Great Mail.
Today I got a great gift from my friend Paige. It was a autographed DVD that she got when going to the Time out for Women in Nashville. (which the week after I left)
It is called Hands of Heaven. One of my roomates from college was there to talk and share this great project.
It was awesome and I am so sad that I was not there to see Kelly and tell her in person how great it was.
Check out the website and you can read about it. The above phot is Kelly and her family.

best friends.
here is this beautiful gift I received in the mail today from my best friend growing up in New Mexico. It is one of the charms from Sally Jean. The front side says family and the back says...

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family"

Thank you heather, it is so timely and something i needed to be reminded of. I love you!

The milkman!
Today was really tough. I am counting down the hours until Jeff gets here. I called Jeff a few times wanting to complain but he was busy and couldn't talk on the phone. Sally Jane took her diaper off again during her nap leaving me many wonderful green presents everywhere, this is now two days in a row. Seriously Adam where is the duct tape!
So at about 8:00 tonight I was at the end of my rope ready to put the kids to bed when someone knocked on the door. It is our neighbors who are both pediatrician at Walter Reed. They have two girls. They saved the day, it was a nice distraction to have the girls meet someone new. He actually plans on riding his bike downtown (about 25 miles) this year too so Jeff will have a riding buddy to work. It was good to get the military scoop from them.

Side note .... Interesting story about them is that they both got called to Iraq at the same time for 1 year! Their daughter was 6 months old and when they came back she was 20 months. I was just crying. Don't think I don't worry about this all the time despite what Jeff says (he says there is no chance for him)

Anyway coming back in the house the girls were so wound up! I could not get them to bed. I kept calling Jeff saying, Please tell them to go to bed. So here he is on the phone coming back from this nice dinner with his boss, pleading with the girls to go to bed. We were out of milk and so Caroline was out of sorts with our her cup of milk before bed.
I was complaining to Jeff that when the kids got up we didn't have any milk, and I was going to have to go to the grocery store in the morning with all of them in their pj's. I was not looking forward to this. He said who do you want me to call there to go get you milk? NO ONE! Please don't let anyone around here think I a psycho from the get go that my husband calls from out of state to have them bring me milk! He said let me call Cameron (a new friend in our ward). He will do it in a heartbeat. I told him I would be fine no worries. The girls finally went to bed.
It was about 10:30 I was in bed just reading "Hoot" this months book club for church. I heard someone drive up in front of our house and a car stop and then drive away. A few minutes later the phone rings. Jeff says, "Cameron just called and there is milk on your doorstep go get it." I was so embarrassed. I go downstairs to open the door. And standing at the door was the best looking milkman I have ever seen. It was JEFF! My face fell in my hands and I cried like a baby! I could not believe it! I didn't realize how bad I needed him until he stood there. I could not stop crying and all the stress and emotion of the move, being here alone in boxes just came out in sobs.
He had been faking me out all day saying, "I have got to get back to work" when really he had been in the car for 10 hours!

Thank goodness for the milkman!

Today was Jeff's last day of moonlighting and his job at Vanderbilt. His training is over!

His moonlighting has been the biggest blessing ever. He works 12 hour shifts at a private hospital, 7pm to 7am. He is often running straight from Vandy to get there on time and then will be up all night to then go back to Vandy in the morning. For the first two years he could only moonlight on the weekends because he would never get off of work in time to make it by 7 pm. He would go to work on Friday morning and then we would see him late Monday night. He did this three times a month for two years. He then was finally able to start doing it on the weekdays. He was also able to moonlight on Christmas day each year to make double time. (This past year was the first Christmas Annie Kate has ever remembered having Jeff home, it was a great one for sure)

because I print my blog and use it as my journal this is my reasoning for documenting such a crazy schedule not in any way to think my husband is the only one who works hard.

Jeff has always been very insistent on not complaining too much about his schedule because he would never want anyone else to feel that he thinks he has it the harder by any means. I remember once one of my brothers was talking to Jeff and saying how they had worked 65 hours that week (at a time when Jeff was working over 100) and said" but I have no room to complain with as much as you work". I remember Jeff saying "are you kidding me 65 hours is tough! Don't ever think that your life isn't hard because you may see someone else's life who may appear harder"

I have always been so amazed at Jeff and his silent way of service or doing his job. He is very much on the down low on what he does. He never wants his identity to be because of what is career is but because of who he is, not what he does to pay the light bill. When someone asks him why he lived in New Orleans he often answers "that is where I went to graduate school", to avoid bringing up what he does for work.
To him being a doctor is what he does to bring money home for his family. Biking, Running, fishing, skiing, serving in his church, teaching his kids to play t-ball, loving his wife, being a dad, jumping on the trampoline, loving his parents, respecting his siblings that is what he lives for or one could say what "he does for a living" I am just proud of him for being so patient and waiting 10 years to be able to start doing it.

