LAST DAY…

• So today is the last day in our home.
• Our perfect little home that has been so good to us. It may have felt small at times, but it was ours.
• We moved in when Mia was 8 months old. We brought Landen home from the hospital to our little home.
• The girls have shared a bedroom for 4 years.
• Landen and Mia both learned to walk here.
• Kalea attended started elementary school here.
• Christian worked at GSK, I worked 2 different jobs at 2 different times, and then finally became a stay at home mom.
• Christian taught the girls how to play kickball in our back yard.
• The kids have played countless hours in our backyard.
• Every Friday was Pizza and Movie night.
• Christian laid our hardwoods, painted every room, laid tile, and worked countless hours in the yard.
• I cooked hundreds (if not thousands) of meals in the kitchen, woke up with sleepless babies, wiped away tears, and gave as many hugs and kisses I could fit in a day… all in this home.
• We’ve celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, 5 Christmas’, and many get-togethers here.

If you can’t tell, we will sorely miss this house. It wasn’t just a house, it was our home. The memories are never lost and a new adventure is about to begin. I have mixed emotions. I am mourning the foundation of stability we have built upon this place for our children. I am mourning the fact that I am moving so far from such dear friends that I cherish and will miss. I am mourning so many things right now. But I am also celebrating. I am celebrating new beginnings and dreams coming true. I am celebrating my amazing husband who has worked so hard for us and now I feel like I can give back to him in a way that is uniquely ours. I am celebrating that we are about to bring a new child in our home, sent directly from heaven. I know she will bring us all a sense of calm and a sense of “family” during this trying time of adjustments. I am celebrating that even though I am leaving my home, that my home is where my children are. Where they bring me the most joy and happiness a person could ever ask for. So even though I am in mourning for this place, I am also celebrating. And I recognize where each and every one of my blessings comes from. And I am thankful.

 

THE OBVIOUS

My good friend Leah asked me the other day, “So what else is going on besides the obvious.” I had to laugh and realize how obvious our topsy turvy lives have become. We have become so consumed with it that it must just look like a whirlwind to everyone else. I figure that I can finally take the time, sit down, and let everyone else partake of this chaos and what’s been going on.

So we put our house on the market back in March. We listed it sort of high,but still lower than the rest of the neighborhood. We got one or two listings. So we lowered it. When we lowered it, a miraculous thing happened, we’d get more showings! Just last weekend we got our first offer. It took some negotiating, but we were both able to be happy with the asking price. Now the real work begins though. We close on July 13th which means we’ll probably have a little “fix it” projects that they’ll want and then of course the moving part. Did I mention that I will be ZERO help lifting couches, tables, chairs, etc because I’m 33 weeks pregnant? My Hercules type strength will be have to be reserved for another time.

We will also be flying out for my brother Lane’s wedding in Utah in the next 2 weeks. I have very adventurous doctors who are ok with me flying out at 35 weeks and flying back at 36 weeks especially since I tend to have my babies early (38-39 weeks). So we will see…. I’m just hoping not to have a Utah baby. OH, and before all this we will be moved out of our house and moved in with my parents new house (yes, they just bought a new house too). When we get back from the Utah festivities we will hopefully be settled (until mid August) and be ready for the new baby…. who, by-the-way, will be named Alana Hazel Simpson. I’m really excited that the kids will have (hopefully) a month to get to know their new little sister before school starts.

I have already enrolled Kalea and Mia into their new school in Chapel Hill. We’re really excited for them to be attending this particular school because it has very high EOG scores and we have heard nothing but good things about Chapel Hill schools. The only downside (for me) is that it starts at 7:40 am. Yes… STARTS at 7:40 am. This is going to KILL ME (especially with a newborn and since I am NOT a morning person). So now the debate… bus or carpool, bus or carpool? We’ll see.

We move into our apartment in mid August…. the exact same day that Lane and Steph are having their wedding reception in NC. I think they hate me. Moving, plus newborn, plus wedding reception may end up in craziness, but we’re used that by now… right? The kids will have to adjust to a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment. 1100 square feet. It’ll be tight but I know we can do it. It’ll only be for 4 years. I’m actually excited about it. It’s a small sacrifice to make for Christian to be able to achieve a dream he’s wanted for years. It’s like a new adventure for us. And lately, everyday has become an adventure with us.

WEDDING TIME!

So as if we weren’t busy enough Lane decides to go and ruin everything with his happiness! Just kidding!! But in case you didn’t know, Lane and his soon to be wife, Steph, will be getting married July 1st and we couldn’t be more excited and happy for them! The kids are especially excited to go out to Utah. They have NO IDEA how long it’s going to take. Kalea even asked if “when we move to Chapel Hill, will be be closer to Utah?” Ummm… technically yes, but not really. Steph and Lane are doing vintage style wedding reception which I know will be absolutely GORGEOUS. We really are so excited to have Steph in our family and are even happier that Lane has found someone who can put up with him. She may not know what she’s getting herself into with this family though. Christian was cracking me up saying he was going to put on his best “redneck” voice and even paint his front tooth black. I think he should wear a pair of overalls without a t-shirt underneath to complete it. And then to really scare them, let them all know he’s going to be a doctor at Doctor School. Be afraid… This should be fun.

