It has been a while since I wrote, but this time I really have a good excuse. Not only were the holidays upon us, but we decided to look at and put an offer on a house the week before I left for my sister's wedding in Arizona. We got our house on the market while I was gone! So much has happened that I must really caught you up on it all. Eventually I'll even be able to wade through the holiday and wedding pictures to post too.
I better go chronological rather than craziest first. Of course there was Christmas. Wow, I can barely remember it already! I remember finishing my crafting and shopping just in the nick of time. Kelby's class party was a "Santa's Workshop" theme. I had four crafts for them to do. They were the "elves" and they were making gifts for their family. It was a hit.
On Christmas Eve we wanted to go sledding, but it had been so warm that there was no snow. Instead we set up the projector at Mike's parents house and watched movies and had a meat/cheese tray picnic. We came home and hooked up via the web with my family and opened presents with them "virtually". It was actually really fun to have them there and to see them open presents from us. It was almost like they were here. The girls went to bed anxious for Santa to come.
Santa brought Kelby a robotic dog that is so cool. Tegan had asked for a baby with a backpack and she got exactly what she wanted! She was so impressed. The big girls got kick scooters too and loved them. We opened all Santa presents and presents from us before enjoying our Christmas breakfast. Then we went over to Mike's parents house for most of the rest of the day. We opened presents there and then the girls played and played with their cousins. The adults played poker and assembled puzzles and ate lots of food of course.
For some reason, on the day after Christmas I was browzing the internet for houses. I found one and Mike said we could go look at it. I even found a realator willing, so we took a look. At first I didn't like it. The thought of moving and having to change all my routines scared me. A couple days later I wanted to look at it again. Then I was sure I didn't want it. It has a few cosmetic things inside that were annoying. Then on New Years Day we took George (Mike's Dad) to look at it. Something had changed in me and now I really wanted it. It is so cute from the outside, it has such a big yard, it has a covered patio in the back and shop too. It is 2300 square feet and has five bedrooms. So, we put in an offer the next day. I was leaving on Wednesday to go to my sister's wedding, so we got everything set and put our house on the markt! It actually went up while I was gone. The sale is pending the sale of our house, so we've got to get it sold. We had an offer already, but it fell through. I think things have slowed down for selling during this time of year, but everyone seems confident it will go soon. It is so nerve racking! Kelby's excited about moving. Tegan is worried about all the things she'll miss like Hercules and her toys. She feels better now that she realizes that everything comes with us.
Now for the wedding, how could it have been anything but wonderful when I got to go all by myself. A little vacation for me from the girls for four days. I really missed them, but I had fun being a big sister to Andrea and helping with the wedding. The family missed seeing my girls, but we'll all go visit in a few more months when the girls can swim. They would have been stressful to have around during wedding preparations. Andrea looked beautiful as a bride and I am very happy for her.
Now I have to work like crazy to plan the playground auction that will be on March 3rd. I'm sure that it will go fine, but we'll most likely end up moving the same week! I hope we can raise some descent money so we can get something in the ground over the summer. Kelby and Tegan would go to a different school if we move, but I wouldn't change until the next school year. I can't leave them without getting something up on the playground because I'd feel like I failed otherwise. Those kids deserve a jungle gym even if they're not my kids.
Anika still isn't talking much. She turned two on Dec. 28th, but I didn't have any party for her until New Year's Day. We had the family over for a prime rib dinner and cake. I hope that she lets that be her traditional birthday because it gives everyone a week break of festivities instead of adding one more three days after Christmas. December birthdays are hard. Anika really is so grown up and cute and fun, but she still seems like a baby because she's not talking and her hair takes so long to grow. I'm enjoying the length of her babyhood though.
Kelby had a regular check up at Children's last week. Her blood counts look really good and everything seems fine. She is always amazing us isn't she? It has been over six months now with no problems. We decided that we would let them do scans just for the heck of it. I asked the doctor if she would want to do scans if we were willing and she said it was a good idea. They'll be done in March. I'm not worried about anything at this point, so hopefully they'll go smoothly.
Okay, so that is about it! Wow, things are crazy right now. Please pray for our health and sanity. I would really appreciate it.
