Picture Day!

On our 2nd to last night in Oklahoma, I asked my super talented friend Ashley to take some family pictures for us.  I'd been wanting to do it for a long time, and why not put it off till the last minute when you have a ton of packing to do and nothing else better to do with your time than find coordinating clothes and make everyone look pretty?

Other than the pictures on my side bar that are my favorites, I have just a few more I had to share (okay, there are more than a few).  I'll just mention my favorite part of each photo.

Just because it has all of us

 Sarah's truly happy smile

 Jared - left out and with a sour look about it

 

 Trying to get a picture of Jared, and Andrew jumped in for a squeeze

 Andrew's totally cheesy smile

 Emma pulled them in for a hug

 Looks like they are discussing serious stuff here...

 Andrew's pure delight

Biggest blue eyes (not touched up, by the way)

A glimpse into the true nature of Emma and Jared's relationship... she can't get enough of him, and he deals with it.

Emma smiling with her teeth - very rare

Man... I love my little family.

First Grade - First Day

Sarah started her first day of first grade today!  It has seemed like a very, very long summer for us.  From packing up our house in Oklahoma, to visiting family in Utah, to unpacking our house in Iowa, to a L-O-N-G last three weeks of summer.  I think we were all more than ready for school to finally start.

I think I was just as nervous as Sarah was for the big day.  She's been telling me for a couple weeks that she was sad because she didn't know anyone in her new school.  Every time we'd meet someone new at the park or around town, they would have a kindergarten-age kid or a 2nd grader, but never anyone Sarah's age (or Emma's age for that matter). Sarah has always been a little like me when it comes to making friends.  We feel more comfortable waiting for the other person to approach us than to risk walking up to someone we don't know and might not want to know us!

So, as our whole family went to the school for the send off, I gave Sarah a hug and started tearing up.  I'm so worried for her.  I hope she gets brave today and meets 20 new friends.  When I realized Sarah was about to cry, thankfully, I was able to control my emotions and tell her what a great day she was going to have.  We left her without any tears, only looking slightly nervous.

 We can't wait to hear all about her big day!

Sweet Dreams

In preparation for my parents "speaking assignment" at church and luncheon at their house the day before they were scheduled to leave for the MTC, Dennis and Andrew helped my dad clean up the yard and mow the lawn.  Andrew had already had his bath and was headed to bed when Dennis asked if Andrew wanted to ride for a little while.  That was an easy answer!  Within a few minutes, Andrew was sound asleep.


He dreamt of John Deere all night long.  

Brigham City

During our little visit to Utah (while my sweet husband packed up the moving van and moved all of our stuff to Iowa), the kids and I took a day trip to Brigham City with my parents.

They are building a new LDS temple in Brigham City.  It is gorgeous.  I can't wait to see what it looks like finished, but I love the nostalgic feel to it.  It reminds me so much of some of the first temples that were built more than 100 years ago. 

We had such a fun day... walking around Brigham City a little, visiting a park, seeing the temple, and we capped it all off with a lunch at Maddox.  Their rolls were, as usual, heaven-sent.  I love the memories Maddox brings flooding to me.  Special dinners as a family around Christmas-time, High School graduation lunches for myself and each of my siblings, dinner with Dennis and my family the first time he came to visit, our wedding breakfast... yummy food and great memories.

Pretty Princess Pedi Party

For our very last day in Oklahoma, we had Sarah's two best friends over for a party.  We picked them up and headed to McDonald's for lunch (6 kids at McDonald's + 1 Mom = some very interesting conversation, lots of messes, and some empathetic looks from other adults).  After our lunchtime adventure, we went back to our house and had a pedicure party.  While Jared napped and Andrew entertained himself with his new light saber from his Happy Meal, I gave the four girls a pedicure.  They loved it! 

Sarah really had some great friends in Lauren and Paige, and I hope she can find some more friends in Iowa quickly.

All Our Bags Are Packed...

And we're ready to go...

The house is packed up in boxes, and the kids and I are headed to Utah today.  Two and a half weeks of play, and then on to our Iowa adventure.

Anxious

anx·ious

/ˈæŋkʃəs, ˈæŋ-/ Show Spelled–adjective

1. full of mental distress or uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune; greatly worried; solicitous.

2.  earnestly desirous; eager

3.  attended with or showing solicitude or uneasiness

People lately have been asking me how I'm feel about moving.  I think it can all be summed up in one word.  It's the first thing that comes to my mind... I am ANXIOUS.

1. I am full of mental distress and uneasiness due to the fear of packing up my house, unpacking in a new place, having to leave my Okie friends, trying to make new friends, having the kids make new friends, settling into a new routine, and on and on and on.  I like to hold on to old friends because I feel comfortable with them.  I can be myself.  I know what to expect.  I am worried about having new people get to know me and my quirks and put up with the antics of my cute, but crazy kids.

2.  I am earnestly desirous and eager about the new an unknown our Iowa home holds.  I can't wait to see what kind of changes are coming our way.  In a way, I love love love change.  I like things new and fun and exciting.  Will we love being in a branch vs. a ward?  Will our children thrive and grow to love Iowa like Dennis and I do?  Will they look back at this change as a great thing in their lives?  Will Dennis love his new job as much as we think he will?  Are the kids going to love that they get the opportunity to grow up close to family... grandparents less than an hour away, and tons of cousins as well?

3. I am uneasy about getting our lives in order - getting the girls in school, Andrew in preschool, and getting involved in the community.  I am especially uneasy that my parents are leaving on a two-year mission to Papua New Guinea the day Dennis starts work at his new job.  I won't get to call my mom any time I need to vent or ask for advice or ask about a recipe, or when I just want to tell her the cute things Sarah/Emma/Andrew/Jared just did.  

My life is about to turn up-side down.  I am eager, uneasy, and desirous.  I am ANXIOUS.