Change really isn't that bad.....

When Paul and I decided to move to Richland, WA we had some reservations. We both knew the area and it defiantly wasn't our first choice of where to live but now that we are here I think we are really happy we made that choice. The weather is so different from the Portland area but I think we are going to enjoy it. We have longer summers which means more time outside and we can go on more camping trips. Woohoo!!! This is the first time we own a home in a neighborhood and we did this to help the kids (and me) adjust to a new area. Natalie is in school and has made a few friends there but she has also met a few kids in the neighborhood too. The kids also like that we don't have to go to far to find a local park. I am enjoying be able to go walking again. Living in the country and not having Paul home made that difficult for me.

We love that the home we have now is finished and we don't have to spend our weekends working on home projects. I don't think we have been this content with our life in a while. Things have really come together for us and I couldn't be happier. It is amazing how when some of the stresses of life go away things just seem to run smoother. This ended up being the best choice for me and my family.

Kate is loving having some alone time when Natalie goes to school. She is learning to be a little more independent because Natalie isn't always around to help her. She spends part of her day outside with the dogs. She loves to just sit out there and talk to Buster about anything. They have really become buds. I think she is also loving that it is October and we are still having 80 degree weather.

The girls are enjoying doing things that wasn't so easy to do before. They can ride their bikes to the park and with Paul able to get off work at a decent time we can all go together. Now that we live in the same town that Paul works in we have so much more family time and we are really enjoying it. There have been so many positives with this move that I don't want to forget to mention that we are so close to family. The girls love having their cousins close and we have already planned a sleepover. Paul's family loves our kids and wants to spend time with them so we get to have date nights more then we have had in a while. Now if I could just get my cousin Emily to move up here so I can have a shopping buddy. haha

I know this blog is kind of all over the place but the gist of it is.....we are happy!!!

Our new home!!!!

So this post is for the few people who keep bugging me about photos of the new home. I hope everyone can make it out for a visit sometime to see it in person. We love our new home and are having so much fun settling in and making it our own. A lot of the walls are still bare because we have only been in the house about two weeks and if I could I would buy all new stuff I would do that!! (one could dream) There are a lot of photos of the house so this post is a long one. This is a hall leads to a bathroom and the soon to be nursery, also a hall closet.

This is Paul's office. He is searching for the right desk and I said that he could decorate it. He asked me to buy him coat hooks so he could put them in the wall. Oh boy, this is going to be a mess and I will be hanging curtains on those doors.

That is the entry to the master bedroom off the living room. I don't have pictures of our bedroom because it is a mess with boxes everywhere.

This is the hallway from the front door into the living room. Lots of space that I need to decorate.

The dining room.

Our kitchen and the best pantry ever!!!

The living room and dining room.

The living room.

What I posted in our laundry room. Thanks Emily, I agree it is cute.

Our laundry room with a sink for Paul to wash up before he enters my clean house. haha

The girls' bathroom. They got to pick out the decor even though I wanted something else. Dad backed their discussion so I was the odd man out.

Underwater sea life is the theme.

Katelyn's bedroom.

Kate's room.

Natalie's room.

Natalie's room again.

Going private

I have been thinking about this the last couple of months but with everything that is going on I haven't had time to set it up. I will be setting my blog to private in the next couple of days. There are a lot of exciting things that have changed and are continuing to change in my life and I don't feel comfortable with the whole world seeing it anymore.

First day of school

Life living in a hotel has been interesting. Below is a picture of the first day Natalie got to go to her school. We had orientation the day before school started to get the kids and parents a little familiar with the school. Getting ready in a hotel and living out of a suitcase just makes me look forward to being in the house that much more. Natalie has so much personality these days that it just makes me laugh....sometimes. I was so proud of Kate this week because with a lot of the attention being on Natalie she held strong and didn't throw fits. She was actually very excited for Natalie and loved just walking through the process with her.We had to sit in the truck and wait for the bus to come and we will be doing that for the next two weeks of school. I asked Natalie if she wanted me to drive her and pick her up from school but she said she was a big girl and wanted to ride the bus. So in the truck we will sit. She was so excited when she saw the bus coming down the street that I had to remind her to stay on the sidewalk. The bus driver was so nice that she let me take a picture of Natalie on the bus. Natalie was so excited for school and loved her first day. She got to pick out what she was going to wear and how she wanted her hair done. We did braids the night before because she wanted the wavy hair. When we got to the school the kids had to line up against the wall and I noticed that Natalie was almost a full head taller then all the other kids. I had to laugh because that was the way it was for me too. Most of the day went pretty smoothly except her bus ride back home the bus broke down. So Kate and I sat in the truck for an extra 40 mins waiting for her to show up. Later that night she told me that she made lots of friends but she didn't like the bus driver. I asked her why and she said because she makes us sit in our seats and we can't hang our hands out the windows. It must be hard to have to follow rules....haha.

Almost done!!!!!

The house is almost finished!!! We have only two and a half weeks before we can move in. I walked through the house last week and this is what it looks like so far. We are so excited and I love the way the house is turning out.

