We Love Being by Family

My older sister Rona, who lives in California, is in Utah visiting my family. I have not seen Rona for over 2 years. She has never even seen my Ben. Unfortunately, as the two siblings that live away from home base our vacation paths haven't crossed-until NOW!

She arrived late last night and called me today and asked when I was coming down. I said, "Why not tomorrow!" My kids whooped with joy at the unexpected trip to Grandma Eva's. So I finished my laundry (the reason I didn't leave tonight) and have packed my bags, mostly.

So I'll be gone for a week playing in the sun with my family! See ya!

PS Did I mention how much I love being closer to family!!!!

A Picture of Me

I was recently asked by the Relief Society president to email her a picture of me so she could publish a spotlight of me in the newsletter. Well, despite the fact that I have hundreds of pictures of my kids and lots of my husband, I don't have one decent picture of me-not even one I could crop out my face. Does this happen to anyone else? Is "Mom" the only who takes pictures.

Even when Brad takes pictures (which rarely happens), he loves to catch me as a surprise. So if I did have a picture of me it is usually looking surprised, or with a dumb expression on my face. Definitely not one I could send to the RS president.

We made a deal that if I didn't email her a picture by this morning, she would use my profile picture. Oh heavens, I hate that picture but sadly it is the only half way decent one I have.

You might be asking why I don't just take a new picture. Well, that would mean I would have to do my hair and I really need a hair cut and my hair is not cooperating right now. So I'll just have her use my profile picture and hope the black and white copy does it some good.

PS Tell your husband he is on camera duty next family outing.

Moving Days

It is never fun to move but this time was so much easier in so many ways. Mainly, we had Mayflower do the packing, loading, and unloading. I have always done this myself and I am so glad I didn't have to this time.

The Mayflower guys came on Wednesday, July 18th and spent the day packing our belongings. Before they came, I had everything clean and ready. They came about 8:00 and most of the packing was done by 12:30. Wow! About 7 guys, mostly teenagers, packed and they did are really great job (nothing was broken in the move). They said it was one of the easiest jobs they have done because I had it all ready. One guy was so nice to Sam and let him be a "helper". Sam LOVED it! Brad was able to be home and he kept the kids out of the way (kind of) while I tried to do some cleaning. Later that afternoon, a few guys came back to do the inventory. That took as long as the packing.

On Friday morning the truck came. It was strange to see a huge semi parked in front of my house. Please note that it was already half full of someone else's belongings. I know I have a lot of stuff but not that much.About six guys removed everything from the house and piled it in my driveway. As my neighbor, Marin, put it, it looked like my driveway threw up.

I was interested to see how they organized this task (it is the insane organizer in me). They sorted everything in the driveway-furniture, boxes, plastic bins, large bulky items, etc. They then loaded things and utilized every inch of space in the moving van from floor to ceiling.

Sarah P., and Hillary C., so graciously took my kids for the entire day (Brad had to work.) It was a lifesaver! It would have been so difficult to keep them out of the way while the movers were in and out of the house. Not to mention that everything was packed so they would have nothing to do.

While the movers worked, I cleaned the entire house and got ready for our two and a half day drive. It is surprising how much dust and dirt are hiding behind furniture.

The movers left around 4:00 pm (I can't really remember exactly). I had the house clean and the minivan loaded for the trip. I went to pick up the kids and Brad from work (we had his car moved). The kids wanted to come back and say good bye to the house. I think it was strange for them to see it completely empty. They were so young when we moved in.

So 4 years and 1 month after we moved to Minnesota, we had to say goodbye to our friends, neighbors, and lovely city. We were off to experience our next chapter in life. It has been 15 years in coming and we are excited and nervous about what the future holds for us in Idaho!

Last Few Days in Minnesota

It has been soooo long since I felt I had a minute to blog. So I'm going to sneak in a quick (yeah right-it just keeps going and going) post while Emily and Sam are playing nicely together (how long will that last?) and Ben is asleep (please sleep little baby!).

