Murphy's Sick...

My poor little man has been so sick... I was thinking it was the 4 top teeth he was pulling but after 2 days of countless diaper changes, along with countless clothing changes (yup - you got it... that nummy diarreah that runs straight through the clothes), along with countless hours of crying... I have decided he may need to go to the doc tomorrow!!! I didn't even realize that in this cute picture he is pulling on his ears. Watch... mother of the year waits to take her handsome little guy to the doctor after a week of a horrible ear infection!!! Poor kid! On a side note.... he has a new do.... Isn't he adorable with the little spike? I think it makes him look so old!

I had to throw these couple pictures in for my dad. He always gives me a hard time about missing out on the beautiful sunsets in Cleveland. Dad, can you even believe that I walked out on my back deck last night and captured this sunset... HERE.... IN LEHI!!!! I try and tell him we have gorgeous sunsets here also but he doesn't believe... here is the proof daddy-o!

Other than that... just enjoying the kids being home for another week. I cannot believe 2008 is coming to an end.. where did the year go? Eric surprised me a few weeks ago and told me since he couldn't think of anything to give me for my birthday (yes, it was yesterday... can you believe I just turned 30!! I am so old!!) (HEHE) he was going to take me with him to San Diego this weekend. I cannot wait. Thanks to his fam for taking the kids while we are gone! He has a coaches convention so it's not like we will be spending tons of time together... my plan... 12 pack of Diet Pepsi... and a bed. I am literally so exhausted and plan on sleeping for 3 days straight... with no interruptions!!! I love my kids but am pretty gosh darn excited for a couple days of peace and quiet!!!

Back in the Saddle... oh ya... and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Holy Cow has it really been forever since I have blogged. It sure seems as though... but it has only been 12 days. I could have swore it was like a year. I love blogging. It keeps me connected with the world even if I haven't seen alot of my friends and fellow bloggers since high school!!! So... where do I start?

Well... the 18th of December we were FINALLY given our occupancy permit!!! Over that weekend Eric and I pretty much did the up til 2 am, wake at 5 am schedule to get our stuff packed and ready to move. We were able to move in on a Tues and our friends moved in to our old home on Wed. So not only was I cleaning the new house but trying to clean the old one as best I could in the time I had (sorry Shelby!) During that week I had some awesome friends who totally were awesome!!! Carrie - thanks for taking Murphy so often!!! Seriously... I love that little man more than words but he follows me and climbs up on my leg whenever I am in his sight. Thank You, Thank You!!! Emily and Sommer.... wow - my friends that scrub walls and wash windows!!! You ROCK!!! We should just have cleaning parties at my house once a month because it's so fun to hang out!!! And then my in-laws who spend their Saturday moving us, cleaning walls, and watching kids! Luv ya!!! Last but definitely not least... my mom! If you want to be organized (even if it might not last long) hire my mom! I didn't touch anything as far as packing my kitchen and moving it over. I still occasionally have to call her and ask where a cutting board or pan is but wow... if you seen the organization in my drawers you would die!! It really is amazing!!! Thanks so much mom!

So anyway, we are in... and loving it. This is my first NEW home and I honestly sometimes just look around in awe really wondering like wow... is this really mine!! That is when I feel so blessed... blessed with a warm home... blessed with awesome, healthy kiddos... and blessed with the most amazing hubby in the world. He really worked his tail off to get us in comfortably before Christmas!!!

So here are a few previews... if you want a better idea... please stop by... I love taking people through the tour! Just give me a 15 minute notice so I can pick up all the toys!!!

Here would be the kitchen... my favorite place of all!!!Oh ya, nevermind... this is my most favorite place of all!!!
Poor Mayser... we saw Santa about 5 times this year and this is what we got from him every time!!But he LOVED baby Jesus. I caught him giving him kisses more than once!Here is Gwire and Maddog with their preschool teachers Jen and Jess Frier. This was their program... they were so stinkin cute! We love Miss Jennifer!!! Here are all the Oveson grandkids at the Oveson Christmas party. Grandma always gives pj's... we had tons of fun!!!I had to throw this picture in... it was on our way down to Cleveland right after Mays woke up!! I just loved the gorgeous eyes (or should I say eye).We spent Christmas Eve with the Madsens in Syracuse. Madsen family tradition... McDonalds chicken nuggets!!! My kids LOVE it!!! Angie also makes sugar cookies and then lets the kids decorate them for Santa! Mmmmm..... were there some yummy ones this year!Macee and Grandma decorating cookies!
Last but not least... my little Murphy. He got his first 2 bottom teeth over a month ago and is pulling his top 4 right now (makes for a few ornery days!) He is seriously just a joy. Happy, content, lovable little man.

Wanted to wish everyone really quickly a Very Merry Christmas...

