The Zoo

Saturday for my birthday we took the kids to the zoo. (you know that you are getting older when a good birthday is had by the joy in others)
We got up kinda early, thanks to Spence, my brother... another story for another day. And decided to get out before everyone else was at the zoo. Thankfully we did just that, by the time we were leaving everyone else was getting there.
It was a lot of fun to see McKinley get excited over the animals. The monkeys were her favorite.

Later that night we went to my parents house where my dad had cooked us up some killer smoked steaks. We ate until we couldn't eat anymore, had cake and ice cream opened gifts and hung out the rest of the night. It was a great birthday and I got some really nice gifts! I couldn't not post the flowers Bret bought me. I love the added touch of spring that they add to our house.

Thanks Hunny for all you do! You are the best!

A Week of Cards

I know that I am serious need of an update on the blog. The weather has been so nice here its just hard to actually not be outside.

Bret has been crazy cute this week by leaving me a card everyday telling me thank you. Each day is filled with a new thing that he is grateful for me for. Its nice to wake up and see the card sitting on the computer waiting for me. I just hope it doesn't end tomorrow with my birthday.

McKinley is starting to talk more and it is long awaited from her parents. Yes I know that she will be talking for the rest of her life, but just being able to communicate the simple things like what she would like to eat, what hurts, etc. is nice. Brets mom often reminds me that LaDonna (her sister, who is fabulous) didn't talk until she was 3 and has never stopped since. HA! McKinley know sees animals and can say the sound they make, I almost wonder if that is what she thinks they are. She tries to copy words we say and it is so dang much fun. She has a big heart and it shows in almost everything that she does. She also LOVES her brother who has to go with her everywhere.

Tait is growing like a weed! I guess I am just used to TINY McKinley. He now weighs a whopping 19lbs and is almost 30" He has started moving around, not crawling, but not army crawling either. His way of getting around is funny and I am glad he is finally mobile. He is a much happier baby since. He is trying so hard to stand by himself, I think its mostly so he can be like his sister. I hope that he will start walking soon, that too will be a happy day in our house because I know it will in return make him much happier. He has become a much happier baby in the last few months. If anyone shows him attention he will smile and laugh.

Bret is half way through his last semester at SLCC. I am so excited for him to be able to have a much needed summer off. This will be the first summer off in 5 semesters. His work is going well and with some rumored changes, it looks as if he will be moving up. Hopefully with the move will also come more $$.

We are still looking for a new place to live. Come June we might be homeless. Eagle Mountain is looking better and better to me the more we go out there and look. I love everything about it except Brets drive into work everyday. (which is a pretty big downer, although he will tell you that I could care less how far he has to drive) Plus you can get a KILLER loan. We are going again tonight to look at a few homes, I am hoping that there is one that Bret will like too. He is still not too convinced that we are going to be homeless in a few months. Plus he HATES change. We keep praying hoping that we will know what is best for us to do and where we are supposed to go. I hope (fingers crossed) we will walk in a house tonight and get that "this is right" feeling.


On a happy note, we bought our season tickets for BYU football! Can't WAIT!!!

Houses

Bret and I have started looking at buying our first home. Since we don't really know what the future holds with the duplex (the place we live now) and right now is a perfect time to buy we figured we might as well start looking.
I am quickly finding out that I am the pickiest person ever! I have this idea in my head of what I want, and nothing is fitting that description in our tiny budget. Here are a few obstacles that we have run into so far.

1. I don't want to live in a bad neighborhood or on a busy street - mostly because I want it to be safe for my kids to go outside and play. Right now we live on a busy street in a not so kid friendly neighborhood. So this is a MUST in a house. We will be there long term at least 5 years so both McKinley and Tait will be going to school. I don't want them going to school needing to speak Spanish as a second language. (and no I am not as prejudice as that sounds)
2. I would like a yard. - So I can plant a garden, have Dash play outside without being on a chain, the kids to have a nice area to play.
3. The kitchen and what it looks like. - I HATE houses where you walk in and see the kitchen table. I don't want people to ever feel unwelcome in my home. The first way I feel that happens is if they can see your family eating as soon as they walk in. Plus the kitchen table is a "landing zone" for all the junk that gets carried in from outside or stuff that doesn't get put away. I don't want others to see my junk pile that is usually on my table.
4. It needs to have at least 3 bedroom and 2 bathrooms. - I would prefer 4 bedrooms so that guests have a place to stay (or my brother can live with us) or make it a play room/office. Plus they all have to be on the same floor. So if the kids wake up in the night I am not climbing stairs in my zombie like manner to attend to their needs.
5. I want an unfinished basement. - for storage, and so in the future we can make more rooms or a bigger family room. We can do what ever we want with this extra space and have endless possibilities.
6. I want it to be close to family and close to Brets work and school. - This is important so that I know that Bret is safe and not driving on a 2 lane road to get to and from work/school. I want to be close to my mom and his mom so that we can see them often and so our kids know their grandparents and cousins. Although this I am finding is something that we are a little more lenient on.
7. I DON'T want a fixer-upper. -Bret is already too busy with school and work. I want our home to be move in ready so that he has a nice place to come home too, not more work.