In 10 years I have heard him complain once! yes just one time on a incredibly hard day. And as the years went on I believe he had harder days than that one but he valued the importance deciding to do something and sticking to it and in his mind complaining about it didn't do any good. He has often said his path is so much easier than my two brothers for instance who are getting their masters degrees. Because along the way they have the temptation to get distracted with high paying jobs that often distract them from completing their goal. He had no choice, if he quit, the only job he could get would be to teach P.E. (his major in college) he wasn't trained to do anything else. He was recently telling Adam that he had it easy "I signed up and I knew my path would take 10 years, but for you it is hard because you can come and go as you like in your education" and because of that he has always respected people so much for having the ability to go to school, work and go back to school.

Thanks Jeff for working your heart out for 10 years and welcome home we have missed you!

As my friend Jennifer F. just emailed me
"batter up"

sew darn cute!

how could I not share this website with everyone I know. It is serioulsy Sew Darn Cute.

amazing!

I just have to give a huge congrats and plug to Laurie Kaiser!.
You can access her site anytime on my side bar under "I am inspired by" Her earrings are in this months Martha Stewart Weddings. The above photo is the page from the magazine. Her earrings are #5. (click on photo for a better look) Thank you Stacy S. for emailing me the page and keeping me posted on her incredible work and new found fame.

Laurie is seriously amazing! My friend Stacy used to work for her in TN. One of my favorite afternoons was going with Stacy and Laurie fabric shopping. The ideas that came out of their creative minds when they would touch a piece of fabric was inspiring. We then went to lunch at my favorite Mexican place (which I have already forgot the name... sad sad) and was so stressed out because I didn't have any money. Seriously nothing. She was so nice to say "lunch is on me today" ahhh.
Generous, talented, beautiful and her jewelry is as graceful as she is. She makes every piece of her jewelry and she spends as much time and attention on her pieces as she does on people in her life. (the Halloween costumes she used to make for her nieces.. oh la la)

Way to go Laurie! I am so proud of you! Email me when you are on Oprah.

pure bribery!

So, I am getting tired. The walls in the house feel like they are closing in on me. The boxes seem to multiplying. (I have stopped trying to unpack until Jeff moves here) I am getting a little depressed about how small our house feels, it is just so tall and choppy. The girls are constantly crying and pooping. I have had one night since we have moved in where the girls have been asleep while I have been awake, which means no alone time. Annie Kate is totally not herself, at least I hope this is not her, because she is freaking me out. Sassorama!

If you have missed the national weather it is raining every day which means no great pool. I don't want to go to the grocery store to buy food because last week when we went the girls were so horrible! I am just in survival mode at this point. I dented the car trying to park in the garage. I have tried a few other times but can't get the car in, so we are parking on the street, which is so fun to get to the car with two babies in the rain!

I always sign up to be superwoman and then when I get there I realize I can't handle it. What made me think I could do this?

Take away what is inside the walls of this house it is so great here. I am just hoping that once Jeff gets here the inside will match the outside.

So, tonight I took the girls to Chuck E. Cheese and bought the biggest amount of tokens. (we actually left with a ton because they couldn't use them all) I am not a fan of Chuck E. Cheese and after tonight my opinion remains the same. We walked out of there a total mess and Caroline crying covered in cotton candy. They had a wonderful time and Annie Kate kept saying, "I still can't believe you took us to Chuck E. Cheese, THANK YOU!" It was just my bribery to keep the happy and quiet.
Jeff should be here in 50 hours... counting the minutes!

New Friends
We got the greatest phone call today. Someone from our church who lives around the corner called Annie Kate to come over and play. I saw Annie Kate smile for the first time like she did in Tennessee. Elizabeth H. (Cara Widman's friends daughter) walked over and picked up Annie Kate and they went for an afternoon of crafts. It was such a wonderful blessing!

flumpa

Today we went to another concert in the park. It has been raining like crazy here and I love it. Maryland has made national news with all the flooding but we seem to be fine.
Luckily the rained stopped for about two hours today so we ran to see Flumpa the frog and the singing scientist. It was awesome. The girl is a chemist and she has a singing show where she has written all these songs about science. It was fun, Annie Kate got to get on stage (third girl from the right) for Roy G. Biv song.
It started pouring rain as soon as the concert was over. Look at the funny photo of the girls all wet.
check out Flumpa online.

Happy Birthday Beaver!

