213 Happy Birthday Bean!!

She is 6 today!!

I cannot believe it!!

We had a fabulous day in Atlanta at the Lego Discovery Center, ate at Chipotle and Panda Express, then came home to play with new toys and eat cake!

212 More Prep

Getting ready for the big day tomorrow... I baked the cake today... white with colored swirls.

211 Almost Birthday Time!

Bean has been asking every Sunday if it was the week that they would sing to her in Primary. Today finally came and she was thrilled to stand up front while her church friends sang to her and she got to wear the birthday cupcake.

Children with birthdays are also given a coupon to take to the Bishop. He gets to say happy birthday and then the child gets a treat. 

Bean was pretty excited for her chocolate.

210 Olympics Time!!!

We are SO excited that the Olympics have begun! Bean was 2 for Beijing, so she didn't really get it. The DQ was 8 and enjoyed them, but doesn't really remember much about them.

Living on the east coast is rough some times because things come on an hour later than they do in the west. 

The LT and I attempted to watch the opening ceremonies last night, but were so frustrated when a huge storm knocked out the satellite (such problems, right!). Fortunately an abbreviated version aired at 2am so I recorded that. Today the girls and I lounged around and watched them, as well as a few of the events. They were both really excited to watch and are looking forward to the rest of the show!

209 Baby Shower

My dear friend Ada is having a baby very soon! Some ladies from church got together for a baby shower and some good girl time. The lady who organized it was brilliant because she planned it at a pool. It was wonderful because the women had a lot of time to visit while the kids swam. Usually they are bored or getting into trouble. We actually had to drag them away! 

Ada moved here in May and I have had such a great time getting to know her. She was born in Mexico, then moved to Canada when she was four. She speaks Spanish, French and English fluently. She is bubbly and outgoing and so much fun to be around. I can't wait to meet her sweet daughter!

208 Making Some Progress

Since it now appears that we will be here a while (of course, we could get that, "You're moving in a week" call still) I have decided that I need to stop whining about this crappy house and make it a home. As much as I desperately want to, I am not going to paint. I don't want to move all of the furniture, and it really is a hassle. I'll save that for the next house. (hopefully we'll have some surety that we will be there a few years)

The kitchen has been a headache since the beginning. Every time I go to someone's house in my neighborhood, I study how they have things laid out. I did some rearranging and cleaning of a few cupboards to hopefully lessen some of the clutter and that has made it so much better. 

Of course while I was cleaning, I was trying to do some decorating. 

It's not something I loved but I do like where some people have spelled out words, like "eat" with the cute metal Anthropologie letters in the kitchen. It was kind of like, "Well, that's the trend, so I'll do it..." So I did.

Except, rather than spend the $18 per letter from Antrho, I found this tutorial and made them myself. The whole project was less than $10. 

I didn't like the look with the brads, so I just left them as is. I was a little skeptical at first because they just looked too shiny and painted with metallic silver paint, so I took a piece of sand paper and rubbed the edges and the front, and viola! They look much more authentic!

Now to figure out where to hang them...

207 Yikes!

Bean had book club today, and it's pretty far up north, so rather than going home, the DQ and I needed to find a place to hang out. I have heard about this place, Front Porch of the South, a lot, and so we figured that was as good a place as any to spend the time.

I didn't really know what to expect. I knew they had antiques, but the only way I can describe it, is as if everyone's grandmother just died, so the family cleaned out her house and set it up in a stall. There were tons of stalls there with some crazy things. Some people looked to have had really cool grandmas, and some, well... I'm just glad they weren't my grandma!

It is a swap mart/flea market/consignment store I guess. There weren't any people at the stalls though, you just go up to a register to pay for things. 

I did find some really beautiful things but there wasn't anything I really needed, so I walked out empty handed. That and we had to hurry to get Bean, so we barely made it through a quarter of the store!

This stall by far had to be the creepiest though. The photo doesn't do it justice!

206 Squirrels!

Short story long:

Our neighbors left a few weeks ago. One of the things they left behind was a tomato plant in their front yard.

The mailman noticed this and, worried about it, suggested I move it to my yard and start caring for it.

