Odds & Ends

We’ve made a lot of progress with settling into our new house. The backyard is in good working order now, thanks mostly to Jared who took out a lot of the old garbage, prepped the ground, laid some pavestone and planted grass. It’s really nice to have a safe small space where the girls can go play. I really should have taken some “before and after” pictures because it literally had been used as a trash heap for the last tenants and there were pieces of broken glass, rusty screws, broken toys, 4 foot weeds, etc. Here's a picture of the girls swimming & Jocelyn in the backyard to show how great it is now!




Jared also scored some great deals from Craigslist and has been building shelving and putting in a new master bathroom sink/countertop, etc. I have been "restoring" the cabinetry in the bathrooms and kitchen and I think it looks much improved so I'm glad we are feeling more comfortable here! with our luck we will probably have to move in the next year and all this work will be in vain...

Jocelyn finished up swim lessons with a bang and was very excited to receive the t-shirt and certificate from her teacher. For the month of September and two days in October I will be teaching the “Joy School” curriculum for the preschool group I put together with other moms at church for Jocelyn’s age group. I’ve been preparing calendar/weather boards, welcome boards with all the kid’s pictures, mats to sit on, reading through lesson plans, cutting out art projects, gathering supplies, sending out emails and putting together calendars for all of that. It has been a bit of work up front, but once I teach for the next month from our house, Jocelyn and her friends will rotate around to the four other houses until February so I’m off the hook while I have a new little one to take care of.

Lillian will, of course, be part of the fun while it is at our house, but I’m a little concerned for her once Jocelyn starts rotating to the other houses. Lilly will feel left out, I’m sure (Hence the mommy & me swim lessons I have signed her up for in October while I’m 8 and 9 months prego). Lilly is doing remarkably well without her binky and despite asking for them a couple times, she is being really big going without them. Lillian is still showing an interest in potty training and I need to get more on board with it. I have been hesitant and I know I should try to get her out of diapers before the baby comes, I just need to mentally get myself in the mode. Here is a video of her saying goodbye to her binky.


We are excited to go to Dixon next weekend for a casual wedding open house for Nate & Tausha, to attend an A’s game and spend some time with the family over the holiday weekend!