Update on Life!

I am happy to type this post on our computer in our own house! The last ten days have been filled with unpacking, organizing and putting things away at the house. I am happy to report that all the boxes have been sorted through and the only thing we have left to organize and clean up is the garage! Our next project is to start decorating and hanging things on the walls! My mom visited (okay, really she worked her buns off!) for 7 days and helped clean and organize and entertain the kids. She was a huge help and there is no way I could have gotten as much done as I did without her. Thank you mom! We did manage to take a few breaks but not many. Taylor had to visit the dentist last Monday. This was her second visit and she did a lot better this time. She let the dental hygienist "sparkle" her teeth and floss them. When the dentist started to come in to the room, she told me that the last time he had come in she cried. She informed me that she wouldn't cry this time (phew!). She was pretty funny about the whole thing.

Taylor at the dentist!

We also went to the Lakefair parade on Saturday. It was a great way to spend our Saturday afternoon. The sun was shining and the girls were excited to be out of the house! Maddie and Taylor both ended up loving the parade. Maddie really enjoyed all the horses and she especially got a kick out of them when they would walk by and poop (I know, it's gross!) and we had the privilege of seeing one of them pee as well (even more gross!). She is still talking about it today! Taylor went into the parade really thinking her favorite would be the clowns. She did enjoy them, however her favorite ended up being the princesses of different cities!

We have also been very busy making sno-cones! My mom had gotten Maddie the old fashioned, well, at least from my childhood, Snoopy sno-cone maker for her birthday. My memory of the sno-cone maker was completely different then when I was a little girl! As a mom, that thing was NOT fun. You spin the handle a hundred times and out pops a little teeny tiny bit of ice! Ugh! I told my mom that the girls would really love an electric one for Christmas....

All is well here. We are feeling very blessed to have such a beautiful new home and to be healthy and so happy! I leave you with one final picture of the girls. They were so very excited to find their dress up clothes in their new toy room! I will post again soon with some pictures of the house. Love to all~ Heather

Florida!

We are back in Olympia safe and sound from a very fun (but exhausting!) trip to Orlando, Florida! We had a really great time! It was so nice to be together just the four of us. Taylor and Maddie were truly so good throughout the trip which Dave and I were so thankful for- we were worried about the plane ride and sleeping and both turned out really well. We spent the majority of our time in the pool so we all have great tan lines from the waist up :) We also went to Coral Springs, Florida to visit our good friends the Loonams. It was so nice to hang out and catch up with them. The girls had fun with their three kids, Joe, Grace and Tab. We ended our trip by spending two days at Disney World. The girls loved going up in rides that took them way up high (like Dumbo and Aladdin's Magic Carpet) but when it came to anything with a witch (Snow Whites Scary Adventure) or the dark (Pirates of the Caribbean) they wouldn't open their eyes until the ride was over! Their two favorite rides were the carousal and It's A Small World. Taylor was also quite thrilled because she got to listen to Belle tell a story and get her picture taken with her!

We were glad to get home- it was the weirdest weather in Florida. It was always hot (90+) and humid but all of a sudden during the day it would cloud up and rain and thunder and lightening!

When we got home we had a garage sale (it was so nice to get rid of some un-needed things!) and now we are getting started on unpacking all the boxes in our house. Dave has spent the last two days putting together bar stools, beds and more closets- which is great! Thank goodness he is handy like that!

I will leave you with a few pictures from our trip....

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Summer Days...

I have to say that I am so thankful that we are on summer vacation, otherwise, I am not sure that I would ever rest! We have been running around doing multiple things these past few days. All of them wonderful, but exhausting! We have been spending the majority of our time at the house. On Friday and Saturday the girls and I loaded up the suburban at least 40 times and drove around the block to drop boxes into appropriate rooms throughout the house. Bless their little hearts- they were absolute angels during this time! Saturday Dave and his friend Eddie rented a Uhaul and unloaded the rest of our storage units. What a day to move! It was only 90 degress....We have everything in the house but have nothing unpacked it seems. We purposely put all the boxes into rooms that they would go in so that we would not put them in the garage and just leave them there! We have a lot of work to do but it will definately be worth it!

