Blogging Blunders

I read through the last entry and realized a couple of pictures had gotten nuked somehow.    So here is a picture of me with my friend Joey and also another cute one with all the kids.  You have no idea how many shots were taken, and no two were similar.  Talk about squirrly kids!

Settling in

Because we are no longer a "family on the move" I've decided to change the layout of our blog.  Just add that to the long list of changes we've had over the last month!

What an adventure!  In the past few weeks, we have finished packing boxes, officially sold a home, officially purchased a home, driven a packed car to UT, unpacked boxes, packed suitcases, flown to AZ, stayed with very gracious family (Joe's parents), participated in Choir Camp, made Egyptian costumes out of pillowcases, felt and lots of baubles (see pictures below), enjoyed a going-away party hosted by our wonderful friends, cried, cried, cried (okay, that was mostly me), packed said suitcases, flown back to UT, attended Gramma's retirement party, unpacked said suitcases, and now we are all pooped.  

But we wouldn't have traded that time in AZ for anything.  I could write and write about all of the wonderful memories, but pictures are much more fun.

Happy Father's Day to the best Grampa in the whole world!

And of course, Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy in the whole world!

The kids decorated their own Egyptian collars

Walk like an Egyptian...

Hannah with her friend Allison at our good-bye party

Lindsay with her friend Jessica (Allison's sister)

Jennie and her friend Cathy (Allison and Jessica's mommy)

Audrey, Lindsay and Maddie

Bill (Maddie's Dad) and Joe

Jennie and Jennifer

Audrey, Lindsay and Alex (daughters of Chris & Ginger, except Lindsay of course)  :)

A slew of kiddos...to think we've been friends since before any of them were born...

Our home fellowship group- the greatest friends ever!

Michael & Joanna, Joe & Jennie, CR & Amy, Chris & Ginger

Kaylee's BFF Lily (Chris & Ginger's youngest)

Joanna & Jennie (here we go with the random underlining)

Ginger and Jennie (underlining all done, I guess)

Jessica and Lindsay (nope, there's the underlining again)

Jessica is Michael & Joanna's oldest child.  She has makeup on from the choir camp dress rehearsal.  :)

Brad, Seth (Jennifer's oldest), James (Joanna's middle) and Nathan

Eat your hearts out, Rockettes!

Brad as "Herald," the assistant to the Pharoah

Josiah as Pharoah

Kaylee after the performance

Chris and Ginger...the girls' surrogate parents  :)  

Kaylee and Hannah smothering Lily with kisses

Brad, James and Nathan (Brad had to wear makeup too, eek!)

At the airport- it was 6:30 a.m.

Enjoying some chocolate milk from Starbucks

Kaylee's first time flying (well, she flew once in utero and once when she was one, but those don't count)

As we were waiting, she asked,

"When are we going to blast off?"

That's all for now.  I have lots more pics but my kids are clamoring to use the computer and the laundry is calling.  Also, I can't stand this crazy underlining!  :)

Rocky Mountain High

Ok, it's a shameless John Denver rip-off, but it is the perfect title.

We've been in our new house now for a week.  We've unpacked over 175 boxes, met several neighbors, purchased new odds and ends for the house, attended church, perused all the local shopping, and enjoyed the benefits of once again owning our own mailbox.  We've also seen several sunsets over the lake, a few rainstorms, countless green hills and snowy mountaintops.

Of course, at this time there are only 3 of us, which allows us to be MUCH more productive.  The older kids are having a blast at their Grammy's and Grampa's house in AZ.  We are looking forward to being together again this weekend.

Here are some pics from our adventures, including some "moving out" pics.  The crew that did our moving was interesting...to say the least.  But I can say our stuff made it here almost unscathed, so we are pleased.  But one guy in particular...I think he was headed home to his laboratory, and not to do science experiments, if you catch my drift.  

Pretending to cry on moving day (real tears have fallen with all of us, tho!)

I like it better empty, Mommy! 

A small fraction of our over 200 boxes...

Dad, Joe and a mover hard at work (this isn't the guy I mentioned) :)

Home sweet home

New friends Kaia and Kayla with Hannah (when Kaylee gets into the mix, it'll get even more confusing)

The kitchen in the middle stages of being organized.  I'm pleased to say I'm at about 95% with the kitchen now.

We can't wait to get the other kids up here to enjoy the cool summer evenings.  We're so glad the good-byes have been gradual, though.  It is really overwhelming to know we won't be seeing people daily anymore that have been an integral part of our lives for so long.  We're still working on getting everyone to join us.  :)