Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

About this time last year, we stopped paying our mortgage.  We decided to stop, after a lot of discussing, and praying, and thinking, thankfully not because we couldn't make the payments, but because we have out-grown our little 1300 square foot home and we couldn't rent it for anywhere near what our payment was.  The bank wouldn't even talk to us about negotiating the loan until we missed a payment, and when we did that, all they wanted to do was talk about collecting a payment (a real bunch of geniuses over there)...oh, and our home is now selling for $175,000 LESS than what we paid for it.

What a blessing that decision has turned out to be.  We have continued to live in our home up til now without making a payment, which has helped us build up our savings, and prepare for a better (and wiser) home purchase in the the future. 

But now, the time has come.  Our house has been approved for short sale, and it should close today or tomorrow!  Which means, we are moving.  This is a little bitter-sweet...this was our first home that we owned, and the home Easton and now Ty have spent their life in.  But on the other hand, we are excited to move on and more importantly, have more space! 

A little while back when we were trying to figure out where we should move to, the oh-so-awesome Custer Family mentioned that they were buying a new house and going to be moving soon.  They so awesomely offered us a teeny tiny rent payment for their ridiculously huge house that they are leaving behind for their even ridiculously huger house.  And so, we accepted.  We are so, so sad that the Custer's are moving away, but they are so great to let us stay in their home which will keep us in our ward and close to friends. 

So, after that novel of a story, if anyone is still reading, the plan...

The Custers are moving out on Thursday, and then we will be moving in on Saturday...how about that for timing eh?

Since this will most likely be the last post for a little bit I thought I would leave you with some cuteness...

Ty's first Fat lip

Easton's "Muscle Flex"

p.s: Just have to say that moving stinks, but in the summertime in Vegas it's like suicide, and yet, so far we have moved in the summer each time.  Lame.

The Binky

I love binkies.  My babies love binkies.  We are a binky loving family.  And so, when it comes time to say goodbye to the binky there is some sadness, and just a little fear.

For some reason, with both Easton and Ty, I have noticed that I begin to fear the worst as I start thinking about taking the binky away.  I feel like it will be traumatizing for him and there will be many, many sleepless nights for the whole family.  So therefore, I try to put the event off with various excuses of why I should wait. 

I am pretty sure this fear stems from my childhood memories of my little sister, who, on a family vacation flight,  lost her binky. The world may as well have just stopped turning at that very moment.  For, that moment lead to the next week of listening to her screaming and crying and crying and screaming and screaming and crying every night.  I watched my poor mom run from store to store desperately trying to find the correct binky or any binky that little Lauren would be happy with.  None of them worked, but at the end of the week, Lauren (and the rest of us) survived and she was completely binky free... 

She is now, by the way, dating boys and driving cars (against my all my wishes).

From this memory, I knew what it would be like to be rid of the binky.  So, with Easton, I prepared myself, and then put it off, and then prepared again, and then put it off (This went on for a while).  And then, one day I did it.  I snipped the end off of the binky so there would be no suction...and he didn't care one bit.  He handed the binky to me, laid down, and went to bed.  The End.  What?!  I couldn't believe it, and thought for sure Easton was one in a million and it would never happen to me again...

Skip to present day,  Ty is just a bit older than Easton was (for that same reason of putting it off).  I was planning on doing it the same way, by cutting the tip, but last night as I was putting Ty to bed, I thought I would just try NOT giving him the binky and wait to see what his reaction would be.  

You know what happened?
This:

Never made a peep.  Didn't even give me 'the look' that he was going to make a peep.  Nothing.
 

To many of you, this may be no big deal.  But, to me it's incredible because well, I saw what removing the binky could be like. 
So, I am happy.

p.s Tonight is night two, and so far so good, but now I am a bit nervous that because I am writing this I am going to jinx everything as soon it is posted. ha

Running Into A Wall Hurts

That's what Easton found out.

We had just gotten home from the store and unloading the car, which Easton loves to help with.  He handed me something in the kitchen, and then took off running to the garage door get more stuff.  Instead, there was a loud 'thud', and then an insane amount of crying.  I am still a little confused about what happened here...

1. Because he completely missed the door by about 2 feet

and

2. Because he somehow only hit the underside of his chin. 

My guess is that he was running with is head tilted back and his eyes shut. 

I mean, that's so normal.

Poop Problems

Disclaimer: Not that I will be sharing horribly disgusting details or anything, but if you couldn't tell by the title, this post is about poop.  Queasy readers...look away :)

Ever since Ty was born, he has had a problem with getting a little "backed up".  Well, a lot backed up...to the point that he is in major pain and screaming.  It's so so sad.  We tried prunes and juices and all types of food to help relieve him, but nothing really helps him.  Now I have to give him Miralax when he has such a hard time, and that seems to help him out a bit.

My point to this wonderful story is about the position that Ty gets in when he needs to poop.  I suppose he has gotten used to "struggling" so he automatically gets into position and prepares for the worst...