Bevan Bruce Buchanan. Named after Bevan Haycock who was the Bishop when my dad joined the church. Bevan is the 4th Buchanan. His name has always drawn people to him as it is unique. Bevan grew up entertaining the family with his silly songs. He has the largest most beautiful eyes. He is the only one with brown eyes in our family. He used to look in the mirror and stare saying, "When are mine going to turn blue?" He can immitate almost any accent, but specializes in the Scottish one. "Pull it" He picked up my dad's work ethic, "Work hard, Play hard" Everyone loves Bevan! When our crazy family is acting crazy, there isn't anyone who doesn't love Bevan, is truly the family peacemaker. He is a wonderful father and I mean wonderful. He is so patient. He works nights and mornings (the UPS midnight morning shift) so his wife can stay home. He is starting is Masters Degree this fall. He loves college basketball. Call him the month of March, it is hilarious. He is the only NMSU fan on the planet, sorry Bevan but you are. He does not spend money he does not have. He saves to buy something. Financially he is truly one of a kind these days. Bevan I love you and happy birthday.

Target.

We went to Target tonight to search for the pineapples that Mindy talked about on her blog.
The target by our home is so cool. It is two levels. You have an escalator for you and the cart. You stick the cart in this machine next to the regular escalator an it moves with you. The kids loved it. It is a huge target and I swear it carries different lines that I have not seen before. We had fun and the girls did surprisingly well.
We found my new place to eat dinner too. On our way out we stopped and had one of their kids meals . Caroline and Sally Jane downed it. For $1.50 a kid not too bad.
It is in a neat part of town in the middle of all of this outdoor shopping.
Has anyone ever seen one like this?

Swim. Swim. Swim.

Our neighborhood has the most incredible swimming pools. They have saved us this week. We live just half a mile from the clubhouse and pools. The first day I went I thought to myself, "I can't believe I am taking two non swimmers to the pool by myself. " And then to my surprise the main pool has two large beach slope enterances. Woo hoo! it has been great Caroline and Sally Jane can play by themselves while I get a tan. We went today and met our neighbors there, but it only lasted 20 minutes until the thunder came. So we went to the playground at the clubhouse. It is a great playground and set around some beautiful homes. I took a bunch of photos so you could see the layout. Jeff we miss you!

getting out.

Jeff left on Monday and will be gone for two weeks finishing his fellowship. I am sporting it alone with my 3 beautiful, lovely, wonderful, obedient, calm, girls (if you say it, it will come true) I am seriously paperchaining it. (a term I use for taking it a day at a time) there are boxes everywhere, i can't seem to get anything done but seriously am in survival mode right now. deep breath!
A girl from chruch which I will now call one of my friends and is Emily D's cousin's wife, invited us to go to an outdoor concert today. We needed to get out of the house for sure and do something fun. It was an irish children's singer. Annie kate loved it. I think it is the funnest thing we have done since we got here.
There is so much to do here. I think we will go back on Monday for the science frog.
Here is a link to our photos of the day, check out the cool statues in the park of the rabbit, frog and turtle. photos. the above photo is of the ever so cute Lauren P.
My friend Tasha came today to visit., from PA. I tried hard to get a bunch of boxes emptied so my house would look normal, but then just gave up and said to myself. "This is the one time I have the ultimate excuse to have a messy house, so use it" Of course she wouldn't care anyway.
It was fun to meet her daughter, who looks just like her husband. Thanks Tasha for the Maryland book and the visit.

I thought you didn't know anyone?

We have some really nice neighbors next door that grew up in NY and moved here just 9 months ago from MA. They have two kids. On the first day of meeting them they said, "I can't believe you are moving here and don't know anyone and have no family here"
Hello... welcome to my world! As this is our third move like this.

I really honestly don't know what I would do without my church. Before coming here, members from our ward (word for congregation) emailed us to see if there was anything they could do, our Bishop wanted to make sure he knew what day we were coming. Even though we don't know everyone from church it feels so comforting moving here knowing we have a safe place to land.

So this week I have had someone from church come by everyday to bring me something or say hello and check in on us. And without fail my neighbor, Sue, has been outside. I always introduce Sue to whomever is at the door saying "Sue this is my friend..."
Well after the 4th time this happened this week she said, "I thought you said you didn't know anyone? Who are all these people?"
When I told her that they are people I met on Sunday she was amazed. People already have been so good to us. The above photo is from Becky T. my Relief Society President. She said she wanted me to have something pretty amongst all my boxes.

liquid gold!

Today I got a box from my sister in law, Rachel. It contained the most incredible gift. Mexican Vanilla. They live in Arizona. I don't know if I have ever told her how much I love Mexican Vanilla, but it was such a welcomed surprise. If you have never smelled it, it is awesome. My mom used it all the time growing up. Choc. Chip cookies taste so much better with it.
Rachel, I am no sure what prompted the gift but thank you so much for thinking of me!

two weeks.

