WoW...where have I been :)...

I guess it's time for a well over due blog post...LOL! I have been just a teensy bit busy...what with a baby and finally buying a home here in Florida, traveling to Utah to coordinate with the moving company, getting back to Florida to meet the movers at this end, unpacking an entire house (3300 sq feet in Utah into 2000 sq feet here), hhhmmm...oh yea and Christmas! So, I DO have a great excuse!

Anyway, I'm going to try and get it all in...in order to boot!...Yep, I'm the woman!!! :)

First off, we had a wonderful first Thanksgiving here in Tallahassee, Florida! It was hosted by Mike and Annette and we had more food than I've ever seen at Thanksgiving! I've decided that I need to get my mom and sis here for a Thanksgiving so that they can see how we do it in the south! Of course, most of it was traditional Thanksgiving food, that I grew up with...but there were a few "southern" things that I'd never tried...or seen before. My favorite being the pickled okra!!
We also took the opportunity on Thanksgiving to go out into Mike's front yard and get a couple of family pictures. As I needed some so that I could get Christmas cards done. Can you believe that the kids are wearing SHORTS on Thanksgiving??? Yep, one of those things that we are loving about living in Florida!
Next came the closing on our first home here in Florida! As I had blogged about earlier, we found a house here that we fell in love with...it just felt like it was ours! We felt that Heavenly Father had truly led us to this house...now our HOME! So, we prayed like mad for answers...do we try and buy this house without our Utah house being sold yet, was this our house? After much heartfelt prayer, we knew that we needed to proceed with buying this house. So...despite our fears...making 2 house payments until the Utah house sells...we moved forward with buying our home here! And...we absolutely LOVE it! And yes, we are scared to death about how long we're going to be able to survive with 2 house payments, but we are continuing to pray for a quick sell of the Utah house! So...next came trying to get ALL of our stuff into a smaller house...lol! But, we did it! We are definitely more "cozy" than we were in Utah...but it is OURS and we really don't mind that it's smaller. (I guess living with someone else for awhile puts things into better perspective :). Plus...I only have 2 clean 2 bathrooms instead of 4!

So, here are pics of our moving day mess:

Karlee's room

Just as we were trying to get moved and unpacked...the Holiday's snuck up on us! So, in the midst of a mess, we put up a tree and tried to get ready for our first Christmas in Florida!

Trent's company party was a wonderful night of dinner and Santa. Carson talked Santa's ear off (every time his lap was empty, Carson would go back up and continue with his 20 questions...man he sure kept Santa on his toes). And Grace got to sit on Santa's lap for the first time! Oh yea, and of course, everyone that Trent works with fell in love with baby girl!

Trent, Grace and I flew to Utah on the second of December to coordinate with the moving company (as all of our things were still in the Utah house). We had a wonderful visit with family! All of our families, except for my sis and her husband, hadn't seen Grace since she was 4 weeks old...and only 5 pounds! What a treat they received with a big, smiling, laughing, ADORABLE miss Grace!

Grace & Opa (my grandfather):

4 generations...my Oma (grandma), my Mom, Grace and I:

same as above but including my sis and her youngest, Bayleigh:

Once our things arrived here from Utah, we were finally able to put Grace's new high chair together...and thus began her first cereal! She is such a big girl...loves her cereal (but I've spoiled her and she has to have yogurt in it), loves carrots, peas and sweet potatoes. And hates green beans!

She also loves playing in her "johnny jump up". I got it at our ward's "swap and meet"! Love, love, love freebies!

...and she's rolling and holding her head up!

Ok...finally Christmas! LOL!

Christmas Eve was certainly different this year! We usually go to mom's for dinner. This year I cooked a turkey for our cute little family and we got on "skype" and the kids were able to open their presents from Grandma (another Christmas Eve tradition), while Grandma, Grandpa, Oma, Opa, Mindy, Kyle and all the kids watched! It was great to be able to see them and chat for a little while...almost felt like we were there! Thank you "skype"...and thank you technology and a husband who knows how to work it all!

Our first Christmas Eve dinner in Florida! I cooked a small turkey, baked potatoes, carrots and homemade rolls. Yea, definitely not the spread we're used to at mom's...but it worked!

...and Grace got peas!

Christmas morning! Santa hid the kids' bikes in the entryway...so they couldn't see them at first...hence Carson's hand expression!

And yes, "Santa" truly visited our family this year! We had told the kids that because of our circumstances (2 house payments), Christmas would be small this year...but then lo and behold, bikes ended up at our house on Christmas eve! Thanks "Santa"...and yes, there were a few "Santa's" this year...so thank you to all of you! This was by far, the most memorable Christmas ever. Our family will never forget the wonderful people and family in our lives!

On another note, this Holiday season has also been harder than I imagined it would be! I've been doing so well concerning homesickness and adjustment issues. In fact, I really, truly do love living here. But then BAM!...the Holiday's hit and totally throw me for loop! It was hard not to be with my sis and mom and grandparents for the Holiday's. It's amazing how much I took for granted! I've also been meaning to call some of my Utah friends...but keep putting it off, because I keep thinking that if I don't hear their voice...then I won't cry...even though I DESPERATELY want to talk with them! I know...dumb...but that's where I'm at! In fact, the other day, one of my new friends commented on how cute Karlee's bed is and of course, I start bawling because Holly helped me make it!!

Santa sent Grace this walker:

and an exersaucer:

a sewing machine for Karlee:

1700 piece Lego's for Carson...I think he now has well over 10000 pieces...lol!

Riding bikes, in shorts on Christmas day:

For Christmas dinner, we all met at Mike and Annette's place for "breakfast for dinner". It was a fabulous time...with lots of great breakfast food...including grits (we are in the south you know). Grace LOVED grits...yep, our southern girl!

So...I think I'm all caught up! We are all healthy and happy (despite some Holiday blues), we love Florida, love our new home, Trent loves his job and the kids are continuing to make lasting friendships! I, of course, am loving my time with baby Grace...loving every single minute of it! She is our true little miracle...coming to us when we least expected her...but when we needed her the most!

We love you all and hope this Holiday season finds you all healthy and happy! We would LOVE to hear from you! If you need our new address and phone number, send me an email at disneymom84074@gmail.com and I'll send it on to you!