the second half of 2011.

In July, summer finally came.  To celebrate that (and our cutie-pie Cam's birthday) we loaded up the camping gear and drove up into the cool mountain air for a little camping trip.  

In August, Andy went to an amazing art camp at Red Butte Garden, and as you can imagine, loved every single second.

September was a very tender time, as our grandpa tried to recover from critical injuries from a car accident.  We spent precious hours by his side, day after day, holding his hand, sharing stories and singing the U of U fight song. :)  But by the end of the month, he had been reunited with our dear grandma (his darling red head sweetheart).  He grew up during the Depression in a tiny home in the middle of an apple orchard.  He helped free prisoners from Nazi concentration camps in Germany.  He built swingsets and play cupboards and toy boxes for his grandchildren.  We adored him.  I was very close to him and my grandma, and I miss him so very much.

 

In October we traded our lot in Farmington for a condo.  We decided to move there while our house remodel was going to be completed.  But after yet another set back with the house, we gave up on the project entirely and decided to just sell it.  To console ourselves, we surprised the kids with a trip to Newport Beach.  And more importantly to Disneyland!

In November we continued our commuter lifestyle and spent lots of time in the park waiting for ballet lessons to begin and soccer practices to end.  We also got our project house under contract (insert humungous sigh of relief) and made an offer on a beautiful home that needs some updating, but not nearly what we were trying to do before. 

In December we continued our cozy lifestyle in our two-bedroom condo, got it all fixed up with new cupboards, paint, floors and appliances, put it on the market and sold it.  Phew.  In a few weeks, if all goes as planned, we will have three real estate transactions taking place and will finally be in our "home".  We can't wait to be settled.  We are so excited for 2012!

- - - - - - - -- - - - -