For Grandma Carmen's Birthday

The Blank Zoo

I'm sure you think that I'm substituting a word for the name of the Zoo. well no, apparently there is a family with the last name Blank that had lots of money to spend in the area.

This massive bull was running and only had a wood fence between us and him. Quite frankly I was a little bit nervous.
We went to the zoo about 2 weeks ago with 2 other women and their kids form our church. We had a great time.

At the end of the Zoo there was the elephant. It sprays you with water I think my kids spent the most time here.

Our Branch had a picnic at the park on Friday night. This is the slide near the area where we ate. You fly down this slide. it even goes faster in the rain. Jed fell off one that was half this size. He came down and just flew off the end. After he did that twice we figured it might be time to go.

Jed flew off the slide to the left of the photo. This really is a really tall slide.

I couldn't hear Jeffrey one afternoon. this is what I found.

Barbies and boots. nice blackmail.

Hopefully we are off to do more "fall" like actives this week/end. I love living somewhere that actually has fall.

We have spent lots of time at parks etc. I think we have spent more time outside in the 4 weeks we have lived here than the 8 years we did in Vegas.

Parenting

Parenting

I love the mormon messages that the Church puts out. Here is one I was watching tonight and once again I'm reminded of how much I have to do still, but I know I can do it because I have help.

photos of our new life

What the kids spend most of their time doing outside. They love to play Tag your it. They love when Chris is home because he chases them around the house!

We have made brownies about 3 times in 2 weeks. The kids love brownies! ( I love them just as much.

Will waiting to go to the bus stop. He was so excited to ride the bus this year.

Getting on the bus.



It was cold enough on August 26th for me to wear my jacket to the bus stop!! I love it here.

The view from our front porch, drake Stadium.

Love our new house

We have been so happy here. Will's only complaint is that school is long. Welcome to life boy welcome to life.

minor funny tidbits

Annmarie's new favorite cereal is high ho cherio. (honey nut cheerios)

Jed has been saying lots and lots my favorites

- will bus will bus (when we are waiting for will to come home)

- bingle ells, bingle ells. hey (jingle bells so funny)

the kids are so happy to have a place to run, but they really really miss their friends.

Difference between Vegas and Des Moines

So no photos of the house yet, its still not all put together. I'll post photos of the outside and our "view" later. We have been here almost 2 full weeks now. Chris is in school, and Will starts 1st grade tomorrow. We have his open house tonight. He is so ready to start school.

Jeffrey decided he wanted to see what Iowa's health care system was like so he tried out the urgent care last night. Chris said the Dr did not believe that he was only 3. I have been having a hard time lifting him lately so I agree with her on the one. But he broke his right radius. He has a soft cast on (ace bandage with a splint) and thinks its way cool. I guess this is how we will break his finger sucking habit.

So on to the differences

Vegas

HOT HOT HOT

Gym - crowded with unreal people

No eye contact made

rude drivers

small condo (it closed yesterday!!)

ward

Great friends

Des Moines

Playing outside daily

Gym - Very few people, very clean, and very real people

Cashiers telling you thier life story

Nice courteous drivers

nice sized house

Branch

no friends yet but someday soon I'm guessing

Over all this place has been great to us and so has Drake. I know I will miss Vegas weather in the winter but for now the playing outside and walks have been great! I plan on being a better blogger, I also plan on being a better house keeper too so we shall see.

video's

First off we got wonderful news yesterday. The bank accepted the offer for our short sale!!!! we will beable to sell our house before we move!!! such a wonderful blessing!!

So Jeffrey did this one day before we recorded this. He did it on his own. it was so funny to watch him do this. I must admit I am a little worried about him hitting his head. he does this over and over.

Anmmarie had her dance recital so long ago. She is on the far left. and was so happy to get to wear makeup.

3 1/2 weeks left!

I honestly cannot say I thought we were this close to moving. Chris has given his notice at work, we've rented the truck, packed lots of stuff (lots left to pack), and been released from our nursery calling (we are speaking in church next week too). To be honest I have to say that it is getting harder for me to leave. we have been so blessed here. I never thought I would ever live in Vegas let alone enjoy it.

The closer I get the sadder and more excited I get. I read a friends facebook post who when she was moving said she's not crying she just has allergies. So I'm totally copying that. I will not miss the 115 heat that has been around this week and looks to be here longer. But I will miss my wonderful friends. I have made some of the best friends ever here and It breaks my heart to leave them. We have the most wonderful ward in the world. I truly understand what the meaning of a ward family is. I could never say enough thank you's for the wonderful people you are and the great service you have provided for our family. We will miss the Valle Verde ward.

On the other hand we are excited to start a new adventure (as some wonderful people call it). We are excited to play in the snow, to enjoy some more outdoor time, and experience all new things in a few weeks. Hopefully I will get better in updating (time will tell right). we have our new address, email if you want it. Hopefully we will get a new phone number sometime in the next month or so.

So soon we are off on our brand new adventure! (this might call for a new blog title!)

Blessings

Typically I do this around thanksgiving but we have been blessed so much I had to write it down (I'm terrible at journals, so thanks blog!)

Chris went to Iowa this past weekend to look at Drake and find out more and hopefully find us a place to live. Long story short, he found a house 3 bedrooms, some yard, and best of all it is campus housing (off campus, this is not UT so We are very lucky to have found something that fits a family). They even lowered the rent $50 because they felt like they made Chris drive all over town. They will put in new carpets, and cabinets before we move in. I don't know what to do with myself. Plus Chris really enjoyed the school. He is excited but also a little nervous. I would be a lot more nervous if it were me, but hey its not.

I went and spent a few days with Kindy while Chris was gone. Oh how my kids love her house, or maybe the tramp or the cousins. Whatever it was they loved it. When we got home I showed Will a satellite photo of our "new" house in Iowa. He said where is the garage? I said there isn't one. then he asked where is the trampoline. Apparently if you live in a house you must have a trampoline.

Another blessing is Chris having a job still. In this economy this is huge.

Our condo has passed the initial approval from the bank for the sell. Now we are waiting on . . . I've got no clue but hopefully this is the last step. Another major blessing.

Jed goes into get scoped on Thursday. We are hope full that we will discover some reason for his throwing up, but if not we are really glad that we have had insurance, so we could see if we could find out if anything is wrong.

School is out and I am done babysitting. I have been so lucky to earn some money from home by babysitting, but I am so grateful that I have just my kids now. I feel like I'm a better mother and more willing to do things with my kids. because taking 6 kids to the store is crazy but 4 is really not all that bad.

There are many many more but we have been so blessed the last few months I am starting to get a little fearful of the coming month. Maybe it is the blessings before the trial of Law School, which I'm still OK about and not totally freaking out. I've started to pack. Mostly because there is a chance that the condo might sell before we have to move. WE don't really care we just want to sell this place and get out. Now off to look for a place to live for 1 1/2 months before we move to Iowa.