post move update.

Quick update, from the trenches of cardboard, dust, and moving fun land.

Finally, we are in.
A bazillion boxes to unpack, but one at a time.


Moving is not fun, just in case you were wondering...

Pups were exhausted.
.
Pups were so much help with moving, so we had to get creative

We did take a very short break to celebrate:

Happy birthday Todd and Logan!!!

Logan requested Claim Jumper for dinner.
There were no arguments.
Especially, considering everything was still packed.

Happy Birthday - I LOVE YOU two!

Logan & Krystin had fun at their 'new' church youth group activity on his bday
Impressively, his new leader knew it was his birthday!

Todd and Logs had to wait for cake until Sunday night,
when I could actually bake something.

Yes, and Happy Anniversary to my Love!
We will have to officially celebrate it soon!
Todd, I love you!

Bonus:
Logan Track

& Kayla and Lily chilling

Oh, the Joy!

of packing and moving!

A very nice person from Church loaned us his trailer!
Yay! Sooo, helpful!

packing and disassembling...
everything

Kids mostly hard a work.

We did take a break to celebrate
my little Sister's 28th Birthday!
(with my Mom too)
Happy Birthday Samantha!

and Mother's Day too!


My Favorite thing about our new place?

A Mommy Dove in a nest outside our front door.
HOW CUTE!

Now, when you are packing and moving furniture what does that make you really crave? Well, other than a nice long, warm shower.
Well, it makes me CRAVE homemade Chocolate Chip cookies!!!

So, I asked my Kay if she would oblige me.
She said, "YES, she would!"
So, she took a break from packing and made me yumminess!

Krystin provided emotional support,
and even offered her services in quality assurance.

The cookies were delish - Thank you Kayla-Love!

What were the pups doing?
I know you were wondering...
Other than constantly barking to go with,
and running under our feet while we move furniture...
being cute little dolls


Ok... back to the task at hand!

Bonus: because he is so cute....

Boring? Never...

Because this is 'our' life, we like to keep things interesting.

We wouldn't want our kids to grow up and think that we didn't want them to have the full experience of meeting new people, adapting to new situations, and fully appreciating differing styles of schools and how they are run. It is true that all three of our children are creatively inclined, and my girls both share a love for writing and literature... So, we just want to give them the best possible opportunity for inspiration in the writing process...

So, being the generous, kind, and supportive parents we are - we are NOT moving to Arizona, but only a mere 2.5 miles away. Doesn't sound very far, right? No, it's not. But, it is a new school district completely, and a new Ward/stake for church. Look at all of those incredible growth opportunities for our children!!! All the new friends, while still being able to keep in touch with the old. How awesome is that? Well, that is what we are hoping our kids think anyhow.

So... off to the never ending task of packing, which I guess I am avoiding currently by blogging. Oh, yes, and to get this new place we have to start moving in by 5/15 (yes in three days)... Yes, definitely never boring here....

In other news:

We are very excited that Logan made it to the Prelims in Track!

Pretty awesome for a Freshman.

Here he is crossing the finish line.
He is going to have to train hard this summer...
His new High School, we were told, is ranked 8th in the Nation.

The whole family came out to support our speedster!



Todd entertained us during the down time! (:


Is It JUST me or is there something WRONG with this?



Go ahead, click on the picture. Zoom in, read the instructions.
Well, read them if you can. . .
If you can read Spanish?!

So, the Specialist FINALLY made an appointment for Krystin, after numerous calls. We have to wait a MONTH to see the specialist, if that is not bad enough... Well, the office tells me they will mail me information and instructions about their office.
So, I get this in the mail.
I am looking at it and wondering, did I have a lapse of consciousness and start to speak Spanish to the office when I called. I don't speak Spanish, so that really would have been an unusual thing. Then I thought, Wow, maybe there was a mix-up in the office and they accidentally sent me the Spanish info... Then, I started to flip through the pages, noticed some highlighting... Aha! There are English instructions too, but they follow the Spanish?!
Is it just me or is something wrong with that????


Yes, they automatically have it set to Spanish first...
Hmn, what country am I in??
I am confused.

Mothers

I started this post before Mother's day, but it made me a little sad, so it took me a few days to finish. In our family, we have had some amazing women, but their longevity has not been great.

This is a topic that I give great reverence.

What an honor and privilege it is to be a Mother.
I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to
love and care for my precious, little souls.

So, today on Mother's Day I would like
to remember and Thank
the Mothers in my life that mean a lot to me.

First, My Mother
Here she is pregnant with me.

I know -she is adorable.

