Arcadia Lake

Today was the last evening we will be together before Kayla takes off to Idaho.  So of course we wanted to do something fun!  No matter that the kids had homework and Braden had sectionals at 7.  No matter that it was VERY windy.  So fun it was!

Arcadia lake is about 30 minutes from Edmond.  The water is fairly warm and not too slimy.  Ok... a little too slimy, but that's what showers are for.  And really, what is life without a little slime now and then?

LOVE

OUR NEW HOUSE

HOME

LOVE the red door.

It needs new paint... guess what color I'm going to pick??

LOVE the three car garage.

Perfect for two cars

and crap.

LOVE the formal dining room

converted into my OFFICE

LOVE the big windows and

living room that opens up to the kitchen

LOVE my two girls.

making cookies and doing homework

in the new kitchen

LOVE the wood floor in the TV room

Andrew!

I have sooo many blog posts about Shea and Braden since they are still at home... so I am always wanting pictures of Kayla and Andrew.  Now it is even worse since Andrew is in Texas!  I told him that he HAD TO SEND ME PICTURES.  That was me yelling in my virtual world.  I also don't have wrinkles or grey hair in my virtual world.

Anyhoo.... Andrew, being the wonderful son that he is, sent pictures.  Yay Andrew!!!

Andrew and Lexus

Andrew in his new place...

Gorgeous picture of Lexus...

3rd day of school!!

For the first time in my 18 years of sending kids off to school... I forgot to take pictures the first day!!  Then I forgot the second day.  Finally remembered today!

Shea

6th Grade

Braden

10th Grade

Completely unrelated...

beautiful sunset outside our house a few days ago

Texas to Oklahoma

My quilt friends gave me this GORGEOUS quilt as a going away present.

It's a bit small to see, but there is a Texas Tech logo right on Lubbock.

Right on top of fabric with a cotton pattern.

Who knew there was "cotton" fabric??

The rest is a variety of "Texas" fabrics.

Moving Day!!!

Robert said it was a human microwave inside the truck.  Poor baby.

So hot.. but luckily we had help.

Thank goodness for the wonderful people at church!

After the house was emptied, I realized what filthy pigs we are.

SO MUCH DIRT.

and crap.

I started to get overwhelmed, so Kayla called in help....

Allison had already been there all day helping to pack up the kitchen

Six guys from the singles ward came over and helped clean my house.

I called them my army of Heleman. 

 Andrew and Lexus worked on his room...

Shea played with Brenda all day.
Lucky girl!



The boys took off with the truck and our small car Sunday after church since Robert had meetings Monday morning.

Of course, not everything fit on Saturday, so I had to get a trailer to pull on Monday morning.
Trevor Bradshaw and kids came over to help me load up.
Then he took the last, lingering kitten.  I told him that I loved him.  In a good way, of course.

Then it was time to take off.
Only problem was Kayla's car wouldn't start.
Two hours and one new battery later...
we left with the following:

Crazy mom.
Red-headed sisters
Hairy husky
Evil Chihuahua
Mama cat
Baby kitten.

And the trailer.  And two cars.

Many miles later... we arrived in Oklahoma!!

goodbye to our itty-bitty home

We have been staying in a hotel in Edmond for the past two weeks.  It has been a bit of a struggle having four people in an itty-bitty room, but remember being happy is all about being together.  In a small room.  In 105 degree weather.  With bugs.  And grumpy kids.  And a lumpy bed.

But I'm an optimist.  Remember?  Yes, I am.  I really am.  That's why I didn't get back on a plane to Seattle.   That and the fact that I love my kids.  Even in 105 degrees.  Though I have to say that the love seems to dim just a bit when I'm out in the heat.

I try to have flattering pictures of my kids on our blog.  But every once in a while it's good to show reality.    Shea being grumpy...

Braden on facebook.  The babysitter for teenagers.

Seattle!!!!

Kayla and I flew to Seattle for four days.  It was a blast!   We went to the different areas that Kayla served in during her mission and visited many, many people.  It was fun to see how much she is loved and the wonderful impact she had on so many.  It's always hard to decide which photos to put on the blog, so here are a few of my favorites.

Aubrey & Kayla

Being old and slow, I was always behind :)

We hiked to Twin Falls.

It was a gorgeous day and a perfect hike!!

Ferns... my favorite!

We spent a few hours in downtown Seattle....

did a duck ride and ate clam chowder at Ivers. 

Drizzly, but wonderful!

Princess LunaChick was our guide.

It was a blast!

I love float planes and this one was taking off right outside our duck...

Kayla and Hadley

Kayla and Melissa...

we had a wonderful dinner at her home

Kayla with the Allens.

We stayed at their home... this was one of the places Kayla lived.

Annette, Jasmine and Kayla.  We also stayed here.

Annette is a second mother to the missionaries... so wondeful!!

Jasmine only walks in circles.  Strange little dog :)

We went out to breakfast with my Aunt JeNeal...

Kayla's middle name is JeNeal after my sister

who was named after this wonderful person.

Kayla and Sister Graf at the temple

one of her favorite companions

Kayla and Patti... we were able to go to the temple with Patti for her first time.

It was wonderful time with so many people that love my little girl!

Sister Kim, Sister Graf and Kayla

Cheesecake Factory.

YUM!

have I told you lately that I want to live in the Northwest?

well.... I do!

Someday.  Someday.