Big Yard? Or New House?

It seems like as Lane and I have been looking at houses we have two options. We could buy a new house with what looks and feels like 10 feet of a backyard (OK, probably closer to 20 feet), or we could buy a smaller, older, but still OK house with a MASSIVE backyard. Call me crazy, but I keep leaning toward getting a bigger backyard. I almsost don't care what the house looks like anymore. I really want to have a garden and enough room for a swing set and slide, and then also a swimming pool that we got (for free!) last fall - one that is like 10x4 foot (partly why the yard has to be bigger than 10 feet). What do you guys think? Big yard? Or new house? Oh, and keep in mind that Aige LOVES to be outside, rain, snow, sunshine, he'd live outside if we let him.

Has it really been 5 years?

Lately I've been thinking a lot about what I was doing 5 years ago. Maybe it's the "we just had our 4th anniversary... next year will be 5... wow, that means Lane and I have now known each other for 5 years....". So I have been reflecting on what was going on and am truly amazed at the way my life made such a huge turn around. So all this thinking got me wondering about all of you and your spouses and I wanna know: Where are you each from, when/how'd you meet, and what'd you do on your first date? What's your story? Here's ours:
Lane-Fairfield, Montana
me, Liz- Rexburg, Idaho
Lane had come to Rexburg with friends, not really doing the school thing but was working at good old R and S Automotive with my brother-in-law, Brian. Of course I'd been in the shop a couple of times so Lane knew who I was and kept pestering Brian to give him my number. Brian wouldn't because I was engaged and, well...he didn't want to get in the middle of that. (Yes, engaged, and had been with this guy since I was a junior in high school until 5 years ago last week- I'd found out he'd been not as true as he should have) So, a few weeks I learned through the family grape vine (seeing as everyone knew him but me) that this guy named Lane, thought I was hot (me thinking, "who is Lane? Oh, that guy that works with Brian!"). I finally decided that it was OK for him to call me (btw, he happened to be in MT that weekend at Chad and Misti's wedding). But he didn't get my number from Brian, he got it through his roommate, Trent, who worked at Wendy's with my little sister Debra - how they made this connection??? I guess I should ask. May 20, 2003 he calls and this is like the first time we really speak to each other. He comes to get me in his grand prix with his crazy roommate Aaron and his lady, Lindsey. We went and played pool in I.F. ate at Winger's, and barely missed getting into a movie. So instead we went to the new at the time Super Wal-mart and pushed each other in the carts and I boxed him with some Hulk hands (they even made noise). I remember thinking after he dropped me off, that if I keep dating this guy, I'm going to marry him. I've had fun thinking about some of the funny things that happened right as we started dating like by best friend, Collette, going into the shop, without me-kind of, and meeting Lane and giving her "approval". Or, when I brought my car in to have it serviced and I had to show him where one of the dip sticks was (good thing my dad had just shown me not too long before that, I felt pretty smart. In his defense, it was in an unusual place and he is a very good mechanic). But most of all, 5 years ago my world came crashing down around me and then came Lane. He picked me up, mended my heart, and taught me what real love feels like. I LOVE YOU, LANE!!

DISappointed..

So only a few of you knew this, but Saturday Lane and I put an offer on a house out in Kuna (not to far from where we live now). The past couple days we've been going through the counter offer game with not just the sellers but some other buyers. And we didn't get the house. We are so totally bummed about it. But I think this must be one of those times like getting bucked off the horse, we've got to get back on. Last night I was feeling like there wouldn't be any other house that I'd like as much AND could still afford. So today I made my new list of houses to go see and hopefully we'll find that one that is suppose to be ours.

LiFe iS cRAzy!

So Lane is back to traveling again. But...a lot more than he used to. He'll be gone every week for a while - only home on the weekends. Hopefully this won't last too long. Right now he's in Texas and next week he'll be in Arizona (I think). I really can't remember what I've said about what he does, so for those of you who don't know. He installs night vision equipment on helicopters, so he goes all over the country. But the last 6 months or so he hasn't been doing any installs because the company he works for is "working out" issues with the FAA over paperwork. In case (though unlikely) that someone from the FAA would read this, I will refrain from giving my opinion about the FAA. The company is getting back to work but has 6 months worth of customers waiting to get this equipment on their aircraft. Even though this has been a HUGE deal for this company, I'm impressed with how they have come through it. I don't know how many small businesses could go for this long without having their main source of income and still keep their employees and their company afloat.


But on to funner things...Evelyn started walking today!! She's taken at least 6-8 steps all by herself!! She's getting so excited that she's doing it. It's funny how different kids are. Aige was walking at 9 1/2 months. Evelyn has been doing it all a little slower, and that is sooooo OK with me. But I'm excited that she'll be walking just in time for warm weather and the parks and she'll be able to run after Aige. I think he'll like it just as much. They are such good little friends, but Oh they sure can drive me crazy some days. Evelyn is a little teaser and since Aige is bigger than her he will hold her foot or leg or somehow prevent her from moving where she wants. So I hear them whining and complaining too much for my ears. I do absolutely love to see and hear them laughing and playing together. A child's laughter is something in itself. But to hear it mixed with the laughter of their sibling is priceless. I'm so glad for those two little kids to keep me going when Lane is gone.

aiNT thAt riGHt!

The other night Aige and I were talking about his friends. I was telling him how he has lots of friends and named a few that he plays with regularly who all like him. After a short pause he says to me, "All the girls like me"!

Happy Birthday, Evelyn!!!

My sweet little Evelyn turned 1 year old yesterday!! Her first year has gone by so quickly. I wish all of you could spend time with her because she is so fun to be with. I can honestly say that I've loved every minute of her babyness (even the beginning being up every few hours) and now as she is changing into a cute little toddler. She has Lane's easy going nature and just enough of my sassyness. We just love this little girl. I'll post pictures later since I'm on the wrong computer for pictures. But for now, a walk down my memory lane, sparing some detail. But you all should know that Lane was in New York when Evelyn was born. I told him that being on a trip the week before I was due was probably a bad idea. But, oh well, sometimes I think it's probably a good thing he didn't see how hard this was for me (I think it would have made him feel pretty rotten). But thankfully my mom came 8 hours before Evelyn was born and thankfully I had a great visiting teaching companion who came at 3:30 in the am to stay with Aige and then take care of him that day. And thankfully I made it to the hospital. No joke. It was barely after 4 when we got to the hospital and Evelyn was born at 4:21. To clarify, 20 minutes later. So, thankfully we made it to the hospital. And I guess I'm thankful that I was only in labor for maybe an hour an a half. And that she wasn't any bigger (7 lbs) And that there just happened to be a midwife sitting at the nurse's station who came in and delivered Evelyn. What I was most thankful for? That it didn't last a second longer than it did. I couldn't have any meds because we were too close to delivery. So I felt EVERYTHING. And I never want to feel it again. I didn't handle it too well. But, in reality, I barely woke up and bam, had a baby. Who's brain can handle that? Oh, and to answer your question, didn't I have contractions? Not in the sense of a birthing class lesson. Breath....contraction....breath. Nope. I started having constant pain in my back, it felt nothing like it did with Aige. It was the last stage of labor, it was hard. Oh, I am thankful that Lane's boss flew to New York to take his place so Lane could get back to us as soon as he could. I guess I should change my answer. What am I most thankful for? That my sweet little girl came healthy. She is beautiful and wonderful and I love her.