The top 10 reasons why I still have a ton of boxes... (and some more summer pics)

1.  I just packed all these boxes!  Too make all that work worth it they are going to stay boxes for a while!

2.  We waited a couple days for our driver to get here with all our stuff.  He gets here and says, "Well, here's the first half of your things."  WHAT???!!!!  "Um, sir, where is the OTHER HALF OF OUR THING??"  "Oh, they didn't tell you?"  "NO!"  "Well it wouldn't all fit in my truck so the rest of your things are still in Texas, waiting for the other truck to fill and then it will get here."  "Excuse me, Can I have a word with your manager? Do you mind calling him RIGHT NOW!!"  

3.  My mom flew out to help me unpack but since our WONDERFUL moving company still has HALF our things in Texas we pretty much get some kitchen boxes done and can't do anything more...since we had the bottom half of our table and not the top, the box spring but not the mattress, the crib mattress but not the crib, the bottom of the desk but not the top...SO PRETTY MUCH EVERY USELESS THING WE OWN---AND JUST HALF OF IT...great huh?

4.  I call the dispatcher for the third time "So, Micheal, when do you think our truck will be here now?"  "Oh, it just left, it will definitely be here before the weekend"  "oh....well, it better be because our contract said it by Monday, so if not it will be a breach of contract right?!"  "uh, right."  The weekend comes around and what do you know, NO TRUCK.  Monday morning, "So Micheal, our truck isn't here.  It's monday."  "Oh, yeah, you know that truck broke down and I luckily switched your stuff to another truck that just left. Great huh!"  "Right...So Micheal you realize that this is a breach of contract don't you?"  "Oh well, the other truck broke down....mumble mumble..."  "OKAY MICHEAL, I AM NOT HAPPY!!  WHERE IS MY STUFF RIGHT NOW AND WHAT NUMBER CAN MY LAWYER CALL!!?"  "Oh well, I think it will leave tomorrow hopefully and get there this weekend."  "OH REALLY, YOU JUST SAID IT JUST LEFT AND DO YOU MEAN THIS WEEKEND JUST LIKE YOU SAID LAST WEEKEND!!!"  "There is nothing more I can do for you ma'am, sorry."  I yelled for a few more minutes and then hung up, I really don't like them...

5.  Sunday night our stuff finally makes it there (two weeks late).  Yeah!  Except what do you know, so many things are broken and the driver gets all the stuff in and says he's done and I ask, "so where is our TV?" "um..." "where is the top to our desk?"  "umm..."  "WHERE OUR LIKE 10 BOXES THAT I DON'T HAVE NUMBERS FOR???" "um..."  really can he say anything else??  Nope. we are still missing so many things, sigh, I'm sick of yelling at people, really I like to be a nice person, but they are making it impossible!

6.  I DO have a toddler at home.

7.  I have to kill all the previous occupants (namely the ants that our hanging stubbornly around).

8.  I'M REALLY REALLY TIRED because...

9.  I'M SICK because....

10.  YEP... Because I'M PREGNANT!  Yes, we certainly ALWAYS choose the most opportune times (a bit sarcastic because no, I have never yet been able to choose a time when I get pregnant!).  BUT  don't get me wrong we are TOTALLY excited!  I just wasn't planning on being a bump on a pickle when I was supposed to be unpacking so...basically I just didn't!  They weren't going anywhere right?  Well, neither was I!  Well, i am actually now 17 weeks and I feel SO much better so guess what I am doing?!!  I'M FINALLY UNPACKING!!  




Ocean's eleven (the early years...)

Shawn's second reception in Utah.
A very fun and relaxing balloon ride with my family.  It was beautiful!

Happy 5th Birthday Kennedy!

September 26, 2008, Happy 5 year old birthday!

Here are some pics from this summer:
Harrison's 2nd Birthday...


Harrison's first Haircut (was definitely not thrilled to be there!)
Shawn's wedding!! Aren't they so cute??!!



My parents and them
So Happy!
My brothers and Ryan
Alpine slide, Park City, Utah

Harrison is still taking about the Boat and Fast!!
Yes, this is Kennedy's brother...poor cat, just won't get a break!
Harrison's 2nd birthday (take 2--with G and G Dickey)
4th of July, Park city

Harrison loves bikes!
Boating again!

We got back from our last trip so I will get the rest of the pics up and let you know what else we've been up to!! Hope all is well with everyone!

First Half of my Summer

So I think I will just say in a nutshell what I have been doing. Then when I find my thing to down load pics I will put them up (it has got to be in ONE of these boxes!)….

