Cross the Plains

It was finally time for us the PACK UP and leave Iowa. My mom and Randy's dad came to help us with everything and we are SOOO glad they did! I know everyone says you don't realize how much work moving is until you have to do it - but it is TRUE. I had a good excuse to get out of the heavy lifting, with the pregnant belly and all, but to clean EVERYTHING was such a big deal by itself.

Here are the kids with the last few items right before we left our empty house:

Randy and his Dad drove the biggest Penske truck available with a car in tow. You will have to ask Randy how he almost took out a few parked cars in California. Glad I wasn't them:

The kids, my Mom, and I left the next morning at a LEISURELY pace to travel to southern Utah. Our first stop was the Omaha Zoo.

We drove about 7-8 hours for 3 days, stopping at parks and hotels along the way - for the kids' sanity (and mine). And then a LOT of breaks for stretching. We made it to my parents' house in southern Utah just in time for the 4th of July. We enjoyed an awesome fireworks display off the porch, compliments of my brother Paul and his wife Natalia. Caroline was NOT a fan of the noise, but liked the lights.

Meanwhile, Randy and his Dad drove to California, moved ALL of our furniture in to our house, set EVERYTHING up (even tried to organize the kitchen). Randy studied and took his Board Exam, then they drove to southern Utah to see us. Randy was in need of R&R, so they took off on the motorcycles!

And we hiked Red Cliffs:

Feeling a bit recovered, we joined my family and cousins at the Renaissance Fair. Cooper and Tyler had fun beating each other with foam swords and running around the park with the other cousins.

I think they're talking "strategy" here.

Cindy and I wore dresses compliments of my Mom's amazing sewing ability.

Enough of the fair, time to go fishing at Kids Pond up Cedar Canyon.

Anybody need a worm?

Then to northern Utah to visit more cousins!

And what vacation would be complete without a little mountain biking. Neither Greg nor Randy had been for a while, so when I dropped them off at the top of the canyon I figured I should take a picture in case the police needed a recent photo - just kidding boys (kind of).

And one more picture with the Grey cousins before we head to California!

 I found that you can bribe a kid to do anything for an ICEE.

Saying Goodbye to Iowa

We are settled in to our new home in southern California... but I need to post goodbyes from our home for the last FIVE YEARS in beautiful Iowa.

Goodbye to my AWESOME preschool co-op for the last 2 years. It was fun to watch each of your children learn and grow - and teach Cooper as well. He keeps saying how he wants to do "Mommy's preschool" again.

Such a happy kid:

Goodbye to camping at Sugar Bottom with the BUGS and the HEAT - these boys (Randy & Jon) had to get one last camp in before we left. I came to visit them around 8:30pm and was SWEATING even after the sun went down. I lasted 15 minutes before I said goodbye and went home to shower and sleep like a sane person.



Goodbye to Wisconsin Dells. Four hours away we took one last trip with good friends, the Boyers, this Spring. Despite Randy's look in this picture HE was the one who pushed for this trip and he had FUN.

Goodbye to T-Ball with all of Cooper's buddies. I think Cooper was the BEST outfield dirt-digger in the group. He said he loved it and when I asked him why he told me, "because of the treats!" Kid knows what he likes.

Goodbye to swimming lessons with Becky. Cooper's turned in to quite the swimmer! He doesn't like water slides but will jump in to any pool... no matter how deep. (Don't know if that's a GOOD thing.)

Goodbye to HERKIE - our kids' favorite mascot.

Goodbye to lots of FRIENDS who made Iowa such a great place to live! Here are just a few of my favorite girls I laughed with, cried with, helped me become a better mom with, loved spending time with and if you're NOT pictured here... it's only because I have minimal pictures saved on my computer (since the move) right now.



Goodbye to our sweet neighbor, "Grandpa Frank". Cooper and Caroline keep asking when he is going to come and visit or if we can go to his house. Such a good neighbor - we will miss you.

Lots more goodbyes to a wonderful FIVE years that went by too fast (in retrospect).

Caroline in the GREEN grass I will miss terribly.

Had to add this one just for laughs. Randy teases me that I should shave instead of wax - never going to happen, even if you've convinced CJ it is fun (razor was removed for this activity).

Our LARGE moving truck before it was filled... but that is another post. GOODBYE IOWA!