Ohio to Arizona to Nevada

Since we didn't have a house to live in when we left Ohio, Doug and I felt that leaving the boys with my parents for a few days in Arizona was a wise decision. Our alternative was to take three travel weary children on a house hunt that could last for days with the only place to call home being a small on-base room. So off to Arizona we went. I drove the Xterra pulling the trailer and Doug drove the Honda. (This worked best because I don't drive stick.) We split the boys up between the two cars, turned on the walkie-talkies (they work better than cell phones especially across Texas and in the mountains) and hit the open road. It was only then that I realized how much like my dad I really am. When I'm driving, I want to get there. No unnecessary stops, no picture opportunities lets just make time. But when the boys would start to fight in the back seat I would hand them the camera and say "Take pictures of cows." It worked like a charm and I did get a few good pictures of the country side as we sped passed it.

The Move

I must admit something. I'm a "put down roots" type of girl. I really dislike moving. There is really too many emotions, stress, craziness to deal well with. That being said, for this move I thought I had it made because the Air Force was footing the bill for people to come pack, load, drive, unload, and unpack all my stuff. (And after this experience I can admit we do have too much stuff!!!!!!!) All I had to be is a bit organized, take pictures off the walls, and relax. Not so much.
We were originally scheduled for two days of packing and one day of loading, but after having the lady from the moving company come out we are downgraded to one day of packing and one day of loading. Great I think, one more day with my stuff. I call the week before just to make sure I have the dates correct and I am told that packers will be Wednesday and loaders on Thursday. So I make my mental schedule of everything I have to do to fit that time table. Monday comes and off I go with the boys all morning to run all our last errands. When I get home at 11:30 it is to a message saying that the days have been changed and the packers are coming Tuesday. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I do quick math and figure out I only have a half day to do what I had planned to do in a day and a half. So I end up staying up until three in the morning finishing laundry (they don't take dirty clothes) and all the other things I needed to see to. Then instead of one day of not having anything, I get two. Lucky us!!!!

The loading was a game of life sized tetras as the crew tried to make sure that all our stuff would fit into the remaining portion of the semi that blocked the street in front of our house all day long. It all fit, but I won't know what condition it is in until the 30th because although all my stuff is in Las Vegas and I now have a house to put it in, they can not deliver it until then. Sounds like government work to me. Until then, my parents have been so kind as to have us add five additional people to their household. Then on the 29th I will put Doug on a plane to Alabama for officer training and I will drive up to Las Vegas to set up house. This was suppose to be the easy move remember!!! Sorry there are no pictures of all my stuff in boxes. If I remember there maybe pictures of the delivery, but don't count on it.

One Last Trip to Kirtland

When we first arrived in Cleveland we went out to Kirtland all the time. Someone else would visit and out we would go. To the point that my children were begging not to go on one more tour. But of all the places that I have come to love in Cleveland, Kirtland was the one that I had to see one more time. As we watched the movie that is shown in the LDS visitors center, I couldn't help but continue to draw similarities. There is a line at the end of the movie as the saints leave that says that Kirtland was a place to learn the lessons that the Lord had for them. The Lord taught us much in Kirtland and Cleveland and we will always remember the lessons.

The Hot Dudes

Danny and his buddies (Garrett, Ben, and Jackson Shope) have made up the Hot Dudes all year. (And yes they did pick their own name, something about being a car rider and it being warm last fall) Ben had and end of year and goodbye party for Danny. It was great the boys played, ate junk, made pictures frames with pictures of the Dudes in them, and made treasure boxes. We have been so lucky that Dan has made such great friends.

End of School Year and Last Day of School

Every year Rowland Elementary has an ice cream social at the beginning of the year and a BBQ at the end. Both parties have a DJ and the kids love every minute of it. Okay, I'll admit it I love every minute of it too. It's so much fun to act like a goof with my kids and all the kids that I've gotten to know over the years. It's so funny how my kids make me feel so old and so young at the same time.

The last day of school was hard this year. Matt had a promotion ceremony from 3^rd grade to 4^th grade. (If Matt were going to attend school in South Euclid next year he would be in an Upper Elementary School.) After that I feel like I spent the day taking pictures of the boys with all their friends and teachers. Here are a few.

Nate’s Famous American Report

Whenever Doug thinks that I am hard to please, I will remind him how a $12.00 wig made me the happiest woman in the world. Nate came home at the beginning of May with a Famous American Report project. (The mother's curse strikes again) As most of you know the end of April – beginning of May was a crazy time and I put the project in the "when everything slows down a little" pile. Do you ever notice nothing ever slows down and your pile just gets larger??? I must admit we did choose a person (George Washington) and got books from the library but that is as far as it got until about three days until the presentation. Nate was to speak in front of his class as if he was George Washington and share facts for five minutes about "himself". He was also supposed to have a costume to go with this project. Well, it is two days before the presentation and no costume or report. Ahhhhh!!! The report no problem. Nate and I sat at the computer for about 30 minutes and pounded that out. Nate had read the books and knew what he wanted to say, but the costume was a different matter all together. How do you make an eight – year-old, newly buzz-cut boy look like George Washington. There were suggestions of nylons and cotton balls, mops, and so on. The day before the presentation I threw all the boys in the car and off to Party City we went. Can I just say I love Party City? Party City has an area with their costume called Living Heroes and there we found George Washington wig with cravat. Angels sang and clouds parted!!! I couldn't believe my luck. I happy plunked down the $12.00 and nearly gave the cashier a kiss. The next day, Nate looked the part and did great.

I really have know idea what he is doing here but I thought the pictures was good because this is the only time he will have long hair.

Memorial Day and Other Randomness

One of the greatest things about being able to live in South Euclid is the Memorial Day Parade. Where else could you arrive five minutes before the start and have a parking place and a curb side seat. LOVE IT!!!!

When we got home from the parade we found a little surprise under one of our trees outside of our house. BABY BUNNIES!!!! There were five of them and they were so cute. It was one of the first warm day that we had in weeks and the bunnies came out to enjoy the weather. The boys kept checking on them but found that in only a few days they were out on their own.

Last but not least was Doug's need to document what he has termed the "ASU Frat House". We love that in Cleveland you can find houses of multiple color combinations, but really this has to take the cake.

Nate’s Theatrical Debut

After Nate had practiced the songs and his lines for weeks, he performed in his first play on May 21^st. The second grade at Rowland presented "The Cheese Stands Alone" to a standing room only audience. Nate had a line or two to say, he did a great job speaking clearly and slowly so everyone could understand him. We were lucky that Matt was able to sit on the floor right in front of all the action to get us some pictures.

Nate saying his lines: "That's it Cheese. We've all decided it is time for you to go!"

The second grade singing

T'hank You

Thank you to all that came out for Doug's Graduation. What an amazing time. The following Monday Doug, his brother Bryant and family went to Cedar Point. All I can say is it must have been one great trip because Doug came home with skin tones in the various shades of green. I, who hate roller coasters, decided to stick closer to home with the boys and Nana & Papa. We took in the Lake Farm Park and Chagrin Falls. I think those are the last two places we hadn't taken Nana & Papa to. We enjoyed seeing the animals and eating popcorn from the Popcorn Shop in Chagrin Falls.

Bryant, Stephanie, Ashley, and Randon made Cleveland their family vacation this year. We enjoyed having them here and being able to spend time with them. You know you have made an impression when the boys mention how much they miss you as you pull away.