Ellis Randomness.

On Monday's Kylee has dance, so I take Brooke to Caden and she walks home with him while I take her to dance. She thinks she's so big, and she loves being with her older brother.

I think it's adorable!

Ryan has been out of town A LOT! And so I finally decided to get some projects done, I've been wanting to do since I moved in!!

Operation Paint and decorate the laundry room:

And Kylee's room!

I have been collecting decor for her room for almost a year now, and so I finally decided to paint it.

We are also going to put some wains coating up, and I can't wait to show the final product! I am getting close!!

Spring is in the air!

 The kids came home with their spring pictures, and I was so tempted to buy them!

The boys were so stinkin cute!

 Kylee's never made it home, but sure hers was just as cute!

The weather has been absolutely amazing, and I have been trying to take advantage of it as much as possible! I dropped Brooke off at preschool, and headed to the green belt to run. It is probably my new favorite place to run! No dogs, and no crazy Idaho drivers who are so not runner friendly. And you can't beat the view running along the river and passing the temple!

I got the itch to cut my hair. I have been contemplating it for awhile. My hair has been close to the same length for quite some time, so I decided to mix it up. When I saw Safe Heaven I knew what I wanted to do:

Now I had some bangs, so it looks slightly different, but when I curl it, I might be Juliane Huff's sister...lol!

Ramblings!

 During Spring Break, I got to run outside during the week! What a treat! Especially since I am coming off this long overuse injury, not to bore you with the details, but I am so happy to just be able to run the miles I can! I headed up to a trail in the foothills, and I went from 65 degrees, to 55, but still great running weather, and amazing view of the mountains around me! These pictures doesn't even do my view justice.

Ryan and I have been really good at going out for dates, and after dinner we hit up Wal-Mart to do some Easter candy shopping! My handsome hubby has been in the grocery business for 11 years, and no matter what products he was ever over, we would always have to go and check it out whether it was his stores or the competitions'. Now he is on the other side of the isle, selling to stores, and ANY time we are in a store, and especially Wal-Mart, we are in the potato isle!

Ryan has been traveling A LOT! hopefully it will slow down some. We miss him!

He was going to be gone for Easter, so happy Easter to me:

LOVING my new purse!

Ramblings

I have been a terrible blogger latley.

Not only does the everyday goings on of a mother of four, make the last thing I want to do when they are in bed is sit at the computer, but we have been so busy, and I have been in those January blues you could say.

For the first time in my motherhood years, have I been up countless night worrying about one of my children. I know I will have many more nights of this to come as my children grow, and face life's challenges, but I was not expecting to have those nights so soon.

Kylee has had some friend issues at school, and the past month it has excelled. So I did what I thought was best, and went in and talked to the Principal to see if we could stop this once and for all.

I thought we had come up with a pretty good solution. Apparently to other parents I was so wrong!

Let's just say I was not backed up by the method, and I felt attacked. 

There are so many good reasons I love being surrounded by fellow LDS members. But this is not one of them. There just was no escape from the issue. These girls are classmates, neighbors, and church classmates. Woah. Lets just say it adds to the drama, and there is no escape.

I have been up countless hours on how to help my daughter be a more Christ like example, how to be nice no matter what. I could go on and on. But you get the idea. It's been a very stressful situation.

I also have had my sister on my mind. She went into the hospital today for her transplant.

I haven't missed a treatment of hers this time around, and I feel so guilty not being there. She has our mother with her, so I really shouldn't feel bad. But I do. I feel guilty that she will be sick, in a hospital bed, and I will be going on a cruise in a few days. I should be jumping out of my seat excited, but all I can think about is my sweet sister fighting for her life.

I will say, with all the stresses of life I am so grateful I have the gospel. while the last few months have been nothing but bumps in the road, I know I have my Savior to fall back on. I think sometimes I feel because I have the savior in my life, things should be smooth sailing. But that would go against what we were sent here for. This earthly life wasn't meant for smooth sailing. We knew their would be trials. IF we weather the storm, and trust in him, we will be blessed. And that is comforting.

So I will continue on. Continue to be on my knees for my children. Continue to do the best I can!

Visitors. And other ramblings.

We had visitors last week. I was terrible and didn't take a single picture.

But luckily those visitors are on their way again this weekend! So pictures will come this time!

The one and only, Hanna and Sandy. The kids are stoked. And so am I. 

Living by family is so much fun. Yesterday I got a visit from my Aunt Linda, and my cousin Heather. We chatted, and then hit a movie, a little girls night! I think I can get used to this. 

Nothing is better than family.

I need to remember that when I'm having my moments of missing the Midwest.

When the opportunity came to us to move out west, back towards family, I was beyond excited. I really didn't think I would give a second chance to leaving the Midwest. Boy was I wrong.

I have many moments where I am home sick. Home sick for the Midwest. Really?! Oh yes. I see pictures, here songs, and I immediately tear up, and have to bite my lip to not burst out crying.

(Lake in Minnesota)

I asked my mom the other day if she felt the same way when leaving Mexico. 

