How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Hello World.

How have you been? We've been a little busy here on our end as made evident by the fact that I haven't sat down to blog in over 2 months! Part of that reason was the lack of internet but the larger part was my procrastination.

For those of you who are not aware, my husband Chase and I have temporarily relocated to Utah. This is a bitter-sweet move for us as leaving California meant leaving a piece of each of us behind. This move also means, however that we will be able to have some time to focus on our growing family and it relieves me of having to go back to work right away after the baby has come.

Speaking of the little fella; have you seen him lately? While back in California for a week, Chase took me to the 4-D imaging place to take an ultrasound of our (now 30 week) baby. It's amazing to me what technology can do these days! His face is a bit squished but I still think it looks a lot like his dad. He looks big enough to come out but we'll let him decide when he's ready to join us.
As for the rest of this summer- we've been keeping busy traveling back and forth through Utah, Nevada, Arizona and California. Here are just a few highlights from the last few months:

5 months along. I was already feeling huge in the beginning of the summer but happy as can be as this pregnancy (so far) has been quite a breeze. I am fortunate not to have any bouts of sickness, headaches, or any other ailment most women seem to have at this time.
Before leaving California, my sweet friends Ruthie and Heather (amazing at everything they do)
threw me a going away/baby shower/luncheon. It was so great to visit with friends, see some of the past students I've been blessed to have in class, and to celebrate this new baby.


I didn't realize until then how hard it's going to be not sharing with these wonderful people, who quickly became my family away from home, my everyday joys and struggles as I enter this new phase in my life.


Saying goodbye to them was very hard to do.

I told myself the entire time that it wasn't permanent; that these wonderful people have been placed in my life for a reason and darned if I'm just going to let it go like that!

We talked, laughed, and cried (you're not surprised are you?). How could a room full of teachers (and students) NOT be happy when it was the beginning of a much needed break?!
Thank you again, everyone who came, everyone who wanted to come, and most of all for everyone who has made a difference to my life. I am a firm believer in the Lord putting me in situations he knows I will be better for. There is no doubt in my mind that my 5 years at Sulphur Springs was one of divine intervention and I am a better person for it!


Good times at the cabin:
As the weather here frequently reaches 100+, we have taken many (and I do mean many, as it is just an hour away from us now) to our family's cabin to enjoy the weather and visit with family.
We celebrated the 4th of July,

Watched as the kids (with no T.V. to entertain them) took to hand crafting (yes with axes, twine and all) a raft. Here they are at the "Shack" before the trial run.
During the trial run. Poor Cody was shivering in the pond. Only he, Kylie and Layton were brave enough to try it out.
Even Tucker joined in on the fun (that is until they discovered leaches in the pond. Then it was like Stand By Me all over again).
We rode 4-wheelers. Okay, Addie and Chase rode 4-wheelers. We couldn't get her off. She has no fear when it comes to those machines and at 3 years old you can hear her as she rides down the hill with Uncle Chase, "This not scary. This is fun."
Ethan rode his motorcycle too...(such a serious look)
and so did Hailey,
and Aden,
and Chase...?
and Jeremy. I guess you never get too old (or young) to ride.
The rest of us just enjoyed watching the little ones grow more confident with each ride.
At night we made hot chocolate, cuddled up together and simply enjoyed the quiet mountain life and enjoyed each others' company.

(The mo-hawk twins, Layton and Brookie before bed)
All in all, it has been our home away from home; our refuge from the heat; our family gathering place. How grateful I am to live so close to it all, once again.

The big move-
That's right. Amidst all of the summer craziness, my ever-increasing belly and packing up my classroom, I also had the task of packing up our life in California. It was hard work, the only way I could do it was a little at a time. Thankfully my wonderful husband lent a hand every chance he could (there were several boxes I could not move and felt helpless without him).

The day we left I was hot, pregnant and sore. The drive home seemed so long. When we arrived at Aunt Veva's later that night, I was amazed at how swollen my feet were. Traveling, let alone packing and cleaning do not agree with my fat feet. What made me laugh though (it was either that or cry) was the sight of my poor piglets. My flip-flops (the only comfortable shoe I can wear while pregnant) had made a permanent indentation on my swollen feet. My knees, ankles and feet were tight, huge and felt like sausages. All except for my toes.
Luckily, it only took a day or two to get them back to what seemed like normal. Oh the joys of pregnancy in the middle of the summer.

There is one thing however, that made all of the headaches, the backaches and the fat feet all worth it...moving to St. George meant moving closer to Nielson's Custard. For those of you who know what I'm talking about, you know how one simple custard can make all of your worries float away. If you've never tried it, you need to! (They have one in Vegas now, you know, look it up!)
So for now, we're here, we're settled and so far we're so good. There will be more to come as we are now officially up and running (internet-wise that is).

Hope all is well with you and yours.

Love you all,
J'me (& Chase)