Unpacking

I was so happy and impressed with our moving company.  Everything went perfectly and they went above and beyond my expectations.  Mostly that they wrapped EVERYTHING in paper several times.  Even stupid toys that should just have been thrown in a box they carefully wrapped and tapped.  When it was time for unpacking we had a TON of boxes and a TON of paper.  Thankfully we had a whole basement that has no furniture - so we just threw everything down there.  We put the paper on one side - to jump in of course; and  the boxes on the other side - that were made into a variety of forts, stores, and homes over the course of the next few days.  The sad part was not having any friends to show it to and play with.  But they had each other.

Getting to Denver

 

The plan:  Jason left on September 1st and drove our Civic to Denver.  His company put him in an extended stay hotel until September 11 (the day we closed on our house and the kids and I came to Denver).  I was in charge of getting me, the children, our van, and our belongings to Denver.  I was supposed to drive out - just me and the kids - on September 11.  It is only a 8 hour drive - totally do-able.  But my dad felt sorry for me and decided to drive with us and fly back a few day later - thank HEAVENS - our first few days in Denver turned out to be a LOT harder than I expected.

The movers came on Monday and Tuesday to pack and load.  I had to be there to supervise - the kids had to leave.  My mom took them.  I thought I would be really bored watching them pack - but turns out I had a lot to do.  I had to pack for 3 days for me and the kids and get all of our "car" stuff ready.  It also turns out that I had A LOT of things to return to neighbors... oops.  Also I had to spend time visiting with each one.  After the house was empty I cleaned it (ever seen an empty house? - they are embarrassingly dirty)when I was done I picked up the kids from my mom's, drove to my in-laws in Mapleton, and spent the night.  We headed out Wednesday morning. 

Leaving West Jordan was about as sad as I had expected.  I don't handle things like that very well... meaning change.  I remember being heart broken as a child when I found out my grandma got rid of her brown, floral, 1970s silk couch - I literally cried at the thought of not ever seeing that couch again.  So needless to say I cried - a lot.  Even randomly on Monday or Tuesday a mover would come ask me a question and I would be bawling - I am sure they are used to it. 

 

I thought it was going to be really hard to leave me house.  But once it looked like this (above) - I felt kind of detached.  However, I felt it REALLY offensive that I could not take my flower garden - kind of like I was leaving a bit of my heart.  I still think I am going to go steal some ground cover when I go visit next (I think they could handle a 8 hour drive) - but shh, don't tell Marci.  I was also sad to leave our swing set.  That is my biggest regret - not taking it - now I realize it would have fit and we REALLY miss it.  When it came time to leave I had imagined it to be a really sad scene of hugs and good-byes and crying.  It wasn't.  We couldn't do it.  I went, gave hugs, said thanks, and turned and left before either of us could cry.  I bawled the moment I turned around.  But I knew I just couldn't do it together.  It was too sad.  The sad part is knowing we were only there for 3 years.  One day someone will say, "oh you remember the Herbert's right?  They had those 4 kids.  Remember, they lived next to the Wildes.  No?  Oh, well they were awesome!".  I made that last sentence up, but I know 3 years is not a long time and our kids (and theirs) will hardly remember us being there.  But I will always remember.  They were very crucial years for us.  They changed me.  We were supposed to be there, and I am grateful for that.

 

Anyways... back to the reason for the post (now that I am crying... again).

 

My sweetest neighbor, Amy, made me this car survival pack.  It was full of car games and perfect for all ages.  She was a life saver and so thoughtful. 

 

So the PLAN was to leave a 8:30 - play some car games and watch Whinnie the Pooh, some children may nap - drive to Fruita, take a break and go to their dinosaur museum, eat lunch, run around.  Back in the car by 1:30.  The kids would all nap for the next 3 hours or so, wake up, watch Micky Mouse Club House - and we would be there.  Instead - we left at 9:30 and when we got to fruita is was pouring rain and all the kids were asleep.  We drove straight through.  Right after we got past Grand Junction the kids woke up - and that was it.  We were in the car for 9 hours and ALL FOUR of my kids only slept for 20  minutes.  I couldn't believe it! I don't believe in watching a lot of movies on road trips - I think looking out the window is good for the soul - the plan was 2 hours of movies and I wasn't going to change it because they wouldn't sleep. 

