Sold!

I think I mentioned in my last post that we were selling our house.  Selling our house so that we can rent while we build a new house on the same lot as our barn.  Well, the first people who looked at it gave us a full price offer.  Our house is under contract.  One day of being listed.  And no, we didn't ask too little.  I don't think we could have gotten much more.  Just the right time with the right people I guess.

Yes, this is a good thing.  But I wasn't really prepared to have it sell so fast.  Holy cow.  That just doesn't happen.  So we've been scrambling to get our loan figured out, finish up our plans, and find a place to live while we build.  You'll be happy to know that we do have a place to live while we're building, and no, its not our trailer.  Jake wanted us to live in the trailer, or some other small cheap apartment to save money, but I put my foot down on this one.  You have to pick your battles and this was one worth fighting.  Jake wisely knew to give up on the trailer and let me have my way.  We're going to be able to rent the house our friends are moving out of in a couple of months.  Its a couple blocks away, the elementary school is literally in the back yard, and we're still close to all of our friends.  Perfect I think.

Now I'm trying to wrap my brain around moving.  Packing boxes.  Ugh.  Jake says I have mad moving skills.  I'm pretty intimidated with this move though.  We have lots more stuff than we did last time we moved.  I suppose I'll tackle it like a do everything else - a little at a time until its done.

I'm calling this year the "Year of Change".  It seems like everything is up in the air.  Selling our house, living in a rental, building a new house, having a baby.  And on top of everything else they just split our ward.  Too much change.  We are going to be pros at change by the end of the year…

PS - Couldn't resist throwing the baby comment in there.  Its a lie, a joke, whatever.  We're not having more kids.  That is all.

What's Up?

I'm sure all two of you have been dying to know where we've been.  Why in the world have I not updated my blog for so long?  Well, the suspense is over.  But by the time I'm done you'll probably wish I'd stayed away.  The reason I do this blog (no offense) is not for my two readers.  Nope.  Its because I'm awful awful awful at all things scrapbook, photo, etc.  This is the one way I document the happenings in our family.  That said, I decided that this post is going to really tell it like it is.  Give you a look into our life and why in the world I haven't had a spare second for the blog.  I want to remember how life really is, not just a few highlights.  I know, you're so excited.  Here goes….

I have to start with Jake's work, Jorgenson Builders, because it tends to dominate things around here.  I'm not complaining (Jake), its just how it is.  If any of you have your own business you understand.  Anyway, back in October Jake moved his office from Heber to our front room.  This was to be for a "few months".  Well, they just moved out yesterday.  Almost 6 months later.  That's right folks, for 6 months I had people working in my front room.  They would get here at 8:00am.  Yes, right in the middle of getting the kids off to school and all of the chaos involved.  The employees loved it.  They especially loved it when the kids got home from school and had friends over.  Oh yes, they got lots of quality work done.  Here's an example of how its been… I was talking to Sage about stranger danger.  At one point she said she would run home as fast as she could.  Then she said, "but what do I do if you're not home, and Dad's not home, and Kristine and James aren't there?"  Yep, part of the family.  Awesomeness.

Not a great picture of the barn, but you get the idea

I know, you're wondering why having people in my front room kept me busy.  Let me explain.  I left the house most of the day so I didn't have to be here.  Just kidding.  They moved into our front room so the company could save money while we build a barn/shop/office thing.  Why did this take 6 months?  Two reasons:  Jake is Jake and likes things done with super high quality.  How does he get this high quality?  He does it himself or has his carpenters do it.  So what were we doing at night?  Working on the barn.  What did we do every Saturday?  Work on the barn.  Jake works hard, so we work hard with him.  This is not just any barn, its Jake's barn - so its really nice…cedar siding, wood windows (never do wood windows, they take forever to paint and stain - did I mention we painted the office area? never again), radiant heat, stained trim, custom doors.  Its awesome, especially now that its done.

On top of being a laborer for the company I'm attempting to take over marketing for the business.  I was given the choice between doing the books or marketing.  I believe I chose well.  Come to find out, marketing is kind of complex.  And the busier we get the more there is for me to do.  I'm trying to find my inner marketer though because this will be the perfect job when all the kiddos are in school.  If any of you know anything about marketing I would love to learn.

sisters minus one

see, didn't tell you about this either - cousins!

No, I haven't forgotten about the kids.  Of course not.  They've been busy too.  Zack had ski lessons every Saturday December through February.  So we would go to ski lessons, then work on the barn.  I'm secretly glad for the ski lessons because it forced us to get out of the barn.  (Forgot to mention that Jake broke his finger in the middle of all this - don't worry, he's fine).  Anyway, Zack is a good little skier.  Better than I am.  He really enjoys it too.  In fact, all of my kids are loving skiing.  Makes me so happy.  We actually had one day where all of us were up on the mountain together.  Best day ever.  We even got to go skiing with our cousins this year.  So fun.

Zack, Ethan, Marcus, Megan

All the skiing cousins!

Kate did her first piano festival and got all superiors.  She's amazing.  She was so excited and really loves playing the piano.  Sage is like a tornado.  She gets more out in 5 minutes than most people do in a day.  But she's so happy and fun that we love her anyway.  She's gotten sneaking snacks down to an art…all the way to shutting the cupboard and putting away the stool so there are no signs of the occurrence.

Kate's first piano festival

Had to include Sage - I thought I was done with strollers

Ok, enough already.  In case you think I wrote too much…I didn't say anything about my trip to Vegas with Jake and no kids, my girls' trip to St George, Zack's science project (horrible), or the fact that now that I don't have anyone working in my front room our house is for sale.  Nope we haven't been busy at all.  Good times I tell you.

PS - I know you're all super busy too, so thanks for reading this novel!

PPS - Now that I'm caught up (or as caught up as I'm going to be) my goal is to stay on top of this little blog.