The long awaited HOUSE.....

Okay, we have officially been in our home for 3 weeks now. We so much help the first 10 days as Travis's parents drove here in our new van to 1. bring us the van 2. help us unpack 3. but most important....BE WITH US! It was amazing to have their help unpacking & setting up. They know how to get the job done.

We are almost totally unpacked. Only the Theatre needs to be re-installed, then we are done. Montana has started school at an AMAZINGLY beautiful new school. I took a tour of it today & met all the special teachers. WOW. My school was crap compared to this one. The girls are signed up for swimming, dance, & gymnastics...they are not each doing all of them....Colleen has been invited to be in Joy school. I am excited about it. The other 3 ladies that are doing it are really neat! I am excited to work with them & have our kids socialize.

Now, my 3 year old. I am not sure what happened to her. I think that all of this change has been a bit much. She is ALWAYS crying. ALWAYS. It is embarrassing, especially when you are trying to meet people at church, on the street, at the park or at the school. She really just scares people off. She is REALLY loud & dramatic! Oh, well. She is taking a much needed nap right now.

We have had the 2 pine trees in the front of the house removed & all the hedges trimmed. The home looks much better! I am going to get 4 rooms repainted. I really miss the colors from our home in Calgary. This home is lovely, but the colors are bit more country than I am used too & I rather decorate more traditional/modern. Ohh, well. It will give me something to do over the next few years...right!

I am making a smilebox slide show right now. I had Tana take pictures of the house...maybe they would be a bit easier to understand from 5 feet high, instead!! It will be up soon!

Shedd Aquarium & Lincoln Park Zoo

The last 2 days have been fun! We have really kept ourselves busy exploring the city. We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is huge & beautiful, although we went late in the day hoping that the rain had passed. It had not. We got wet. I got a headache. I still have a headache. Here are the pictures!

PS. today Tatum has decided that she doesn't like to nurse & would rather drink & eat what we are consuming. Not good. She is barely 7 months! Hopefully it was only for today.

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some pictures at the lake!



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Flathead Lake 2010

What a wonderful & safe haven that Flathead lake has become for my little family. We were able to spend the last 4 weeks there with the Korella's. We had such a great time: swimming, crafting, jet skiing, being together & going to Walmart!!! (a daily occurance).

Tatum cut 2 teeth while being there. Coco was able to practice asserting herself to her cousins & is now a very opinionated girl. Montana has become such a great playmate, she was the peacemaker & organizer of her sister & little cousin. It is so great to see the girls grow, learn & evolve!

My Mom was able to spend a weekend with me at the lake, what a special treat! I also had the chance to spend 2 afternoons with Nancy!

YEA, for family & friends! How I love & miss both so much!

Last Few Days

Our final days in Calgary were bitter sweet. We spent wonderful moments with our friends. Thank you. I have no more tears, just beautiful memories.

D thank you for helping us clean the house on Friday.

Saturday was nice morning. Nancy, I am so glad that you made Tana & I say goodbye to you at the Chaparral community breakfast. Tana still talks about playing with Tylee & toots relentlessly on that recorder!!

Since we made it to Flathead lake we have been playing, relaxing, swimming, cooking, & just having a fun time.

We celebrated Melissa's birthday yesterday & documented Tatum's 6 month birthday today! Tatum even cut her first tooth today. I knew a tooth should be cutting through, since her nose has been running & she can't gum her fingers enough. Teryn, you should be proud of me...I bought homeopathic teething pills yesterday & they work GREAT!

Here are some pictures over the last 2 weeks:



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Moving

Tomorrow we are out of our lovely Calgary home!! I am really going to miss this place...we put all of our wants into this house thinking that we would actually live in it for a REALLY long time. Oh, well, I guess 2 years is good!

We are no longer going to be moving to Hinsdale, Il. We almost have finished negotiations on a home in Clarendon HIlls, Il. It is a really lovely home that I have only seen on the internet! Travis & our Realtor have walked through it and they both loved it. I hope all goes well & if it does we will be in our new home August 10.

In the meantime, the girls & I will be at the Lake while Travis is working in Chicago!!

Wow, I can't believe that this day is almost here.

Buzz Cut

BEFORE


AFTER

Soo, I have watched my friend buzz her boys hair over the last few years & it looks so much better....which got me thinking....maybe Tatum wouldn't look so crazy if I buzzed her head!

Well, together Nancy & I buzzed Tatum's fohawk!! YEA!! Such an improvement & maybe her crazy cowlick won't grow back so insane....

Like Father Like Son

I just found this pictures on my Sister-in-Law's blog! I just love it! I couldn't stop smiling....Man I sure love my Daddy & brother!!

Future....

T & I have spent the last few days driving circles around Hindsdale & Burr Ridge Illinois! We have a great Realtor who has dealt with our excitement, disappointment & opinions for two days...what a patient lady! We have narrowed our search down to two homes, found another home tonight that we want to check out & may be ready to put an offer on a home tomorrow!! Yea!!

I am excited and scared to have to start a new life in Illinois. Calgary is such a great place to live. I love my family being in Calgary. I love our friends. I love our ward family. I love our home. I love that I can run into people that I know in Superstore. Life is good in Calgary. I hope & pray that our life will be just as good in Hinsdale.

