Abby's 9

 We arrived in North Carolina late Friday night and Abby's birthday was Sunday.  We started her day off  opening presents.  (normally we make them wait until cake and ice cream in the evening)  I know you are impressed with the amazing wrapping paper...a blanket from the couch.

Aaron had the presents shipped to his office with his computer so that we would even have something for her to open 

We then went to Chili's for a mid-afternoon lunch, followed by the movie Mirror Mirror.

After the movie we headed back to the apartment for a yummy ice-cream cake.  This is where I felt bad.  The week before she told me she wanted a beach cake.  I had to tell her that we could buy one, but there was no way I was going to be able to make a cake after so close to the move.   

She handled it well.  She is such a GREAT kid!!  Happy Birthday kiddo!! 

North Carolina here we come!

The last time the girsl flew was four and a half years ago when we left Idaho for Colorado. We are now closing that chapter and embarking on a new adventure! 

Eli was on cloud nine!!  First a ride on the bus from the car rental to the airport, followed by the train ride to our gate.

They had fun going back and forth on the walking belts. 

 

Our home is not finished yet, so we are in corporate housing for the next two months.  We got into town around midnight Friday night.  When we got to the apartment, we couldn't get in because they left the wrong key in the lock box.  After a number of phone calls and dragging who knows how many people out of bed, we got in around 2:00 a.m

It IS beautiful here! 

 We would not be able to put the girls in the school that they will be attending next fall, so I am homeschooling the girls the last four weeks of this year. 

Even though our home in Colorado has sold, the break in from January has followed us here!  We got a phone call from our bank after we arrived to ask about a suspicious $600 check being cashed.  The man took off while they were calling us! The bank did get a copy of the mans drivers license and plates. Who knows where that will lead us! 

That puts us up to speed for now!  

We Will Miss You!!!

 We lived in Colorado 4.5 years, which sets the record for the longest time we have ever lived in the same place since Aaron and I were married 12 years ago.  We had to say goodbye to SOOO many Amazing people and GOOD friends. I have to say this is the best ward we have been in Ever, hands down!  This being said, it has the bar raised pretty high for our next destination and has me very nervous!

My friends put together a ward going away party which was held at the park with lots of fun desserts.  They set the picture mat out and had everyone sign it and then framed it with  picture of Colorado. I absolutely LOVE it and will never forget these amazing people!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this group of women!!  I honestly do not know what I am going to do without them!  I am not so good with expressing emotions with words and wish I could put to words all my feelings of admiration, respect, appreciation and love that I feel for them!

Ashley, Lyndsey, me, Rachel

Shauna and Megan (top row below)

 This is Sydney's Best Buddy from Kindergarten, they were inseparable  all year!

 We have had the best Kindergarten teachers!  Mrs. Ryan didn't disappoint, she was Fabulous!

Syds other two peeps have been buddies since we moved here when she was 2.

 Abby with her third grade teacher this year.

Rylie and Abby with their art teacher.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a recent picture of  Rylie and her teacher FAVORITE teacher of ALL time Mr. Johnson.  He was her teacher for two years in a row and we watched her grow soo much under his instruction. 

Rylie and Adi (in pink) have been BFF's since we moved here.  She and her mom threw a surprise going away  party for Ry and Abby.  I know so sweet right?

 Abby has a Huge group of great friends in our ward.  So to avoid overwhelming the host we stuck to just the girls she sees at recess. Such a sweet bunch! 

Our last week in Colorado was CRAZY to say the least.  We were fortunate to have a relocation package.  so we had everything packed, loaded and driven across country for us..... Wiiiith the exception that we found out that they have traced the forged check to one of the packers.... all went well?  We had to pack on Monday, load the truck on Tuesday so that the "professional" cleaners could clean the house Wednesday. (I recommend hiring your own cleaners, not requiring "professional" from the house owners.)  The house sold on Thursday and we flew out on Friday.  We were without our own place to stay starting Tuesday night.  My sweet generous friend Rachel opened her home to all six of  us and we stayed with her and her family three our last three nights.  My ward was so Great!  They provided meals, watched my kids, and were in constant contact offering any and all help that we might be in need of.  

Thanks so much for EVERYTHING!

We will NEVER forget you!!!

1st phase complete!

Whew, we are cutting it close with this one! We are scheduled to pick up her retainer the 26th, and we fly out on the 27th. While we are crossing our fingers that Abby will not need phase two, there is no question, Ry will go back for round two in a year or so:( But she is glad for the break and will take what she can get!!

Final Roadtrip

One final road trip to the homeland! Can I just say the road has been much traveled in the last year, in 12 months I have made this trip 6 times!!

First stop was my sisters house. I LOVE to hang with my sis! Fortunately for me, my kids do too! I remember back when we would get together with 4 kids between the two of us. Those days are long since past. It has now doubled to 8 little rascle running around.

Here are 6 of the 8 showing off their slap watches they got for doing the awesome scripture scavenger hunt Des and I put together for Family Home Evening! (Complete with secret code)

It was Elleree's birthday so my parents came for the afternoon! I had gone the whole stay without taking pictures and then I went into panic mode, it will be at least a year before the cousins will see each other again:(

So the group snap shots began!

Elleree just turned four and Eli is two and a half!

My mom decided that she wanted to help the girls sew easter skirts while we were there. The girls were super excited! We went fabric shopping, and they picked skirts they liked off of pintrest. Sydnys skirt went well. All we did was cut a large circle, hem the outside, cut a hole in the middle for the waist and sewed on the elastic. (I sewed the green gather at the bottom) Rylie and Abby's skirts were not as successful. We did not calculate correctly and so Sydney ended up with three new skirts :( They are holding the skirts without the elastic, the point at which we realized they were not going to fit.

On the up side my mom was not without a few other projects to take their minds off the sewing sadness. My mom has a wood shop filled with all the wood and saws you could wish for.

Grandma made up her Easter baskets and hid them for the kids just before we left, so I wouldn't have to try and hide 4 wrapped baskets on the ride home.

The weather was pretty rotten all week until Saturday. My dad was in the "feeling good" window of his treatment by then and pulled the four wheelers out for the girls. (Eli did like the ride, he just didn't want to stay for the picture)

Did I mention Ivan came! Love you little brother!!

I have only been going home 3 times a year, so you would think that dropping to once a year would not be so hard. And I imagine that it is easier transitioning like this than leaving straight from living here. Either way it was a tearful drive as we pulled away.

Aaron was in North Carolina, so my family ended up with most of our time, leaving Saturday night and Sunday with his family. It was a short time, but we got a good visit in. We did the traditional pizza before the priesthood session, and ice cream when the men came home. The next morning all of the siblings and their families come for breakfast cake and eggs just before conference. I love this picture of Grandpas audience.

Again, I went into panic mode and started with the snapshots. Looking back now, I still missed some.

Oakley is going to be HUGE the next time I see her. She is already so big just in three months, what a cutie!!

Denver Zoo

We haven't been to the zoo since Eli was tiny. From what I understand Raleigh doesn't have a zoo, so I figured we better get one last trip in. I was surprised to find that Eli was more excited about pushing the stroller than looking at the animals for more than two seconds. (oddly enough I have no pictures of that)

The whole time I was snapping pictures of Syd and her little buddies that she has been friends with since we moved here, she was two.

It was a perfect afternoon!

(The two in pink were troopers taking on the afternoon prego!)