Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Driving Across Country

We left Saturday morning and took off for a new chapter in life.  We decided to break up the drive into about 4 days.  Hoping to make this a lot less painful on all of us...here is how it went.


Thank you Melissa for the carmel corn!!  I think I ate most of it, but Rian and the others ate their share too.  Yum!


We stopped in Louisville, KY for the night...
Hotels were another adventure for this little man.  Lately he's been obsessed with finding money anywhere he can find it.  Preferably quarters, or any coins.  He will scower vending machines (both in the slots and under the machine itself), couches, under furniture, and anywhere else he thinks money will fall.  So every hotel we hit this is what it looks like.  Not just once, but he will check the same couch several times in case he 'missed soemthing'.  I have to hand it to him, he found 11 quarters and change from all of his efforts.  Along with a laser pointer and other junky items.  Such a quirky kid!


The arch in St. Louis.


On Sunday, we made it to Independence, Missouri for some church history sites.  We stopped in at the LDS visitor center and looked around at the Community of Christ Temple.  We also looked at the lot across the street from their temple which is the land where the temple in Zion will be build for the Lord to come in the last days...

After that, we stopped in Liberty, to visit Liberty Jail.  This is the site where Joseph Smith was in jail for awhile and received several revelations to the Doctrine & Covenants.  There was a good crowd for the tour.

This is only a replica of the original, but this is the actual site of the jail.  The church built everything exact to what was described.  4 foot thick walls; 1 ft wood, 1 ft thick of rock, and 2 feet of brick.   Low ceiling in the jail itself.  The jailer himself would also be locked into the building.  The doors only opened from the outside.  This was to ensure no one could escape.



Back on the road to make it to Salina, KS.  The kids loved to clean the van and keep busy.
Day 3: We made it to the Rocky Mountains!  Oh they are such a site to see after driving through Kansas and the flat side of Colorado.  We stayed the night in Golden, outside of Denver, but we took ventured up the rockies to Georgetown for a train ride.
In Georgetown, we wanted to ride the Silver Plum and tour the silver mine...but because it was Memorial Day, silver mine tours were booked.  So we just settled for the train ride.  All was going well, until Ammon decided to revisit his Wendy's lunch back from Limon, Co.  We think he got a touch of food poisoning and mix that with the winding roads of the rockies...well, lets just say the car seat went into the dumpster.
Even though he wasn't feeling well, he still wanted to ride the train.  This boy loves trains!!  He was a bit weak, but he was a trooper.  He loved it.


I love the Rockies, so beautiful and even a bit chilly...perfect!




Day 4: We decided to for-go the rocky route to Utah.  We didn't want any more sensitive stomachs to act up.  Although driving through Wyoming was 70 miles more, the GPS clocked it to be the same as going through the mountains.  BTW, southern Wyoming is so boring.  All barren and few towns to look at.  Oh well, we made great time!  Gotta love those 85 speed limits!





We made it to Gma and Gpa Wardwell's early evening Tuesday, May 26th.  We were so glad to be out of the van.  The kids loved to see cousins and have fun.  Until our stuff and house is available June 1st we are crashing a the Wardwell's.  But come Thursday, their living room was an infirmary.  One of the cousins were sick and decided to share.  It swept through everyone like a wild fire.  Luckily it was only a 24 hr thing and we were ready to move in with the new ward, Saturday June 2nd.


Friday, May 25, 2012

Last Morning...

We were so blessed to have Gregor and Bryanne Roner offer their home to us as we packed up and transitioned out of our house.  They were huge lifesavers.  Thank you to them.  Gregor I just had a blast with you.  You are a good man and so forgiving...I sort of ran over his mailbox the night before...I won't say much more, but he simply said 'don't worry about it, Bryanne has been wanting me to replace it for a while anyway, you did her a favor!  Such great people!'

Anyway, they live on a lake and pathways everywhere.  So Ammon and I decided to take a morning stroll and watch the fog rise off the lake.  A morning to stop, think and reflect.  Mornings like these are what I've come to call home.  I love Georgia.  I will miss you so much.  You are gorgeous and full of charm!

Moving Day


This was a busy day!  Good thing everything was good an boxed up!  These wonderful men and youth from our ward just came in and took care of business.  A huge shout out to Bro. Mark Lewis, Bro. Mark Henderson, Bro. Tommy Gray and Bro. Randy Empey!  Many others too, but these guys were in that trailor and packed like no other I've seen.  We had 23ft limit and these guys did better then that!  And Bro. Empey coordinated this so perfectly!  Thank you so much!
The next day Kristi and Melissa came over to help me clean up let the kids run through an empty house.  Such good times.
Although we were very blessed to have this all come together so smoothly, we were sad to think we are leaving such wonderful people and a great ward.  We love you all!

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Mail "Lady"

Ammon made friends with the mailman...I mean mail lady.  She is a nice lady, but for the longest time she would ignore me when I tried to wave at her (not noticing that I would wave).  I know she is busy and just wants to get done, but it bothered me.  So I 'allowed' Ammon to send her a note in the mail.  This definitely made her year!  Wow, it's amazing how a simple note will change the chemistry between people.  I made sure we were outside the next day when she came by and she turned off her truck and got out and handed Ammon a note back.  She was in awe that anyone would write her a note.  The next couple of weeks have been fun.
This was the last interaction we had with our mail lady.  She left Ammon a prize with another note saying goodbye.  We will miss her and the beautiful southeast!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Reality Sets In

Life was now going to start getting busy!  The trailor arrived and Trent was flying in that night and we were going to begin our journey out of the southeast...
But not before a few boys got to play and have some fun!!  Get out the toys and start the bowling!



Aww...such wonderful little boys!

Backward bowling...hey guess you can't blame them for getting creative!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Visiting Memories

This was our first house!  So many memories.  Rian and Jarom remember this place better because T & Rae were still so little.  Two babies were born here and Ammon was on his way when we moved out.  We had to drive by and see the neighborhood and say our goodbyes to so many good years.  We were glad someone was living in it and taking care of it...it had been through a foreclosure with those who purchased it from us and sat vacant and stripped down for a long while.  It looks happier and better.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Stone Mountain Fun

Finally had a good weather Saturday...took the kids and asked friends to come along to enjoy Stone Mountain for the last time.  The Hendersons, Carlocks, Coes and us Wardwell's had a blast.

Ammon, Jack and Asa - the Three Amigos!

Playing down at the water.  Coes arrived and we were in business.


Practically swimming...couldn't keep them out!  Waving to the people on the train.

Riding the rails.  Thank you Tim and Kristi for taking them all!  They had a blast!  We will always remember you guys!





Monday, May 14, 2012

Chicken Coop Fun

Thanks to Kristi Henderson and Laurie Marler for letting us come raid the chicken coop.  This would be Ammon's second time over, but I finally was able to get some pics.  He was a little scared at first to handle these creatures, but I think he warmed up.  His buddy Gavin showed him how it was done.  Darn I seemed to miss Asa in these pictures!


Checking out the coop
Loved gathering up the eggs


Feeding the chickens oats


Excited to use the farm fresh eggs.








Sunday, May 13, 2012

My Current Story



Empty cupboards and cardboard boxes...this is what I have been up to.  Looking forward to check this move off of my list, but not looking forward to leave this wonderful place.  I <3 Georgia!

Spring Piano Recital


Gotta love Jarom's forced smile.  Lisa Fowler was a wonderful teacher.  A great year!
Tarin
Jarom

Rian

Entire group