I reviewed the pictures I took over our last few days in Minnesota and I thought I would post them along with a brief explanation.

We decided it was not worth moving our trampoline and swing set to our new house. So we gave them to our friends Hillary and Mark for their little guy Blake. Mark came and took down the trampoline and swing set (Thank you Mark!). The kids were not as upset as I thought they might be. Here is the big dirt spot where the trampoline killed all the grass underneath it.

Here is Emily and Sam swinging before Mark came to dismantle the swing set. I forced them to go outside for "one last swing." Ignore the super long grass-it rained a lot and I was unable to mow it for awhile. For pictures of the swing set and trampoline's new home click here.
We have always love "park day" during the summer. Moms and kids from church gathered at local parks and played and snacked every Tuesday morning. We were usually the first to arrive and the last to leave. Here are Ben, Ann B., Joy M., Sarah P., Lori L., and Janus W. I should have taken more pictures, but I was still in denial that this was my last chance.
Here is Emily with friends (I have no idea why she is scowling). Tessa P., Madison L., Emily, Alexis W., Ella F. I'm so glad she had a chance to play with her friends one last time.
I could not help including a picture of how Ben spends "Park Day". Here he is with a bag of pretzels. He usually eats non stop while the kids play. I guess everyone has their own definition of fun!When we are not playing outside, Emily is great at coming up with fun things to do inside. Here is Emily and Alyssa M. (across the street neighbor) dancing.

Our friends have been such an important part of our lives while we have lived in Minnesota. Our friends are like family to us and we have shared so many memories with them. I was so fortunate that Hillary C. and Sarah P. were willing to watch my kids while the movers were at our house, not just because I needed the kids out of the way, but as chance for Emily and Sam to play with them one last time before we moved.

Here is Emily and Tessa. Such pretty girls!Here are handsome Abel and Sam. Of course, we had to have the silly pose picture! Sarah, why didn't I take a picture of the two of us?
It was so hard to say goodbye to my friends. Thank you Hillary for emailing me these pictures. Look at us with our cute baby boys (Jared and Ben)! Sam with his good buddy Blake.There was a slide that belonged to the swing set we gave to Blake and his family. (Brad never attached it in our yard-long story). I'm glad Sam got a chance to use it and that Mark attached it for Blake. I'm so glad that Emily, Sam, and Ben had a great last day in Minnesota playing with their friends.Stay tuned for the moving pictures.

Oxbow Park June 14th

We tried to visit a few sites before we left Minnesota. Here are a few shots of our family outing to Oxbow Park. Emily, Brad and Sam on the swing. It was a hot day!
Ben ADORED all the animals! He loved to look but never really came close (except to look at the chickens and I was afraid they would try to eat his fat, little fingers).

Here is a short clip (8 secs) of Ben growling at a wolf.
We spent about half an hour feeding the goat. Emily and Sam had no hesitation handing the goat grass and leaves. The most exciting thing of the day.
Wow! We actually got a picture of the entire family. Thank you nice lady who understands that "Mom" is never in any pictures.
No family outing is complete without someone crying. Well, Emily was faking it for the picture but Sam and Ben had their moments-this one together. Serenity now!

We Are Getting Settled

Well our stuff eventually arrived and we are moved in. I have unpacked most of the boxes but there are still those few random boxes that I just haven't figured out where to put the stuff yet. Although I am 95% unpacked, I still feel unorganized and not used to my new space. I can't wait to get into every closet and cupboard and organize them. But there is still so much to do. I'm not even going to decorate for awhile.

We spent the 4th of July weekend with my family in Utah. Brad planned a wonderful birthday getaway weekend for us on Saturday and Sunday. I'll blog more about our weekend when I find the cord to download my pictures from my camera (I have no idea where it could be).

We are going to Utah again next weekend to see my new nephew Ian be blessed and to go to Lagoon (Brad bought us season passes for my birthday!).

I'll blog more when I don't feel the boxes in the office staring at me, waiting to be unpacked.