We lived there for nearly 10 years. Most of my childhood. When we left there, we were moving back by family. My mom didn't get to see family near as often as I have. So surely she was ecstatic to move home right? She made me feel better when she said it was SO hard.

She says there is moments when she still misses it.

She misses people, landscapes, activities, but what is hard when leaving a place you've been for so long, is leaving behind all the memories.

 Really my life with Ryan is the Midwest. We started our lives together in Indiana.

We went through a lot there, and gained our other family.

And we still consider them family. :)

Although Chicago was not the place for us, and a place I wanted to raise my children, I have very fond memories of living there. It's an amazing city. Traffic not so much, but it has so much to offer.

I am so exited that I get to go back and run it's streets in October!

Then Minnesota. Man I didn't love the winters, but other than that it was a great place.

I used to think that the Midwest was ugly, flat and really boring. Every time we would drive out to Utah and come up on the mountains, it would take my breath away.

Now whenever I am watching TV, and they show cornfields, or the Mississippi, I miss it. It takes my breath away. I don't think I ever thought I would say I would miss the landscape of the flatland's, but I do. Don't get me wrong, I still love the mountains. Running the other morning and smelling fresh clean mountain air was a piece of heaven.

My mom said that there are things she sorely misses about her time in Mexico. But there are things in Alaska, that she didn't have there, and that is what is great. There are things that are great no matter where you live. And I am going to find those things here. So that when, or if we ever move, I will miss it here too.
P.S. This is my 500th post. 
Wow. Have I really been blogging that long?! I think it needs a party:)

Goodbyes.

This is my good friend Tracie. 

She was the first one to take me in when we moved to Minnesota.

Our kids literally grew up together. We survived "toddlerhood" by swapping so we could get things done sans kids.

When I went back to Minnesota to pack up I got to spend a couple of days with her. I hadn't seen her right before I left, so this trip became our Goodbye. But we chose to instead make it a see you later. Those are better anyway! She too is about to embark on her own move, which made leaving a little easier. I know our paths will cross again, and I am so glad to have a friend like her in my life.

Closing a Chapter.

 One day. We have one day left in Minnesota.

I am getting pretty emotional. 

This has been home for nearly five years. My children have gone from babies to children here.

We started school here. I can't even begin to express the way I am feeling about leaving this place.

I am so sad to leave my home:

 It's been a great house. It feels like home.

But yet it's time to move on. I know there is so much ahead of us in Idaho. It's going to be another great chapter of our lives.

So until then, farewell Chaska. I'm sure there will be a visit back in our future.

Market Ready.

 After slaving all break long, our house is now ready for the market! Oh please let someone snatch it up!? So for those you have been here I am posting pictures to see the changes we've made, and for those you haven't been you can see a more detailed view of our home this past 4 and 1/2 years.

The kitchen:
The stagger just had me clear the decor above the cabinets, and we moved my IKEA shelf by the table:

The living room:

A few new pictures, thanks to my neighbor Kelly, and a chair from Rachel. They helped make the room! I now want to go out and get the chair, it's so comfy!

We moved the piano where the computer was:

The basement, and the children's lair:

We had to paint the basement. UGH. I do admit it looks better, but it was just quite the project during such a busy week. To top it off I got sick. Thanks to a wonderful husband, he stayed up until 2am one night, and then midnight the next. He is amazing.

 

The boys room: Not much changed here. Just added a night table.

The girls room: We flipped around the bed and moved some furniture around. I was worried about Brooke falling off. She did once and that's been it, so she doesn't move around as much as I thought! 

The master bedroom: Thanks to my overhaul last year I didn't have to do anything! Whew.

The bonus room:

I had a hard time getting a good angle of this, but you get the idea. This is probably the most transformed room in the house. Not quite practical for everyday living, but amazing for staging.
So there you have it.  Ryan has only been gone two days, and I miss him. The kids miss him. He has traveled plenty, but there is a definite difference. All is stuff is gone. This living apart thing is really for the birds. Please pray that it sells quick...

The End of Another Year.

 December 31st. The last day of the year. A day for celebrating the past year, and welcoming in the new. For me it's also a celebration of my fathers birthday! I was always bummed for him to have a birthday on this day. His party always is thrown in with the new year party. I thought in some ways, just being overlooked. But really what a cool day to be born. A day where you not only celebrate your birth, but reflect on all that you have done that year, and things you would like to improve on.

Not that my dad needs much improvement. I think he's pretty awesome. 

I really have the best dad in the world! He's such a good example to me. 

Happy Birthday Dad!

In other news, out break has been filled with getting ready to move, put our house on the market, and send Ryan off tomorrow. A word of advice. Never move around the holidays. UGH. I feel bad for the kids, cause their break hasn't been much of one. I'm glad we were able to squeeze the water park in, cause they've pretty much been neglected the rest of this break. Now I thought I was a pretty clean person, and fairly clutter free. Apparently not enough! We had a stagger come Wednesday and helped us stage our home to sell. We moved A LOT of furniture, and I had to put A LOT of things away in storage. My house feels very empty, but for the moment it is spotless! 

