David Crowder, Mercy Me, and I'm a new auntie!!!!

Ok. So it's been a busy week. I always start out with the best intentions of blogging every day or at least a few times a week. It's been a week. Whew! Tuesday night I went to see David Crowder Band and Mercy Me in concert here. David Crowder was awesome and hilarious!!!! Mercy Me was really great too. I didn't realize I had my camera until Mercy Me was practically done so I was bummed. But here is a picture of Mercy Me. And they sang one of their favorite songs at the end so here is a clip of that. Oh and check out my playlist at the bottom of my blog. There is a few songs from both groups... I bet you have heard them before but didn't know who sang that song you LOVE!!!!!
BUT here is a link to YouTube so that you can see David Crowder... HERE





My sister in law went into labor so I drove out there to see them. It was quite the ordeal for her. But I finally have a nephew =) He was transferred to the NICU for breathing difficulties but he is doing better and they are hoping to release him tomorrow or the next day. Here is an adorable picture of him...ok well here is a few! =) My brother says that the picture on the right makes him look like Yoda! =) He's just stinkin cute!













So since we were at my parents house awaiting the baby's delivery we took the kids swimming. So here are just some fun photo's of the kids and my dad in their backyard.

Tried a new church today.

I miss my church. REALLY REALLY MISS MY CHURCH!!! Nothing compares. We tried a church this morning since it's the first Sunday since we've been here that we've actually been home. We went to the church that hosted the VBS that the kids went to this week. It was different than mine back in Arizona...(by the way...if you live in Arizona...check out CCV...I have the link on my blog...I LOVE IT!!!!) but it was good. Smaller. WAY smaller. But I'm sure most churches are smaller than CCV. I mean, CCV has 10,000 people on a given weekend. No that wasn't a typo...10,000. But it didn't feel that big. I have to say too...I miss my mom's group. *sigh* Starting over is so hard.

When we first told Hailey that we'd be moving she was very excited to get back near family but when we realized we wouldn't be in the same town she got pretty bummed. She cried and complained because she'd be leaving her friends in Arizona but not moving near her CA friends so she is going to have to make new friends. She, of course, says it's not fair and that I don't have that problem. I had to explain to her that it's NOT easy for me. I explained to her that when we moved to Arizona I left EVERYONE that I had known since I was a little girl...my parents, brother and sister, church, friends, job etc... It took me a little while to get to know people in Arizona but I did....just like she did. Now, it's hard again because just like her, we are not moving next to family... sure we're closer (2 hours instead of 6) but I still have to meet people. I don't know anyone here just like she doesn't so I do understand her tears.

Growing up can be so hard and at her age she is just way more aware of what is going on. She is 9 and going into the 4th grade. I pray for her everyday and I know that the Lord will have someone for her to become friends with...it's just a matter of getting Hailey to get over the shyness and meet someone! =) She can't wait for school to start...and for the weather to cool off so that they can play outside.
So, we'll keep trying churches till we feel like we that is where we are supposed to be.

Found my Camera!

I found the camera and so here are a few pictures of the house. We're still settling in so some rooms aren't done yet. So here is a picture of the front of the house. It's practically brand new.






Here is the kitchen on the day we moved in. It's got a huge pantry! We'll be getting a couple bar stools for the island and a kitchen table for the eat in area...eventually... =)





Here is the formal living/dining room. We just got the piano for Hailey and she loves that! So do the rest of the kids so we have to try hard to keep them off of it.





Here is some pictures of the awesome park that is 3 blocks away! The kids really really love it! Here is a video of Annabelle being silly! She likes to hit the button on the water spout and then run away when the water starts to come out!

Annabelle...and her diaper...

She hates it. I mean, wouldn't you? She just keeps taking it off and leaving it places. We have a huge house, so I am seriously searching for it. I'll ask her where it is and usually she'll tell me exactly where it is but sometimes not.

This morning was one of those mornings. The alarm went off and I just laid there for a minute. Then... Will comes in my room SCREAMING that Bella took her diaper off and threw it at him! Great. But then it gets worse. She had more than pee in the diaper. So.... good morning to me!

I spent the next 30 minutes cleaning the carpet, ripping off the sheets (because she decided to climb up on his bed) and cleaning her up. WHY? Why are kids fascinated with such things? It's gross and frustrating. She is ready to be potty trained. In fact, she's gone on her own a couple of times but the whole moving thing kinda pushed the potty training aside. But this was the last straw! Seriously!

