Alive and well

Wow. I'm actually blogging! It feels weird. I use to be much more into it. Life has kept me pretty busy lately but is that really an excuse? No, proabably not. I think mostly I just got out of the habit. I also don't stay up late (past 10) any more; which is when I use to blog. So here it is...I've got so much to catch you up on! (photos)

Well, the biggest news is that we're in our new apartment & we LOVE it here. (I took pictures but I need to upload them still. sorry!) It's amazing how moving just down the street and around the corner changes the whole feel of the neighborhood we live in. (very different income levels) It's also amazing how a little bit of extra room in each bedroom, an extra bedroom (our office/art space), a garage and 2 storage closets makes a huge difference in the way we feel in our apartment. It just feels like we can breathe! Before we just had things stuffed to the rafters and were tripping over our stuff because we had no storage. Now we have too much storage- a great problem. It makes it feel like we have a lot less because it's all spread out now, and I love it!

The other wonderful thing about living here is our great neighbors! We live in a duplex that is stacked. It looks likes it's side by side but our entryway goes up stairs and our neighbors' goes down stairs. We live on the entire top level. We were good friends before we moved in and our kids are very close in age so they like to play together. Living so close makes watching each other's kids super easy and I love it. They'll all go downstairs and play for a while, then come upstairs for a while, or go outside and hang out in our large fenced in backyard. If one of us needs to go somewhere at night after the kids are asleep, we just give the other the baby monitor to listen out for our kids. It's just been heavenly and worked out really well. It's been a lot of fun to live so close to friends. I feel lucky.

We're feeling pretty settled into the new place, minus unpacking the office and some decorating in the kitchen and curtains in the bedrooms. I ended up deciding to keep Owen in our room, until he's done nursing. Then he'll be movin' in with the other kids. The older two just got a bunk bed with some really cool, colorful, number bed sheets from Ikea! I love it. They do too. Aiden claimed the top and surprisingly Emma was okay with the bottom. It's freed up some space in their room...until Owen moves in at least!

Speaking of Ikea, I had the luckiest day there when I was in the "as is" section and found my dream crib for $75! I snatched it right up and brought it home. I've always wanted one that was really modern and white. I like the low style too, as apposed to the the drop side crib. This just feels a lot smaller than our last one. I'm in love with it. Especially with the really colorful crib sheet/bumper set I had for it.

I think it's really funny how he poses on his side like this. He just lays that way for a while sometimes. Gosh he's cute!

The kids and I haven't gotten out a lot since our move, so my sister Kara and I decided to meet up and take the kids to Thanksgiving Point's "Farm Country". It was a fun little trip. Aiden and Emma both loved riding the ponies, which surprised me because last year Aiden was too scared to get close to the big animals and wouldn't ride a pony.

They did great all on their own too! I just helped them get on and off.

Even Owen seemed to have a good time at Farm Country.

Lets see...oh there's been some firsts that you've missed.

The kids took their first shower! I don't think it'll be a regular thing, but they wanted to try it.

Owen got his first tooth (on the bottom)! And he's army crawling and can sit himself up by himself. (sorry- no pictures of either event)

We got our first trampoline for $25!! Killer deal, and the kids love it.

Well, things at the cupcake shop are still great. I wish I could work more hours than I do. It's just a lot of fun. Kart's still pluggin' away at school and is having a great semester. There's a light at the end of the tunnel. I just can't wait to get to the other side and see him graduate! It's coming, it's coming. I know. Everyone is healthy & happy. I couldn't ask for much more.

Life is good. The end.