Move

We moved into an apartment a couple of weeks ago. After looking at several houses, putting an offer on one and having it rejected, trying a couple other options, and having nothing work out, we finally had to admit to ourselves we should rent for a while before rushing into a big purchase. It's not at all what we were planning on or what we want, but it was the only thing that felt right. We don't know what the future holds, and I'll admit I'm terrified we'll end up moving away next year. That's not at all what we want, but we're insane enough to if we feel it's right. We're hoping the right house will come along and trusting that even though we can't see the bigger picture, someone else can, and that things will work out somehow. It's hard losing so much space, but we're unpacking as little as possible. I'm definitely past the point of insanity. We are happy though, that our house finally sold. It took four months, which might not seem like long, but we knew six families in our ward in Meridian whose homes sold in 3 weeks or less, and our realtor was sure ours would move quickly. So it was a pretty long 4 months of waiting. It took dropping the price 4 times, but you know what? It's done now, the timing felt really off, and I'm just hanging onto the hope that it was for our good, and this apartment thing is no fun, but we'll be fine. Things always have a way of working out. I have to repeat that to myself every day, otherwise I know I'll drive myself crazy.

Moving!!

Once again, we are moving. When we moved to Boise we thought for sure we would be done forever. We were burnt out from move after move. Starting over in new cities, registering at new schools, changing doctors and dentists and all the paperwork, finding homes to live in, packing, unpacking, sitting for hours at the DMV, trying to just find a grocery store, where the parks are, new wards, and so many other things I can't even think of right now, and most of all trying to make friends and people we are comfortable with. I felt like I was just about being pushed over the edge in my sanity. So we moved here, bought a house and decided we were staying put.

 

Spoke too soon. Just a few months in, we had to admit to ourselves it just wasn't working here. If we were to stay, I know things would be fine. It has been wonderful to be within driving distance of family, and back in the west, where we feel rooted in our blood. But it just wasn't working. So when we started talking about options and exploring what to do, things fell into place. So here we are, one month until school gets out, Josh has been gone 2 weeks, and our house is on the market. Trust me, if we thought there was even a slight chance we'd leave, we never would have bought a house. So while I'm kind of stressed about selling it, I'm trying to have total faith that something will work out and we'll get it sold.

 

We are headed back to Charlotte! A place we love, a place I feel we can call home. As much as I don't want to keep moving and moving anymore, I have been able to feel peace that whatever the future holds, I'll be able to handle it, whether we move again or not down the road. This has been really hard on the kids, especially Jayden. Making friends isn't always easy, but once you have those friends you don't want to let them go, and we are all sad to leave them behind. We hope this is making us stronger as a family, but I'll be honest, it's hard watching my kids struggle. So here's to hoping for a smooth move, and for some roots in Charlotte for a long time.

Lately

I am seriously lacking in the picture taking department. I take most photos with my phone now, which means they don't make it onto the computer as much. I could do it right now, but I'm feeling too lazy. So here are a few things going on around here.

Jayden and Sidney just started up piano lessons. They had 2 lessons before we left Texas, and I had a really hard time finding a piano teacher here. I thought it would be really easy here in Idaho, but nope. But we are all set, and Jayden is especially excited. Jayden is doing great in school. He is so smart, he just soaks everything in. Even on vacation at Disneyland, he was nonstop asking questions about how the rides and things worked, why things were the way they were. He has adjusted to life here pretty well, has friends, but still misses old ones. We all do.

Sidney is continuing ballet and tap. She loves its. She's still all things pink, loves crafts, and playing with her friends. She is also doing well in school. This half day Kindergarten thing is a little rough. I think her time would be better spent at school all day, but we're trying to fill the afternoons with time together, friends, and lots of crafts. Her favorite snack is popcorn, she wishes she could have it every day.

Tanner is a two year old. Enough said. He's trying to give up his naps. NOOOOOOOO!!!!! He hates sitting in the cart at the store, so I do a lot of night shopping now-or send Josh for me. His vocabulary is growing. His favorite word is NO. I can't stand that word, BUT he says it really cute. He insists on sleeping with three blankets, and wakes up all sweaty from naps. He likes books, dinosaurs, and still loves anything to do with a ball.

