Our Last Night At The Old House

This is a few weeks old, but I'm playing catch up on the blog! 

Mothers Day:  Sunday, May 13th, was the last night we stayed in our old house.  The day was extremely busy! Derek and his brother Jason hauled the last of our furniture and boxes to the new house,while I stayed back to keep packing up and cleaning.  We left the crib, our mattress & a few toys behind so that we could at least sleep comfortably! By 7 o'clock we were hungry, so headed to the Pizza Ranch for supper and then came home to rest our feet..while we sat on the floor! 

Brigs loved looking in our dresser mirror after Derek had taken it apart to move!

High Fives! 



 Smiles!

Kisses for Brigs!

Our last family photo at the old house!  Our friend/neighbor Wendi, who lived across the street, came to take the picture for us.  If we could have packed her up to take her with us, we would have!

Brigs wasn't sure what to think of the empty house!

Hanging out on the living room floor!  Thank goodness we were leaving a TV with the house, so we had something to do to help pass the time! 

And that's it.  The last of our memories & photo's from our very first home.

     

Graduations!

Last week Tuesday, Boston and I rode to Colman with Grandpa Ron for Paisley's Kindergarten Graduation program.  It was so cute!  The teacher had interviewed the kids, and the principal read each kids' answers as they walked into the gym.  Paisley & another girl in the class both said they wanted to marry a boy named Jackson in their class, but Jackson said he wasn't getting married :)  It was so cute to hear all their answers!   

Paisley Brooke!

 The kids sang the silliest song!  I laughed so hard I cried! 

 The graduate!

 Boston, Paisley & Grandpa!

 Boston & Paisley are such good bud's.

 Grandma & Paisley

And on Friday, May 18th, we celebrated Boston's Preschool Graduation!  He participated in the pre-k graduation program last year, even though we were keeping him in pre-k another year, but this year's program was extra special since it was the 'real deal'! 

Waving to his Grandma's & Grandpa Ron

 He was all about the dancing!

 Getting his diploma from Mrs. Bornitz

 My little Graduate!!

Grandpa Ron, Boston & Grandma Lisa

 Boston & Grandma Glady

 Boston & Grandma Peggy

 The Gerdes Family!

I saw this idea on Pinterest several months ago and just thought it was the neatest thing.  I bought the book 'Oh, The Places You'll Go!' for Boston, and had his teacher write a little note in the inside for him.  Each year I will have is teachers do this.  A fun keepsake!

Boston, I am so proud of you!  I am so blessed to call you my son.  I pray that each year as you grow and mature, that Jesus grows in your heart more too.  I know He has incredible things in store for you!  Keep shining little man!  Love, Mom

It's Baseball Season!

At the end of April, Boston started baseball practice.  It was one night a week for 3 weeks, prior to the games starting last week.  It's crazy to see how he has improved since last year!  We sure are proud of how well he is doing!  He hasn't had to use the tee yet and he's pretty proud of that!

Team Pictures Saturday, May 12

 Team Wireless World

Boston's Gam May 22. Playing 3rd base.

 He lost focus when I got the camera out!

Running to 3rd base to get an out!

'Safe or out coach?'

The 7:30 games get a little late for the little guy, so it's a chore keeping him entertained.

 He loves to play fetch :)

 Up to bat!  Go #9!

A video of Boston batting! 

Our New Home!

We are finally moved in!  We stayed our first night in the new house on Monday, even though we didn't close until Tuesday morning.  Thank goodness the builder was willing to work with us!  We closed on our old home Monday at 3:00, and were supposed to close on our new house at 4:00 but the title company was booked!  When we found out on Monday morning that we couldn't close on our new house until Tuesday morning, I almost thought it was a joke.  There were just so many things in this whole process that didn't go as planned, so one more thing was par for the course!

I took a few pictures of the new house prior to us moving in.  We are still in the middle of unpacking and settling in, so I promise to post more pictures soon.

I am loving the new house!  We are so blessed.  In more ways that I ever imagined!  I am so proud of how hard Derek works for our family.  This is all really a dream come true, and he is the one who gets all the credit!