Jeff worked so hard today getting as many boxes unpacked as he could. The entire garage is done. It looks great. I know it is really hard for him to leave us and have to go back to Nashville for two weeks.
Someone from church offered to take him to the airport (so nice!) and when we walked out the door I hugged him and said, "Please come back!" Not like he wouldn't but I am honestly a little scared about being here alone with so much to do and my daughters who are already bored out of their minds.
The lesson learned is that it is hard to move with kids. If we move again, we are shipping the girls somewhere while we move, unpack and then have them come after we are settled. Any takers in a few years?

Traditions

Today we woke up to homemade cinnamon rolls with yummy maple icing from again the amazing Katie Davis. Thanks so much for giving us a place of refuge this weekend.

Today the movers are at the house unloading the truck. I drove around the neighborhood for two hours to get the kids out of the house. Then I took them to church even though we looked like a wreck.

Not much a father's day for Jeff that is for sure. Annie Kate was sad that Dad couldn't wear his father's day tie. Every year we make him a special tie to wear to church . The above photo is one from a few years ago. We take one of his old ties and glue every obnoxious thing we can find with photos too. It is fun to look back at the ones we have made over the years.

I also added what we handed out to the fathers at church in 2004 when I was in YW's. A pocket protector with a sugar daddy and a pen with the following poem. (written by my friend Stacy S.

Hip, Hip hooray, Today is Father's day. For all the things you do for us, without complaining, without a fuss. As our ward we would like to say, Have a "Sugar daddy" day. Happy Fathers day 2004

Do they do anything for the dad's at your church?

Idea posted from Shauna, such a great idea!

Several year ago, we started the homemade tie tradition for our entire church congregation. The Saturday before Fathers Day, they have an Activity Day specifically to make the ties. On Fathers Day, all the men are great sports and wear them. Ties are made for every man, children or not. Some wear 3-4 ties, one from each child or wear the previous years' when their children grow up, etc. It has been a very fun tradtion and continues to grow. Some of the ties even have dates on them. Each year, there is something different to add to the decorations. Lots of laughs and fun memories. With my older children grown and gone,when they called home today, they asked about all the ties at church today and what they looked like, etc.

Bruce Buchanan age 9 months with his mom Gerturde Buchanan

Happy Fathers Day.

My dad. He is from Helper Utah, a small mining town. He was born in San Diego, CA. He grew up at 16 South Main Street. He sold Halloween candy on the street the week after Halloween. He grew up walking to a malt shop and chatting with Al Vetri. He went to a catholic school in Junior High. He grew up fishing and hunting. His father was a hard working coal miner. His dad come home every day with black, soot covered hands. My dad said to himself. "I am going to get an education so I don't ever have to work on the mines. My dad got his PhD. He now has his own company and does land reclamation on strip mines in NM. Funny how we think we run away from something and we run right back to it. His office is on main street. He loves walking down the street and saying hi to friends, just like when he was a kid. He still fishes, almost every day. He always has a story for something. My dad knows no strangers. My dad was always the cool dad growing up that dressed so nice, just like he remembers his grandpa dressing. (picture above with his grandpa, Dad age 9 months.)He loves his children. He loves to ski and still goes every winter. He skis with grace not speed. He loves garage sales. He loves the mountains. He is one of the hardest workers I know. He never grounded us as kids, if we came home late or did something dumb we just had to listen to hours of stories of him growing up. He has overcome many trials in his life. The greatest gift he has given me is that he taught me that my Heavenly Father loves me. Happy Fathers day Dad. I love you!

Harder than I thought!

today we woke up to homemade waffles from Katie Davis.. YUM! She is the hostess with the mostess!
We went over to the house. Here are the girls seeing their new back yard... STONE. Big change from their lush large yard. Funny though how kids seem to find fun in anything.
The weather was hot, we were still tired and I think the reality of the move hit me today. We went to lunch and Jeff and I just stared at each other saying nothing. We both look like deer in headlights.
We felt a lot of emotions, lonely, stress, tired, fear yet excitement at the same time.
We had nothing to do since our truck does not come until tomorrow. (Happy Fathers Day staying home with the movers)
So we went to the movies and saw Cars. Chased the girls around the theatre and then went back to the Davis's.
I again will say that I don't' think they will ever know what the did for us this weekend. We felt so out of sorts. Just having someone to come and vent our feelings to was a huge help. So we went and had homemade bread and jam (this girl is amazing) and laid on the couch talking for probably too long.
This is going to be tough!

We made it!

We made it to Maryland. The girls as we drove across the state line. We came into town right into traffic and got stuck on the beltway for an hour and 45 min.
The one thing that saved us was that we had a place to go and people waiting for us. My roommate from BYU, Emily Davis, grew up in Potomac Maryland. She called me on Monday and asked if we wanted to stay with her family. (she now lives in MA) At first we were thinking of sleeping in our empty house for two days, and then I thought no way.
So we finally got off the beltway and made it to Piney Meeting House Road (I never forgot her street, it is such a cool name) Her brother Adam and his wife Katie were there with smiles on. They had dinner ready for us and had invited their cousins over who live in our neighborhood so we could meet them.
They will never know what a blessing that was for us to feel like someone cared about us on today. We were tired, cranky and started feeling a little lonely.
Their home is wonderful! It is on a compound with homes of all their family. Emily had always told me about how she grew up, but I just never got it. Jeff and I felt so lucky to be there and just see such a wonderful way of life.
tonight we are tired but glad to have made it to our new state.

