2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks

Ever since I decided I would get back into blogging I realized I really should do some sort of "update blog post" - so here it is.  I promise it will be long.  But I have two years to cover since I was last actively blogging (really, 2 years and 2 months)!

{2 years}

The last two years have been CRAZY - here is a "quick" synopsis:

Colby has changed a bit.....

February 2011

1st Birthday - September 2011

February 2012

February 2012

September 2012

March 2013

We lived in 6 different places {yes, SIX}....

Lake Stevens, WA (HOME)
Silverdale, WA (in a hotel... for a job... for a few months)

... then back home for a while

Aberdeen, WA (another hotel, for 3.5 months)

.... back home for a bit

Aberdeen, WA (hotel for a few weeks - with two kids)

Cosmopolis, WA (moved permanently to the Aberdeen area)

Montesano, WA (where we call home now - also the Aberdeen area)

 Photos from Silverdale hotel living

We traveled... a bunch!
San Francisco, CA (K&C)

Salt Lake City, UT (all)

Pittsburgh, PA (K only!)

Salt Lake City, UT (all)

McMechen, WV (K&C)

Las Vegas, NV (K&J)

San Francisco, CA (all)

Salt Lake City, UT (all)

Beaverton, OR (TONS!)

Salt Lake City, UT (all FOUR!)

 {San Francisco Trip - October, 2011}

  {Utah - October, 2011}

 {West Virginia - January 2012}

 {Las Vegas - February 2012}

Our family grew.....

{Brendan Clifford - born 9/20/12 - 7lbs, 13oz}

Eggo in the Oven just kept growing {750+ separate sales in 2011 - most for more than one item}, and busy busy during 2012....

And I'm SURE I'm missing other big things that happened over the last 2 years.  It's been crazy, amazing, busy, a HUGE learning curve, and SO rewarding.

{2 months}

The last two months (or so) has been a BLUR.  In November 2012 we were told on a Friday that Jimmy needed to report to a job in Aberdeen, WA (about 2.5 or 3 hours away from our house) for work on Monday.  It was a "temporary" assignment - for a few months.  We had done a temp assignment in Aberdeen about 6 months back, and the three of us {Kim (pregnant), Jimmy, and Colby} lived in a hotel for the 3.5 months.  Now that our family had grown, the thought of living in a hotel room for months as a family of four was NOT ideal.  By Wednesday of that first week, we found out we would be here "permanently" {meaning not just months, but likely year(s)} - so we started looking for rentals.  We found a house that seemed like the perfect fit (there are NOT many houses for rent here.... and many are... less than ideal).  We moved in at the end of November.

Unfortunately that first house was a HEADACHE {to say the least!}.  Maintenance issues, etc.  So..... almost exactly 2 months {aka, just as we got all the boxes unpacked} after having Jimmy's company move us to that house (with movers, it was GREAT!) - we decided to look for a new rental.  We found one and with the help of our AWESOME friends and family, we moved.... again..... and this time we had to pack the boxes!!!

We are now *almost* settled in the new place - and while it was a PAIN to make the move we 100% know it was the right move.  The new place has an AMAZING basement that has room for a playroom / family room AND my sewing room.  We spend TONS of time there!

{2 weeks}

The last two weeks have been busy and fun!  We visited Jimmy's family in Utah last weekend - for an extended weekend.  It was GREAT to see his Mom, Dad, and Sister.  We spent the weekend playing, eating, and just hanging out.  Colby continues to be an AMAZING big brother - and his vocabulary?!  Ridiculous.  He speaks in full sentences.... sometimes {often} paragraphs!  

Brendan seems to be hitting this FUN stage of developing / growing / learning / discovering.  His little personality is really starting to come out - and he is working so hard to learn to crawl {so he can catch his brother!}.  He just started solid foods over the last few days and he's LOVING them.  He LOVES his brother {seriously, he LIGHTS UP whenever Colby plays with him / holds his hand / kisses him / tickles him}.  He is now sleeping in his own crib (he was in a pack-n-play in our room... but we made the big move yesterday and he's LOVING it so far!)

Life is crazy.  Life is fun.  Life is frustrating.  Life is unpredictable.  Life is AMAZING.  I love it all!!!!

So... there is a quick {really, it was, I mean that was 2 years smashed into one post!} update on us.  There are SO many more photos / stories / experiences..... but I'm just going to "reset" and will just keep up with the goings on from now on!

.... I am impressed if you got this far!