2013 S. Abbeystone Court!

Laundry/Mud Room coming in from garage.

Built in bench & shelf.  One of my favorite features!

Dining Room/Kitchen right in from Laundry/Mud Room

Bedrooms 2 & 3 Closet

 Bedrooms 2 & 3 have windows to the front of the house.

 Main Bathroom

 Master Bathroom

 Master Bathroom Shower

 Coming from the hallway of bedrooms, looking into living room & dining room.

Front Door- hallway to the right leads to bedrooms and main bathroom.

The Waiting Game

So for those of you that don't know, we were supposed to close on our current house, and our new house on April 30th.  There was a delay with some paperwork, and it's been frustrating for all involved, but yet in the grand scheme of things, not the end of the world (although it seemed like it at times!).  We finally got word on Friday that things are good to go and we close tomorrow afternoon!  Today is moving day! 

Going into this whole process, Derek and I had the mindset that 'if it's meant to be it'll be'.  If our house sat on the market for months on end with no bites, we just knew it wasn't our time to sell and we'd stay put.  We love our home, and haven't outgrown it, so if it didn't sell and we stayed, it would be fine.

When we got an offer after just having our home for sale for 4 weeks, we were thrilled!  It was exciting that it had all worked out just like we had hoped, and that it was indeed God's will for us to move to a new home, and start the next chapter.  Well, ever since we heard about this delay I've really struggled with 'Is this God's way of teaching me something?' or 'Does this mean it wasn't 'our time'?'

I've had 90% of our belongings packed up for 3 weeks.  We've all been utilizing one bathroom, 4 towels that I wash over and over, very minimal dishes in the kitchen and a few baskets full of toys.  I've been using 1 purse, 3 pair of shoes and have had no home decor on my walls or shelves.  It's actually been a wonderful break...2 less toilets to scrub and less to dust!  The other day as I was washing up the few dishes we are using, it finally hit me.  God isn't teaching me patience in all of this (or maybe he is and I am just denying it because I am a very impatient person!), he is teaching me that 'things' around the home are really something we can all live without.  There's no need for 3 bathroom linen closets FULL of towels and extra sets of bedding that never get used.  That I don't need to swap out my purse every week, just because I get bored with the purple one I am using and I have 9 others to put use to.  I can indeed live with one pair of tennis shoes, one pair of flip flops and one pair of slip ons.  The boxes and boxes of 'things' that we have packed up really aren't things we need to carry on with life.  We've all been getting along just fine living with less.  Even the boys have carried on with 50% less toys than normal.  Granted, it's taken some adjusting, but we are all surviving. :)

I've known this saying all along..'material things are just things', but actually having to live with less was a true test and wake up call.  Thank you God for teaching me a valuable lesson during one of the most stressful times of my life.

Happy Mothers Day & Moving Day!

Just a few pictures of a few sentimental things I will miss about our current home.

Derek started measuring Boston's height on a board in the basement utility room.  I'm sad about it staying, but Derek says 'It's just a board.  We'll start a new one.'

 My lily's.  I know they are just flowers, and we can plant more of this exact thing if we want, but I remember the day Derek planted them for me.  We were divorced, and it was his Mothers Day present for me.  I'll have to drive by the old house in a month so I can see them fully bloomed! 

Breakfast Food Recipes!

So this past weekend I was in charge of 2 warm breakfast dishes for my mother-in-laws bridal shower!  Eek.  I honestly had no clue what to make.  I think I made an egg bake several years ago that turned out horribly, so I never tried again.  I had a few friends come to the rescue and shared some easy recipes with me!  Both were so delicous! 

Egg Bake- Courtesy of Renae Elgersma

12 eggs
1 lb. sausage (browned), bacon (cooked) or cubed ham. (I used sausage)
4 c. shredded hashbrowns or potatoes o'brien.  (I used cubed potatoes o'brien with some red pepper & onions mixed in for extra flavor!)
2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
2 1/2 c. milk

1.  Thaw potatoes so they are not completely frozen. 
2.  Cook meat and mix with potatoes.  Spread on bottom of greased 9x13 pan.
3.  Beat eggs until frothy and add milk.  Mix thoroughly and pour evenly over mixture in pan.
4.  Bake at 350 for one hour, or until knife comes out clean!

