We Got The House

Yes, we finally got the official contract on this house we had made an offer on about a month ago. It is banked owned, so we were lucky we got the bid and heard back in a shorter time.

Victoria Florence

At the Portland Head Light in June 2008.

Our first week exploring our neighborhood in Maine.

Her 5th birthday party with a gorgeous cake and dress with crown!

With Gabe at the temple lights.

Our oldest daughter, Victoria Florence, just turned 5. She is such a sparkly one for us. She loves dancing and singing, playing games and winning against me, eating yummy foods, and helping out with her younger sister. We just love having her as our daughter!

Most of the time now, she is always holding Gabe's hand telling him he is her best friend. She also has such a tender heart and admits when she does something wrong to me, because "Mom, it is hard to be a good kid all the time". I think I am too hard on her. She is such a help to me and I can explain things and where they go to her really easily. She gets that.

Tori, as we call her, has a special place in her heart for the gospel. She tears up watching "The Testaments" because people get healed by Christ. I told her about going to the temple and that they play music inside. Last weekend we got to go, (Shaun and I), and I told her I heard "I love to see the Temple". She was so excited! "Mom, can't I go now?". Then she said, "I am going to go on a mission, just so I can go to the temple. I don't want to get married and leave you guys." She loves things like that.

I love my little Tori. I love that she loves pink, ponies, princesses, and playing. She is just so funny and sassy, it is great fun to have her. I hope I show that to her enough. She deserves the best in this life, as all my kids do. I just am so happy to be her mother.

Our Move

On our way through the Rockies. There is the moving truck.

Shaun and Andy(on left).

Our cabin.

We were so excited to get to Utah after 5 days of 14 hour driving. We had snowstorms on our tail, and we tried to dodge them (it was snowing all day the day we moved and the day we loaded up). We felt like we did a good job starting out, but the largest snowstorms were just ahead and we caught one after a minor mishap early one day. On the freeway we ended up doing about 25 MPH. It was awful! It felt like no progress.

Towards the middle, I was feeling so worn out and tired of driving, so it was great to see Andy and Sara Griner in Kansas to break up the routine. We hadn't seen them in years, so it was more fun than we had time for. We tried to get some sleep, and did with their great accommadations! Thanks Andy and Sara and family.

The last day was quite a day knowing we planned on getting there, but also getting to Shaun's parents (the final resting until we get a house), at 11:30 PM. It was excruciating for me! I was so tired at 7 PM. But once we got out of the Spanish Fork Canyon, I saw light... literally. It was great to see cities again.

The next day we still had to unload and get somewhat settled, but I am so glad for the holidays and more especially for family that makes it so special!

What's Going On-

Wow, this is what I looked like on the last day of driving. Fabulous. I think I'll go throw up.
We got to spend the night with Andy and Sara Griner in Kansas! That was such a highlight. It made the trip more tolerable and broke up the redundency.
Here is a last look at the road in Maine on which we lived. Miss you!