WE MADE IT!!

Were here in Utah. Im loving our new house. Its the nicest house we've ever lived in. Getting here was an adventure. Of course packing and cleaning is always hard but I have twins so boy oh boy. The truck got loaded amazingly well thanks to the wonderful men of our ward. And an Elder from Brazil with a knack for using every inch of space available. It took longer than most because we had to go slow and make sure it was efficient. Luckily enough everything important fit and we didnt have to leave to much behind. The one upside to not having a corporate move was I had to go through all of our stuff and pair down. I purged and purged I got rid of so much junk and garbage weve been moving around for years. So now in the new house I feel things will be less cluttered we will see if thats true.

After the truck was loaded on Saturday we had a small window of free time. Sunday was the primary program and the kids were great. After that we traveled to Vermont and went to the Joseph Smith birthplace. By this time Steve, Julie, and Taylor were with us. It was an amazing place to visit. The spirit was very strong and the visitor center was awesome. We watched the Joseph Smith video telling the story of his life. What a life he lived in such a short time. After enjoying that we went outside to walk around the grounds and take pictures with the obelisk. As we were leaving I slipped on the wet granite stairs and slid and fell hard on my rear. I had a terrible bruise but I was ok.

Monday we started cleaning up and packed the suburban and ford full with the misc. items left out. Clothes, TV's and such. It was a busy day but Taylor, Trevor, Steve, and Julie were amazing. We went to a Red Sox game in the evening. Chris had been twice but I had not gone so we had to make sure I got to see a game at Fenway Park before we left. So again the group of us went. No kids though they were with a babysitter. What an amazing experience. Fenway Park is so incredible. The feeling there is electric. Everyone is so into the game we did the wave and chanted it was so fun. I wanted to enjoy a fenway frank with onions so I went down stairs to the concession stand to get it. I spend $22 on dogs, a souvenir cup and frys. Upon walking up the concrete stairs to our level I slipped and fell yet again. This time I came down on my knee. I spilled the food and hobbled up the stairs and throw it all away. I sat in my seat and held back the tears from embarrassment as well as the new pain in my knee. After that I decided the hot dogs from the guy walking up and down the aisle were just fine I didnt need onions that bad. Just before the 7th inning after singing take me out to the ball game the skys opened up and poured rain. So the park started to clear out. I could barely walk and had my human crutches to help me out. Taylor and Trevor while Chris lead us out. And then again while leaning on Chris and stepping down two stairs to go into a shop I slipped and fell for the third time. The guy at the entrance called over the fenway EMT and I did get a Red Sox band aid out of it and an ice pack for the car ride home. That was my hat trick of the evening the red sox lost but we still had a great time. And I did throw away the awful shoes I had been wearing around. Stupid sandals with no traction what so ever.