As you can see I am pretty picky. We looked at a house in Tooele I LOVE it. Its got #1, 3,4,5 and 7. But it is missing 3 and 6. Which means no yard and we are about an hour away from family. The no yard thing is really the deal breaker. Although I LOVE the house plus it has the laundry on the main level and 4 bedrooms 2.5 bath. And its in our price range.
We are going out to eagle mountain tomorrow to look at some other homes. Hopefully we will be able to find something. But still are missing out on the whole #6 its about 45 minutes away for Bret to drive to and from work and school, but it is closer to family. Anyway here is a model of the house we like that is in Eagle Mountain.

Found

We found it. In the one place I didn't look, her carseat. I have NO idea how she possibly could have had it in her hands without me noticing while I was buckling her in. But it was there just laying on top of her seat in the car.
Since it has been found we are making up for lost time and she is happily watching it again right now for the second time today.

Sad Day

It is a sad day in our home. McKinley has officially lost High School Musical 3. I have looked EVERYWHERE for this silly DVD in my house. Under and in the couches, under the lovesac, in the DVD holders, in the trash, in her toilet, in the tub, in her toys, in her dressers, under the beds, in the beds... and it is still MIA. I ask her where it is, she says "yeah, mi mi" or in our language "yeah I get to watch High School Musical".

This morning she went to the DVD's and kept saying "Mi Mi" I told her it was lost and she then started walking around the house saying "We... We" or "where, Where". I am all out of ideas on where to look for this movie. So, to all you women out there who read this, (women because you can always find your husbands lost his keys that you never touch but when asked you know exactly where to look and find it) is there anywhere I haven't looked that your children hide things? I am up for all and any suggestions.

Today I am Thankful For...

Bathtime!!

The Bachelor

Many of you like me, watch the addicting show the Bachelor. I have only ever watched I think two seasons ever. Mostly because I know that if I start watching it I will be hooked and then be disappointed when they breakup or he doesn't pick the person that I want him to.
The first season I watched faithfully.. it was the season with the incredibly good looking Brad Womack,

and he didn't pick Either DeAnna

or Jenni. (who was my personal favorite)

I swore after that season that I would never watch another one again. Then it happened, too many people were talking about this wonderful new bachelor Jason

or Bachelorette DeAnna's reject. Since there was so much buzz this season, I couldn't help myself and started watching. I like everyone else who watches the dumb show started picking their favorite girls and debating over which one would be the best pick for Jason. My personal favorite was Jillian

but Melissa

came in a very close second. Since Jason sent Jillian home which left Molly (who I liked too)

and Melissa I was on team Melissa. She was cute and bubbly and was able to express to him her feelings for him, unlike Molly, who was more reserved but still fun. I of course was very happy that he chose Melissa and was SO not prepared for what a jerk Jason turned out to be. In the final rose episode, he dumped Melissa and asked Molly for a second chance. Although it seems as if Molly and Jason are very happy,

I am flabbergasted by the way the he handled the situation. He dumped Melissa on National TV and the moments later asks Molly for a second chance. Then they start kissing and being all lovey dovey. Ok I get it you are happy that she was dumb enough to take you back, but seriously have some respect for the person that you just broke up with. I am glad that he followed his "heart and mind" but he could have done it in a much more respectful manner. Break up with Melissa before you even come on the show, give it a little bit of time and then ask Molly for a second chance. I think everyone is more upset over the way it all went down, not so much how it ended. I really liked Jason and thought he was a decent guy, but to do what he did, the way he did it made me loose a lot of respect for someone who I thought was a "nice guy".

Draper Temple

Saturday Bret and I went with my parents to go through the Draper Temple. It was nice to have the time alone without the kids and enjoy the beauty of the temple. I loved the chandelier in the celestial room along with the mini ones in different rooms as well. We are lucky to be a part of such an amazing church.