Heavenly Scent

The roses and my hubby- both heaven sent!  (aw, shucks)  Aren't they beautiful?  

Out of the mouths of babes...

So here's the latest funny from the Cross family. Over lunch at Taco Time (a local favorite) we were discussing the biology of tazing someone (I don't know how to spell it, but you know, the guns police use to zap you into submission). Anyway, Brad was curious to know exactly what happens when someone is tazed. All the children agreed they'd rather not ever be tazed, and Nathan, who had been quietly taking it all in up to this point remarks,

"I know who wouldn't mind being tazed...hobos! They don't have anything else to do anyway."

After 5 solid minutes of laughing so hard we were crying, Joe and I tried to explain that being homeless does not necessarily mean you are bored and willing to have your nervous system overloaded with electricity, rendering you incapacitated. Perhaps we're wrong on this one...

Interestingly, Nathan is really a very compassionate kid. He'll give you his shirt off his back if you need it. That's what made it so funny- just an innocent observation from a 9-year-old.

Happy Fourth of July!

In celebration of America's birthday I changed all the songs on my playlist to be patriotic songs. Enjoy!!  We're excited to light fireworks tonight ('twas illegal in AZ) and to celebrate with my family at my aunt's and uncle's house.  Hope you all have a great fourth of July weekend!

I included the Star Spangled Banner by the Dixie Chicks.  Though I certainly don't see them as examples of patriotism, it's a fun acappella version.  Also, I realize that "Independence Day" and "American Pie" are not technically patriotic, they are fun songs.  :)

Our basement is almost completely framed now.  I'll take some pics and post them later.  Our house smells like a forest with all the wood!  :)  

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.  :)  

The Latest Update and More AI Musings...

First, before I get to anything serious...my take on tonight's American Idol finale.

• George Michael in Paris Hilton glasses and looking like an old, scruffy throwback from Solid Gold. (all that was missing was fringe on his sleeves). Ew.
  
• Bryan Adams sounding the same and not taking himself too seriously (still makes him one of my favorites)
  
• David Cook with ZZ Top (the geriatric version...pretty sure they were packing Lasix) though David sounded superb.
• Some group (can't remember the name) with a guy playing the piano who sang ok. Then David Archuleta joined in and we all quickly realized how little we were enjoying the first guy.
  
• David C. wins, and cries. David A. is gracious. Paula says something incoherent. Simon shows off some chest. David C.'s mom shows up on stage as if from nowhere. David C. calls David A. "Archie." It's all good.

Ok, now for the real stuff.

We move out of this house on the 29th. I'm not going to post all the details of our ins and outs, but I will be sending out an email with all of our new contact info and our itinerary. I was going to write more, but I just realized my eyes are only half open. So instead, I'll post some pics of our new house. Enjoy!

My aunt on the front porch.

Looking forward to relaxing on the porch. Never had a real front porch before...also never realized how strange the word "porch" sounds if you say it over and over again...


The view from the backyard. We have .7 acres...we figure Joe will start mowing on Thursday and be done sometime around noon on Saturday. There were 12 horses out when I took this picture. Lindsay is ecstatic, of course. Me, I'll take the mountains. :)