Travel tradition from when I grew up that we still do. Whenever you cross a state line you shake hands with everyone in the car. It always reminds me of a kid when we do that. Thanks mom for always having such fun traditions for EVERYTHING!

Heading out.

Today we said goodbye to our home in Franklin. As we drove away I started crying like a baby, seriously! I could not believe I had any tears left in me. So then Annie Kate started in on the game. We both were a mess. Jeff was in his car to drop it off at the airport on our way out of town, so he missed the emotional overload. (which we ended up leaving it on the side of the road because the clutch went out. Happy Graduation Jeff you get a new clutch!)

We had an amazing night last night. The Omans invited some people over to say goodbye and have dinner (we had totally protested any going away party... yea did I tell you we are weird?)
They had a incredible Tennesee photography book that everyone signed. I got up at 6:30 this morning to read them all (crying of course). We loved seeing all of our friends together.
Ok so ya'll were right and we were wrong! (S.D. and P.C. that is for you)

We drove out of town and made it to Bristol Virginia. We stopped and hung out and played checkers at Cracker Barrell. We had a funny night with Sally Jane sleeping in the bath tub at the hotel. The girls were exhausted and loved their travel pillows that Shari made for them (pictured above)

We are tired, sad, excited, nervous and tired!

Amazing Friends.

today was load the truck and clean the house day. The strongest men I have ever seen came to load all of our goods in the truck. '
Then the true miracle began. First 3 young men from church came over to trim and mow our lawn. ( they got a little last minute tramp tanning in).
Then over the next 5 hours women came over to help clean my house. I was overwhelmed! I could never have done this without their help. The house was spotless! thanks to Cara for taking off the nobs of my oven and cleaning them along with every baseboard corner. to Fran for steam cleaning my entire upstairs! To Laressa (pictured above) for shopvacing my garage. thanks Leslie, Shaylce, Laura, Kari, Fran, Kristi, Rayleen, Lareesa, Jill(the silent server who snuck in and left without me saying thanks and goodbye) .
We spent the night at the Omans and after taking care of my kids for two days straight, she threw us a surprise going away party.
Goodbye Allans. Peaches. Welsh's darling YW Critchlows Omans Stolworthys Cliff's Crams Deere's Beairds Sheerwoods Missionaires. and goodluck BYU freshman

One of the highlights of the night was that about 15 minutes after our Bishop at our church had left he came back to give Annie Kate a gift. In November she will be baptized. She has been a little sad that she won't turn 8 here in Nashville. He gave Annie Kate a small piece of marble from the Nashville Temple. He asked her to have the date of her baptism engraved on one side and the day she gets married on the other. He said "Remember, Right time, Right place and right person." It meant so much to her and me! Photo!

Farewell Tennessee

Goodbye green, autum, beautiful spring and ice storm winters that turned trees into glass.

Goodbye Vanderbilt. You taught Jeff to cut and to sew, life and death.

Goodbye neighbors, BBQ’s, four square, Max the cat and 2027.

Goodbye tornados I hope you don’t follow us.

Goodbye to our church building and Temple that opened the month we moved here.

Goodbye Goodwill who has stored many of my treasures now left for someone else to find.

Goodbye to good friends who have graciously taught us to serve and be generous to whomever we meet.

Goodbye to hours of sewing that gave us groceries and rent. To those hundreds of bags that I leave in this state.

Goodbye to an overworked husband who sacrificed and gave all that he had without one complaint and no regrets. I leave that tired man behind and take with me a refreshed, honest, intelligent loving father.

Goodbye to the first fireflies that I met. I never knew they were real. I hope I always live around fireflies.

Goodbye country music, I hope you sound the same wherever I live.
Goodbye backyard we will mis you. We will miss the trampoline, but most of all, the children who came to fill in our fences.
Goodbye to our sweet toothless lady who drove the ice cream truck every summer. I hope she lives a wonderful life and catches many fish.
Goodbye brick house that kept us warm and held in our love.
Goodbye Publix grocery store. I will miss Mr. Peter who gave me a receipe for his late wife's aspargas and always sang "Sweet Caroline" to my girls as he took out my groceries. And to Loren who gave me hugs before he shut my car door.
Goodbye to heat lightning and wonderful rain storms that gave us so much green. You have spoiled me and don't know if I will ever be able to move back west.

