Our Crazy Move

Warning: This is a journal entry, so enter at your own risk... it's l o n g!

Alright... in a smallish nutshell- THE MOVE!

We went to get the Uhaul on Monday, August 4th. Levi got the trailer all hitched up and started the car... and it wouldn't go into gear. It wasn't the transmission (sigh of relief!), but the linkage, which wasn't too big of a deal to fix. We are so grateful that it happened in Provo rather than somewhere in the middle of Iowa... can you imagine?!?

We got the car back on Thursday, hitched up the trailer and packed it to the very very top. It's no small feat getting everything you want to move across the country in the 5x8 trailer. I so wish we had pictures of our trailer, but we were pretty much in chaos mode, so this is a stock photo.

Levi and his Mom, DiAnne, took off Friday morning for the 2,000 mile journey and the kids and I spent priceless time with Grandpa Longmore in Utah. I am so thankful for that time because we won't be able to visit very often and we pretty much had him to ourselves for a couple of days! He was just getting ready to start his last week of teaching after (yikes, I don't know... sorry Dad!) about 40 years of teaching, and shared alot of important stories and information with me while I was there... I loved it! **side note** He has touched so many lives and taken care of his family in so many amazing ways during that time... we are SO proud of him!

Gideon helping Grandpa mow the lawn... he was out there for a couple of hours, and he loved every minute of it!

So, Monday morning (after seeing her brand new grand baby for only about an hour) my Mom took the shuttle from Idaho to help us get packed. We were up until the wee hours of the morning (thanks, Mom!) getting 6 suitcases of stuff packed and ready to go in the morning. In the course of the day, I realized I didn't have Gideon's birth certificate... yikes!

So we left way earlier than we needed to go to the Office of Vital Records in SLC on the way to the airport (by the way, the airline didn't even ask for it... grrr!).

You should have seen us with 6 suitcases, a double stroller, 2 car seats, 3 carry-ons and 2 kids trying to get through security. I really wish I had pictures! I was pushing the cart of suitcases and Gideon's car seat (yes, all on one...) into the airport with my stroller and the whole cart fell over. It had to have been the funniest thing ever. When we were going through the metal detectors, the car seat got stuck in the stroller and Gideon was out of the stroller (because he's a huge terrorist threat and had to go through security all by himself!) running around and I was trying to get the car seat out of the stroller (while holding Joseph because he started crying)... it's a good thing they let my Dad through security to help, because even with all three of us it was borderline disaster the whole time! :) The flight was late, which was wonderful because we made it... and we even had time for my Dad to run ALL the way back to the main terminal to get us some food.

We were able to get seats almost together and my Mom spent most of the time entertaining Gideon so I could keep Joseph happy. Gideon did remarkably well... especially since he had been in chaos for at least a week and hadn't been sleeping well. He actually fell asleep as we were landing for the layover, yep, as we were landing... so we had to wake him up to get off the plane, double grrr!

My Mom and I had to get all the suitcases and car seats and stroller by ourselves in Philly, which we did to our amazement... and then off we went to an Extended Stay America for the night.

The next morning we tested out an apartment we thought we wanted, but decided after a day of me having mini-panic attacks, that it probably wasn't the one for us. Really weird, since I have never had that happen before... ?!? We had just signed the lease a couple of hours before we decided to leave, so we were able to get out of it (for a smallish fee) and find a hotel. It was especially crazy, because the 5 of us (Mom, Levi, G and J) barely (and I mean barely) fit in the van with the 6 suitcases... but leaving the apartment, we had all the stuff that had been in the van for the move out here and his Mom as well. It was insane trying to get us all out of there by the time they had to show it to someone else! Once again, the Lord blessed us and we made it in two CRAZY trips.

