Well that's one thing to check off the list

We have housing!

Seriously, friends, the housing hunting we've been doing for the last two or three weeks has been a wee bit stressful. Our three main criteria have all the appearances of being doable:

1. As close as stinkin possible to the law school (since we only have one car and the goal was for me to have it 100% of the (day) time, Jeremy thus needs to have a doable commute via trax or the bus. You'd be surprised how fast (er, slow) a 2 mile commute equals 20+ minutes on a bus)
2. washer / dryer hookups (since, you know, we have two kids and do cloth diapers. There will be no dropping of quarters for our laundry for three years. No sir.)
3. Cheap, cheap, cheapest. The goal was under $800. This turned our ideal of a three bedroom into a two. And my wishes for new carpets and updated appliances out the door. Alas. 

You'd be surprised how impossible this has seemed as we've looked and looked and looked. But somehow what we got fits all three criteria.

1. According to google maps it is a three minute walk to the law school. I think it's closer than the nearest parking lot (seriously). This means Jeremy will be home for all three meals most days. And helping to get the kids to bed before running back to the library will not be stressful. Happiness.
2. There are hook ups (albeit in a shared laundry room with the upstairs tenants (we are in a basement), we won't have to pay for it)
3. It's cheaper than we hoped for. Ok so there isn't even a garbage disposal (not to mention a dishwasher) and we will have the carpets cleaned (if the management company doesn't do that automatically)... but the rent is so SO in our price range, that maybe life won't be so stressful.

See here for some pictures. Not so inviting looking in these (although the outside is darling)... but at least it's not cinderblock. And a slash or two of red will brighten it right up, I think.

HOORAY!

And so

life goes on and on.

But it sure is happier when wearing a baby muumuu. Here is my latest Ginny creation. I cut down Lier's Raglan dress pattern and added the ruffle. I adore it.

So far I've made two. Only twenty more to go. Because who wants to wear anything but a muumuu in the summertime?

To Do List:

• Make at least two more muumuus for Ginny Bug
• Make more red, white, and blue crape paper garlands.
• Make another skirt for me. Because I like wearing skirts. (So far I've made this skirt twice and every time I wear one I think: why don't I have twenty of these? The last one I made matches Ginny's dress above).
• Make a market skirt for my niece Bentley (her mom is taking our family pictures as a trade. I would do anything for someone else to take pictures instead of me. And since I've been wanting to make this little skirt for awhile now, this is a win win for me!)
• Make Raymond a 4th of July tie.
• Find housing in Salt Lake. 
• Kiss baby cheeks.

All in all, I think I can handle it.

Five things that are making me happy

I am really bummed today. As in, fighting tears all day, sad.

Today my little sister, Paige, graduates from high school. And I don't get to be there. Or hang out with all my family that is congregated for the occasion. (Again.) Or go to California at all this summer, for that matter.

And I'm unendingly sad about it.

But I know I need to buck up and get over it and move on with life.

So in an effort to be cheerful in all things, here is my list today of five things that are making me happy. Because I can choose to be happy.

1. I am sewing again! After a six month break, I've busted out my machine (as of last week) and am sewing up a storm. I've made three skirts for Ginny, one for me, and have a Ginny dress in the making (as in, the pattern and such are in the making). I've also been making yoyos for Paige's quilt. And I've remade three (or four?) of Jeremy's ties into Raymond ties for church. Creativity breeds happiness.
2. I've joined pinterest. Just today I've been working through the details and adding pins to my boards. Most notably my "Salt Lake Options" board in which I've added the many different houses and apartments in SL that I've looked at in the past two days. Sigh. Finding housing is stressful! (But this portion of the post is supposed to be happy... so I'll stop there!)
3. I've exercised five or six days a week for three and half weeks now! I feel so dang good about life when I'm exercising. I alternate daily between the elliptical and a kettlebell workout. It's a great mix of aerobic and cardio.
4. I've successful convinced Jeremy to watch movies with me like Persuasion and North and South. And low and behold he enjoys them. Seriously opens up all sorts of movie-watching possibilities around here! (And isn't it happy that we get to bum off my in-law's Netflix all summer? Yes. Very happy.)
5. Summer weather is finally (FINALLY!) here to stay (or so it seems). Blue skies, hot sun, cool breezes. I love summertime.

