Craft Afternoon - Thank You's

Sunday afternoon we were invited to craft time @ Valentine's - making thank you cards for all the elders and ministerial servants in our congregation.  It was a great idea (thanks Liz for arranging)!!  Each child made 11 cards - depending on their ages & ability they wrote a message of something they appreciated about each brother and his wife.  Then they decorated the card with stickers.  Each brother had a box and the cards were placed in their specific box.  It was then delivered that evening to each brother.  The children felt so good showing their appreciation!  It made us parents proud of them as well.  After, the kids played and of course we visited, laughed and enjoyed being together.  Our congregation is great about that!!!!

Thank you Benicia & Liz for hosting & coordinating!!!!

Ab & Sophia

Celeste & Asia

Some of the moms (and some dads too)

Sarah helping Noa & Ajeh

Susan cutting paper

Logan & Tara

It's Snowing!!!!

It's snowing and it is beautiful!  

This is our first official real snowfall since we've lived in NC.  The girls have a few friends over so they were running around in it at first.  Then they wimped out.

Pretty while it lasted, seems to have stopped now.  

Graycen, Abigail, Asia, Aubrey & Sophia

First Few Days

Saturday, February 9th we moved to the new place!  It started early in the morning, dismantling beds & getting everything ready for our crew of friends to arrive at 1:00pm.  Sadly, I didn't get more pictures.  There was at least 12 adults (as well as some kids) helping.  Abby went to a friend's house to play for the afternoon.....that was a huge help.  A couple hours later and most everything was at our new house.  WOW!  We then enjoyed pizza, chips, pop & beer with our friends.  

After they all left, we started putting beds together.  Ryan & Melissa came by (he had an appointment earlier so couldn't make the official move) and helped us get settled in a bit.  

We were exhausted and all crashed in our beds, sleeping so well!  The girls both spread out in their own rooms and were so happy!  We all were!!!

Sunday we found some dress clothes and headed to the Kingdom Hall.  That afternoon I cleaned out the "old house"......so glad to be done with going back & forth.  Now we are working on getting settled here.  Little by little the boxes are disappearing.  As things get more set-up, I'll be sharing more pictures.   

Dismantling the girl's bed @ "old house"

Isabella, Asia & Sophia enjoying pizza in the sunporch

Rye & Josh hanging the heavy mirror

Max, Sophia & Mel chillin on the new sofa in living room

Abby's bed

Rediscovering toys in her new room

Sophia's room

Sophia & Max are exhausted!

Reading in bed.....she loves it!!!

Sunday evening - relaxing on new sectional in family room
(downstairs)

Aren't they cute???

Our first family dinner in our new home
(don't mind the closet doors still in the dining room)

Today's the Day

Today is moving day!!!  

Yesterday Grandma & Pops spent 7 hours putting together Sophia's new bedroom furniture from Ikea. I love their stuff, but don't have the patience for putting it together.  Thankfully I have wonderful parents that were willing to do it!!!  Sophia was beaming last night when the big reveal happened.  She's elated to have her own room and new furniture!  

Tammee helped me in the afternoon bringing all our hanging clothes from the closets.  Then our friends Gil & Rebecca also came over to help.  Gil (an electrician) installed the ceiling fans in the girl's rooms.  And he vacuumed up after himself.....what a guy!  Rebecca and I brought a couple loads of boxes over to the new place.  Kitchen is set-up now and the girl's bathroom.  It's coming together!

Josh installed the tile (that looks like wood floor) in the upstairs entryway.  He's worked day & night to make this home fresh & new for us.  Thank you honey for all your hard work......we so appreciate it!!!

Our moving crew (aka - friends) will be over at 1:00pm.  This is it!!!!  FINALLY!!!!

Grandma interpreting the Ikea picture/directions; Pops
putting it into action

New ceiling fans (same in both room - clearance priced too)
Installed by Gil

Josh installing main floor entry

The big reveal to Sophia - she was excited to have her
friends a part of it!
(Calvin, Ab, Sophia & Claudia)

2-drawer dresser (using as nightstand) with
cute sliding drawer as well
Can you tell she's happy??!!

Progress on the House

We have been working at the house a ton!  Either cleaning, painting, installing tile, moving kitchen stuff over and finally installing carpet.  It has been exciting and rewarding!  Yes, we are tired since we're working our jobs in addition to all this.  Soon it will all be over and we'll be settled.......CANNOT WAIT!

Josh and Brandon worked so hard on the carpeting this afternoon/evening.  This was after they worked earlier.  Tomorrow evening Josh will finish up the family room and stairs.  Upstairs is all done!!!!  

Now the fun starts. 

Josh installing ramping material

Us girls hanging out on a pad roll

Ab loved helping with the pantry

Soph relaxing on the new pad

Hard at work

New pad

Busy setting up the kitchen

CARPET!!!!

Doing his thing

It's coming together

Seam time

Homework time

Look at that pro!

Kinda messy here

This girl has such an imagination

She loved playing with the carpet scraps!

Daddy training Sophia on installing