Home Sweet Home

Well, I suppose it is finally time for me to post some pictures of our new place! We moved in about two weeks ago, so not all of the rooms are completely organized and looking how I want them to look. For example, our kitchen floor and curtains aren't my favorite. I suppose I should take before and after pictures before we do finally change them. Anyways, I apologize because you really are only going to see a couple rooms in the house. I will post more later.

I know I mentioned in an earlier post of us moving to Eagle Mountain, well that house actually fell through, and we are in Orem instead! We love our neighborhood and our neighbors, and it is great to not live so close to BYU campus anymore!

Here is our bathroom

Living room (not a fan of the lovely white fireplace, but oh well.. we'll live with it for now)

Living room again

Basement living room

A Welcome Home

When we got back from Connecticut, I had a couple surprises waiting for me -

1 - Mockingjay!!

Loved this book! Just as good as the others and so many awesome twists to the plot. Honestly, I wasn't quite sure where Collins was going to go with the 3rd book .. and how she was going to occupy a storyline for a complete novel. Oh boy, she sure did! Definitely worth the read.

5 out of 5 stars for sure.

2 - a massive spider in our bathtub! This picture really doesn't do it justice because I was still at least 6 inches above it when I took it. It was huuuge! Mike killed it and tried to rinse it done the drain, but it wouldn't fit.

Visit to Connecticut

We took a trip out to CT to visit family for a week. Most of Mike's extended family live there and he hasn't seen them for about 10 years, and I had never met them before. Plus my wonderful twin, Leslie lives there! The picture above is of when Brinley attacked a Dunkin Donut. She was covered in it! Great Grandma Duthrie was very helpful in cleaning her off.

Cousin Spencer (age 8 - soon to be 9) and Brinley. Spencer loved Brinley! And she enjoyed playing with him most of the time.

Leslie and her roommate Kira in a fight til the death! Well not really, but they were ferocious

! Leslie and I didn't have any pictures together.. Leslie, I blame that one on you. :)

Brin and I.. and some pleasant man walking behind us at the beach. It was my first time ever going to the beach and stepping foot into the ocean!! It felt nice, but I definitely am not a fan of tasting it. Well, I didn't literally lick the surface or anything, but all I could think of gurgling salt water when I am sick.. and those aren't very pleasant memories. Brinley was a bit cold and afraid of the waves.(Which were very small. haha)

Cousin Meghan, Mike and Uncle Jeff hanging out by the pool.

Me and Brinley - wearing the super cute swimsuit cousin Spencer picked out for her

Most of us together after the pool party at Uncle Dave's. I am too lazy to list everyone.

Cousin Calli, Grandma Duthrie, Brin and Mike at the park.

Cousin Calli and Brin at the park - they loved playing together.. well when Brinley wasn't whining and crawling after me.

Grandma Duthrie embracing Mike and great granddaughter Brinley

We loved the trip! I wish I had taken more pictures and had more patience to blog about the experiences and memories that we had. Duthrie family is amazing and my sister is awesome. I wish we could see more of them. Everyone was so hospitable, caring, and thoughtful of us. I left feeling so loved and grateful for family.

A New Wall to Scale

Well, here is Brinley in one of her most favorite things to do: explore through the fridge!! While Mike has been busy scaling alpine routes on the Grand Teton in Wyoming, this is what his daughter has been summiting... of course she hasn't really reached the top, but no doubt she would keep going up if the freezer were opened!

Notice the look before the ascent.

What??! Am I not supposed to be up here?

Happy little girl after a safe descent with help from mom.

Mike on the way up the Grand Teton on a first attempt. His team didn't end up summiting so back they went again and they were successful!

Brett Francis, Sarah Handley and Mike at the top of the Grand Teton!! Yay they made it and survived as well! :)

Another happy note - Mike and I celebrated our 4th anniversary earlier this week! I am married to the most amazing man in the world and our last 4 years of marriage have been just wonderful. We celebrated by going to the temple and eating Sub Zero ice cream.

A Taste of Nursery

I took Brinley into nursery for the first time on her own today. Yes, she just might be 6 months too young for normal family wards, but we are blessed enough to be in a ward where there are few kids in nursery so she can go! She was the only one in there at first and then another girl came later.

I had some mixed emotions about the whole thing - I mean I am grateful to not have to sit outside meetings while she is going crazy during Sunday school and Relief Society, but at the same time I am kinda sad to think that she is already in nursery.. without me or Mike.. and doing fine on her own. Oh, my little girl is growing up so fast!

It was soooooo cute when I went to pick her up. I didn't see her at first, but then I noticed her in the corner. She had fallen asleep on a play rug with her legs tucked in and her little butt in the air with the binkie off to the side of her hand. Oh I wish I had a camera to capture that precious moment that was so special to me.

Brinley is One!

We have a toddler! So crazy! A few things our one year old loves is:
- to be scared
- game of chase
- string cheese
- pretending to share and sometimes actually doing it.

At her one year appointment, Brinley weighed in at 18 lbs 14 oz and was 29.25 inches long.

I gave a go at cake decorating. Sheep were chosen because Brinley has a stuffed lamb that she loves. I think they turned out ok.

We had a double birthday party for Grandpa B and Brinley at the park. It was a good time. Thanks to all who participated whether in person or in thoughts. :)

Offer Approved.

Back in February Mike and I put in an offer for a town home in Eagle Mountain, UT. It was a short sale.. and about 5 months later we got approval!! I'm not quite sure why short sale homes are called "short sales," because the average closure time is 4-6 months. We have been blessed with how things have turned out though. We will be able to get the rural housing loan and receive the tax credit for new home-buyers.

If all goes well, we should close and be moved in in about a month. Pictures to come later. :)

P.S. Slight disappointment about this buy.. "free" trip to Cancun is canceled. It actually costs about 200 dollars just for the processing fee and additional fees are tacked on as well. Granted it is still a steal of a deal, but it turns out buying home is kind of expensive.