Building our house

In 2008, if you would have told me that we would be building a house in seven years and that it would be lovely and just about everything we wanted, I would have laughed. That is the year the economy flopped and it was the beginning of our family's crazy journey. Looking back, I would go through it all again to have the knowledge I have today. Crazy how things all work out! I digress....

We rented out our house in Power Ranch while Tom was out of a job and then while I was in nursing school. It worked out because I was closer to my parents and they were super helpful, especially during this crazy time. We felt prompted that after nursing school to sell the house and start looking for a new one. Well, the day I took the NCLEX for my nursing license is the day the renters were suppose to be out of our house. Talk about right after nursing school! We got the house ready to sell and two days later we had great offers and we sold the home. It was a miracle! It also helped to have a really good realtor! We sold the home and went out looking at all sorts of homes. It took a while but finally found a home we liked. We really felt that needed to move to this neighborhood. I had no doubt. 

When we were looking at the house we really liked a particular lot close to the park. Normally I think about things for a while and then jump on it. As we were thinking about signing a contract our realtor called and said that if we wanted the lot we had to get into the office that morning at 8:30am or another couple was probably going to take it. Well, we got up real fast and signed the paperwork. Funny thing, I had no buyers remorse. I knew this was the place we were suppose to live. I am never moving again!!! We love our neighbors and our ward and we are only seven minutes away from my parents and siblings. Life is good!

The day we signed the contract, we brought the kids back to show them our lot. Our neighbor took our picture on the dirt. 

Here we are, Lot 15.

Yes, we have a foundation!!! 

Kellen was showing it off.

Our friends Reese and Reaghan came too to see the house. 

 It is beginning to look like a real house!

Our house actually has a front now. Woo hoo! We came every Sunday to look at the progression. It was always exciting to see something new that they did during the week.

This is a portion of the island. Katie is pretending to eat at the island.

Hey guys!

Katie and Kellen are welcoming you into our home. 

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This is a portion of the family room. 

I just wanted to take a picture of my cute Katie hanging out at the house.

The kids are pretending to be in jail.

We went over to another house and took a picture of our house from behind. It was so fun!

It's coming.....

This was probably taken in January of 2015. 

Home Sweet Home. This was taken about two weeks before we moved in. The house was pretty much ready. The builders were just finishing up some last minute things before we could sign the papers. We were so excited. We still are really!

Moving day!!! We woke up bright and early on Saturday morning to move our stuff from the rental house to our new house. The kids were super helpful. They helped stack boxes in the truck until  things got too heavy. Of course we had to get a picture of them in the back of the truck.

The night before we moved into the house, we spent the night in the family room! The kids were demonstrating how many mattresses they could stack up and then jump on at the same time. I would say they did pretty well.

Here is the finished product. 

We promised the kids that they could mattress surf the first day. They put a ton of pillows at the bottom of the stairs and used the crib mattress to slide down. It only lasted a little while though. It did not work as well as we thought it would and it took off some paint while they were going down the stairs. It was still fun though. They had some friends come and join them: Megan Hanks, Resse and Reaghan Halliday.

Katie and Kellen had to get a shot in the pantry before we stacked our food.

It took forever for us to clear the kitchen counter from all the boxes. Here is the finished product. There are still boxes on the floor but they are empty and ready to be recycled. Good thing! I was soooo sick of boxes at that point!!!!

Kellen's baptism

Kellen was baptized the day after his birthday on October 11, 2015. It was the perfect day. I was blessed to be the primary president at the time and was in charge of the baptisms for our ward. I was so happy when Kellen chose to be baptized! He had several family members present to watch him become a member of the church. All in attendance: Grandpa and Grandma Everett, Grandma and Grandpa Lyle, Florez family, Vaknin family, Chambers family, Hansen family, and Scott. Shellie came later that day with the girls. I could not change the time of the baptism and her plane arrived during the baptism itself. Oh well, what can ya do! It was a great day. The pictures below were used for his baptism announcement. I think he looks so handsome!

Kellen at the Gilbert Temple.

Looking manly!

Such a cute little guy. We cropped this picture and used it on his announcement. It was so cute!

Posing like a man.

I wanted a cute little picture of Kellen praying. It is something my Grandma Lyle would have done. She was so cute. I am pretty such she and Grandpa Lyle were there in spirit!

80's night and my little Bug

One night Kellen was in his second grade play as a grasshopper and Katie was going to a Daddy/Daughter night at church for 80's night!!! They both had a great time. 

Young Grasshopper.

80's night!!

Pinewood Durby

This was the first year that we got to make a car for Pinewood Durby. Kellen and Tom went to Shawn Hank's house to cut out a really cool car. Then Kellen painted it and decorated it nicely. 

This was the final product.

The track!

Kellen is here in the winner's circle.

Here are just some of the racers.

Tom was helpful in loading up the cars for each race.

Although Kellen's little car did not win many races, Kellen had a great time making the car and racing it with his Elliot Ward buddies. 

Harry Potter Land

After we got off the cruise we went to Harry Potter Land for a day. Katie and Kellen love the books so it made for an awesome day!

Here are some photos from Harry Potter Land at Universal Studios.

The train to Hogwarts.

Honeydukes. This little store had all sorts of yummy candy. Too bad it was crazy expensive! We let the kids get some jelly beans. Some of the jelly beans tasted nasty, just like the movie. We tried to steer clear of the jelly beans that tasted like Windex. Yuck!

We also went to go get wands for the kids. I was not allowed to take pictures but Katie was picked out several kids to have a special want chosen for her. The first couple wands were not right for Katie as the wand is suppose to choose the person. The last wand was the perfect wand. Too bad the "perfect" wand was expensive! Do they not have "perfect" wands on clearance ever?! Anyway, the kids have their own money that they put towards a wand. Katie's wand was pretty fancy in that it could make things move in Harry Potter Land only. It was fun to get her wand to do magic.

We could not leave Harry Potter land without having some Butter Beer. The kids loved it. It tastes like butterscotch. 

Just some other shots of Universal Studios.

Here we are! Diana, Ross, Landon, Hayden, Scott, Tom, Katie and Kellen! I was taking the picture at the time. We had a grrrreat time!

The Tom Everett Family.

Kellen with the Hogwarts Train.

Katie waving her wand by the train.

This is what Katie's hair looked like after we took out the braids. It was super curly!