And because this picture has been making me happy for a few days now: here is Miss Virginia in her new (made by Mama) all pink ruffle skirt. It's seriously darling on her (much cuter in person than in the picture)... but who can resist being happy with that little face looking up at you?

The Birthday Boy

Well.

So Raymond turned two last week (Sunday, June 5th, to be exact). It was over and out a happy happy day.

We started out (early) with presents and and abundance of balloons (boon! He loves boons.) Raymond's room is right off the basement "living room" here at Jeremy's parent's house. So right as he walked out of his room he walked right into the festivities.

Raymond loves horses (horsies!), so we gave him an enormous horse coloring book (he also loves coloring), and the soccer ball on the floor. 

He also loves (LOVES) all things Sesame Street, most especially Elmo, related. So waiting for him was some Elmo juice (Elmo was on the front). Oh and he loves juice. Can you see how he's fiddling with his fingers while I open the juices for him.  What I love most about this picture, however is Ginny. She was a bit out of it still. Oh how I love that little face!

Yea. Mom got the juice open. He drank all four in about thirty minutes. You get to do those sort of things on your birthday.

My parents gave him toy dishes and food (that velcros together so you can cut it. So cool, and definitely a hit with the birthday boy).

We spent the morning before church playing with toys (bubbles also came from gma and gpa T. and were never ending fun). We had waffles (still a favorite) for breakfast.

After church we busted out the Elmo cupcakes.

Ok so they didn't turn out perfect. But not bad. The black icing was running at first (and I couldn't figure out why). The red frosting was really only dark pink. But they tasted good! And Raymond immediately knew they were Elmo.

We did blow out a #2 candle... but didn't get it on film. Sorry.

But they sure were tasty. I think he only ate one on his birthday... but all week long he ate "Elmo tate" and was happy happy boy. (Note: Raymond usually will have nothing to do with sitting in a high chair any more... but was willing to do anything we asked in order to get that Elmo cake.)

Since it was just us on his birthday (Jeremy's parents were out of town), it was pretty low key. We talked to the Torgerson crowd (my family) who were all together in Vegas for my nephew's blessing. And we drove all over Blanding to look at the horsies. Something Raymond loves to do.

We've taken quite a few family drives to look for horses in the last few weeks. We also know where to find piggies, sheep, a llama, and cows. Just in case horses aren't out and eating.

All in all, it was such a quiet, fun day. I'm pretty sure they sang to him in nursery. And we told Happy Birthday all day long.

A few fun facts about Raymond:

• He loves TV (much to my disappointment). Elmo and Mickey Mouse make him most happy. (I pick Mickey Mouse if at all possible).
• He loves all animals.
• He loves people. He is so good for other people (like in nursery and this last Sunday when we spoke in church and had him sit with the neighbors). He's as much a ham as he ever was
• He loves to talk. He will repeat (or try anyway) anything you ask him too. He seriously learns new words every day.
• He loves his numbers. He can count (mostly on his own) up to about 14 (although he things 11 is 7 and will often go back to 8 after he says 11. It's pretty cute. We've got to get it on film).
• He loves reading books still (even though that TV is so enticing). 
• He loves peanut butter, eggs (eggies), hot dogs, strawberries, raisins, and yogurt (to name a few). And any kind of "treat" he can weasel out of us. He most definitely has a sweet tooth. He's pretty brave and will try most things (and like them! Like artichokes. What two year old likes artichokes?)
• He loves to investigate "ouchies" on himself or anyone else. He'll remember where someone's ouchie is (even months later) and point and look at it as long as you'll let him.
• He loves to be outside.
• He knows how to throw a pretty good tantrum.
• He still loves his blankets (all five or so of them) and will tote them all over the house.

Oh and seriously, he's adorable. I know I'm his mom and all, but he's a cute kid.

Happy Birthday, Raymond!