Packing, moving ( a birthday party) and a week in Utah

Saying goodbye to our wards, friends and family in Arizona was really difficult for me.  I LOVE the support system of moms I found in Mesa.  I love knowing so many of my neighbors.  I really am living a very happy time in my life and it is heartbreaking to say goodbye to it.  I had many girls nights, play dates, and activities to fill my time (not to mention packing and cleaning.)   We played Bunco, game nights, and temple nights. We met at the museum, splash pads, swimming pools and out to eat. 

Hallie had a dance class in which she loved learning to dance and also having her friend Mazie with her.

 We went to the local elementary school for lunch frequently.  I met friends there including going with Stacey on this day we went to get a free birthday meal after this. 

 We had so many people come help pack up our moving van.  In the blazing heat no less!  We feel so blessed to have so many friends and neighbors here.  Thank you for your time, strength and energy to help our family!

 I even had some friends come to help me clean cupboard and baseboards while the boys loaded.  We ended the packing with some pizza and a slide down the inflatable water slide.

With a 1/2 hour to get ready for Jackson's party we finished cleaning and locked up the rooms that were done.  Jackson started sliding before any guests came and then with 15 friends he slide the entire time.  I had games planned in case they got bored, but they enjoy the water slide the entire time!

The kids did not want to get out to do presents or cake, but we forced them.  After the party we we hoping to have other friends and neighbors over to say goodbye.  We had several people come and slide.   The people moving into our home came over and got to meet some new neighbors.  I'm glad I know who will be in our home.  they seem like great people.

We were exhausted from a day in the sun, but the work didn't end.  We had to finish cleaning the whole house, packing up all the little things that were left and somehow fit in eating a cold dinner.  Like I said, I was exhausted, but we didn't stop and just got it done.  Stacey and Heath came and helped us for a little while and that was helpful.

We spent the night at my cousin's house and got up really early for Dave to start his LONG drive to Dallas in the moving truck and for me and the kids to get on a flight alone to Utah.  It was an early morning and the kids were tired (and I was even more tired) but we made it to church and I took a long nap after that.

In Utah,
 It was so nice to be at my parents and have no stress or responsibilities ( besides my kids) for a while.  I have had so much going on and so much to do, it was such a great break from that.
My Uncle and his kids came to town and we showed them around the canyon and swam at a hotel in Park City with my Other aunt and Uncle

I got together with some friends from years past and had a funny girls night.  I sure love these ladies who continue to influence and shape me.

We spent a day at the Bean Museum.  Utah weather is gorgeous.  I played raquetball with my parents.  Tom and Bethany came down and we ate Japanese food and our kids got to play.

We spent the 4th of July driving the alpine loop and doing a little hike.  Then we headed to gma Louines for a slip and slide and BBQ.  We let the kids stay up late to see the fireworks.

My Birthday

I was determined to get the most out of my only Bday in Arizona (I've been traveling the last 2 years.)   So I took the day off of packing and cleaning and headed to breakfast at Liberty market.  This was a total disaster, with spilled syrup all over Hallie and her outfit and leg, etc.  Then the kids didn't eat and it was HOT!! 

 33 years old! WoW!

We then headed to the idea Museum.  The kids loved it, but since it was a new exhibit they were demanding and needed help a lot.  I was happy they were having such fun, but was hoping for a bit more time to talk and interact with my friends that met me there.

Hawaii bound?

We headed to Joe's BBQ for lunch.  Unfortunately, no one was able to meet me there and eating alone with 3 crazy and wild little ones was not fun at all. I was exhausted by the time I got home. 

Dave came home and I wanted to go to dinner, but it was so difficult for the other meals, that he sent me out to get my meal alone. I waited in the restaurant alone for 30 mins and then  I came back to eat it with him and he was busy on a phone call the entire meal.  I was pretty bummed.  I love eating with people.  (I try to make every meal a family meal).  I love getting free, yummy food and enjoying being social, so getting the free food and lacking the social just didn't have the same appeal.   The kids and Dave gave me some gifts (a basket for fruit, jewelry organizer and a NEW VACUUM!! yay!)

 Dave said he needed to work, so I went out with friends for shakes and talked for a couple of hours laughing and loving and remembering how much I enjoy living near so many friends.   Thanks, Stacey, Suzanne, Meredith and Kali for a memorable night finally getting the social I was craving.

I've been so blessed with 33 healthy and happy years.  I am so thankful for where I am in my life and couldn't have imagined it any better. I have my kids, my husband and my friends and family to thank for making my life so enjoyable.  Feeling blessed today!

12 photos on the 12th of June

The kids and I were at the Shields Family reunion.  We missed Daddy, but were surrounded by family.

