We're Home!

After a five day road trip, the kids were so happy to finally arrive in Austin.

Jeremy picked me up from the airport and we came home to a very nice welcome message from our friends.

As if that wasn't enough they also gave us a really nice Welcome Basket.

Tyler's shirts for all the kids..

As well as a bunch of Texas treats

We are so lucky to have good friends to help make this transition easier.

Saying Goodbye

I have been so consumed with packing and all of the details of moving, that I didn't really think about all of the people I wanted to say goodbye to. I'm sure on some level I was keeping extra busy to avoid having to think about it... I knew it was going to be hard- and it was.

I saw my extended family at my Parents' anniversary party, and then I saw my parents again for lunch a few days before I flew out.

Jeremy's family had a going away party for us, and it was nice to see so many of them come out to support us. Even though we know they are sad that we are leaving, their unconditional love means so much to us!

I went out with my brother Gary and loved having so much time together. 

My good friend Ryan came for about an hour the same night, 

and it was great to see him as well.

Dinner with my High School friends.

Went to lunch with my good friend Megan, and although I don't have a picture of us, 

we laughed when we got the receipt and saw the name of our table. 

Dinner with my (some of) my Sister Wives.

Since I spent my birthday weekend in Mesquite with a 

lot of the ladies, I decided to just have a few of them

 join me for my last night. 

A big thanks to Paula for letting me stay with her for the week!

While at dinner, I ran into two people 

that meant a great deal to me growing up, 

so it seemed like fate to see them on my last night in Utah. 

They were in Japan for the last three years 

and just got home a few weeks ago. 

Fate I tell ya.

I fly to my new HOME in the morning!!!

Forced Campout

What do you do when the upstairs air conditioning goes out and it's 100 degrees outside?

Well first, try to stop the fire alarm from going off with the heat...

Then move all the beds downstairs and have a sleep over.

Turned out to be a fun night and I think we will do this more often!

50th Anniversary Party

I know it's a picture over-load, but it was such a great night, and 

it's just so rare to have my entire family together.

So just humor me.

My parents were married January 2, 1962

However, since they only come to Salt Lake in the summer, 

we decided to host their 50th anniversary this month instead.

It was a lot of fun and we had a great turn out!

My parents and their six kids.

Just the siblings

Nick, Kurtis, Mike and Gary

Mike and his boys, daughter-in-law, and Olivia

Nick and Olivia

Apparently she tried to get into every picture.

 My brother Rob and his kids Hunter and Cloe
(missing is his oldest Son Austin)

 Mike and my Grandma Marie James

Mike and Gary

Gary and Jason

Some of the grandkids with Great Grandma James

My cousin Claude and I

Gary and Ryan

Mike and Mom

Gary and cousin Cory

Gary and the purple twins

Great-Grandma and Emma

Great-Grandma and Harrison

Cloe and Olivia

The cake

 My parents cutting the cake

My mother shoving the cake into my dad's face

My mother laughing at herself.

We were all laughing with her.

Brothers

Brothers from other mothers

Crazy kids

Saddest part of the night...

Saying goodbye :(

Trying To Fit It All In

In between packing I tried to make sure the kids got to something fun each day.

Sometimes it was just an hour of swimming and sometimes

we were able to spend an entire evening with friends.

Emma swimming

 Me imitating Emma 

Paige, Emma, and Landon

 Fancy-ness at the Mitchems

Cheers to best friends!

Seeing my old neighbors one last time.

Need to cuddle this new one before I left!

The neighborhood kids

We sure are going to miss this place and these amazing people!