{The Great Trampoline}

When we found a place to live out here in Maryland back in April we told our kids that they could get a trampoline because the yard was big enough. It was suppose to get them excited about moving clear across the country and to give them something to look forward too. So the day after we arrived here in Maryland we headed to the closest Sears. We thought we could get a tramp and that would give the kids something to do while we waited five days for our household goods to arrive. Unbeknownst to us Sears doesn't stock trampolines so we had to but in an order. The kids were bummed, we were bummed but what could ya do.

Originally it was only suppose to take about 15 days (double that and it was about right). After waiting that amount of time and not hearing anything from Sears Ryan went to the store to find out what happened. Well our initial order actually didn't get placed even though our credit card was charged the fee. We had horrible customer service from then on and the kids lost faith that it would even show up. Finally our long awaited trampoline arrived on Friday, a month after we placed the order. Ryan brought it home and the kids were so excited!!! It was starting to get dark so they had to wait one more night before they would get to jump on it. So bright and early Saturday morning the trampoline set up commenced. All available hands helped even though poor Ryan got the brunt of putting in all 108 springs because none of the rest of us were strong enough. Once it was all set up the kids were on it faster than flies on you know what and it was hot enough already that they busted out the sprinkler and swimsuits to break it in right. We have some happy campers around here I tell ya!!

{Getting There}

We are slowly but surely getting settled into our home here. Just a few days ago we finally got rid of the last of our moving boxes and paper. You should have seen the stack we left out for the recycling guys. Thankfully they took it all and so now my living room is empty. Hopefully it won't be empty for too much longer. Our couches have shipped but they are coming from California, so they are probably still a few weeks away. We were quoted 15 business days. We really are getting tired of watching tv in folding chairs or reading a book at the table. Not the end of the world just uncomfortable.
We have found the grocery store, the library and our friendly neighborhood Target (Wal-marts are sparse out here). I guess that is all we really need, right? The weather has been hot but thankfully our A/C works so well that unless I leave the house I don't notice the blistering heat. We are still (not very) patiently waiting for our trampoline to arrive that we ordered the day after we got to town, almost a month ago now. We have had the worst customer service with our local Sears store. They have refunded us $100 and gave us a staggering 5% off our next purchase for our inconvenience. We'll see if we every order something through them again. The kids are losing all hope that they will actually get to jump on the tramp before the winter weather sets in.

Ryan is loving fellowship. It is better hours and he gets to do something that he really enjoys. We are loving getting to have him home much more. We really don't know what to do with him home this much. He has been finding some back roads from work to home so that he doesn't have to take the beltway all the time. When it is bad traffic it is really bad so Ryan likes to have alternatives. Although one morning this last week he tried out one of his new found alternative routes and took the wrong turn....he ended up at the University of Maryland. For those not familiar with our geography, that is ways from Walter Reed, especially in rush hour traffic. Thank goodness he leaves earlier than needed he was only 15 minutes later than usual.

We have met several of our neighbors and out of all the places we have lived this is the first where our neighbors have come to introduce themselves to us. I met one yesterday, Mrs. Pike. She is Korean and brought us a box of Korean popsicles. Red Bean popsicles. Ryan tried one last night, if you can imagine what red BEAN would taste like in frozen form then you can imagine what this "dessert" tasted like. But she was thoughtful and generous so we won't hold it against her.
The kid's rooms are some of the finished ones in our house. Although I am wanting to do something fun with their bulletin boards and a few pictures they are pretty much done. The other rooms need rugs and pictures and such. All in good time Ryan likes to remind me. I am learning more and more that this was really the house we were suppose to rent. Our landlord is wonderful and the neighborhood is great. I am thankful for the small blessings.

{Independence Day 2011}

We spent Independence Day in downtown Washington DC this year with my Cousin Hannah and had a great time. We had planned to stay the whole day and watch the fireworks too but it ended up being a little too long for our kids. Sorry Hannah!!! But for the time that we were there it was great. The kids loved the parade and probably their favorite thing was getting to ride the Metro for the first time. We also enjoyed the Museum of Natural History too which is gigantic and so we only hit a few of the exhibits. We'll have to go back and see the rest another time. It was great to celebrate the birth of our Nation in the Nation's capitol. I am so thankful for the country that I live in and for the men and women who protect the freedoms I enjoy!! It was a great 4th of July!!

