project 365 photo: 08.29.2011 {kitchen updates}

new kitchen table & chairs!

now we need a sideboard or something on the right for more storage, but it's getting there!

I'd like to do something like this over the TBD sideboard in the kitchen to display kid artwork.

we have not fallen off the face of the earth.

We've simply been eaten by the 9,782 trillion boxes in our new house. 

Well, in all honesty, it's not that bad now, but, whoa, a few weeks ago there were enough boxes to keep me awake at night. But we've just been busy with family picnics, house guests, weddings, more house guests, finding a preschool for Cassidy, finding a midwife for me (holy cow, I'm in the 3rd trimester already!!!!!), etc. that blogging has taken a back seat.

But I miss writing & I know you miss hearing from us, so I've uploaded the 300+ pictures that were on my camera & have big plans to show them to you in the next week...or so.

project 365 photo: 07.29.2011 {unpacking}

wow that's a mess. good thing I got the internet hooked up!

it was unfair that the pregnant one had to unpack all the wine & cocktail glasses.

project 365 photo: 07.28.2011 {goals}

Today's goals: find toys to distract kids, clean & unpack kitchen, get internet & cable set up. Wish me luck!


- Posted from my iPhone

project 365 photo: 07.27.2011 {something new}

When Cassidy, Kale & I arrived in Georgia there were a lot of new things to enjoy. 

First, we got picked up in our new car. We walked out of the airport into the parking garage, Michael pulling two suitcases & the girls backpacks while I carried Kalea in the Ergo (sitting on top of my big belly!), held Cassidy's hand & pulled the small suitcase with the other hand. It was a typical hot, humid Georgia day. So, when Michael stopped beside a gold minivan, that looked strikingly similar to his parent's minivan, I confused &, admittedly, a little, umm, annoyed. "Why are you driving your parent's minivan?" I asked. "Surprise!" he said, "I've just been kidding about getting a Tribeca. I know how much you really want a minivan, so here's our new car!" The look on my face must have given him the hint that I was not, in fact, looking forward to a new minivan & he laughed & laughed...on the way to our new car a few feet away. Nice, huh? :) It is really nice & I've enjoyed driving it since then!

We drove for an hour or so & got to our new house! You know, the one we'd never seen in person before! Michael did a great job, with the help of our realtor Lea, of finding just the right house for us in just the right neighborhood and only 15-20 minutes from his new office. During the search & in the decision making the girls & I Skyped with him a number of times to get tours of the house & yard. So, while it wasn't completely a surprise, it felt kind of cool to explore the new place. The girls had a ball just running through the house pointing out how neat it was. Kalea kept saying, "Wook, mom! Big box!" Our things had arrived earlier in the week so, yes, there were a lot of big boxes to see. 

We got upstairs to the girls' room - they're now sharing - and there was a special surprise for them - bikes! Cassidy graduated to a big girl bike & Kalea inherited the tricycle. The following day, on the 27th, Michael went in early to work & left a little early to spend some time with us. He took Cassidy out on her first ride & she did such a great job. He said to me that, "She grew up on me today!" (Disclaimer: Yes, we have a helmet for her. It was still packed up that day &, really, who could tell a 3 year old girl with a new princess bicycle that should need to wait until we unpacked to ride!)

My special surprise was something I'd been asking for upcoming birthday. But my dear husband thought it was silly to buy that item for a birthday present, so in my closet was a brand new vacuum cleaner! Hooray!

We enjoyed that Wednesday, finally, as a family in one place for a permanent amount of time. Even though the mountains of boxes seemed insurmountable & there we were starting over with decorating, organizing & getting settled, we felt lucky to be together again.

we made it!

We finally made it to our new home in Georgia. Now for all the unpacking & things that come along with this part of a move.

Back to regular photo & blog updates as soon as we get a little settled & cable/Internet gets hooked up.

- Posted from my iPhone

project 365 photo: 07.19.2011 {sleep}

Cassidy dropped her nap, much to my chagrin, over the winter. But, being at Grandma & Grandpa's house, swimming & playing all day on top of the two hour time change finally got the best of her. She curled up on my lap in the recliner & fell asleep. It's honestly the first time since she was less than a year old that has happened! Cutie pie.


