The finer details of moving in

6 days in Tucson and so far- 12 piles of javelina pig poop near my front door, 106 degrees, live scorpion in box in garage, live scorpion in the middle of my kitchen floor, tarantula right by Ashley's new school front door, ran over a half alive rat on the road (it's injured rodent face looked at me right before my suv 'bore down'), and the last straw is just now as I was scooping up leaves looked down and some 'leaves' that had fallen out of my gloves were by my bare foot- dead pack rat/mouse. And we have a pack rat living in our pool's water feature. EWW!!!!

So last night we caught the pack rat (a large mouselike body) with my dad's live cage trap. The kids were excited to see it this morning and Emily and Aaron fed 'our new pet' some bread. Then later Aaron wanted to show our pet around the pool and yard. He carried it around for a while, talking to it and was watching it with fascination while 'it's tummy was going in and out quickly mom. It's going to have a baby!' Thankfully it didn't have a baby in the trap but we found it dead soon after. Whether it was death by over-heat or over-love it is uncertain but hopefully we don't catch another one tonight. I'm not sure I can handle 3 dead mice bodies in one week.  Happy that the garbage man comes tomorrow. 
On the other hand, awesome meteor showers this weekend. I saw a couple, Bryan saw 5 and then after a middle of the night wake up, Emily and I watched a few. 

We are headed to San Diego in two weeks for my cousin's wedding.  My mom, Garrett, Carlie and her family are all coming and we will see Wes too.  Bryan leaves Wed. for Utah and will be there for 3 days with Jono.  

On Saturday night we went downtown for 2nd Saturday in Tucson.  They have one street blocked off and have live bands (5-8 different groups), food vendors, and lots of jewelry vendors too.  We ate crepes & burritos, I danced to a drum band, saw two of my old high school teachers, hung out with my brother and his date and my dad and Marlene.  Good fun.  

Third day of school- had two happy excited girls. Also one happy mom because Emily gets to ride the bus so I don't have to drive two girls to school every day.  Aaron starts Joyschool next week with 4 other kids- good times.  

Moving In, (part 2)

We arrived safely in our new home today around 4pm, August 2nd. On our way driving in we had our first monsoon of the year- rain for a bit, cloudy, foggy, lightening, rainy and it was all over in 10 minutes or so. 
 We stopped at Picacho Peak gas station  (30 mins away) for our last potty stop of our trip.  The kids got to experience the Sonoran desert like they hadn't in a while- Aaron and I explored a wash, saw a lizard and he learned about prickly pear cactus and Emily found & collected mesquite tree beans to plant at home. 
 I have so many emotions that this trip to AZ is like the move I did in the summer of 1997 with my family.  I left people and places I loved and left the green and moved south in some intense heat.  My heart was shattered at age 16.  My heart has done a lot of growing since then but it's still not easy.   
  So guess who I got to talk to on my way down? Two dear friends that I made while I was in Tucson in 1997- Andrea and Casper.  I really don't think that was a coincidence that they both called today, especially considering that I haven't talked to either one in a long while.  But they both are my good friends and though I left my precious Spokane, WA friends and life, I would never have known either of them. So, again proof that change is good- see? 
  My heart is feeling so many things today and each one isn't exactly fun.  Apprehensive (Really, we just did this? okay...), stumped (Where is the best place for ____?), lonely (Bryan and mom don't want to hear my saying this is hard, unsure, etc so who can listen?), hard (Bryan sprained his wrist- lifting a lot won't be easy, sweaty unloading trailer at 11pm- is tomorrow going to be cooler? HA), hopeful (Schools for girls will work themselves out soon- right?), anxious (Am I really supposed to be here? why isn't this feeling great yet?), confused (Whose blue sheets are these and why do I have them? Where is the best room for my Aar bear boy to sleep in?)
  My Happys of Today: Dinner at my mom's was so fabulous- homemade everything good and nothing tastes as good as when mom makes it.  Spaghetti, sauce with veggies from her garden, bread, salad, watermelon, cooked carrots & ice cream.  
  The kids were having a ball- in the car, at our house running around, at my moms, making up a new prince and princess game, finding their old toys and things. 
 Bryan and I working together.  Trying to listen & respect each others ideas while not keeping quiet either.  I think it's good.  He's a good ying to my yang.  Even though it's not easy a lot, it's good.
 When I see how much got done already- yay us.  We did good. 
That I made an effort to have a thank you prayer when we got here as a group and even though Bryan whined about my style, we did it. 
My dad and his crew put all our furniture in already.  I can't even believe what a huge blessing that is.  And Marlene cleaned everything too. She rocks. 
The pool isn't icky so we can swim in it tomorrow!  My mom is coming back over to do lifeguard duty all day while Bry and I unpack everything.  So nice. 
 And then Sunday is Haven's baby blessing and mom's b-day party so we get to see more family.  And I think we're doing dinner at Marlene's tomorrow too. So many good family times already! Oh yea, I do like it here.    
 I'm off to get ready for bed where I will wake up Bry b/c the new bathroom doesn't have a door- sorry baby. But the alarm clock is plugged in and I unpacked one suitcase so I have clean clothes for tomorrow- yay!

