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!

Happy Half Birthday

to Ginny Bug!

I can hardly believe this beautiful girl is already six months old (as of Monday!).  There are so many things I love about her growing self.

(As a side note, I just love this age. The newborn stage is a tender time, but I love me a baby that is rolling and moving and smiling. Every day feels like a milestone, and I love it.)

First off, if you can't tell from the fuzzy, poor-quality picture above, Ginny is a by-and-large very happy girl. She has the most beautiful smile. She lights up with a little attention from just about anyone. But probably attention from Dad is the happiest.

Gosh and golly, she loves to watch her dad. Most preferable is for Mom to hold her so she can follow his every move around the room, eager for each glance or smile he gives her.

Next to Dad, Raymond is the next light in her life. A week or so ago the two of them discovered each other. They sat across from each other laughing, making faces, and all-together amused with the other's company. I about burst with the happiness of it.

Miss Virginia is also very happy when she is outside soaking up some sun, and when she is eating. Wowsa, food is fun. She laps up with eagerness just about anything that comes at her on a spoon. And she has the rolls and dimples to prove it.

Seriously this girl is a little (er, not so little) butterball. Hello, I hope her soft squishiness will stay forever. I can't kiss and squeeze her cheeks, dimpled elbows, and chubby legs enough. I am constantly astounded that we are moving up to yet another size.

As far as latest (or current) milestones, she rolls every which way, scoots to reach toys (already!), almost sits on her own, eats (rice cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, applesauce, and little puffs), and occasionally sleeps for six hours at a stretch during the night (but is in her bed for at least twelve hours a night with a couple feedings in there). And I'm guessing she's pretty close to cutting a tooth or two (judging from the amount of drool, gumming, and fussiness that sometimes surfaces.)

Oh, and she's blonde. My dark-haired baby lost just about every last brunette lock she as born with (see) and is slowly growing a whole new head of of soft very-blonde fluff. I'm still trying to get used to it!

Happy half birthday, Baby Girl. We sure love you.

A lesser known fact

about me is that I hate (that's a strong word) using lotion.

Really, I can't stand the sliminess of if. Or how I can't open a door after lathering up without leaving a grease mark on the handle. Or how I can't open anything, for that matter, because I can't get a good enough grip to twist that lid.

Silly, huh?

Just the other day, however, I noticed another woman's hands and thought, they are so soft. And supple. And not cracked. Wow. that's novel. I won't lie, I was a wee bit jealous.

The downside to not liking lotion is having constantly dry hands. Particularly when you live in Utah, perhaps the driest place on this planet. My hands (at this very moment) are so dry and rough I think I am permanently damaging my uniquely-mine finger prints. Really and truly my fingers snag on just about everything. My hair. Raymond's Sunday tie. Ginny's soft baby cheeks. Then they crack and bleed.

It's embarrassing, actually.  I need to get over this, don't you think? I need start consistently using lotion.

Because not just my hands are suffering here. I am one dry, flaky mess all over. (Was that too graphic?)

I've mastered the art of washing my hands (which I do approximately fifty billion times a day... and which is probably contributing greatly to my rough hand, dry skin problem), so I need to at least dabble in the art of using lotion.

Any recommendations? Something I can get at the grocery store but that's not a bottle of grease?

Where to start...

We have been living in Blanding for one week now.

Which means that somehow we managed to pack and clean our apartment in the midst of all the graduation festivities. I'm still not sure how that happened (or how we passed our cleaning check). But we did. And we're here.

It already feels like Cedar City was a long-ago dream. It's so strange how that happens.

At the same time, I can't quite get it into my head that I don't actually live there anymore (and am not just on vacation at "Nama and Nampa's house." I keep thinking about my friends and past ward-members in Cedar and having to remind myself that chances are I won't see them again. I'll never get to see that new baby or find out if so-and-so got into Med school. Weird. It's hard to let go sometimes.

But slowly and steadily we are settling into a new rhythm. Jeremy is working four tens Monday through Thursday (which makes those days long) with a perpetual three day weekend on every horizon (which makes the weekends gloriously long as well). I love that when he's home from work, there's no studying to do (just playing with kiddos, bath and bed times, hanging out).

Debbie (my mother-in-law) has already babysat for us twice. Twice! Getting a babysitter was the bane of my existence in Cedar, so I can hardly believe my good fortune to be have one living with us (who's willing, no less!)

We are loving (with all our hearts) having an enormous backyard to frolic in--with "doggies" who bark at the fences on all sides (Raymond's one true desire in life is to go see the doggies every day). And more than that, there are chickens ("bock bocks") across the street, horses and donkeys a few doors down, and pigs around the corner. Really and truly, life doesn't get better than this when you are two.

Ginny, however, is reaping the most benefits of us all. The girl has finally been put in a room of her own... and miracle of miracles, she sleeps! Still not perfect by any means, but most days she has at least one long(er) nap. And most nights she has at least one stretch (longer than two hours is a stretch for her). Progress, my friends, progress. Hooray!

Other glorious perks to living at the Christiansen abode is (as mentioned before) my mother-in-law's love of all things culinary. She is more than willing to be the head chef of the house, and truly I am happy to be her helper! And she's in healthy-eating mode, which makes me oh so happy. But willing to buy Jeremy just about any treat he requests, which makes him oh so happy. There is all sorts of wining going on around here when it comes to food. (Can I just say she made some out-of-this-world Gumbo for dinner today. Wow.  I don't have words for the rhubarb cake with nutmeg sauce that followed.)

