While I was off vacationing with family (a month back), James had the difficult chore of finding our family a place to live in Ames, IA. It was really discouraging at first. All the big apartment complexes only had students, no families. The cheaper places where falling apart and really gross. We had started paperwork with one place only to find some online reviews that gave the complex a big thumbs down. Cops there all the time, drug deals in the front yard, no one cleaning up after their dogs, etc. So James kept on looking and looking and looking. I was thinking- surely familes live here!! We can't be the only students with kids, where are all the families?! James was driving around (he says he stopped at every single place available in the entire city (small city)) when he saw a sign that said there were 2 and 3 bedroom townhomes for rent. He looked them over, and eureka! The landlords ONLY rent to families with kids, there is a playset in the back, and the complex is away from the main roads so the kids could ride their bikes. They only have a 2 bedroom available right now, but it is 900 sq. feet. That's right Wymounters, a 2 bedroom is bigger than our old 3 bedroom apartment! (750 sq. feet) The bottom floor has the kitchen (w/dishwasher), living and dining rooms, and a washer and dryer. Oh, and a bathroom. The top floor has another bathroom, a couple linen closets and the bedrooms. I'm so excited!
The apartments were built back in the 70's, so they are a little old. But they have been kept up well, and the appliances were replaced a couple years ago. It will be hard doing without the third bedroom, but we'll manage. Our apartment isn't available until the 29th, so we'll be here for another few weeks and then drive up Labor Day weekend. We still need to purchase a washer and dryer, but thankfully we planned on needing them and have already saved up. So be looking for some pics in a few weeks!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Go World!!
I just love the Olympics! My family didn't have TV growing up, but when Olympics time came around... we got cable just for two weeks! We even took school off- a benefit of homeschooling. :)
I think the stories about the individual athletes are so inspiring. So many years of hard work and sacrifice and dedication. Is there anything that I have worked as hard to acheive? I'm glad that we have something to acknowledge the years the athletes have spent training.
How about that Michael Phelps! And did you see that there is a 33-year old mom on the German female gymnastics team? I just watched her vault, and she's good! So many amazing people from all over the world.
If you haven't seen the AMAZING men's swimming 1x400 relay, check it out! This is incredible!!
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/share.html?videoid=0811_hd_swb_hl_l0194
GO WORLD!!!
Scripture study
I just finished reading The Book of Mormon. When Pres. Hinckley gave the church the challenge to read The Book of Mormon, I made the commitment to read it every year. It's been so great! I want to start reading it with a different focus each time, and this next time is going to be looking for attributes of the Savior. I'm going to get a $5 plain copy so I can make lots of notes and markings. I like reading "naked" scriptures so I read everything fresh. I've noticed that sometimes when I'm reading a passage that I've highlighted, I skip over it instead of reading more carefully. Does anyone have ideas for next time? Different things to look for or to focus on, and so on. Thanks for your thoughts!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
I'm done being embarrassed!
As I meet new people, even people in the church, I feel like I need to be embarrassed about having three kids so close together. So I'll make a self-deprecating comment such as, "yeah, this last one was an accident" or "we have better birth control now." In Wymount, it wasn't so obvious how different I was, but elsewhere- when women (even in the church!) are not having as many children or are waiting longer before having kids- I start to feel really abnormal. Now, their reasons are their reasons, and I'm not making any judgements. It took us a year to get pregnant with Brighton, so to a small degree I understand that things don't always go as planned. But I decided I'm not going to be embarrassed any longer. I love being a young mom and I'm proud of my children. Yes, we were surprised to be pregnant with Logan, but I'm over it- and what would we do without him? I want to have a whole passel of kids, and I don't care if everyone thinks I'm weird. So there. :) So to all you Wymount moms and others that have lots of little children running around- congratulations!! You are amazing, tough and wonderful and definitely NOT weird in my book! :)
Thursday, July 24, 2008
You have officially left Provo...
So, my car got keyed today. Funny story- I was in the McDonald's playplace (I know, don't judge me) and there was a woman there with her daughter. I say woman but I'm not sure if she was over 20. She got into a heated discussion with someone on her cell phone and started swearing up a storm- her most favorite expletive being the f-word. After she hung up on the person, I politely asked her not to talk that way in front of my kids. I promise- I was polite!! She didn't say anything, but soon after that walked out of the store and- KEYED MY CAR!! What do you do?! I guess I'm naive and sheltered after Wymount, but why would a person be using language like that in front of children!? I'm not so much upset about my car, but her reaction. What ever happened to being nice?
So of course I've been stewing over this since it happened. Should I not say anything for fear of a knife in my tire? Is this what living out in the real world is going to be like? I've actually experienced a situation like this before- where I've needed to ask someone to watch their language. It was some construction workers that were eating their lunch near where my kids were playing. But they were fine about it and apologized. This lady's response (as well as her phone conversation) showed a real lack of maturity. I'm sad for her and for her daughter. Hmm.
So of course I've been stewing over this since it happened. Should I not say anything for fear of a knife in my tire? Is this what living out in the real world is going to be like? I've actually experienced a situation like this before- where I've needed to ask someone to watch their language. It was some construction workers that were eating their lunch near where my kids were playing. But they were fine about it and apologized. This lady's response (as well as her phone conversation) showed a real lack of maturity. I'm sad for her and for her daughter. Hmm.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Still moving...
