Best parents ever

Who knew it would be so easy to earn the "best parents ever" award. Apparently it only takes getting them a trampoline. At our house in Missouri we had a very small back yard that went down into a gully. It had no fence.  There wasn't much room for any outside stuff, so we really didn't have any and they didn't really play outside much at home. So, when we got to Utah, we were excited we had a nice fenced backyard. I happened upon a trampoline on sale and we couldn't pass it up. The kids were so excited they even helped put it together. They LOVE it. It has a safety net.....which makes me very happy. I know I played on trampolines as a kid with no net and never got to injured, but I definitely remember getting my legs stuck in the springs and falling off.....so a net was a must for me. Now I don't have to worry. :)  

Kellan Blake Turney

One more baby to add to the brood. Congrats to my sister Kayla and her hubby Brandon. 

Kellan Blake Turney

Wish I could snuggle him up. Sometime living far away really really stinks.

Big boy bed

Parker is not a fan of change. I'm actually surprised at how well he has done with this move. There have even a few times he has asked to go back to his "Missouri house" and to see Lorenzo and Ashton. He has never liked new things or new pictures on the wall, or new situations. Poor little guy. We've been trying to get him a new bed for a while, but he just wouldn't have it. He has had the same bed since he was born. His crib converted into a toddler bed. He was too big for it. His feet went all the way to the end, but he was really stressed about gettin a new one, and would cry if we even talked about it! We decided we would wait until we moved and just told him that the old bed wasn't coming with us. He was upset at first, but we spent months talking about it. Sam let him help take it apart and let him go take it to donate to a "little boy who really needed a bed". We let him pick out bedding. It's super cute Lego Star Wars. To give him more room and the promise of "putting up a curtain to make a bat cave" we got him a junior loft bed. He has ended up really liking it, and it's not so tall that I have panick attacks. Big step for our Parker man!

So tired!!!!!

I am so tired!!!!  This move has been exhausting. We finally got our stuff on Saturday.  We actually haven't had a good experience this time around. When we called our moving coordinator today with all our complaints she said they had been getting a lot about Graebel and they might be dropping them! So, in a military move they are suppose to unpack you, if you want. Our driver/unloaders swore up and down to us that they were not unpackers and that we would need to call our moving coordinator Monday and schedule someone else to come and unpack us. Hello!!!! Do they think we are going to sit around for 2 days and just wait with a house full of boxes?? Of course our delivery was 3 days late and on a Saturday so the military moving office was closed, so we couldn't even call and complain while he was here. (btw.....when we told them that today they were shocked because all military moves include packing and they all know that.....it was a blatant lie and obviously done so they could move on since they were running 3 days behind)  Ugh. Anyways, to make it worse they broke our bed the legs of our dresser.  It's very nice heavy furniture.  The bed was broken in transit, but the dresser was broken while the movers were moving it in upstairs. It's heavy, so instead of picking it up to move it they decided to scoot in across the carpet down the hall and into our bedroom. While doing so the legs caught and ripped the wood pieces they are attached to out from under the dresser. SO FRUSTRATING!!!! Both pieces are functional, but I honestly don't know how they are going to fix the bed. We have drawers under it and there is a piece right above the drawers that is cracked almost the whole length of the bed. I'm worried about it. Who knows how long it will take to get this rectified and who knows how they are going to see fit to "make it right". I think the dresser can be repaired pretty easily by someone who knows what they are doing. They already have to fix the top of the dresser because one of the packers on the Missouri end dropped his drill TWICE on it and gouged two wholes with the bit. We are really bummed because we have never had any problems before. Parker's bookshelf was also demolished......it was a cheap Walmart bookshelf, so I wasn't surprised by that. As we started opening boxes we soon realized how carelessly our belongings were packed. They really couldn't have cared less. Glass vases on the bottom of boxes full of kitchen appliances. Posters waded up in boxes under toys. Things we had put together so they would be packed together found in completely different boxes. Mislabeled boxes. Things not wrapped properly.....just lots of stuff like that. Just disappointing. I've decided I'm not buying movers lunch anymore. We did it on both ends and it didn't matter...........we even gave one of them our old big screen for FREE, and he still treated our stuff like crap.  Now, was it so terrible I'd be interested in doing a dity next time? Ask me after the damage claims process.......I'll keep ya posted.   

