The Six Pack's Big (first and hopefully last) Cross Country Move

Similar to not wanting to share too much around the time our house was on the market, for fear it wouldn't sell, because of our experience in Ohio where our first buyer backed out due to financing issues (which led to a whole domino effect of difficult things), it felt like Drew and I were holding our breath till the day we drove away from our home, the day we closed. We mini celebrated the night before with some Crumbl cookies, a staple of the last nearly 2 years here in Utah. We loaded the truck with the help of the sister missionaries in the pouring rain a week before we were planning on driving away, and then spent a lot of the last week in Utah sharing meals and spending time with some of our favorite people in the area. The night before we left, Becca came over with her kids to shower us with parting gifts (I think she purchased half of the Target arts and crafts section!!!). It was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture and the treats and snacks lasted through the entire three day drive, and the kids, while not perfect during the trip, did infinitely better than I expected because of all that stuff! The YW also stopped by with little notes for me and some snacks that came in handy (even veggies!). We were up cleaning and packing the car way too long for my liking but that is what I get for trying to go this whole moving thing mostly solo. I felt bad about moving and I felt worse asking for help in leaving the people who shared so much love with me.

The three day drive was snowy the first day then flat and uneventful the next two days. We were so blessed with good weather for January, We were able to stay awake for three full days of driving nonstop except for gas and bathroom breaks and occasionally food breaks too (we had a lot of snacks so we only needed to stop about twice a day for meals). It was quite an adventure. We closed on our house officially on Friday afternoon and arrived in Indiana in time on Saturday for our walkthrough and then spent two days in a (surprisingly kid friendly!) AirBnB. We closed on our Indiana home Monday afternoon and were pleasantly surprised to have three members of our congregation come to help us unload the truck (and bring us cookies!) and we ended the day having pizza (a nice sit down dinner compared to the fast food we had been eating the last few weeks!). It was crazy but filled with blessings and wonderful people at our new church, gym and school(s). The kids started school a little late (they missed a week total!!) because of crazy cold temperatures but are adjusting well.

 pre-bedtime setup at Jasmine's house in Denver. Only one of these kids ended up sleeping the night in this room! (the rest made their way up to the bedroom!)

 So so sweet of Jasmine to let us crash her house!! My kids were nuts but had so much fun playing.

 Our second night we stayed at a Mariott... we didn't end up swimming like we promised them (we got in so late and wanted to leave early so we could make it on time to our walkthrough) but we got an amazing continental breakfast and the kids agreed it was worth it to make it on time to our new house!

 especially because we got mail in our new mailbox! Also pictured: mcdonalds treats to survive one of the afternoons of driving. SO. MUCH. DRIVING.

 Okay all these pictures are out of order... this was visiting cousin Alex and his wife Gabi in Kansas City (where we stayed at the Marriott night two). They treated us to some amazing BBQ in their home and the kids (as usual) went nuts running around the place.

 Waffle at Marriott hotel and first piece of mail in our new home from our dear Ohio friends <3

 First night in our new home we had delicious pizza!

 And Graeters because when in Rome!This mirror was from the farmhouse in Indiana. I loved it!

 Comfort in the midst of some craziness

 Also I loved this setup for the laundry room... I think I could build this myself so I am leaving it here to remember to put it in my projects.

 There could not have been a more perfect hymn for the first Sunday in our new state and congregation.

 Sunday lunch... Mexican food! Luckily we did not have to go out to dinner since a family from church invited us to their house

 Monday morning....

 And monday night... all 3 boys  (that lasted about a week until today when I decided I am OVER it)

That's it! We made it from Utah to Indiana in one piece with all our stuff. Miracle of all miracles.

first family hike up the y!

It was mostly on little d's insistence that we CLIMB A MOUNTAIN TO THE TOP that I set my mind on climbing the Y with the whole family. To show him that we DROVE most of the way up, then hiked ("foreverrrrr" as he said) and we still didn't reach the top of the mountain. I certainly didn't want to discourage him from hiking, I really just wanted him to see that it wasn't always necessary to hike entire mountains to have an incredible experience. For living in Utah most of our adult lives, Drew and I didn't camp, hike, or much of anything involving the outdoors while we lived here a few years ago (we have never been skiing together either!), but since trail running wasn't  going to be on my list of things I could do easily (running is still on the backburner at the moment, it still doesn't feel very natural since I went minimalist and have had to re-learn how to run...another story for another day), I wanted to add hiking to biking to the list of things we could do as a family. To sum up the two hours it took us to hike 2 miles: everyone complained, we took breaks at every switchback (there were 10) and then some, I enjoyed myself but I don't think I can say the same for Drew. Then again I was literally carrying the babies who didn't complain (and Lan slept on my back the whole way down) and the big kids... whined, complained and dragged their feet (sometimes literally) the whole way!

 first of many pit stops

 fruit snacks at the top! and I was relieved you are no longer allowed on the actual Y...it always made me so nervous to see small kids on there! it is SO slippery.

 winner winner gorgeous view of provo/orem/vineyard/utah lake.

 carrying the boys the whole way down marked the first time I have ever made it without slipping! ha!

we will be back! just maybe not for a few months till everyones legs (and stamina!) are a bit stronger

zootrip in the middle of an epic thunderstorm to see some polar bear twins

Having grown up in Columbus I was always aware that our Zoo was pretty awesome but it took moving out to Utah and visiting a couple zoos around the country to truly realize what a gem this Zoo really is. We have had a zoo pass for the last two years, and had the privilege of watching Nora grow up and finally getting to see the polar bear twins in person after watching so many videos was the highlight of our 4th zoo trip this week...

