New and Improved!

Catching up is going to be difficult...but I'll do my best ;) Let's start with highlights.

Since my last post, we have sold our house {yay!} and moved across town. Our new place is a 2-story 3 bed w/ an office {gym}, 2 1/2 bath, 2 car duplex located within walking/biking distance to the hospital where Johnny works. We can't say enough good things about living here and all the perks! It's really been a huge blessing!

One of the perks of moving is getting to clean out everything we own. {I'm choosing to see this as a good thing.} It's so hard for me because I'm sentimental. I admire minimalists, but can you be both? Is it possible to be a minimalist and sentimental? There are so many things my kids have made or done that I cherish too much to simply take a picture of it and throw it away.

But I digress. {I hate that word. I hate that sentence- it's entirely over-used.} Back to what I was saying. We moved. Johnny is still in school and working. In fact, the bulk of the moving I did by myself, with lots of blood, sweat and tears. {Makes me question my sentimentality.} We had help from friends in the ward {huge thanks to the Priesthood Quorums and my friends here!} with babysitting and moving the big stuff. Knowing we'll have to move again in a year or so makes me want to sell everything and go with inflatable furniture. Where would one buy inflatable furniture? Ooh- better yet, maybe we'll just sit on pillows.

I almost forgot... Good news! We got a dog! We're totally in the burbs now. He is a Chiweenie and his name is Jim {as in Halpert}. The kids are in heaven! He's completely housebroken and sleeps with Katherine every night. He loves to ride with us to take the kids to school, or to go anywhere. He's quickly become a member of the family.

 

The school year is almost out and we can't wait! Johnny will finish up this week- hopefully tomorrow. Travis gets out next Friday and the girls finish up June 6. {Yeah, June. ?!!? Crazy.} Johnny will have certifications to study for and take over the summer, but it'll still feel like a break.

Ella had a field trip to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler on Friday. I got to go with her and ride the bus and everything! How many years has it been since I've ridden a bus? That's not important. ;)

The four of us got to explore on our own and we saw it all!

We had a great time! It's a beautiful zoo.

Slowly we're getting more organized and unpacked. Saturday we finally hung a few things in the living room. There are so many more walls to decorate here than the other house. I know I won't ever be able to fill them...mostly because I don't want to. {Trying to be more of a minimalist. ;)} Once Johnny is done with the semester we'll organize the garage, have a garage sale and finish decorating. More pics to come! {Do you LOVE the rug?! So in love.}

In other news, Travis will be 11 on Friday! What?! I'm trying to think of what to do for his birthday, which Johnny will miss because he has to work all weekend. Hmmm... :/ Prolly should've already planned it. He's easy to please and usually doesn't want much, but it seems like a party would make any birthday better. I'm about to call my party planner {aka Sarah} for some ideas.

Mother's Day was awesome! Before we left for church, Johnny had me come in the living room for a surprise. Take a look:

I laugh so hard every time I watch! This was actually the second take. The first one I just watched and cried, so I made them do it again so I could record it. It was way funnier the second time!

The Primary kids sang during Sacrament meeting and Johnny helped the boys sing their part- {gush} I love his voice! The kids did a beautiful job. All the moms got little boxes with chocolates ♥. After church, Johnny grilled drumsticks on the pit and made a delicious salad to go with it. The weather was beautiful so we ate out on the front porch. Katherine, Travis and Olivia made my mother-in-law's No-Bake cookies and cookie dough bites {sans eggs}. Chocolate overdose! :)

I'm so thankful to be a mom. The other day Ella asked me about when I was her age and what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her a mom. THIS is what I've always wanted to do and I'm so fortunate to be able to.

Here are a few more pics, just because ;)