Almost There!

Well, in case you haven't noticed, we're about to close on our new house! Michelle and I are very, very excited, and can't wait for the day to come. It's looking like we'll be able to move the closing up one more day, which should give us more time to work on all the little things we want to do (paint, etc.)

Look for an update later this week, and possibly some pictures as we start making the space our own!

New House pics!

I promised you that we would post some more pics of the house once we have them. Well, I created a Picasa Web Album containing the pictures, and here they are in a slideshow:

House update

You've been asking, so I have a few updates for everyone about the house we purchased yesterday.

The house is a "split-foyer". What this means is that when you walk in there is a foyer, and you can then go either upstairs or downstairs. The downstairs section is all finished, except for the "laundry/utility room". The upper level has wood laminate floors throughout. Here are some specs on the home (mostly from the realty sheet):
3 Bedroom
3 Bathroom (2 upstairs, 1 downstairs, all full)
Great Room/Dining Room with attached Kitchen upstairs (one very large room that has all of them)
Lower level Family Room (with fireplace)
Lower level large office/extra living space, with closets and a full bathroom.
2 Car garage including some workspace
Rear Deck (exit from the dining room)

It's listed at slightly over 1200 sq. ft., but I'm unsure if that includes the basement. We love the layout, as it completely fits our lifestyle. As soon as we have more pictures of the inside, we'll post those also!

Ross House Hunt!

Over the last 2 months, we've been on the hunt for a house to purchase. This may come as a surprise to you, and yet others have been involved with us in this process.

Well, we've hit a milestone in our search for a house to call our home: we've come to a verbal agreement on a contract. What this means is that a contract has been written, and we've come to verbal terms on modifications to make to the contract.

So, enough with the mumbo-jumbo! Here's some of the details:
Address:
24 Oakshire Ct.
St. Peters, MO 63376

Purchase Price:
had you going there, didn't I? ;)

...and, some pics.
From the street:

















The kitchen:

















From the rear "common area":
















We'll post some other pics if/when we find some appropriate ones to add.

Needless to say, we're extremely excited, and at this point it's been an amazing experience to see The Lord move in both our hearts and the processes to make this particular house available to us.

We would appreciate your prayers as we move forward with all the formalities involved with purchasing a house. Our current contract says we will close by the end of February 2009 (extremely fast). Needless to say, that means we'll be very busy and rushed to get all the papers, etc. in place.

Sydney Desktop

For family and friends- Sydney wallpaper! Click here or on the picture and right-click 'save as' to save this to your desktop!

In lieu of our care group being canceled, I bring you your weekly marriage advice video. Men TAKE HEED.

Toddlers do not have an 'inside voice'.....

To cause a bit of mischief

The Scoggins' new minivan is cool, but it has the potential to become a Machine of Awesome. Please tell Amy that the above necessary modifications should be made, and perhaps the doors re-hinged Delorian-style.

Sydney goes to the dentist

We went to the dentist today- Sydney was SO good and didn't cry for Mrs. Storm, even when we were rooting around in her little mouth cleaning! She loves her new toothbrush and helped Mr. Dragon brush his teeth too right after the picture.

Booger Beard

We have all taken turns with the flu this past week. We had to miss the Care Group Christmas party.....SAD! I had been stockpiling White Elephant gifts for the whole past year. I was going to bust out a Tube of Walgreens Bald Head Cream this year. Alas, it was not meant to be.

Sydney got it and was barfing last night, which really weirded her out. She kept shaking her head and saying 'No, no, no.' You could tell she was really grossed out. After she barfed she asked, "Bath? Bath?" which was so adorable and sad at the same time.

She is currently sitting in Daddy's lap with her blankie and milk sporting an impressive Booger Fu Man Chu.

Halloween and the Pumpkin Patch!

Benny (Sydney's cousin) and Sydney went to the Daniel's Pumpkin Patch yesterday!

The only time I got Sydney to stand still for a picture with me. She had been running and yelling around the straw maze when she tripped and fell on her face. Unfortunately she didn't think to stick her tongue back in her mouth before she hit the dirt! FYI, straw is to tongues as flies are to flypaper.

Pawpaw is trying to convince her how much fun these horsie swings are.

Kiss attack!

Halloween Day and we are practicing our trick and treat skills on the Great-Grandparents!

Her treat consisted of grapes and cheese. She was nice enough to share a grape with Pawpaw.

Pawpaw Ross gave Sydney a little ride. She didn't get into it until he started whizzing along really fast!

Papaw Ross' backyard! Pretty!

Punkin Patch!!!

Apple Day and Hairy Eggs

I have to say my favorite picture time is Haircut time (lots of pictures here). We are bartering with Mandy- an amazing stylist, and she comes over and in one fell swoop does a whole family haircut! Sydney always goes last . We get her straight out of bed and put her in her high chair with her breakfast. The plan is she will be distracted with her omelet- which usually works! The eggs are usually a bit hairy by the time her haircut is done, but she has never complained. You can even see she has sleep marks on her cheek where her face was laying her crib--


Missouri is busting full of apples this time of year. We had a Apple Day over at Mom Ross' house Monday (lots of pictures here). How fun!

Babysitting Kayden

Sydney really likes pretending to be a big sister. Especially when he was willing to taste her imaginary cooking, which she likes to do in random Tupperware.

Balloon Glow

Holly's Baby Shower

Yay Holly! Hannah organized a baby shower for Holly at the Bread Co.- a TOTAL surprise . We were sitting out on the patio and Dean brought Holly up- she started smiling and waving and THEN realized that this was a party for HER! See all of the pictures here!

Sydney goes to college.

Well, not really. But it seems like she is growing up that fast!
Shawn and I always laugh about how much Sydney stuffs in her mouth while eating. Scrambled eggs will be falling out all over the place, but she keeps stuffing it back in like a suitcase full of vacation clothes!


Here she is saying bye to Daddy in the car:




The first day of Mother's Day Out, a classmate helped push Sydney in the little car she loves so much.



So then Sydney had to get out and try pushing stuff for herself!


The next Mother's Day Out, she decided that SHE would be the pusher!


We always come into Daddy's office to say hello.