Tuesday came and the men folk left in the Penske truck towing the Ford Focus, and the Suburban. Julie and I finished cleaning the house with the help of some amazing sisters. And then we were off to stay the night at Cathys house. She had a nice dinner for us and we got to sit and relax for a few minutes. On Wed I had a few things left to get done. Cathy took a half day and took the girls all out to Chuck E Cheese. After that we were off to the Airport. I had to drop Julie off at the curb with 4 kids and 7 big bags to check along with at least 3 carry on bags. They were small but you need supplies with that many kids. The Sky Cap was great and there was no one else there so he came to our rescue. I could not find the Enterprise Return lot its off the airport grounds and it felt like forever I was driving up and down the street finally I got ahold of my sister and she directed to me to an invisible street next to Hooters. I made it back to the airport to go through security with 4 kids a stroller 2 car seats that seem giant! 3 carry on bags and two purses. Insulin and medicine has to be taken out it took 10 minutes to get our junk in buckets. After finally getting everything through the xray we had to pin the twins down put their shoes back on and get to the gate. We had a little bit of time to kill so we let them run around and get the wiggles out. Boarding is an adventure. We had to walk down the aisle carrying giant car seats on our head. A nice man did help me and carry mine down for me. So then you have to buckle everyone up put things away and finally sit before take off sweating now from the work out you just had. We took off and the kids were exhausted so the twins played for a lil bit and fell asleep. It wasnt long before they were awake and we were getting ready to land in Chicago Midway. Sami had slept and had not popped her ears so they were hurting and she was crying and putting her fingers in her ears. The flight attendant was trying to help me and got her some juice but she didnt want anything at all so she just cried luckily we were almost done with this leg of the flight so I wasnt going to sweat it. Then we had to run to the next plane sweating and dead from carrying all the junk we had. I had to change Lexis diaper right on the waiting area floor because boarding was starting and Julie was trying to grab some food at McDonalds. When it came time for family boarding the guy taking our tickets tried to say family boarding is for mom, dads, and kids, only. So she said Im grandma and I followed with Im not super human I cant get them all on by myself. We didnt give him any time we were walking on. Our you kidding me crazy guy you want me to do it alone and stick Julie back in line. Sure 2 giant car seats a stroller 4 kids and bags that wont disrupt the others. The express purpose of Julie being there and having bought a ticket for the flight was to help you idiot ticket taker man. But on a nicer note every other Southwest personnel we had met was very nice and helpful. People should have a little understanding and empathy when families are on board. That flight was killer the babies would not go to sleep yes I gave them benadryl Julie let Lexi out of the seat so I had to try and hold her. The dvd player and various objects were not entertaining enough. And they both had moments where they cried and did sleep a little. I made it through by saying I can do anything for two hours, I can do anything for one hour and so on. We finally arrived and then made it the mile to baggage claim and then I realized I left my phone it had come out of my pocket on the plane. So I left Julie and the kids and ran most of the way back before I found a nice man on a cart who drove me there to the terminal and it was all closed up its now after 10:00 Ut time. We find an employee who can unlock the door and I get on the plane to find my phone on the seat. I get a ride back down to baggage claim and super woman Julie has loaded the 7 bags on two carts and the kids are holding it together pretty good. We get outside its pretty cold and load it all up into Sasha's borrowed suburban. We make it to Charlenes and eventually get a small amount of sleep the traveling is over.

So we survived that and now we just have to wait for Chris to get here with our stuff so we can move into the house. I went and saw it for the first time Thursday and got the keys. I loved it I was excited and happy even though I was a walking zombie. We were all staying with Aunt Charlene in her small condo but the kids had toys so they were awesome. The boys didnt arrive untill late Friday night and I think after all those days in the car they were sick of eachother. Chris and I headed up to the house Sat morning with his dad and started to unload. We had some help arrive around noon and it all came out of the truck pretty fast. Chris and I ran some errands and Trev and Taylor showed up and starting putting things together. The weekend went well we enjoyed Conference and started to unpack a bit.

Things are going great so far I really love this place. I still have a lot of work to do but it will get done. Denay should be here this weekend for reinforcement. I feel like I just typed a book. What an adventure it was. And its only the beginning. Were in the mountains and Im sure winter will bring some fun times. ;) The schools have been closed for some holiday or teacher in service. So I need to go register the girls now. They are excited to get to school.

Utah Here We Come

Were moving back West!! We took a nice vacation to Utah in July and while we were there I had a thought that I could and would like to live there. Its funny because when we were in CA and would visit I would always think I could never live here. Chris had been applying for a few spots in CA at the same exact time. I told him if those didnt come through he should look at Utah. So he did and its worked out perfect. I think the lord wants us there. So were going to live in Draper. We found a great house that has plenty of room for visitors so come on up people.

Of course I cant wait to hop in my car and take a road trip to CA. I'm so excited to go live near family. It will be great to spend time with Taylor and Sasha and little Jaxson. And everyone else is in driving distance. Were all really excited to go and sad to leave at the same time. I have been so blessed to make some really great friends here in Mass. Our ward family has been so amazing it really is a special place. I have tried to make the most of it we visited a lot of great sites and soaked up some history. The kids have had a lot of great opportunities as well. And of course I will be so upset to leave my sister I'm just blocking that part out for now. As soon as we get to Utah we will be on a mission to find Erik a job out there so they can move by us.

