New Things

I'm jumping out of order a little bit to explain the delay in getting caught up on December and January happenings.

In the middle of December Jacob began the interviewing process with a company called Nortek out in Lehi.  He had several phone interviews within a few days of submitting his resume.  And things continued to progress quickly.  They scheduled an interview in Lehi for the first available time after the Holidays were over.

Jacob flew to Utah the second week in January and came home with a job offer he wanted to accept and a house we were possibly interested in.  Things haven't slowed from there.

We quickly began boxing things in our house to get it ready to sell, met with a realtor, and got our house on the market within about a week and a half time frame.  We also made an offer on that home in Utah that Jacob liked.  I had my sister and dad look through it too.  It was a little weird making an offer on a home that I hadn't seen myself but it seemed like the best thing to do.  Our offer was accepted the same day we made it.

We planned a trip out to Utah the first weekend our house in Fort Collins was officially on the market.  I looked at the house in Utah and liked it enough to proceed with the contract.  It's a great neighborhood and we are all excited about being closer to family.

While we were in Utah our home was shown at least 10 different times.  We got our first offer on the house the day it went live for listing.  Crazy.  We came home to get one more offer the following Monday.

So, I have been busy with all of this and have failed to document the happenings in our lives.  That little recap will have to do for now.

But I will say this.  I know that things have moved so quickly and smoothly because Heavenly Father wants them to.  Throughout this process my prayers have been a plea for decisions to be clear and I think they all have been.  It truly has been a great blessing and I am grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who leads us to where we need to be.

Get ready Utah, the Brunsons are coming!

Brunson Grandparents Visit

We were so lucky to have a visit from Jacob's parents the week before Christmas.  They were coming to see their grand kids, especially Sarah's family, since Sarah and family are moving soon.  We will be sad to not have cousins living near by.  It was so fun having Grandma and Grandpa visit!  I wish they could come more often.

The kids loved painting rocks to mark trails in Grandma and Grandpa's forest.  They were so cute!

The kids also loved playing with the Christmas train that goes under our Christmas tree.

Playing with the regular train was also fun.

We also took the opportunity to visit Santa.  Oh boy were the kids funny.  Nora didn't cry, which is totally strange since she cries if I give her to anyone else.  She stared at Santa with such curiosity.  So funny!

Aunt Sarah is always so good to have a craft ready.  This time it was painting ceramic Christmas ornaments.

And of course, pictures in front of a lighted tree are always must haves.

And the last night with Grandma and Grandpa was filled with gift exchanging.  I should have swapped lenses for the one that allows for a little more close range photos.  Too bad. 

Nora loved her new outfit.  She wanted to immediately put them on and Grandpa thought that was hilarious.

I really am blessed with pretty great in-laws!  I'm so glad they got to know these kids at this age and stage a little better.  That is certainly the downside of living far away from family.  I wish they could know my kids more and that my kids could know their grandparents more too.  Makes the visits all that more important I guess.  Thanks for coming!

A Cousin Sleepover and then some

We were so excited to have our cousin/niece Riley stay with us for a few days while her parents were house hunting out of state.  They are moving at the first of the year and we are sad to see them all go.  We had a fun cousin sleepover.  We had a movie night and watched the Charlie Brown Christmas movie. 

And then, these pictures are totally out of order.  After Riley left on Sunday I made peanut brittle.  It must be getting to be Christmas!

And Nora read a book.  I love how she picks up books and finds her little corners for reading.

One night the boys made a tent/fort.  It was pretty good but easily fell apart.  Later Dad and Mom helped them make it a little more sturdy.  And Nora loved being a part of it.

While Riley was with us we put up the Christmas tree.  I always love talking about our annual ornaments and this year the kids got to explain them to Riley as we hung them up.  

Tree skirt or Ben skirt?  Silly kiddo.  I remember doing the exact same thing as a kid.

And my handy helpers posed for a picture or two in front of the finished tree.

Nora liked peanut brittle too.  Nothing feels more like Christmas than sucking on a peanut brittle spoon.  Good memories for me!  And I hope memories that will last for my littles too.  Sometimes when I think of the things my kids will remember about their childhood I'm worried it will be lots of yelling from me and nagging about cleaning.  I hope not though.  I hope they remember me laughing with them and baking with them and all the other million good things I do.  Somehow the few negative things seem to stick with me more.  Ugh...

Birthday for Ben

Right before Ben's Birthday Isaac got to bring their stuffed bear from kindergarten home for a week.  We took a few pictures to put in the journal for the bear.  He got to meet our Christmas stuffed animals.  

Nora also loves our Christmas stuffed animals.  

And Ben's  not one to be left out.  

On to celebrating!  These kids are so lucky to have a Dad who wakes up and make them special birthday breakfasts.  They love their breakfast cake.

And tradition number 2 is the Birthday snake.  Ben wanted to cruise through each section.  It was a challenge trying to get him to space it out throughout the day.  I love his looks of excitement though.

I also love his trying to hold up 4 fingers for his 4th birthday.  He wanted a cake that was just like Isaac's.  We ended up making a small cake for him and cupcakes with the leftover batter.  It worked out.

I let him put the letters for his name on the cake.  he wanted it to say Ben B.  And so it does.

Ben was so nice to let Nora help him unwrap.  We have a rule about only the Birthday person opening presents allowed on the quilt.  But Nora doesn't get it and Ben was nice enough to say "It's okay.  I'll let her help."

Ben got a new sleeping bag from his Brunson grandparents.  He was also nice enough to share turns with both siblings.

Jacob and I bought him cars he was begging for weeks for.  He saw them at Costco and I tried and tried to tell him we have a ton of cars already that no one plays with.  He was determined he would have those cars.  So I bought them.  He played with them not even one day and then said, "Nora can have them.  I'm done with them."  Ugh!  So frustrating.

But he sure is cute blowing out candles on his cake.

Happy Birthday Ben!  I love his little voice and the way he says some words not quite right.  I love how easy going he is (though he's starting to get a little more feisty with his siblings) and how good he is to Nora.  She loves Ben and he loves her.  But I think he still likes Isaac best of all.  He loves playing with Isaac and is happy to do whatever it is that Isaac wants to do, most of the time.  Ben does not like to be alone.  He wants to be with someone when he plays outside or in the basement especially.  I hear him say a few times a week, "Isaac won't do _______ with me and I don't like to be alone."  He is still my pickiest eater but loves his candy and sweets.  

He doesn't like to hug or kiss much anymore but still likes to cuddle in my lap now and then.  I miss his hugs and kisses.  Stop growing you little stinkers!  But grow up quicker!  Oh I hate the dilemma!