We are here!

We left Idaho on Dec 26th at 6am....it was COLD! It was so good to have my mom and Aunt Ina with me. I felt so bad for my mom she was not feeling good the first day on the road, Ina had to stop before we even got out of Utah so mom could throw up. We made it to Reno and stayed there for the night. The boys loved playing in the pool at the hotel. On Sunday we ventured out into the snow....it wasn't much but everyone was buying chains for there cars so after hearing that chains were required to go over donner summit we stopped and picked some up. With 3 boys in the van mom, Ina and I worked to get the chains on. What an adventure! Before leaving Truckee we visited the donner museum then drove down by the lake to see where my mom and Ina lived when they were kids.

When we got down the mountain we were in warm weather almost instantly. We stopped to have lunch and everyone was walking around in coats. We ate lunch outside. It was 55 degrees and we were loving it.

It could never repay my mom and Ina for everything they did for us in just a few days. My house went from boxes everywhere to mostly organized before they left on New Years Eve.

It was so hard to say good bye! J was not a happy camper, but is learning to accept the fact that phone calls is all we have with Grandma right now. I feel blessed that the boys and I had the last 3 months to spend in my parents home. And we had the last 2 years living so close. My kids pretty much saw there grandparents everyday for 2 years. That is time we will always cherish. We miss all the family we left in Idaho and Utah! Thank to all of you for your love and support!

On New Years Day we took a drive to explore our surroundings. We drove up and around the farm land. I am so happy to be around the livestock and fields. It feels like home, just a few hundred miles away. I am still trying to get use to the palm trees.
The boys loved playing at the park. You would not believe the beautiful area we live in. Our yard is SO SMALL. (It took me longer to start the lawn mower than it took to make the 3 passes to cut the grass. And it felt really weird to be out there on Dec 31st starting the lawn mower.) Anyway we have several parks within walking distance from our house. We have been to several now in our first week here and they are all different. I have never played at the park on New Years Day. It way 60 degrees and wonderful!



On Saturday we got our new couches. I have waited almost 11 years for new furniture. I can't wait to get my new dining set ordered. All we have right now to eat on is a card table and chairs. There are 5 of us and 4 chairs. We better get going on that!

On Sunday I made our first Sunday Dinner in our new house. It was so great to walk into the house after church and smell the Meatloaf. YUMMY!

Christmas Eve

The boys got new jammies from Grandma & Grandpa.The twins love having there own buzz and woody.
Now we have 3 woody's, 3 buzzes and 3 toy story remote control cars.
Jakub walked up to Grandma and said "Merry Christmas (pause) to me"
I love baby Elle! I am going to miss her so much!
We missed John tonight. I need to get one more boy to sleep then play Santa! Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night!

FUN! FUN! FUN!

John came home for the last time before the big move. Faraway Grandma picked him up at the airport and brought him up for J's Christmas piano recital on Friday night. J did a wonderful job playing his "Joy to the World" song. We are really going to miss JoRene. She has been a great teacher for J. I hope we can find another good one when we get to California.
On Saturday we attended the annual Little Star Party that Great Grandma has every Christmas Season. The weather was bad but we made it to the party just in time for the little star story. Saturday night we celebrated Christmas at Grandma and Grandpas. James and Jakub got a tomas the train set,a tent and Church outfits. J got a DS game and a church outfit. They were all very happy.
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! WE LOVE YOU!
Monday we took J for a check up with the Urologist. He recommended we find a good Pediatrician in California and told us about the Children's Hospital in Fresno. I am nervous about changing Dr's but it is part of the moving process. Dr. Nelson has been so good with J. He pushed the testing and surgery to remove J's kidney. What a blessing it has been to have him keeping a close eye on J for over 2 years now.
We stopped at Temple Square before leaving SLC to show the boys around the visitor centers. What a great spirit! John and I were married in this temple almost 11 years ago. What a blessing it is to be an Eternal Family. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know He died for me and He lives today. When we pray, He hears and answers us. My testimony has been strengthened through this process of taking the job in California and moving forward with getting our family under the same roof again. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the only True Church on the earth today. My your Holiday Season be full of His Love. I love you all!

Baby Shower

My Baby Brother and Sister in Law are not due to have their first until March but I really wanted to have a shower before I moved so we did. We met at Iggy's and had a great time.
I made this really cute diaper cake. When J saw it he said. "Oh man, Mom why can't you make a really cake that big for me"
The fried cheese cake was so yummy.
Here are all us girls in the family. When the baby girl comes in March we will to totally even with boys and girls.

Dear Santa.....

Someone help. I got a new camera and I never had a problem with my old one, putting pictures from the memory card to the blog. How do I rotate this picture?

We went to the Library to see Santa. This year Jakub was nervous and James not so much. (Just opposite of last year)
J could not think of anything when Santa asked J what he wanted for Christmas. But then he sat down and wrote a letter.....
Dear Santa I have been very good. I would like a new video game
.

(that message was all on one line, but there was not room for the period on that line so he put it to the next)

John came home for Thanksgiving

John left for California in September. It was so great to having him home for a few days at Thansgiving. The boys hadn't seen him for over 10 weeks. Of course the boys went to bed without a fight for Dad. I have struggled with bedtime and am very excited to get moved so I don't have to do it alone anymore.


Grandpa and dad hung Christmas lights, while Grandma and the boys made a snowman. We walked down the street to a neighbors house that is decked out with lights. We ended up down there several nights during our stay.

The whole family got together for FHE on Saturday. We had a great time seeing the new baby cousins and making gingerbread houses.
On Sunday we said good bye again but John will be back in a few weeks for a family Christmas party and then we will be moving down after Christmas. YAY!

Remind me never to make sugar cookies again.

I attempted to make turkey sugar cookies with the boys. I am so glad I did it with my mom and sister or I wouldn't have survived. The boys and Taylor had a great time but it took a long time and what a mess. What made it even worse was James made a mess when the flour and then peed in it. He has decided he doesn't like clothes and has been potty training himself. For the most part he doesn't have accidents when it comes to peeing. But pooping is another story. I will spare you the details. Anyway.......Gotta run John comes home for Thanksgiving in 54 hours. I haven't seen him for 32 days and the kids haven't seen him since Sept 14th. He is closing on the house in California next week....On Dec 26th the boys and I will move out to California. My mom and Aunt Ina have offered to come make the drive with us. I am very excited to have them with me for a few days to get us settled.