I printed out 150 of these cute cards the week before we moved and wouldn't you know it... they didn't ever get out in the mail. I am still (for right now) planning on sending them before the New Year but until then... this will have to do. Thank you soooo much Mandy for putting this together. I still have your stuff if you are ever in Utah County!!!

I love the feelings of Christmas... it seriously makes me a little giddy (in a happy kid kinda way!!!) My kids were so excited this morning and we had totally down-played Christmas this year so it was nice to realize that they don't really care... it's all about being together as a family and enjoying the goodies Santa brings!!! And of course, the most important... our Saviour.. Jesus Christ!!! Happy Holidays!!!

FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok... so here is how the events of the past few days have gone..

Thursday afternoon... we were scheduled for our first inspection. Knowing that you NEVER pass a first inspection we definitely wanted the city to come out so we could get our list of "things to fix" so that we could get everyone in and out quick. We are waiting for railing on our back deck so we basically boarded up the back door so you CANNOT get out. Get a call from the city saying that they will not even come look without a railing. Decision time, do we spend a couple hundred dollars to put up a temporary deck or just wait until Monday for railing. Being anxious we spent the couple hundred dollars and they built us a nice beautiful deck that would definitely keep out the cattle. I say that because it is butt ugly!!!! But nonetheless we have a deck so we are rolling right?

So know we have 20 guys just running around the lot trying to do final grade, pour cement.... it was awesome!!! So...

Friday morning... I have appts most of the day which takes me away from the house... which makes life stressful knowing that when I get home I have 20 voice mails waiting for me. Inspection scheduled for 3:30 BTW!!!

I had to call one of my clients to see about getting a mirror for my bathroom. These clients of mine are a BIG family and I insure all of them starting at the Grandpa down to 3 generations now. They have been clients for over 10 years and I feel like I could really go hang with them at a family gathering and feel totally comfortable. They are great people. So I make this phone call to find that they had all gone back to Texas because their 3 year old niece had passed a few days ago with a brain tumor. I had known she was diagnosed back in late August and that the docs had said it was a fast growing tumor. Are you kidding me? Here I am having a pitty party because I haven't got to move into my new house and there are others around me dealing with the loss of a 3 year old? HUGE REALITY CHECK! Anyway, the tears started bright and early.

Around noon... receive a phone call from our builders saying that the city drove by and because we had more than 4 stairs coming down the front of our porch (we have 5) ... we had to have a handrail. The beauty of it all... they will not come inspect ANYTHING until this is done. The problem.... the cement truck was at our house at the moment just pouring the stairs. So how are we to put a rail in??? Um.... we're not. They said they would still come out at 3:30 but if we didn't have the handrail up they will slap us with a $100 fine and drive away. Mind you.... I paid Lehi city over $15,000 for a stinkin building permit... they were being awesome! Oh ya, did I mention ALL OUR RAILING IS SCHEDULED TO BE DONE MONDAY MORNING. We tried explaining but nothing is working.

So here I am between meetings, bawling my head off!!! Not 5 minutes later I get a call from work about a couple different things. The tears were flowing!!! I honestly had to run back to my house between an appt just to reapply makeup and try and fix my puffy eyes!!! We had decided to just all show up for the inspection at 3:30 and pray for a miracle. Eric kept saying if they saw my face and eyes they would feel bad enough and cut us a break. Well... I was late because my appt ran late. I showed up at 3:40 and guess what... the inspector was walking through the house with our builder. It was a guy from our ward and I couldn't believe it!!! So I told Eric to call me when it was finished so I could head back home and work.

He called around 4:30 and told me to come down. The list was shorter than 10 items which I hear is really good. And the best news......

WE CAN MOVE EVERYTHING IN!!!! Yup - that is correct. We can move everything in. We cannot live there until all the items are taken care of Monday but they were simple things so we SHOULD be living in our new home Monday! So - here I am 5:30 on a Saturday morning, the day that I usually can sleep in until 9 am! Giddy as a stinkin 4 year old on Christmas morning... ready to start packing it up!

We have cleaning ladies coming in at 10 am and after that we are starting to move it all over. We were there last night until midnight doing some more cleaning and hanging up closet racks. Thank you my dear Emily for coming and scrubbing with me and then snuggling Murph the rest of the night! I picked the little man up from her around 11:30 last night!

YEAH!!! YEAH!!!! YEAH!!! Can ya tell I am super excited? I just kept telling Eric last night, "I don't know where to start... I really can't believe it's happening!!" So - ya probably won't hear from me for a bit because I AM MOVING!!!! I had to share.. even if it is 5:30 on a Saturday morning! Whoever it was saying there little prayers for me.... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Where are you Christmas?

Why can't I find you....

