We've Moved!!

We did it! We sold our house! We are so excited to move on to another chapter in our lives, even though we don't know where that is quite yet. We have just moved in to Casa de Bigler (Mom & Dad) and will be here for a few months while we shop around for the perfect home. Mom & Dad have been gracious enough to let us stay, kids, dog and all. But it definitely is a bitter sweet. We will miss our old little house so much. It is where we began as a family and have so many wonderful memories. We lived there for almost 5 years and have had so many great neighbors, a wonderful ward and many dear friends. To add to the sentiment, we are so emotionally attached because of all the sweat work we put into it. From the moment we moved in, to the moment we moved out, we were fixing it up. It has brought us more frustration at times than we could ever imagine ( doing about 95% of it ourselves), but so much pride and joy in the outcome. Now we feel like we can do almost anything when it comes to house remodeling/repairing. Below are some of the before and after pictures that many of you have been asking to see.

Front
Before/After

Backyard
Before/ After

Family Room
Before/ After

Kitchen
Before/ After

Bathroom
Before/ After

Master Bedroom
After
(We don't have the before pictures, only video. Just imagine the ugliest green/blue sponge painted walls and no closets or molding for the before pictures)

Kids Bedrooms
After
( We also only have these on video. The before pictures just show these rooms without paint/molding or lighting)

Potty Training- ARGGG!!!!

Potty training. The most difficult thing in child rearing that they don't warn you about. It makes me wish that I could just fast forward time another year, not caring about the cute things I would miss. Brooklyn has been at it for 9 months. We have had to start and stop, and start and stop numerous times, because of vacations, Blake's birth, and one bad case of diarrhea. And finally, about a month 1/2 ago, we took the plunge and put her in undies, which she was thrilled about. Some days, she has done great, then other times, we see this...Fortunately in this picture, we were outside, which many of times, is not the case. And now, we are about to move in with Mom & Dad Bigler for a few months while we look for another home. Another major life event for her that I'm sure will lengthen this painful milestone. Mom & Dad, sorry ahead of time.

Down by the River

Lately, we've been taking advantage of this wonderful summer weather. Seeing that there are so many things to do outside here in P-town, we decided to head out. Here are just a few of the things we've been up to this summer.

Here we are walking down the Provo river trail. Brooklyn really gained some confidence while riding her scooter as you can see. You'll see her on TV when the X-Games introduce 3-wheel scooter gymnastics. It'll happen.

I found myself a rope-swing! One of my favorite things in the world. You'll see me on TV when the X-Games introduce rope swing diving.

We have our little girl padded up so much that I don't think she would feel a bomb go off if it were in her lap. At least the pads are stylish.

Just getting our kids involved with the great outdoors. Even Blake seemed to take to the trail. He's going to carry on the rope-swing tradition. He wanted to try it out, but we thought that might not be the best idea.



Next, Brooklyn wanted to try out her tricycle. Don't let the handlebar tassels fool you. She topped out at about .05 miles per hour.

Backyard Blast

Brooklyn loved being thrown "on her bum" down the slip and slide.

This is the heaviest bowling ball!

Nothing says cheap summer fun like a home-made "water slide."

This is me showing Brooklyn how a grown man handles cold water being sprayed on his back.

This is her showing me how a 2-year-old girl handles cold water being sprayed on her.

Our Happiness!

Happiness is actually what we call him. He is just always smiling!

Well, almost always.

4th of July

We are back in business! Sorry to the 5 people who read this for the long hiatus. Our internet has been out of commission for the last 3 weeks and we finally have solved the problem, temporarily at least. So we are going to back track a bit to the 4th. This was the first holiday we have been able to be with both of our families. It was so much fun. We started the day, bright and early, by watching hot air balloon with Bigler's. Then we flew down to Cali to spend the rest of the day with my family. We swam at my Grandpa's, then made our way to the Mission Viejo street fair for fun and fireworks. Matt unfortunately couldn't make it down to Cali for the 4th because of work, but we at least got to spend the morning with him.

BBQ Season is Here!

This week we had not one, but 2 Bigler BBQ's. The first was with the Bigler clan for Sunday dinner. The second was with the Carlin clan on Monday. We had a great time at both .

This is Blake with his new BFF cousin Aiden Jack. What a difference 2 1/2 months makes!

I can already imagine the trouble these 2 are going to get in together.

This picture was too cute not to post.


Here with my cousins Kelly, Mark, Carly and her friend Peter. It was fun to have my Aunt Jan over too, who was visiting from Cali.
Two peas in a pod is what Brooklyn and Jackson have been. They had so much fun together getting tossed and swung in the blanket, and doing somersaults in the grass.