Wow!  It’s been quite a week.  We have spent the last few weeks looking at rental properties.  Nothing has been right.  If the house was great, there was only 2 feet of backyard.  If the yard was perfect…the house was a mess…you get the picture.  We actually did find a house that would have been perfect and when we contacted the management company we found out someone had just snatched it up that day.  We had resigned ourselves to wait till July but as luck would have it we found a great place.  It is less than 5 minutes from Brian’s office.  After looking at it the first time I was shaking by the time I had gone through the place.  It was perfect and beautiful.  It was the model for the subdivision when it first opened and so it is immaculate, nicely painted, a few extra bells and whistles like a fantastic kitchen.  It’s about 3000 sf and 4 bedrooms.  The backyard is fine too.  We made an offer lower than the asking price but for 3 years in hopes of enticing them to agree…which they did.  We signed the next day.  The house was designed by an LDS woman who had 5 kids in 6 years.  Can I say closets and storage galore!  One of my biggest hangups in all the places we looked at was the lack of storage space.  I have food storage and kids clothes in every size that need to be put someplace.  This house has ample.  Pictures anyone…

 

Brian is not enamored with the outside color but I like it.  Notice the 3 car garage…Hurray!

 

Kitchen…my step ladder is going to be close by always.

Kitchen looking toward the family room.                  In the entry looking at the stairs. 

 

 

    

Formal dining room which I am going to block off and use as a hobby room.  I got really used to having one and am not giving it up.  Brian standing in the entry way.  He doesn’t bump his head in this place…a positive. 

 

 

Just inside the front door.  Looking into the formal dining area.  Charlie is excited to have stairs. 

 

Another look at the front area near the front door. 

       

3 Car garage.                    Laundry room….hurray it has cupboards and room to sort.              Downstairs powder room.

 

    

Family room.  I am really glad I can still utilize my giant mustard colored area rug that we currently have in our living room.  There are nice ceiling fans throughout as well…I’ve missed having them.

 

     

Giant pantry…it turns at the back and keeps going for a bit.    The backyard looking at the back patio. 

 

Backyard.  

       

Master bathroom with a GIANT walk in closet.  Looking into the master from the hallway…there is a balcony.   Master from another angle. 

 

 

       

Little closet just outside the master.   Upstairs landing    Back downstairs looking from the family room to the front entry.  Charlie.

 

 

    

Charlie hangin’ on the stairs.  I’m really glad they curve so when a kids falls down them it’s not alllllll the way down.  Just off the kitchen is this under the stairs storage area.  It curves at the back and has even more space.  Hurray for food storage!

 

       

The upstairs landing has this small area that we think may work for a small office area for Brian.  Looking down the stairs at the entry area. 

 

      

The kids bathroom….my only hangup is the carpeted bathrooms…the manager said he would talk to the owners (his parents) about putting in some flooring that can be cleaned easier.  If it doesn’t happen I am working on a solution.    And we have Rosie showing of her’s and Charlies giant room. 

 

    

There are 2 smaller rooms with great sized closets.  Serra and Weston have claim to those.     Back to the master.  Tub.

 

 

    

One of the sink areas and the closet again.  Big shower. 

 

The second sink area (mine) and the toilet area. 

 

I hope that gives all those of you interested a little bit of an idea of the place. 

 

In the meantime we have had another birthday.  Miss Serra V celebrated #9 this week.  Lucky for her it’s spring break so she got to make a day of it.  Brian took her to breakfast and then to work with him where she got to hang out with a friend for a few hours.  Her friend Shayna and her mom took her out for frozen yogurt before bringing her home.  When she got home she got her first present…which was her own bedroom.  We knew it wouldn’t be for long but she does get her own room in the new house so it all works out fine. 

We then headed to Grandma and Grandpa Andersons for a swim party and BBQ.  Marinated Artichokes and BBQ ribs were her choice with Oreo pie for dessert.  The Casolaris and Aunt Maren joined in the fun too. 

 

      

Hurray for swimming!  Serra and Mr. Wes

   

Finally some personal space…I heard her a few days later telling Rosie, “See the sign?  It say’s Serra’s room, no trespassing.”  That means you can’t come in unless I say you can.”  The kids have been really good about it too.  Her sign is magnetic so we or she can post notes.

 

        

Yummy oreo pie and presents.

 

       

The anticipation…           Charlie isn’t interested in the water but Weston sure is pink floaties and all.

 

This girl loves to swim. 

 

 

           

 

 

      

Serra is very easy to get a good picture of.  I think my wall one will be the last.  Although It’s kind of hard to decide. 

 

 

I can’t believe it has only been a month since the last update.  It seems like a lot longer.  As you may remember, last month we announced that not only were we expecting, but that twins were in the future.  Well, that didn’t last long.  Apparently 40%, or possibly even great percentage of pregnancies that start out as twins, don’t end up that way.  It’s called vanishing twin syndrome.    We lost one of the babies a few weeks after we found out about the twins.  It hasn’t been traumatic in any way.  I haven’t had any kind of miscarriage and the one baby is progressing nicely.    We were a little sad and disappointed at the lost opportunity but somewhat relieved at the same time.  Then there was the guilt at feeling relieved.  So understandably, March was a complete wash…I don’t remember much of anything except doctors appointments and carpools. We did have Daryl and Angie Arnell and family here for a weekend for soccer tournaments toward the end of the month and the kids accused me of keeping secret all these extra cousins.  They had a great time and can’t wait to get to Cache Valley this summer for a reunion.

Since then the maternity clothes have come out and it hasn’t been long enough since I wore them last.  It was depressing trying them on and hating the way they looked.  I was inspired by a facebook friends blog about recycling and upcycling clothing and so I have been busy altering and in some cases completely changing some of the clothing into things I like to wear.  It has been surprisingly easy and I suspect with another few days I will have finished at least 10 items. 

We are officially on the hunt for a new house…a rental this time…where we plan on staying for at least 3 years, maybe more.  The market which was flooded with rentals just a few short years ago, has flipped and there are just not as many to choose from.  We are being very picky though as Brian’s work and the girls school play a big part in how far we want to go.  Our goal for moving is early June.  We plan on selling our current home and hope to get it listed soon.  This is all about downsizing and simplifying.  It is strangely freeing to be getting rid of so many things.  If only we were allowed to have garage sales in our community.  As it is, Deseret Industries is benefiting mightily.  The kids have even gotten into it.  I got them each a large trunk.  They are allowed to keep (toys) what will fit in their trunk.  It has really helped in keeping things cleaned up too.  

Everyone is healthy…not so much as a sniffle to complain about.  Hopefully by next month we will have a better idea where we will be for the next few years.