******Mid June—left for Maryland. My little bro. Shawn was getting married!! Finally!! Well, I have five brothers and I have wanted a sister for 29 years now so it was about time you know?!! I went to help my Mom a little with things that needed to be done the week before and then the wedding and reception went really well! I totally love Janna and they both were so happy! I will be so fun to have another girl in the house and maybe even some cousins for Harrison someday…☺. I stayed for a few extra days, of course getting a bad cold after everything and then…

******End of June –flew to Utah. Ryan’s family all flew out and we all stayed in Park City for the July 4th week. We boated (water-skied and tubed) at Jordanelle reservoir, went and road all the rides one day, went shopping at the outlets and hung out watching movies. It was fun and relaxing.

******I then was going to fly right back to TX to finish packing but my Mom made me an offer that I couldn’t refuse. So I asked if Ryan’s parents could watch Harrison for a day and then my mom would fly out early to Utah (they were all flying out for Shawn’s Utah reception mid July) and watch Harrison for two more days. This way I could go to pack without the wonderful help of a 2 yr old, and fly back for the reception in Utah, so…

******I flew down to Texas on a Monday, packed all day/all night (except 2 hours I did lay down from exhaustion!) And was ALMOST ready when the packers came at 9am. They weren’t supposed to be till between 10 and 2 and I REALLY needed that extra time—but of course when you need them late, they are early. So They started taking things apart and carrying them downstairs while I though all the rest in boxes and they help tape them up. Luckily I saved the cloths for last so I just had to literally throw them in! They finished early afternoon and I pretty much fell and laid on the stairs for 45 minutes trying to get enough energy to go get something to eat (since it had been the day before that I had last eaten!!) But I just sat there. Finally, I found some chips and salsa that I was going to bring to my brother and sister in laws that night and finished them off—great nutrition huh??!!

Anyway, I tried to start cleaning (in between some naps on the floor) got through the oven, microwave, some windows and all the trash when I literally couldn’t lift my arms anymore so I gave up. Cynthia, my sister in law, offered to help me clean the next day, and I couldn’t have been more thankful! (Her and Travis—Ryan’s brother, had already helped me pack up some of our things—which was a HUGE lifesaver since Ryan was already working in San Fran! Thanks Trav and Cynthia—I couldn’t have done it without you!!---One side note—Last summer when I did the same thing—pack up and get moved while Ryan already started working in Texas, I swore that would never happen again—so here I was just one year later…. what in the world was I thinking???

So I drove and crashed at Travis and Cynthia’s house. Wednesday, Cynthia and I got up early so we could make it to my place to put out the trash (which I think was around 12 bags, plus some furniture). Then cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. All I can say is that place looked better than when we moved in and IT WASN’T WORTH IT! I had to meet with the manager so we ran the couple errands that I needed to (sell back extra boxes at Uhaul, returns at the store, drop off a ton at salvation army), grab something to eat (thanks to Cyn reminding me to eat) just in time to make it back for my apt with the manager. Things went well (she was actually amazed at how clean it was—said it was the best she’d ever seen and wondered how long we really lived there—again, it wasn’t worth it—we should have left it less clean and gotten more sleep ☺). But, at least I got my deposit back. We then raced home to beat all the really bad traffic. Ryan’s other brother Brett came by that night to say goodbye and then I went early that next morning to say goodbye to Allison, his wife, and then ran to the airport to catch my flight back to Utah.

Well, this is getting WAY TOO LONG so I will write the next half of my summer on the next post. I had had a great time so far, but was thoroughly exhausted by the time I got on that flight. I was also sad that because I didn’t get back for the week or two I had originally thought I didn’t get to say goodbye to anyone in my ward or anything…. so I am so sorry and I hope that I can keep better in touch now that I am officially in Cali!

Uhhh...yeah, so I guess I should post, right??!!!

So Hello anyone that will come here after TWO MONTHS of NO blogging--well any computer stuff for that matter!! We finally got the internet hooked up on friday. This has been quite the summer for me so I will have to blog about it. Just give me a couple of days! I just wanted to say that yes, we have made it here to California. We are in Walnut Creek and it is beautiful. We have gone to our ward a few times and it seems fine, just really haven't meet anyone yet (which is because I haven't really gone to anything yet...just got to get out of boxes!! I feel like I can't socialize until I can come home to a home you know??!!) Anyway, sorry for being awful about keeping in touch with things but, I guess you all know me and well--Have I EVER been good at emailing??? Please don't answer me on that one okay :)! I know my limitations! Anyway, I will try to write more in the next few days! Love you guys!

KENNEDY'S ANGEL DAY

So here we are again. It is June 14th for the 3rd time for me. I know I have gone through 29 of them but really in my memory there are only 3. Three years ago today, I was holding my daughter for the last time on this earth.

