Trying to Stop and Smell the Flowers...

We thought once we moved, that life would slow down a little bit, but it did quite the opposite.  Doug and I worked hard cleaning, unpacking, and getting things settled.  We did manage to squeeze in a bike ride and were delighted to find the river bike path so close.  We stopped by the beautiful botanical gardens along the way, because... sometimes you've just got to stop and smell the flowers. :)

Momma Kaye delivered our kids back safe and sounds just in time for the Pioneer Day Parade.  We had the hottest seats in the house... literally. :)  And poor Seth and Brig weren't feeling well. 

But clearly that didn't stop the rest of us from watching fireworks with Ken and Liz's crew.  

How lucky are we that we could see them from our front porch?!  That was pretty fun.

We were blessed to go on a VIP tour of the temple for Doug's work.  It was very special-- wish poor Seth had been feeling better... and wish I had cleaned my camera lens, but if wishes were fishes.  It was still very special, and we just feel blessed to be so near this beautiful temple that has really changed our lives for the better.

Doug worked on a little project fixing his old drafting table.  He picked it up for a song when they were throwing them out during his masters, and he really did a great job of giving it some new life.

The kids took some time just getting use to the idea that we had so much space... that we actually had our own backyard.

Then we braced ourselves for many more adventures to pack in.

On the Move...

Yes-- this picture might make you think that this next chapter was all fun and games, but let me assure you, that the popcorn and movie were well earned!  Doug and I worked our tails off for the next few days, packing, scrubbing walls, making arrangements and scrubbing some more.  It was hard work, but I had THE ALL TIME BEST MOVING BUDDY.  He is a power house and so amazing to work with.

This move was full of tender mercies.  Doug had ordered a smaller truck, but we soon realize it would be too small.  He had asked the rental company if they had anything bigger trucks, but they didn't, and we were feeling quite worried.  Just as we were loading the storage unit, they called and said a larger truck had just come in.  They gave it too us for no extra charge.  It was such a blessing!

Thank goodness for the Elders helping us move!  It was in the middle of the work week, early in the morning, so with a strange time, we were grateful to get any help.

Goodbye to our very clean little apartment.  I took pictures so the kids would remember what it looked like. (And didn't look like... because it was never this clean. :)

One last shot and we were on our way, with Doug driving the big truck and me following behind with a loaded van.

We pulled into Doug's sweet cousins, Ken and Liz.  They fed us and we had a nice relaxing visit.  We were really blessed to find a home to rent-- my Aunt Laurie's brother-in-law was trying to sell his home after losing his wife (her sister) to cancer earlier that year, and it worked out well for both of us to find a place.  It was quite a miracle that we even heard about it.  We got the keys late that night, and we were so exhausted and felt a little discouraged because quite a bit of cleaning and fixing needed to be done, but it was good looking at things with fresh eyes the next morning.  It was exciting to have so much space for things and we just felt grateful that things had worked out so well for us.

We had a great moving crew and welcoming committee.

 

Liz was my moving angel!  She is such a special person and such an example to me of generosity.  She helped scrub down a filthy kitchen, bought liners for all the drawers and cupboards, bought cleaners and air-fresheners, then fed us all lunch and bought some groceries for us to have breakfast.

We were particularly excited about our beautiful view of the mountains.  Doug and I just sat on the porch eating breakfast and soaking it in.  It was a nice, quiet little neighborhood, and quite close to Doug's work.

We made it! 

(Now to unpack.)

Bye Bye Boise...

Even with just a few days left in Boise, we still managed to pack in a lot.

The girls felt quite grown up cashing in on their free ice cream cone together.

They said their goodbye to friends.  Alicia is a sweet friend we really miss!  She and Amberlee are enjoying being pen-pals though.

(I LOVE Autumn's clover bouquet in this one. :)

And we can't forget the blessed lunch truck that seriously saved my grocery bill!  They basically pulled right to our door-- apparently there is such a thing as a free lunch. ;)

Did a little babysitting and had an excellent helper.

And silly me, in addition to packing the house, I felt this major drive to complete an unfinished quilt project.  I made matching quilts for the boys room.

Precious Autumn... she broke the thumb-sucking habit, but still has some sensory issues apparently.  I kept finding little chewed up tacks and staples everywhere.  This was the little treasure trove under her pillow... ouch!

Who wouldn't love waking up to these cute boys?

They are such buddies....

They couldn't even bare to be separated in the dentist chair. :)

Once again parents save the day!  Sweet Helen and Scott drove up to take the kids back with them and my parents for a couple weeks.  What a blessing all around!  The kids needed the stability, and we need the time to pack, clean, clean again, and then unpack.  Big thank you to both parents who helped so much!

(Enjoying some frozen yogurt.)

I have the funnest friends!  Two of my favorite people (Rachel Lisonbee and Kelli Hill) literally kidnapped me, threw me in the back of their van and took me out for dessert at the Cheesecake Factory.  It was so fun to visit with them. I miss them and feel so grateful our paths crossed.

And here is our little family saying goodbye to Boise and good old Crane Creek, and hello to new adventures in a new city.  So grateful for this stepping-stone chapter of our lives.  Particularly because I was blessed to make some of the dearest friends and Doug and I were able to over come some obstacles and work more as a team.

Stars and Strips Forever!

So I'm home form church with a sick little boy today, and I was trying to think of some good ways to spend my time.  Considering the red, white, and blue skirt I just happen to be wearing today, it seems very appropriate to finally blog the 4th of July... even in January... most especially in January, because it's nice thinking about warmer days gone by.

It was a day of Independence for all my munchkins and their descendant.

(Aren't my kiddos precious all spiffed up for church?)

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue!

Even Seth understands the importance of the day, as he strikes what looks very much like an engagement pose. :)

 On the actual 4th, the kids and I held our own little flag ceremony at the apartment complex, starting the day off with the pledge of allegiance.

Later we enjoyed play-time at the local splash pad.

We enjoyed a potluck dinner with our good friends the Lisonbee's.

And afterwords we hit the local firework display by the river and lit a few sparklers of our own. 

(Which we late found out was quite illegal, but it was fun while it lasted-- poor apartment dwellers never have a good place to light fireworks. :)

God bless the USA!