House for Rent!

So we are at our wits end with this market and have decided to rent out our house. If anyone is interested in renting it or know of someone who may be interested please let us know. We will give a great deal to someone if we know we can trust them. It is move in ready!
Finding good renters really scares me. We've been landlords in the past and have had renters tear our house apart and pay late all the time. It is not something I look forward to, but necessary at this time. Good times ahead... I can feel it! :)

Look at these beauties!

Little clip is "normal" sized clip... for your comparison.

Anyone who knows me, know that I have REALLY thick hair. Not just sort of thick, but super thick. When I make appointments for my hair, I try and warn the stylist of my hair. It isn't until they actually see it that they believe me.
I have always attempted to use hair clips, but when ten of them still don't get the job done, it gets ridiculous. I had given up hope on hair clips until I found these beauties at the store the other day. They are enormous and wonderful. Happy Day!

Tumbleweed Park

Yesterday we went and played at a new park. David had the day off so he was able to join in the fun. This park called Tumbleweed Park is awesome. They have a sand pit where you can dig for fossils. Alexis thought that was the best. She is all into dinosaurs and fossils lately. Timothy is also a HUGE fan of sand so he had a good time too. They also have a "mini city" with the sidewalks painted like roads. The kids can ride their bikes on the roads and follow the traffic signs on the roads just like the real cars do. The main play area is covered by a huge awning (like the ones farmers use to cover the hay) and is farm themed. The kids had a great time other than the awful heat. We went early in the morning, but it never cools down. We all lasted about an hour before we were dripping in sweat. I can't wait for cooler weather. I know we'll be spending some quality time at this park. And did I mention there is grass.... and NO graffiti on any of the play equipment. What a concept! Hooray! Enjoy some pictures from our day.

Alexis riding the dinosaur

Timothy on the "big kid swing".

Timothy playing in the dirt... tossing it in the air, and catching it with his head.

Alexis digging for fossils.

Starting Over, Again...

I went and worked out for the first time, in a long time yesterday. The burn felt good in my legs. Now that I have 24 hour access to a "gym" my goal is to become more active and get back into shape. I am looking forward to feeling better about myself and being able to keep up better with the kiddos. If any of you see me I want you to make sure I am working out... keep me in my place. I am not as brave as my SIL to post my measurements but I'll be taking current measurements in order to keep track of progress. Yeah for new beginnings.

Great Grapes

I love grapes, and so do the kids. Two years ago I decided to plant a grapevine. The first year I had no fruit, but upon talking to my mom, I found out that it is normal to not get fruit the first year. Apparently grapes have to mature a year before giving fruit. So this was my lucky year. I got three good bunches of grapes. They didn't get huge, but I think that is the type of plant it is. They were tasty though.

I miss having my little yard now. It wasn't huge, but it was nice nonetheless. Just before we moved David even made me a little arch for the vines to grow on. He's assured me that when we get another house he'll build me another one. Being patient is the hard part. I sure am a sucker for green things so it has been hard seeing my few potted plants get baked on the apartment patio. They miss the yard too I guess. All in due time, right?

Discovering Grapes (4/22/09) So Tiny!

Grapes a month later (5/27/09)Another month of waiting and finally Grapes! (7/2/09)

Birthday Extravaganza

So I entered the late late 20's last weekend. With all the things going on in our life, I didn't think we'd do anything crazy to celebrate. David was taking his board exams and I didn't want to distract from his studies. Last Saturday morning David was studying before his final exam. I was trying to keep the kids from bothering him so I thought I would put together a train table for them. We've had this table in a box for awhile and Alexis was begging me to put it together.
I began my handy work and soon became frustrated. Timothy was climbing all over it trying to "help". He was on the verge of breaking pieces off with his monkey legs. I became beyond frustrated and raised my voice at the kids. I soon felt at my wits end and all the stresses of the past few weeks had taken its toll. David came to the room to reassure me that everything would be okay. He then had to leave for his final exam.
About an hour later my sister in law called to say she was on her way. I was expecting her to come over to help me unpack and hang out. She also said to take a look under my pillow. ??? What was she talking about. I went, looked, and saw an envelope with my name on it. I opened it to find a "Birthday Extravaganza" schedule (all of which was surprises). I immediately started bawling! My sweet, loving, husband, had planned a day just for me even with all he had on his plate. He knew just what I needed... some "me" time.
A few minutes later my doorbell rang and David's sisters and mom were standing there. My mother and law and sister in law were going to watch the kids while I went with my other SIL Kathy to the first destination.
I got dressed and we left. Then I was allowed to open "envelope 1". It was a certificate to get my hair cut and colored! WOOHOO! My hair was in great need for some color repair. For the next three hours I chatted with Kathy and was pampered at the hair salon. My hair looked great and I was super excited for the new look. Then we were off to destination 2... the mall. My next surprise was a trip to the mall to find a new outfit, shoes, purse or something like that. I didn't have much luck but found a nice necklace to wear with a clearance dress I had found earlier that week.
After the mall we rushed back to the apartment for surprise #3. I was treated to a makeup session with Kathy. She did an amazing job. I really have lots to learn about makeup. Then I got all dressed up and David took me on the final surprise. He had planned a nice dinner at a local restaurant. Kathy watched the kids for us while we were out. It was a quiet dinner and David was such a gentleman, as always.
It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise. I have an amazing husband whom I love so much. I am such a lucky gal. Now I have to figure out something for his birthday.... Hmmmmm... At least I have a few months to plan...