These are the last living pictures that we have of her, taken 2 days before.

These are pictures of her headstone when we got it put in for the first time (on her birthday 2005). I don't know if anyone is interesting on seeing this, some people may think morbid, but for me this is comfort. Since I am not able to be there this year I am glad that I have pictures. And that I will have other things there and people so it won't look forgotten, she will feel missed. You see her playful cat, her conversing with her bird and then on the back it reads...

Dancing, music playing
Eyes bright shining within

Walking, face enchanting
Laughing though her pain

Fighting, now peaceful
Love surrounds her in our arms

Feet forward
Gone for a moment

Angel of mine,
Now she is home.

Thank you everyone, we couldn't have done it without you.

Jane Austen...

Jane Austen has to be my favorite author (though now with Stephenie Meyer pretty much tieing her!!) I just did this quiz on my friends blog and this i who I am:

Take the Quiz here!

You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.

Any one think this is really me?!

We found a place!!!!

We finally found a place to live!!! Ryan went and saw a place Thurs. night after work and took it on the spot!! It is really perfect for us. It is in Walnut Creek, about a mile from the BART. It is a townhome/duplex thing (attacted at the garage). It has two beds and a loft, all brand new stuff in side and keept up beautifully, and...in our price range amazingly! The owner was totally cool with Ryan and even picked him up from the Bart. The got talking and the guy mentioned that he was practically trying to give a way a car as well. Well, Ryan asked about that right away (since we ARE looking for a car now as well!). So, the guy told Ryan his price and it was below blue book, so Ryan of course asked if we rented the place would he take $1000 off, and the guy said yes!! So talk about a one stop shop!! A place and a car at once and I was so stressed about both of those things!! now I know when we can move (which is the only bad thing, we can't till July, so that means after the wedding), so I can buy plane tickets, decide the rest of the summer...our lives :)!

ANYWAY, that was a HUGE LOAD OF MY SHOULDERS let me tell you! Here's a few pics from our trip and one not so fun one!


Yeah, 'nough said on that last one--that was the beginning of a very long day!

I just wanted to say that really I am so blessed tonight. I found out, within one week, that one of my best friends fathers had passed away suddenly and that on old friend I went to elementary school with and still keep in touch has been diagnosied with multiple sclerosis. I ache for them, pray that they will feel strength, I love them both. We all have been given such trials and sometimes is it so hard to focus on anything else. But I realize that through those trials the blessings shine all the greater when they come, and really they will come.

My first trip to San Fran...a VERY long story

So last week I went to try and help Ryan find a place to live in the beautiful bay area. We have a few places picked out that we would like to live and they all focus in areas that the BART goes too--we call it the Metro back in DC but its the train system out there. So here is the map of possibilities.
So many people have liked the Walnut Creek area so that is where we are focusing I guess. I went to one of the wards and they were so great. Also, it was beautiful and had great shops/restaurants/trails/parks...really family oriented place. Ryan will then take the BART everyday (a 45 minute ride from Walnut Creek to his stop--Embarcadero), which I got to experience first hand, and yes it was quite the experience! Well, i guess just getting out to Cali and back was the experience and as always with me it seems that life is never uncomplicated.

So the day I was supposed to leave. Ryan scheduled my flights so he of course had me leaving at about 7 pm (which we all know who have kids you shouldn't leave on an airplane at the kids bedtime right?!). So I thought I had the whole day to get ready. Well this is what happens of course. We get up, eat breakfast, take care of Lucy (our dog), start some laundary...get a phone call...well the phone says that our car is TOTALLED. Well, the car looked pretty bad but it was just the front, so it can be fixed, right? Nope, its a volvo and one headlight costs $400 dollars and so if you include two headlight and the two whiper blade things it adds up to $1200 dollars...so you can guess that to fix everything else (the whole front including things in by the engine, possiblly the engine the....blah blah blah)....so basically the car was totalled because it was simply too expensive to fix--i'm not a huge volvo fan at the moment! The guy says that there were some personal belongings found in the car that needed to be picked up. Which means that for me that had to happen THAT DAY, since I was leaving. so then I look at the time, 10 something...okay this is do-able right. then he says it about 45 minutes away south of Dallas. OKAY, its still do able right? Well, I'm doing laundry for the trip, Harrison needs a nap forsure to survive the 3+ hour flight, I need to pack for Harrison and I, take lucy to a place to stay, spend an hour on the phone with the insurance, need to drop off the rental car, figure out how to get to the plane from rental place, drive down to the middle of nowhere to pick up a toll tag and some trash (personal belonging--Hah!), drive around on side roads to avoid the traffic that is at a stand still on the freeway because 3 trailer tractors turned over on the freeway (but we knew that would happen today right!!!) And still made it to the airport just in time to make it to my gate and find out the the plane was delayed and I get to spend the next two hours walking around the airport trying to calm down knowing that we are going on a 3+ hour plane ride still (all by myself), getting on a train for an hour and a half and will make it to our hotel at about 3 am my time. Sounds fun huh! But we have all had one of those days...especially when you get to your destination and find out that you flew to Cali for 5 days to find a house with your husband and find out that his work scheduled a last minute trip for him that would take up 3 of those days!!