~*CONGRATULATIONS LANE AND STEPHANIE*~

MIA’S PRESCHOOL GRADUATION

Mia has been going to Jones Dairy Elementary and taking their Ready To Learn class. This class has been a HEAVEN SENT for her. She has become more confident and less clingy with me. She REALLY loves Ms. Jennifer who takes all of the children under her wing and makes them feel so special. She was able to attend her Kindergarten Readiness class to which showed them the types of things they will be doing in Kindergarten. She loved it and was ready to keep on going. Mia has really grown up before my eyes in so many ways. She is still my “mama’s girl”, but is ready to start school in August and take on a new chapter in her life. We love you Mia!!

{In line with the rest of the Graduates}

{Performing a “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” song they had been practicing}

{Receiving her Certificate and a bag of goodies for graduating!}

{So PROUD of our sweet girl! – Landen was at a friends (he can be a bit of a terror in open spaces and too much freedom)}

MOTHER’S DAY

YAY FOR MOTHER’S DAY!! I can remember back when Kalea was a newborn baby and Christian said to me “I didn’t know I had to do anything for you because you’re not MY mother.” So I was in tears, naturally, being a new mother. We created “Wife’s Week” for whenever he forgot Mother’s day. The following year he realized last minute that Mother’s Day was that Sunday and he made cookies… uh… they weren’t cookies. We had no sugar and no vanilla, but I do remember that he put a Hershey Kiss in the middle of it to try and make up for the lack of sugar. They were DISGUSTING.  And once again, Wife’s Week commenced. Well each year after has been a little bit better and a little bit better. Some years you could see it pain him. It’s been a 7 year process.

I do have to say that Mother’s Day is more of the father’s job until the kids are old enough to do something on their own. it’s a lot of pressure to do something for you wife to show that you appreciate her on this special day. I know some say that Mother’s Day shouldn’t be the only day that appreciation is shown. It isn’t… not if you look really hard at the little things your family does to show they love you each and every day. Some days you have to look a little harder, and some days you can be overwhelmed by the blessings your family brings into your life.

This year Christian went all out. It started with a date on Saturday night and going to out to eat. Just the two of us. We don’t do it very often. The last time may have been September actually. But we like to be home as a family especially since it seems like such a rarity as our schedules get busier. Anyways, afterwards we went and got our chocolate covered strawberry order from the Young Women.

The following morning Christian made breakfast for all of us (pancakes, bacon, etc.), gave me more chocolate, and presented me with my Mother’s Day gift. I feel absolutely spoiled by how sweet and special he made me feel this day. The girl’s also sang to me at church with the rest of the Primary (which of course brought tears to my eyes – good thing I was prepared with waterproof mascara), gave me cards and paper flowers that they made. The day couldn’t have been better. I really do cherish my family. They are my absolute world. My solid in this world of chaos and confusion. They have been the biggest blessing in my life along with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Being able to hold these two things dear to me has given me meaning and purpose.

STRAWBERRY PICKIN’

We took the kids strawberry picking this Monday night for Family Home Evening. It was so fun because we met up with a bunch of other families from church. It was such a great idea! I’m really going to miss things like this when we have to move to a new ward. This ward has really turned into our family and they all mean so much to us. Anyways… enough of the sob story. There were a few things that were absolutely hilarious that happened. Mostly watching Landen for the first time. He kept calling them “cupcakes”… I have no idea why. And then he’d his scratchy monster voice and yell “A Big One Cupcake!!” He’d take one bite and then throw it back. We kept telling him to stop, but he didn’t listen. I think he may have taken a single bite out of 15 or more strawberries and then thrown them. On top of that, he didn’t understand that he had to walk OVER the strawberry plants to get into the next row and stomped right on everything. Ohhhh, that kid. We’ll never be invited back. The girls were right at home picking the berries. They liked to look for the “perfect strawberry”. No green or white tips, and they thought the doubled ones were ugly. Such girly girls. I brought my camera along because I couldn’t resist…

And They’re Off!

EASTER

Sorry it’s taken me so long to post my Easter post. We had a great day at church and at home on such a special day. It was one of the first holiday’s we’ve spent at home and were able to make our own Easter dinner. We are always sure to explain the importance of Easter to our children each year. We understand the excitement of the Easter Bunny, Baskets, Egg Hunts and so forth. But each year we always talk and stress the importance of the gift of The Resurrection and The Atonement that our Savior has given us. The girls remember each year and are beginning to understand. Which makes us feel like we’re doing something right. Here are a few pictures of the activities we participated in for Easter.
Landen and Mia have been participating in the Ready To Learn program. The kids just LOVE Ms. Jennifer and all of the hard works he puts into it. She put together a big Easter Egg Hunt for the kids at Blue Jay Park. The kids played for hours on the playground and then hunted the eggs. Each kid was only supposed to get 12-13 eggs. But of course my kids were “those kids” who had close to 20 each. We were sure to try and the spread the wealth with the other kids as soon as I realized how many they had. Some were worried about the younger kids getting any. Landen, of course, took off like a bullet and figured it out quickly. I never have to worry about that kid being shy.

Easter Morning – Of Course the Easter Bunny came with candy galore. The kids chowed all morning long and then had a sugar crash later in the day.

           *Mouth full of candy already*
By the end of church I wanted to get some pictures of the kids in their Easter dresses/outfits. Landen was a disaster by the end so I didn’t get a good picture of him. But here are my beautiful girls!