PS. Thank you to Kathy, the secretive helper who did so much to help David plan this. You are an incredible person. Thanks also to the best babysitters Marsha and Mom Mower. I couldn't have asked to marry into a better family.

Remember, we eat fish!

Alexis has been really becoming quite a character as of late. She has her moments, don't get me wrong. Like just now she is trying to do a "projec" on her magnadoodle and she suddenly yells out, "Are you kidding me!" I wonder where she gets that from... oops...note to self.

She loves to talk on the phone. I used to think she did a good job of communicating on the phone until I was on the receiver end. She talks so fast and about such random things that it is difficult to understand her. She also talks with her hands, which does not translate over the phone so well. Fun to watch on my end though. Kisses get blown and hugs given over the phone all the time. The most recent addition to her phone conversations is the phrase, "Remember, we eat fish!" This is how she ends every conversation she has on the phone... not with "I love you" or "see you later".

We have no idea where it came from. We even Googled the phrase to see if it was from a movie or something she saw. No results. Anyone heard this phrase before? Sesame Street? A Disney movie? Or is our kid really just that weird? I guess so... She did just come up to me to show me her drawing of an "inch-e-wawa". I guess a mixture of enchiladas and a chihuahua. Nice.

Well I'll post more later, and remember, we eat fish!

Slide Burns

Nope... that is not a typo... it really does say slide burns. Yesterday at the park we had a nice time. The weather was cooler and it was cloudy out. The playground was also covered and it was about 9am, so the play equipment was cool as well.
Timothy has NO fears and that is a good and bad thing. He climbed up to the top of the play structure which ended in a big twirl slide. I thought for sure he would be to scared to go down, especially on his own. Even Alexis won't go down. But... there he went. He went feet first on his tummy. About half way down I heard the unmistakable sound of skin on slide. Timothy's shirt rode up on him and when he got down he had a nice slide burn. Kinda like a rug burn. So did that stop him from going again... nope!
I sure do love my kid who by the end of the day looks like a "rag-a-muffin". Thanks for the laughs Timothy!

Filling the void

So it has been a "few" days since I last posted. Lots has taken place. Where to start.

We are officially moved now. Going from a house with a yard to an apartment with no yard has been an adjustment. There are "elephants" that live upstairs and I don't think they ever sleep. I will hear running around upstairs at 3am. It is annoying but hopefully temporary.
Boxes still overwhelm most of our space. I don't know if I'll ever get it all unpacked and really don't want to either. I just feel like the day I finish unpacking will be the day I have to start repacking. Tis' the story of our life. We actually moved boxes that were never opened when we originally moved to Tucson. I ask myself... WHY? Time to toss and simplify.
The move went pretty smooth. Only a few pieces of furniture were broken in the process. Luckily most of our stuff is particle board or I'd be a little more upset. David said he'd "Jerry rig" the broken furniture to make it last until we move again.
Our Tucson house is still on the market with not much action at all. We will probably post it as a rental in the next few weeks if nothing happens. The market in our area is just not conducive to selling at this point in time. I really didn't want to rent... but I want to pay two mortgages even less. Money can become a great motivator. Maybe in a year or two things will change...and hopefully for the better.
The kids are starting to make adjustments to our new life. Timothy still follows me around to make sure he doesn't get left behind. When I close a door (specifically the bathroom) he sits outside the door crying and hollering until he sees me again. I guess it is safe to say his is a bit insecure. Alexis has just been ornery to make sure she gets all the attention she wants. My mom says that is pretty normal. They do miss their friends too. Alexis keeps mentioning going over to friends houses and doesn't understand that it is a two hour drive to those friends now. She sure does miss them. I miss friends and familiar faces too. We went to the park by ourselves this morning and it sure would have been more fun to meet friends there.
David is enjoying his new job. He also took and passed his board exams last weekend. He is so funny. The day he took his first exam he apparently developed test anxiety for the first time in his life. What a time to develop that. I think it finally hit him how important the test was. Many of his co-workers gave him a hard time about how worried he should be about the test. I think it made him anxious. But he passed... so that is the last time he'll have to take a test for his career. WooHoo! He is happy about that too.
I'll have to post some more later with pictures. Lots has happened in the past month. SO much to catch up on. This will have to do for now.
Whew....