what have we been up to

Life has been very different for us these past two months, but we have felt so blessed. Justin's sister and her family have been amazing! You might think that having four adults and 7 (now 8!) kids under one roof can be a little bit crazy, but looking back, the time here has been incredibly memorable and enjoyable.
Lots of late night talks.
Lots of movie nights...Brian Regan, need I say more.
Lots of kick the can nights.
Lots of yummy meals and treats.
Great hiking right out the back door.
And plenty of this

The kids have been out there for a total of at least several hours. (We will be getting a trampoline for sure... and having it in the ground is key. Our kids are obsessed.)

We moved when Corbin had five weeks of school left. We moved 40 minutes away. I didn't mind commuting him everyday so that he could finish off school with his friends and teacher. Those first couple days did end up being very hard on the kids, too much time in the car. After talking to the principal and his teacher, we decided it would be best to transfer him to the school where his cousin was. I at first had a hard time with this decision (although Justin was all for it). I was so worried he wouldn't be able to adjust, that he would feel left out of his new class, and not have a friend. I was so wrong in every way. That kid amazes me, by the end of the first day he had already made friends, he got to play with his cousin at recess, and loved his new school. Looking back I am so glad that we made that choice.

Life has been very different for us in many ways. Leaving our ward, our neighborhood, our home, our routine was so hard. But it also helped us realize what we do have, each other. We cherish all the moments that we do have together. I have come to a deeper realization of how important my family is to me. I love Justin so much. He wants me to be happy in every way, he wants the boys to have a good childhood and to feel secure. Not only did things change with our living arrangements, but he has also gone through some big changes with work. It's a good thing, but the past couple of months has been incredibly busy and stressful for him. He had to spend a ton of time studying, and he was still so selfless. He found other times to study so that he could still play with our boys when he got home. I don't think they ever realized how much he had to get done. (and same for me) The good news, he passed his test. I love that man!

We are now in the process of waiting for a home. In some ways we can't believe that in about a month we could be in our own home again. Whenever I think of the home I get so excited, not because it's huge and fancy, but because it will be ours, a place where we will get to create new and wonderful memories!!

changes

One month ago I decided I needed something to cheer me up during this crazy time for us. I have learned that getting out in the yard and gardening is very theruputic for me and is a great way to spend my spare time, and besides, I can reap the rewards of lettuce, spinach and peas. I did this one month ago. Here are my peas today. Little did I know how things would change after I put those seeds in the grown.

This little home of ours will no longer be ours by the end of the week.

It seems unreal. So many incredible, happy, sad, meaningful memories have happened in this little space. I know we needed to do this and that we will find a wonderful place that will become our new home, but for now I'm sad to leave this place, our ward, our friends, our sunsets, the things that have happened here for the past 4 years.

Change is in the air for us.

Even the weather has changed a lot this month. Snow Days

Sunny Days

Changes with my childhood friends. We now have a ton of kids combined. I can't believe how much has changed in 20+ years. We don't just "play" house anymore, we are living our dreams.

Corbin's cousin, his cousin's aunt (which is my sister in laws little sister and, I'm pretty certain, Corbin's new crush), and Corbin. Confused?

Changes in sleeping location.

We took down the boys bunkbed this past weekend, the boys thought it was the funnest thing ever. Tools, fun. Jumping on mattresses, fun. Helping daddy, fun. Running circles in their bedroom, fun.

Now they are sleeping on mattress on the floor.

Even my age has changed this past month. It was the perfect day with my boys. They made me feel like a queen. (I just wish I had more pictures of them with me)

I love this boys kisses.

My sweet Corbin gave me an envelope full of most of his change that he has worked so hard to earn. I love these boys!

And my amazing, favorite sister left me a wonderful birthday message.

So, yes, a lot has changed this month. But isn't that the only thing that stays the same.

giving in can be good

All week I have been so tired, exhausted, and just done by the time we put the kids to bed. I just want to sit down, stare into space, and then build up the strength to get up and clean the home from the damage that was done throughout the day. (it's amazing how fast the home can go from a perfectly clean, not one thing out of its place, home that is for sale to something that looked like a tornado hit it, with legos and bionicles spread across the floor, bowls of half eaten cereal left on the table, and homework spread across the couch.) I feel like my patience has been great during the day, and then 7:00 hits and I'm done. It's shocking how fast it can happen.

