Dow Gardens

This is a really fun kid-friendly place here in Midland (our current place of residence). We will soon be moving to Bay City- only about 25 minutes away- where Luke is working and Micali is going to school.

We are in Michigan!

The best news to share is that Luke got a job. We arrived in Michigan on Sunday July 31st. That Wednesday, August 3rd was his first interview. The following day he got called back for a 2nd interview and was offered the job. We were SO excited and feel so blessed. He is at Bangor Township Schools and is the Asst. Principal at John Glenn High School. We thought we would have more of a summer vacation once we got here. Having a job is a much better alternative though. His brothers and dad were hoping that he wouldn’t have anything to do we we got here so that he could help them on some projects.

Moving Week

Our make-shift dining table---it worked and Micali was more pleased with that then putting her plate just on the floor.

Eli napping in our room. He finally fell asleep with help from the ipad. Poor sick baby.

Campout in the living room after all the beds were loaded in the truck. Micali was trying to fake being asleep.

Eli with his last treasures he kept out for the roadtrip.

All our possessions packed tightly in a 16ft trailer. Luke has AWESOME packing skills.

Micali all ready for her LONG drive in the truck with Daddy. She was so excited to be in the big truck. We thought she might get bored without movies to watch but she did a great job entertaining herself and keeping Daddy company.

I didn’t get a picture of the PACKED van but we were pretty full too. I had Eli, Abigail and Marley to keep me company!

A picture out the back door before leaving. We sure are missing those moutains but enjoying all the trees here in MI.

What a great hubby. Washing the last of the dishes moments before pulling out. I think we actually decided to throw most of them away. Sometimes it is just easier.

---Notes from the trip---

We left Thursday morning July 28th. We actually didn’t leave until about 12:30 due to the “last few things” being A LOT more than we expected once we got it all into the same space. Our great friends the Chadwicks even came by and offered to clean for us to get us out quicker.

That night we drove until just past Denver. About 7 hours of driving in.  The kids traveled well.

The next day we went from Denver to Lincoln, NE. Not sure how many hours but we took it easier this day and stopped early to enjoy some time in the pool. We also got some Benadryl for Eli and Abigail—to help them sleep. They had terrible runny noses so it helped dry them out a little and they slept SOUNDLY. It was such a relief to a very TIRED mom and dad.

From Lincoln, NE to St. Joe, MI was a LONG day. We intended to stop around Chicago but got stopped in traffic then could find an open hotel for MILES and MILES. A good friend of Luke’s from high school was so kind to open his home to us late in the night so we didn’t have to keep driving late into the night with very grumpy little ones.

Sunday morning we got a late start and only had 3 hours left to get to Jared’s house where we unloaded the stuff into their garage.

We got settled Sunday evening and the kids were so excited to be at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. They had been asking since we left Monticello where our new home was.

They are loving it here and really adjusting well.

Micali’s Birthday Cake

One of the last thing we did before leaving Monticello was finally have Micali’s birthday cake. She was so sweet and patient to wait until Daddy got back since we had to unexpectedly take him to the airport to fly out to an interview.

She was so excited to come home from church and have this pretty pink cake waiting for her. She LOVED it!

Moving fun…

No couch to lay on so he just passed out on the floor.

Every box is a new adventure for Abigail.

Micali still has her trusty friend “Sally” (previously named Denali and Ginger). Now Sally even gets to wear clothes!

Micali turns FIVE!!!

Micali’s birthday was a great day for all of us. She started by going to Vacation Bible School. I had great plans to make her a beautiful strawberry cake and have a nice family party for her. While she was gone though we got a call from a school in Michigan to come out for an interview. All plans were put on hold and we quickly found a plane ticket and got ready to go on a road trip to the airport a little over two hours away. Micali was so excited her prayers were answered and that daddy now at least had a chance of getting a job. Micali said she had such a fun day. I am glad she is easy to please. The birthday cake pictures will have to come later.

----The camping chairs are all the furniture we have to sit on currently. We sold all the rest to be ready for our move coming up very quickly.