Yesterday we went to our new ward for the first time. We got there 15 min early and there were like 2 other families there. Soon after some older couples came in and came right over to talk to us. Our ward is a good mix of older retired couples and young couples. Sacrament was a little loud....lots and lots of babies and little kids. The primary is HUGE! The youth is small. Parker did well in primary. His teachers seem really nice and he seemed to have fun. I love that even though the people and building are different it's still the same. Parker still got to have singing time and sing the songs he loves, so I think that helped make him feel more comfortable. Aileen didn't have the same experience. For one, she is ready to be done with Primary. Just a couple more months. There aren't a whole of girls her age, and the girls in her class were a little shy. She was sad cause no one talked to her.  I explained to her that they were feeling shy just like she is and she might have to be the one to start a conversation and say hi.  I think in a few weeks, and especially once she gets in YW it will be better for her. Poor Sam said he went to High Priests and he is easily younger than everyone by at least 15 years. He said he will be talking to the EQ president to make sure he is informed of their stuff too so he can associate with men his age. The Bishopric is around his age, but they aren't in there......they are way too busy. A few couple months ago Emily introduced me a to a girl she knew from Vegas who is in my new ward, Aurie. So, I've been in contact with her and it's been great!!  She lent us chairs and a drill before our stuff got here and has made me feel welcome! Relief Society was actually pretty great. Some of the sisters already knew I was coming and so many introduced themselves to me and came up to talk. It was nice. I kinda hope I get to stay in there for a while and get to know them better. :) 

Today was spent unpacking.  I got frustrated because I can't fit everything in my kitchen. Will have to come up with some creative ways to store things. I think I have a plan that might work. Our room is still a disaster, but everything else is taking shape.  We DID buy a new TV, and I love it!!!!!  Now, some of you may know about our old ghetto TV.  It was a nice big screen, about 7 years old. It got struck by lightening and so to make it work you had to plug and unplug it over and over for the first 10 minutes you turn it on. So, it's VERY nice to be able to just turn on the TV! We really like it.  Our first big Costco purchase. It was a great deal. 

Anyway, like I said at the beginning.....moving is exhausting......in all ways possible. Physically, emotionally.....my sanity is questionable. ;)  Just glad to be on this end of it......remind me not to do this again anytime soon!!!!!!  

Ready to get settled.......

The last couple of days here have been pretty good. We've done a lot of driving around and looking at stuff. Yesterday we drove down to Salt Lake and drove around temple square. We went to dinner at this amazing BBQ place called Holy Smoke (thanks Kathee!!).  It was the best BBQ I've had outside of Oklahoma. Delicious ribs!

I think I've said before.....the size of this place is overwhelming. And the traffic!!! I haven't had to deal with traffic in 4 years....it'll take some getting used to.  

This morning we went to housing and signed all our paper work. We get the keys tomorrow. We will get our household goods Thurs or Fri. It was supposed to be for sure Thurs, but the driver called today and said the company added a stop and it might be Friday before he gets here. Kinda stinks, but I can't complain too much. It's still pretty fast. 

After going to housing we drove out to Antelope island. It's an island in the middle of the Salt lake. It has hiking and camping and that kinda stuff. We just drove around.  We saw a buffalo herd! That was pretty fun. Here's a pic.....

Tonight we went to Costco for the first time. YAY!!  Saw so many things I can't wait to get. Parker wanted a card of his own and the sweet customer service lady made one for him....so cute. He was so proud to wear it while we walked around and kept saying that he could buy stuff now. 