However, last night, there was one boy, who took a nap during the day and really shouldn't anymore because he will not fall asleep at night boy, that really wanted to help me out and just be together. I gave in. I scrubbed the floor and the little boy scrubbed the toilet. He helped me clean out the tub, and then he found a spider and told me he would "get it." He grabbed a tissue wadded it up stood behind me, and then threw it at the spider. Luckily daddy was standing by to really "get it." But the rest of the night he said, "mommy, I got the spider!!"

Justin has his class three nights a week, so since he was still on-line for that I decided I would climb into bed and take this chance to read my book. Then I let this little guy come and cuddle with me while I read. It felt so good. He asked if he could "read" to me, grabbed the book and then tried to find every O on the page, the excitement in his voice was priceless.

After that we had a 5 minute conversation of how to properly sing the star wars theme song. Then he would tell me, I'll sing this, and then you sing this, then I'll sing it like this. Seriously, you're how old?

Then off to bed he went.

I am so happy that I gave in last night, it was good.

out to eat

Corbin chose to go to Carl's Jr. for his birthday-out-to-eat dinner. They were so excited to actually get a kids meal that included pop and a toy. It was a fun night.

seven

Happy birthday seven-year-old-big boy!

I didn't realize before he woke up that morning that the most important thing he wanted to find was his bithday sign. Luckily, I got it up just minutes before he climbed out of bed and now I know that is a tradition that must continue.

For the Morris family party he wanted Star Wars cupcakes (he shared the party with his Grandpa and aunt). And on his birthday, we kept things pretty low key and just had a lego party with our little family, he wanted chocolate pie for that one. However, he was thrilled to have his cousins over for an afternoon snack when he got home from school (thanks for waiting an hour for us Mandi!)

Each brother picked out a gift to give to Corbin. Taylor couldn't wait for Corbin to get home to give it to him, and then the pain of having to wait until after dinner, it was unbearable.

I think this if just funny. Do you think I should continue to have Corbin give his brother "loves"? or is he just too old for that?

Levi gave him a $1 jumprope. I had no idea that would be one of his most favorite gifts. He has practiced everyday so diligently. When he first tried it, he was thrilled to get three jumps in without having the rope get caught. Now he is up to 20 and going strong. (He told me that he got to 100 until I realized he was counting by 10s)

Always our adventorous boy.

One of our goals as parents is to have boys that appreciate the simple things in life. We don't want them to be chasing after something the rest of their lives and to never be content, but to actually have joy in the here and now; to know that you do not need a lot of money to have fun, but to use the creativity we have been blessed with. Corbin does.

Happy birthday buddy.

sampling a new program

For Corbin's birthday, Levi gave him a jumprope. I had no idea he would be so excited about it. He wanted me to take some pictures so I tried out the sport setting on the camera and then I saw this great idea on this blog. I was so excited to try it out!! He also got a great bow and arrow from his cousins that we captured. I'm excited to try some more things with this program (I have some ideas) but for now here is a small start.

school kids

I love when Corbin walks in the door and tells me the things that are going on at school. I love all the little friendships that are made and the games they play.

He loves to play house with the cute little girl in his class, they have to play 17 times before that game is over. Then he plays star wars with two girls, he is Luke Skywalker and they are Princess Leah and Queen Amadalla. Playing house is a two person game and Star Wars is a three person game.

On a different day he plays "friend" with a buddy and he magically becomes fire droid.

Then he plays space ninjas with two guys.

Where do they come up with this stuff and why aren't they running from the girls who are trying to kiss them? (okay I would rather they not)

This week Corbin got to be MVP.

I took in his poster and a treat to share with the kids (which happened to be the treat that his cute friend, Brooklyn wanted him to bring, chocolate donuts) After he talked about his posters the kids got to ask some questions to one of us. One girl said, "Why is Corbin so funny?" Another girl said "I know why boys tease girls...it's because they like them") It was one of the girls he teases...all...the...time.

With his birthday coming up, all his friends wrote him birthday cards and gave them to him. We sat down and looked through them today. One girl said, "I like how you play with me at my house." Another girl said "You and Me." A sweet boy wrote "I like you. You are funny."

I think Corbin is really liking all this positive attention at school.

He told me the other day, I really hope that Brooklyn is in my 2nd grade class. I told him that there is a chance we won't be here next year. He said, "let's just not sell our house for three more years" It breaks my heart, but I know he will do well wherever we go, when we go.

These are the Valentines he did this year. He chose them after I showed him the idea, he thought they were hilarious.