Day 2, 3, 4 & 5

Day 2: August 9th, 2017. Aunt Joanna made us breakfast and we visited for a bit. They have a beautiful backyard and the kids loved hanging out in their hammock. We stopped at the Spokane Temple on our way out and then headed to Missoula, Montana. We stopped at the cemetery where Seth's grandfather is buried in Missoula, Montana. From there we headed to Yellowstone.

                                       

Day 3: August 10, 2017 Yellowstone! We had so much fun walking around and seeing all the different beautiful sights. We hung out waiting to watch Old Faithful. Seth kept telling the kids there is a guy underground who turns on a pipe to shoot the water out. They got a kick out of his stories, and so did the family sitting by us:) It was a long wait but it was totally worth it. Each of the kids picked out a stuffed animal from the store and we were back on the road again.

Day 4: August 11, 2017 Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore & Wall Drug Store and driving through the CRAZIEST and SCARIEST storm ever, but the end result was a beautiful rainbow:)

Day 5: August 12, 2017 Bismarck, North Dakota to Minneapolis, Minnesota. We stopped at the Bismarck Temple, drove through Fargo, visited the World's Largest Buffalo statue in Jamestown, ND. They had an old town set up that we walked through. Next stop was the World's Largest Ball of Twine in Darwin, MN. They had a little festival going on that we walked around. The last stop was the Mall of America and walking the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and snuggles in the hotel, we were exhausted!!!

Cross country road trip: Day 1, August 8, 2017

There are many, many things I love about Seth, but one of them is he is great at planning trips. He always manages to find a way to make visiting new Temples part of any trip he can, and this trip was no different. Some temples took us a little out of our way, like Bismark North Dakota, but it was worth every extra second in the car. We now have a map of the USA up in our dining room and there are white thumbtacks for every temple we have been to together. We love seeing the beautiful temple grounds and it always makes for a great break to stretch our legs and talk about the wonderful work being done inside these beautiful buildings. 

Our road trip to New York was a long, but amazing one. I am posting each day on its own, since there is so much that happened. 

Day 1: August 8, 2017

We said goodbye to Cyndy, headed to the house to say goodbye to Oma, Papa and Christopher and then we were on the road. We stopped at the Portland Temple for one last view of the beautiful place we were married. I will miss that temple, but am so happy to have one close by in Palmyra. From there we hit the road, heading to Spokane, Washington.

We stopped at the Columbia River Washington Temple along the way, got dinner at Café Rio in Spokane and then went to stay the night at Seth's Aunt Joanna's house. We chatted with her for a bit and then got a good nights sleep.

Goodbye Oregon

Saying goodbye to Oregon is probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Although I didn't grow up there, Oregon became my home. It is where I became a wife, it is where I became a mother, and it is really where I became who I am today. I love everything about Oregon. I know there were a lot of people we didn't get pictures with, or even get to say goodbye too. Sorry!!!!

We have been friends with the Gardiner's since Kimmie and Blayke were about 18 months old. All of our kids got along great with all of their kids. It was hard to say goodbye to our friends, but the hardest part was watching our kids say goodbye to their dearest friends. There were many tears shed. We will always cherish the friendships we have there and can't wait for people to come visit us here in NY!!!

David, Beckham, Joshua, Kimmie, Blayke, Bailey and Kate

 me and Shanan

I found this cute picture of Blayke and Kimmie from 2013 and had to share it.

 snuggled up with Daddy watching a show after a long day of goodbye's

 Oh man, Brother Ed and Sister Karen. If we could have taken them with us, we would have! They are taught each of our kids in Sunbeams (3 years old) at church and became very near and dear to our hearts. There are very few people like them in this world. They never had children of their own, but they sure do love our children, and all children, as if they were their own. Our kids still talk about them all the time!!!

Kimmie's class at church. Madden, Kate, Cameron, (a new boy I don't remember) and Dax

 Saying goodbye to Angela Mitchell. She was a dear friend and someone I could always count on to go out to eat with me. Although I miss her, it's probably better for my waistline that we don't live close to each other!

Kate and Will Verdine

last night at steak bites with Irene, Angela, Shanan and Cyndy

 Here's a picture of Seth dressed as a unicorn, just to lighten the mood :)

 All our bags are packed, we're ready to go...

 the was HANDS DOWN THE HARDEST GOODBYE!!! 

 One last climb on the street sign in front of the house

 All my sad feelings melted away when I opened this pack of fruit snacks in the car as we pulled away from the house. I sent Cyndy a picture telling her not to worry, according to this bag of fruit snacks, everything was going to be ok:)

Joshua's 6th birthday & check-up

July 23, 2017

Our baby boy is 6!!

Since his birthday was on a Sunday, we went to eat all his favorite places Saturday night and had Sunday dinner with the family. 

 He asked for a Moana cake

 cake decorations that double as toys are the best

 he did get other presents, but the Maui hook was the one he REALLY wanted, so Daddy got it for him

6 year check-up stats:

Weight: 49 lbs 12 oz (75th percentile)

Height: 3 ft 9.5 in (50th percentile)

Blood Pressure: 90/56

80th percentile overall

He is growing strong and healthy as can be. He no longer has problems with his hearing and his ear infections have slowed down, so that is great news. He  loves to read and really excelled in school this year. He is sweet as can be, but still feisty. He has Seth's kind heart and hilarious sense of humor. He knows exactly how to talk his way out of anything, just like his daddy! The other day we went on a hilltop picnic. I said, "it's so beautiful" and Joshua looked right at me and said, "not as beautiful as you, Mommy". Look out ladies, he's already a smooth talker!!! Luckily his sweet heart matches his sweet words. He loves anything sports, he would love to spend all day outside playing football, catch or just wrestling around.