The girls walked through with me and enjoyed seeing the house starting to look like a home. The last time we walked through the walls had just been put up so this was a big change. The picture above is the girl's bathroom. They had fun going through their bathroom and their bedrooms.

This is the kitchen and you can see part of the dining room. They were finishing up the tile work last week and the kitchen was the last room. They were very busy so we didn't get to stay long and I was hoping to see the kitchen tile done but they still had the bar and the back splash to do. The tile is suppose to be done next week so when we are out there again I think I will walk through again and take a peek.

This is the master bath and I am loving the space!! Doesn't Natalie look thrilled...haha.

I had to take a picture of the closet space in the girl's bedroom. It is just so much more space then I have been use to and I don't even think I have enough stuff to fill it. (which is an awesome feeling) We are so excited to move into our new home and have life be a little simpler. The backyard is due to be done the week we move in so I will be able to just sit back and enjoy my home. Wahoo!!

Update.....

So I had another ultrasound this week and to my great surprise the abnormality that was there before is gone!! What a relief it will be not to have to worry about it anymore. So you can tell from the picture that it is human but that is all I know. The baby was not cooperating so I didn't get to find out what we are having. I was only 13 weeks and the baby would have to be positioned just right to determine the sex and of course our baby was moving way to much to tell. Also we ran some test to determine if the baby would have downs and so far the results are negative. We only ran the tests because of the abnormality that was there and we wanted to make sure it didn't affect the baby at all. So with everything looking good and running smoothly now I am looking forward to the rest of this pregnancy.

The best man ever!!!

This last week was our 10th anniversary and man did I really shoot myself in the foot this time. So the story begins on Wed. night at 8 o'clock. I had not heard from Paul all day and his phone was dead so I was a little heated when I got a hold of him. I asked him if there was any reason that he should have called me today of all days and he said no I don't think so. At that point I lost it. I told him it was our 10th anniversary and he didn't say anything at first and then sheepishly said Happy Anniversary. I told him whatever and that I needed to go and quickly hung up the phone. Paul called me the next evening when he was in Hood River and said he knew I was upset so he drove home. I was still upset so I was short with him on the phone. When he got home he had flowers and a card and one of the twilight movies. He told me that he would sit and watch the whole movie with me even though it would kill him to do so. I finally caved and let him off the hook. Later that night I told him how these type of days are important to me and it hurts me feeling when he forgets them. He got up early the next morning and drove the 2 1/2 hours back to the Tri-Cities for work. That Saturday I was driving to meet some friends and help them move when all of the sudden it hit me like a ton of bricks.....our anniversary was not on Wed. it was on Thur. I had the wrong day!!! So as soon as I got to our friends house I had to call Paul and apologized. All I said was that I owe you an apology and he said so you figured it out. I asked if he knew what I was apologizing for and he said the day of our anniversary. I asked him if he knew I was wrong why didn't he say anything. He explained that when I asked if he had any reason to call me on Wed he was thinking no because our anniversary was the next day. Then when I said happy anniversary he started questioning himself and figured I would know the day better then he would. The next day he checked and figured out he was right but instead of calling me out on it he just let it go. Then when he called me and realized I still hadn't figured it out he just came home with flowers and said he was sorry. When I called him on Sat morning to apologize he explained to me that he thought I would eventually figure it out and with me being pregnant he didn't want to upset me more by arguing with me. I should say that we had agreed to not get each other anything for our anniversary or our birthdays because of the move and all of the craziness that is going on right now. So my dear sweet man bought me things knowing he would get nothing in return. Trying to redeem myself I did buy him a birthday gift.I love this man! He let me be right even though I was wrong and bought me flowers to make up for MY mistake. On the drive home after moving our friends I kept thinking about how no matter who may come and go during our lifetime it will always be Paul and I. He is my true other half and I don't know what I would do without him.

Paul did turn 38 last weekend and the girls and I made his cake....it was so good. He also got a pedicure from the girls. Paul is a mans' man but when it comes to his girls he turns into the biggest softy. (don't mind the gross man feet) We rented the movie Avatar for us to watch on Paul's b-day and the girls wanted to watch it right after breakfast. Notice Kate still in her pj's. Paul really liked the movie when he watched it in the theater but the girls really enjoyed it when they watched it. They sat with Paul for the full movie and didn't move. It was so quiet in the house that I was able to take a morning nap. Natalie now calls her barbies avatar's. My brother-in-law Amos stopped by the other day and told Natalie he would bring some blue paint the next time he stopped by so they could paint her barbies. She thought that was the coolest idea. I hoping she forgets about it because it won't be to long before she wants them to be barbies again.

Our family is getting bigger!!!