Wow do I feel like Cindy Lu Who!!! Seriously... I am lost! Here I go with the Jessica pitty party? Sorry - you choose to read!! (HEHE). We were supposed to be in the house 2 weeks ago! I am sure ya'all who have been through the building process feel my pain. One thing after another. We will FINALLY have the first final inspection tomorrow. Knowing that you never pass... we are hoping everyone gets in to take care of their "jobs" and we have another inspection Monday afternoon at which time we can start moving this family of 8 over! PLEASE PRAY FOR ME!!! Eric and I have been going down to the house in the evenings. He has been putting on door handles and putting up closet rods while I have been cleaning. We have been getting home at midnight! The kids go down with us until I am ready to kill them all and then I always have 1 friend or another that will call and rescue me. Ok - I am in tears. Thank you my friends. Thank you so much for caring about my family! Even if it means coming and getting the Murph man for just an hour or two so I don't have him pulling on my legs everywhere I go.

My poor kids!!! I didn't put up a Christmas tree because I didn't want to get it put up here and then have to move it over! I kept think... this week... this week. Here we are... 2 weeks from Christmas and we have no Christmas tree. We are totally Grizwalds and we go down to Joes Valley every year and cut down "the perfect tree." My kids love it. It could be my all time fav tradition. Not this year... who has time for that?

I finally had my first "BIG" breakdown yesterday!!! Yup - cried for hours!!! I hope I can get through these next couple weeks. Ultimately, I pray that we wake up Christmas morning in a warm home (wherever that may be) and I can enjoy my kiddos. I have had no patience (could be the 2 or 3 hours of sleep each night). I better make sure I take the time to night to go lay down and give them extra snuggles. Sorry for being such a slacker. I can honestly say I haven't looked at blogs all week!

Again, thanks so much to my friends for being LifeSavers. If all goes as planned we SHOULD, I say SHOULD be moving in after Monday night! In the meantime I hope to keep in the back of my mind what this feeling of Christmas should be all about!

It's About TIME!!!!

So Sorry... I have been the biggest slacker and I am afraid it is only going to get worse before it gets better! I hope ya'all had an awesome Thanksgiving... we had the whole fam (My fam) at our house for a few days and it was tons of fun. I hardly took any pics (which is soooo unlike me...) but we had a great time... I took a video of the girls doing "Turkey Dinner," which was hilarious... but when I went to watch it it was not there... you could hear them but not see.. so hopefully Clint will send it to me??? But here would be my fav outfit of the year. This is Clint's 3 year old!!! She is so stinkin cute! We call her Jack Jack and she is a pistol!!! She left my house wearing this outfit and I made her let me take a pic (sorry Kori!) I just loved it... Really... she is so stinkin cute! What you can't see is she has Macee's tank top on, McGwire's Nike sweats, the black leather jacket and pink cowgirl boots!!! AWESOME!!!

Next is my Murphy lickin' the beaters after I whipped up some Banana Cream Pie (straight from the Jello box). I will never profess to be a Betty Crocker! But... He LOVED it so I had at least 1 thumbs up!

Macee was able to spend some time with her friend Alyssa... These girls are like two peas in a pod!! They requested makeovers and nails... so that we did... these are 2 of about 100 photos!!! They are both adorable.

Last but not least the Nutcracker... I first wanted to thank all my totally awesome friends and family who came and supported Macee. You do not know how excited she was that you call came. My mom and Macee's 4 girl cousins from Cleveland traveled up and back Monday night... what troopers. Mace was so excited for them to be there. My mother-in-law and SIL, Em, and her 2 cute girls came Tuesday... it makes for a late night when you have to travel back an hour or an hour and a half. Really.... it was great!!! And then the friends...I mean, really, I know how great my friends are but... this really meant alot to both of us to have everyone that came there so thank you so much. It's always alot of time and hard work and it was just awesome to have everyone there! I am putting a video below of her "Russian" part. She is the girl at the first (I missed her first back-handspring) and then she is always on the left and in front of the line. Sorry - I couldn't get any closer! Anyway, the prep... it usually take about 2 hours the night before performance so Yee-Ha... glad to be done!!! Here she is in her curlers...

And here she is with her dance team as the "Party Girls!" These girls are like a big family... they are all so fun and cute! But I can definitely wait until next year for the next go around!

Oh... I better not forget to thank my friend Mandy Parsons for the new header. Isn't she talented? And so nice... really... she sent me the email to send her new pics. I owe her... for real... The pictures are a little preview of our family pictures we had done a few weeks ago. We are hoping for a final inspection on the house Friday!!! Which would mean we can start moving maybe over the weekend or next week. I can't tell you how relieved I will be when we are all done. I think it's kicking my butt at this point! I better go check a few blogs... sorry I have been such a bad commenter.... chances are I haven't even looked lately! But I still love ya all!!!

My Favorite Russians....