 So, is it horrible that I can't help but smile (maybe even laugh a little) every time I see him do this?

I Have A Borrower in my House

Did anybody ever see this movie?  It is about a family of little, tiny people who secretly live in the home of normal-sized people.  The tiny people "borrow" the things they need from the big people.  This was to explain those things that just seem to vanish...
"The borrowers must have taken it".

This last week, I was beginning to think I had a family of Borrowers living in my home.  Slowly things were going missing.  I couldn't find my can opener, and then some of my measuring cups disappeared.  I kept looking in my dishwasher thinking maybe I had just washed them, but they were no where to be found.  Until I was cleaning up Easton's room and I noticed something was under his bed.  I lifted the dust ruffle and found this...

Here's what is in the picture: A bracelet, can opener, lotion, potato peeler, toy car, syringe, eye cream for Ty, Motrin, cheese grater, measuring cups, and a nose sucker thing

I asked Easton what he was doing with all of this stuff, and all he said was, "To keep them away from Ty".
(FYI: these aren't things I generally let Ty play with...)

Good news is I don't have tiny borrowers living in my house.  Bad news, Easton makes up for them.

All We Needed Was A Little Jello...

  While we were in Utah, Ty made his walking debut. Ty has always been a little slower in the gross motor areas, but for a while now he has had a better way of getting around...

Ty has also been given the term "failure to thrive".  Meaning that he hasn't been gaining any weight, so we have been stuffing his face with all things fattening.  His Dr. is concerned that he isn't gaining weight and that he isn't walking.  So we were sent to the Early Intervention people to get him tested.  We went for his first test today

here's the good news:

-He has gained 1 pound since the visit to the Dr.
-They said that overall in all his areas, he is developing just fine
-Early Intervention is FREE
Bad news:
-His muscles aren't strong enough
-And he is too flexible

Which is why it has taken him longer in the gross motor area.  So now he gets to do some physical therapy to help him out.  I am happy that they think he is doing well and that we can get this physical therapy for him.  I will keep updating when I know more...

But Sunday, he made his first real, big move. My mom whipped out some Jello Jigglers and he couldn't hold back any longer, and I amazingly got it on video. This video is currently my favorite video ever because of all the things going on, so here are a few things to notice...

1. Obviously, Ty taking his first steps
2. The amount of people cheering Ty on (realizing that this is a very normal moment in my family)
3. Easton sneaking Jello the whole time

A Free Utah Trip

This last week, Ace's work needed someone to do some warranty work on a job they did in Utah a few years back...Ace graciously volunteered and let them know they wouldn't have to pay for a hotel because he has family there.  So, at the last minute, we headed for Utah on Wednesday night.  Ace had to work a half day on Friday, but other than that we got some real great family time...

We headed to the Casper's first
and did some kite flying with Grammy...

Playing with Cousins and Friends...

Here is Easton showing Annie how to use the gun...how sweet.

Then we headed down to Grandma Leelee's...

Easton made everyone that stepped in the door jump on the tramp with him

 Easton and Grandma Leelee

 Steven, Ryan, Jesse,Johnny, Logan and the boys

Jesse being made pretty

Jessica looking better than ever

 Grandma Leelee and the boys

It was such a nice trip and we loved seeing the family.
Plus, we didn't have to pay for the gas...major bonus.

How Do You Get Paint In Your Nose?

Easton has a special ability to make anything that he does as messy as humanly possible.  I realize most 4 year old boys are messy, but I am pretty sure Easton has everyone beat.  I have to clean up after Easton way more than I ever do with Ty.  It truly baffles me how messy he gets.

So I guess I should know better than to let him paint.  Because that is a messy activity even without Easton involved.  But he loves it, so I do.

Things always start off innocently enough...

(Take a look at those nice, clean paints in the corner)

But it quickly goes downhill from there...

(remember what those paints looked like?)

A nice little smear across the face is a good addition.

Oh yeah, and then he did this...

And so...
that is how you get paint in your nose.

The Look of Surprise...According to Ty

He obviously has a hard time showing his emotions.

A Visit From Papa Cory

Papa Cory came to Vegas for a Work Conference, and came a little early to spend some time with us.

We went to dinner and then headed to the theaters to watch this movie:

Both Easton and Ty (and us adults) loved the movie.
Although, Easton hasn't quite mastered the art of whispering yet, so all the lucky people in the theater got a special narrative by Easton throughout the entire movie.  Even at the climax of the movie when all was silent and nobody was sure what was going to happen next, Easton was so thoughtful to explain at the top of his lungs, "HE'S DEAD!" 

Papa Cory brought the boys some little presents...

No, not the i-phone (although Easton would've been happy to keep Papa Cory's phone)

Easton got those snazzy sunglasses

And Ty got a cute little bear, which he loves

We all had so much fun hanging out together.  Thanks Papa Cory for coming to visit us!