The Move

As I mentioned before... while on our trip to Utah and Montana, Haws and I had a distinct feeling that we needed to look into moving to Utah. When we got home from that trip, Haws broadened his job search to Salt Lake City. After a few months and a few trips to Utah for job interviews, Haws landed a job in SLC with a design consultancy company that specializes in putting on large sporting events. He was really excited about the job and liked the people he would be working with and the vibe the company had. He got the job the day before his current job was ending! Talk about a blessing! He had told his current company that he was trying to relocate his family to Utah and they gave him a few months to try to make it happen. Luckily it did happen! It was definitely an answer to our prayers.

So Haws had a week between leaving his current job and then moving to Utah to start his new one! It was a busy week. Since I was pregnant and would be home with 2 little kids, Haws and I did as much packing as we could while he was still home to help. We got a lot done, but there was still a lot of work to do. This is the mess I stared at for over a week until the missionaries were nice enough to help me move most of it into the garage.

We put our house on the market and got 3 offers after the first open house! (we actually put the house on the market before Haws had the job... just taking a leap of faith!) We went with a cash buyer who ended up being a nightmare and he pulled out of the sale. So we went with a back up who ended up being a pain as well, but at least the sale went through and the house closed towards the end of Dec. It wasn't easy dealing with the sale of a home from out of state, but our real estate agent, one of my best friends Kelly Bradshaw, took such good care of us! We knew we didn't have to worry too much with her taking care of things.

I finished up the packing I could. Here is James in his empty closet... in his underwear of course!

 The boys didn't seem to mind the mess. They went on playing as usual.

Haws came home for Thanksgiving and we worked hard to get the house ready for the movers. I am so grateful that we were able to have movers! I don't think we could have done it on our own. The movers sent out a truck that was too big for our alley way, so they had to get another truck and do the move the following Monday. We left on Sat and my parents supervised the move. 

The boys are great travelers so far. That DVD player really comes in handy. 

 This was our welcome into Utah!

 My sister Dana and Chase was kind enough to let us stay at their house while we waited for our stuff to arrive in Utah. Unfortunately, we got the stomach flu that was passed around the extended family during Thanksgiving and the first night we were there James and Haws got sick. I followed a few days later. Luckily Davis never got it.

Once we were well, the snow hit! I had to run out and get the kids snow clothes ASAP! Hit up target and we were all set. I forgot about myself, so I didn't last as long out in the cold.

James LOVES the snow! I frequently get request from him to go out and play in the snow. Davis likes it for about 20 min tops and then I think he gets to cold and wants to come inside.

The first day it snowed, James and I made a snowman. I later learned that snowmen are easier to make the day after it snows. Ours was pretty pathetic.

 I am surprised by how little the cold has bothered me while living here. I am cold in CA, so I thought I would freeze here! The things is, you prepare for it. You dress a lot warmer and you usually are not out in the cold for hours. So really it is tolerable. Of course I miss being able to go to the park any day of the week, but it's just something I need to get use to. We do a lot more indoor activities and bundle up for snow activities.

While at Dana and Chase's house, we got to enjoy making candy together and watching some classic Christmas movies together. I was thrilled when the boys loved Home Alone!

Davis and Tate even bonded over Home Alone and popcorn.

 Isn't he cute in his snow clothes?

 The day we moved into our temporary townhouse was the coldest day so far! Go figure. It snowed pretty bad all day. Thanks to my friend Callie, I was able to leave the boys with her during the majority of the move in.

 It was a busy day of unpacking and the boys played in the little back patio area we have. When they set up our bed, we discovered that it had been broken! It was an air bed and one side had deflated! So that night we ran out and bought a new mattress. It was going to be a few days before we could get it delivered, so we went back to Dana and Chase's house. I am so glad they took us back in!

 This is the boys riding on a train inside the mall. I really feel like this move has brought these two closer together. Sure they fight over things, but it is so fun to see the bond that is growing between these brothers. When they are outside and Davis wants to come in because he is cold, James gets so sad and begs for "Big D" to come back outside and play with them. I hope they are ready for brother number 3 to be here soon! Hopefully they won't mind a third wheel.

 Davis doing the snow moon walk.