So, off we went to the Days Inn Horsham where we lived for the next 6 days. Yep, 6 days in a hotel with 2 kids. If you are going to live in a hotel for a week, I highly recommend this one... they had a nice breakfast, free Internet downstairs, washers and dryers (wish we would have used those, since we didn't get our own for a week after we moved into our apartment!), and a fridge and microwave in every room. The only thing that would have made it fun instead of liveable, is a pool for Gideon.

Home away from home...
I actually watched Michael Phelps break a gold medal record from one of those leather chairs...
Imagine this room with 3 adults, 2 kids, 6 large suitcases, a pack n play, and a swing!

We had a few disappointments while looking for apartments, but Thursday night I saw one on the Internet that looked promising and it was the place! We looked at it on Friday, but they wouldn't let us move in until Monday... while we were looking at it, I wasn't really even paying attention because I just wanted to get back downstairs to ask the guy if it was really the price they had listed because it was SO much nicer than anything we had seen!

So, here we are. We love our apartment and hope we can stay here all four years!

We are so grateful for the way the Lord has blessed us during this move. He has guided our footsteps and thoughts, protected us and shown us His love... it has been truly amazing. Someday I will post all the miracles, big and small, we have experienced during this trip.

We owe especially big thank yous to:
Levi's parents for the van... it has been such a huge blessing moving furniture (and us) :)...

DiAnne for helping so much in Provo and for taking such a long trip so Levi wasn't alone...

Deana, for stopping on her way home from a really long trip with all of her kids to help pack our house- I really couldn't have done it without you, really...

Our Suncrest Neighbors for the help packing and moving (and the love and support you have always shown us!)

Danny and Keri for helping us sell things and move, getting Gideon to sleep the night before we left (miracle!) and detailing my car... I still get choked up when I think about how much time you spent doing that when you were trying to move your own family!

Slate Canyon 4th ward Relief Society for cleaning my apartment...

Cheri for watching Gideon and being such a huge support for me...

My Dad and Mom for helping us move, sell, pack, clean, send, and organize our stuff, and for helping so much with the kids, always... We will be forever grateful for your love and support...

And especially we are grateful for the Lord's blessings and peace... even when I didn't know how to feel peace because I was in such chaos, it was always there. He is patient and kind.

Home at last!

We are officially residents of Pennsylvania... and, crazy as this sounds, one of the things I'm most excited about is that my vote for President will really count! It's hard to feel like my vote matters in Utah, but here it feels like it could make a difference.

So random, I know... what a weird thing to talk about when I haven't posted in over a month and we just moved our family across the country. But, since I just got Internet and TV again after 3 weeks in the dark ages, I'm getting excited about politics. Another story for another day.

Okay, so tonight for dinner we made cornbread in a skillet, and after I took it out of the oven and set it on the counter I was not thinking (as usual), and a few minutes later, I grabbed the handle to put the cornbread on a plate. OUCH!!! Is what my brain told my hand after about 2 seconds of holding the searingly hot metal. OUCH!!! is what my hand has been telling me ever since. Since it was my right hand and I am seriously left-hand impaired, Levi has been the rock-star husband he always is and has been working like crazy while I try doing things like nurse a baby while holding a bag of frozen baby Lima beans. He even went to the store and bought some ice and Dermaplast. The Dermaplast worked on some of the burn, but not on the part that hurts the most because that skin is already dead. Ouch! So, I type a few words and grab my bag of ice for a few seconds and try again. But, I promise I will tell the story of our moving adventure (and boy has it been an adventure!) and post pictures soon.

We love and miss you all!

July in Idaho

We went up to Idaho for a family reunion in the middle of July. It was really hot and G had tons of fun running around in the sun with Daddy.

We visited my Grandma who is 97. She held Joseph and he actually smiled, but we didn't catch it quick enough. I am forever grateful for her righteous life lived entirely for her family and I am proud to be a part of her legacy.

Joseph also met his Great Grandpa and Grandma Daughs while we were in Idaho... this is snuggling with Grandpa. I am so grateful for their legacy of service- they served two full-time missions and have always been a force for good wherever they are!