Goodbye Otis Peach, one of my favorite people who taught me so much.
Goobye Textile fabrics, the Smocking Loft and Children's corner. If I ever own a fabric store I hope it will be like all three of you.
Goodbye Carnton Plantation, Why didn't I find you sooner? Goobye battle fields who hold soldiers and heros.
Goodbye to my walking paths. I hope you miss my big red stroller.
Goodbye southern accents. I wanted to take one with me, but it wouldn't be me if I did.
Goodbye grown men in overalls at the grocery store and women covered in monograms and pink.
Goodbye Tennessee, I hope to come back some day even better than I leave you.
All my love
Ms. Kristi
my last post from Tennessee

i finished it in the nick of time.
Tonight I finished "The Diary of Mattie Spenser" by Sandra Dallas. This is the second book by her that I have read and now plan to read every single one. It was great and again am sad to see my book end.
This afternoon I took a break from cleaning to try to finish it. I was emotional as it was with the move but then the events of the last chapter threw me over the edge. I was crying so hard. Good thing I was home alone. I have never had to blow my nose from crying from reading a book.
First entry in her diary from her book.

May 9, 1865. Fort Madison, Iowa.

My name is Mattie Faye McCauley Spenser. I am twenty-two years old, and this is my book. It was given to me on Sunday last by Carrie Collier Fritch on the occasion of my marriage to Luke McCamie Spenser. Carrie says I am to use it to record my joys and sorrows, and to keep a thorough record of our wedding trip overland to Colorado Territory and the events in the life of an old married woman. Then I'm to send it back to her.

Well, maybe I will, and maybe I won't.

I am such a softie for these pioneer women, who quilt and struggle through life books. Today when I thought my life was so rough, I realized it could be worse and to take some advice from Mattie and make the best of it.
Favorite quote from the book. (how timely for me)

I said at the outset that I was practical and not given to pretty phrases. So it was right that Luke did not promise me a home in a dell. I will not make Husband sorry he brought me here. I shall content myself with the blessings I have, believeing, as the song-writer says, "Better-times a-comin"

So now on the Killer Angels.

How Much money do you have in your house?
Here is all the money that I found yesterday when packing and cleaning up.
My house was worth $6.93. That is a lot of money just laying around.

someone else is sad...
Coming home tonight from dinner with the Troseths, Annie Kate started crying. She said, "i am so sad to move" I have been so busy worrying about me, i forgot to think about her. She has so many great friends and tonight and today was just a reminder of that.
Annie kate got to vacation bible school with her neighbor and play at Sarah Jane's house.
Any great advice on helping a child deal with leaving friends is welcomed by one and all.

Mail!
Jeff's board scores came in the mail minutes ago. He called me on his way home and said, "open them!" of course I already had (remember me the 35 year old who still sneaks at her Christmas presents) and he...

Passed!

I was crying, he was screaming. I have not seen that much excitement out of him since... never. I am so proud of him! I thought it was so sweet because he was dying to get off the phone because he said he wanted to make a few phone calls. I said who is the first person you will call... "my mom"

Way to go Jeff we love you and are so proud of you. ! more photos.

Boxes!
The movers came today and in 6 hours had my whole house boxed up. they were fast, nice and made fun of how much fabric I had. It is started to feel real. Therapy???
For all you non comment blog watchers I will soon do a "how to post a comment on my blog post" so I can know there people out there so I don't completely lose it when we move. I have been crying all day!

Washer and Dryer.
Today the missionaries from our chruch came to get our washer and dryer. They are about 15 years old. (the washer and dryer not the missionaries)
They don't work so well and we don't need them where we are moving so we called the mission home to see if there was anyone in the mission who might want them.
Two darling Elders came over and picked them up. Bye Bye washer and dryer!

my window boxes.
they have bloomed just like I dreamed they would. I will miss these and hope to do some on our back deck in D.C. look how much they have grown. here is a photo of when i first planted them in April.

Fran.
My friend Fran. Tonight we went to have a farewell dinner with my friend Fran and her husband John. There is no one else like her! She has traveled the world, knows how to find a great bargain, is an artist, photographer, plays tennis, makes everything she touches look beautiful. She was my visiting teacher and on many occasions saved me from much heartache.
I love her and will miss her so much.

incredible gift!
today at church my friend Cara gave me the most incredible thoughtful gift.
She gave Jeff and I a set of 50 "to do " cards in D.C. with a map of each place to visit.

She gave Annie kate a book on learning sign language (something Annie kate has always wanted to do). Cara does the music for the primary kids. She wrote Annie Kate a card about when they learned the song "I know my Father lives" in sign language and how her face just lit up.

