Goodbye Spokane, Hello Chehalis . . . Again?!?

Hey Everybody!! Well, we made it and we are settled at my parents house and I finally figured out how to transfer the pictures from my camera to my parents computer!! Yay - the blogging can go on!! I was worried for a bit that I wouldn't be able to get my pictures and blogging without pictures is just, well, let's all admit it - BORING!! I was in a bit of a panic thinking I might not be blogging for possibly months, but I figured it out and now all is right in my world!!

I should probably back up a bit. Our move over from Spokane went really well and without any problems. My parents, of course, are super excited to have us "visiting" and are just rearranging their house to accomodate us. It's really very sweet. I think they might start missing their naps though, because my kids aren't having any of that. If they can't find Grandma and Papa they go in search of them and there are kitties down at Papa's shop right now, so I'm afraid he gets no peace even when he escapes down there. He usually has a little shadow following him down to see the kitties!! It's really nice to be back at what really feels like home for us and our kids.

So, we got in on a Friday and our first Sunday back in our ward, which was our ward before we moved, was pretty funny. Before the day was over Todd was already teaching a class the next week and I had a calling. Seriously!! I told my bishop that he didn't even have our records yet, how could he give me a calling!! He just laughed at me. It's nice to be among good friends again and to feel so welcomed and loved. We liked Spokane, but I think this area will always feel so right to us.

On Monday Raquel started school. I was so nervous for her. The poor kid has had to start a new school every year she's been in so far!! You know that mother worry. I hope she likes her teacher and that she makes a friend and that no one is mean to her and that she is happy. And of course, as is tradition for me, I dropped her off and then cried all the way home. I really don't like to cry, and I really, really don't like to cry in public, so I held myself together until I got in the car, but I still bawled like a baby. I was so ansy that whole first day until she got home and as she was leaving the bus someone yelled, "Bye, Raquel!!" and then I knew she had made a friend. After her first week she seems to be enjoying herself. This is her on her first day. Isn't she so stylish?

Marcus will start preschool on the 15th at the same school Raquel goes to, so that will be nice to have them together. He is really, really excited to go to school like Raquel. Let's hope that lasts after he goes the first day and realizes he has to listen and learn!! He had another run in with the infamous bike helmet. (When we moved to Spokane he refused to take off his sister's pink bike helmet for over a week! He even slept in it.) A few days after we got here he got a free helmet for going in for his well child check up and was wearing it all over the place again. At least this one is blue and we don't HAVE to wear it when we are sleeping!! I think preschool might be an issue if we have to wear the helmet!! Aahh, my boy - I love ya'!!

It will be really strange to only have Raigan for half of the day. I need to get ready to go back to school so I can start working when she leaves me and I'm all alone all day!!

Just Some Thoughts

Well, we are almost done packing and loading everything into a storage unit. Since we don't have any idea where we will end up we didn't want to move it all twice, so it will just stay put until Todd gets a job. I'm really tired!! Nothing too exciting to share except for some tidbits.

1. I was on the computer this morning emailing my sister-in-law and I heard Raigan in the bathroom. She REALLY likes to flush the toilet and I heard her in there flushing away. After the second time she flushed I heard hands splashing in water. I ran into the bathroom thinking she would have her hands in the toilet. Did she? Nope. She had a cup in her hands and she was drinking the water from the toilet with it. Aahh!! At least it was clean toilet water, right?

2. Even though we fogged our house and set out tons of spider traps I think the spiders are winning. They are even starting to venture up the stairs which they have NEVER done before. I think they might be mad at us and are launching a counter attack. I'm really not kidding when I tell you they are big and fast and hairy and now apparently, they are pissed off!! Run for your lives!! Hopefully we can make it a few more days. Enjoy the pics of the ones we have defeated. And yes, these were two separate traps!!

3. I really, really, really love my family and Todd's family. Both my parents and Todd's parents are so willing to help us in our time of need and they are so incredibly supportive in so many ways. We have each also had siblings who have offered to help us as well and it is so appreciated. This is an incredibly humbling experience, but we are thankful for it and how it will only make us better people. It would seem to most that we have had a bit of "bad luck" the last few years, but we are going on the perspective that we are being taught and guided by our Heavenly Father and we need not fear. We will come out on the other end of this better people than when we started.

Those are my thoughts for today. Have fun!!

Goodbye Party!!

