Introducing (FINALLY), our house!!!

Ok, so you can't tell what it's going to look like yet. . . . but isn't it great?!!!!! After almost FIVE months in the city office waiting for approval (thank you, Tooele city, for your exceedingly gifted ability to be anal-retentive and over-zealous. . . we honor you.) In the end we are glad that the city felt the need to be so painfully accurate with every jot and tittle of our plans because we know that it will be perfect. More perfect than it's occupants, no doubt. Moving on.

Our awesome builder, Tom Rainwater, was chomping at the bit to get going, so since last Friday the land has been graded, surveyed, dug, and today they poured the foundation! In fact, they are moving so fast that these pictures, taken yesterday by our good friend and realtor, Christina, are now old. These show all the preparations before concrete. Tomorrow they will finish pouring, let it cure next week and then hook up to all the main city lines and backfill. By the end of the second week of March they will have framing started. Yippee!!!

First Feis (pronounced 'fesh' )

Two Saturdays ago, Ryan and Brooklyn competed in their first feis, which is an Irish dance competition. They have only been taking lessons for four months so we were really excited that they were ready to compete so soon. They dance with the Graham Academy of Irish Dance here in St. Louis and they both love it. Ryan can be seen dancing around the house regularly, and his small, slim frame makes him perfect for an athletic sport such as this. Way to go!

Wow, I finally joined the club!

Yes, I have finally joined the 'blogging club'. I fought it as long as I could, but I am so bad about sending out pictures to everyone that I decided to just have one spot to put them so everyone could see. I am new at this, so don't expect fanciness like Lindsay or even Chelsea (if you even know who they are), just enjoy the fact that you don't have to literally beg me for any kind of photo.

That being said, here is what our family is up to right now. We are in St. Louis, Missouri, and have been here for almost five years. Before moving here we lived in Kirksville, Missouri (I am sure you don't know where that is, so don't worry about it) where Chris went to medical school. We will be leaving St. Louis the end of June to move to Tooele, Utah(yes, laugh why don't you) because Chris will FINALLY be finished with residency and ready to practice!!!! We will be sad to leave our home, our friends, our Cardinals, and our status of 2nd most dangerous city in the nation. HOWEVER, we will be so happy to be near old friends and all of our family from both sides. We are also very happy to be buying/building our first house and look forward to its completion. I will post pictures of its progress; they started to dig yesterday.

Our family, for those of you who have been MIA for a while, consists of three beautiful, fun, and VERY active children; Ryan, who is almost ten (gasp), Brooklyn six, and Emmy 2. We also have two dogs, two turtles and a hamster named Tico. We spend our weeks busying ourselves with school, choir, scouts, reading club, Irish dance and violin. Not to mention the sports that start to creep in come summer/fall time. I love to read and welcome any good suggestions. My favorite author by far is Jane Austen and at the moment I am reading a beautiful bound book containing all seven of her novels. Adding to my joy of Jane are the moives that I can't get enough of; Emma, Sense and Sensibility and Pride and Prejudice. While Chris loves me and is happy that I love Jane Austen and all things Jane, he doesn't not share this love and likes to be as far away as possible when the sap is running.