Moving part 1

I'm going to attempt a documentary of our move to Tucson in hopes to capture my heart this adventure begins to unfold.  

August 1, 2013- Moving Day. There are SO many things go into moving.  There's the practical side- how to get yourselves & stuff to the new place, what to bring, what to throw away, what to leave behind and how to get it all packed up in the time remaining.  Then there's the emotional side of saying goodbye to people and places and starting your heart ready to say hello to new people and places.
  I guess this all started when I decided to let the Lord guide my life and be my light.  
  Practically it started a while ago as we left Tucson in May 2011, thinking we'd come back but not really sure when.  Many discussions with Bryan and we decided to stay in Utah for a while longer than we first planned and then for the whole 2012-13 school year.  I remember in April 2013 out on a date with Bryan discussing where kids would go to school next year and thinking AZ would be it.  A couple months later I remember thinking that was pointless to move because I was happy where I was at in Utah and I realize that happy is a state of mind not a place and that I wouldn't be any happier than I was right then.  Happy with my neighbors and friends, the kids' schools, with some family close by and with our house.  I felt I emotionally went back to the drawing board about whether moving to Tucson again was a good idea.  
  One Sunday in June or July I was at the sink doing dishes and felt the Lord speak peace to my heart about going to Tucson.  I knew it was from the Lord because His Spirit spoke to me as only God can- a flood of thoughts all at the same time with a really good feeling too.  The two main ideas I took away were from it were "It's going to be an adventure" and "Put your faith and trust in Me".  After that experience I was ready to pack up and move that day.  It filled me with hope, being seen by the One who wants all happiness and good things for me and my family and I was feeling ready to jump into that new adventure.  
   So then came the start of planning the details.  Going through the basement storage boxes and finding what was in all of them, decided who would stay in our house while we were gone (selling was not even discussed really because Eastpointe is sure our house and we were not ready to give it up yet). 
  But where I had the hardest part was staying as convicted to that feeling from God along the way.  We lived away in AZ for a year but I guess I had reserved part of my heart for my home in Utah the whole time.  This time we are leaving it feels like I am not leaving my heart in UT and goodbyes are more for reals.  (Yes I just said 'for reals', does that mean Utah is coming with me?)
  We moved to Eastpointe in July 2006, when Ash was 4 months old, Emily had just turned two. That same summer there were many other houses being bought in the neighborhood and together we all created a new place.  I feel like us leaving is me breaking up a great thing we all had together- a community, my church support. my family, my everything.  Not fun.  Don't want to go.
  Side note, right now we are driving through Phoenix- 108 degrees.  My undies feel sticky just thinking about it.  1 1/2 hours until we get to our new house.  
  I had a great goodbye to Utah.  After we were all packed up, all 5 of us walked through rooms in our house and remembered things that we had done in each room.  The kids only lasted 3 rooms before they were so hyper they went to go jump on the couches so I suggested we all go on the trampoline for one last family jump session.  We jumped for a few minutes, took a few pictures in front our house and then took off around 12.  I had said goodbye to many friends before then too. 