(hey I had to make up for only going once since zoolights in december!)  

It was pouring rain and lightning and thunderstorms the entire time but we had a great time! This was right before we got to the car after 90 minutes at the zoo.

 nobody was there which meant we had free reign to follow around those cute polar bear twins and their mama (Nora's mom!).

 Nora hiding her fish she was eating from her twins... she did not want to share! We loved hearing from the zoo experts about how the twins are starting to wean, and how Aurora and Anana who are sisters and gave birth within days of each other were making little noises to each other across the way (because they miss each other!!) since even though they hang out on the regular before babies, after they had their babies they have had to be separated. I love our zoo and I can't wait to keep up (virtually) with the three little polar bear cubs over the next year or so till they get sent to other zoos since they have an awesome youtube channel.

 my twins were fighting over the stroller, polar bear twins in the background fighting over.... nope, just fighting.

 We were really sad to hear that Nanuq (the dad of Nora and her siblings and cousin) passed away a few days ago but he was almsot 30 (!!!) so that's ancient. And we did get to see him over the winter while the females were denning.

 stopped in to see the cows, goats, pigs and a few other little creatures in the barn (where everyone was hiding from the rain, as I am sure they did in the aquarium and reptile place as well but we never made it there!)

 it was a short visit but we were soaked to the bone and ready to go home and get some lunch. It was not without whining or complaining but everyone had a good time (at one point or another in the trip!). It is the start of our goodbyes, and this one was sad because I love the zoo dearly! It will probably be awhile till we are back again but whenever we make it back here you better believe we will make the effort!

Merry Christmas 2016!

If you are wondering why you didn't get a Christmas Card this year, this is why:

 ^^little d closing his eyes^^

 ^^Little A closing her eyes and Lan doing....? ^^

 ^^Little d starting crying that the overcast clouds were burning his retinas^^

 ^^ Creepy clown smile from that girl^^

 ^^ Seriously for being the oldest in the family, he was literally the worst in this photo shoot^^

 ^^yup, more closed eyes^^

^^and that was how we finished. Lovely, right?^^

Next year I will finally bite the bullet and find a professional photographer whom I will happily pay $100 for a 5 minute photo shoot if he/she can get me all the kids looking and smiling. It's been done before, so I know it's possible!! Here's the best one we got for the day:

But I still don't like all the creepy no-teeth smiles.

Merry Christmas!

halloween since 2010 (through 2016)

Happy Halloween!! I was taking a trip down memory lane earlier this month....

Halloweens have been so different every year for us. Little d's first halloween Drew was working at BYU out in Utah so I took my "boys" to the Petsmart trick or treating which was a blast. 

Calvin and Hobbes!

 2011 we had moved into my Parent's house in Ohio and did the Calvin and Hobbes thing again because...it was easy! And it still turned out super cute! Drew was not able to join us for Trick or Treating (he was interviewing with DS in Cali!) when little d was a giraffe (borrowed costume) but he did make it for the ward trunk or treat!

 2012 we actually spent halloween at my parent's house (even though we lived in Massachusetts) because we were visiting, I think to get in a visit that wasn't Christmas since I was pregnant with little a. I helped make this crazy halloween feast all day, then Drew and I got Taco Bell (world series tacos) and I got so violently sick I couldn't eat anything the rest of the day (including that amazing feast!!) Little d had picked out the Captain America Costume with my mom and I had ZERO knowledge of Superhero Universes so I went with supermom and dad!

 still one of my favorite pics of the two of them!

 2013 we were STILL rocking the superhero bit, this time he was Green Lantern (something about how much he loved wearing a green ring!) And sis was Wonder woman, both DIY from me!

 2014 I was 4 months pregnant with the twins so I went ahead and did the olaf (also a DIY) to Little a's Elsa (again, the kids went and picked costumes with my mom!) She refused the wig but she was so stinking cute it didn't matter!

 And little d was a ninja turtle, Drew wore his Cowboy stuff from a work retreat earlier that year. So much for matching...

 Which we totally made up for in 2015! Woody and Buzz outfits (that actually barely fit them at 6 months and they were 18-24 month outfits!)

 Loooong but so so skinny, those outfits are.

 And I got my matching wish... except for little a who was supposed to be a ninja turtle (drew would have been splinter or casey jones) and went for Sophia instead. A little princess in a house full of boys. (I was April O'Neil)

 Then came 2016... this year the boys were Cap and Iron Man!

 We had all donned avengers costumes... Drew as hulk, I was Spider-man(woman?), little d was AntMan, Lan was Cap, Lo was Iron Man, and little a was.... Merida. Another year, another princess costume. LOL. I can't blame her!

Hopefully next year we can manage a group set of costumes... before little d no longer thinks its cool!