Here's what we've been up to...

So, to start off...this made my whole day.  We're living off food storage, which--don't get me wrong--we're grateful for, but which doesn't provide much by way of fresh fruit.  It's been killing me to see all the fresh, yummy watermelon that we're not eating!  So, I just about went crazy with excitement when we stepped out into the garage and saw this beautiful piece of produce! 

I have my guesses as to who so generously gifted us this fabulous thing, and I'm so thankful!!

And, the big news, in case you hadn't heard...we're making the move to Utah!  Our goal is to get the house up on the rental market starting June 1, with hopes that the house will be rented by July 1.  We are still going to Deanna's wedding in Utah (yeah!!) June 2-16, and then we'll be back to wait for the house to rent.  It will be quick, and not entirely painless, but hopefully good!

To answer the questions...we don't actually have a job lined up yet.   We have some awesome leads, some great contacts and some fabulous recruiters...and a whole lot of faith.  We feel like this is the best decision for our family, and we know that the Lord will provide the perfect thing for us...we're just praying that it's sooner rather then later!

Anywho...time to veg for the night.  This packing while pregnant thing is pretty tiring!  I'm just glad I have Mike home to help!! :)

Cuz Breaking Up Is Hard To Do...

So...moving pretty much stinks! I think everybody should just have to stay in one spot forever and never leave...make the good jobs come to them! Our good friends, Luke and Emily Werrett (Lute, according to Katelyn), are pulling out of town tomorrow for a new job in Illinois. Bummer deal for us, probably a good thing for them. Luke was laid off in January and it's because of their example that we are in the good financial spot we are in right now. We watched what they were doing while being jobless, and prepped for the future we prayed would never come. Luke has been invaluable in helping Mike to be a good job hunter....I think he should be called as the Ward/Stake employment specialist in his new ward!

Our very first Sunday in our new ward we sat by Luke and Emily, and I don't think it was chance. Immediately after saying our Hello's, Emily asked if we had plans for dinner. We didn't, and so we joined them and found out that we would have great friends just around the corner from our new house. (I still need to get that recipe, btw...yum!) I want to be that type of person that always asks people over for dinner...even before I even stop to think about what I'm going to be having!

We've played games with the Werretts almost one night a week, every week, for the last year. Luke usually wins, Emily doesn't like long games, and we always have to have some sort of sugar overload. Katelyn has a crush on 'Lute' and she calls everyone Emily....even me! We're going to miss you guys!

Anyway...here's hoping you have the best of luck in Illinois. Sorry I don't have a better picture to post of you two (I promise, bloggers, they are not normally dressed in hick-ish attire! Emily's hair really isn't that big, and Luke does like to wear shirts with sleeves, nor does he have a tattoo, we think!) Thanks for being great friends and great examples! Hope the grass really is greener (and softer!) in Illinois!
WE LOVE YOU!

Happy Anniversary!

Three years ago today was our wedding!  A lot has happened in three years...just imagine what can happen in the next 30~!

Three moves, 7 jobs (collectively), 1 house, 1 1/2 kids, 2 cars and a garden later...

"Even though we ain't got money...I'm so in love with you honey!"

Happy Mothers Day!!

We had a special combined YW/Relief Society meeting today for Mothers Day.  It was a special treat to be able to go to Relief Society on Mothers Day!!  They sang a special musical number that made me think of my own wonderful mother and how very much I love and appreciate her.  I'm a middle generation now, and as I think about Katelyn, all I can hope is to be as great as my mom.  I love you Mom! Happy Mothers Day!

Mother:

Sometimes when I see you, my daughter, my own,
My heart fills with love seeing how you have grown.
Your hands, once so small, have remained clean and pure.
Your heart filled with love helps my own soul endure.
The prayers that you speak give me faith to go on,
And the smile in your eyes gives me hope for the dawn.
Then I wonder why and give thanks that I was chosen to be your mother.

Daughter: 
2. I’ve watched you, dear mother, each day of my life;
I’ve seen how you smile through the joy and the strife.
I’ve needed your love and have known you were there.
I’ve seen how you help to bring answers to prayers.
The world that surrounds me is blind and unsure;
But with you as my mother, I’m safe and secure.
Then I wonder why and give thanks that I was chosen to be your daughter.

Mother: 
3. The seasons come; the seasons go; and I see you grow.
The light of faith is in your eyes; I saw it long ago.
I weep at your sorrows, smile when life is fair.
I speak your name in each tender prayer.
I know the time will quickly come when I must let you go,
But seeds of truth within your heart were planted long ago.
So reach for your dreams, for ev’ry good thing,
depending on my love, my dear daughter.

This one is for Aunt Rozla--

  This one is for you, Aunt Rozla... I'm so mean!! :)

Check out her post dated Wednesday of last week...

Now check out our garden--today!

Katelyn's Easter Dress

So, we're a bit past Easter...but she wore her dress again today so I thought I'd throw up a few pictures of the goober.  None of them are great--we're in the fun stage where Katelyn is the cutest thing ever in person, but makes strange faces on camera...let alone getting the girl to sit still!  Anyway...it gives you an idea!  It was fun to make--I think I've mastered the pattern now.  This dress is much better than when I tried to make it last year! :)

This one is from today--notice her rosy cheeks from the day at the beach yesterday! And notice the stack of shoes behind her...no matter how many times a day I put our shoes away (which, let's be honest, I've stopped doing cuz bending that much is just too much work!), she gets them all out again and wears them all over the house! Start them young!

Like I said...sitting still?  Ha~! :)

Welcome to the Quarter Century Club!

It was my birthday this weekend, and we had such a great time!  Finally, something to blog about beside job stress! :)

Thanks to everyone for the cards, e-mails, facebook hellos, phone calls, and in person partying! I had a great weekend!

Friday, my sweet husband took the whole day off work to help celebrate my birthday! (Isn't that so thoughtful?!)  We had a quick breakfast and got ready for play group at our house, then a breakfast-for-lunch of french toast (my favorite breakfast!) and hung out the afternoon away.  I got a nice long nap, Katelyn was happy, and a fabulous birthday box arrived from my family in Utah--just in the nick of time!  

Mike got me a fresh, yummy, perfect tomatoe from the garden! Yum! Nothing better!!

Nothings says "I Love You" like power tools!! A brand new, working with complete pieces jigsaw! Wahoo~~!  Thanks Mom and Dad! :)

Thanks for feeding my habit mom!
Look at my sad girl! (All Daddy did was take the camera away...gotta get those 2 year molars in! She's driving me crazy!)

We had a birthday BBQ with some good friends from the ward here at our house, and Mike made homemade, from scratch angel food cake with strawberries!  Yum!  

Katelyn helping to blow out the candle!

Saturday we headed to the beach for a morning of fun!  It was windy, and the water was cold, but once Katelyn figured out it was a giant bathtub, that didn't stop her at all!  We've been here a year now (can you believe it!) and we hadn't visited the beach to play yet.  We had a great time today, and were thrilled that the Barney's decided to tag along.  Kaiden is Katelyn's very favorite friend, and the two of them had a ball!

We're home now for naps, and lesson preparations, and helping with moves and cleaning out the car, but have had a lovely, wonderful birthday weekend!  Thanks everyone for making it so great!

Welcome May!