My girls here in Spokane all got together Tuesday night and took me out to TGIFriday's for dinner to say goodbye. We had so much fun and we were that incredibly loud obnoxious table that is at every restaurant you go to!! We laughed so much my face hurt when I got home. It didn't help of course that they told our waitress that it was my birthday (which it wasn't) so the waiters came out and sang to me while wishing me a happy 21st birthday!! 21, yeah right! I think the waitress was vying for a good tip because when I told her I was almost 34 she acted like she couldn't believe it. I told her I had the kids to prove it and she was still flabbergasted. She said I totally didn't look it. Bless her heart and yes, she got a good tip from all my ladies since they wouldn't let me pay!! Thank you guys and I will miss you so much!!

Silly Raigan

Armitage's have an adorable dog appropriately named Bella that Raigan just fell in love with. She followed her all over the house while we were there and at one point wanted to do her hair. It was pretty entertaining to watch. Bella kept moving away from her and Raigan just followed wielding her spray bottle and comb!! Run Bella, Run!!

This is Raigan's pose for every picture I take. I say cheese and she gets all squishy faced. Good thing she's so cute when she does it!! Todd is too, huh!!

This is her hiding from the paparazzi look and then, oh, no, they've found me!!

This is just cuteness!!

Catching Up

Been a busy few weeks, so I thought I would play catch up all in one post. Hang on this could get long!! First of all, I just have to say - I HATE PACKING!! It really is no fun at all and for all you constant movers out there I don't know how you do it. Other than laundry, it might be my least favorite thing to do. Ugh. Oh well, it has to be done. Now for the fun stuff. My sister flew in from Utah weekend before last to visit my family while she was on a break from school. My parents drove over to see her as well and we just had a great time. My kids were so excited to go to the airport and pick her up, so we made these signs for them to hold. They're so silly!!

She stayed for a week and we had fun just all being together. We of course had to go to the Old Country Buffet because my parents have made that a tradition whenever they come to visit. Raquel was really excited because she is a huge meat eater and couldn't wait to get her hands on some ribs!!

We also went to the movies, played at the park, went shopping, and played lots and lots of games. It was also really nice to go to the temple a few times while they were all here. Todd and I and my dad did a session together and then later in the week Todd and my dad and Lindsey did baptisms. It was a really nice visit and I just love being around my family. My sister has to be one of the coolest people I know and I love being with her. She inspires me to be a better me.

The day after all my family left we took off for Tri-Cities to visit our dearest friends in the whole wide world - The Armitage Family!! We got there Friday afternoon and ditched all our kids for some grown up time. We went out to eat and then went and saw The Time Traveler's Wife. Clint's pick if you can believe it. He really wanted to see it and was actually really emotional through the whole movie. It was quite touching. I think he cried more than Kate and I did. Aaww!! Saturday was non-stop fun. We got slurpees at the store that sells the most slurpees in the whole U.S. (that was a highlight!!) We went to the park and had lunch at Taco Bell. Then we went bowling and I kicked butt. What was my score again? I think it was well over 200. After bowling Kate and I ditched everyone for some girl time at the craft store. Then we went back and ordered pizzas and played games until Todd got cranky cuz he was tired, or losing, I can't remember which. Sunday we hung out until church - 1pm, yuck - then just went to sacrament meeting before we headed home. Raquel and Allie were having such fits about having to leave each other that we decided to let them win and we left Raquel there for this whole week!! She's been having so much fun she barely remembers to call me at the end of the day. Anyway, we've had a fun filled couple of weeks with family and friends and now it's back to packing and getting all ready for our move. We'll be seeing some of you really soon!!


Kate and I and our mini-me's!!

Update

Okay, so here's the latest. Todd still hasn't found a job. Unemployment benefits are at least six weeks out in coming because they are so overloaded and busy. We have never been able to be the people who can afford to just put away money for times like these since we have always lived paycheck to paycheck. So, thankfully we have family that we can lean upon until Todd finds a job. We will be moving back to Chehalis at the end of this month to stay with my parents until Todd can find work. We are sad to have to leave Spokane, but there really is no other option at this point and we really feel that after a lot of prayer and fasting and temple attending that the Lord is pointing us this way because it is the smartest choice. We will be able to cut our expenses dramatically by staying with family and give Todd the time to find something that will work for the long term. And moving before school starts will be easier. My kids are ecstatic to be staying with Grandma and Papa again, but not for too long this time so as not to become a burden. Still keep us in your prayers that we can find work soon!! We love you all and Chehalis - here we come - again!!

More Favorites

Apparently you all like being hokey, so I thought I would try another one. Tell me what your favorite sound is? Mine - the sound of a soda bottle being opened. The hiss, fuzz, aaahhh. . . .