A Sunday Drive

Sunday, October 16th was quite a day.

In the old days, folks would set out in their jalopy for a brief Sunday drive that probably only took them 5 miles round trip.

Well, our Sunday drive began before the sun was up and ended after the sun was down.

It was estimated to be 742 miles and a 12 hour drive. 

HA. 

I don't think Mapquest knows about lunch and bathroom breaks,

not to mention spilled soda,

tired eyes,

and panting dogs.

Kirk drove his truck with both boys, Victoria, and both the dogs.  (Heee heee)

(I figured after me driving the long haul twice when we went looking for a place to live, that the kids would have so much more fun with DAD than in the boring van with Mom and Daphne and the two kitties and don't forget the hermit crabs that I tried to pawn off on Kyle before we left. 
He didn't want them.  Oh well.

 I had the most peculiar feeling leaving our home of 17 years.

It felt like we were just going on a long trip, only I didn't have to worry about locking up our valuables.  Everything of value traveled in our two vehicles. 

My sister and Kyle was traveling just a couple hours ahead of us on the road.  We kept in touch with the cell phones asking along the way....  so where are you now, or did you see the...........

 Daphne took this picture out the window.

We couldn't believe how pretty the hills were.

I had never seen such a vibrant yellow during this time of year.

Daphne took this one out the windshield.

When I was a kid I remember crossing the state line and thinking that I should be able to see a "line" or something.  But no, it just looked the same as the other side.

We were so tired driving, we had to make quite a few stops just to close our eyes.

We found one spot at a trail head in the middle of no where.  There were quite a few cars parked so we figured it was pretty safe to just stop there.

Kirk and I napped with our windows open...because it was still warm, while the kids just sat there with the dogs either talking quietly or reading. 

My back and neck were so stiff from the previous weeks that my hands were numb. 

 Did I say we were tired. I didn't see these pictures until after our drive.  Sammy and Henry rode in Kaleb and Victoria's lap.  They look a little crammed. Aah it's good for them.

 Spoiled Rotton Dogs.

 Kaleb had moved into the van with Daphne and I.  I could barely see him because he was way in the back and I had left the middle seats at my cousins in Idaho so we could pack valuables in the van.
Sammy makes a good pillow for poor Victoria.  Henry was sitting on the floor with his head resting on the seat.

Kirk took this himself.  I don't know what is more cute, the distant stare of Victoria riding along bored out of her mind or Sammy resting his chin on the back of Kirk's seat while sitting in Victoria's lap.

Mattie and Toby did amazingly well.  I felt they were told old at the age of 15 to drug them for the trip so they did it "cold turkey".

They only howled for the first 3 hours and then when they figured that their situation wasn't changing I think they just gave up.  So they bumped along in their individual carriers set on top the ice chests facing eachother and where they can see out the front. 

They actually did quite well with "Cat Woman" (Daphne) sitting where she can talk to them to keep them calm.

Who knows how the hermit crabs did.  Every once in a while we would hear one of their shells crash into the glass making a clunk sound.  So we knew that they were crawling around their tank.

They probably thought there was a 14 hour earthquake or something.  I told them that they were going on an adventure.

It's funny, after 8 hours we pretty much have no pictures.  We were all so tired.

At one point we stopped in Ogden, just 1 hour away to gas up to make it the last leg of the trip.

It was dark, extremely windy, raining and so cold that Kirk and I were instantly shivering uncontrollably the minute we stepped out the door.  The kids didn't believe us that it was that cold but were not willing to get out to test it.  I think it had dropped down to 20 degrees with a wind chill probably making it below zero!  Atleast it felt like it.

We arrived in our new home atleast for the next year, tired, sore, and a little cold.

Victoria made it to the top of the stairs and crashed with her pillow.

Out like a light!

Day 1 of our new life.

Moving Day

October 15th, 2011

  The day we have been waiting for. 

 The day it all happens. 

A day of sadness and total excitement. 

The first day of the rest of our lives!

Our little home of 17 years.

There are so many memories that are embedded within the walls of this house. 

Memories that we will just have to bring with us.

On the flip side...I am so happy to not have to fix another thing on this house!

I am so happy to MOVE ON!!!

We are so blessed.  My sister Kim drives for Knight Transportation. 

She arrived early Sat. morning to help us load all of our worldly posessions into her truck.  She offered to drive it to our new home in Logan, Utah.

I don't really know how we would have done it without her. 

My heart skipped a beat when I saw her turn the corner onto our street.

It brought tears to my eyes. It was pretty cool to see her coming down the street in this enormous diesel truck.  The very sister I grew up with and played Barbies with when we were little.

My sister, the truck driver.

My Mom brought breakfast and lunch for all of our workers. 

We had homeschool and church friends and neighbors help us load the truck.

The kids later told us that moving day was a great day and a lot of fun.

There was quite a bit of laughter, playing and kidding around that took place.

I had everything boxed to try to make it easier for all our helpers.

We couldn't have done it without them.

It was so hot.  We took two lunch breaks and drank quite a bit of water with the temperatures in the high 90's to low 100's.

Something that is pretty much going to be a thing in the past....hot and sweaty.

Everything fit... from the refridgerator to the potter's wheel.

One of the delimmas that came with using my sister's truck was the fact that it came without a ramp.

