the countdown

So, we're down to, like, two weeks until we move.  I have mixed feelings about things right now ... I'm excited to move into a new home where Ben and I have planned, chosen, and designed just about everything.  But I'm also sad and a little nervous to leave this neighborhood and ward (a.k.a. my comfort zone).  Plus, I'm concerned about my kids making the transition.  Will they like it there?  Will they make friends?  And, not just friends, but good friends?

The whole "building process" has been fun for the most part, but, man alive, it's also been pretty stressful at times!  I can't believe all the sleep I've lost worrying about tiny little details ... what height to put the mantle, what height to put the house numbers, white or dark cabinets (that was a tough one for me!), which garage doors to use (that was a tough one for Ben!).  I've loved watching it all come together, despite all the stress.

Here's the latest progress ...

We spend a lot of time at the new house watching the construction (or, you might say, inspecting every single detail of what was done that day and therefore driving the workers crazy), so the boys have been working on a little construction project of their own.  They've had a ball building a teepee and a hut in the backyard.  They scavenge all over the development to find scraps of wood, nails and tools.  (I don't know whose hammer they swiped!)  I think they may have a future in construction, because these little beauties have been there for a few weeks and they haven't fallen apart yet!

 

home away from home

3-4 nights a week for the past couple of months, I've spent 3-4 hours per night, here ...

watching these guys ...

play this ...

It kind of feels like my home away from home!  These are the teams we're cheering for this year:

the Angels,

the Diamondbacks,

and the Marlins.

I love baseball season.  Here are some of my favorite photos of baseball season so far.

And, it's even more fun when the grandpas and grandmas come to cheer on the boys!

Emery's "party"

Since Emery is a teenager now, and practically all grown up, we opted not to have a party for him this year.  Instead, he decided to invite a bunch of friends to come over and just "hang out."  Somehow, we ended up doing this ...

with them ...

Hmmm.  Sort of sounds like a party to me.  :)

(And, yes, girls came!)

After bowling, we had to stop at the dollar store to pick up a few items.  The receipt is pretty self-explanatory ...

24 rolls of toilet paper, 6 cans of silly string, and 2 air horns.  They "decorated" a neighbor's yard very nicely, then enjoyed blaring the air horns.  (And, thankfully, unlike the last time they tried to TP somebody, no policemen showed up this time!  We certainly don't want another "notation" on my son's police record!)

And, a "party" wouldn't be complete without an injury, so Emery took care of that.  Apparently, he was running away from the silly string war and went down hard in the street.  Ouch.  He should have had three stitches on his knee, but since we couldn't really take him to the Dr. in the middle of all the festivities, we waited until the next day to take him in, and they just glued it back together!

last day of school

There is magic in the air, and my kids are so excited they can hardly stand it.  They've been grinning from ear to ear all week in anticipation of ... the last day of school!! 

Ahhh, no more homework, no more alarm clocks, and lots more time to relax and play.  (Hopefully we'll get a little work done as well.)  It's going to be a great summer!

Hooray!