Spring Break Road Trip

 In our family we do a LOT of road tripping.  This time was to California for spring break to see the beach , Grandma Judy, Mickey Mouse's house and Wes & Kristen.

 The beach was fun for Ash & I while we huddled under the blanket to keep warm and fun for dad, Aaron and Emily while they built a huge sand castle and all got pretty dirty! Grandma's house was our main hang out while there and we ate yummy things and drank lots of fresh OJ. Lots of toys and comfy beds too.  Thanks again Grandma!

Mickey Mouse is always a good time.  The kids and Bryan started not long after the parks opened.  I joined them at noon and we were some of the last to leave.  It was busy as it was spring break for a lot of people but plenty of shows and fun to keep all happy. Wes and Kristen (and dogs) let us crash at their place one night and we had a good time at pizza dinner and playing at the park.  They recently announced they are having twins and we are so excited for them.

 This road trip we didn't bring the DVD player and the kids did great with lots of books, a car sound tester and an occasion dad's phone show to keep things as peaceful as possible.

Happy Holidays 2012

Hanks' Smilebox 

Love to you and yours from me and mine

Alpine Loop

Bryan and I drove the Alpine Loop route when we were dating in 2001. We went again back 2007 and loved the rocks in the river and the beautiful fall colors. We've talked about going back b/c it was so beautiful to see all the aspen's in bright fall colors.  This year we decided to go this year early so we wouldn't miss it.  Oops, we missed it-his time too early.  We did see several leaves starting to change, had a fun short hike, ate pb&j sandwiches and carrots for dinner and took some fun pics.

More summer fun

Girl Tea Party

June

  From left to right- Jeni, Sarah, Emily, Maegan, Ashley.  We went to Gardner Village for a very lovely dolly and me tea party.  The treats and drinks were bite size and scrumptious and the dolls got cute dolly sized treats to take home too.  We got to put on hats & aprons while there.  Truly girlish, totally fun. 

Emily's Friend B-day Party

Thursday July 19th

 As uncle Garrett was graduating on Emily's 8th b-day, we did her friend party the day before.  She wanted  glasses party (mostly b/c she planned the theme right after she got her new eyeglasses), so we planned drinking glasses & sunglasses fun.  Maddie, Sarah and Jeni came.

Pin the glasses on the face. 

 Heart shaped glasses cake with sprinkles around the edge getting snitched by the birthday girl.  She got a magic set for a present the girls all loved putting on a magic show.  

 On her actual birthday she woke up to breakfast crepes in bed, surrounded by 8 or so family members who were in town for baptism/graduation. She was loving all the attention. Until it came time to eat and then it was too much as my siblings too it overboard- so funny!

Baptism Day

July 21st Saturday

The whole beautiful crew (except Moultries)

 Our fab five

Ashley loses a tooth

July 29th

 She pulled this tooth out by herself.  It took four days and lots of patience and bribes by mom.  Her other top tooth came out a few weeks later with a lot less drama.

Sunday Cereal
Our Hanks family tradition of eating junk food cereal on Sunday morning.  I started it when Bryan was trying out new Sunday habits/ beliefs and I thought of a way to make Sunday mornings more fun.  This is our new organic junk food so not as junky as we've had before. Recently I've switched a lot of our foods to more natural and fresh which means less snack foods around, which means if I leave Sunday cereal in the pantry Bryan will eat it all before the week is up.  So I now hide these boxes so we don't have sad kids.