I made this up the night before (threw the potatoes into the mixture frozen) and kept it in the fridge overnight.  It baked up great in one hour.  I love that you can get it together the night before!  Less work in the morning :)

Pecan Praline Baked French Toast- Courtesy of Sandra Wollman (originally found here)

1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash salt
Praline Topping, recipe follows
Maple syrup

Slice French bread inch into 1 inch pieces.  Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. I had a few extra slices that didn't fit in the 9x13 so I also used a 8x8 dish.  In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350, and mix up the Praline Topping.

Praline Topping:

1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.

Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup. 

* I think I put too much egg mixture in between the slices, as some were a little moist when I served it.  The next time I make it I may not be as generous with the egg mixture and just dump what is left. 

Update on the boys!

It's been awhile since I've done an update on the boys, so I wanted to write down a little bit about each of them before I forget this stage of life!

Brigham- 13 months, 13 days

• Still sleeping like a champ (7 PM- 6-7 AM) and still not one single ear infection since we took him to ENT.  That still just blows my mind!
• I love when he wakes up in the mornings and it's just him and I for a half hour or so.  He loves getting a cup of juice right away in the morning, and then we snuggle up on the couch and watch the Disney Channel.
• He dumps Jaxon's food and water dish at least 5 times a day.  It drives me nuts!  He loves to dump the water and then splash his hands and feet around in it, or dunk his toys in the water before he spills it.
• Drooling like crazy, and had really yucky diapers on and off for 3 weeks.  I don't see any new teeth yet, but his gums are looking pretty swollen.  Total teeth:  8
• He is starting to love using a fork to eat.  He tries so hard to stick the fork in his food.  It usually takes awhile but once he gets it he yells 'yeah!'. 
• He knows a few animal sounds:  Mmmm for Cow.  He holds his lips together and sort of hums an 'm' sound.  Yah Yah for kitty.  He says it in the softest sweetest little voice!  Oof Off for puppy.  This is his favorite, and he absolutely LOVES dogs.. so glad we have Jaxon again!
• His blankie goes everywhere with him.  He loves to grab onto a corner and tickle his nose with it while he sucks his fingers.  There are times he'll be walking around the house with this blankie, sucking his fingers with eyes closed like he is the most sleepy little boy in the world, and he'll run right into the couch or wall.  The nickname 'Linus' suits him to a T! 
• He loves to have his shirt off. (as you can see in the pictures!)

 Looking for a corner of blanket.

 'Ah ha. Found it!'

Boston- 5 years, 10 months &  26 days (Boston insisted I count up his exact age!) 

• Baseball (modified coach pitch) practice started last week.  He is on a team of Sioux Falls Christian kids, so it's fun to know so many of the families through school/church. 
• A few weeks ago, after a super cold spell of 50-60 degree highs, he wanted to wear shorts to school.  The high for the day was 70, but it was still quite chilly in the morning so I told him no, but that he could change into shorts as soon as he got home from school.  He was not very happy with me, so I said something like 'None of the other boys will be wearing shorts either honey.  It's cold out this morning and you don't want to be freezing at recess!'.  He was fine with that answer, until we got to school.  Every single one of the boys in his class had shorts on.  He just looked at me like 'MOM!!!!!!'  Lesson learned..  I've been a bit more flexible with him wearing shorts to school because he just loves them.  The kid would wear a pair of gym shorts to church if it'd let him!  He no longer even wants to wear pajama's, he just wants shorts and a t-shirt.
• He still sleeps with his blanket too, although it doesn't leave the house with him unless he's sleeping over night somewhere.  He told me yesterday:

                    Boston:  'When I'm 300 years old I won't need my blanket anymore mom.'
                    Me:  'I'm pretty sure you'll be in heaven when you are 300.' 
                    Boston:  'Ok, well then I will take my blanket with me there.  And the TV.' 

• Boston has been counting down the days to the new movie The Avengers.  He is a Super Hero nut, so Derek, Uncle Jason & Boston went to the matinee today.  Boston even wore his Captain America costume to the movie!