Updates!

Here's the end result on our repairs we had done. A closeup of the carpet--it's a nice frizee (fri-zay). I love the texture and look of it. Thanks to our home insurance (and water damage while we were on vacation) we got enough money to re-floor the entire house. And Empire Today gave us a HUGE discount. We are very happy, although it was a LONG wait to get everything fixed. We also had some drywall work done in our office and kids bedrooms. We are happy with the results. No more ugly white carpet and linoleum!

The stairs with the new carpet.

Our living room with the new carpet (before we moved the furniture back). Empire Today really delivered! It is SO soft and comfortable.

The vinyl flooring in our dining/kitchen area. The dining area used to be carpet. So much nicer!

Where the damage all began--over 3 weeks ago, this bathroom (and surrounding areas) were flooded when we got home from Utah. We love the vinyl flooring in our bathrooms.

Briana, Joel's sister, watched our kids so Joel and I could go camping together at the beach last week. It was so much fun hiking and boogie boarding.

Standing on one of the bluffs at San Onofre beach.

Joel and Blake after the OC mud run. Briana ran it and did great! We missed her crossing the finish line so we didn't get a picture of her. We think we'll do it next year--it looks really fun.

The kids playing the big dirt pile at the OC mud run. It kept them busy while we waited for Briana at the finish line.

Utah trip Pictures--finally!

Well, I can finally post about our great trip to Utah! We forgot our digital camera so we had to use some disposable ones and I finally got them developed onto CD. We had such a great trip after not being back to Utah since we left 4 years ago after Joel graduated. We felt like tourists all over again! Enjoy the pictures! (Sorry some of the pics are sideways--I can't rotate them.)

Fun 4th of July with my cousin Rhonda and her husband Jordan and my aunt Jenny and uncle Jeff and cousin Kevin who all live in Utah. We had so much fun! Aunt Jenny and Rhonda are above.
Playing some volleyball--we also played badminton. It was so fun!

The kids enjoyed their pool.

The place on temple square (we think) where Joel proposed to me. So of course he did it again (well, he just posed for the picture.)

The beautiful Salt Lake Temple. The kids LOVED seeing it in person after only seeing it in pictures for so long.

On top of the conference center.

Inside the conference center--we did the tour. You can't see it, but this is on the ground floor in front of the pulpit and tabernacle.

The kids at the Provo temple.

The kids playing in the "sandbox" as us moms used to call it when we lived there.

Joel standing by our old Wymount apartment. Memories! We lived here for 2 years, right after the basement apartment, and then moved to California, 4 years ago now.

Joel and Blake with the elephants at the Hogle Zoo.

Blake's ride on the merry-go-round. (He really wanted the ladybug but had to settle for the tiger because someone got the ladybug first. So after the ride was over, we took a quick picture on the ladybug.)

Eating lunch at the zoo.

The cousins at the Hogle Zoo. It was SOOO hot! But thanks for the fun day at the zoo, Dad!

Our very first place after we were married--a small basement apartment. It looks so much nicer now! We didn't have flowers!

My old apartment when Joel and I met in our BYU ward, BDA #30.

Joel's old apartment when we were dating, the Elms.

Julianna and I on our walk through south campus--so pretty now with the cobblestone paths!

Joel and Blake on our walk through south campus.

Blake did it!

So it turns out I DO know how to potty train! Blake did VERY well with the 3-day potty training program. He was almost perfect, and now completely potty trained, day and night. Never any accidents during naps or nighttime! He couldn't have been easier to potty train. Julianna is still being stubborn, but I'm not giving up yet. I have more ideas to help her. Anyway, I'm just happy that Blake is in underwear now! Tonight before his bath he even went potty all by himself without telling me (I had gone to get his pajamas) and came back and he said, I did it, Mommy! So, he's on his way. Just wanted to share my success with you all!

Do Not Disturb, Potty Training (x's 2) in progress

Well, things are going much better with the water damage situation. Our insurance adjuster came today and said we'll get enough for new carpet, linoleum, paint in some rooms, and drywall in the office. I'm feeling much better about everything. And since none of the work will start until next week, I've decided to continue my plans to potty train (this was supposed to be my potty training week for both of them.) So even though the house is a shambles upstairs and down, I am going to do it! So don't expect to hear much from me these next 3 or 4 days--it's going to be SO FUN! Wish me luck (especially that Julianna gets it this time!) Pics of trip to come next week...

We're back, and not happy

We just had a great time in Utah with my family. The drive was great. Couldn't be better. We get home and hear a little hissing noise from upstairs. Joel opens the upstairs bathroom door to find our bathroom FLOODED! The carpet is soaked into the loft and bedrooms, it's a mess. It gets worse--the bathroom is above the downstairs bedroom/office--the walls in that room are damaged. We have no idea how long it's been leaking. Looks like we'll be filing our second claim (first was air conditioning last summer). Keep us in your prayers that we get out of this okay! (Pics from our trip to come).