We have the keys!!!

We got the keys yesterday to the new house in Queen Creek!!! We took the kids to see it for the first time.

Check out the view from our backyard!


I love the stairs and they are the first things you see when you walk in the front door!

Still not sure when moving day is. Kyler still has 3 weeks of school left so we are in CG at least until then.

Another update.....we scheduled Kyler's surgery to have the screw put in his head for his hearing device. It's happening on June 17th. I am dreading that day!!!!

Sorry not many pics lately but school, kids, house hunting, house selling, garage sale, packing and my usual daily duties have had me so busy lately!

Queen Creek Here we Come!

We have a house!!!! We put in an application on Saturday and just found out this afternoon that the house is our's! We will be getting the keys on May 15rh. The house is my dream house!!! The inside looks straight off one of theose TLC remodel TV shows!!! The only bad part is that it is in Queen Creek :( This is NOT where I wanted to love. But that is where the house that we fell in love with is, so that is where we are moving!!!

The house is 3200 square feet, 5 bedrooms, large lofts, 3 bathrooms, formal livingroom, formal dining room, family room, granite counters, stainless steal appliances, tile all downstairs, cherry wood floors upstairs, master suite with sitting room, a mountain view from the back, a fire pit, and 3 community pools! Yay!!!!

Here are a few pics I took on my cell phone...

The kid bath....with granite counters...

My dream kitchen!!!!!

Change is in the air.....

I have lived in Casa Grande for the past 21 years. Scott has lived here for 23. We aren't good with change......but it is time!!!!

We are moving!!!

But since we are not so great with change, we decided it would be best to not move too far away! So we are moving to the Chandler/Gilbert area. It is only 45 minutes away. But so scary!!! We are saying goodbye to our house!!! I love my house! My kids love the house! I thought I was going to die in this house. I thought that because Scott told me so!!!

We do not have a house in Gilbert yet. We will be renting :( I am only 28 and I have already owned 2 houses. Kinda stinks to go back to renting.

Or does it? Owning a house hasn't done us any good or saved us any money! We are so upside down in our mortgage that owning our home is no longer a good investment. Now we will have a house that is about the same size and pay less. That sounds like the way to go for me!!!

Plus we will be closer to Scott work, family, friends, a church community, and so much more. I think we are gonna love it!!!

But first, a house for sale, packing, garage sale, finding a new house, moving, and unpacking!!! Anyone want to sign up to help?! lol

Easter

We had a FANTASTIC Easter this year! I think it was our best ever!!! Here are some shots I got real quick as we were heading out the door to church.....Danika...

Laynee...

Makenzie....

Kyler...

After church we had an Easter egg hunt.
Then the kids played in the backyard (gorgeous weather!!) with the new toys that the Easter Bunny brought for them. They also helped me make bunny cupcakes and a really cool bunny bread!!!

Then Scott's parents came over for dinner and we had a DELICIOUS ham, scalloped potatoes, asperagus wraps, devilled eggs, veggies, bunny bread, and bunny cupcakes!!! YUM!

Of course I took a million pics......but honestly I shouldn't even be taking the time to post right now! I started 2 new classes today and they have twise the homework of any of my other classes and it is my first time taking2 of them at the same time (3 if you count the photography class at CAC!). But I just wanted to take a moment and share a few pictures of my sweet family on Easter!!

And if I am posting a little less during the next 6 weeks than I usually do....you will know that I am actually doing my homework!

Ostrich Festival

I am attempting to get caught up. But no promises!!! So we started Spring Break with a trip to the Ostrich Festival! It was a gorgeous day and the kids had the best time!

So we saw the Ostrich races, pig races, money show, magic show, and the petting zoo. Awesome!

Meeting the Bunny

Over Spring Break we took the kids to see the Easter Bunny at Chandler Mall. The cool thing is that we talked Laynee into standing next to the bunny!!! She has screamed every other year! Heck she even screamed about the characters at Disney!!!

I really intended to share a bunch more pics from Spring Break, but I have been sick for over a week. So I have been a little lazy when it comes to the blog!!!

Plus, I had my first day of teaching this past week!!! It was rather nerve racking! I had to teach a lesson on the Legislative branch of government to 5 different government classes. Sadly, because I was sick, I could hardly hear a word of what I was saying! Otherwise, I guess it went ok. Just hope I stop getting so nervous!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Had a fantastic- but LONG day with the kids!!!! It is only 8 o'clock and I am in bed and ready for sleep!!! Just thought I would share a pic of us decked out in our green!! More pics later when I post our Spring Break photos!

Spring Break

Kyler is on Spring Break this week!!! And the twins are done with preschool, so all 4 kids are home for the week!!! I still have school :( and Scott still has to work, so we couldn't go on a trip. Instead we have planned lots of fun day trips! It's a Stay-Cation!!!

