Its Official

Escrow closed, we got our keys. We are officially home owners.

First, I have to say that this is a true blessing from God. I never thought in million years that we would be homeowners while in ministry (and to tell you the truth, there was part of me that was totally ok with that, realizing that owning a home is small in comparison to the blessings of being able to serve others), but here we are after what seemed like forever, officially homeowners. God kept swinging the door open and orchestrating for us where we were going to live. It was all in His timing and under His control (which always works out for the best despite my dragging my heels).

The house was a foreclosure, which needed/needs a lot of TLC, but honestly I don't think that we'll ever have to move again due to lack of space. It has everything that Phil and I wanted. Its a two-story, four bedroom, 2 1/2 house, three car garage, a large back yard that overlooks uninhabited rolling hills with a view of the delta and the city below. Its in a great neighborhood, with a community pool and park. AMAZING!

The house needed a new roof deperately, which the bank "sellers" agreed to pay for, which was a miracle in itself. It needed a good carpet cleaning and a new coat of interior paint which we've spent the whole last week doing. The yard is dead and the HVAC system is on its way out along with the water heater, but that's all stuff that we can manage (as long as they don't all decide to die at the same time). :)

We love it and feels so, so, so blessed to be homeowners. We move in on Saturday... I will post before and after pictures of the house soon.

The Ward Elf Family

Our friend Lisa did this for us and emailed it to Phil and I and I thought I would die in laughter after I watched it!!! Check it out!

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/0g3WHUhPifQTEiH7oL7k

We've Made It

To my parent's house, that is...after a very busy weekend, we managed to pack up our old house and make it to our temporary one. We are staying with my parents while our new house is getting a new roof and finishing up in escrow...we're hoping to be in by Christmas.

Our things are packed into my parent's garage and we're invading their house with toys, diapers and baby food, but I think we're all hanging in there.

I'm not sure where my camera is at at the moment, but as soon as I find it in the sea of boxes, I will be sure to post some pictures.

I'm realizing that alot of how things go in life have to do with your attitude. I've learned that if you have a positive attitude in general then life seems to be a lot less stressful in typically stressful situations. Ok, enough of my thoughts...back to work. I'll post pictures of thanksgiving soon...

On the move

For those of you who didn't know, we wanted to let you that Phil accepted a new position as Pastor College Ministries at a church in the bay area, so we are moving from Roseville on 11/29. We are in the process of buying a house and are packing for the big move.

Its a very bittersweet time for us because for the past 4 years, this has been our home...we moved here right when we got married and had both of our children here. We've made so many amazing friends and have been so blessed by our time here. It is extremely hard to say goodbye. Yet we felt God telling us it was time to go and he so perfectly provided our new assignment in our service for Him. We are excited and joyful about the new position and church and consider ourselves mightily blessed because of where we've been and where we are going to go.

We will keep posting with pictures and updates as we go along.

Dogs a no-no...

Elijah has had this weird allergy to dogs ever since he was a baby (especially my parent's dog). He gets huge hives wherever he is licked or if he touches a slimy ball and touches his face, he gets hives too. Well this past weekend we went to my parents on our way back from Vacation and we noticed in the morning that he had wheezing and after a few hours he could barely finish a sentence. We decided to take him to the hospital and after 2 breathing treatments and steroids later, he was ok. Bottom line...dogs are no good for our little man...sad day. We are going to have him tested to see if its all dogs or if its just my parents...

Vacation: Cambria, CA Part 1

For the last four years we've been going to Cambria. This was our first trip back since Savannah was born, so it was a little more of an adventure with both the kids but it was fun and well worth the trip. We went this year in celebration of my grandma's 80th birthday. It was fun to spend time away with all four generations of our family.

Us

Great grandparents and the kids

All the men

All the women

The whole gang

Savannah loves the swings...

reading with great grandpa and grandpa

oh the long car rides...

The family (and a fisherman)

Grandma and Elijah

Grandpa and Elijah

Great grandpa and Elijah

Ladybugs, trees, and bubbles

I forgot to Tag people

So, the whole point of the blog tag is to keep it going...I forgot...

I tag:
Karly Wood
Carly Pray
Amanda P
Kimmy Ho
Sarah Hayes
Jen Beck

I've been tagged...

