Adventures in Packing

This was a little surprise we woke up to one morning before the move.  Eli had his suspicions as to whom the "brilliant" culprits were.  Let's just say, "we're onto you guys, thanks for the love."

Eli accepted the task of "clean-up crew".  He planned to deliver the package (aka garbage sack) to the artists, but we didn't get to do it, due to other daunting priorities.

Because I was in St. George with the boys during the week, Brandon was on his own to finish packing and preparing for the movers to arrive.  It wasn't the most ideal situation to leave him in because there's always those last items that become a never-ending task.  Here, you see, Brandon's magnificent, airtight packing skills to fill the back of his truck until the following weekend when we return to clean the house and finish up.

What security a tarp and a web can give when traveling with your belongings! Magnificent work Brandon!

This was the final cleaning and clearing out.  We left more behind than we thought, but had just enough room.... "phew!"  What an exhausting project!  We look forward to staying in this house for a long time.  Moving is not fabulous!  Though I admit, I have enjoyed getting organized and de-cluttering. 

On the Move

Brandon received an offer with YESCO to transfer to their St. George facility. We shared the news with the boys on Eli's birthday (7/28).  We decided the offer was acceptable (there were a few changes from the initial meeting, so we weren't sure if it was going to be the right move to make)  and on August 2, we knew we were going for it.... and the commotion begins.  As I started researching, I realized that the schools in St. George resumed on August 11!  We needed to find a house and get packed, and I wanted the boys to start school on time in the hopes of a smooth transition.

The quest... I contacted my friend from high school, whom I had remembered lived in St. George. She told me that she lived in Little Valley in the Jedora subdivision and to look there. I began searching online and wasn't having as many prospects as I had hoped for, and nothing was coming up for Little Valley or Jedora. We looked at a few in other areas. Brandon was ready to settle on the first one we looked at in Washington. We looked out in the Snow Canyon area and there were some possibilities, but I wasn't quite ready to decide on one.

Earlier in the week, I had called on one that was appealing to me (a bright, well-lit kitchen). The agent said that it would be gone by the end of the week (when I was coming into town), but to check back with him, that he would have another available. I assumed it was gone, but checked back online after being dissatisfied with the previous prospects, and came across the home. I was surprised to see it, so I made the call. Indeed, it was not available, but he did have another one. It was in Little Valley.... in Jedora! Excuse me, "Yes, I would love to see it!" The boys and I went to look at the home while Brandon was working and we were pleased, to say the least. Cul-de-sac, 4 bedrooms plus a den, grass in the backyard and side yard and front yard.... We brought Brandon later on and he knew he couldn't pass it up for our sake. I sent my friend the address of the house, wondering if she would know where it was.... oh that's her cul-de-sac!

The moving truck arrived on Friday, August 20!  There are knocks at the door several times a day, neighbor boys excited to play with our boys. It's like an insta-friend neighborhood, and it's fabulous! We really missed not having that accomodation in the Stonebridge development in Vegas. Eli and Easton ride a mile through the neighborhood to and from school. They ride bikes on an empty lot a few blocks away that has dirt jumps built up on it, and I don't need to go over and supervise because there are maybe 3 other kids there who are their ages, if anyone.

We're happy and look forward to our adventures here. It's a small town compared to Las Vegas, and I'm missing the convenient shopping, but Vegas is just a quick 2-hour drive, there is a Tai Pan, and I've found, with the hints of some friends, some other shopping destinations I will be able to enjoy. We will look forward to visitors beginning tomorrow, after the last few pictures are hung. The sun is shining in Dixie!

Easton's breakout video starring Braxton

Best Birthday Surprise Yet!

Easton's dream birthday was to have a birthday party and invite "Josh" to come. Truly it's heartbreaking as a mom to hear your little one talk about how much he misses playing with his best friend that we moved away from over a year ago. The Sevy's made his wish come true while making their kids's wish come true with a trip to Disneyland, via I-15 through Las Vegas in November. They texted us as they were entering town and we planned to have the camera close by for the unexpected knock at the door while we were just hanging out nearby on a random Thursday night before Easton's 7th birthday. Easton was speachless, with his eyes nearly popping right out of his head, then let out a yell and couldn't stop laughing. Eli was laughing and I'm pretty sure all of the parents had tears in our eyes, even Big John.
Brandon and I went shopping for decorations days before the surprise event. We got a few party favors that are classic for our boys and the Sevy boys, Hot Wheels, and maybe a bouncy ball (they were traveling, so I knew they wouldn't have much space for added items). We made sure to get balloons and crepe paper and a birthday candle. Brandon held up the glitter-covered blue "6" and we looked at a few others, deciding that the glitter 6 do just fine! Well it was fine, because Easton would be 6 for four more days, but he was turning 7, hello! It was late when we were shopping, and clearly we were not in our natural minds.

