My mom has moved into the downstairs portion of our house. My brother Jonathon came over, as well as two of the kids Michael and Leonard, and they helped to paint mom's apartment. She chose the a beige color for her room, and wanted a darker beige to brown color for her kitchen. After we painted Colin and I bought furniture from a local thrift store which Colin and William moved. Finn got to play with all of his cousins while we worked on the house last saturday. He was having so much fun, that I let him stay up way too late, and boy was he tired and cranky for the next 24-48 hours. I most certainly learned my lesson there.

Then Colin installed our washer and dryer. I am most excited about having my own washer and dryer. Neither are in perfect condition, they are used and have been refurbished, but it's better than hauling everything to a laundry mat all the time. I am also perhaps almost as excited about being able to just drop Finn off downstairs with my mom so I can sleep after a night shift. I used to have to drive across town half dead and tired to pick her up, and they try to rush after I drop her off and get to work on time. I sleep much easier with him on another level, and It's easier for my mother to be able to watch him downstairs too, instead of schlepping up the stairs with her bum knee. =)

There is still a lot of work to do, but William and my mother seem to be enjoying their new house. My mom and I are going to work on the garden. I am going to buy a grill so we can cookout to celebrate my mom's 50th birthday. I am glad I have a husband who is compassionate enough that he wants to take them in and give them a better quality of life than they can afford with only my brother's social security income. Although, my mom did just find out right around the time she was moving in that she was finally approved for disability income, so hopefully now that she has medicaid she will be able to get surgery on her knee, and finally be able to go to the dentist for dentures.

I am excited the weather will finally be nice now. The plans we have for this summer include saving for our next house, going camping, taking Finn back to the zoo, and the science center, swimming lessons, getting sealed in the temple, and buying a water table and slide for Finn to play with in the tiny yard space that we have that's not already claimed by the puppy we bought my mother last year for christmas. I would also like to take Finn to adventure land for the water park.

Finn enjoys being able to run around with his new best friend, my mom's dog Brownie. He now says, "ruff, ruff." He likes having all the space to run around in. It will be good. Until we grow out of the space, then we will have to move and rent out the apartment upstairs. Our plan is to move in about five years or so when Finn and baby number two we are planning on having next year are both in school. Then we will buy a house a large yard, in a good school district with enough space that we can adopt and/or foster children. I told Colin that we should take our time looking for the next house so we find the perfect place for us and don't have to move again for a long, long time. Like. Preferably. Never.