It has been almost exactly a month and a half since we packed up our Penske truck and made the trip across the country.
It feels like it was an eternity ago.
Can I just say how much I dislike packing? I think dislike is much too soft of a word, I think it's more like, I DETEST packing. It always seems like a never-ending task. It's like the nightmare you just can't seem to wake up from. I think a nightmare is a pretty good description...you know that feeling of anxiety when you are having a nightmare? All you want to do is wake up and want your reality to be different...
But somehow, it ends and it is OVER.
...and that is exactly what happened with this move.
We got it DONE and it is OVER!
We were blessed to have Scott's dad and my mom with us for the trip. Clay kept Scott company and took turns driving the big truck and my mom drove with me in the Hyundai with the 3 kids. It was such a blessing to have them both. I don't know what I would have done driving across the country by myself with 3 children.
I was so worried Brooke was going to have the hardest time on this trip, but she was the least of my worries! She was an angel compared to Brielle and Braden! Those two are EXPERTS at agitating one another and fighting with one another. I think they should win Olympic medals.
There was incessant fighting and arguing about EVERY LITTLE thing throughout the whole trip.
I don't know how I kept my sanity...oh wait I didn't!
I think my sanity was left somewhere in between Virginia and Utah.
We started our trip around 3pm. on May 30th and oh you guessed it? We hit DC metro area rush hour.
It was so wonderful sitting in traffic for an hour and half to get out of the city. :)
It was the perfect farewell!:)
We stayed with one Scott's family's family friends from Idaho, the Brower's. They are serving a mission in Ohio. It was nice to see them and celebrate Clay's birthday on the 31st.
Their property is beautiful and the kids had a blast running around and eating hot dogs and smore's.
Brookie is truly such a good baby. She was so good during this trip.
It was fun to take a day break from driving and enjoy the beautiful area where the Brower's live.
It was the perfect stop and after that we were ready to tackle the rest of the trip.
We pretty much drove as much as we could each night and stayed at a hotel at the end of the day.
We took our time but by day 4 we were all DONE.
We were glad to have made it to Utah alive. We made it to Utah right by sunset and we were welcomed by the most beautiful, bright moon and all the beautiful colors of the sunset.
It was picture perfect.
I am glad to report that our Series of Unfortunate Events wasn't as lengthy nor as hilarious as the one 4 years ago when we moved from Idaho to Virginia...but nonetheless we did encounter a couple of mishaps.
1. Somewhere along our trip, a tire from a big semi-truck blew up right in front of Scott and broke a part of the dolly we were pulling with our friends' car (we split our Penske a 26' truck with some friends from our ward in Virginia who were also moving to Utah). The semi's truck broke part of the dolly but everyone was safe and sound and the driver and Scott exchanged information. Scott had everything under control...I'm grateful that didn't end up in a bad accident.
2. This second unfortunate event happened somewhere in between Virginia and Utah, closer to Utah, maybe Nebraska? I can't remember. But I will warn you that if you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to stop reading.
I warned you.
Okay.
So, we were all exhausted and ready to call a day from driving. It was our last night in a hotel. We were quite a few miles ahead of Scott and his dad and I stopped at a La Quinta Hotel and got us a room. It was nice and it seemed clean. As I was waiting in line however, I noticed that people were walking with dogs in the building. I didn't think much of it...it might have crossed my mind that it seemed a little strange, but I was so exhausted that I paid for the room, got the kids out and into our room, got everyone ready for bed. Shortly after Scott and his dad arrived and before we knew it we were all asleep.
The next day, Clay lost a little piece of his hearing aid and Brielle was looking for it on the floor. Next thing, Brielle announces that there is poop right next to the curtain. My mom and I were having breakfast downstairs so I missed the whole thing. Scott investigates and lo and behold, there was indeed what Brielle had mentioned there was right behind the curtain.
We were DISGUSTED to say the least.
Later we found out that it was a 'pet friendly' hotel.
Someone came to clean it up...
...and we didn't have to pay for our room.
I don't know if I should be happy we didn't pay for the room or simply disgusted by the fact that we slept in a room with dog/cat feces all night.
That was the end of our series of unfortunate events for this move.
After our cross-country trip, we stayed a few days with Scott's parents in Idaho Falls.
It was relaxing and just what we needed.
We were all exhausted.
Brooke got the hang of climbing stairs while we were there.
It has been so fun to watch her hit all of these milestones.
We played at Great-grandma Jensen's house.
Some of the toys you see pictured here, Scott played with when he was a little boy...now our kids get to play with them when they go to great-grandma's house.
A visit to Idaho requires a stop at Millhollow in Rexburg.
Best sandwiches and frozen yogurt in the land.
After Millhollow, we walked around BYU-Idaho campus.
It has changed so much!
It's a totally different place than when Scott and I were there.
It has always been a beautiful campus but now it really looks like a university.
This is in front of the library.
The Manwaring Center is completely different.
This is the cafeteria and now they have so many little sitting areas.
It is HUGE.
This is the only wall in the MC that looked familiar.
This is right in front of the ballrooms.
Lots of memories.
The BYU-Idaho Center is magnificent.
It looks nothing like the Hart Auditorium with those red plastic chairs and those uncomfortable bleachers.
I think it looks a lot like the Conference Center but smaller.
I love BYU-Idaho.
I'm glad to have moved on, but BYU-Idaho will always have a little piece of my heart.
So many amazing memories.
9 years worth of memories.
4.5 years of single life.
Meeting the love of my life.
Teaching there for 4 years. Best job I've ever had.
4.5 years of married life.
2 children born in Madison Hospital.
After walking around BYU-Idaho we headed to Great-grandpa Jensen's grave.
Grandma wanted to have it cleaned and so we did.
We miss him and I'm happy to have met him. The day before we went to his grave had been his birthday.
We remembered him and we told our children stories about him.
They listened attentively and they wanted to hear more.
We told them about the many times he would grab their little toes and say, "this little piggy went to the market, and this little piggy stayed home, and this little piggy had roast beef and this little piggy had none and this little piggy went wee wee wee all the way home."
...and how he would sing to them, 'you are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray..."
What a good man.
We sure miss him.
We were also able to see our good friends Jonathan and Daija.
We've had many chances to get together with them since we've moved here and I'm so happy.
There is just nothing like old friends.
Always good conversation and good laughs.
Lizzy is 8 months and Brooke just couldn't get enough of her hair! She kept wanting to pull it!
Look at that face!
Bridger was showing off his muscles!! ha!
Jonners and Daij are finishing a dental residency in Pocatello and they are moving to New Mexico.
I'm sad they won't be as close but glad to know that we'll be able to see them at least twice a year.
Thanks for the fun times Jon and Daij!
******
Our stay in Idaho wouldn't have been the same without Lanie.
Lanie is Scott's sister and can I say how much we love her?
She is an amazing aunt to our children.
She took the time out of her busy schedule to take our kids out on special dates.
Brielle had a girls' night out and Braden had a Aunt-Nephew date with her.
They LOVED it and felt SO special.
I know they will remember those moments with their aunt Lanie.
I don't think there is anything in this world like an adult making a child feel loved and special.
Aunt Lanie is good at that.
Thank you Lanie!
Brielle and Braden are counting down the days until they get to hang out with you again!
