FINALLY GOT OUR HOUSE!!!!!!

We have been looking since we knew we would be moving (back in Oct) but hadn't really found anything. A new development about a mile from the church just opened and are now selling Phase 1. We just finished signing papers this week and they start construction in a few weeks!!!!! It isn't shown here but there is actually a 3rd floor that is open and will be the bonus room. It's a "room" but in reality the size is about 1/2 of the upper floor.We loved this house when we walked through it. We ended up getting a GREAT price on it and the builder included some great extras: rounded corners, washer and dryer, refrigerator, garbage disposal & dishwasher, landscaping in the back yard and all the blinds. I was especially excited about the blinds, since there are tons of windows and a huge picture window in the family room. The only bummer is that it won't be finished until September. But it will be worth waiting!

21 Suggestions for Success

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that is worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do so cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Be persistant, persistant, persistant.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest income.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
18. Don't blame others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud!

I Love Warm Weather!!!!

It has been so nice that we have rarely been at home! When Western Washington has nice weather you have to take full advantage, because tomorrow might rain :) The kids love being outside playing. We have weeded the flower beds, mowed the yard, gone on bike rides, played in bubbles, been to every park in a 10-mile radius, sun-bathed, had a picnic, washed the cars, cleaned out the garage, gotten new summer toys, bounced on the trampoline, and found a new house. I guess I could say we have had a productive 2 weeks. :)

PS- Logan has his first word. We don't classify Mama and Dada as "real" first words because every kid learns to babble that right away. Logan's first word is "Sissy." Actually, it is pronounced more like Did-dee. As soon as he wakes from his naps, he calls for the dog to come play with him. It really is cute. They both get excited to see each other.

Latest Obsession

I love, love, love, LOVE my recipe organizer!!!!! I finally got a program so I could put all my recipes onto my computer. In the beginning, it is a lot of work to put in the recipes and photos, but it is worth having the empty cabinet and shelf space! And it is so much easier to find recipes. I don't have to check the index of every book, I can just type in an ingredient. This probably seems like a lot of work and I agree that it would be if I only had 5 or 6 cookbooks. But I had 4 recipe boxes (filled with cards), 35 cookbooks, and about 125 recipe magazines. And then there are all the random pieces of papers with recipes on them floating around the kitchen and bookshelf. The only downside for me has been discovering recipes I had looked over and thought, "I'll make that one day." Now I am cooking and baking like crazy! I think my family has been eating about 5 meals a day! It's a good thing we have people over all the time, otherwise we would be in trouble!