Speaking of the healthy side of life, there is an olyptical (sp?!) machine in the basement (where we live), that I am taking full advantage of. Along with the wide open spaces and new place to go when we want to get out for a walk. Glorious exercise is making me happy.

Did I mention there is a toy room? Yep.

So you see, we are alive and well.

I'm not quite sure how blogging will fit into life this summer. Hopefully more so as the summer progresses, but I guess I can't make any promises. But have no fear, we are happy and healthy and well.

The BIG six

Well hi there. I tell you, this packing business is serious. And the cleaning, well, it has begun (and somehow will end by Saturday morning, don't ask me how).  Really and truly it all isn't so bad. It's the two active kiddos that want to be played with and held incessantly that makes it all so difficult. Good thing Jeremy's parents just drove into town. Debbie is on Ginny-holding duty all day tomorrow. No complaining allowed.

Well, that was a lengthy tangent because this post is NOT about packing or cleaning or moving. It's about the fact that today is Cinco de Mayo, also known as the day I came home from my mission SIX years ago.

You read that right. SIX!

I think I'm as shocked as you are. Except that at the same time, that mission feels like it happened a lifetime ago. Part of me really can't believe it's only six years ago. While the other part marvels that it was the equivalent of four missions ago (that's a year and half times four, in case you were confused). How did that happen?

If I had a scanner I would add some of my favorite mission pictures to this post (I can even still see the box I packed them in). But alas. Nothing is happier than blue skies and banana and mango trees in the background. Plus really and truly I have never been (and will hopefully never be again) so tan in my life as I was for the year and half I lived in Honduras. You should see it.

I had full intentions of writing a nostalgic post about that glorious time in my life. And the many many things I have learned in the past six years since then. But shoot, I tell you what, I am plum too tired to think that hard. All I can manage at the moment is this endless rambling. My appologies.

So I'll end with a happy Cinco de Mayo to you. And a happy six year anniversary to me.

A final farwell

This is it, friends, the last week of our lives in Cedar City. Finals. Graduation. PACKING. A whole lot of cleaning. Moving.  That's what my week looks like. (Along with the usual. Blocks. Books. And the newly acquired Sofie the Giraffe.)

Anyhow, it all feels pretty surreal.  As in, are we really and truly packing up shop around here? Are we officially saying goodbye to all the cedar trees, the lone Main Street, Lin's Market, and the Shakespeare Festival? Not to mention all the lovely friends we have made. And Sadie and Drew-doo (cousins).

Looks like it.

My only question is: where did I get all this stuff? And along the same lines, how do I possibly have enough stuff to fill multiple bags and boxes to take to DI? We have been blessed, I tell you.

Well, Cedar City, I will miss you. Even all your blustery winds and long winters.  We've had a good ole time the last three years. I'm glad that forever and always we'll stop in Cedar on our way to California and tell Raymond and Virginia, "this is where you were born!" along with all the associated memories.

But it's onward and upward, I supposed (speaking literally, of course). First onward--this summer we are moving in with Jeremy's parents in Blanding (basement living, here we come!) to enjoy all the amenities of living with the "grandparents." Can't argue with Debbie's famous cooking or a full-sized backyard! And then upward--we will move to SLC sometime in August. Still looking for an apartment and a new couch.

In the meantime, I keep packing. And contemplating the cleaning. And counting the minutes until Jeremy's LAST final is over (45 more minutes to go).

Wish us luck.

Because I can do hard things

So yesterday, after writing that post about my total lack of picture-taking skills, I forced myself to take pictures. Because  weaknesses can become strengths, right? Or at least I can swallow my pride and frustration with the whole thing and do it anyway.

And because this was too wonderful not to document.

So I believe I've mentioned before that my mother is a seamstress. She really and truly is phenomenal. Her sewing skills are not only vast, they are deep. She does many things. And she does them all well.

One of my favorite types of things she sews is heirloom children's clothing. Hand smocking. Piping. Lace. Pleats.So so darling. My childhood was littered with dresses sewn by my mother. To my fifth birthday party I wore a yellow smocked dress... with lace on the edge of the puff sleeves. I thought that lace was so elegant and pretty (even as a five year old). I vividly remember the year we all wore various styles of pale green dresses for Easter (and took pictures in Grandma and Grandpa Snowball's backyard). My first-day-of-school dress in first grade was a purple dress with a smocked pinafore. My favorite doll (also made my mom) had a matching dress (she still wears it). Second grade was a blue dress with a big red apple appliqued on the collar.

My memories of these and other dresses are so tender to me. They are associated with love and the devotion of my mother. I would give anything to have one or two of them back in my possession (anyone know what happened to them all? Mom? Are they in a box somewhere??).

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when my mom called to tell me she had just bought material to make Miss Virginia an Easter dress. Delighted. I held my breath in anticipation.

And oh. my. She did not disappoint. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present (despite my poor photography skills) Ginny's Easter Dress.

(I love it so much I wanted to cry every time I looked at it on Ginny on Sunday. It is beautiful.)

 (Can you tell she's been crying? I was frantic to get the pictures taken before Raymond woke up from his nap, however. I'm just grateful she's not screaming in these pictures.)

 (Almost a smile. I'll get one with a real smile someday!)

 (If this last picture hadn't turned out blurry, it just might have been my favorite. I adore those big blue eyes and jowls.)