Both me and Ryan and dog tired. And he leaves, and I have to keep this house like this for showings. Yay me. Oh we are so going to miss Ryan. Boo.

We went out for a last family dinner tonight. Buffalo Wild Wings on New Years Eve, another bad idea. The restaurant wasn't that crazy, but the takeout orders were, and thus we waited over an hour for our food. Normally you get your food 10 minutes after ordering... They were great though and accommodated us nicely for our patience.

We have had the best missionaries in our ward the past few months! They came by to wish Ryan well, so we took a photo opportunity:

 I am so thankful for their example to my children. They look up to them so much, and I'm so glad to have two amazing young men as my children's role models.

And what better way to close out the year than snow!!!

 

We have had a few little spits of snow, but nothing that lasted, or accumulated. December 31st and we finally get the winter wonderland!

This has been a great year for the Ellis house. We have had wonderful memories to laugh, cry, and enjoy for years to come. Now as we embark on a new year, we also embark on a new adventure.

Ryan and I have been in the Midwest since we were married. It's going to be so weird to be back out west after 9&1/2 years away. But a good weird.

If anyone ever has the opportunity to live in the Midwest, take it. It's a wonderful place!

Amazing people, amazing beauty in it's own way, and a great place to raise a family.

We are going to miss it dearly. It wasn't an easy choice to pick up and move.

But I know we are making the right one.

Good things are to come for the Ellis' in 2012.

Happy New Year everyone!

Next up...

This:

 is where the Ellis Family will be moving to!

Idaho Falls, ID.

Yep it's true. Ryan starts his new job January 3rd, and the kids and I hope to soon follow.

Oh the excitement, the emotions, and the stress that come with such a big change!

Let's add Christmas in the mix, no dig deal!

Cousins.

Even thought Thanksgiving has passed, I feel the need to continue being thankful on my blog. It is the holiday season after all. And even into Christmas, we can be thankful for all that we have!

 Today I am so grateful for the blessing I have to come from two amazing families. I am grateful for the cousins that I have on both sides, and that we have remained close, even if it's been awhile since we have physically seen each other.

I am so glad that my mother and her sisters did such a good job of making sure that we had good relationships with our cousins.

Some of the Oberg girls are missing from this picture, taken a few years ago, but definitely not forgotten. There are so many memories of having so many girls so close in age!

 Growing up I spent a lot of time with my cousins on my dads side. When we moved to Alaska, those visits became few and far between. But that didn't lessen our bond, the times we have seen each other has made it all the more special:

 

My freshmen year of college, I was able to go to school with Heather. I had so much fun, and I am so glad that I got to experience that with her!

  

The next year was twice the fun as four of us roomed together! You can never escape girl drama, even when you are family, but I wouldn't have traded that year with those 3 girls for anything! What better roommates than family?!

 

  Even as we have grown up and started our own families, we've made sure to always stay close. Even if that means we drive a few hours to see them!

Or they pass through for a visit and we throw in some fun!

 One of the best things about going home for the holidays is spending time with cousins!

 I feel lucky that I married someone that lives so close to some of my family, that I get to see those that don't live in Alaska just as much.

 I feel lucky that I have 3 cousins my age, and that I was fortunate enough to go through high school with Amy! She is an amazing person, and one of my best friends.

I truly am blessed to have such an amazing family, and such amazing cousins.

Thank you all for being a part of my life.

Friends for Life.

 Today I am thankful for friends. But I am going to focus on a particular friend. 

We have been friends, best friends, since I was 14 years old. She helped me transition from a private school going girl, to a public school girl quite nicely! She made my move from Mexico easier.

We had great times in high school:

 And when I came home from college, we had great times on my hair! HAHA!

 We were fortunate to see each other even when we both went off to college. I went to a family wedding of theirs, just so I could spend time with my best friend!

  

 It's no secret that I was a young-en when I married away and had kids. She has been the best auntie to my kids, like she were my own sister!

  

And I was so excited beyond words, when she had her first little girl!  I wasn't going to miss it, and made a trip home:

 I feel lucky and so blessed to have such a good friend in my life. She lifts me up when I am down. She makes me want to be a better person. She is one of the most positive people I know. When we get to see each other after months or years of not, we can pick right back up where we left off. And I love that!

 Now we have two little munchkins, who can carry on our friendship!

 During these Holiday's, even if I don't get to spend time with family, and my best friend, I am just glad to live in a world where I can call her everyday if I need to.

Tara, thanks for being the bestest friend any girl could ask for!

Best Friends.

Dosen't everyone just need a best friend? 

Of course they do. And poor Brooke has been so sad without her Kenners around.

As much as I have been without Holly. Sniff.

She has slowly quit asking if Kenners is coming, or if we are going there. She has even quit asking if she is still in Alaska. P.S. we need to skype more often!

But thankfully all is not lost. She just loves her good friend David.

They play so well together and keep each other laughing constantly.

It's super cute!

 So here's to best friends, everywhere!

You are loved and so important:)

And my goodness. Maybe the short hair is not so bad! Yikes. At least her hair is cute in a little head band and doesn't look like out of control Bieber hair!