1.       All 13 of my parents grandkids were together for the first time.  It was totally chaotic with 13 kids under 5 and only the moms there.  Luckily, my mom and Dad were amazing to hold babies, tend, wake up early, take kids around, etc.  They are such amazing grandparents.  Constantly serving the kids and the moms in turn.

2.       Jackson and Dayton made Marshmallow guns and had a huge fight (Hunger Games style)

3.       Hallie has so many girl cousins right around her age.  Afton, Eden (2^nd cousin) and Lizzy (2^nd cousin)

4.       The swingset was a favorite of the kids.  It was tall, so the kids could go high, but constantly needed pushing.  UnderDogs were the favorite.

5.       Hallie and Afton (only 2 months apart).  I hope my kids are close with their cousins like I feel to mine

6.       Jackson and Grant were the youngest 2 on the hike to Stuart Falls.  They did pretty good despite some falls.  I think it was 4 miles (not the 2 miles I was originally told).   Jackson was hungry by the end.  He had 2 rocks that were his ‘power’ and ‘energy’.

7.       Jackson and I are getting along much better lately.  I make a concerted effort to spend special one-on-one time for at least 10 mins each day.  Jackson looks forward to this time and I enjoy spending time with him. 

8.       Grandma Louine is to thank for the many family members at this reunion.  She had 9 children who like to get together as often as possible.  She is amazing to know everyone’s names and little details about their personality and life.  She worries about and prays about all of her grandkids.  She is amazing.  (and Mariah cried when anyone held her except mom)

9.       Jackson, Dayton and Grant waiting their turn on the slip and slide.  They had so much fun together.  Mostly, they played in Grandpa’s tent trailer. 

10.   Mariah did warm up to Gma Ahlstrom, but only when mom wasn’t around.  I hope Bree and Mariah are good friends. Mariah has an infected finger (her fingernail was pulled up as a door closed on it).  I worried all day about taking her to a dr. or not.

11.   We had a skit night in which my family made up new words to several pop songs.  Jackson loved it and has been making up new words to songs ever since.   The shields are quirky and like to make fun of each other for the quirks.  It was a funny night.

12.   Aunt MaryAnn did Hallie’s hair and she looked so cute.  She is so happy and sweet.  She loves to tell people what she likes about their outfit, hair or jewelry.  She is aware of lots of ‘girly’ things around her.

Dave was super busy working and with only a little reception I hardly got to talk to him at all.  All we talked about was extending our closing date on our house 2 days so we could get the power of attorney done.

Mariah is ONE!

I had this post almost ready to go, but on Mariah's birthday was the exact day that Dave found out about his new job and relocation and everything has been crazy since then.  I guess that is the lot of a 3rd child!  We still love you SO much Ma-ya, even if we didn't post on your birthday!

 Height 31 " (100%)

Weight 22.3 lbs (80%)

Head 18.23 (80%)

Mariah has a squinty grin that melts my heart.  She laughs easily.  She loves her brother and loves to wave when he gets home from school.  She can walk with a walker and cruises around a bit, but she still prefers crawling.

We went hiking at the local park and Mariah enjoyed the ducks and the hiking backpack.

Some how we didn't get Mariah eating cake on camera.  She didn't like it, just like my other kids and refused to eat it... not very exciting right?  

Mariah is still such a joy for our family.  She is easy to put to sleep and likes to eat (mostly).  She loves to laugh and smile.  She likes to smile at strangers as long as they keep their distance, so people just love her and try to entertain her often when we are out.  I can't get enough of her grins, giggles, chubby legs and sweet open mouthed kisses.  She is a ray of sunshine and I love her in our family!

Moving To Texas and other occurances

We found out in Mid-April that Dave was offered a position with American Airlines and that we would, in fact, be relocated to Dallas area.   Since then, we have spent most of our time making decisions, looking at houses, getting a realtor and lender, figuring out how to rent out our home, packing boxes and talking about Dallas to anyone and everyone we know. Despite all the long waiting and speculation, it feels like it is happening really fast.  Of course, once the decision was made, I was antsy to know my future and started trying to make the many decision and planning.  I started looking at houses in the Dallas area even though I knew they would not be on the market long.  I hate the unknown and was doing everything in my power to ‘know’ what was ahead.  Many of our decisions were hinging on other decisions, so I felt for a long time paralyzed making a decision until we looked at houses.  (although we had to get pre-approved and know our budget well before that point.)

My parents and brother came into town for a weekend in mid-May.  We had so much fun hosting them.  We played games, BBQed in the gorgeous evenings, went swimming, ate at Organ Stop Pizza and talked to both of my sister missionaries on Mothers Day.  Our kids just love being with their cousins and grandparents.  And of course we had so much fun we didn’t take many photos.  It was a wonderful weekend.  My dad has not been feeling well, and that has us all worried for him.  I wish there was more we could do to help him.  It helps me realize how much I love and care for him and my mom.  They are amazing parents.  I am so thankful for them.

