canyon county fair

Saturday evening Travis came home from work very excited to take us to the county fair. He heard people talking about it all day long and couldn't wait to get off work and surprise us with tickets. The kids loved all the culture and animals and basically everything to do with the whole evening. I felt like I committed a huge sin by showing up in flipflops instead of cowboy boots, so now "find boots" is on my to-do list! :) Kaitlynn says we are being countrified!

exploring Idaho

After we had been in our house for a few days we decided to go exploring a little bit. We found this great park 5 miles from our neighborhood where the kids can swim in a sectioned off part of the river. It also has park toys and a waterslide. Unfortunately we have only been once, since I have been homebound for over a week with a severe case of hives. I finally went to the doctor yesterday and after getting two shots and two more prescriptions, I am finally on the mend. The kids can't wait to go back and swim some more. We also went up into the mountains and found some great places to camp. So if Travis ever gets a day off we know where to go. :) Brayden has been fascinated with ghost towns for awhile now, so I looked some up when we got here. We explored Idaho City up in the mountains. It is the oldest town in Idaho. It was crazy to see the conditions that people still live in. Brayden LOVED it there and is already asking to see more "ghost hoouses." We are starting to feel a little more settled. Kaity is adjusting great! Brayden is having a harder time. He is missing his play house and the theme parks and basically everything familiar. I too am missing the beach and mostly friends and loved ones like crazy! We know we have made the right move, it is just taking some getting used to. so, anyone ready to come visit us yet?!

Idaho home sweet home

Finally after 6 days in the car we made it to Idaho! After a quick stop for lunch in Jerome to see grandma and grandpa Davidson, we piled into the van one last time for our final stretch. Boy was Boise a welcome site. It feels great to finally be home. we are thrilled with our new house- especially the neighborhood, Travis works with good people, and our kids are thriving here. I am feeling quite a bit homesick for all the ones we left behind. Good thing for the internet and blogging! I'm blogging tonight because of you, Holly. I saw your sweet note in my bathroom drawer this evening and it kicked my butt into gear. I'll try to be better at blogging again- for you and mostly for myself! :) What a journey we have been on this year. i am hoping that we are on a calmer path now- at least for a little while- and we can breathe and enjoy all life has to offer again. Anytime anyone is in the area we would love some company!

getting closer

After we left Aubreys we made it to Logan in time to crawl into bed at grandma and grandpa Sumner's new house. After a delicious breakfast, grandma accompanied us to the temple grounds. After some photo taking, it was time to hit the road once again.

Utah means cousins!

Finally we passed the Utah sign. The kids were so excited that I don't know how we ever made it to Aubrey's house without Travis or I going crazy! Utah meant we were going to see cousins. The kids all hit it off as though they have been friends their whole lives. Baby Sam was adorable, and skinny and kissably sweet- so glad that he was born 5 days before we rolled into town, and into their basement. Aub was awesome enough to take the kids to do pictures the next morning. I have been waiting OH SO LONG for her to do that. Thanks bunches Aubrey! After playing all day it was time to tearfully say goodbye and continue on our journey. I tried to sneak little Emmy into our van and take her home with me, but alas, the van was stuffed to full to hide that sweet monster! :( A trip back to Salt Lake is definitely in the works!

are we there yet?!

more driving and more driving. I am so glad that the kids had movies and video games- otherwise I don't think that they or I for that matter would have made it. Also not a big fan of iowa or nebraska. Good thing wyoming had some good parts. Cheyenne was so pretty.

Independence Missouri

We pulled into Independence late Saturday evening. I don't know why I didn't realize where we were until I happened to see historical road signs along the freeway. Once our brains woke up, we realized that we would put off pulling out the next morning at 6 am and go see some church history sites. I didn't think that the kids would be that interested but they sure surprised us. Once we arrived at Liberty jail we were disappointed to learn that it was enclosed in a building and that it didn't open for 2 hours. We were just going to give up and hit the road but the kids wouldn't hear of it. So we wandered around the old cemetery to kill time. Brayden loved that(so did I) and time flew past. The jail was amazing and words can't describe the feelings there. I don't think that is something any of us is likely to forget.

still on the road...

By this point of the trip we were pretty tired of each other. We had been sitting for hours and hours so we stopped any chance we could get. At one point we were in Missouri getting gas and I happened to notice we were sharing the parking lot with some amish folks trying to sell homemade baskets. It was blazing hot and the humidity was worse than anything we had ever experienced in Florida. I don't know how they live so primitively. I couldn't get back into the van fast enough and crank up the a/c as high as it would go.
We also went through St. Louis and saw the arch. It was time for a potty break, but St. Louis looked way to dangerous to stop. I didn't think that we were ever going to make it through that city. What a ghetto that place is!

on the road again

June 26, 2009
This morning we said goodbye to grandma and grandpa, our friends and Florida. What a sad morning this was. I felt as though my heart was being ripped out of my chest as we drove away and headed for Georgia. I know that this move was necessary for the good of our children, but it still feels like a knife in my heart. I LOVED living in Florida. I will treasure all my memories and hopefully when Travis and I hit retirement age we will be back. Goodbye beaches, Disney and warm weather.