So rich we bought 2 houses

That's right, 2 houses. Jealous? Jealous? You should be.

Just kidding. But really, we bought a duplex. The second front door is behind the giant ugly bush on the left. We'll be living in one side and renting out the other. It's in Richland, which isn't very cool, but our goal is to be out of this house and living in Kennewick before Jake starts kindergarten. We'll see if that happens. All we know is it's a very good investment. I've heard someone say at some point in my life, that you should find a couple who is where you want to be financially, and do what they do. Britton's older sister and her husband bought a duplex when they were first married about 18 years ago. It is now paid off and paying the mortgage on their current house. The rental market in the Tri-Cities is at 99% capacity. People are basically begging for a place to rent. This duplex is going to be a lot of work. It's a fixer-upper for sure. But Britton has already been hard at work and we plan on having it ready for renters by August 1st. We will probably be able to move in to our side a couple of weeks after that, hopefully before I go back to school on the 23rd (yuck).

In the mean time, Jake and I have been enjoying playing and doing summer things. Except for earlier this week when all 3 of us got a nasty stomach virus. Jake only barfed a couple times in his crib (which we didn't find until after his morning nap, even though he did it the night before). But Britton and I almost died. Really. We both agreed that we'd never had such a terrible bout of the stomach flu before. It was awful, and it took like 5 days for our appetites to come back.

Jake playing with his cousin Emma. Anything she does, he follows. He loves that girl.

Nostalgic Post

Over Memorial Day Weekend Britton, Jake and I were able to head down to my stomping grounds in Northern California. It was a busy few days, with lots and lots of driving. We stayed in Chico with Britton's brother and his wife and 2 girls. Thanks to them for the food and place to sleep, and for helping with little Jake!We left on Thursday at 8pm, hoping Jake would sleep through the night as we chugged caffeine and drove, drove, drove. We brought along Britton's Mom and niece, 8 year old Lindsey. Jake did a great job, eventually falling asleep after the excitement of being in the car with a bunch of people waaaay past his bedtime wore off.

We arrived in Chico at approximately 6:30am, Friday morning.

The purpose of the trip was to attend my dear friend Jordan's wedding.

Me and Jordan were best pals from 7th grade on. Lots of memories. I seriously spent nearly every weekend from 7th grade through high school with Jordan. Nostalgic is the only word to describe what it was like showing up at her house, 5 years after high school, 4 years since seeing her at my wedding reception, with my husband and toddler. Jordan was my best friend, my partner in stealing traffic cones, my punk rock concert buddy, my playing in the park at midnight pal, my eating at Denny's at 1 in the morning go to girl...the list could go on and on. Life would have been pretty boring without Jordan.

Jordan married the boy we had a crush on our freshman year of high school. Taylor. He was a senior. We were awkward freshman. He was in a band. We were awkward freshman. Fast forward 4 years and they meet up in San Diego. Taylor is graduating from UC San Diego. Jordan is a not-so-awkward freshman at San Diego State. Sparks fly...fast forward 4 years and I'm sitting at their wedding.

Congratulations to Jordan and Taylor

A trip to Cottonwood wouldn't be complete without visiting my old street. I grew up on a street called Pheasant Drive. We lived in a house on 2 acres. The front acre was a walnut orchard, the back yard was grass and grass and grass with some trees. It was beautiful. It was the perfect place to grow up and it will always have a special place in my heart. I learned how to play baseball in the backyard, basketball in the drive way. I learned how to work in the orchard. We had a swimming pool...memories of night swimming are some of my favorite. I loved that house. Loved it. After visiting Pheasant Drive and standing at the end of my old driveway with memories flooding my thoughts, I prayed that in the next life, we will be ableto re-visit our childhood and see-up close the memories we made there.

On Sunday morning, the day of the wedding, we took Jake to church and left after the first hour so he could take a nap. He slept for 3 hours and woke up with a temperature of 101. It spiked to 103, and Britton and I left for the wedding feeling like terrible parents, but knowing he was in good hands with his Aunt and Grandma. By the time we got back, he was refusing to eat and would only take milk in a bottle. He was burning hot and couldn't sleep, so at 3am we packed up the car and hoped he would sleep better while we were driving. Thankfully, he did. We were back in Kennewick by about 2pm, took Jake to a walk in clinic where we were told he had strep throat and tonsillitis. Poor little guy. He's doing much better. We splurged a little bit on Tuesday, and got him a couple of things to cheer him up...

an unfinished car...and a Lightening McQueen chair. Pretty stylin'.

Playing Cars

Britton has been waiting a long time for Jake to be interested in cars.

Who do you think is having more fun in this picture?

I'd say it's pretty close.

:)

Turning into a little boy

He might still have plenty of baby chub, and not very much hair on his head...but Jake sure is growing up fast. Tomorrow he will be 15 months old. Here's some things that Jake enjoys:

• rough housing
• eating dog food when no one is looking
• opening doors (yes he can reach the handle and he figured it out quick)
• a bottle o' milk
• talking--this kid is a chatterbox
• attempting to stick his finger in any electric outlet he can find
• Gunther (my parent's dog). He regularly says Gunther's name, but not Mama.
• looking out windows and talking about what he can see (in his own language)
• playing outside! he cries when it's time to go back inside.
• his cousins. period.
• dancing

Laugh!

Here is the cutest video of Jake laughing. He is super ticklish around his ribs....just like his Daddy!

PS--it's been mine and Britton's goal for a long time to buy a duplex, live in one side, and rent out the other and keep it as a long term investment once we grow out of it. This past week, we made an offer, went back and forth a couple of times, and reached mutual agreement! We had the inspection on Saturday, and only a few issues were found, the rest were cosmetic. We were expecting this, because it is a total fixer-upper. I mean it. You will laugh when I post pictures. Which I'm not ready to do yet. We are excited though--to do whatever we want with the place. We know it's the right choice and it's such a good investment. Hopefully things keep falling into place as they have been.

Favorite

This is my new favorite picture of Jake, taken courtesy of my sister Jamie on her cell phone.

Jake is creeping up on 15 months. I can't believe how fast time is going with this little boy. I truly do love this kid more than I ever knew was possible! He's such a character. He constantly talks in his little jibberish language, and he says it like he knows it and he's the boss.

Jake is starting to be able to play outside for the first time in his life. While we were in Rexburg he was just too little, and when we got to Kennewick all he could do was sit in the grass. Now that he's walking and it's starting to warm up (a little ) we go outside whenever we can! He loves picking up rocks and just seeing what he can see. He constantly falls on the uneven surface of the grass or pebble-y cement driveway but he just hops back up like it's nothing!

I love every day I spend with Jake. I'm so glad to be his Mommy!

Bath Time!

Tonight Jake took a bath with his cousin Kyle.

I think they had a pretty fun time.

Jake loves his cousins.

And they love him!