Mmmm

Yesterday we had cause to celebrate! Brian got a raise!! Whoo hoo!! We were very excited. I had to make something special...i.e. 'new' for dinner.

My new discovery...I love goat cheese! I remember first trying it when my mom taught us the song in primary with the goat cheese and she brought some for us to try.

"and carry bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack"

It was sesame teriyaki salmon with couscous and broiled pineapple and mango. Then I made a baguette with goatcheese, strawberries and arugula. Fancy smancy huh? lol It was good, a lot of work but good.

Claire woke up early today and I thought she would fall asleep quick but alas...no. But I left her in there with some books and she was talking and playing and then silence. Totally cute :)

Popcorn popping

So we are pretty much moved into the house and all the boxes that we did are unpacked. I absolutely love it! It is so light inside. As soon as I wake up I open all the blinds. I very rarely turn on lights. Usually it's still light when we go to bed! Claire slept horrible the first night but the past two nights she has only woken up once! (sadly, that is way good...that girl just doesn't need sleep:P) It is sooooooo nice not being in apartments! I need to go to the store so I thought I would leave you with one video until I can put up a longer post. Enjoy!

or two :)

Before Pics of Apt.

Well, I finally found my camera...and I have a few posts to do but I thought I would put some pics up of the new place we are going to be renting. I like it so far :) Brian roped in a bunch of seminary kids to help us move tomorrow. We'll probably buy them some pizza...maybe.

Driving...saw an old man asleep in front of a store. Brian thought it was funny :)Looking in from the front door. We have lavender growing outside!

The kitchen...kinda small but thats okay. At least I can look out a window when I'm at the sink.

Looking at the dining room from the kitchen. We will FINALLY be able to fit a real table! I'm so excited after 2 1/2 years of a card table :)

Part of the living room. Claire was loving it because she could yell and it would echo. Brian was loving it too...we are really excited not to have apartment neighbors. The lady said that they did rent out the other side to an elderly couple. I'm assuming we wont hear much from them. Lets hope they aren't crotchety.
What a cutie pie
The rest of the living room
Closet
Another closet....we will have tons of space for food storage!
Bedroom #1. We are going to put the card table in here and make it my craft room...and guest room :)
Laundry room with the door to the garage.
The office room....or food storage room
Bedroom #2....Claire's room
Bathroom #1
Bedroom #3...our room
Bathroom #2...Brian is not excited about these types of showers

We have a walk in closet but I didn't get a picture

That door leads to a storage room...

Brian's Man Space

We are super excited to be in a house!!

For the next time

When we do have another baby....THIS is what I will get to wear at the hospital. Not that stupid gown that is too big and in the way and makes me think I am a patient. NO MORE!! I will birth in style....

:)

Our Trip

Well, we made it back from Illinois and we had a LOT of fun!!

(I have been waiting to post this till I could do pictures but my camera is MIA, although I KNOW that it made it home with us...I'm hopeless...)

We made it there around 4:00 on Saturday. Claire did very well on the plane. She did not do as well, however, on the ride from the airport to home. She pretty much screamed the whole way, finally feel asleep when we were almost there. We went an outdoor concert at Knox Colledge in Galesburg and that is where Claire met everyone! Brian's grandparents were there and Mike and Lea and Mazy. It was so nice to see everyone. Claire was not shy at all! I was so surprised and so glad. The concert was nice but was cut short because my allergies started coming on like crazy. We had to go to the store and pick up some claritin. lol. Sunday we went to church and everyone loved the two newest McEwans! We took family pictures after church which I am really excited about seeing.

It was nice to hang out and talk and get caught up with everyone. Mazy is so adorable and such a good baby! She takes a pacifier and watching her made me wonder how the heck I survived without Claire taking one! Claire did not like it when I held her. Claire really liked her uncle Mike. Seriously, she did so good with everyone.

Wednesday we went to Nauvoo and I went through a session at the temple. That was really really nice. I'm sad that we live so far away from the temple here. I would like to go more. Oh well, there is a time and season for everything. We went on the carriage ride and to the brick makers and to the red brick store. (I had to get some lemon drops...yum!) We ate dinner at the Hotel Nauvoo. It was the first time I had ever eaten there and it was good. Mike and Lea left to go down to St. Louis after that...(hope your unpacking is going good lol). Brian's grandparents left Thursday. We went shopping in Peoria and Brian's dad checked my eyes (Thank you!) Brian and I had dinner with some of his friends on Friday while Grandma watched Claire...THANK YOU again! Saturday I got my hair cut and we went to dinner at the Packing House. Brian talked it up to me and it did not disappoint. It had THE BEST cinnamon rolls EVER. They weren't really rolls, Brian calls them layered cinnamon delight. Yum. We left really early on Sunday. It was a great trip and we can't wait to see everyone again!

(I am really ashamed to say I didn't get many pictures. I need the ones you took Mike! )

When we got home we sorted through some stuff that we are getting rid of or giving away. We are starting to pack and clean and probably will move out the beginning of next week. I'm excited to get to a new place :)

Ah well...Such is life

It's been an interesting past couple of days.  We *think* we may need to move out of these apartments in the next few weeks.  It is a long story but we have been looking at other places to rent.  To make it a tad bit more stressful we are leaving tomorrow to go up to Seattle.  We fly to Illinois on Saturday.  (One "tender mercy" is that the bridge is open and we don't have to drive around the 101.  THANK YOU!!!!!)  We found a townhouse that we like.  It seems open and airy.  It has three bedroom and then an office (which we would use for food storage) and it has a garage and a storage place in the back.  (Oh the storage space!!!)  (I think I like parenthesis tonight...it is late) .  It is only about $100 more than what we would pay for a three bedroom here, except we will have to pay water and garbage and sewage.  Ah well, such is life.  It would be nice to get away from having neighbors.  The other side isn't rented out yet but even if it was there would be two garages between us.  The yard is rocks so Brian wont even have to mow :)  It is also two blocks from the park that I drive to everyday AND is still in our ward.  I really wanted to stay in the ward, I'm finally getting comfortable there and I've made friends  (Hi Lisa!!)   Anyhoo, we have been cleaning and packing and cant wait to see everyone on Saturday!

And now to leave you with a picture of Claire after a really disjointed blog post.  

She's so delicious 

Conservative Rap

haha

Countdown!!

Playing with daddy while mommy sleeps in :)

Hmmm...where should I go?

Not excited about picture taking
We went with some friends down to Port Williams beach to have a picnic on Saturday.  Claire went straight to the water and went in!!  Where was that in Hawaii??  It was pretty much beautiful there. 

Playing in the stroller


Four more days until we are DONE with seminary and get to go to Illinois!!  Whoo hoo!