The search is over...

Hooray!  

After an exhausting and mostly deflating search of lovely Temecula, Carlsbad, Escondido, and San Marcos, we finally signed on the dotted line last night on a fabulous home in Temecula!  Our contract date officially begins July 10th.  YES...a short 10 days from now.  So, the official packing, Craigslisting, prepping, and plans can begin and I'm sure will continue until way past July 10th.  

But this is not goodbye.  

The place we will call home at least for the next two years will suit us perfectly and is only a short 35 minute drive towards wine country.  And best of all...I am allowed to paint.  The whole house is a bare white canvas.  If you know me...  the wheels are turnin'!  Our walk-through is this Sunday.

Let the craziness begin CONTINUE!

Busy Bees

This first week of summer has kept us busy!  We like to bribe at our house.  The kids know that if every corner of this house is clean and jobs are done, then we get to do something fun.

We've had lots of pool days... so when you get the phone call if we can borrow the pool key know that it's my bribery tool for the kids to get the house cleaned everyday.   I have my friend's pass for Pacific Palisades Resort pool...so we'll be using that a lot to feel like we're on a vacation.

Surprisingly--we haven't been to the beach yet.  Not even to use Monson's new skim board.  My kids would rather swim at the pool and come home without a load of sand in every crevice.  I quite disagree.  Party poopers!  I think that's where we're headed today.  Or at least I am even if I have no takers.

Drive-in Theatre seriously in like North Mexico...with the Searles & Gardners.  Saw UP, and apparently we need to see it again for reals in the theatre where we don't have to chase babies across the parking lot or miss all the good lines because the kids won't settle down for more than 5 minutes and the car battery nearly dies. (For kids, the drive-in = party time, not watch movie and chill).

My first Shade/Costco show--a lot of fun, but a lot of prep-work...running to and from Balboa area multiple times managing four workers in between entertaining six kids, house hunting and more house hunting and a little packing too.

Cub Scout Day Camp-- I had it easy this year.  One of the leaders in our ward volunteered the whole time so Mons just got to go along for the ride everyday.  He had a great time!  If one of the leaders sends me pics, I'll post it later.

House-hunting--I feel we're on auto-pilot with our trips to/fro Temecula.  Still haven't signed a lease.  Cross your fingers.  We need to move in a month and so far we're going to be camping out instead.

Celebrated two birthdays the first week of summer...only one to go.  Mons loved his sprinkles cupcakes (Curt and I are 'dieting' so we didn't torture ourselves with leftover cake...instead we tortured ourselves watching the kids devour sprinkles... not the smartest tactic)

We took the birthday boy (and everyone else) and headed to the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar.... never disappoints.  Vivs especially loves the animals.  The older kids thought the animal 'show' was silly--all those kid farmers raising pigs, goats and sheep to show them at the fair.  I swear I'm gonna find a way to give my kids a 'farm experience.'

We all had a fantastic time with yummy food and crazy break-the-bank rides.  The fair just wouldn't be the fair without giant turkey legs.  Curt was in heaven.

Look at the sheer terror on the girls' faces

Kenz & Mons both won the basketball throw and took home a giant bounce ball.  

They have a fabulous & affordable summer concert series at the fair, so we surprised the oldest four (when did five year old Lex learn to love music & memorize all the words?) with tickets to see David Archuleta.  His voice really is soothing and lovely...well, maybe lovely is too girly a word.  But there were LOTS of screaming little 13 year old girls, and my kids were beyond elated that they got to see him in concert...they don't look elated though.  It was a LONG day.

How has your first week of summer been?  I'm pooped.

To curl or not to curl...that is the question

Lexie quickly learned that pretty, curled hair comes at a price...when done the hard way with a large, pink, lovely comb.  I wasn't home, so she wore this 'do' for 3 hours waiting...and I'm sure curling and twisting it even more, because who likes to wear a 10 inch comb right smack in the middle of the head?  Apparently Lexie does.  At least it matches her glasses.

That is wound around about 6 times.  Oops.  I quickly called to get Ama's advice on this 'new do'...laughing all the way , cause it was so tightly wound.  I could just see that Lex would soon get bangs (and shuddered at the thought)--so laughter is better than despair, but it made Lex cry even harder...and pick her nose apparently, all the while exclaiming, 

"I'm not going to be pretty anymore, my hair will be ugly! I'm never going to kindergarten!"

  

A pair of surgical sheers was the answer--we cut the comb to pieces until we could pull that last hair off the 'curling comb.'  

Crisis fixed!  It worked!  Thanks, Ama.  Lexie got her curls---or rather, kinky messy knotted hair.  I don't think Lex will touch a comb for at least a year now.  