Let's see, to recap-
The kids and I spent a few fun days with my sis-in-law and friend Bethany in West Jordan. We made t-shirts, went to Wheeler farm and the Children's Museum up at Gateway. It was a really fun visit, I'm sure going to miss their family! We drove to Denver (8 hrs) to spend the night at a hotel with my family. The kids did really well on the car ride, thanks to months of planning! :) I have been getting books, movies and music so they would have some new things for the trip, as well as dollar store things that I wrapped up and chucked to the back seat when they needed something to do. My friend Rachel also gave me this great idea to put names of cities that we would be passing through on masking tape and put them on the ceiling. She made a little car for me, so the girls could see as we moved along our route. They loved it, I highly recommend! I didn't get any "are we there yet?" and they loved seeing that we were getting closer to the end.
After Denver, my family drove to Buena Vista (3 hrs) for some river rafting! My dad has been planning this for years, and I'm so glad it finally came together. We had three really nice cabins (I've probably been turned off to tent camping forever) and I got to spend two days on the river. I was worried that my kids would be bored, but they had so much fun! Gathering sticks, building "fires", throwing rocks in the creek for hours- Brighton made up a lot of songs about the trees and flowers. :) The town was small but super cute - we all had a blast!! Weather was beautiful, I just can't say enough. I was really sad James missed it, but hopefully we'll go back.
We drove to Kansas (8hrs) and spent about a week there. We went down and had some fun in Peck (45 min) at some property of my mom's friend's parents. If that makes sense. They have 180 acres, a pond, paddleboats, go-carts, a pony and cows. Lots of fun. My family has a pumpkin farm that they are working on. I was able to see my good friend Elicia, who is also my favorite hairdresser. :) I can't post pictures until we get our computer unpacked, but wait until you see the bright red chunks! Elicia calls it "spiderman red", and it certainly is. Super fun!! :)
I was planning on staying with my family for a while, but since James hasn't gotten the call to go back to his summer work, I drove to Iowa (8 hrs, turned into 10). I just love him too much! Iowa State University is about 3 hrs from here, so when our apartment is available we won't have too long of a drive. Which is good, because the kids are done! I'm still getting used to the humidity (ick) and my first night here we had a huge storm which woke the kids at 6am and took out the electricity. We were out for about 4 hrs I think. The Dairy Queen down the road was giving away ice cream because it was melting! There are still a lot of people without power. Crazy. I'm grateful our electricity is working, because I don't know what I would do. Drive back to Utah and call it quits, maybe. :)
I have to get back to my kids, but I'll post later about our apartment frustrations and other stuff.
The kids and I spent a few fun days with my sis-in-law and friend Bethany in West Jordan. We made t-shirts, went to Wheeler farm and the Children's Museum up at Gateway. It was a really fun visit, I'm sure going to miss their family! We drove to Denver (8 hrs) to spend the night at a hotel with my family. The kids did really well on the car ride, thanks to months of planning! :) I have been getting books, movies and music so they would have some new things for the trip, as well as dollar store things that I wrapped up and chucked to the back seat when they needed something to do. My friend Rachel also gave me this great idea to put names of cities that we would be passing through on masking tape and put them on the ceiling. She made a little car for me, so the girls could see as we moved along our route. They loved it, I highly recommend! I didn't get any "are we there yet?" and they loved seeing that we were getting closer to the end.
After Denver, my family drove to Buena Vista (3 hrs) for some river rafting! My dad has been planning this for years, and I'm so glad it finally came together. We had three really nice cabins (I've probably been turned off to tent camping forever) and I got to spend two days on the river. I was worried that my kids would be bored, but they had so much fun! Gathering sticks, building "fires", throwing rocks in the creek for hours- Brighton made up a lot of songs about the trees and flowers. :) The town was small but super cute - we all had a blast!! Weather was beautiful, I just can't say enough. I was really sad James missed it, but hopefully we'll go back.
We drove to Kansas (8hrs) and spent about a week there. We went down and had some fun in Peck (45 min) at some property of my mom's friend's parents. If that makes sense. They have 180 acres, a pond, paddleboats, go-carts, a pony and cows. Lots of fun. My family has a pumpkin farm that they are working on. I was able to see my good friend Elicia, who is also my favorite hairdresser. :) I can't post pictures until we get our computer unpacked, but wait until you see the bright red chunks! Elicia calls it "spiderman red", and it certainly is. Super fun!! :)
I was planning on staying with my family for a while, but since James hasn't gotten the call to go back to his summer work, I drove to Iowa (8 hrs, turned into 10). I just love him too much! Iowa State University is about 3 hrs from here, so when our apartment is available we won't have too long of a drive. Which is good, because the kids are done! I'm still getting used to the humidity (ick) and my first night here we had a huge storm which woke the kids at 6am and took out the electricity. We were out for about 4 hrs I think. The Dairy Queen down the road was giving away ice cream because it was melting! There are still a lot of people without power. Crazy. I'm grateful our electricity is working, because I don't know what I would do. Drive back to Utah and call it quits, maybe. :)
I have to get back to my kids, but I'll post later about our apartment frustrations and other stuff.
Friday, July 4, 2008
On the move!
We've started moving, so my posts will be a little more sporadic. (Like they haven't already been!) When I get to Kansas I'll be able to upload pics and let you know the details of what has been happening. The best things in the past few days have been James getting home a day early to surprise me, and my brother, sister and parents surprising us with a night away at a bed and breakfast. I'll try to post soon!
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