Sorry, it has been awhile since our last post. Alot has happend and we have been super busy. We went to get the kids from my parents house in Anacortes. It was so great to see them. We missed them like crazy and I think they were a bit excited to see us too!! When we got back I opened the mail box and got my results from my appraisal class!!! I passed, Woohoo!!!! It was so horrible opening that envelope, like the feeling when you get your acceptance letter from a college you have been longing to attend. I also got moved into another district at work, so I have a new partner and am appraising in one specific area on the east side of Lake Coeur d'Alene. It is a great experience and a lot harder than what I was doing before. A lot of the houses are huge, waterfront homes.
Well, then we got word that a friend that I work with has a house in town that we are going to do a lease option to buy. (picture below) All is going great. We will be moving out next weekend. Bummer though, we were planning that weekend to go back down to Cali to get our stuff out of storage and spend the weekend with Jim's family. We were really looking forward to seeing them. It has been 6 months and we miss 'em. But I guess we didn't have much of a choice, we needed the $ and time to move. So, I think I have covered just about everything... Oh yeah, the kids also start school in 2 weeks. Arrrrggghhh..... must move quickly!!!
Gotta run...
Chryss

When we returned from our trip to Anacortes, we were so excited to see our pets. Buddy, Binx and Brunner. Well immediately when we pulled into town, we went and picked up Buddy from our friend, Maella's, house. She took such good care of him when we were gone. He was so happy to see us he peed. (TMI?)
Then we got home and only saw one kitty. Binx is nowhere to be found. He was by far the best cat we have ever had and even Jim got really attached to him. We have been calling for him every night in hopes that he will come home, but everytime... nothing. Our neighbor has mentioned that she has lost 8 cats out there, mostly due to coyotes and owls. We are so sad, and the kids don't know yet. I really want to keep from telling them until they get home from Gramps, Nanas & GG's house. Amber will be so devastated. Here is the most recent pics of Binx, Brunner (behind Binx) which was taken the day we left for Anacortes, and Buddy which was taken yesterday. We will miss you Mr. Binxy. You truly were the best!!

These are some pics from our trip to the San Juans this weekend. The kids are staying with my parents for 2 weeks (if we make it that long, we miss them like crazy). It is so beautiful there in Anacortes. The pic of Amber alone, is taken from their balcony. And the one of our fam by that bridge is Deception Pass.

So I am back from Boise and things are finally starting to slow down a bit. I won't get my test scores from my appraisal class for another 3-4 weeks and it is just killin' me. I can't take this waiting game, this was the first test I have ever taken that I truly have no idea whether I passed or failed. It stinks.
Anyways, this weekend we are driving to Anacortes to visit the folks and the kids are going to stay with them for a couple of weeks. They are so thrilled. The kids I mean. They are counting down the days and can't stop talking about it. They are having to double up on chores until then though. Which they are doing with few gripes, given the reward they get at the end. Buddy is staying with our dear friend, Maella, for the 4 days that Jim and I are gone. She has a lab too, his name is Odie. Him and Buddy will get along so good. We are so blessed to have such good friends. I am back on 4-10's at work, and so is Jim so we are very tired.....but that is okay, at least we get 3 day weekends together. It is a beautiful thing, given the fact that we only have about 4 weeks left until the kids start back up at school.
I wish they could stay little forever.....