Brotherly Bonding

I don't know what more I could add...this speaks for itself...

First Visitors

So we had our first visitors! I guess technically this little guys was the very first one... ...I was outside jogging on the path around our neighborhood, probably looking for an excuse to come in out of the humidity, when I happened upon the toad. I was pretty sure the kids would need to see it. And since I did go to Girls Camp one year and was named Frog Catcher of the Year for my keen skills at catching frogs, I brought him home. Tyler thought it was cool until it jumped and scared him. Brynn wondered if maybe we needed to locate a lillypad and water for it (we then had a talk about the difference between frogs and toads). But nobody except me thought he would make a great pet so I let him go in the backyard. We'll switch toads for lizards as houseguests ANY day!

But the real fun began Thursday afternoon when Gramma and Grampa Peper arrived.

They had to come pick up the playset to take to their house so we decided to make the most of it. We even gave them a tour of base...

But when that got too hot we decided to head indoors for some bowling...


Good times!!! We can't wait for more visitors (hint hint)!

Tour

Here is a general idea of the layout of our house. Remember I've only been here a week and there are lots of fun finishing touches that won't be getting done anytime soon - like house plants, area rugs, organizational items, accent pieces, etc. Hope this makes at least some sense...

Looking in the front door:

Living Room:
in the front door and to the right...pictures going around in a circle


Kitchen:
-through the door in the living room that the Johnny Jump Up is hanging in
-after years of eating at our card table and then craft table we had finally gotten a real table and chairs in the last few months...which then had a little run in with some movers...so we are now back to eating at our craft table


Family/Play Room:
-to the left of the kitchen or go in the front door and straight down the hall
-also has a door to the backyard

Laundry Room:

-yes mom you can be jealous :)

-to the left there is a door that leads out to the garage

Boy's Room:

-looking in the door from the hallway, then looking to the left, then to the right

-somehow the movers managed to loose the sides to our crib so Dylan is in the pack-n-play for now

Guest Room:

yes, its open and available so please come visit!!!!

Brynn's Room:

Upstairs storage Room:

Open Area:

-looking out of the Master Bedroom

-the top of the stairs, boys bedroom to the left, storage/guest/bathroom/brynn to the right

Storage:
Did I mention this house has a lot of wonderful storage?!? Nooks and crannies and hidden closets everywhere...

Dylan's knows exactly where the pantry is...

Happy Fathers Day!

What a wonderful day to celebrate all the men who are hardworking during the day being breadwinners; who then get to come home and be husbands, teachers, fathers, examples, babysitters, house cleaners, mentors, handymen, and the list goes on and on...we sure love and appreciate all of you!
So PJ loves gift giving. To him its an art form that takes thought, action, and lots of love. And for years I have been trying to aquire this talent. And on just about every birthday, holiday, special day, whatever, I think I've finally got it, I've finally gotten him the perfect gift...and, while he is always grateful and appreciative, I usually know I messed it up somehow (no it doesn't bother me, it just inspires me to try harder).

I've known PJ has wanted a nice, good grill for a while now - so Father's Day gifting should have been easy for me. However, since it was a crucial part of my planned out Father's Day cuisine (and knowing my history and lack of knowledge when it comes to grills) I decided he better get his gift Saturday night. Sure enough within minutes he was at the store getting a different one. My bad. But the thought and love were there and now he is a happy boy with the right grill for him...
...thankfully I was thinking ahead so the day turned out great.

PJ has been studying under his dad who is an amazing BBQer. What better compliment can you give someone than to want to be like them???
He did pretty good if you ask me. Happy Father's Day to all the noble men out there!!!

Us in the car on the way home from church and yes, PJ was sitting there quietly the whole time...
Brynn: Why (and then she asked something that I can't remember 'cause I'm still smiling over the rest of the conversation)???
Me: Why don't you ask your dad. He's a very smart guy.
Brynn (without hesitating for a moment): no he's not. not all the time.
Me (busting a gut laughing...oops...better compose myself...): honey, that's not very nice, what do you mean?? your dad really is very smart.
Brynn: well just not ALL the time he's not i mean. what?! he's not.

:) Did I say Happy Father's Day Honey?!?

Poo Poo Cake

Not much new here. Just working around the house... ...playing at the pool, going to new playgroups and trying not to get lost too much (PJ finally brought me a map home to study).

But today Tyler decided to have a big boy day. Not only did he go use the potty without me asking him (which was a miracle in and of itself) but he also FINALLY went poop on the potty. And yes, as gross as that is, we do need to make note of it. For weeks he's been asking to have a 'poo poo cake' if he goes on the potty. And today he actually accomplished this goal - I think thanks in part to the fact he was told we wouldn't leave for the pool until he went. But whatever it took he did it. And he was so proud of himself (as were we)!So here's to a yummy poopoo cake reward...the only thing he wanted if he went...and what a mom won't do for her son!

We're Here!

This is us... ...waving to you from our new house.

While after only 4 days we are already starting to feel settled, (thanks to me working my patootie off) we have concluded once again that we absolutely, with a passion, hate moving. We are not sure why anyone in their right mind would choose to move. 'Cause while there are some fun (and I use that term loosely) things that come along with it...

...mostly its stressful and just gives me a big headache. But we are getting through it and really enjoying our new area. People are so incredibly friendly and I believe we have already met half the neighborhood, and had a couple meals, and many treats, and cards with phone numbers, and all sorts of helpful information brought to us. And yes, Jon and Jill, I would make you proud with how I am trying my darn hardest to be friendly and do some of the meeting and introducing and making friends ;) Our 2nd day here we even went over to a Military Appreciation day at a local park and had fun. Here are my children staring at the FREE pony rides blatantly stating that they would NOT being going on them. Why you ask?!... Well you see, Brynn blamed it on the fact that she "did not want to smell like a horse", when really she is just scared to do stuff like that but didn't want to come out and say it. And apparently Tyler was too busy drinking his free soda and eating his free hot dog to care enough.

So really we are adjusting. The house has thrown me a few curve balls...

...seriously, not a single drawer in the kitchen was big enough to even hold my silverware tray, there were no drawers in any of the bathrooms, and the living room and family room don't exactly fit our stuff. I've just had to get creative, and that's ok, because there are other amazingly wonderful things that make up for its qwirks. Like the fact that there is an unbelieveable amount of storage space that was very lacking in our Arizona home.

Sorry to those who have been asking for pictures. I will try to get the house in picture taking mode soon but will be slightly embarrassed for people like sweet, talented, designer, perfectionist Becca who will be noticing all my creativity that had to happen and will be grimicing at the decor and layout. I will understand ;)

9 Months

Yup, Dylan is 9 months old today. Unfortunately, since we are sort of in a limbo phase, he won't be going to the doctor as needed to get his shots and percentiles until a little later. But according to Gramma's best measurements he weighs about 24 1/2 pounds which would probably be the 95th percentile for weight...we'll just have to wait and see how accurate she was ;) He has started to do more of an army crawl but still can't seem to lift his chubbiness up onto his hands and knees. And a few weeks ago his 2nd little bottom tooth came in. And he has definitely found his voice - he loves to 'talk' and screech and be heard.