I have had to switch gears the last few days to try and get ready for our vacation to Florida. We are excited about going and we need to get away just the four of us but Dave and I are feeling like we want to be here as well organizing the new house. Taylor is ecstatic for the plane ride- we will see how long that lasts?? And Maddie just knows we are going to "Lorida"! I think that is about it- just unpacking, packing and getting ready for a sunny vacation to see friends and visit the princess castle! Wishing everyone a wonderful 4th of July! Talk to everyone soon when we get back! Love~ All of us- D, H, T and M

Taylor found these wrist bands in one of the many boxes! She made all of us wear them and she claimed that only "Cougars" could wear them....That made her dad quite proud! Here she is in her jammies and she ended up sleeping in them and wore them the entire next day before finally taking them off!

Here is Taylor (Maddie wasn't cooperating with the pictures!) in the girls new playroom doing some art work!

A couple of pictures of the house...they don't do it much justice- too many boxes, etc. but the top picture is Dave's "Man Room" - Go Cougs! Then, a picture of our great room and finally, a picture of Maddie's room (Taylor's is very similar except her walls are purple- shocking!)

Final Inspection!

As most of you know, Dave and I have been waiting patiently for everything to be done with the house so we could call for a final inspection. We have been waiting on steps to the front of the house as well as from the garage to the house to be done- Dave got tired of waiting and in the last 48 hours has been building steps with his buddy Grady! They look amazing and I can't believe he did all that! The inspector just left and we passed our final inspection! It is official....the Myers have a new house after 18 months! YEAH!! Just had to share our very happy news!

The Beginning of Summer Vacation!

We have been enjoying our first few days of summer vacation. The girls and I stayed in our pajama's our first day off and did absolutely nothing! It was fabulous! My mom, sister and Emilie just left after spending a few days in Olympia with us. We had a lot of fun visiting, going to Burfoot park and the school park as well as going to the marina every day! My sister is enjoying being a new mommy but I have to tell you that I am glad that I am not in her shoes anymore! When you are going through the baby stage you don't realize just how much work it is. Now that mine are so much more independent I was looking at her and feeling sorry for her! Babies are a ton of work! But our sweet baby girl Emilie is definitely worth it! Taylor and Maddie thought it was so great that she spent the night. Other than that, we haven't been doing much of anything else. We have our final inspection tomorrow- hopefully that will go well so that we can start moving things out of storage this weekend. Then, we are off to Florida on July 1st! We can't wait! I hope everyone is enjoying the sun!

Emilie enjoying the sun! 4 weeks old....

Maddie, Taylor, Nana, Emilie and Grandma eating lunch at the marina!

Grandma, Emilie, Taylor and Maddie going for a walk on the dock!

Grandma and her girls! Too sweet!

It's Official!

Well....I can officially say that on this day, Sunday (at 11:56 p.m.), June 22nd, 2008 that I have finished my Masters in Reading!

After 17 months of working on papers, projects, group work, discussion posts, journal entries and tutoring I have to say that it was very much worth my time. I honestly feel that I have learned so much about how I can help my students to become the best readers possible!

I have to thank my hubby for without him, this would honestly not have been possible! He was the one who from the start encouraged me to do this. When I was tired of writing a paper he was the one who helped me get through it. He was the one who literally took over bed time- he did bath time, story time and the putting of the girls to bed. From the bottom of my heart Dave, thank you for all your love and support! I love you!

The First Sleepover in the New House!

The girls have begging us to sleepover in the new house and so Dave and I decided to give it a try last night. We don't have anything in the house yet (still waiting for final inspection...deep breath Heather!) so we brought two mattresses and a blow up mattresses down to the house. We had popcorn, read stories and snuggled in together. It was quite fun. However, let me break down the evening for you so you can get the whole picture on this event!

8:00- We all head down to the house with mattresses, blankets, books, drinks, popcorn, pillows and stuffed animals and babies.

8:05- Everything is set up and we start eating our popcorn.

8:30- Girls are running around the house, Dave and I are putting together new kitchen table chairs.

8:45- Story time (Fancy Nancy and Faces of course!)

9:00- Lights out

9:01- Maddie says: "I want to sleep at Grandma's house"

9:02- Taylor says: "I want to sleep at Grandma's house too"

9:03- Dave has both girls in his arms carrying them back up to Grandma's house.

9:15- Everyone is snuggled into their own beds fast asleep :)

Taylor and Maddie eating popcorn at the new house!

Maddie and Taylor snuggled up in their "bed" and smiling big for the camera!