We’re Alive!

Hello, friends! We’re back in the land of the living! Lots has happened since we were disconnected from cyber space. Let’s see if I can even remember it all…

We got moved in in just one trailer load of help from our realitor turned friend, Larry. I knew we didn’t own much by way of material things, but the very idea of moving into a house with only one small trailor full of stuff is pretty impressive. We do kind of pride ourselves on not being attatched to “stuff” but I had no idea how little we actually owned. That said, we found ourselvs all moved in and the place still looking pretty empty. So what did we do? Of to Wal-Mart, of course! We outfitted the kids with some beds as our first step, and for about a week they actually slept the whole night in them. If you are a reader who actually knows us, you’ll understand how unbelievable that is. But soon they were creeping our way around midnight. This is still so great for Joe and I. We actuall get to snuggle up, unseparated by little people for a few hours each night. It’s been almost 6 years since we last did that. It’s bliss!

Once we had the bed thing settled, it was off to the real furniture stores. Lucky for us, we had the Memorial Day sales in our favor and we happened upon an amazing sofa set for a rockin’ good deal! The down side? It won’t be here for 3 weeks so the sunroom sits still empty. I’ll survive, though.

We went for a camping trip with a friend from Joe’s work and her family and friends. We are greatful to have been welcomed into that fold. What a wonderful weekend of lazy conversation and campfire cooking. Once we got the heart punding scare of the girls wondering off towards the rushing river only to be found by Joe under the bridge, foolishly getting as close as they could without falling in out of the way, we were set to have a relaxing weekend. It was great to see the kids acting like kids again.

Then back to the real world. Let’s see. Over the last couple of weeks I have installed a copper backsplash, painted, tiled, and outfitted the upstairs bathroom, installed smoke detectors, unpacked the last of the boxes, and seen the beginnings of an acceptable yard. We have a hight pressure neighborhood in the lawn department. I think they are having mercy on us considering what we started with, though.

Speaking of neighbors, Hannah Jane made fast friends with the sweetest little girl across the street, Madison. And her mother is about the most charming woman I have met, as well. Hannah Jane and I sit in awe of them both and are pleased to call them our new friends. Hannah Jane spends her mornings asking when we can go see Maddie and sitting by the window hoping to catch a glimps of her approaching. Once she does she starts yelling, “I see her!!! She’s coming, Momma! She’s coming!” I am thrilled to see her so happy. Finally.

All in all, we are in rapture over here. We live in what is slowly evolving into our dream home, with dream neighbors, and plenty of land to roam. Life is finally looking up, here in Utah. We worried that we might never feel at home here, that our religion might get in the way of friendships, or that we’d never find a place of our own, but sure enough, real life has found us and it is good.

I’ll add some photos to this post later on when I find the time. Right now we have some serious review to tackle in the maps and spelling department!