Before and After

Lots of fun pictures...

This is the cake I made for 4th of July.  This was our 1st holiday together with out any other family and I wanted to do a little something so we could celebrate.  

 We went to this fun park on the 4th as well and played Frisbee and kicked a ball with Anna.  Aren't the parks up here gorgeous!

 Yes Kali was asleep so she stayed in her chair in the corner but I loved this picture of the trees.

Our 4th of July plates

 Hey Mom

 My little look alike.  I honestly haven't thought she looked like me much until I put her hair up like this.  Now I can see it but when she was a baby I didn't see it at all.

 Anna climbed to the top of this all by herself and I had to take a picture cause I just know how crazy she is.

 This is our living room before the movers brought everything in.

 All 3 bedrooms were empty.

 She was SO excited to see her bike.  She got right on it and started peddling I was very impressed.  She couldn't do that very well on her own before we left.

 Our living room after.

 Kitchen after.

 Room 1

 Still room 1

 We have a bed now!

 The girls room.

 The girls room still.

 We had the missionaries over for dinner and I made them rolls.  Anna was my little helper.  I'm glad she likes to help even if it's hard sometimes.

 Love it.Going to Costco in Style...I also posted this on Facebook.

 Fresh raspberries, yum...from Washington.

I want to note that Zach has officially been working for a month now here in Renton.  I can't believe that much time has gone by but at the same time it almost feels like it's been forever.  Now many people are probably wondering how it feels to be without any family.  Honestly I haven't minded not being with Family because I get way more time with my own family and with Zach and ya I'm selfish and I don't like to share but it's been really great to get to know my girls better and Zach.  The only hard thing is finding someone to watch my girls.  But we are finding some good friends and I think over time we will figure that out.  I wish my girls could play with there cousins but at least they get to skype family every now and again.  We also look forward to times we can be together with other family but overall I feel it's great to be here even if just for a few years.  Oh and I DO NOT miss the heat.  Honestly I would not choose to move to the Mesa ever again if we didn't have family there but only time will tell.  I will also have to see how I like the winter here.  

Finding a place to live 101

Okay so I decided since we have moved 4 times since we've been married and I moved 3 times before that that we are starting to become experts on finding a place to rent.  Now if it's buying a house I'm not sure that will ever happen but someday we will get there.
Okay so when we came up here we had a tour with a Realtor guy and he gave some really useful tips.  Okay so questions to ask when thinking about renting a place.

If it is an apartment here are things to look for:
-Is the front office organized and clean
-Do they answer the questions correctly and honestly
-Do they know all the answers to the questions that you ask?
-At the end of your contract will your rent be month to month or do you have to renew again for another year?
-Does the place share water with the whole unit or do they have your apartment individually metered.  If it is meter with other apartments a lot of times they will split it up evenly between the other people.  Which can be really bad because if someone else uses a ton of water you will end up paying part of that.
-Does it have new carpet?
-Does the apartment have new appliances?
-Do you get free parking or do you have to pay, is it covered?
-What level is it on? Do you really want to be on the top floor when you have to carry a ton of groceries up those stairs?  If you are single I would think it would be ideal but not with little kids.
-Where is the water heater? (What happens if the water heater floods the apartment?)
-Water pressure and also does the water stay hot for a long time so everyone gets a hot shower?
-Any rules about pool hours or any other amenities they have?
-Do they have a room you can use for parties or events? -If so is there a deposit and is it hard to get back.
-What does it cost if you have to break your lease?
-Are all repairs taken care of by the complex?
-Are trash and water included in the rent?  If separate how much is it/or has it been in the last year?
-Do you have to do an application?  If so how much does that cost?
-What is the total that you will have to pay to get into the apartment?
-Is your deposit refundable or is some of it non refundable.


Other things to consider if it is a house you want to rent.
-Are the people that you are renting from up to date on there mortgage, if they are they shouldn't be afraid to show you on paper.  You don't want an eviction notice to suddenly come up from a bank  (We've never done that but the Realtor suggested that)
-If you are in a hot climate how old is the AC unit, and what does a normal electric bill usually cost?
-If in a colder climate how do the heaters work?  Are they gas or electric?
-Will they do all the repairs or what are you in charge of?  (that should be a part of your lease)
-The address to the place should be on your lease.
-If you break your lease what will it cost or can you just find someone to replace you?
-Does the house have a yard and if so is it fenced in, is that a concern for you?
-Do you have to do the yard work or do they have someone to come do it for you?

-LAST BUT NOT LEAST MAKE SURE THE PLACE FEELS RIGHT....PRAY ABOUT IT AND MAKE SURE YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.  IT IS YOUR HOME AND YOU WANT TO FEEL LIKE YOU CAN MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME NOT JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN FOR THE TIME BEING.

This may seem strange but it will be a good thing to reference if we end up renting somewhere else again.  Also some of these things may seem like a no brainer but it's always a good thing to review.  I also hope it will help someone who is looking for an apartment know what questions to ask.  If anyone has anything to add let me know I would love to make this a good list.

Kali's tooth/slug

Last night Zach found our first slug.  Even though it was outside on a box it was still just a little creepy.  I'm sure that we will probably see more of them in the future but I had to document it cause I've never seen one before.


Kali's 1st tooth has finally came through!  Yay!  It truly is exciting even though it kinda helps me realize that I don't have a little baby anymore.  She is still my baby but she is growing up so fast.  She is going to walk any day it seems like.  She already just stands in the open all by herself.  It's crazy to think my baby could walk.  I'm so ready for my bed to come though cause feeding her at night is a trip on an air mattress!  I feel bad cause I know I wake Zach up sometimes and I feel bad cause he has work but I don't really have a whole lot of options.

Still moving

Here are some pictures I've been needing to post.

 Us in the airport getting ready to say goodbye to Zach's family.

  So happy she didn't have to sit in this car seat for 25 hours of driving! Yay!

Anna's favorite, parks

 The Seattle temple!  Well it's actually in Bellevue but I'm excited we have a temple about 1/2 an hour from us.  

 This is a pretty cool park!  When it is warm enough, which I have no idea when that will be the kids can go swim right there in the water.  

 Most of you probably already saw this picture on Facebook but ya for new couches!  We are super excited and super blessed to have new couches.  

 She is so stinken cute!!!

 Pike's Place fish market.  We bought some fish and seasoning here and took it home and cooked it, yum!  Salmon will never be the same again, lol.  

 Cheese

 This was the little hotel we got to stay in for a week, and I was SO done with it by that time.  Ya we have to sleep on an air mattress now but we have our own room and we don't wake the kids up every time we talk.  

We are still not even close to done with our move and sometimes I just really want my stuff....but then I also realize how little we really need in life to survive and I wonder why do I have all this stuff?  Then I remember the times when I'm cooking a meal and I only have one pot so I can't cook most things I'm used to or when I need scissors and I don't have any, or tape, or a broom, or a vacuum, or my stroller, and the list can go on and on.  When you are forced to only live with the 12 bags you brought with you everything you do is limited. It really helps me appreciate the pioneers and what they went through.  Hopefully our stuff will come in a week, but it could be 2 weeks, oh well.