Josh is doing well at work. He doesn't like it as much as he thought he would, but he works hard. He gets out on the 4-wheeler any chance he gets. I'll join him when it warms up. He has been able to get out for some duck hunting, but wishes his brother were here to go with him. And me-I'm always tired. Always. I take naps quite often lately. Always exciting. A few of my goals this year-read more books than last year. I discovered I really enjoy audiobooks. When I was re-finishing Sidney's bed last summer I wanted something to occupy my mind, so I tried out a book and loved it. It's been a great way to check off a few books on my never ending to read list. My theme this year is The Year of Pinterest. I'm trying to make and do some of the things that I've been wanting to get to. More crafts, more recipes, more projects, more things. So far I've done 16 things. Josh built me a beautiful table. I'll have to get that up on the blog soon.

State Week

Sidney had the idea for State Week. Little did she know we would be moving soon. I worked it into the week we moved. It was perfect because we actually got to experience some states instead of just talking about them. I got them some Kid's National Geographic Road Atlas books packed with cool info. They colored some state pictures, played the license plate game, and we talked about the states. Not much, but it was fun to experience new places together.

We drove from Houston to Boise when we moved. 39 hours of awesomeness. Josh drove a U-Haul that was pulling our van, and I drove our truck. I used to be spoiled. Josh got a new job with a smaller company that doesn't move people. Why on earth I agreed to that, I don't know. His old company packed us up, loaded everything, drove it to our new destination, put us up in an apartment for weeks or even months at a time, shipped our cars, paid for our gas money if we drove, or our flights, put our stuff in storage while we looked for a home, and then some. Spoiled, I know. This time we got a moving allowance that almost covered all our costs, I packed every single box, and then we drove. We had to get rid of a lot of furniture and other stuff to fit it. I never had to worry about that before. I was spoiled, and I know it. Why did we give that up? I don't know. Well, I do know, but what the heck? See, these things make me question what I know.

 

Anyway, the drive wasn't too bad. I would get super tired during parts of it, so I would call Josh to keep me awake, but the kids were awesome. Tanner cried once for an hour. Other than that I barely heard a peep. Jayden and Sidney took turns in the U-Haul so they never rode together. I think that helped, there was no fighting. Tanner slept some, we all ate junk food, the kids watched movies and played video games. We drove it in 3 1/2 days. I actually loved road trips, it was a bummer we couldn't stop and enjoy the sites. Instead I took pictures of the back of the U-Haul along the way.

 



 

 

 

Tanner found caffeine. Fabulous. 

Texas. 

Our first stop. We were exhausted. Some little town in Texas. 

 

 

 

 

New Mexico. 

We stopped in Albuquerque and drove into a beautiful sunset. There was a cool storm with some crazy pink clouds.

My kids love continental breakfasts, they think it's the most fun thing ever. 

 

 

 

We drove through Colorado, I think this is there. Maybe. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Utah.

 

We stayed at my aunt's house on our last night. 

 

Idaho. So. Much. Sagebrush. I miss my trees. I miss green. I don't know how to live without it.

Moving

My absence can be blamed on our move. Blah. Moving is the worst. I should go into why we moved to Idaho, but that will have to wait until a later time. When we got here we stayed with Josh's brother for a week while we crazily looked for a house. We found one fast, then while we were waiting to close I went to my sister's in Idaho Falls for three weeks while Josh stayed with his brother. Then we came back to Boise, closed on the house and were in it a month after we left Texas. It's still a little surreal to be here. We know 100% we are supposed to be here, but I can't lie, I've questioned it over and over since we got here. A lot of factors as to why, which I won't get into. Leaving Texas was harder than I thought it would be. We had some awesome friends there. There's a huge part of me that wants to be back in Charlotte. A huge part. I'm trying hard to not look at what I'm missing out on, but focusing on what I have and being grateful for the chance I had to live in some great places and make some great friends. But....It's been so nice to be able to spend time with family on and off over the last couple of months. In the meantime, I have some serious blogging to catch up on!

Random Pictures

Tanner has been giving a lot of kisses lately. The funniest is when we're on FaceTime and he kisses the screen. Love this little boy.

 

Sidney and I became addicted to watching Cupcake Wars for a few days. We went through a phase of having our own Cupcake Wars. She would shout, "4 more minutes! Hurry, hurry!" And then a few minutes later, "Just 4 more minutes!" It has been fun to make cupcake deliveries to friends. The best ones so far were Cadbury cupcakes at Easter time, oh my goodness!

 

Quite possibly my favorite picture of Tanner to date. 

This boy LOVES balls! Any ball, any size. Obsessed.

Oh wait, maybe this is my favorite picture.

He won't stay off the table.

The kids played with this box for hours and hours. The babysitter told me at one point they were pretending it was a jack in the box and Tanner couldn't stop laughing.