Then she gave Caroline a set of the laminated handouts of all the songs they sing in nursery each week. On family home evening nights Caroline is always tring to get us to sing these songs that she sings in the nursery but we don't know any of them. When Caroline openend this package she could not believe her eyes! It was better than a bowl of candy for her.

Cara, thank you so much for taking the time to write each of us a card and to give us something so individual to each of us! We love you!

Primary.
Today was a sad day. Our last day in our ward with people that we love! I was most sad about saying goodbye to my primary class. The above photo is a little treat that I gave to each of them. But what I was most excited about were the books that I made for them. I took photos of them a few weeks ago with their parents, in front of the temple, with me, their class, in front of the church building. I then put them in a little book along with my testimony and a summary of all the lessons we had learned this year.
Every week we make a hand symbol to represent the lesson. Then at the beginning of each class we do them in order. It is so fun to watch the kids do them as fast as they can. It almost sounds like a song when they do it because they have memorized it so well.
Here is a little slide show of the book.

packing.
As I am packing things up I wanted to write about my printers box. I got one of these because all the girls in Jeff's family had one on their walls. It holds small little memories of our life. Coins from argentina, missionary tags, old locks from my grandfather, pins from places we visit. As I was taking it down to get packed up it was so fun to remember all the things we have done while being here and other places we have lived. I look forward to filling some more spots from some fun things in D.C.
Jeff says if I want to collect anything it has to fit in the printers box. it is his way of limiting the size of things I bring home.

jail bird.
Thursday night Annie kate got sent to her room to take some serious alone time! After 15 minutes I walk in there and find that she has made a escape route tying her clothes together to escape.
Of course I thought it was creative and wondered if she thought this would be cute on mom's blog, but I was so mad and scared for her safety at the same time. But I could not miss this photo moment. Here is one of her looking out the window.

The pre-movers...
Our dear friends, the Southwicks came into town this weekend as our pre-movers. They were the emotional movers talking us through the moving emotions. They live in Dallas and flew here to see us before we left (we still can not believe they did this for us!) We went to the Pancake Pantry for our farewell time.
then we went to Vanderbilt campus to get some Vanderbilt gear. I got the greatest sweatshirt, too bad I can't wear it for 6 months. took pictures of jeff's rat lab. and then saw an escapee on the way to the books store.
We went to the zoo. Because Jeff (the neat freak) was not with us Stacy gave Sally Jane a snowcone and she got the messiest she has ever been. The smile on her face was priceless!
Stacy played mom of the year in our blow up pool! We went to Payless looking for hello kitty crocs, with no luck!
I gave Jeff a Vanderbilt Nursing shirt and Vandy tie when he came home from his department golf tournament with Mark.
And as if the trip was not generous enough they gave us two gifts. One was a DVD of clips of video from out time with them in Nashville. They had video of Annie Kate's first soccer game where she sat and pick grass and Jeff screaming on the sideline to kick the ball. Priceless.
The second was a darling basket filled with anything that had to do with cherries. The note saying , "we can not tell a lie..." get it Washington and Cherry tree.
Thank you Mark, Stacy and Ellie, we love you our super skinny friends! (way to go by the way)

Class of 2006.
To all my Graduating Senior friends. I wish you well and will miss seeing you!

Graduation!
Today was it, it was our final graduation dinner at Vanderbilt University department of Otolaryngology. Jeff has completed his fellowship in Rhinology (i don't even know if i ever spell that right) The first photo is of him and Dr. James Netterville whom Jeff went to Africa with and has been such a blessing in our lives. the next photo is Jeff's best buddies and educators this year. Kathie, Dr. D and Paul Russell. They have treated Jeff with nothing but the utmost respect and have taken the time to teach him as well as love him. This year has been so wonderful for Jeff. I can't wait to post the gift they gave him, so incredible.
The last photo is of the chair that they give you when you finish your residency or fellowship. So now we have two matching ones for Jeff's office at Walter Reed.
It was a great night and they did a funny slide show of Jeff with some great photos that I sneaked their way a few months ago. It was so funny.
Kathie and Dr. D we love you and thank you for all that you have done for Jeff this year. (they are readers of my blog!) He is going to miss you two like crazy!
The one photo i had to take was Jeff putting the chair in the car. Our first year here I remember going to the graduation dinner thinking our day would never come. I remember watching the graduating resident's putting their chairs in their car dreaming of that day for us. So it was symbolic for me to see jeff do it. And what is funny, is I am a little sad it is our turn. It is harder to go than I ever imagined. Saying goodbye to everyone was really hard for me. Vanderbilt we will miss you!
Photos of the night.

little bro.

They don't come any cuter than this! Here is my littlest brother, the youngest in the family, the baby, the last born's (he hates being reminded of this) new blog! Give him a hearty shout out!

I love you big guy!