(He clearly doesn't know my track record for inexplicably killing any plant that comes near me, as well as my complete lack of ability to process the art of growing my own food)

I had not intended to take it (Sorry Dawn!) because, really, what would I do with it? I doubted that I could actually grow them to red, and then I would have to use them if they did survive, and of course, the odds that I would want to make something tomato based within the window that they were ripe and ready are not good, and I don't think I could get enough ripened tomatoes to actually make something tomato based with, so I would have to buy more tomatoes anyways, and then, why not just buy them in the first place!?

But I digress.

Solely based on the fact that the mailman is now holding me accountable for the care of this plant, I moved it into our front yard. I noticed that there was one orangeish red tomato, and several green ones on it. 

Today I went out to water it and thought, "Hmm, wonder where that red one went? Did it un-ripen?" (seriously, I know nothing of gardening) But I didn't think too much of it. 

The LT came home at lunch and said, "Huh! Look at what that crafty squirrel did!" and sure enough, a squirrel is trying to thwart my attempt at gardening.

205 Baby Shoot

Oh my.

Isn't she scrumptious!!?

204 Tooth Two!

Bean lost her second tooth this morning before church. She was certain it was never going to fall out.

You can see her big tooth poking up back there, it finally pushed that baby tooth out of the way!

203 Do You Like My Outfit?

Yes. 

Yes I do.

202 Big Spender

Bean got some birthday money from her great-grandma today.

She could not wait until her birthday to spend it so brought it with her today as we ran some errands.

She really loves Phineas and Ferb and has wanted a fedora for a while.

Imagine her delight when she spotted this Hello Kitty one on clearance at Target!

And then she wanted a Batman LEGO set (go figure!) as well.

And in planning ahead for Halloween (as all children do) she has decided that with her fedora she wants to be Perry the Platypus for Halloween. She wants to wear the fedora, and have me make her a tail and a beak. She found this shirt at Target too, which she thought was the exact shade of Perry, so we just had to buy it.

Knowing her, she may totally change her mind by then though!

201 Fun with Daddy

The girls don't get to see much of daddy on the weekdays. He is not usually home until 5, and sometimes much later. Then he needs time to unwind, then it's dinner and bedtime routine and bed! Tonight he was home a little earlier, and he grabbed pizza on the way home. We ate it quickly, and then took the girls to the pool.

They had so much fun swimming with daddy!

200 And Then There Were Two

Boxes, that is.

Two boxes left.

These two are full of things that have not been unpacked since we first packed them when we moved out of our first house 7(!really?!) years ago.

We have been lugging them around all this time.

They are filled with a random assortment of things that I don't know what to do with.

My wedding veil is in there...

These are the last two boxes I have to unpack and sort through and I just can't bring myself to do it because I just don't know what to do with the stuff inside!

(BTdubs, if you're looking at the box next to these two and saying, "uh, there's one more there..." you are right. And there are actually several others, but they are full of school things and old CD cases that I don't know what to do with, but have been sorted and accounted for. These two are ones that need to be emptied so I can either store for memory's sake, donate, or just pitch!)

199 Ugh

Look what I have done to the living room!

In order to really organize, you have to make a mess first, and I have done a great job of that. 

I have determined that I do not need to buy any fabric or ribbon for a very long time. 

(The pile in the back is all fabric, and the ribbon spools in the front... well that is a tiny fraction of the total ribbon I have.)

Yikes!!

198 Woah!

Driving to the commissary today I spotted this:

I have never seen a circumhorizontal arc (I had to look that up) before. It was so beautiful!

I only wish I'd had my camera instead of the phone camera!

197 Catch

It is still warm today, but the LT and the DQ still went out for a quick game of catch. 

Life is good!

196 Hot, Hot, Hot

There is an ice cream truck that drives through the neighborhood every so often. I always tell the girls "no" for many reasons. Today we were out back throwing around a softball and it was really hot. Then the familiar sound came tinkling down the street. Realizing that I can't shelter my children from all of the fun things of my childhood because they have been ruined by sugar and obesity and creepy people and child abductions, I grabbed some cash and we ran to find the truck.

