Moving

I realize that we have been in our new home going on 6 months now and I really haven't explained much about it. However, better late than never, so here's the story.

It really did start with anxiety over where Cole would go to Kindergarten. There were no full-day Kindergarten classes in our Draper neighborhood, and I was having a really hard time with the idea of having Cole go to a new daycare where he would take a bus to school and back. The two hour commute was also starting to wear on us. 

In April, we decided to test out the market and put our house up for sale. I did this with a burning gut. I loved our house. I loved our yard. I loved living in a neighborhood full of kids. Most of me really didn't want to move and didn't really think it would work out. Bryce was more enthusiastic and felt like it was a great time. He and I started to peruse the market of homes closer to downtown. We knew we would have to downsize and make some concessions for a home in the locations we were considering. Still, it was hard to scroll through listings of homes that needed major renovations or had tiny scraps of backyards. But then I found it - a listing for a home on 17th South. The home, built in 1950, had been completely redone, with a new roof, kitchen, A/C - so rare! It even had a two-car garage (detached as it was), which was a huge bonus. Bryce and I went and saw it, and though it would be a great possibility.

We had to go through all of the common frustrations of buying and selling a new home, including one ulcer-inducing day when we thought it was all falling through, but instead it all came together at the last possible moment. We had to have a big yard sale to downsize into the new home, which while it had more finished square feet than the Draper house, had less total square feet. This itself was emotional, as 90% of the stuff we sold was baby stuff. Then came the moving day, when the movers were set to arrive at our house around 9:00am and didn't show up until 7:00pm. (I kill them!)

But we finally made it. The first night we slept at the new home, I waited with baited breath for one of the boys to emerge from the basement scared, but they made the adjustment like champs. And the first night I got home from work in 15 minutes, I realized I had been given an extra hour of time every night. We've used the time to make yummier dinners, play in the sprinklers, go to the library - anything we wanted. And now I have no idea how we would have made it all work if we'd stayed. Don't get me wrong, living closer to downtown has presented it's challenges: from the motel down the street with it's *ahem* revolving clientele, to the cougar that was caught around the corner, to the water main break that flooded 17th - we've experienced some craziness. But, it's been a good move, and we love our cuddly, creaky, lovely home.

 

The Leaves!

At a recent trip to the park, Cole and Jack discovered piles and piles of beautiful yellow leaves  They had so much fun with those leaves. One of their favorites was to have me completely bury them in leaves, and then they would jump out at me. Yay - super wholesome fun, right? Try telling that to the part of my brain that knows this park is home to a guy who lives literally down by the creek. So I encouraged them, but tried to inconspicuously rustle about in the leaves for needles, poo, and dead bodies.

Don't ask me what I was planning to do if I found any of those things.

Good thing the leaves seemed clean and the boys didn't notice my hesitation.  Otherwise I wouldn't have captured these gems.

Halloween Fun

This year, we seemed to have many dramatic and problematic issues come up with Halloween costumes. 

Sigh. 

Jack's three-year-old brain was having a very difficult time picking a costume. His costume requests included a pumpkin, a bat, Captain America, a dinosaur, a shark, and my personal favorite, a walrus. However, at one point I became aware he had requested to be a pink dragon almost four days in a row. I put all my creative juices together (which when it comes to costuming are very few) and pulled together this pink dragon costume out of a hoodie, a pair of girls tights, some pink foam triangles, and some crazy glue.

Cole didn't have troubles knowing what he wanted to be, which was this:

The package said "Phantom," but it looked more like "Death that awaits you under your bed" to me.

The problem was what the school would allow. This did not include masks, long flowing robes, or weapons.  I'm pretty sure a scythe is a weapon of the underworld. So, Cole settled on being The Flash at school. However, The Flash also wears a mask, which meant I had to apply his mask via face paint. Jack then insisted I apply "blue crystal wings" to his face.

It was a busy morning.

However, the boys had a great time that day, and we had fun trick-or-treating in our new neighborhood. Wasatch Dr. was the place to be, complete with full size candy bars and roasting s'mores in one generous couple's driveway. 

My favorite part was when Cole freaked out a bunch of high school kids driving by. His costume was really quite scary - especially in the dark. And the buckets of candy? Totally worth it.

Out and About

The weather this fall has been gorgeous, and we've been trying to fit in as many of our favorites before it turns.

We made a last warm weather trip to the zoo, and enjoyed seeing the new African Savannah exhibit.

My favorite comment from that trip was when Jack pointed out that, "That elephant has cutie marks!" (A remark that only those familiar with My Little Pony will get.)

The boys and I also joined Nana at Cornbelly's. We had a great time in the corn maze and playing on all of the slides. I really liked the slightly bigger slides they added this year, and may have indulged in a ride or two myself. 

  It was great to get in a few outings before the cold (and my wallet!) keeps us indoors.

Princess Parties

Cole was recently invited to his first party for a kid from his class at Indian Hills. It was for a little girl, and it was a princess party. It quickly became apparent when we arrived that he was one of the only boys invited. Luckily, there was a bounce house to keep his mind off of it, but every so often, he'd wander over to me and hiss, "Where are all the other boys?!" Add this to a little girl who trailed him everywhere and wanted to take dozens of pictures with him, and his patience was tested.

Not so for Jack. At one point, Princess Anna showed up, and he was completely enamored. He sang and danced with the other girls, and kept running up to the princess to hug her and show her the sharks on his shirt.

I think she may have been a little smitten with him too.  

Silver Lake Time

I don't really know what more I can say.  Annual Silver Lake walk - beautiful leaves, bright blue sky.  It's a tradition for us that really ushers in fall.  Lovely.

On Turning 6

In some ways, I cannot believe that Cole turned 6 this year (time flies!) - in other ways, I can't imagine life without him and somehow think he's always been with Bryce and I. He's had a big year, and has matured in some pretty amazing ways. Cole is a VERY patient and loving big brother. He loves to read to Jack, and explains all manner of interesting facts to him. Cole has been working on not giving up on things when he gets frustrated, and I've been so impressed how much he's improved. One of my favorite things about Cole is how he wakes up every morning happy and gives me a big hug. I love his big blue eyes and his broad smiles. This is one great kid.

We celebrated this year with, what felt like, a week of birthday fun. On his birthday, he opened gifts, and had chocolate chip pancakes for dinner (his special request). He also was very proud of the birthday crown he wore at school.

Friday night, we went to Pa and Nana's where we celebrated with more delicious treats, and he received the coveted nano bug he had asked for. Jack was enthralled...

Sunday, we had a few friends over for a double party with Isak. A family in our neighborhood loaned us their bounce house (crazy story: they rented it for an event, and the company never came to pick it up - default bounce house ownership!).  This thing was HUGE and took up our whole backyard.  Needless to say, it was a big hit, and the boys loved it. 

It was not so much fun to roll the bounce house back up the hill and get it in the truck. Luckily, Bill was a true superman and helped Bryce.

Finally, that night, we went to Uncle D's and Aunt Cindy's, and opened some more presents.

Happy Birthday, Cole! We all love you and are so glad to have you part of our family!