Baby Smiles

This is one of Joseph's first smiles... he's really gotten the hang of it now, and he talks and coos more than any 2 month old I've ever seen. He just watches people until they look at him and then he starts talking. He doesn't really like to look at toys, just faces.

It's so hard to catch the smiles perfectly on camera, so please ignore the nakedy bottom!

Random July

My beautiful boys! We sure love them.

We are always asking G to stay out of the bouncer chair bc he's too big so when he asked if he could sit in the car seat I said sure! He loved it.

Joseph really enjoys his baths... this time he scooted himself all the way down and then stuck his feet out. He just looked so cute, like he was just chilling in a hot tub or something.

Fourth of July

Where did July go?!? I'll start at the weekend of the Fourth, I guess...

As part of the Freedom Festival festivities, they have a Children's Parade the week before the fourth. It's mostly just kids and families riding bikes and walking the parade route, but they throw LOTS of candy.

G got a piece of candy right in the face- he didn't cry (probably because he was eating candy), but it hit him pretty hard.

Just watching the parade, waiting for more candy- aren't they adorable?!?

Stadium of Fire, sitting on the lawn by the bell tower. I've only missed the fireworks show a handful of times in my whole life... CA, Cleveland, India and Uruguay.

I also went to Center St. in Provo at 6 am to save a place along the parade route in the morning... then my mom and Kaylee and Mary came to hang out until the parade started so I could go home. I really should have gone at 4 or 5 am (I was awake anyway!)... because Center St. was already full. I thought we'd be ok because city ordinance says you can't save places along Center until 5 am, but I think people were there long before that- just in case anyone wants to try it next year...

July 5th my niece Madison was baptized. It was so awesome to have most of the family there for such a special day... isn't she beautiful? These are all the men who participated in the confirmation. What a lucky little girl to be loved so much!

Sunday we blessed our little Joseph. He was really good, and I was glad I could barely squeeze him into his blessing outfit because he looked so cute! I am so grateful the family all came to support us and celebrate the birth and blessing of our little guy... we really have an awesome family and we feel so blessed.

Levi's friend Dave came to participate in the blessing and meet Joseph- thanks, Dave!

2 Month Update

We had Joseph's 2 month check-up yesterday... everything looks good and he's been a trooper since getting his shots.

Weight: 14 lbs
Height: 23 1/2 inches
He's a healthy one, that's for sure!

Gideon's 3 year check-up
Weight: 35 lbs
Height: 38 1/2 inches

We love our growing boys! They are both getting so big so fast- it is an adventure every day.

Ok, Here's June...

Lately, it seems like every spare moment I get on the computer I'm looking for an apartment in Philadelphia. It's a big city, you'd think finding a place to live wouldn't be so hard! We have made some great friends already, who have been checking out the places that look good from far away... some smell, some are damp, missing appliances we need, etc., etc. We are going to have faith, though, and I know the perfect place is just around the corner!

So, we decided to put Gideon's "BIG boy" bed up in his room so he could get used to it... that plan was cut short when he decided that he wanted to sleep in it right then. Who wouldn't? It's a race car for Pete's sake!

It's been up and down (just like him every night!)... some nights he does great, and other nights he ends up in his crib again- which is what happens when he gets OUT of his bed and we catch him (yeah, right... he's a quick one). And I'm starting to think we have a lawyer or politician on our hands...

"Gideon, are you out of your bed?!?"

"No, no, I'm not out of my bed!" Bless his heart, he's trying to be obedient (or at least not get in trouble)!

Beautiful baby

Best Daddy in the world!

Chillin with Daddy

It's awesome to be a little boy... with friends

Gideon and his friend Jack were quietly fingerpainting when we left them alone for maybe, 30 seconds?!? Jack kept saying they were Spiderman... I thought they looked more like the Hulk! Thank goodness for washable fingerpaints!

It's awesome to be a little boy

Happy Father's Day!

