Home Improvements

So the last few weeks have been filled with home improvement projects! WHAT FUN!! We bought new kitchen cabinets, are trying to get the backyard fixed up, and painters come tomorrow to paint the outside of the house.

The kitchen cabinets are very old and need to be updated but the house really needs to be repainted. Mark said he would rather install cabinets than paint the house so that is the game plan. Mark plans to install the cabinet himself (we know someone who can give him some pointers) and by the end of the week the house will freshly painted. I am thrilled about the house but not looking forward to the amount of time it will take to get the old cabinets out, new cabinets in, and the counter tops on but I know that the kitchen will look amazing once its done. I just really want the kitchen done before the holidays.

The backyard is another project WE get to do! When we first saw the house there was a broken-down underground spa in the backyard. The bank had someone break it out and we were so happy that we didn't have to do it. But there was some re-bare exposed and as we dug down to cut it we discovered that what had been broken out was just tossed inside the spa. Mark with a little help from me and ours dads dug all the dirt out. You could imagine all the junk that was thrown inside instead of hauled away.

Tessa is getting bigger and getting really good at climbing. She has been sick the past week and half with a cold and cough and on Friday we found out that she has an ear infection. Our nights have not been so restful.

Getting into the Groove of Things

Well, summer is over for me! Back to Work! It was been a little stressful organizing our schedules for who drops of Tessa and picks her up. But Mark is a big help and my mom tries to help when possible. Luckily Tessa is with two really great people while we're at work!

Before I went back to work, we went camping. Tessa LOVED to be outside and in the DIRT. The first night sleeping was hard and long after almost two hours crying ( i don't know if it was b/c it was a strange place or she was cold) she finally slept but mom and dad sort of slept. Grandma and Grandpa O had lots of fun with her.

Are You Comfy?

This is how I found Tessa when I checked on her during nap time! She eventually turned herself around and fell asleep.

Birthday Fun

So Tessa is officially one year old. We celebrated on the 4th by going swimming at my aunt's house and having dinner. It was warm at 4:00pm when we started (next year I'll know to start later) but it was really fun. The pool felt great! Tessa got clothes, a movie, toys and more toys all of which she enjoys.

I attempted to make her a ladybug cake and it turned out okay for my first attempt at making a cute cake. She wasn't so sure about eating it. She really just put her hands and feet in it. However, she did like the cookies on it.

1st Birthday

Where has the time gone?

A week from this Saturaday Tessa will be 1 year old.

We can't believe it!

Getting Settled

Well We have been moved in for a couple of weeks now and the dust in finally starting to settle. I still can't find the drawer with the spoons when I need one but it won't be long now before I figure it all out. the house is coming together nicely all the pictures and other decoration are up and there are really no more major project for the inside of the house. The outside is another issue though, We have spent the last couple of nights cutting bushes and trees and we even took a big load to the dump. It is starting to come together, but it is getting hot so some of those projects might have to wait.

Tessa is getting more independent everyday. She has decided that she can climb and now when the step stool come out she thinks it is a must to climb it. We took her to the park the other day and she decided to climb the stairs on the jungle gym as well. She has also discovered a new game, which we don't know where it come from because neither Tara or I have ever played it with her. she will act like she is going to hand you something, and then right before you grab she will turn around and run away (giggling the whole time). It quite cute.

Tara is enjoying being home for the summer and is trying new things with Tessa, they just started going to a music class at the library. But Tara has discovered the "Twilight" books and she is already on the third book and she started last week. Getting settled in Scottsdale has been hard because we are going into our busiest time of the year, but I have really enjoyed working with the people there and I have a great staff. We do a theme each year for the pools and my pool's theme this year is the 80's. They do a costume contest each year so even though I Hate dressing up, i took one for the team and dresses as the guys from Miami Vice. ( I only put that in because Tara would have posted the picture anyway).

Unpacking a New House

On Saturday, Mark, Tessa, and I moved into our 1st house. We were able to move everything in one day with the help of parents, Mark's brother Jacob and Mark's friend Cody. (The pics are of Mark and Tessa practicing their moving skills.) We love the extra space and it is nice but weird to come home to a place where you don't have to share the parking spaces. I have begun hanging up things and decorating because I can't stand to be unorganized. Mark's mom was impressed that I was able to organize my kitchen before everyone left on Sat. Tessa loves the new house and all the extra moving room. She walks everywhere and has said goodbye to crawling.

Besides moving on Sat. Mark started his new job in Scottsdale on Tues. He is really excited for the new opportunities that Scottsdale holds for him.

Tessa and I start swimming lessons on Monday at Kino.