Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Moving in...

We had to wait until our home sold in Utah before we could rent a home here in Tennessee. The house in Utah fell out of contract twice. SO frustrating! So when Charlie's mom (our Realtor! She is great Sandy Hoover called to tell us about this 3rd offer we were very skeptic.  This offer was a cash offer, that had a contingency.  Also they wanted to close in a week!  We honestly did not believe this offer had any chance of going through when the others fell apart also.  Well everything went just as planned and we immediately went house hunting.  We had some crazy requirements.  We wanted to be in certain school districts and we didn't want the kids to have to change wards especially after changing schools.  Basically we had a couple square miles to find a house in.  While looking at a house I expressed that I was really wishing we could find a house in this other section of town.  Frank, the rental agent, told us he had a couple who was trying to get out of their lease.   He sent us over to check in out. I loved it immediately.  It was in the area we desired, had a large yard, a great kitchen, across from a greenbelt, better master bedroom/bath overall just a nicer house. 






Houses in the south are different.  While we have had basements here we have attics. We also have a couple designated tornado safe rooms. Yikes! Didn't have to think about that in Utah.  The following pictures were taken the day after the mover left. Still in shambles. Hopefully soon I will have pictures with no boxes in them!


The view first view of the house.  Actually looking forward to decorating this area of the house!

The dining room is immediately to the left. By the way this is the first time we have had a formal dining room.


 Notice how I stocked this with only the requirements for one night?  We are thinking to add another shelf on the right to give us a little more storage. 






 Across from the pantry is a little butlers pantry.  I actually wish it was just floor to ceiling shelves.  But hey at least I somewhere to put the family china.  Now to use the family china!
 Double ovens. Most people thinks Thanksgiving dinner ease right? Me?  I can bake a batch of cookies in 14 minutes with these bad boys!
 We have a bit more storage in this kitchen but I am struggling to get it all sorted in the way that makes the most sense. I always have a baking cupboard right above my KitchenAid stand mixer so that baking said cookies above is that much easier.  
 The other side of the kitchen.  It has really pretty cupboards and really pretty floors. And is one huge mess!


 Laundry room. This room has one crazy fancy sink!  I cannot imagine what they were thinking.  
 Kitchen dining. See all those boxes! I hate moving. 

 The family room.  So because there is a formal dining room there is no formal living room. Snap! I am going to miss that. Somewhere to put all the little pretty things. 
 Our bedroom is so much bigger then our last house. We bought a king sized bed and it looks so small in our room. More boxes!

 The master bath has double vanities and that is pretty cool. That way I don't have to deal with all of Charlie's hair stuff!  Wait maybe that is the other way around. 



 The largest shower I have ever seen. But I have to admit it is kind of cool. At first all I saw was the water spots I was going to have to try to keep off this shower but you know there are really none.  I think because the water is soft in the south it is not so much of a problem. 



The view from the stairs. Kind of strange to me. AKA kids sit on the ledge to chat with parents. 
 A little homework nook for the kids. They are so excited  about that. NOT! I plan to just store all the school supplies there for the kids. 
One of the 3 attics. This one is right off the homework nook. I soooo wish it were finished into a big bonus room.  Jack likes to explore the area though.

Kids bathroom.  

Morgan is thrilled to have a room with a little personality. She has already been decorating and arranging her little area. 



 The closets in the south are much much larger.  Morgan loves that.  Somehow I didn't take pictures of Chad's room.  It looks the same as Morgan's only it has a larger closet and no lavender. 
This is a pet peeve of mine. This picture is shows the chandelier that is over the front door. Across is a cute little dormer window. I wished that they would have enclosed the ceiling and that way we could actually do something with this area. Oh well. At least it has some pretty light. 


 And my office. I have actually really been working to get this room put back together. We seem to be missing a box. The box with the top shelf of my bookshelf!

So many boxes unpacked. 


The last few boxes to be unpacked. Now to tidy up the house and try to make it into a home!






Saturday, October 26, 2013

Moving to Memphis

After 21 years of working in the same division of FedEx my husband wanted to work for the other division…the one that is based out of Memphis.  You know all those packages you send over night? Well he works at the facility in Memphis that makes sure you get them the next day.

Me the kids and the dog started out to Memphis ahead of Charlie.  We drove to Colorado the first night and then to Kansas City, MO the next.  We had some adventures along the way that included getting lost in the scary section of town, witnessing a man using the tree as a bathroom in said scary section of town, my dog barking his protective bark in the middle of the night and waking us all up scared to death at the hotel and best of all about 150 bats in the tree outside out room.  Thankfully we arrived safely the next day in Memphis! 

We went out ahead of Charlie so that the kids could start school.  We were blessed to live with my brother’s family for almost 3 month while we waited for our Utah house to sell.  It has been so nice to have family here! Their youngest kids are near the same age as our kids. Hooray for instant friends!