I know that I'm not the only parent to deal with this right? You would think that since she is my 4th kid I'd have it down, but no. Maybe because she's my 4th kid I'm not surprised by anything anymore.

I hear yelling from upstairs... I guess that would be my cue to go. I think MOM and Ref are one in the same! =)

California...and their LAWS!

SO.... as of July 1st you have to use a hands free phone device if you want to talk on the phone while you drive. They have huge billboards advertising it and TV commercials... maybe it's a good law... maybe. Being from Arizona... we didn't have that law. The fine for talking on the cell without one is over $200! Luckily, Hailey has been sitting next to me in the front seat so she has been my hands free device for the past 2 weeks! =) She of course thinks that is AWESOME.

Steve threw away the boxes that our cell's came in and of course didn't bother to check what was inside so...he threw away the ear piece/mic thingy. I went to Best Buy to buy a hands free thing but found out that the one I bought didn't fit it. So today I went back to get a different one. AND I found out that my phone has Blue Tooth capability...didn't know that! I thought I had a cheapy phone but apparently Blue Tooth is included on the cheapy phones! =) So now I have an ear piece. You know, the ones that stick out of your ear and make you look like you are talking to yourself!

I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. But right now I feel like a dork! At least I know that I'm not the only dork in CA!!! =)

FINALLY!!!!!!!

Finally, we are in the house. Finally, the cable guy came (after waiting nearly 2 weeks). Finally, the kid's beds are put together and they are sleeping in them. Finally, I have fresh towels on the 2 towel bars...and the only 2... that are in this house! Finally. Finally.

Do you know how irritating it is to pack up a house in 1 state thinking that you'd be in a new house in another state in only a matter of a few days, only to find out that its going to take longer than you thought....then you realize you only packed enough clothes for you and your 4 kids to last you...oh...about...a week! Time goes by...4 weeks... and FINALLY we can move into the house. I've been sleeping on the couch (or the floor) because our bed is one of those lovely inventions that requires water tubes....sorta like a water bed but there are 8 individual tubes that you fill with water... well the bed is 10 years old... the tubes...yeah um... leaking. So, we don't have a bed set up... those stinkin tubes are $30 a piece to order replacements. We need about 5 so...do that math! Yeah, I think we just need a new mattress. =) *sigh* So, my wonderful parents loaned us their air mattress. I have it set up on the box spring so that I can "pretend" to have a bed! lol
did I mention that the floor boards upstairs squeak very LOUDLY?

The kids are enjoying their space. The house is pretty big. The Lord really blessed us with a lot of space. I'll post pictures later when I can find my camera under the piles of boxes! The house is a 2 story with a formal living/dining room and office off the front of the house. The kitchen is big and has a step in pantry AND a wall pantry AND an island! =) The family room is connected to the kitchen...like a great room. There is a niche for this wonderful computer that I am typing on (did I mention that I can't find the keyboard for the computer and had to run out to Wal-mart and by a cheapo one? not happy about that). We then have a play room and full bathroom as well as an INDOOR laundry room!!!! *giggles* I'm stoked!
Up stairs is 3 kids bedrooms and a kids bathroom. We have our pet turtle up there in her own little niche as well. Then the master with a HUGE bathroom that has a big TUB!!!! So...add it all up and it's a 2500 sq. ft. 5 bedroom 3 bath plus office. The backyard is landscaped and nice plus we are on a cul de sac which is great for the kids. There is also a brand new park only 3 blocks away that has tennis courts, basketball, volleyball a HUGE playground and the best part is a water splash pad (water comes squirting out of the ground or raining from the umbrella looking thingy). The kids love it, I love it.... and I guess Steve loves it. I think he's happy that I'm happy! =)

So... off to unpack some more boxes. Oh joy.

Wait... did I tell you that I have the best family? My brother and sister in law (who is 9 months pregnant) drove the 2 1/2 hours with my mom and helps me set up a lot of the down stairs. We used my brother's muscles to do all the heavy lifting and my sister in laws creative eye on decorating and my mom's good eye on everything else. My parents then came back and helped me get the kids' beds all set up (stinkin bunkbeds and missing screws!)

Okie dokie... Now I really have to go. The boxes won't unpack them selves....and I can't trust the kids to do it. And hubby is out of state for a few more days so... that leaves me. =)