The Quilters Friend

One of my favorite parts of our trip to St. George was meeting Julie Stauffer. She has a long arm quilting business called "The Quilters Friend"

If you have never seen one of these in action, it is a real treat. She has turned her garage into a wonderful, peaceful studio. She does everything freehand, nothing is predrawn or computerized. She is so passionate about what she does and talking to her just gives you the quilting bug. She has won awards for her quilting. When we were there we got to see a lady come pick up a quilt (her first one, when you see the photos you won't beleive it!) It was so beautifuly pieced and quilted. see photos. Of course i cried just looking at it.

I got the quilting bug from my friend Mindy J. I am forever in her debt for teaching me the art of piecing and quilting. It is my true love of sewing. I have had to put it on the back burner for my bag business. I look forward to getting back into it.

Julie has about a 6 month waiting list for her work, but it is worth the wait. you can contact her at 435.673.3173

thanks Julie for the tour!

Bumbo!
The hit of the reunion was the Bumbo seat. Debbie had been telling me to get one last year and I never did. what a mistake. My sister inlaw Kari brought hers for her dauther Savannah (nickname Chilie) above photo.
They are seat made for kids who don't sit up yet, perfect age 6months. Target picked up the line so you can buy them there. Sally Jane used it all weekend as a booster seat. It was awesome. So if you are looking for a baby gift this is a winner!

Strength.
the above photo is my sister in law Debbie and her daughter Claire. I used to say "Debbie is one of the strongest people I know" then I met Claire. Claire is one years old and a year ago this week was diagnosed with Diamond Blackfan aneima. She has spent more time in the hospital than most adults.
the above photo was taken by Lynette Johnson a professional photographer who has started a foundation called Soulumination. Lynette has done a couple of photo shoots of Claire and her family and they are some of the most wonderful photos that everyone in the family has enjoyed.

Soulumination celebrates the lives of children facing life threatening illnesses by providing professional photographs—free of charge—of these children and their families.The life-affirming photographs of Soulumination are the enduring, positive record of the child’s brief life.

Here is the Soulumination Website. Here is Lynette's blog
Scroll down to the bottom of my blog and you can see a new video that was made to educate families about her organization. You can click here to make a donation.

I have few friends who are photographers and thought they might find this interesting and an organization to become a part of as well.

What made me think of postings this was that today Annie Kate and her two girl friends had a lemonade stand from 8:30 to 4:30 to help raise money for Claire to buy some new special shoes. The were so excited at the end of the day with their earnings. Thank you Issabele and Gabrielle for spending your day thinking of Claire.

coming home!
Today when we pulled up to our house we could not believe how green it was. We missed a lot of rain. But what was even more suprising was how great our lawn looked. It did not have the 10 day not mowed look. Our neighbors mowed it the day before we got home so we could come home and relax. So nice!
Then a family from church brought us dinner and new pasta dish set as well. It was a going away gift for moving. It was so timely, our fridge was empty.
so now wake up tomorrow, do 10 loads of laundry, unpack and get ready to repack. We move in 10 days. Yikes.

shoes!
today we flew home. We are all so tired and exhausted! Why do they have you take off your shoes in the airport? who knows.
the girls cried the whole plane ride home and cried all night before we left this morning. (we stayed at the Fords and can not beleive i didn't take a photo of them, it was so great to see them) I felt i needed to reimburse the other passengers for their trip.
So it was a long day, but a great trip. we wouldn't do a thing different!

family photo shoot!
this morning we had a family photo shoot. My girlfriend Jill is a photographer that specializes in capturing the real you. I love this above photo because you can see Sally Jane waving goodbye to Jill.
I had to lie to jeff to get him to go, telling him it was just of the girls. If he knew he would have been in the photos he would have boycotted it.
I was amazed but not surprised at how well she caught each girl just as they are.

• Caroline, who doesn't like to look at the camera and has the biggest eyes.
• annie kate who has straight hair and beautiful freckles
• sally jane who is so sweet and smiley
  

Enjoy the full photo shoot. If you are a local and would like to schedule Jill for any event or personalized photo shoot you can contact her here.

She even gave our photo to us in a darling, personalized, pink leather album!

way to go ADAM!
today Adam (my youngest brother) raced in the 26 mile bike race that started 10 min. before the SLC marathon. He is so awesome.
We got to see his apartment. You can really learn something about someone by going in their home. I learned that my sister inlaw can play the piano, guitar, she paints, she draws and owns a harp. who knew!
We spent the day with Adam touring temple square. jeff and I had never seen the conference center. It was a great day, we were so tired and the girls were sick.

• Jeff spilt his chocolate shake.
  
• Caroline destroyed all the flowers on the square.
  
• Adam made fun of our sleigh.
• we visited where our wedding reception was
• hung out at Desert Book. Jeff was a wreck at this point.

We had a great day. We love you Adam and Lisa and coming soon baby Mary Jane.

•