I just wanted to post a tribute to Levi, our very best Daddy. We love him SO much it's impossible to put it into words. I have never seen a man play with and teach his children as much as Levi does. He will sit and play (or run around and play) with Gideon for HOURS... and I'm serious when I say HOURS. I last maybe 8 minutes. He's always teaching Gideon as they play- how to spell his name, the numbers on his cars (he knows all the racecars' numbers from the movie Cars), how things work, his letters, car symbols, etc., etc. He reads to Gideon every day and always makes time to snuggle. And he always, always makes sure Gideon knows that he is loved. The things he does are not always easy for him, but he does them anyway- even when he's tired or frustrated. It amazes me the patience and love he has for his family!

With Joseph, Levi will take him (no matter what time of day or night) even if he's fussy... especially if he's fussy. He tells Joseph how much he loves him every time he holds him, and means it sincerely. His love just grew when Joseph was born and he became a new priority in Levi's life. I think that's the greatest accomplishment and compliment for a father... his children and family are his number one priority. He has so many other responsibilities, and I'm sure he wishes he could spend more time/money doing the things he would like to do, but his family always comes first. Wow. Levi, you were born to be a father.

We love you, Levi (Daddy)- You are the greatest!

Take a minute and watch the new Daddy slideshow... He's absolutely incredible!

Calling all Mothers

I really need a super cool diaper bag. Really. And it needs to be cool. If you have one you love, please comment and tell me which one... Thanks! :)

Photo Shoot

Our little BYU fans! Once again, it looks like Joseph is trying to escape... I wonder why?!?

Our handsome boys!

Joseph was trying to tell us he was done with pictures. We listened.

I finally got some pictures of our little guy that actually look like him!

Our Little Family

Finally- Dad got a picture with Mom... still no make-up, but it looks like I got a shower. Not the best picture of Joseph, eh?
I love Joseph's face... he's like, "Help- I'm falling!"
My little boys

This is right after Levi did Gideon's hair for the day- "It's spikey," he kept saying... and when my nephew touched it, he came crying to me and said, "Grant broke my hair!" Yep, he's his father's boy (that's one of the first things I learned when we were dating- don't touch the hair)!

Baby Pictures

I don't have a baby picture of Levi yet, but here are hospital pictures of the rest of us... Joseph is definitely my child!

Joseph Asher

Christine Marie

Gideon Levi

Gideon is the littlest- a pound smaller than I was and two full pounds smaller than Joseph.

More Pictures

This is when Joseph met his cousins Hailey and Emily
We left Gideon alone with the markers 2 minutes and too few papers too long.
Gideon LOVES holding Joseph- he is almost always very very gentle.
Ok, so this is gross beyond gross, but how could we resist?!? It was a dark and stormy night, just before we were going to crawl into our nice warm bed (way too late already) and we thought we should make sure Joseph was nice and clean. One serious cleaning job, three diapers, a new shirt for mom, and about 45 minutes later we finally got to bed. It's amazing how much power these little guys pack!

Updates

Joseph always has this worried look... I think he must have done it in the womb because he was born with lines between his eyebrows.
This is after Gideon tried the "tipping back the chips bag to get the rest of the crumbs" trick he learned from Daddy. I think Levi usually does it with an individual size bag of chips. Gideon tipped it back and dumped the crumbs all over himself and the floor- it was hilarious. I was feeding Joseph and could only watch in horror/amusement... you should have seen his face!
Gideon and I were watching a Food Network Challenge where they were making Disney Pixar cakes (while I fed Joseph- really I was watching and Gideon kept asking to watch Nemo or one of the other movies he saw on the show), so we decided to make a cake while Joseph slept. The top is tasting the cake mix and the bottom is tasting the cake- well, really just the frosting :)It's tough having a new baby in the house... this is what happened when Levi went upstairs to get Gideon up from his nap the other day- I don't think either one of them was ready for the nap to be over just yet.