{We survived}

I know family and friends are wondering how we fared on the trip across the country. I have to say that we actually managed quite well. My kids are troopers and were so good on the trip. I don't have one picture from the trip though. I was too busy driving and when I wasn't driving I was relaxing in the hotel pool or sleeping. We made the 2800+ mile trip in 7 days. We went through 10 different states, ran from several storms and made a "few" potty stops. Overall it was uneventful, thankfully and we are glad to be here in Maryland all safe and sound. We had to camp out in our new home once we got to Maryland for a few days waiting for our household goods to arrive. Once they did we were crazy busy unpacking everything. We were missing two boxes that got mistakenly put into the shipment ahead of ours. We are still waiting for those to arrive. Other than that our home is somewhat put together. We are also awaiting some new couches (yeah after 12 years we are finally upgrading beyond hand me downs) and we have to put pictures up on the wall but at least things are somewhat workable around here.

The kids are getting used to the heat and humidity. On the second day here Meysa had a revelation about the sun and clouds. She stated that even when the sun goes behind the clouds it is still warm!! Yeah not so much in Western Washington and it is a new thing for her to experience. The humidity hasn't been too bad but it is something we are all adjusting to. We love having a backyard that is bigger than a postage stamp and to celebrate that fact we have a trampoline on order from Sears. The kids can't wait.

Ryan officially started Fellowship on Tuesday, although he has been busy for the last week or so getting oriented around the hospital and figuring out what he is suppose to be doing!! He says he is going to like it and we are already enjoying the better hours he has to work!! So far everything is going well and we are happy to be here!!

{Surprise}

My Dad is famous for saying, "I love it when a plan comes together!" Well I have to say it this time. Over a year ago my siblings and I started planning a surprise for my Mom's 60th birthday, which happens to be in July. Knowing that I would be moving somewhere this June we hatched up a plan to surprise my Mom when I came through Idaho on my way to where ever I was going to end up. My mom knew I was coming and going to stay a day in Lewiston, but what she didn't know was that we were going to have a few surprise guests as well. We timed every ones arrival into Lewiston to be at the same time and then we all arrived at my parent's home at the same time. We all drove up their hill together to make sure they didn't get tipped off to something going on.
Surprise #1- Tessa. My sister Airica came down out of Alaska to visit for several weeks and she had already been at my parent's home for a few weeks at this point. Tessa had just graduated from high school and had gone to visit a friend out east. My mom thought she knew where Tessa was....
Surprise #2- Aina. My other sister Aina, who lives in Alaska, flew down to be in on the fun too. My mom knew Aina had tried to come down so she could see me when I came through but it just didn't work out....or so she thought!!!
Surprise #3- Alan. My brother Alan lives in Portland and hadn't been home in three years. He is usually gallivanting around the globe or stuck in studio trying to finish his degree in architecture. I think my mom about fell over at this point.
Surprise #4- Austin. Austin had just transferred to BYU-Provo and was supposedly up to his eyeballs in work. Is lying to your mother in order to surprise her really wrong?!! I hope we will be forgiven for all the stories we told!!!
I loved the look of utter amazement on her face. She couldn't believe that all of her kids plus most of her 35 grand kids were standing in her home, when she was only expecting me and my little family!!!
Gotcha Mom!!!
The surprises didn't end there. As we did with my Dad when he turned 60, we made my Mom a video of her life and a book as well. My sister Airica did the video again and I did the book. We smuggled pictures out from underneath her nose to scan for both projects. My favorite thing she said while watching the video was, "where did you find those pictures?"

We wanted my mom to know how much we loved her and how much of an impact a righteous woman can have on her family and friends. So we had each person in our family write a letter to her tell her just that...what she meant to them. We also invited friends and extended family to do the same. The end product was amazing, because frankly my Mom is amazing. I had so much fun putting her book together and I hope she can look at it and have tangible evidence of our love and appreciation of her.
We stayed the next day to take some more pictures. My mom had wanted to have pictures of all her girls in white aprons. My family lives in aprons, we are always wearing one and so it was perfect for us to take pictures in them. My mom hired a gal to come and take them and I can't wait until we can see the end product.
That night we had another surprise for my mom. We had a party where we invited all of our friends and family to help celebrate her birthday. It was so nice to see people come out to wish her Happy Birthday and to let her know they loved her. I don't think my Mom is going to trust anything we say ever again. We pulled so many fast ones on her in just a few days her poor little head was spinning!!!
I love you mom, and I'm so glad your mine!!