5224 rental

5224 is FOR RENT! Our ad is here if you know anyone in the sacramento area who might be interested! We are so excited to find some good renters who will take good care of this place for us. I will even give you a $50 gift card if someone you refer signs a 1 yr+ lease with us!

before and afters-














(thanks mom and beth for taking all the pictures)

5224 is officially done! The ups and downs to remember..

-having long conference calls (sometimes up to 4 hours) with Dad, Josh and Alec
-4 backyard sized loads of stuff to go to the dump, including a pool
-making trips to home depot pregnant with 2 kids in the cart who would decorate the aisles with cheerios, fruit snacks, and rock candy while I shopped for tile, a tub and house numbers
-finding out that Dad had some design opinions of his own. (I love you Dad!)
-our contractor ripping us off in the middle of the project, and leaving his levi pants behind
-finding out that said contractor didnt even install the drains in the tub and showers

(more ups and downs coming)

Kiki Eve

Who would have thought taking your own children back to your elementary school could be so fun? We had to jump the fence to get in and let the kids play on the playground and for Josh and Alec to hit golf balls on the field, which was no big deal. But on the way out I tore a huge hole in my pants and I was so embarrassed to get home to see my grandparents car waiting in the driveway. I ran past them and changed my pants in 20 seconds hoping they wouldnt notice me or the hole.

Cari gets here to DC tomorrow and we couldnt be more excited! Grace has been so anxious to see Kiki and Alec and the baby bump. Its going to be a great summer of babies and sisters and cousins (and lots of work for Josh).

Happy Kiki eve!

I am 25

For my birthday this year we decided to hold off and celebrate in the fall, and Josh talked about having a 3 day celebration! So maybe Disneyland? I think it will be so fun to celebrate when we have more time to make it special and fun. Josh always surprises me with something so i am excited to see what it will be.

Anyway, I still feel like I am 24 or 23 or any other number, but its fun to have a birthday and for your kids to sing to you and give you lots of kisses.

Jenilyn surprised me with something shiny and beautiful. I love it.

Josh's family spoiled me rotten right before we left and threw me a surprise birthday party and baby shower. They were so generous as well and they even all went in together and bought me a little portable folding bassinet for this baby. It was so thoughtful!

I really am so lucky to have such a wonderful family on both sides.

Thank you everyone for your gifts and birthday wishes.

I think I am about ready for number 3

I have officially started the nesting phase of this pregnancy as of today at 11 am. It feels a little wierd that I didnt bring much for this sweet guy, just some clothes and the baby bjorn and a little bassinette (thanks to my sister in law's) but I also love that I just have the things that I cant live without.

Over the past few years Jenilyn and I have just shared an infant car seat that has been used for 5(!) kids now which has been so nice! Jenilyn is so sweet and generous like that . Anyway today I bought the new car seat for us to use for the next babies in our families. I checked consumer reports and I ended up buying the Chicco, just like everyone else. I think that 99% of my friends all have this one and I was a little hesitant, but it gets amazing reviews! So I brought that home and some teeny tiny pampers swadlers from Babies r us today while Beth had a dance party with my kids in the car. It was so nice of Beth to come with me so that my trip to buy these 3 things was 15 minutes instead of an hour.

I haven't seen a Dr. out here in DC so I am excited to see how the baby measures and what the scale says on Friday. Thinking back to my other two pregnancies I am pretty sure that I have not carried this low or big. Grace was way up in my ribs and I remember them being so sore at night, but this boy has never even touched my ribs. Anyway I hope this guy comes soon!

The baby still doesn't have a name. I need to just spend a week pouring through family pedigree charts and talking with family to get it just right. It will be the perfect name.

Before Grace and I read her books tonight we talked about what things will be like when the baby gets here. It was a little sad to me to tell her that when we go grocery shopping that the car seat will be in the cart and Neal will be buckled in the front, meaning that she would have to walk. We also talked about how she will need to help me hold and rock the baby, get sippy cups for Neal, and get me diapers and wipes for the baby. She was excited about all of those things and does all of them now without being asked.

I am excited to have lots of kids. Having mini versions of ourselves is really such a fun and exciting part of parenting, Josh and I laugh often at them and ourselves.

Neal loves baby

it was a happy mothers day

Josh and the kids surprised me with breakfast in bed and a pink flower arrangement. Josh did Neal's hair, Church was great and then we had leftover chinese food for dinner and a family walk. It was seriously awesome!


-Thanks Fish for a perfect day

I debated on posting any pictures of me, you know the feeling, when you are puffy and want to be done with pregnancy :) But for my children and our family records I thought I better.

phone pictures

1. Baby bump at 28 weeks- I am much bigger now and to prove it yesterday I had a lady say WOW! I am surprised you are still out and about! i told her I still have 2 more months and she didnt believe me

2. Have you noticed that I dont have any pictures of my kids together?? It drives me crazy so I pinned Neal down and tried to get one:)

3. Josh came home with a pocket full of frogs and let them go on the balcony so that when the kids woke up in the morning and went outside they would get excited. Too bad the kids accidentally killed them all that same day by shaking them in this plastic container.

4. Cheesy smile at the playground

5. Right before we left Utah Grace had 4 cavities filled! She was such a brave girl and said some pretty funny things while breathing that gas.

6. Grace and Ellie are the best little buddies.

7. Grace drew this picture of our family complete with baby #3 in my tummy. I will treasure this picture forever.

8. Neal makes me laugh often, like for example, on my birthday he came into our bed and started blowing raspberries all over my legs! They were covered in spit and buggers but I didnt even care, I just laughed.

5224: almost done

banana muffins

Banana Muffins
(adapted from my mom's recipe)

Cream:
2/3c. butter
1 1/3c. sugar
2 eggs

Combine and add:
2 3/4c. flour
1t baking soda
1t baking powder

Add: (do not over mix)
2t vanilla
4 ripe bananas
1c semi sweet choc chips

Bake at 350 for 20 min or until the tops start to show golden peaks