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I'm ready to be done with hotel living. I think the kids are sick of each other too. :)  I'm ready to get in, get our stuff and get settled.....go to our new ward and start meeting people. I'm excited to see my friends already here.  YAY! But things are going as well as they could, and I have to be grateful for that. :)

Day 7.......We made it!

We made it! Hooray!!  We got here mid afternoon and got checked into our hotel.  The kids think it's "fancy".  It is really nice and will be great to stay in the next few days. It's actually overwhelming to be back in such a populated area. Phoenix was this way, but we've spent the past 4 years in little St Robert. So, it's a bit of culture shock. Feels like we are on vacation. I guess it will feel this way until we actually get moved in with our stuff.  We went by our house today, and I am a little disappointed. It looks nice, but it looks small. Definitely smaller than I imagined and was led to believe. We only looked through windows, so I'm hoping once we get in it will be ok. I'm sure it will all work out. The neighborhood seems nice and there is a splash park literally a few houses down.  I imagine the kids will be wanting to go there a lot. The base itself reminds me a lot of Luke AFB.  Kind of industrial looking.....not NEARLY as pretty as Fort Leonard Wood, but the scenery around is absolutely gorgeous. The mountains are literally right there. It is so so pretty here.  I will love looking out my window everyday. We are literally sandwiched between the salt lake and the mountains.  We drove around and the kids had a great time playing "count the spires". It's amazing to me, how many there are. Literally across the street from each other! We saw the Bountiful temple up on the hill as we were driving around.  I am so excited to get to temple much more often with so many so close. :)  So, the hard part is over. Now we just wait for our stuff and set up house. Here are a couple pics!

Day 6.......

Leg 2....the longest is complete! YAY!

Most of the day I saw this......

It really was pretty, but it gets monotonous. I'm glad we had gorgeous weather. We haven't had any problems in that department, thank goodness.  

We saw the world headquarters of Cabelas.  Did you know it's in the middle of nowhere Wyoming?  It is!!

We also saw this.......

Did you know there was a giant head of President Lincoln in the middle of Wyoming? Has something to do with the first intercontinental highway, or something. At the same rest stop there was a tiny museum.....

  

At lunch today we stopped at a place called Runza. Nadine recommended it and I was the only one brave enough to try the actual famous sandwhich. It was seasoned ground beef with cabbage and cheese in this roll and It was delicious!  Sam wished he'd gotten one after tasting mine instead of his burger.  Thanks Nadine!

At one of our pit stops, I was scooping some pooh out of the litter box....remember I told you the cats are in a large cage together and have a litter box. Well, while doing this I DUMPED THE LITTER BOX ON ME!!!!!  Yes, laugh it up. It was nasty and I smelled like cat litter. And that poor gas station had a large pile of kitty litter and kitty potty in their parking lot. Luckily the kitty potty didn't get on me.....but it was still nasty. 

At one point we were in the middle of rest stops is Wyoming and Aileen had to go to the bathroom really bad.  There was no where to stop except this little Super 8. So we pulled over and the lady said, "I'm sorry, we don't have a public bathroom" I said, "I have a child here who really needs to go"  "I'm sorry" Poor Aileen. I should have said "Fine, well, I'll just have her go here right out side your front door." Makes me so mad. Seriously, I know she has to go to the bathroom during her shift......who doesn't let a little kid go to the bathroom when you know there isn't another stop for miles. Stupid lady.

After we got into Wyoming it really started getting beautiful. This was a great change of scenery.....

The kids thought the mountains were awesome....so do I, actually. I forgot how gorgeous they are and how much I love them. Getting out the car up here is awesome. The air is so crisp and cool and clean and yummy.  We are staying in Rawlins, WY. Our Hotel is really nice and this bed is SUPER comfortable I'm about to crash in. We had dinner at a place called Bucks.  Recommended by a local and it was delicious! A great steak. 

Another 5 hours or so and we will be there. Glad the shortest leg of the trip is tomorrow. That was smart of me.  Til then....... :)