We are expecting again!!! So this post will not have any pictures because the ultrasounds that I have had so far you can't even tell that the baby is human so I didn't think there was a point in posting them. I am 10 weeks along and I am not as sick with this pregnancy but I think that is because I get to take it easy in the mornings this time around. I had to work with both Natalie and Kate and with Natalie I was sick till about 5 months and Katelyn all the way to the end. So I am looking forward to enjoying this pregnancy a little more. The girls are really excited about having baby in the house and keep asking me when the baby is going to come out. Natalie thinks it is a girl and wants to name it Jenna and Katelyn flips between boy and girl. I don't think she cares as much as Natalie does. Paul and I both think that it is a girl and I am not saying that hoping that if I keep saying it we will have a boy. I think it would be nice to have a boy just because we don't have one yet and the Martin's are rooting for one but I still think it is a girl. Who really knows though....we will find out soon enough. I did call Paul's grandpa and told him that we were trying for a boy so we could get someone to take the Martin name but he just laughed and said "that is a nice thought but I don't think it is going to happen." I told him I was glad he said that because I think it is a girl too. I have had a few bumps along the way so far but my doctor keeps reassuring me that everything is fine. They have found something on the ultrasound and they are not sure what it is. My doctor is thinking it is a polyp or a cyst but he is not 100%. It just happens to be right next to where the baby attached so in three weeks I will be going in for my third ultrasound and some testing. They are just watching it but the baby is doing fine and growing like normal. I am so excited to start shopping for the baby because we have no baby stuff at all so I get to start all over. The bummer is I have to wait until we move to start buying things because I don't want to move them. Plus there are actually stores in Richland to buy things....what a change from where I am at now. That hasn't stopped me from looking and I do have to say that there is a lot more girl stuff to choose from then boys. My due date is Feb. 28th but I am hoping to schedule my delivery a week early just like my other two but because we are moving I have to find a new doctor and who knows what he will let me do. Anyways we are really excited and can't wait for our new addition!!

New home update!!!

So this is our new home!!! The first picture was taken a week ago and the picture below was taken today. We still have a completion date of Sept. 21 and I am so excited!! So now my job is to get quotes from moving companies and start packing. The girls are looking forward to the new house and enjoy looking at the pictures of the progress. They are really excited about having their own rooms and Natalie can't wait to celebrate her birthday at the new place. Every time I show them a picture of the house it is followed up with the question "can we move in yet?"

Happy Father's Day

We had a great relaxing day which is pretty clear because the girls look a little haggard. We took the girls to Toy Story 3 which ended up being a long movie. It was good but Kate was ready to go by the end. The girls colored pictures for Paul and gave him cards they had picked out. The cards were interesting but just what you would expect a 4 and 5 year old to pick out. I didn't really take very many pictures but the ones I did take were of the dessert that they girls helped me make for Paul. He loves pudding and oreos so this just makes sense. I threw in the gummy worms for the girls and I know this is a classic treat but it was the first time we made it in our house. We had a really good weekend.....the weather was great and we spent a lot of time together as a family, which is rare these days. Another reason why I can't wait to move!!!

Our Kate is 4!!!

Kate turned four this month and I can't believe how grown up she is. I was so happy when she said she wanted a balloon party because if I had to do another princess or Tinkerbell party I think I might have killed myself. haha I thought it would be so fun when the girls got older and could help pick out what they wanted to do for their b-days and I think it still might but we just need to get through this Disney phase. We got a balloon party but of course she still picked out a Tinkerbell cake. It was a great party and Natalie helped set everything up. She even helped me wrap the presents and didn't tell Kate what they were.

Katelyn got Woody for one of her gifts and she has carried him around everywhere. Now Natalie wants Buzz for her birthday....of course!! She also got a bulldozer, from the Leavitt's, to go with her dump truck. She loves playing in the dirt and she has already used it several times. Thanks Emily!!!! Then after the party was over I gave the girls all the balloons and that is when the real balloon party started. They ran all through the house with balloons in tow. Lucky for me they took them all up stairs to their room and the toys went too so I did not have to pick that up....yet!

With everything up stairs it was a quiet night for Paul and I which I never thought would happen after they ate a large amount of ice cream and cake. It was a great day and we had such a good time. We will be celebrating Natalie's B-day in the new house and I can't wait...woohoo!!

Swimming lessons again

I have very few options in this small town that I live in and things for the girls to do are also limited. They do offer swimming lessons so we will be taking them throughout the summer. Natalie is doing well blowing bubbles out her nose and going under water.

Her class has changed over the first few days of lessons. The first day there was 5 kids. There were two girls that needed to be in the class above, two boys that weren't ready for this class and Natalie was in the middle. On that day I was a little worried that Natalie would get lost in the mix but the 2nd day the two girls had moved to the next class and one of the boys was moved down a level. So now Natalie's class is only 2 kids. Then the next day the other boy was gone so we have totally lucked out and Natalie now has private lessons...and I don't have to pay for it.

Katelyn is loving the lessons. This is the first time she has done a classroom type activity with a bunch of kids her age. She has done really good listen to the teachers and even gets ready in the morning without a hassle. One day after her swim lesson she wanted to point out her teachers to me and she has one boy teacher and one girl teacher. She pointed to the girl and said "that is the mommy teacher" and pointed to the boy and and "that is the daddy teacher. HAHA love the way kids think!!

Both of my girls have the back float down pat and are really enjoying the lessons. They were both very excited to show Paul how well they were doing and it worked out that he made it home one morning to watch them. Paul and I were both very surprised how well Katelyn takes instructions but then again they aren't her parents so of course she is going to listen better. Now that Natalie has private lessons it is amazing how fast she is learning.