Blessed :)

With Chad's new job there are going to be a lot of changes coming up in the next few months and I was starting to feel very anxious.  Two things were making me really nervous: 1) I had never been to Tri-Cities ever in my life and 2) We still didn't know where we were living and we were going to be up there in like a month!!!  

Well those two things were solved last week.  Chad and I were able to take a trip up there to see the area and find a place to live.  (thanks to our friends Ryan and Liz for letting us crash at your house) 

I am happy to introduce our new home! 

 It was actually the first home we looked at.  Our realtor just met us and was driving us around showing us the area and trying to get a feel for the kind of home we wanted.  He told us he had a house he wanted us to see because he thought that we would love.  We walked in and were like this is exactly what we are looking for.  It was in an area that was originally not where we wanted to live but after seeing what we could get for less money we decided it was worth it to live a little further from work.  Plus our good buds Ryan and Liz only live about five minutes from us now :)

This is the entry way and the double doors go into the living room/den

The living room

The dining room with the sliding door that leads to the backyard.

The really nice kitchen and we got them to let us have the Fridge too :)

Family room and fireplace 

Master bedroom

Jetted tub in the master 

Backyard

Backyard (it is all fenced and a pretty good size, very excited for this!)

The boys new room (I have contemplated keeping it pink but I think the boys would hate it ;)

We actually put and offer in on another house first that was just a little bigger but needed a little more help but the owners just wouldn't budge on the price at all so we decided that we just needed to move on and get this house 

So many new adventures coming in the next few weeks.  The boys are so funny and keep asking us if we are taking all their toys.  They are really nervous that we won't take everything so I have to keep reassuring them that we won't forget anything.  

BIG Changes...

Can anyone guess what these are photos of? 

Richland, WA 

Why would we post photos of Richland, WA? 

Because it is going to be our new HOME!!!!  

We are moving!  

Chad was offered a wonderful job working for a company called Areva and the job is in Richland, WA.  We are so excited for this new change in our lives!  

He will be starting sometime in the beginning of July and we plan to move there at the same time.  We feel so blessed to have this new opportunity.  The Lord often takes us on paths we would have never expected but if we have faith and trust we will be happy.  

Wish us Luck on our new adventure :)

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Anyone still out there....

So I have been terrible at updating this recently and the only excuse that I have is that I have three boys.  Life can get kind of crazy just trying to keep everyone fed, alive, and make sure the house doesn't get burned to the ground :)!
I have so many things that I would like to update on so I will just start with a sneak peek so you can see all the delicious goodness that is in store for you ;)!  (mostly it is just so I remember what I wanted to blog about).
Some of these are from a long time ago but are note worthy so here it goes:

This little guy had his tonsils and adenoids out last year and he was quite the trooper.

We got to stay in this lovely cabin with Chad's roommates from college and their families.  

Had new family pictures taken with my crazy family!

My grandparents let us use some of their season tickets to BYU football (four rows up baby)

Two of my roommates from college and their families came over for lunch one day.

Halloween happened and we won a pumpkin carving contest.  Okay maybe we won because we were the only ones who entered :)

Went up to Seattle for Thanksgiving much fun was had!

Got to see Santa and had a wonderful Christmas.

Went to Big Judds with the girls!  They ate an entire Big Judd together!

My little bro got married to wonderful girl named Marissa.

Chad and I got to go to Florida for a quick trip.

Got a picture with a movie star.

I will post more in depth on these topics at a later time as Miles has had it and wants to be picked up.  Hope you enjoy and come back soon.

What if we all wore signs...

I don't even know how to lead into this post but I just read a story that may forever change my life.  

How often do we pass judgement on someone without even knowing what is really happening in their life.  Sometimes we may even judge with the best of intentions or we may not even realize that we are passing judgement.  

I just came across a blog post that puts such a wonderful perspective on judging, and not just judging but on missing a chance to help someone in need.  She talks about how different this world would be if we all wore signs that said what we were struggling with.  How much kinder would we be to one another, how much more helpful we would be if we knew exactly what our friends, neighbors, strangers were going through.  

I will just let you go and read the post if you want

what if we all wore signs...

Randomness...

Just some great pics from recent happenings....ENJOY!

Daniel lined up all his cars on the stairs

Miles always sleeps with his hands on his face

Handsome Daniel all ready for church

The free petting zoo at the fair

Daniel at the fair

Garrett at the fair...he turned just as I was taking the picture

Miles just chillin' at the fair

My three little men

Garrett all ready for preschool

Miles first taste of rice cereal

Not sure what to think

Love his bumbo

Crazy boys

They love their brother

Bath Time

Love sleeping babies

Hehehe robber Daniel

Garrett robber

So tired he was falling asleep in his bumbo

The boys first snowman of the year.  They built it all on their own.

Nap time

All three boys are sleeping?!  I can hardly believe it...really I am shocked!  It probably won't last long and I really should go and be productive but instead I will sit here and blog :)  

My life is a constant state of managing chaos...but I have come to realize that with children you can only really control so much of the chaos.  Some of it is actually productive and purposeful.  

I found this on pinterest the other day and it completely conveys what I feel as a mother to boys...

"The Rules for Toddlers"

Be Cute

Stand on the table

Play with your food

Splash in the tub

Climb on everything

Jump on the bed

Give hugs

Splash in puddles

Dump out all the toys

Scream as the top of your lungs

Everything is mine

Giggle till your belly hurts

It says it perfectly...kids are made to get dirty, make messes, climb on stuff, and get into trouble.  My job as a mother is not to keep them from everything but to let them explore and discover who they are.  I am to help them reach their full potential not by controlling every move they make but by guiding their footsteps.  

I have come to discover that as hard as it is sometimes I have to let go and let my boys make a mess and be crazy.  I am trying to look for more opportunities to say 'yes' and trying to say 'no' less often.  Most of the time my children aren't trying to drive me crazy, they are just exploring and figuring out where they fit into this world.  

They have so much potential and I want to help nurture that not destroy their spirits.  I am hoping that I can come to see them making mud and painting the house with it as them exploring and not just making a mess.  (and yes my boys did do this...it was the outside of the house thankfully but they did use dishes from the kitchen and water from the kitchen to make the mud)

My kids are going to be crazy, they are going to get dirty, and they are going to fight but that isn't always a bad thing.  They are growing and learning and I hope that I can be a part of that.  That means I need to get messy and let them be messy.  

My new motto...also from pinterest:

"Please excuse the mess, the children are making memories."