A Place to Call Our Own!

We left on Wed. the 25th on a whirlwind home tour in Birmingham in hopes of finding a house for the next 6 years. We only had 3 days to find it and put down an offer, so we were a little apprehensive about being able to get the job done. This is not meant to keep you in suspense, so let me start by saying: We did it. We found the one! Here's how: Wed. night we drove around neighborhoods where we thought we would see homes on Thurs. Next to one of the houses we were planning on seeing, we saw there was another home for sale. JJ jumped out of the car and grabbed a sheet on the house, which was just within our price range. It looked great from the outside so we immediately called our agent and asked her to get us a showing for the following day. She did it, we saw it, and two days later, we bought it. There really was no other close runner-up. We knew this was the home that we loved and the sellers really worked with us to come up with a deal I think we are both very excited about. They only had it on the market for 10 days when we bought it, which I can imagine must be nice. Now the real fun begins: inspections, insurance, mortgage, the "to do" list just got a lot longer! So, we will live in Homewood, AL (a subdivision about 10 minutes from UAB hospitals where I will be working). MLS listing

New Haven

So, after a long night of Mexican Train dominoes with the Sorenson and Vargas families, we went down for a day of fun in New Haven with Kyle and Hillary. It began at IKEA--JJ's favorite spot to browse and buy. Not all of our purchases today were a success however. Tip #1 of the day: Never, really NEVER buy salty black licorice. It may seem like a good idea at the time, but stay away and send us a thank-you for the warning. It was most likely the most disgusting thing I have ever eaten (and I ate some pretty nasty things in Thailand). Aiden played at the Smaland (the kids play place at Ikea) and loved it. We had some frozen yogurt and left for Frank Pepe's Pizzaria--a famous pizza place in New Haven next to Yale. We had high expectations and the pizza came out on a cookie sheet and parchment paper. While the presentation wasn't much, the pizza did not disappoint. Both pies were great: we had an original mozzarella and also a pepperoni and sausage. After all the pizza we left for the beach to work off some of the weight we had just put on. Brooks was in heaven with all of the rocks on the shore. He kept throwing them into the water only to have the tide go out and leave his rocks once again exposed. Round after round, he was determined to leave with those rocks submerged. After changing the kids clothes, we got in the car once more and left for home, with Kyle and Hillary pelting our car with the salty black licorice candies that we had left in their back seat! Tip #2: if you know something is disgusting, always try to get everyone to try some so they too can know how disgusting it is. And then, make them keep it because "they touched it last."

Brooks at the Beach: Throwing rocks out with the tide!

Wii have fun--This is Matt and Kyle playing Raving Rabbids

Runaround

A and B play around after getting a little dizzy.

A nasty Nor'easter and a haircut

Photos top to bottom: Aiden prehaircut and post haircut with Jonah and Brooks, Brooks with his "ZIA!!!"

I just spent all this time writing a blog and downloading pictures and somehow I messed it up and now it's gone. What a pain. Anyway, it's been raining since Sunday and the "brook" behind our house is now a rushing river. We have spring break this week so no school or work, but I did a swimming lesson yesterday and on the way to work we pretty much had to drive up a river. Luckily, the Civic was a champion and got us through it, other small cars were having troubles, stalling out, etc. but the Civ pressed on. Aiden was getting into the spirit and chanting with me "Honda, honda, honda" and Brooks just yelled his typical "NOOOOOOOO".
Last night our friends Matt and Anna and Kyle and Hillary came over. We had pizza and Brooks was totally diggin' it. He usually won't eat it, but was begging and cheering "zia, zia" so I gave him a piece all cut up. I ran downstairs to do laundry and cam back to him cheering even more excitedly "zia, zia". I noticed that he had helped himself to a whole piece. He even actually ate most of it too! Hillary cut Aiden's hair for us last night (sorry, she's Adi this week, then she'll be Ariel and then Aiden again--she's got it "in order" and it's even posted on the fridge). Adi was squirmy as usual and crying about having her hair cut. She has been telling me she "won't" have it cut and if we have to then "just cut this one, OK?" Hillary was really patient and did a great job. Today Adi loves her hair and I hope this new do will cut down on the severe tangles. Lewis got some great footage of Kyle and Matt playing the Wii, but I can't figure out how to post it. Looks like I'll be calling Brittanie again (thanks to her I got this blog figured out at all).
Lastly, I have to brag for Lewis again. Today he finished he last requirement for dental school, hooray!! He still has to go in to see emergency patients and hopefully help me out with my ugly crown, but other than that we can put a fork in him, he's DONE. Also, he is receiving a great honor and being inducted into the Dental Honor Society. Only a few students each year receive this honor, 4 from his class. Because of his great test scores, board scores, community involvement and generally being a great guy, he was nominated for this honor and we're so proud of him! GO Lewis!! One more fancy dinner for us, we have so many with graduation, it's so fun and exciting.
Now it's American Idol time. JJ out.

"Oh, oh, Mexico. I've never really been but I'd sure like to go.."

Well, folks, it looks like my parents are moving to Mexico! They are living in Ghana (in west Africa) right now--for the past 4 years--and were planning on moving to Johannesberg, South Africa this summer, but their plans have changed! What a shock. We are so surprised, I can't imagine how they must feel. They are always up for an adventure which is good and we are excited for them. We can't wait to hit the beaches. I guess we should all brush up on our Spanish. My dad is the international legal counsel for the LDS church in Africa and he will be helping in Mexico and I think maybe other areas of central America, but I'm not really sure. Jordan said " I guess our houses will be decorated with Mexican things now!" That's totally true, I have so much awesome African stuff in my house. We are so glad we got to go visit them the first year they were there and are just so thrilled for their new adventure and ours in Alabama. Looks like we need to throw a CINCO de MAYO party, huh!!!!!!!!! ( we listened to James Taylor's "Mexico" song all morning) We have quite the adventurous parents with mine in Africa and Lewis' in Sakhalin, Russia (an island north of Japan), don't we. Now I guess I see why we love to travel.

We are also getting excited and anxious about our move. We are ready to get going, but we are sad to be leaving Connecticut. I had book group the other night, which I love so much, and I was thinking about how much I would miss all of these women. We really have so many wonderful and thoughtful friends here. I think being so far from family we really have to learn to rely on each other and we do consider each other like family. We'll miss you all, but hope you will come visit, I'm SURE there's lots to do in Birmingham! I decided I should compile a list of the top ten things I'll miss and not miss about Connecticut. Since we are expecting a THREE day nor'easter (they sure love their storms here in NE) tomorrow with snow and cold rain, I know I will probably not miss the weather. Most of the things I will miss the most (besides all my beautiful, talented, smart friends) are stores. Is that sad? Christmas Tree Shops, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods (about two blocks away), and H & M. I'm sure there's more but I can't think of them on the spot. The things I won't miss are: being honked at if you wait one second at a green light, no customer service, general rudeness toward any stranger, cold cold or hot hot steamy humid weather.

Here are some pictures from earlier this winter. We really only got a few inches of snow this year which is crazy since we got about 80 inches I think last year. I decided one day to take my kids sledding and Brooks hated it so Aiden decided she would go by herself. The only problem was the sheet of ice under the two inches of snow. It made it almost impossible for her to walk back up the hill with the sled. SO, I would have to leave Brooks crying by himself at the top of the hill and go down and drag Aiden and the sled back up. Needless to say, it didn't last more than a couple of runs.