 

The rain let up for an hour somewhere in the Rockies, so we stopped at a rest stop, ate lunch, and ran around.  And that was it - only an hour break the whole ride.  But inside the car they really were fine most of the time.  Other than the fact that they didn't sleep, we had few fights, few tantrums, and only a few tears.

I was grateful to know this was a one way trip and I didn't have to turn around and drive home in a couple days.  But I am also glad to know it wasn't too bad and I can do it when ever I want to.

 

We arrived in Denver in a wicked rain storm and apparently it was only the beginning of the "Denver flood".  We literally drove into town the night the rain started - and it didn't stop for about a week.  The record rain fall in September for Denver was 2 inches and by Friday night they had already gotten 13 inches.  Looking back those first few days were the hardest of my life - and I am not trying to sound dramatic.  The blessing is that I didn't know it was hard while I was doing it - I handled it pretty well.  Jason was supposed to have taken Thursday and Friday off - but at last second couldn't.  On Thursday we were stuck in a hotel room with pouring rain, roads closed from flooding, and the city in a state of emergency.  Every time my kids moved the downstairs "neighbors" hit the ceiling.  My car was parked really far from the hotel and the rain was coming down so hard you could not see through it - I have hardly seen rain like that in my life.  The parking lot had about 3 inches of standing water - I had to get all the kids across the parking lot into the car.  It was awful.  We took all four kids to closing at 1:00 - right in the middle of nap time. (My dad was in a meeting in Colorado Springs during this time).  This pattern continued for the next day or so - rain, chaos, a lot to do but too difficult to do with four young children.  But when all was said and done - we are done and fine.  I really did have it easy - what with the movers and all - and my dad - and once Jason came home on Saturday he worked like crazy and got the whole house unpacked and organized before he left for work on Monday morning.  One last big thanks to everyone who helped get us out here.  I could not have done it alone!  

Noah turns Five

Noah turned five in September.  This birthday was a long time coming for him.  He couldn't wait to turn five and has been anticipating it for a good year.  Noah has grown and changed a lot this last year - when he turned four I couldn't believe he was four - he seemed like a young four and very little and immature for his age.  He has acted like a five year old for the last 6 months or so and now he feels like an old five year old - almost like a six year old.

 

He got two parties, a family one and a friend one.  His friend party was 2 days before we moved and Jason was already in Denver - so I told him it could only be 5 friends and it would be kind of low key.  He was fine with that.  I make one "cool" cake and he requested the "cool" cake to be at his friend party.  So for his family party he just got a cheery cobbler (Herbbie Special).  But he got some cool presents.

These pictures are bad but I included them because of Noah's face.  This kid kill me!  He has the most sincere facial expressions that honestly express pure joy.

We found out he has some pretty weak lungs though.  This next statement is not at all exaggerated:  It took him TEN blows to blow out five candles.  It was hilarious!

 

For his friend party he wanted an Angry Birds theme - and for his cake he requested that toys be on top - done and done - SUPER easy to make a cake with toys on top.  He loved it.

 
 

I made an angry bird game out of water balloons.

We also had a piñata that I made - it was NOT worth photographing.

 

 

Brock, Logan, Noah, Wes, and Luke (Donovan was there also but he had to leave early for kindergarten and another friend Gunnar couldn't make it at last minute)

And these cute girls were at the party too and wanted their picture taken.