So here's to a new adventure for our family!! I have 8 days left to pack this place up and we fly away on the 30th. Chris will be driving a moving truck along with Taylor, Trevor, and his dad. Lucky boys. Should make for a good story or two. =)

Its finally Warm

Well Im not sure who follows but incase someone stops by I should write a little about whats been going on the last few months. Were closing in on the end of the school year and have had some fun field trips with both the girls to the zoo. Katelyn is reading very well and I hope to get her interested in some chapter books for the summer. Skyler is obsessed with Twilight and has read the books multiple times. What can I say I love them too. Who wouldnt love to have an Edward Cullen around. =) Its fun to have something in common and it of course is a ground for love life and laughter talks. She is growing up so fast. I am so blessed to have my sweet girls. Sami and Lexi are all over the place. Lexi is currently obsessed with the light switches and wants to turn everything in the house on. And the gate at the bottom of the stairs does not stop her shes over it in seconds flat. Samantha is a little more mellow every time its quiet and I dont see her and I think she must be causing trouble shes not shes playing sweetly in one spot she found comftorble. Alexis how ever has colored on multiple walls and likes to climb in the bathroom sink for a quick shower. She must be my most "Chris" like baby shes so busy. They are getting to a fun age I love to watch them together they are playing well and fighting to of course. Lexi will climb the table and pass the treasures down to sami its team work at its best.

We just went to VA for Trevors graduation from law school a few weeks ago and were able to see most of the family. We met Carlis long time boyfriend briefly. It was so nice to see the brothers and sisters its been far to long. And it was wierd to feel like the old couple because the others all have infants and we have a crew including a ten year old. YIKES!! But it was a nice trip. We stopped in DC for a night and ran around trying to see all the monuments and museums we could. We did really well. The girls ran the stairs up to the Lincoln monument I walked behind them. I had wanted to go there for some time and Im glad we did it in May before the heat and humidity got worse.

We came home from the trip and I had surgery the next day to remove my tonseils and widen my pallett. I had my nose done about 2 months before to correct my deviated septum all in hopes to get a decent nights sleep and stop snoring. Im still healing so I dont know if the snoring is gone but Ive slept better than ever before.
We brought Julie home with us from VA so I could have time to recover. While she was here we went to Plymouth Rock and saw the mayflower 2 and went to the museum along with visiting the "ROCK" it was fun! We really do live in a fun part of the country I hope to see and do more while we are here. I am a CA girl and am missing home pretty bad. But well have fun while we are here.

I FELL

Well in my last blog I said I had yet to fall in the ice/snow. And of course since I said it I had to slip and fall this morning. My neighbors side walk was iced and I slipped must have been a funny sight. I skinned my hands when I caught my self and I felt like a little kid again do you remember the burning, stinging feeling you have for a while after your hands smack on the pavement. It sounds wierd but I kind of liked it. Who wants to be an old lady with an achy back I would rather be an active kid who smacked her hands on the pavement when she slipped outside having fun in the cold. Just a thought that made me laugh.

Never Boring

We have our first broken bone and the owner is Alexis. She has been mistakenly believing she is part monkey and climbing everything for a while now. My dining chairs have to lay flat on the floor so they are not pushed around to climb up various places. The outside of the staircase had been the latest hot spot. And then it happened the inevitable yet early attempt to climb out of the crib. She made it out alright and she broke her forearm in the process. And of course as I was getting ready to take her to the ER the door to the basement was left open by a child and Sami took a tumble down the entire flight of stairs and took the trip to the ER as well. She couldnt let Lexi have that all to her self. She was fine not even a bruise. And Lexis arm will be healed with in 3 weeks. Oh to be a baby and "bounce" back so easily.



As for the rest of us we are maintaining an injury free winter. The snow is falling often and I havent yet slipped and fell. Thank goodness for my nice warm Ugg boots with great soles. Chris is hard at work and Skyler and Katelyn are excelling in school. Skyler is playing piano as well as clarinet. They all love playing in the snow. Winter is cold here!!! But its still so new its fun. I walked to the neighbors house today and thought "I'm treking through the snow in my yard wow this is odd". Thankfully oil prices are dropping so heating the house isnt killing me. Still cant believe my heat is powered by oil it seems so pre-historic. Im finally feeling like Massachusetts is home. I am happy to have some really great friends here and amazing friends in CA. So Im going with the flow and enjoying my life!

Lexi has a perfectly healthy heart!! We were concerned for a while that she may have had a heart condition but we saw the pediatric cardiologist yesterday and shes perfect. What a relief. And after being out of CA I have to say our health insurance and coverage in MA is so much better. If you have to be sick it should be here. There are so many amazing hospital and dr.s available and the coverage that is mandatory by state law makes it available to everyone. Skylers insulin pump will be covered 100% in Ca it was covered 0%. Im greatful for so much my childrens Health is definetly the top of the list!