- Posted from my iPhone

project 365 photo: 07.18.2011 {those eyes}

While visiting in PA I had some serious camera envy over my mom's new DSLR. The quality of the pictures is so much better than my little point & shoot - although I admit that I really do like being able to put my tiny camera in my pocket or the diaper bag. My camera battery died & I couldn't find the charger (conveniently?) so I took a lot of pictures with the DSLR while we were there. This one of Kalea is my favorite for the day. My Uncle David, when he saw her during the visit, mentioned to my dad that he didn't understand how anyone could ever say no to her when she looked at you with those big, sweet eyes. Many times I agree with him...but not always!

We had a fun day hanging out at Grandma & Grandpa's house, swimming in the pool and just being a little lazy. Cassidy got to spend some time especially with Grandma & help garden - which she loves!

project 365 photo: 07.15.2011 {traveling day}

There is so much to tell about this day, but few images. Cassidy, Kalea, the belly & I made it to PA for a visit with Grandma Betty, Grandpa Doug, Aunt Jessie, Uncle Derrick, Sean, Elijah, Aunt Jenny, Uncle Mark, Audrey & all of our PA family & friends. It was a long day. One which included:

• cats in crawl spaces
• nearly leaving a cat behind
• cat & pregnant lady behind a furnace
• saying goodbye to our SLC house
• cats & sedatives...& considering taking them ourselves due to bullet #1 &2
• nice old guy driving us to the airport 
• rushing to catch a flight
• losing my license (after security thank goodness!)
• kind strangers who looked me up on LinkedIn & emailed the license whereabouts
• cat travel drama for Michael
• very nice Delta employees
• trips to Target & Walmart 
• very clueless Delta employees
• postponed flights, but eventual takeoff
• PA arrival
• late night arrival to Atlanta for cats & Michael

I think Michael tells the story best, since he experienced the drama first hand, so maybe one day he'll update this post with the full story. Needless to say, we were all a little worse for the wear by the time we reached our respective destinations, but glad to have arrived.

project 365 photo: 07.14.2011 {moving day}

The day has arrived! The moving truck is coming! Better eat a good breakfast...glad we have the portable DVD player for distraction since the toys are in boxes! Movers will be here by 9!

Oh, wait. The moving truck is not here yet. It's broken down about an hour and a half south of SLC & won't be here for a long time. Quick! Find something to do! How about a walk with Daddy?

Lunchtime...but wait! The fridge & freezer have been emptied & cleaned - no food! Good thing Jessica, Luke & Miles came to the rescue - pizza & playmates!

 

The truck is here! The truck is here! Only four hours late, but who is counting, right?!

 

 

Cassidy supervises the loading while Kalea naps right through the noise. After that refreshing nap they head over to Jessica's house to play while Daddy floods the basement & Mommy finish supervising & cleaning up a little.

 

By 8 the house is empty...and Gus is missing! Hopefully he'll show up in the morning, right?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to head to our hotel for the night - what a treat! Tomorrow promises to be an exciting day!

 

 

project 365 photo: 07.13.2011 {what it looks like the day before you move}

project 365 photo: 07.11.2011 {it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood}

Our house, neighborhood & nearby Fairmont Park that we visited quite often.

project 365 photo: 07.10.2011 {Sunday Schedules}

At some point in the future I plan to make a small scrapbook of "life in Salt Lake City" to help our girls remember things that we did, places that we went & people who we loved while we lived in Utah. One place that will certainly make an appearance in this book is Holladay UCC. 

 

When Michael & I moved to Utah it seemed a little daunting to find peers & like-minded people outside of work acquaintances, especially since we were both working a lot during that time. I started the search for churches in an effort to meet people & stumbled upon their website. HUCC was the first church we tried out & we felt at home right away, not even bothering to visit other churches before deciding to make it our home. 

 

 

During the five years we lived in SLC Michael & I became members, both girls were welcomed & baptized into the church, I taught Sunday school for the little ones, Cassidy attended preschool there, Michael participated on the preschool Board of Directors, we met and became close friends with a number of individuals and families and HUCC became a real part of our community. 

 

 

We'll have a hard time finding a place that lives up to the high bar HUCC has set for a church community!

On Sundays in SLC we commonly stopped for breakfast on our way home at a favorite, fast, breakfast spot: Over the Counter. We actually discovered the diner upon recommendation from my mom's cousin who lived in SLC until just a month or so before Michael & I moved there in 2006. 

 

Yum! More memories & photos to come soon as we get caught up on blogging & documenting the big move!