They were certainly not as awestruck as I was as a child by the thought of all of those sweets in one place. They each happily chose a popsicle and then scampered off to eat it in the grass.

That wasn't so bad was it?

195 A Much Better Day

photo courtesy of the roof of my car. I decided I need to be in a picture now and then.

I was determined to get out of my funk today. A friend said she wanted to learn how to make headbands, so she came over and we had some good ol' fashioned girl craft time. She left after a while, but the girls and I continued making headbands for a while. The LT was gone to dinner with a friend who is leaving soon, so we had a fabulous girls' day. Around 8 o'clock we went outside and the girls rode around the house and we just enjoyed being outside. It was precisely what I needed!

194 Lame

So today has been a pity party/woe is me kind of day. I really have absolutely nothing to feel sorry about.

But nonethless, it was one of those days. Every time a friend moves out, the reality that we are still here slaps me in the face. I really don't mind being here, but the fact that our time here is indefinite just gets old. I would love to know what our next step might be. I realize though that we are incredibly blessed and that the LT has a job, and we have a home and awesome health insurance and good health and a happy family and that is what really matters.

But sometimes, we all get in a funk.

Tonight I went shopping with a friend. She decided she was tired of me wearing the same shirt in a different color every day. I regularly complain about the lack of shopping in Columbus, so she said she would take me to TJ Maxx because she finds all kinds of great things there.

I ended up finding six cute shirts despite the fact that I could be one of the pickiest people in the world when it comes to clothes. 

I did not however, buy the bunny shirt.

193 Book Club

Bean got invited to a book club with some friends. Today was her first day. Each child was to bring a book of their choice. Then they took turns telling about their books. After everyone went, they could borrow one of the books that was brought. She was very excited to share. Such a fun thing to do with little ones!

192 More Moving!

The lovely next door neighbors are actually moving tomorrow! Their movers came today to load everything up. We are beyond sad about that. This is the second family that has lived in that house since we've been here! I am praying we get another nice family. One with nice kids preferably. Bean will be so sad once her buddy is gone. We have loved having them next door, and I have loved that Bean can just walk next door to play. That's something I always wanted as a child, and I am so thankful that, for even just a few months, she had that too!

191 Dinner Out

Our lovely next door neighbors got home Saturday from visiting family and so to thank us for watching their dog, they took us out to dinner. We went to Shogun, and it was a hit with the kids! They have teppin tables there, and aside from the flaming onions, they all enjoyed the show, and the food was delish!

190 Wiped Out

We had a great day at church today, and then were invited over to a friends' for lunch. Bean ran and played so hard. We had fun chatting, and stayed until 10! We were all pretty exhausted by the time we got home.

189 Now I Have NO Excuse

We have been dog-sitting this week, and as the LT was out walking the neighbor's dog, he called to tell me that some friends down the street (who are moving next week) were getting rid of their elliptical. 

We have often talked about getting one, but they are pretty expensive, and then where would we put it!?

Well, we couldn't pass up the deal, so he wheeled it home. 

I have been meaning to get to the gym, but don't really like leaving the girls alone too long, and my shoes are too small and... now I have no excuse to not get some cardio in!

(BTDubs...I don't think this will be it's permanent home, I like that I can watch TV and hang with the girls here, but I think if we put it in the back room it won't get used!)

188 Posed

The DQ had a birthday party to go to, so rather than give a boring gift card, we decided I would make the girl some headbands. Before we wrapped them up, I had the DQ model them so I could remember how they looked. (I promised the girls I would make them some later)

I love how she is trying not to smile here. She enjoyed doing the modeling, that's for sure. 

I think she looks like she's full of attitude in the one, but luckily, she typically is not!!

187 Worth It

I didn't even bring my camera! This instagram will have to suffice.

The LT was off again today and we had a lovely lazy day.

For dinner, we drove all the way out to Auburn for Chipotle. It had been a long time since we'd done that and it was SO delicious.

186 Celebrate!

Happy Independence Day!!!