The return trip was a little easier but I have definitely had better days. Ryan was of course out of town the day that I left so I packed up everything and planed my return. Ryan said to take a cab but I'm too cheep to ride in a cab for over 45 minutes when the train would just cost 7 bucks! So I swallowed my pride and got everything on my own. I used my sling to hold Harrison, put my bag under the stroller, ballanced the car seat in the stroller and pushed that with one hand and pulled my suit case behind me with the other hand, and walked to the BART!! It was close but it still didn't save the embarrasment of walking down a busy road to the station and have taxi driver's yelling to see if I wanted a ride to the airport! Then I got my ticket and almost fell down the escellator trying to balance everything (yes, I should have used the elevator but I couldnt figure out how to get it open without a key, weird huh?) I made it on train, survived the 1 1/2 hour ride figured out the trains at the aiport and made it to the gate. Well, then I had to figure out a way home! I had returned my rental car so I had no car, and when I called they were all out of cars (how's that possible I don't know but it was me so it happened!). So my brother in law called me back and they could get me. So that was set, so I get on the plane, Harrison sleeps for a little while and then wakes up with a fever! I luckily have tylenol but he is miserable! But I make it and I called my brother in law to see if there are any cars becasue I have to have one incase I have to take Harrison in (with my luck the one time he needs to go to the ER would be the day I have NO CAR!). Well after going to all of them there is one car that I can get for $61 a day, which I think is steep but, I need a car. So we finally get home and we survived (though poor Harrison keeps a fever and starts throwing up, a runny nose and coughing--I think he got every bug possible huh!) I don't like traveling anymore!

Anyway, If you made it this far in my blog Cali was gorgeous and It was fun to walk around. I had a great time those couple days Ryan was there looking around and spending Mother's day with him (which he was totally sweet and got me yummy see's chocolates, and picked out some clothes for me, which I do have to return because they don't fit, but they were too cute and its the thought right?!). I also got to see one of my Jerusalem roommates and her family!!! Which is the one, if any of you remember the story of how Ryan and I met there, helped start us out in the Holy Land! We had a great time and Susan was a ton of help talking about the area, which is where she grew up! Sorry for the way long story but...hey just needed some commiserating!

Just thought I would throw in a picture of my little sweety!!

San Francisco here we come...with a few extra bumps!

So no, these pictures aren't because I have suddenly grown a soft spot in my heart for bridges. Just thought I would give you a small taste of where we are offically moving! Ryan has accepted a job in San Francisco California!! Okay, so we live in Provo for eight years and finally make the move to Dallas and now here we are a year later going to San Fran! Here a few more:


So, I consider myself from the East, who has lived in multiple place in the midwest, am getting a little nervous for this big step to Calfornia...and not only Cali but San Francisco! Craziness! Everyone who has ever been there is telling me it is the most beautiful city, had so much culture and so much to do so I am excited just getting nervous...well really not looking forward to PACK ALL THOSE BOXES AGAIN! And trying to find a place, find new doctors, get to know a whole new area, a new ward, new people...wow a lot to get used to but I guess didn't grow up moving couple of years in the military for no reason right?!

And to top it off, or should I say getting this wonderful adventure started out "right" on our way today, to visit family before I drop Ryan off at the airport to go and meet his new team this beautiful picture...happens!
Yup! That WAS my beautiful volvo! Some guy decided to pull onto and drive on the WRONG side of the road, right in front of the truck in front of us who slams on his brakes which inturn (this would make a great physics lesson wouldn't you say...newton's laws in action) makes Ryan slam on our breaks but...just not quite enough time eh?! But amazingly through a wonderfully nice witness and police and insureance company and family, Ryan got to the airport intime and I got a rental car since OF COURSE our other car was picked up this morning and is heading on it way to San Francisco, right?! And hey, we are all okay, but just for future reference--we bought the volvo because of its great saftey features and you would think that a car that looks like this in the front SHOULD have had the air bags deployed? Well, they didn't. We didn't need them but it would have been nice for a little extra saftey huh?!