November...

Where did November go?  For that matter, where did October go?  Shouldn't it be like October 15th?  I opened my planner this morning and the marker as on the week of Oct. 16th.  See, to me, it's still October (and yes, I still use a paper planner.  There's something so nice about writing it down and seeing it on paper.)

We have been in our new/old place for a couple of weeks and we are still working on the boxes.  I've been working on some big projects in the interim and just haven't been able to get the house together too.

Last Thursday, I took the Real Estate exam and passed!  I am just so relieved that I'm done with that.  It's been a long haul watching the videos, studying and trying to keep up with all of the other craziness going on.  So, I guess I'll be getting my license so that I can sell our place when the time comes.  I don't plan on becoming an actual, practicing realtor anytime soon.

One of the best things about moving back is being able to hang out with old friends.  Leo has really liked getting to know new friends.  We made a trip down to the Willow Park Zoo with some new/old buddies to see the Reindeer on display.  Leo had a ball and I loved catching up with some old friends.

We celebrated Leo's birthday this weekend and I can't believe that I will have a 2 year old.  He's growing right up. 

We've been getting outside on walks as much as possible.  We know how long and cold winter will be so we are taking advantage of outside time. 

Thanksgiving is just around the corner.  Where has this fall gone? 

Packing Up

I wrote this ages ago and just never got it posted.  It's a little sad but definitely something I want to remember.  

We've been packing up the house.  Taking all the pictures off the wall, and boxing everything up.  That's the hard thing about moving.  The boxes get packed and everything changes.  All that is left is memories and relationships.  Leaving Virginia is bitter sweet.  We're ready to move on to a new job for Heber, ready to be closer to family, and on to a new adventure. 

The house won't show that Leo lived here, learned to walk here, that we learned to be parents here.  The next tenants won't know that we brought our first baby home from the hospital here.  It won't show the hard times we overcame and the lessons we learned.  It won't show all the laughter and good times.  Or all the people who ate around our table.  It will go back to being empty and then filled with the next person's life.

It's hard to leave behind what we've built here.  The friends we've learned to rely on like family and the communities we joined.  I know we're moving on to a new adventure but I have to take a moment to realize all the good that happened here, all the lessons we learned and the people we became. 

The Moms.

Since being in Utah, I have been doing a lot of thinking about Virginia.  I think I'm trying to process all of the changes that have happened and that are coming right up in my life. 

When we moved to VA, it was really a challenge for me.  When the opportunity came to move to VA, we had about 24 hours to decide what we wanted to do.  Immediately we felt like it was the right thing for us.  That doesn't mean that it was an easy experience.  I had been so busy with school and work that when we moved, I felt a bit lost.  I was about 6 months pregnant and was not only making the transition to being home (which we felt was the right thing for us) and to motherhood.  Becoming a mother is one of those really challenging things.  Not only was I learning how to care for a baby but I was also trying to frame out who I wanted to be in this new role.  I wanted to be an intentional and good mom.  I also didn't want to lose myself.  I still wanted to have interests and aspirations outside of my role as a mother. 

There were several pivotal things that happened.  Finding the glass community was first.  The miracle was that they were 5 minutes from our house, which is truly amazing because they are the only facility for about 50 miles.  A real tender mercy in our life.  The second was finding the moms.  I know I've talked about them before on the blog but they have had such a huge impact on my life that I want to talk about them again.  

I found the moms through a New Mom Group at the hospital.  I started attending and learned about being a mom.  Slowly we formed this core group of people who have stuck together.  These moms are intentional mothers who think deeply about how they are helping their little ones to grow.  I can't tell you how much I've missed getting together and I know that Leo has too.  He loved to play and interact with his little buddies.  These moms really took care of us and helped us out when we needed them.  They are some of the most generous, kind people that I know.

Here we all are with our boys.  Only missing Daisy and Lila. 

Leo and most of his buddies at a brunch.  Amy threw us a brunch for all the kids, moms and spouses.  They really were happy to be there.  This is what happens when you try to get 5 almost 2 year olds to take a picture together.  Notice that Leo never smiles in pictures anymore?  Guess it's not just him.

Amy (left) was the one who threw the brunch.  She has been such a good friend.  Tabatha (on the right) was one of my first mom friends. 

 

 

 

 

 

We went out for one last girls night out before the move.  Of course, we had to go into the city together and go to Georgetown.  

I think that they are the loss I am feeling most keenly.  As with any major change in life, there are good things and bad things.  It's good to be here in Logan and closer to family but it's hard too.  I know that I will forever be a better mother because of them. 

The Move

2,090 miles.
2 delayed flights
5 different houses and beds in 8 days
1 house completely packed and cleaned out in Virginia
6 day wait for a truck to arrive with all of our belongings
1 condo filled to the brim with boxes (boxes that we're so thankful to see because it meant that we got to be in our own space).
1 sinus infection.  1 bout with the stomach flu.  1 cold and fever (poor Leo)
1 passed Real Estate Exam

We are tired.  It's been a long couple of weeks.  

Leo wanted to make sure that his toys made it safe.

Trying to stay entertained at the airport. 

I want to publically thank those who helped us so much with our move.  To the Halstead's for bringing us lunch and good company, you have no idea how much we needed that.  To the Olsen's for bringing us dinner.  A special thank you goes to Nicole and Lawrence for helping with the cleaning.  We were down to the wire on absolutely everything and we wouldn't have made it.  To Gavin for helping to move furniture and for eating our ice cream that would have gone to waste.  The Williams' for inviting us to dinner and making Halloween a celebration.  To Amy and Zach (our dear friends) who drove us over to drop our cars off, over an hour away.  They even remembered to give us Leo's birthday present 2 weeks early.  Leo has not stopped talking about Zach.  To the Blake's for allowing us to stay with them for a couple of crazy days and for driving us to the airport. 

We want to thank all of those who supported us on the Utah end.  Mom and Dad Lawrence for a bed and beautiful Sunday dinner, Mom and Dad Green for picking us up at the airport and putting together such a fun activity with family.  For the Litza's Pizza (Heber's absolute favorite) and for allowing us to use their car.  It would have been tight without it.   The Palmer's for letting us stay with them and running us all around.  They were a huge help with the moving of boxes.  And the Kelsey's for having us for dinner when we had absolutely nothing but cereal in the house (seriously.  Oh, and we are still looking for bowls).


There's nothing like a move to help you realize how wonderful your life is and how many wonderful people you have in your life.  Thank you all!