We started the kids at a prep school for the first 8 weeks. After some time we decided that it was just not a good fit for us. So another change for our poor kids! They are now attending public school and are really enjoying it!
Chad got his driver’s license. Morgan made a club volleyball team. We bought a truck and a small SUV and rented a house. Phew!!!!


 








Now to make our house a home. Get settled into a work routine. We plan to go see the sights and experience as much of the area as we can! Just a teeny little teaser of some of the stuff we may be up too…

And of course I will be quickly setting my office to order! More house pictures to follow. Why is it so hard to find homes for all of your stuff?!




Sunday, December 11, 2011

Winter Treats









Being the crazy busy family that we are. Did I mention crazy? We have a couple Sunday traditions that I treasure. First of all my cute husband cooks breakfast for the family. I am not sure when this started. We all look forward to Sunday morning. Then we go to church and come home to whatever is in the crock pot. And finally we sit around and watch Amazing Race or some other family show together while eating whatever the kids have convinced me to make.


Lately they have been begging for this chocolaty treat! They are so easy to make it is awesome!

I almost published this without the recipe! That would not have gone over well.

Heat together over medium heat in a large heavy pan:

Large bag of marshmallows
1 cube of butter
1 bag of milk chocolate chips (you can use semi-sweet)
1/4 Cup of light corn syrup

add to this a box of Golden Grahams Cereal. It will be quite stiff.

Spread into a buttered 9x13 pan.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Kicking off the Season

I entered this darling swap today! I love the idea that I can use what I have in my home! Tons of darling fabric and one of my favorite books! The whole thing sounds so fun to me. Go enter, SARAH!

Here are the answers to the questions they asked me to post...


What are your hobbies? Sewing, taking pictures, and reading


What are your favorite colors? Red and Robbins egg blue


Do you collect anything? cookbooks and fabric


Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? cats!


Do you have any pets? 2 dogs a 9 year old yellow lab and a 1 year old golden retriever


Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate? Herbal tea and CHOCOLATE!


What do you like to read? Almost anything. Quilting magazines and photography magazines.


Do you prefer Cookies or Candies as a sweet? Peppermint candies!


What is your favorite holiday treat? hot chocolate in the early morning with a candy cane in it!


Describe your favorite holiday tradition. Reading the Nativity story from 2nd Luke by the lights on our Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.


Did you believe in Santa as a child? Oh yes! Until I was at least 10. My mom made it MAGICAL!


When do you open presents? One on Christmas Eve the rest Christmas morning.


Do you put up a tree and when? If not, how do you celebrate? I love to put our tree up the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.


Does your tree have a theme? Not to the average eye. But I received an ornament every year from both my grandmother and mother. So it is really a tree of my history! I do the same for my children now and so does my mom!


What has been your favorite gift to give? to receive? I like to make handmade gifts. I think the soft quilts are the most fun to give. And to receive I would say I love anything...but I really do like handmade gifts!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Sewing!

My little Missy has been taking sewing lessons @ http://simplestitchesschool.blogspot.com/. She has loved it and learned so much! Like a french seam! I don't even know how to do that.


So when her friend was having a birthday party she decided to make her a gift!
Along with sewing skills comes her confidence. With things like ironing!

And pinning!

The only draw back is that she sews on a Bernina at class so she is all about using mine!

All in all pretty darn cute huh? Her friend loved it!



I love that she is developing a talent that she will use her whole life!

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Taquitos

One of our family favorite meals is taquitos. Years ago I learned to make them at the side of a sweet women named Berta! She made the best food ever. I was shocked at just how simple these really are.


Ingredients:


4 chicken breasts

1 tbls kosher salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp cumin

canola oil, about a cup

40 small corn tortillas


Boil the chicken breast until cooked through, drain water and let cool. After cooled shred the chicken into small pieces. Add salt and spices mixing to distribute evenly.


Add oil to a large skillet heat over barely medium high.


OK here is where it gets tricky! Take 2 paper towels and place 5-6 corn tortillas on top. Wrap them up and put them in the microwave for 45 seconds. Take them out and open them up, like a cute little present!


Ok so now take a couple pinches of chicken and set them on the on edge of the tortilla and roll VERY tightly. Then you oh so gently set them in the skillet of warmed oil. Being sure to hold the rolled tortilla seam side down so that it will seal shut!


Now do that over and over until you finish them all warmed tortillas. Then you wrap up the next bunch and warm them up. When they are done the ones in the skillet should be ready to roll over.


I always add mine to the right. So that the one on the left is ready soonest. I never switch this routine. Does that make me crazy?!


This should be served with some serious guacamole!


avocados

tomatoes

green onions

a little red onion

cilantro

lime juice

salt and pepper

jalapenos if you are brave!


Rough chop all these and stir together! Real guacamole NEVER has mayo or sour cream in it!


Berta said so!


OH! And by the way, Berta does not soften her tortillas in the microwave. Nope, she holds them over the open flame of the burner. HELLO?