making a house a home

This last weekend we went up to Idaho for a few days. We went fishing with Dave's brother, celebrated Jack's birthday, stayed up way too late, and went to church in our old Rupert ward. It was wonderful.

By the time we were driving home last night a vague homesickness set in. Usually after a trip, the drive home feels like a relief, but this time it didn't. Our walls are still bare. I still haven't unpacked my boxes of books (something that always makes me feel more at home) and it is strange that my calendar is relatively empty. It doesn't quite feel like home yet. It will. I love our new neighborhood and our house is great. We got a new couch that I really love. But I am still figuring out where to put things and how to organize stuff and all of that. It takes time. I know it does.

I had a dream the other night that we were done with residency and it was time to move again and I couldn't believe it had gone so fast and I felt like we had just barely moved and I couldn't bring myself to do it again. It has been an exhausting journey, even though it is exciting. Transitions can be hard.

The night before we left Vermont I lay our our little cot in our mostly empty house. Four years before I had done the same thing, and our empty house felt full of promise and hope for the future. This time, though all of our stuff was packed tightly (very, very tightly) in our moving truck, the house didn't feel empty at all. It felt full of ghosts. The ghosts of our memories that filled the house to the brim. Memories of Christmas mornings and lazy Sunday afternoons and the smell of lilacs through the windows and dinners with friends and so many other wonderful things that happened in that house. It was a four year process of making that house a home. And I cried.

The same with happen with this house. We will fill it with so many memories that in a few short years when we pack it up I will cry. And it will feel like home.

May 2014 - Last day

July 2010 - First day in our new home

change

We are in full-blown teeth-losing mode over here. Ana lost two teeth in the last month. She tried to eat corn on the cob yesterday and found it very difficult without any front teeth. She also got quite impatient with the slacker tooth fairy who took so long to come. (A whole week for one of them!) Jack lost his first tooth this week too. He wiggled it a whole bunch while we were in Quebec because he really wanted to lose it in Canada. (I think he thought the tooth fairy would bring him Canadian money.) But alas, it feel out the day after we got home.  He really didn't want the tooth fairy to take his tooth though, so he asked nicely if he could keep it and she obliged. ;) 

I started packing today.  As I was carrying the boxes up from the basement I realized that this move is FOR REAL. I suddenly felt very sad and lonely. So I turned on some happy music. Part of my wants these next 3 weeks to go really slowly and part of me wants to just get them over with. Next up: our awesome trip to Quebec.

musings of math, mars, and moving

It is still very cold outside. I am so ready for spring, but I know it is still weeks away. I can get through this. ... Two things have been occupying my spare time the last 2 weeks, both of which will probably just prove how big of a dork I am.

1. I have been meticulously going through the World of Math challenge over at Khan Academy. Basically I am brushing up on my Math skills to see what I remember and what I never learned.  And I really really like it. I spend about 30 minutes or more a day doing it.  I am not even going to pretend that I am naturally good at it. I make a lot of really simple mistakes. But I feel good doing it.

2. Dave and I over the last 2-3 weeks have been going through Veronica Mars on Amazon Prime. He started it and I was skeptical but after a few episodes we were both hooked. We just finished a couple days ago, just in time for the follow up movie to come out next week. And we will be watching the movie.


I pulled up all of my bins of kids' clothes to go through. I am working towards getting rid of 40 Bags in 40 Days. I have always liked the tradition of Lent, though we don't officially observe it, and I was trying to think of what I would give up for Lent this year when my sister pointed me in this direction. It goes perfectly with what I wanted to do to get ready to move, too. Do you know how weird it is to know you are going to move but not to know where you are moving but you know the exact date on which you will find out where you are moving and that it is now out of your hands? It's crazy.  Maybe that's how my Mom felt all those military years. I have a new appreciation for her and my sister who is currently doing that. Anyway, I now have 2 large garbage bags full of kids' clothes that are either worn out or I don't love and tomorrow they will be removed from the house. Dave and I also went through our own clothes and found another garbage bag full of clothes. Yay for getting rid of stuff so we don't have to move it! Here is a crappy iPod photo of my view of my living room. 

Also, today was my last day watching little Zach. I can't believe how fast time has gone. On Monday his mom is having another baby and won't be going back to work. He is such a sweet little guy and I have really loved getting to know his parents better. They are such a great family and we will miss them so much!

And that is my last two weeks. In two more we will know where we are moving. Time flies.

circle all the differences

This seems like something straight out of the Highlights magazine. Are those still around?

Before 3000 miles


After 3000 miles


Once our house is mostly presentable Erin will post some pics and she also will be taking a few more of the area as well.

we made it

by the numbers:

3056 miles
48 hrs 13 minutes of driving time
7 days
13 states
60 construction zones
40 state license plates (plus Washington DC, Ontario, and Quebec.)



favorite moments:

*Ana catching a firefly at a rest stop in Illinois.
*Crossing the border into Vermont. I think Heaven will look like this place.
*Seeing family all along the way.

Its good to finally be here!

west virginia

We all had a great time in WV when we stayed with my parents. We got there Saturday afternoon and left Sunday afternoon after church. We got to attend the baptism of someone they helped teach on Saturday as well.


The kids did not leave Grandma alone for one second. She liked it.


The had a good time with Grandpa as well.


They played the choo-choo train game.


Ana stood like this and said "Dad you should take a picture of me like this."


And of course Jack wanted to be like his sister. He loves doing what she is doing.


Then we drove through hills for a long time and got to Vermont this afternoon. Erin will probably post about that and many other things tomorrow. I do ok with pictures but she actually likes to type stuff. She is cool.

a day in dayton

Erin and her sister Wendy went to get matching pedicures today. Can you tell who's who?


The cousins played at the park this afternoon.




Ana and Alex having a snack together before bed.


It was a much needed day off from driving. Ana is SOOOO excited to see her grandma and grandpa tomorrow in West Virginia. We are getting closer!!!

through nebraska

We said goodbye to Erin's sister Teri and family. It was great staying with them.


Our kids are pretty much awesome in the car. After two long days of driving, this is the face we saw most of the way through Nebraska.


We drove by Chimney Rock.


Through a big storm with rain and wind.


This morning we went swimming in the pool at the hotel. Ana loved it and said that staying in hotels is fun. Jack wasn't too excited about the pool for some reason.



More to come at our next stop!