Jackson had kindergarten Graduation the same day as Tyler graduated law school.  Tyler and Kacey had their 3^rd baby Alyssa right before my family came into town so we weren't able to see them as much as we hoped.  My Dad drove back to Utah and my mom stayed in Arizona to help out with my kids while we went house hunting. 

Those few days planning for our house hunting trip were filled with anxiety, stress, decision and lots of prep and homework.  I was a nervous mess.  So glad my mom was around to help with the kids. 

Finally, I was in the airport headed to Dallas.  It was such an easy breezy security and plane ride.  I couldn’t believe how being alone feels so foreign, freeing and also lonely at the same time.  As soon as I hit the ground Dave and I  headed out to see our first home. 

Finding “our” home: 

 I found the home we ultimately ended up with 2 full weeks before our scheduled house hunting trip.  We had not been approved for relocation through HR, we didn’t have a realtor, lender or anything in place to actually buy a home, but I was browsing online for homes just to get to know the areas and price ranges.  Dave was camping one Friday night and I found a home I loved that matched up with so many of the things we wanted.  I sent Dave a text, “I found our home, MUST BUY NOW!”  I was anxious to get it and was scheming about getting to Dallas to make an offer (my friend said homes were only on the market 1-5 days, so I was in a rush… plus I thought it was so perfect, everyone else would too!).   Dave saw it and also liked it, but was more hesitant. I scheduled him a time to see the house when he was working in Dallas the next week.  After seeing it, he said he liked it, but still wanted to wait until we saw others.  At this point I was super anxious to get the house, but tried to calm down. I said many prayers that the house that would be best for us would be available when we went.  And also that IF this house was for us, that it would still be there. 

As it turned out, the house dropped its price and was still available when we got there.  It was the first home we saw.  We liked it, but the major drawbacks were the back yard was small with a tall retaining wall that I thought was dangerous for kids.  We liked the layout, the neighborhood, the cul-de-sac, the school, the closeness to work, 3 car garage and 4 bedrooms plus a den.  The price per square foot was good and we kept it on our possible list.  We chose the realtor who worked with the sellers of that home so we would have inside info if another offer was coming in.   The next two days we spent solely focused on house hunting (with yummy food and great hotels in between).  The first day we drove hundreds of miles and only saw 12 homes and only a couple that were a remote possibility.  The second day all the homes were much further away from work, but there were so many more that were in our price range in one area.  As we bounced from house to house trying to decide which one was for us, we learned that another offer was coming in on our first pick home.  We finished  looking at the homes in the neighborhoods and drove back to the original home to look again with eyes that had seen SO many other homes.  We could see ourselves there...for a long time.   The negatives didn’t look so bad when compared to some of the horrific homes we’d seen and the positives looked that much better.  We drew up an offer and I wrote a letter telling about our journey with the home and included a photo.  I felt very spiritual while writing and sending the letter.  We headed to the temple and continued to feel good (albeit nervous about the finances) about the home.  Apparently, the 2 offers they received were very similar but the letter was inspiring and they chose our offer.  I was happy, but not surprised, as I felt it would ultimately go to us.  I felt the spirit prompt us to that home from the beginning.   I feel like it is where we are meant to be.  I’m not sure why or all the implications of that prompting, but it is so nice to feel like we are in the path that God has in mind for us.   

After church, we had trouble getting out of Dallas and it made us worried for flying on American in our future.  We had to fly through Portland because we were anxious to get home.  6 flying hours later, Dave left his keys on the plane and after a mad rush back to the airport and a taxi ride to our car, we made it home.  It was long, but so worth it to be home. 

Mariah had hand, foot and mouth disease the whole time I was gone, but my mom was a good sport about being locked up in the house with the kids. 

A week later, we drove to San Diego.  We had planned a trip with a friend, even though the friend backed out and the flights filled up, we were still mentally prepped for a trip and decided to go for it.  IT made me realize that driving really is MUCH longer than flying… even with security and waiting for a flight,etc.  Driving took a lot lon

ger.  We had a great time at Sea World (even though it was uncomfortably cold!).  The kids loved the animals and Jackson was really into the rides this time.   We ended up spending from 10 am -8:30 pm in the park with a short break for lunch.  I loved getting rid of the stress of relocation, and spending time with Family. 

 I love those fangs in this sweet girls' grin!

Ultimate Photo bomb by Mariah... she grabbed the lens as I took the pic.

We love to see the temple!

 We made it back in time for a pool party with friends on Memorial Day.  We truly have wonderful friends here and our kids are so happy here, too.  We will miss so many people. And having so many members and friends so close to us.