Water Boy

We have been spending most days at home trying to get things done around the house. I feel bad keeping Stockton cooped up everyday so we have tried going on walks and just playing in the yard, but it is just too hot and I have a hard time keeping up with him on walks. After bringing the dogs home, we decided to give them all baths for the first time in who knows who long? That is when we discovered the secret to keeping Stockton occupied for a long time...the water hose. Next time we give the dogs a bath, we are just going to bring out his baby wash and scrub him down, too. A couple days later, Troy invested in a $3 sprinkler head that is just perfect to set on the patio and barely turn the hose on to let it spray a couple feet in the air. That has kept us occupied for a few days. But today, Grandma brought over, not just a swimming pool, but a TOY STORY (he is obsessed) swimming pool. I think it is safe to say it was an upgrade from the water hose and sprinkler head. And the best part is, I get to park my big belly in a chair, stick my feet in the water, and stay COOL!!

Does this face look familiar?

This is me (Arin) at 20 months. Stockton just turned 18 months. Does anyone else see the resemblance? I think we definitely know where he got his stringy blonde hair.

Disclaimer: Of course, I do still see alot of Troy in him. Mostly in his expressions and charming personality. I think my genes just dominated his basic physical characteristics. :)

Stockton's New Best Friend

We transferred the dogs from Troy's brother's house to our house today. I dont know who is happier about it, Uncle Scott or Stockton. Scott is happy to be rid of 3 extra dogs and Stockton is happy that he will get to play with Sariah everyday. He just loves her to death and I think the feeling might be mutual. I am guessing they are bonded by their identical hair color.

This is what happens...

...when you have an 18 month old trying to entertain himself in the kitchen while you cook.

Pictures of our new house

Hi everyone, I survived an entire week waiting to have the internet set up at our house, can you believe that?!?! It was actually kind of refreshing and I am certain that I got ALOT more done around the house than I would have if I would have had the computer as a distraction. I am willing to bet that my productivity level will decrease dramatically now that I have the internet to suck all of my time from me.

After 4 months of living in limbo with extended family, we are LOVING having a house to ourselves again and all of our stuff out of storage. That being said, I do want my sister and mother in law to know how much we REALLY APPRECIATE you guys opening your homes to us. I am sure it wasnt always easy having us around. We really enjoyed all of the quality time we were able to spend with everyone and looking back now I wish we could have spent more time doing things together.

Alot of you have been asking me to post pictures of the house so here they are...Obviously some were taken before we moved the furniture in

The Outside

The Entry way

The "formal" living room (or as I like to call it, The "Wasted Space"
You walk from the "living room" into the Great Room. The double doors off the great room are an "Extra room". It is going to be Troy's room to do with whatever he wants.

Troy's room

The opposite side of the great room is the kitchen and dining area

The great room also has a built in desk area that I LOVE

The guest bedroom is located to the right of the front door entry way. It isnt much to look at yet, but it is ready for visitors!! Jenni, I even have your bottled water and magazines as you requested! :)

There is Guest bathroom that attaches the Guest bedroom to the Great room

The first bedroom you run into upstairs is Stockton's room. We have his furniture in, but havent hung anything up yet.

Stockton's room, part 2

The Guest/Kids bathroom

Next is the Master "suite". It really is huge.

Bedroom, part 2
Master bathroom

Master bathroom, part 2

Master closet, part 1

Master closet, part 2 (Do I even need to mention how much I love the closet????)

Finally, we come to the bonus room that has the 4th bedroom attached to it. The Bonus room is going to be the play room and the bedroom is going to be my "hobby" room.

Bonus room, part 2

My "hobby" room (I guess that means I need to find some hobbies. Suggestions, anyone? I think I need to start putting my sewing machine to good use)

"Hobby" room, part 2

I could go on and on about everything I love about the house, and my list of things that I want to do in the house is endless, but all I will say is how lucky we are to be able to afford such a beautiful home. It is more house than me and Troy ever dreamed we would have. I can't believe the drastic difference in the housing market between Idaho and Utah. The cost of living in Idaho definately makes it possible for me to stay at home and spend time with my babies while Troy enjoys going to work at a job he loves. We really couldnt be luckier. Well, I guess I will be able to say that once my family follows us here!

Oregon

Well, I would definitely rate our weekend in Oregon a first class success. It was a weekend of relaxing and spending time with family that allowed me to do something other than stress about when we will get to move into our house. The weather wasn't too cooperative, but we did have one sunny day on the beach. Stockton loved every minute of it. He is definitely hot blooded like his father and can enjoy getting into any water no matter what the temperature is. I finally had to draw the line and get him out of the water when he was shivering with his lips turning blue. He had no idea that he freezing.

The highlights of the trip:
-Eating at a delicious seafood restaraunt that served fresh, local fish (that's right, I actually used the words "delicious" and "seafood" in the same sentence)
-The cheese sample line at the Tillamook cheese factory
-Our "patriotic" 4th of July breakfast
-Our gourmet 4th of July hamburgers that Pete made us
-And, of course, being able to ride in the van together!!

The highlights of the trip were NOT:
-The "salty" attitudes of almost every Oregonian that we interacted with
-The Oregon Coast aquarium
-Losing Stockton's best pair of jeans at the beach

The scenery was beautiful and the company couldnt have been better. Unless, of course, the Harveys would have been there.

We were really TRYING to enjoy the aquarium. Can you tell?

Stockton did enjoy the fish/shark tunnels.

I dont think either one of them was too excited about taking this picture.

Adorable.

Seeing how much Stockton LOVED kissing and loving his baby cousin, Maggie, sure made me even more excited for him to be a BIG brother!

He was lucky enough to get his very own ice cream cone at the Tillamook cheese factory. He devoured every last bite. And he looked very cute in the process.

Our little beach bum.

I tried VERY hard to get all the boys to look at me and smile. Will was the only one who obliged. Is it just me or is the first time he has ever looked like Pete???

He thought laying with Dad in the sand was the coolest thing in the world.
One of the few bursts of sunlight and blue skies.

Troy wanted to capture the essence of the back of the van. It was a tight fit, but we did it!

Thanks to the Vanderlindens for letting us crash your party! It was a much needed getaway for us!