My friend from college, Danielle, blog-tagged me...I'm supposed to list 6 facts about myself...here it goes...

1) I am very particular about how my groceries get unloaded from the cart onto the conveyor belt. I do this so that they will ultimately be loaded into bags in the order I want them...this is mainly for two reasons: First, that they are packed up in like-items bags and second, it's usually the order in which I unload them and put them away. The only problem is that the checker doesn't know my little plan and still puts them in the bags that he/she wants and most of the time leaving me a little frustrated...maybe I should start telling them my plan... :) That's not ridiculous is it?

2) Even though my husband thinks that I don't pay any attention to what's going on in the world of sports, I swear when ESPN's Sport Center is on, it somehow infuses into my brain and I retain the info and use it to help in our sports related conversation. I got tired of not being able to contribute when he was describing what's thrilling him in a random sport, so I decided to start paying attention. I think I'm actually a little shocked at this one, but I guess it comes in handing when you're having conversations with people...

3) I am a horrible baker...ask my mom. I try. I try so very hard. Yet, for some reason my baking efforts rarely come out with any success. I just keep telling myself that practice makes perfect...I just feel bad for all those who have to suffer through my baking (which is mostly our college students).

4) I lose track of time in the shower. When I'm taking a shower, I am very methodical with the order in which I do things. If for some reason the routine gets disrupted (i.e., Elijah busts in and asks if he can do scrubby, scrubbies to his cars, or by him telling me again for the who-knows-how-many-times which towel is his, which towel is mommies and which towel is daddies or telling him not to play with his cars around the toilet bowl because that's gross and him telling me he wants to brush his teeth and...oh, I'll just stop) I totally lose it in there and next thing I know, its been 20 minutes. This makes me mad for several reasons. First, I usually shower while Savannah is taking her morning nap which is usually around 30 minutes...so if I take a 20 minute shower that means I have 10 minutes to get dried off and ready for the day. Not a good start. Second, if I take a 20 minute shower, that's a huge waste of water. And, I'm trying to be better at that.

5) I can't just see something and buy it. I have to go back to the store several times and think about it for a while before decide to or not to make the purchase. This makes my husband happy, I think, because I tend usually to give up on it and by the time I make up my mind, the item usually isn't there anymore, thus, saving money. However, I think this also frustrates him because this means going to the store/stores several times until I decide.

6) I am extremely frugal. I DO NOT buy things full price. And I love it. I love the hunt, I love saving the money and I love the satisfaction it brings me to know that I got a great deal on something. I will research and more research until I'm blue in the face and find the best possible price and the best possible way to attain it. Love it.

So, there you go...there are 6 random facts about me. Nothing too insightful or meaningful...but random.

Pumpkin Time

Every year since we've lived in Roseville, we've tried to find the perfect little pumpkin patch...and I think we found it...it wasn't big but it was big enough for Elijah to think it was pretty cool. We went to Flower Farm Inn in Loomis (www.flowerfarminn.com). Its a little bed and breakfast farm nestled in the country in the middle of mandrine orchards...quaint and refreshing...

Despite our best attempts, this is the happiest look I could get from either one of them...

The coffee shop at the
Flower Farm Inn

Elijah loved the Bocce Ball courts

The fake cow

She is definitely part of our family...
Already trying to get a sip of
daddy's coffee. :)

sittin' in the wagon

rearranging the pumpkins

going for a little ride thanks to
elijah

Phil trying to help the potential disaster
of a two year old pulling his baby sister
in a wagon...

...fantastic times...

Family Fun

This past Saturday, we went to Fairfield to visit our family...it had been way too long. We had a BLAST and it was great to hang out again. We all went to the NutTree which is a little amusement park that had a few rides which all the kids (and us adults) could go on...so much fun...here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day...

The boys: Tyler, Elijah and Cameron

Uni, Papa, Savannah and Aunt Janet

Daddy and Elijah

Elijah on the Helicopter

Daddy on the Motorcycle :)

Mommy and Elijah on the
bumper cars

October already...

And we can't believe it! Savannah is 7 months old, fall is here; life is flying by so fast...

This week we spent A LOT of time at the park which is always a good time...

The E-man going down the slide...

Catching ladybugs...

The Park

In the stroller getting ready...

Savannah learned to pull herself up in her crib...

Leaves are starting to change...

...Life is good.