Pictures are worth a thousand words…

Leaving Monticello

Anyone who knows me well would know that I didn’t love my house that we lived in here. It is a small rental home that previously had pets and although we cleaned the carpets and did what we could it was sometimes kinda smelly. There wasn’t a lot of storage space and I struggled with being organized.

That being said I am going to miss this place. A house is just a structure. The home, that we were able to make it, has many  GREAT memories.

-Eli learned to walk-We brought sweet Abigail home from the hospital-Micali learned to ride her bike-Luke realized his desire to be an administrator while working on his doctorate-I enjoyed perfecting my skills in the kitchen, learned about green smoothies that my kids LOVE-The kids were chased by their dragon dad-we got our first pet-movie night every Friday-Enjoyed our mountain view overlooking the golf course-welcomed many imaginary friends to join us at meal time-lots of candlelight dinners because Micali thought it was so magical-great next door neighbors Krista and Taylor and their dog Trigger and baby Whitley-water balloon fights in the back yard-

Monticello has been good to us. It was so great living in a small town with a temple so close. When I would run errands I would be back in 20 minutes and have gone 2.5 miles----That was if it included—dropping off lunch for Luke at his work, getting the mail at the post office, taking a check to the bank, checking out books from the library and picking up a gallon of milk at the store. I LOVED that.

In April we were driving around town and noticed a cute house with a  fenced yard and attached garage. We decided to look at it—made an offer an prepared to move. Luke had also applied for the Assistant principal job here at the high school and had three years left in his doctorate program. We enrolled Micali to start Kindergarten in the fall. We would also be changing wards that we attended because we were moving across town. We were excited for the changes.

In May and June little by little all of these plans that we had for ourselves began to change. We didn’t feel comfortable closing on the house after we got the appraisal. Luke didn’t get an interview for the job. Luke wasn’t sure if he really needed a doctorate if he wanted to be a principal. (he started his doctorate program thinking he would like to teach at a university) What he really needed was some sort of  experience as an administrator. We started looking for jobs in Michigan---where we would like to eventually end up. Luke thought about quitting his doctorate program and hoped to find a program where he could just get his admin. certificate.

All the while we had been praying for direction and felt completely lost and confused. Luke resigned from his job here but then thought about reapplying because we felt good about him at least going to classes this summer at Utah State because they were classes that would help him as a principal. While up at school two weeks ago he was granted approval to finish his doctorate program in Michigan. (HOORAY) He doesn’t have to look for a new program or apply to any other university. And if no job comes he will be a full-time student.

We are headed to Michigan in 12 days. We don’t have a job and plan to live with Luke’s parents until we find something. It doesn’t all make logical sense---why would we quit a good job here in an area we like without having something better. Honestly----WE DON’T KNOW!!! We are going on Faith and a prayer in our hearts knowing that our Heavenly Father who loves us sees the bigger picture and knows the desires of our heart! It’s scary to leave but again look forward to a new adventure!

HFM

HAND

FOOT

MOUTH……..disease.

My sweet little Abigail or “Abbers” as she is commonly referred to by her siblings was the only unfortunate one to get this WEIRD sickness. She was pretty grumpy the few days that her tongue had sores on it but the blisters on her hands and toes didn’t seem to bother her at all. She is doing much better now and hopefully Micali and Eli will not show up with any of the symptoms. I am hoping it has been too long but who knows.

29 years old

I have one more year in my twenties. I have been thinking of a few things I would like to do before turning 30. Right now something I really want to do is run a half-marathon. I am excited to start training once we get moved and settled in.

Here are a few pictures from my birthday. We celebrated just a little since Luke was at school up at Utah State for his last week of summer classes.

These pictures---that have me in them are compliments of a 4 year old photographer!

Micali was so thoughtful and brought these flowers in so I could have a special surprise for my birthday.

My visiting teachers stopped in and dropped of a birthday cake for me. I was so surprised and the kids were so excited that Mommy was going to have a birthday cake.

Abigail wasn’t about to just smile with the cake. She had to try it!

It was a great day! The kids were so excited in the morning when I told them it was my birthday. All day long they kept saying “Mom! It’s your birthday!” and giving me hugs and kisses. I am blessed to have such a loving family!