Birthdays DON'T end around here...

Yes...we are always having birthdays around here.  Our spring and summers are jam-packed full of fun celebrations.  Today was no exception as we celebrated 

M O N S O N  on his 9th Birthday!

Nine things I {heart} about you, sweet Monson...

*You are always ready to make everyone laugh

*You will still give me hugs and even kisses at school and/or in front of your friends

*That twinkle in your eye is getting even more endearing as the years go on...

*You're the 'fun one'...as the girls would say

*You still love your cuddle time with me

*You're an incredibly bright student and a self-starter, yet relaxed and easy-going

*Never a dull moment with you in our home

*You're really great at drawing, all kinds of sports, games, etc. but you don't get a hot head about it

*You makes friends easily and you're 'the life of the party.'

Monson's Favorites...

Color: Blue

TV Show: Sergeant 3 (???)

Sport:  Basketball

Animal: dog

Holiday: Christmas

Song: Human

Celebrity: LeBron James

Teams: BYU, Notre Dame, Steelers, Cavaliers, Lakers, Rockets

Subjects:  Math & Science 

Car:  Ferrari

Restaurant:  Pat & Oscars

Food:  pizza

Dessert:  mint chocolate chip ice cream

Candy:  twix

Temple:  San Diego

Thing to do:  play with friends

Movie:  Chronicles of Narnia

Place to go:  Utah

Book:  "Pick of a Litter"

Scripture Story:  Abinadi

Happy 9th Mons!  You are growing up way too fast!

hugs & kisses,

Happy Happy Birthday Izzie, Dear!

Four things I love about you...on your big fourth birthday:

You make our home come alive

You make me LOVE being a mommie

You brighten my day with your twirls, songs & stories

You give the best 'smack' kisses ever

Love you to the sky...my sweet & silly Isabella Daisy

Happy Happy 4th Birthday!

I read this post to Izzie and she said "smack kisses.com!"  and then at the end, "toodles!"  So Izzie.  Gotta love her.

Feeling Nostalgic...

What makes a home?  

Is it the family and loved ones that share the walls with you?  

The colors you pick out to dress up the walls (and the colors they pick out to scribble up the walls)?  

The pillows you lovingly create for your family to lounge against (or to build forts and barbie houses with)?  

The decor and pictures that adorn the nooks and crannies (even the homemade Mothers Day variety)?  

The meals your family has come to call favorites (like top ramen, cream tuna, and don't forget the trusty oatmeal, waffles, and cold cereal...we're going for high class here...).  

Or perhaps the laughter and pitter-patter of feet that makes it come alive?

Or is it the bookshelf that holds your children's favorite bedtime stories?  

Or possibly the actual stories that are told within the walls of a home...from the scriptures, a favorite magazine, or from Izzie's amazing imagination?  

Is it music that fills the air?

For me, it's a little bit of all of them.  Certainly just having my family with me is enough.  But to me, there is a great appeal to homemaking.  Truly, It is an art.  I am the MAKER of our HOME.  That, coupled with being the mother of our home...What a greater calling could there possibly be?

I dusted the shelves and cleaned the house from top to bottom one last time... and then snapped away to document the walls of this home...this home that we are forced to walk away from.  This home that I have poured my heart and soul into as I have every other, this home that we wanted to raise the kids in and spread our roots...

But I'm okay with it.  Truly, it's a difficult situation but I can see the positives and the 'twisted' stability that will come out of this decision that we would not have made on our own.  The walls of our home will always be filled with that same love, the same crazy sounds of six children bustling about, the same aromas, the same care.  I may not be able to call it 'ours' and express myself freely, but it will still be 'a home'...  I will always be the Maker of our Home.

THAT IS, if someone will finally choose us and let us sign a lease!  We have been discriminated against in trying to secure the perfect place for our family.  It's been an eye-opening and truly astounding experience...frustrating, to say the least.  And the thing is...the ones who have 'rejected' us have actually come out and said, "the owner just doesn't want to rent to such a large family."  Excuse me, who else did you want to reside in a five bedroom 3000 sq ft+ home?  Something will work out soon... soon, we'll know what address we'll call 'home' this summer and beyond.

As we're sitting amongst some packed boxes and bare walls (I am trying to pace myself and not leave it for the last minute), I am soaking in the feelings I have for our current home...feeling a bit nostalgic.  There isn't a corner in this place that I haven't touched with love or that isn't saturated with memories...in only three short years.  

A few of my corners...  okay, a lot of my corners...  actually, EVERY corner.  Just so I'll never forget our 'castle.'