She brought me in to this world and taught me the importance of caring for others (especially those less fortunate), for being selfless and always striving to be a good person. I am grateful for the many conversations that we had over the years.
I remember getting frustrated in kindergarten with an annoying boy. I wanted to 'annoy' him back. My Mom's advice was to not lower myself to his level. That if I were to behave as he did, then I would be just as bad as him, and clearly I am a better person than that. It is advice that I still carry with me.
She is the kind of person that no matter what is going on in her life,
which often times is busy and a bit chaotic too, will drop everything if you need her.
She is a good person, and loving Mom.
For her caring nature and her selfless role modeling I truly thank her.

She created a Birthday legacy in our family.
She taught me that Birthdays are Magical...

Every year, on my birthday,
I would wake to the house decorated.
It always made me feel loved and special,
and now because of her example
my children do too.

She always gave me love.

A kiss for Mommy
With the my sweet Grama in the background smiling.
Thank you Mom for being mine!
I love you!


My Grandma
(1933-1990)
She passed away when I was 16 years old.
Far too soon, and I still miss her terribly.

From the moment I was born my Grama was there.
I spent countless weekends/weeks at my Grandparents house.
I loved nothing more.
Grama spent hours cooking with me,
gardening, watching movies, walking,
feeding ducks, or just talking.
I cherished every minute I had with her.



I am so grateful that Todd and I started dating young, because he too was able to meet my Grama and love her, and she was able to know him. On some strange level that gives me peace that she is part of something in my life that grew and blossomed into my own Motherhood.

Finally, My Mother-in-Law
Anna
(1948-2005)

Todd & his Mommy (pregnant with his sister Renee')

Anna loved her children and grandchildren very dearly.
Even though she struggled with health issues,
her love for them always kept her going and was evident.
When I had our first child, Kayla,
I was in the hospital for 4 days.
She stayed in my room, slept in a chair, the entire time,
and was so overjoyed at Kayla's arrival.
Our children loved the time they had with her,
and still remember her often with warm memories.
Her time with us was too short, but her love lives on in our hearts.
Thank you, Anna, for Todd - I sure do love him!

Motherhood is an amazing gift, one that I am thankful for every day...

I am also thankful that my children are able to spend time
and create happy memories with my Mom too,
and she is the only Grandma (or Great-Grandma) left
So... It is all on her! Love you Mom!

My Mom with kids and Uncle bill -2004

Happy Mother's Day!

20 years & speedy feet

Logan Loves to run and he is getting pretty good at it! Tomorrow he will be running in the pre-lims for Track. Only 4 boys for each event are chosen to participate. We are pretty excited for him! Go Logan - WE LOVE YOU!

Logan & his lightening fast friend Josh

Todd's 20 YEAR Class Reunion
was this past weekend.
One of the perks of being together since the beginning of time is
that while it is his 20 year reunion
- not mine-
we went to the same high school. So that is fun.
and... Next year he gets to accompany me to mine. :p
Crazy! Where does the time go???

Todd & Josh

It was great to see Josh!

This was the second 20 year reunion I have attended. I had the pleasure of attending my parents' 20 year reunion when I was 16. (Yes, my Mom and Dad were high school sweethearts too, but graduated the same year.) It was awesome. I wish I had a picture!
So much fun.

Bonus: Honey and Lily got a new tent.

Roller Coaster Anyone?!

Yes, I am a self-proclaimed Roller-Coaster-ADDICT! I love the anticipation of the ride, I love the thrill of the loops, bends, turns and drops, and I don't even mind waiting in a moderate line, if I am waiting with my Hubby...

All this being said, why is it when my Life becomes akin to a Roller Coaster ride, it makes me a bit anxious, stressed and pretty much wigged out?!

Really????

If only I could look at my life in the same way that I do my beloved Amusement park attractions, that I happily pay good money for...

For instance-
Todd has a new job (again, YAY)
We decided we are going to move back to Arizona
(there's your official announcement),
Why-
well, three teens in high school (driving) +
would like to save money and be debt free at some point =
Not gunna happen in the tax happy, very expensive state of CA
-
Oh, the anticipation of packing...
Did I ever say how much I TOTALLY Love Packing?!
Cleaning, cleaning, and more cleaning...
Then there is figuring out which school the kids will be attending,
and filling out the registration papers and
trying to get all the classes that they were excited to take next year
and the new friend variable - sorry kiddos
Remember Kids - you all have each other at least
(Yes, all three in High School next year)
Oh, I Can't Wait!
Well, and the actual move itself - Mid Summer - in Arizona!
Woo- hooo!
Then, unpacking... Oh how I love unpacking, even more than packing!!!

-Where is the I want off this Ride button?
Hopefully, in Arizona!

Ok, I am done ranting.
Actually, we do love Arizona lots,
and are excited to be able to come back by choice.
If only I could blink and everything would be done, but where would the fun be in that?

So, everyone, do me a big favor and pray for a record
breaking cold front to hit Arizona the third week in June, Ok! (:
Please!