Promised Pictures

So I've been a little bit lazy taking pictures (sorry for those who have been diligently checking), let alone posting them so here are some pictures of our new house.

Here's a view right as you step in the house
Looking from the other side of the room with Princess Elizabeth posing
The kitchen
Family room with the fire going
My red room, aka the loft office/craft room (craft area not pictured due to messiness)

I still need to paint the girl's room and get it decorated and then put stuff up in our room but that's what the open areas in our house look like.

I also took another solo trip this weekend out to Utah for a Shade Clothing Conference. It was fun to meet other Shade Personal Shoppers and of course see my sister Melissa on her birthday--Happy 20th! Thanks for letting me crash at your apartment. I went down memory lane at BYU and visited my old apartments and buildings on campus. The hole on campus that was just getting filled in when I left is now a huge Joseph F. Smith Building. They're also adding on to the Tanner building, my home away from home after I got into the accounting program. I also got to see some college friends that are back in school--Heather Chewning (MPA graduating this April) and Kelli Larson (law school also finishing in April). I actually met up with Kelli in the airport as my flight was delayed 2 hours and hers was just coming in from a trip to Cancun.

On my trip I did something totally crazy--I cut my hair short! It hasn't been this short for twenty years and I'm still getting used to it but it's really easy to do in the morning which is great . Melissa and I both got our hair cut and nails done at Bon Losee, really cheap prices with students working on you and here are the results.

Goodbye Ohio, Hello Colorado

First of all, I want to say a big, huge thank you to everyone who helped in the moving process, notably Gina, Justina, and Joann who helped watch my kids while madness was going on at our house. Without your help I really would have gone crazy.

Ohio friends Meghan and Emma with Rachel--
We Miss You!

Meghan & Elizabeth chilling

The packers came Monday 1/28 and packed, loaded Tuesday, the carpet cleaners came on Wednesday and as soon as they were done, we were on the road. We drove to St. Peters, MO Wednesday completely bi-passing St. Louis.

Thursday we traveled to Independence, MO and saw church history sites there. We went to the visitors center and let the girls run around playing on the miniature wagon and horse the pioneers would have used.
We then went to Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith and a few companions spent winter 1838/9 on false charges in very cramped and cold quarters. Joseph Smith didn't even receive the comfort of D&C 121 until almost the end of their incarceration. I can't imagine someone of Eric's height having to stoop in a 6 ft jail cell for months on end.
We also officially closed on our house Thursday, yeah! After Liberty, we continued our drive to Salina, KS and spent the night there and went swimming in the hotel's indoor pool. Not too much in Salina, just hotels, gas stations and some places to eat. That describes most of Kansas with the exception of Kansas City and Topeka.

Friday we climbed steadily into Colorado and made it into our new home. We had to clean some dog hair out of places including the carpet and fridge but it was home. We went to Eric's sisters' house Friday night for dinner. It's nice having family around. Saturday we had carpet cleaners come and refresh our dirty carpet (if you haven't done it in awhile, I highly recommend it!). I also saw my college roommate Shannon who was in town for the weekend. We cleaned and shopped some more and then went over to our friend Jim and Angie's house. Thanks for feeding us yummy food Saturday and Sunday. It definitely beats eating greasy fast food. Sunday we went to our new ward which is huge! Thankfully we already have friends in it to show us around and help us get acquainted with everything. Elizabeth was in Callahan's CTR 5 class and enjoyed it. Rachel went right into nursery and didn't look back.

Monday Eric started work at Innovative Signal Analysis and I tried to keep myself and the girls busy at home. We shopped and found the library. Thankfully our stuff came Wednesday so now we have toys and real beds! I met some neighbors on Tuesday while getting the mail and one had a 5 year old daughter, Kylee and was gracious enough to watch the girls while the movers were here. Thanks so much Denise!

New friends Kylee & Elizabeth

So I've been frantically unpacking and have most everything unpacked except for what's in the basement (and there's a lot there) but it's very low priority right now. Once I finish getting everything organized and buy a few more decorative things, I'll post pictures of the house. For now, you can see the kitchen in utter chaos while the girls played with packing paper.