, Elayna, and Anna.

Annalisa loved walking on the wall:

So proud of herself!

She got the idea from her sisters and cousins, who ran ahead on the wall as fast as they could.

Looking at more animals. I think these were large cats of some kind. Maybe the snow leopard?

Elayna is such a goof! She looks so uncomfortable. But happy!

Elayna really wanted her picture taken with this animal. I'm not sure what made it so special.

Anna got bored in one of the houses. She would just hang on this bar for a long time, then jump up and try it again. I had no idea she had that kind of strength!