She just backs up to loading docks and never needs a ramp.

After some thought, Kirk and my Dad collaborated and my Dad built a ramp, that my Mom said

"you can launch a rocket off it".

My Dad, the tool and die maker.

That ramp was so sturdy. 

We ran up and down it all day with boxes and furniture and it never shook!

Thanks Dad. 

Before moving day Kirk was sure that it would only take about 3 hours to load the trailer.

HA...it  literally took 7 1/2 hours.

Unbelieveable I know!

It was hot and everything needed to be stacked and secured.

The BFF girls!

Or should I say crazy.  They found plenty to do while we loaded the trailer.

 We were exhausted that night.

We all slept in our living room that night on the floor and watched the Pirates of the Carribean on my laptop.

I think I fell asleep after the first 15 minutes.

We had a big day ahead of us driving 14 hours north with two cats in carriers and two dogs.

Kim and Kyle left ahead of us and will meet us in Logan on Monday morning sometime.

God's hands are in this move.

I can't wait to see what he has planned for the rest of our lives.

One Day Away

We are just one day away from packing the truck to move. 

After 17 years of living in our home we are moving out.

I almost cried when I set our phone number to be disconnected after we leave.

We moved in when Daphne was just two years old. The house felt huge after living in a condo.

Now, after three more children who are growing taller than the parents and two dogs, our sweet little home feels mighty cramped.  The rooms feel spacious with only the mattresses on the floor.

I have suggested to just get rid of it all (jokingly) and live a simple life with no real furniture or belongings. 
That didn't go over too well.

Though we have currently rid ourselves of anything that isn't being used.
Dave Ramsey would be so proud of us.

I guess we are on to new adventures.

Wish us luck, we are going to need it.

We Can Do It!

I have always loved this picture of Rosie the Riveter.

I don't necessarily like the whole Womans Lib movement but I do believe in the rights of women.

My parents raised strong women.  Plus I think genetically it was passed down through my mother.

We have been known to "hold our own". 

This world needs strong men and women who are humble and compassionate.

I was feeling the effects of this whole "Move to Logan", and thought of this picture as I was organizing and packing.  Moving takes so much organization and planning.

I am a good planner and yes..I know...a Control Freak with a capital "CF".

I think that was yelled at me this week as I was unpacking something to make it fit better in a different box. 

Go ahead, I can handle it.  The fans did fit better when I re-packed the box...you have to admit it.

Anyway, I have used every single skill I have to make this move with the exception of CPR.

I don't plan on using that one.

So with a little elbow grease and buckets of Faith,

WE CAN DO IT!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Phillippians 4:13

First Presbyterian Church of Logan

This church is old and beautiful. 

It was established in the mid 1800's.

I can only imagine what it will look like with snow drifts piled on the steps.

This just might be our new church. 

It has a choir, a bell choir and a children's choir.

They have a good youth group and lots of kids in middle and elementary school.

A Great Weekend!

Corn Shucking Party!

My cousin Rich and my Aunt Carol came up for the weekend. 

It was great being surrounded by so much family.

It was time for the corn to be harvested.  So we set up an assembly line. 

We all had our jobs.

Some shucked the corn, Rich cut it off the cob with a knife.

Then we had to blanche it, bag it and freeze it.

It was fun.

 

The same weekend we watched a lawn mower race at the Scarecrow Festival at Malad Fairgrounds.

It was hysterical.  Some of these guys really got into souping up their ride on lawnmower and rode it like a dirt bike.

Everyday, Victoria watches to see how Kathy wears her beautiful long hair

so she can wear hers the same way.

It is really cute.

Kathy braided Victoria's hair in a rope braid the other day so that is her latest desire of the day.

While at the fair grounds, Rich and Kathy went for a helicopter ride. 

Rich is just short a few hours to having his helicopter pilot license. 

It was so nice to see brother and sister do something together. 

They flew over Kathy's house.  You can see the garden and our van.  It isn't just anybody who has an aerial view of their home.

It has been fun spending time with my cousins. 

I love them. They are a lot of fun.



School still in session!

In spite of everything that is going on in our lives,

we have managed to still start our school year.

Even Daphne has two online classes that she has been keeping up with. 

I am really proud of the kids dedication to maintaining some sort of a school schedule

no matter what it might be.

It has it's challenges.  Everyone has their own box of books along with whatever supply one might need.  Nothing like traveling around town with a box of chemistry supplies or a tub of math blocks in the back of the van.

All five of us are staying in Blue's room.   We fit really well.  Victoria's hair was met with the first rays of sunshine of the morning.  Her hair sizzled in the sunshine.

We each had a place to sleep.  Our bags fit perfectly under the beds.

Zeus would sneak up the stairs and hang out with us during school time.  Victoria was trying to write and he kept gnawing on her pencil eraser.  He is so cute.  I had to keep reminding the boys to not wrestle with him so hard.  He is so tiny compared to our dogs.  It is funny though how he keeps coming back for more.  He never gets enough of play time.

Victoria calls this "Outside School". 

The weather is obviously beautiful. 

Otherwise we would not have been outside doing our school work.

It is so peaceful and quiet...listening to the crickets and the hens.

We accomplish quite a bit outside until a breeze kicks up or a grasshopper jumps onto your book. 

A nice break from the heat of the desert.