The New House

Yep, it's true. We bought a house. It is very nice to finally have a home that we can call ours. We really like the house and it was in great condition when we moved in. I find myself going crazy trying to keep it in good condition with 4 boys running around the house all day. I'm sure the boys will soon learn that shoes do not belong on the carpet and that the walls and the curtains are not their napkin, but probably not.

Living room view #1

Living room view #2

Staircase (in case it wasn't obvious)

Loft view #1

Hallway into the bedrooms

Loft view #2

View from front door

Front door

I am giddy with excitement when I think about all the fun ways I want to decorate it. Then I remember we spent all our money buying the house. Oh well, someday!
Also, I just realized I didn't take a picture of the front of the house. I'll get on that, but meanwhile you can enjoy all the other pictures you have been dying to see. Okay, so most of you probably don't even care, but I know my mom does. :)

Snow......or close to it

We had a pleasant surprise today. We had a hail storm. It was quite the storm too! It came down like crazy! The boys thought it was the coolest thing ever. Then afterwards they had fun playing in the "snow". Since we have moved from Southern California to Arizona our boys really have hardly any experience playing in cold weather. They thought it was great!

I had to throw in this picture of Asher because he is just so stinkin cute!

My Castle

The boys and I drive by the construction site of the soon to be Gilbert Temple all the time. Every time we see it Tristan gets excited about "Mommy's Castle." I really don't know what gave him the idea that this is Mommy's castle, but whenever I have tried to correct him and tell him that it is in fact the temple, he is insistent that it is my castle where "you and daddy are going to live and be happy." Recently on Pintrest I saw a picture of a temple and the words printed on it mentioned the same word, "castle". It got me thinking of how castle is really fitting. The temple is a place where I can go for refuge. It is a beautiful place of peace and comfort. A place to go to escape worldly things, where I can feel close to my savior and feel the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I also thought about the significance of it being a place where Andrew and I can go and be happy, as Tristan says. Nine years ago we went to the temple and were sealed together for time and all eternity. The covenants we make in the temple give us a happiness we could not otherwise have.
I am so grateful for the temple. I love the temple. I am so very excited for the Gilbert temple to be open! I know that I need to work harder and sacrifice more so that I can go to the temple more often. I hope my example will teach my kids the importance and significance of the temple. I want them to see that I am worthy of my castle. :)