A funny....we were watching Hair Growth For Men commercial & T asked, "should I give them a call"! I love my husband with very thin hair!!

Telus Science Center

Today I took my girls and Aunt Colleen to the Telus Science Center! We were expecting to go and just play inside like always but, we arrived to find that the new exhibit is 'The Body Wonder & the Brain'. Since I had promised all of us that we would go there was NO TURNING BACK! We went through the amazing exhibit of cadavers(spelling??) & body parts. The girls didn't get too upset by all of the dissected bodies & body parts. I totally loved it, as it brought back all the university anatomy labs back to mind! Aunt Colleen totally was intrigued since she is an RN.

So, final outcome. GO GO GO. Maybe don't bring children, mine did fine although I couldn't read EVERYTHING how I would have if I was without children and it is REALLY expensive. Prepare yourself for the amount of cash you have to drop....maybe go to Peters then the exhibit, a great date!!!

Little Fingers

Tatum must be teething! She has stopped clasping her hands & now will have a finger or two in her mouth. It is so cute!! Tatum often sucks her finger to fall asleep. I love self-soothing babies...I wish Montana could figure out how to make herself fall asleep!

Update

After I finally got ready one day, this is where I found all my girls!


My smiley baby at four months old


We had a great visit to see my parents, Kim, Landry & baby STella in ARIZONA



Here is some info into our lives...

1. We are still in CALGARY. We will definately be around till July 1rst. That is Travis's OFFICIAL start date in Chicago
2. Montana Loves Kindergarten. I love having Colleen out of preschool & being able to play, hang out & do errands with her. She is a great kid.
3. TATUM is the sweetest baby EVER! She is very chatty, smiley & just plain chubby! I could eat her up!!!
*She has rolled over March 17th
*Yesterday, played in her excersaucer for time!! (May 15) She has a very strong neck & back. Maybe she will sit by herself next month & crawl by 7 months! Time will just tell!

MISSION CALL

Kelly & President (Peter) Sackley just received their mission call!.....

They will be heading to Hong Kong, China to serve as Welfare Specialists. They report to the MTC on May 31rst.

CONGRATS! We are so excited for you. You will have such an amazing experience.

Sweet Sisters

Here are some pictures to share....



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Pepto Bismo

On Sunday, Tatum wore the adorable dress from Auntie Kandyce. I coordinated the dress with pink: tights, shoes & headband. Unfortunately, I got really looking at her & realized that she resembled a bottle of Pepto Bismo....maybe the outfit needs a cute pair of white with navy polka dot tights, instead!



....This picture doesn't prove my point....I just found her a bit PINK....coming from the person who painted her daughters room pink & then bought bunk beds the EXACT same color!!! That means A LOT :)

THANK YOU

To the Allen's:

Jeanne, thank you for taking Coco this morning. She had so much fun & absolutely loves you.
Richard, thank you for the thoughtful & strenuous task of getting the "MONTANA" sign in our back yard!!

Montana felt SOOO special. She thinks that it is pretty much the coolest thing ever & still wants it in her bedroom!!

You guys are so wonderful to us. We sure love you.

Montana turned 5

My baby is five years old. We all enjoyed a fun birthday week with Montana. We went to Chuck E. Cheese, Travis made a special "eat with your hands dinner" & then a great party at Gymtastics. She has such loving family & friends who all kindly recognized her special day!! I often find her mulit-tasking now, playing the Leapster & holding Tatum! A true girl!

This song is perfect Montana & Coco love dancing to it!!!

RSV

Tatum, unfortunately, contracted RSV on January 18th, we were admitted to the Alberta Childrens' Hospital on the 22nd. Heavenly Father wanted Tatum alive as He placed a Gaurdian Angel in our midst the evening of her admittance into the hospital. A dear friend (also nurse) was sitting behind me during the Stake Womens Conference. She heard Tatum start coughing, then proceeded to ask to hold her. Lara began evaluating her breathing, color & noticed Tracheal tuck, then asked me to meet her in the lobby & told me to go straight to the hospital.

We were immediately admitted and remained there for the next 5 days. Thank you Lara for following promptings of the Spirit, or just being in the right place. My baby is healthy because of your help.

Tatum's Baby Blessing

It took us having three children to finally document a Baby Blessing properly!






Travis gave Tatum a lovely blessing on Sunday, February 14th in the Cranston Ward. The men who stood in the circle were Jeff H, Nate W, Richard A. & Bishop B. The only relative who was able to attend was Aunt Colleen & Patrick! At least they were there.

face painting & fun activities

We have had a lot of fun activities & adventures over the last month. I am going to include pictures from a fun trip to the zoo, Montana's gymnastics class, playing my little pony & a fun day of bowling with some friends!

The girls were given a face painting kit for Christmas & Travis has become a great face painting artist. The girls just love to become different "characters" they started to watch RETRO TOONS & now claim characters. When Grandma Korella was here she made Superman caps for the girls & Daddy painted them masks! What a great night!





Then as my Visiting Teacher was over the beginning of the month (GOOD JOB!) my girls were really quiet. Colleen came downstairs looking like this.....



I was very impressed with Montana. She copied the example in the book perfectly!