 

Noah is so fun at this age.  Last year around November his personality kind of changed and he became really social, intelligent, and inquisitive.  He loves to have long, long conversations with anyone who will talk or listen to him.  He has questions about EVERYTHING and he wants to hear a real answer (apparently "its magic" is not a real answer).  Jason took him to get our car oil changed and he asked Jason about 1,000 questions about every piece of equipment in that shop - each explanation comes with two or three follow-up questions about "why don't they do it this way" or "what if ____ happens, then what would happen".  When we go to the aquarium or zoo he wants to talk about every exhibit and ask questions.  We love it and is so fun.  He has really taken over as "big brother" to the girls while Brock has been at school the last year.  He takes his job very seriously and will play with them and make sure they are always happy.  One complaint we have about Noah is that he is SO SLOW - seriously SO SLOW - but we have found that it is more about perfectionism than being slow - it takes him forever to do something because he is trying to make everything perfect.  I can't wait to see where his curiosity for life takes him!

Madison turns two

I am not sure why but birthday posts are really overwhelming to me.  If I ever get super behind on my blog - it is because of a birthday.  Madison's birthday was way back in August - but I feel like it was just last week because of the whole move and everything.  Anyways... she turned 2!  Which on one hand is totally unbelievable and on the other seems just about right.  She for sure is not my baby anymore and is definitely just one of the big kids.



Her request for her cake was, "a pink cake" - that is all she would ever say.  And after her party when people asked her about her birthday she would say, "I had a pink cake".  I guess I am glad I got her exactly what she wanted - which was great because it was SO EASY.  If I could start my mothering over again one thing I would change was having cute/themed birthday cakes - once you start you can't stop.  I also did 2 different colors of pink in the batter.

Her aunt Ashley took her shopping and she picked out a doll double stroller and a doll high chair.  She loves dolls in a way that Megan didn't at her age (or even now).  She will play with her dolls, totally independent, for about 30 minutes. 

 

A super cute picture of her and her grandpa Herbert.

 

Opening presents.

 

Blowing out her candles.  She got both candles in one breath.

 

I took her outside to try and get a great 2 year old photo.  She was more silly than cooperative - I guess that is actually a real 2 year old for you!

The best one.

 

Madison is so talkative.  She says the most absurd things and repeats EVERYTHING you or anyone says - no matter how long or difficult it is.  She sings songs all day - mostly, "I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumble Bee", I am a Child of God, I Love to See the Temple, or "the Trumpet Song" which is "The Morning Trumpet".  She is very motherly and compassionate and aware of others needs.  She will open doors for people and pick up anything that someone drops.  She loves to try on everyones shoes all day - but takes hers off in the car, at the park, at the store - just about everywhere.  She has never been into TV.  About two weeks before we moved to Denver she kind of started watching Super Why and now in Denver she has become obsessed with Letter Factory and would watch it 10 times a day if I let her.  She knows how to milk it too - she says, "can I watch Letter Factory because I need to learn my letters" - how can a mother say no to that?  When we moved to Denver she only knew the letter "W" but didn't know what it said; 3 weeks later she now knows all her letters and all her sounds - she was my last child to learn them - the other three knew them all by 18 months - I contribute her "lack of knowledge" to her non-interest in TV.  TV honestly taught my children their numbers and letters.

 

Her new favorite thing to do is play games.  She asks to do that 100 times a day.  Her favorites are Candy Land, Operation, Hi HO Cherry O, and Ants in My Pants.  She really plays them and is actually good.  She give great hugs.  When talking about her siblings she says, "my sister and my boys" - it is so cute.  She loves to wrestle - especially with Brock.  If Brock is ever sitting on the ground she will just go tackle him.  She reminds me a lot of myself and gives a lot of the same looks that I gave as a child. 

Golfing

My dad took the boys golfing one day before we left.  They really liked it.  After Jason and I took the boys mini golfing for a "big boys" night out.  We don't separate the boys and girls very often and do different things - but when we do I love it and wish we did it more often.

 

My dad emailed me some pictures of the golfing.  Pretty cute!