So on Saturday we went to the Ostrich Festival. Sunday we went to a BBQ. Today, while Scott was working, I took the kids to Reid Park for a picnic and then into the zoo!!! Later this week we have library story time, crafts, more park time, gymnastics, a spring training baseball game, and probably the Science Center! Fun!!!

I will post pics later. I am a little lazy after taking 4 kids to the zoo!

More updates on ears.....

Kyler had another audiologist appointment this past week. Through all of this teasting we have found that Kyler has profound hearing loss in his right ear. Additionally, any sound that he can hear on that side is muffled and sounds more like static. A hearing aid can only make sound louder. It can't make it clearer. So if we gave Kyler a hearing aid, it would just be like turning up the static. Not a good idea. The only thing that can help Kyler is a device called a Baja. A screw is surgically placed in Kyler's skull and then this device attaches to that screw. The device will make it so that all sound will go through Kyler's good ear and none through the bad ear. It is amazing technology. But it is so sad how it is attached!!! I hate the idea of my baby having screw put in his head!!!! But, Scott and I know that it will be so amazing for Kyler to finally hear things and to be able to hear them clearly. So we are going foward with the procedure. If insurance works with us, that is!!!

Also, this week I took Makenzie and Laynee for Child Find screenings this week. These screenings check to see if the child is at an age appropriate level of learning and if they need any special education programs. Both girls had a couple delays. Most notably, both girls had speech delays. Especially, Laynee. This did not come as a surprise for us, but it is still sad to hear and to see the words written on paper. But the good news is that both girls will be getting the help they need through the school district. I am not sure what that will be yet, as we still have to go through one more evaluation.

The Child Find specialist also suggested that both girls be seen by an audiologist. Oh man! Our insurance would not let us bring them to Kyler's audiologist. So I took them to one in town and they would not cooperate!!! Uhg!!!! The yesterday the nurse at Kyler's school tested them. SHe made it into a game and they participated perfectly. Makenzie did just fine. Laynee had some problems with her right ear. My heart sank when I heard that. So today we got new health insurance and hopefully Laynee will be able to see an audiologist in the next couple of weeks.

I am so exhausted!!!! It is one appointment after the next and I rarely leave with good news. But it will all work out in the end and I am so very blessed by these children!

Winter Piano Recital

Today Kyler and Danika had a piano recital. Kyler has been taking lessons for a year and a half and Danika for just about 6 months. They love going to class and I am impressed with how much they are learning!!! Look at how cute my piano players look!Check out Danika, age 4, playing the baby grand on stage in front of at least 60 people.....

And Kyler who is just way too cool for all the pictures.....

Danika was just in love with her recital dress. And I found some flowers to match the one on her dress and made a barret for her hair. It was pretty cute!

Proud mommy and daddy with their piano players....

We are off to dinner to celebrate!

Valenintes Snow

I am a little behind on my blogging. It was a crazy busy week with school, kids, mops, bible study, etc. And next week will be even busier as Scott starts his RN training and will be working all days. Plus, I start my classroom observations next week and the kids have several appointments! Busy Busy!!!

I am so glad that we had the opportunity to take a mini vacation to Flagstaff over Presidents Day weekend. Scott had 5 days off in a row and Kyler had 3 days off from school. I figured we w=ouldn't have this kind of opportunity until school is out and Scott is done with training over the summer. So this time was special for sure. And the kids had the best time sledding, having snow ball fights, going out to dinner, and staying the night in a nice hotel. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the trip...

My Valentine

It was so much fun to have an entire day to ourselves to celebrate Valentine's Day!

We went and did some shopping together. Scott was thrilled when we went to Costco and I was excited to hit Carters and the mall!!! Then we went to Black Angus for steak, shrimp and wine for dinner. Finally, we went and saw the movie Dear John. We went to a movie after dark! I can't remember the last time we got to do that!!! I love my sweet husband and so enjoyed spending time with him!

Happy Vaelntine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day to my sweet husband. I am so lucky to be his Valentine every day of the year!!!

We got to spend an entire day together with no kids yesterday. We had lunch with a friend, went shopping, a nice dinner, and a movie. It was great! And then today we took the kids up to Flagstaff for some sledding and snowball fights. I have lots of pics, but I forgot to pack my camera cord! So pics are coming soon!

More of my photography class homework....

When my instructor announced this weeks homework assignment, I was really bummed! We were told to take landscape pictures. I know I am the odd one in my class, but I hate taking landscape photos! I like people in my pictures!!!! For the assignment we are required to take 36 different pictures of the same subject. I think it is so much harder to make a moutain or a tree look 36 different ways! Much easier to just move a kid around in different positions and have different facial expressions! So I was challenged this week. But I think my final product is pretty cool!!! Here are my favorites....Can decide if I like it better in black and white or color....

I took these at Villago park. Hope the teacher likes them when I go to class today!

Adding to the album.....

Too bad I can't major in scrapbooking! I would be so much more motivated to do my homework!