Update

Okay, so the plaid couch and blue recliner are a gonner :-) Amanda and I will be busy next week spackling, painting, and taking care of munchkins too. A few more items up for grabs: Drew's computer desk, changing table, and a large oak desk. If anyone is interested in any of those items...just let us know.
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We had FHE at the dog park...The kids had a blast!

There is D.J. getting clobbered and slobbered on :-)

More Ramblings

Joe was so tired after traveling that he just couldn't manage to stay awake for our exciting trip to Wal Mart!

It's been yet another crazy start to the week here. It seems like my "to do" list gets conquered and then immediately grows again. It's hard to stay on top of everything around here, but on the bright side...it's an active, fun, and busy household. Iowa summers are not going to be something I miss after we are moved :-). Drew and I had fun scoping out plots of land on the computer late this afternoon. We found some treasures near Brownsville, Oregon. Nice big lots with trees, rivers, lakes, and level land for housing. It's exciting to think about, yet a little stressful at the same time. I love to have a plan and have security. While thinking about the upcoming transition, I am doing my best to live in the moment. The kids are growing fast and I am not taking a second for granted.

House for Sale (almost) and Stuff

It's been another busy week around the Isaksen house! The girls got to pick out material for their Christmas dresses. With all the trimmings the bill was over $120...yikes!! I'm continuing to develop my sewing skills though. Drew and I talked with our realtor this last week. Our house is going on the market as soon as we finish the landscaping and some interior touch ups. We plan to stage our home...but first we need to get rid of some of our furniture.
Drew's Desk (which is too messy to show you a picture of currently....anyone need an L-shaped computer desk? $30-$40 bucks is what we are sellling it for.
Here are some pics of the other items:





$100 for TV and TV cabinet. Just let me know. We also have a treadmill that I need to take a pic of still, but its yours for $50. It's a nice quality one and has a t.v with it. Thanks :-) Anyone want to buy our house???
The green couch was bought at Ks Merchandise and is in great condition, the plaid couch we have used to death and has rips on the cushions...especially the right side. However, it reclines on both sides and is WAY cummfy. If you want that one,,just give us an offer ($15 bucks???). We are also selling our t.v. and the cabinet that it sits in.....

This last Week

There is nothing like being home! So here are some pictures "just because". It's been a great week with the kiddos...and busy too. We have been getting back inot the swing of things. There are a zillion "to do" items on the agenda as usual, however; I am trying hard not to let overshaldow the joys of living in the moment with my precious little ones. D.J. is having a blast at summer camp with only minor behavior issues. They are going to do an overnighter at Scott County Park and I am not sure about it yet. I just don't know if he is quite ready for that. I may go up around dinner time and hang with D.J. till everyone goes to bed and then drive us home. Drew has class early the next morning...otherwise he would stay overnight with him. The girls are getting along pretty well. We have been doing homeschool stuff as well as some baking. Yes....baking. I know it's crazy hot outside...but it's wonderfully comfortable inside :-). We gave Seth a haircut....he still has short curls though. Drew did not want us to cut it...but it was SO long that it was hard to maintain and he was sporting a frizzy afro. Joe is glad to be home and entertained by his siblings. He is growing so fast!

We're Back!!

After 30 hours of straight driving, Drew and I are officially back home and in the groove again. We are home about 5 days early due to some frustrating issues with childcare, but I am so pleased to be here with my babies. I truly am their mother and we truly are a family. We had a great day getting back into the routine together. Even though Drew and I were utterly exhausted from the trip, we were like the enegizer bunny and kept going and going. We ended the day with homeade pie and ice-cream as well as talking about the temple sealing and eternal family. Drew got a few job offers while in Oregon and we also looked at homes and land. We will be continuing to work on the details as we get closer to moving.

Yard Sale and To Do Lists

It's been a crazy weekend! I am happy Sunday is here, we need to rest and recover. It was one hot and muggy weekend for a yard sale. This one didn't go over as well as the one we did at the beginning of May. We made around $250...and that will help with the costs of the upcoming trip. The kids hung in there pretty good with the busyness of the yard sale, but we were all glad to be in central air. I came down with strep (go figure) and got by with taking pain meds. Our to do list is long as we prepare to depart early Wed. morning. Today we are telling the kids as they are currently unaware. We didn't want them to have anxiety over us leaving for days on end which is why we have decided to wait until now to tell them. It's far too expensive and complicated to fly the entire family to Oregon and Drew and I will be busy making preparations for the upcoming move. I know I will miss the kiddos, but arrangements have been made and they will be well taken care of during the time we are away. I will give a full report when we return.

Upcoming Trip to Oregon

Well, as usual time has been going by so very quickly for the Isaksens. Drew is officially in "main" clinic and also looking forward to precepting in Oregon. Since it's a month long break for summer we have been busy working in the yard and organizing stuff for a yard sale. The kids have been enjoying the water this summer and just being outdoors. D.J. is going to a summer day camp over the next several weeks and has been enjoying the company of boys his own age. They get to swim, go to museums, gardens, movies, the zoo..etc. This is awesome since I can't really afford to pay for 5 kids to do all those things. The girls have been loving Amanda's (out part time nanny)creative ideas and energy. We are blessed to have found her and really appreciate her help. The babies are doing well. Seth's finger is all healed up and Joe is really talkative. We are excited to get to Oregon and start making plans for when we move home in February. UNfortunately we won't have time to do much visiting with friends this time....but February will be here before we know it!!!!!! I look forward to getting reaquainted with those we love and miss so much. I also can't wait to get into a "family" ward. I'm growing weary of the dynamics of a "student" ward. I am almost done with my medical office administration program and looking forward to a break from studies. I have kept myself over busy as usual...and found that I really love my sewing machine. I have been making a ton of nursing covers and finishing up the girls jumper dresses :-) Well....I think that about covers it for now. Our trip will be from June 25-July 9.