Our new abode

I have been wanting to do this since we moved in so those of you who can't visit could get an idea of where we live now.  I had a few helpers to model in most of the room shots.  All I can say is that this is a big house!

This is the computer room...and the homework room.  Right off the main entrance.  We do "power hour" right after school here. 

 This is the downstairs "great room"  As you can see we have it filled with toys already.  There is also a kitchenette right behind the camera.

 Here is Tina's room.  She has added personality to the cork board behind the door.

 Braden's room is right beside Tina's downstairs.

 This is the bathroom downstairs with a shower.

 Here are the cabinets in the downstairs bathroom.

 This is an awesome food pantry downstairs

 This is the magnormous heater.  If you couldn't tell already, it's an old house, and the bills reflect that!

 Brooklyn and Cole share this room upstairs.  They each have their own closet:)

 This is the "great room" upstairs, and believe me it really is great - our kids call it the off-limits room, but they don't follow their own rules:)

 Here is the front.  You'd never guess from the front at how big it really is.

 This is the backyard complete with a tire swing and drinking fountain.  I love all the mature trees and the covered patio!!

 Here is Dave's "man-cave"  His dad is jealous:)

 Here is the drinking fountain...crazy huh?  Dave wants to fill it with Mountain Dew ha ha.

 This is a little closet in the garage for camping and bike stuff

 The garage...

 Our master bedroom.  Enjoy the fushia carpets.

 Dave said this toilet looks like it was made for an elf!  And you gotta love the color.  It matches the bathtub and sink.  Definately a different era.

 This is the kids bathroom.  We have to shower here.

 This is the master bath.

 This is the laundry room right off the kitchen.  It was downstairs with the furnace room, but I asked if we could move it upstairs.  The landlords are very accomodating!

 This is the kitchen.  If you look really closely, you can see a knob on the drawer under the sink.  That is how to turn on the garbage disposal.

 The dining room...

 I love the glass knick knack shelf with mug holders.

And here is another shot of the kitchen. 

Well, there you go, hopefully you get the idea:)  We really enjoy living here and are glad to be back by family.  It's a little surreal at how blessed we have been.  But we do miss all our friends in Colorado!!  That was a fun adventure:)

Random Things

I am a little scatterbrained today, but it's been so long again. I can tell I don't have good access to a camera!! Here are some of the pictures from the past 2 months.

 Dave's birthday cake.  We tried to make a football field:)

 Tina's science fair project...which bubble wand produces the most bubbles?

 Braden's science fair project...which paper airplane flies the farthest? "glidey or pointy?"

 little cole playing games!

 Tina's photo shoot with cousin Sydnee

 Sydnee

Brooklyn's pose, ha ha.

Braden has celebrated his 7th birthday.  We did a Lego theme and invited 2 friends.  All the pictures are on Dave's iphone.  I have to figure out how I can download them onto the computer, and I'm sure it's not hard!  Just inconvenient:)  We have also gotten a little more settled, and I am wanting to document our new house we are staying in.  It really is amazing to think we went from 1000sq ft to this place!   

I am super excited to be starting piano lessons from Louise Carroll this month!!  I haven't had lessons myself since I was 17!  This is going to be good for my self esteem as far as being a teacher myself.  I also am in a search for a preschool mom group to start or join. I am missing my Durango groups, and I may have to actually take the initiative to get one going here for my sanity:)  I am planning on going back to school in the Fall of 2013 for my master's degree in School Counseling.  So the first step is taking the MAT, which I am studying for right now.  I am excited to go back.  I love learning.

Dave-suprise suprise- is starting to read books!  The only book he has read in the 11 1/2 years of marriage was Harry Potter #4.  Now his friends at work introduced him to Vince Flynn books and he has read 3 in 2 months.  It's weird to have the roles reversed, usually I am the one stuck in a book:)  He is really enjoying his job and the people he works for and with. 

Tina has joined Tavoci with Sydnee and really loves it.  They are learning some modern, musical, and funny songs.  She will have a concert in May.  She is also taking piano lessons from Joanna, which is amazing.  I am super excited to see her continue to progress.

Braden has lost 3 teeth in 2 weeks, which has kept the tooth fairy busy.  She brings "golden dollars" and there was one tooth that got thrown away, but she still remembered.  He found a note that said, "the tooth fairy never forgets a lost tooth!"  He was so excited.  This week, I am going to try and enroll him into baseball for the summer.

Brooklyn has Kindergarten registration this week!  I can't believe my Brookie baby is going to be in school in the fall.  CRAZY!  She has learned how to write her name, and is writing it on everything!  I am so proud of her because she has an extremely long name:)  We do a little preschool time everyday after lunch, now that we have left our amazing co-op in Durango.

Cole had a well check and *gasp* he is underweight.  We are hoping he will gain 2 lbs in the next 3 months to get on the charts!!  The Dr. told us to try Carnation instant breakfast, which I think is a great idea.  I'm getting some today.

Well, there's the general update from us.  Sorry, hopefully I can be a little more on the ball.  I think I have been in defense mode with all these moves and trying to settle in.  I'm sure it will get there, but wow, it's taken quite awhile to feel adjusted??  If you have tips, I'd love to hear them!