185 Sleepover

The girls have been getting along really well this summer. They typically do, but they have been playing more than ever, probably because Bean is getting older and easier to play big-kid things with. 

They have been begging for a "sleepover" where Bean sleeps in the DQ's room. 

After the DQ's surgery, her generous grandmother ordered her a memory foam mattress for her. We kept the regular mattress that was on her bed so that Bean can use it when we upgrade her to a twin bed. 

It made a perfect bed on the DQ's floor. 

I love these two sweet girls!!!

184 New Trick

Miss Bean loves gum.

She decided today that she needed to learn how to blow a bubble.

She tried and tried with her "fruity juice" (juicy fruit) but had minimal success.

We had to go to Target today to get new surge protectors* so I promised her I'd get her some real bubble gum.

She practiced and practiced and finally, this!

She was so impressed with herself! Me too! Her jaw was pretty tired after that, so she'll have to work on it more later. That's quite a skill for a 5 year old!

Now to work on tying those shoes...

*side note...surge protectors work! Two of ours blew out on Friday, but they sacrificed themselves to save our appliances, specifically the computer. While our renters insurance would have covered the purchase of a new one, the fact that I hadn't backed up my photos on anything more than the external hard drive that was also plugged in worried me. I will now be placing these babies in a cloud as well!*

183 Do You Believe in Miracles?

I do.

We went to church today, happy for the escape and some normalcy. The LT then visited the Cusseta group, which is an area south of us that is too small to have a ward (or even a branch for that matter), but is far enough that they can have meetings there. The area is mostly trailers and dirt. There are a lot of people is rough conditions out there. The LT had decided that he needed to start going there to help teach and just be a new face in the area.

He was so glad he went. He was able to teach and bear his testimony of the love of our Heavenly Father for us. There was a woman there who had attended for a long time, but would never pray aloud or share her testimony. Today she did. He said it was a wonderfully spiritual experience.

After he got "home" I went to a friend's so I could use her scanner to email something. After we chatted a little bit, the girls and I went back to our house to get a few things. 

Just as we were pulling up, we noticed a maintenance man and several other workers over at the house next door (literally - we are connected). The maintenance man, Danny, caught my eye and started walking over to me. He said "Do you have power?" 

"No, not since Friday. Well, we have a little, but we have been out of the house since Friday."

Just about then, another man walked over and I explained the whole situation. He said that we were not getting full power from the power lines. He said that there was a truck from the power company on their way now, and that it should only take them about 15 minutes to fix it.

My jaw dropped.

As promised, about 8 minutes later a truck pulled up. We watched as a man got in the cherry picker and worked on the lines while another one got on the roof and worked on the area where the line connects to the house.

After about 15 minutes, Danny came over with a huge grin and said "It's fixed!"

I had him come to our house and check the a/c and all of the appliances. They dryer started right up, everything seemed to be working!

I let the LT know that we would be sleeping at home tonight. He didn't believe me!

What a miracle.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how miraculous the events of today were. The neighbors came home today from being out of town. Had they not called and got the right person who thought to look at the exterior power, someone might well have rewired their house as well. Had I not been stopping by the house at that time, we may not have known that the problem was fixed until at least Monday. And every maintenance man had a different idea, and no one seemed to be talking to each other about it, they very well may have rewired our whole house not realizing the problem had been fixed!

Regardless, I am just so grateful to be home.

Reflecting on this situation, I feel really stupid.

I have been closely following the news of the fires in Colorado, and my heart has broken for the families there. They have truly been stressed and worried. Three hundred and forty six families no longer have homes to go to. I could just swing by mine and pick up something if I needed to.

In church today, several people spoke of friends of theirs who recently lost two of their sons in a tragic boating accident. 

Ugh. I have nothing to complain about. I am so blessed. Our family is so blessed. Things have been stressful because of the uncertainty of our future, but that is nothing compared to what so many others are going through.

That being said, I am so grateful that even in my tiny trials, the Lord is still looking out for me. He was there to comfort me, and remind me that He is in control and that bad things happen, and sometimes, they just have to happen, but if we have enough faith in Him, and it is His will, He can perform miracles in our lives.