San Diego

We ventured away from the traditional Thanksgiving festivities this past holiday. We booked a hotel for the weekend and headed down to the warm San Diego valley. We left on Thanksgiving Day, a little later than we had hoped due to some intense technical trauma upgrading the GPS maps (poor Brandon gets a little worked up with those challenges at times), but with his 'Nascar driver' instincts, we were able to make it for Thanksgiving dinner at Claimjumper just minutes before they stopped seating people for the evening.
Here we are visiting the seals and sea lions at La Jolla's Casa Beach. Easton had just lost his two bottom teeth, much to his excitement, just a few weeks earlier.

Our favorite time! The boys could have played on the beach for hours more into the afternoon. The air was a bit cool, although it got up into the 70s later on. We couldn't believe how wet they were getting, but were loving every minute.
We were able to rendezvous with our friends, the Dildines, who were visiting family in San Diego the same weekend. We went to the Balboa Science Center and to a family-friendly pizza lunch (we had the place to ourselves so we timed it perfectly) at Pat & Oscars, home of the most scrumptous breadsticks you can imagine, and you know how much I l-o-v-e bread!

Who needs a Theme anyway?

I remember Halloween a couple of years ago. Braxton was a baby and Eli was talking about being a Scarecrow for Halloween. We had a warm, cozy Lion costume that Easton loved to wear regularly, so it was decided, The Wizard of Oz it would be. My friend, Julie, had a Dorothy costume she had made years ago, and said I could use it and the little Toto costume for Braxton. Yes, that's Brandon as a Lollipop Kid, he says that's the last time he'll wear tights, but we'll see.

I had planned on dressing Braxton as the Tin Man, but thought Toto would be a good back up. After spraying silver metallic paint on a yellow jumper I had found at some random "Mart" or "-vers" store, and having the paint rub off onto my 5 month-old baby's skin, not to mention the fumes that emanated from the fabric, even after drying for days before the fitting...

Toto was a blessing in disguise (no pun intended).
The picture looks better when you click on it, it didn't scan too well. So much for a theme this year. Everyone had their own ideas and here is what they came up with, just in case you aren't familiar with the characters... Easton "White Ninja" - GI Joe Storm Shadow, he saw a commercial and made the decision. Eli "Hippie" - does that mean he's becoming a pre-teen? I remember it was better to have a cool costume as I got older. Braxton "Black Ninja" - opposite of White Ninja, originally planned to be a Ninja Turtle. I need to remember not to buy costumes weeks before Halloween, more than once my boys have been known to change their minds the day of the event, I guess it's a good one to have for dress up, right? "Witch", I mean Chandy, who said that? I went to a fabulous Witches Tea Party a few weeks before Halloween and had run out of time to paint my face so the boys wanted me to dress up again in the complete costume. I always hesitated to dress as a witch for the fear of looking too true to the part, my blessed pointy nose, at least there's no wart. Brandon or is it "Brandie" a "Worker" as the boys call it (you would never guess that Brandon works in Construction). Braxton actually wanted him to be a "Fat Wrestler" (sumo). Brandon wasn't too sure that would work too well at the Ward Trunk-or-Treat.

Tricks

When we were in Utah in September, Braxton saw his cousin, Boston, riding his 2-wheeler. Boston is a few months younger than Braxton and they have a lot of fun playing at Grandma's house when we visit. Anyway, Braxton decided to try the job out for himself since Boston has the same little bike as him. This was his first go around... Thanks for being on guard Uncle Coby!

Easton showed us his "back flip"... you may notice the Lego Star Wars Jedi-Style nature to it. A few weeks later, when we were home and others had been giving him tips on how to perform an actual back flip, he landed on his head and sure enough the chin went into the chest pretty hard. He was sore for several days and I was worried how the injury could have been so much worse.... Trampolines, ugh!

Eli was determined to Wake Board after a recent boating trip with friends when he declined and regretted the decision afterwards. Too bad Flaming Gorge was beginning to cool back off after its one to two-month warmer temperature in the summer months. You are there, Eli! One more try....?