Cross country moving adventure day 5

June 23rd 2017

Today we drove from Peru Illinois to Carthage Illinois and then on to Nauvoo Illinois. We toured a church history site in Carthage. This historic site has lots of meaning for our church, it is where a prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed because of their belief in our church. While it is a sad thing to talk about, there is a special spirit in this sacred place. Benson burned his hand on the statue so we had to split the tours and do those separately but it was a special part of our day. Owen made the day even more memorable by yanking down his pants in front of a tour group and peeing in the bushes ON THE CHURCH SITE! We were slightly embarrassed but had to just laugh, show him where the bathroom was and then move right along with our day. We drove to Nauvoo and then set up camp in the Nauvoo State park. Our kids were ever so grateful to be able to just be out of the car and play and be outside.

Benson making mischief in our hotel in Peru IL. 

Cross country move adventure day 4

June 22

Day 4 we drove from Grand Rapids Michigan,to Peru Illinois. We wanted to take it a little east today so we drove for quite a while but stopped 2 1/2 hours from our destination so we could rest and stay in a hotel. What beautiful farm lands we saw! Benson HATES the car. He loves to get out! Molly our dog also really appreciates getting out of the car.

Cross country moving adventure Day 2, 3

June 20th 2017 thru June 21st 2017

Day two was HARD. We should have stopped somewhere in Ohio or Kentucky but we wanted to make good time this day so we pushed through. We drove from Tennessee to Grand Rapids Michigan! It was a looooong day! We got there after midnight to my sisters house and they had graciously. Stayed awake to help us inside and show us where to sleep. We spent two nights at her house and we all loved it! It was so nice to see my sister and her kids. The kids played and played and we had an adventure to Frankenmuth Michigan, which is a German village! It was so pretty and the kids loved seeing all the different buildings and restaurants. 

Jewel and Benson

Brecken, Jasmine, Addison, Jaxon and Justice

Owen

Brecken

Cross country move adventure Day 1

June 19 2017

Today we finished packing the rest of our stuff into cars and trailers, we ended up not selling Adams car so we decided to just keep it and drive it across the country as well. This actually ended being a blessing and a trial as we couldn't ever take a break from driving by the kids could rotate cars and get a break from a screaming baby! Our wonderful friend Faye Beaumont came and helped with cleaning and took the kids to her house so we could finish up. She really saved the day!

This was our last view of our house in North Carolina. It looks pretty sad without us don't you think?

We drove a couple hours to Pigeon Forge Tennessee and camped for the night, it was a beautiful drive and the kids loved riding their bikes and Benson loved playing in the rocks. We didn't get there until 8:00 at night and by the time we set up camp and ordered dinner, and then dinner was an hour late in arriving it was 11:00 as we ate some pizza and crawled into bed, such an emotional day and we were just glad  to be asleep!

Last weekend in North Carolina

June 16-18

Our last weekend in North Carolina was crazy! It was also bittersweet. We got to spend an evening at Lake James with our awesome friends the Bennetts, the kids didn't want to leave and ask when we can go visit them often! It was an awesome evening with dinner, a rainstorm and playing in the Lake. We have been so blessed to meet and become friends with so many wonderful people! We spent all the extra time packing packing packing, it amazing how much stuff we have!

Last view of Lake James! It's been fun. We already miss the beautiful scenery.

We had so many people come help us load the semi. Wonderful friends the Howard's and the Weasts, and lots of people from church. It was amazing how fast our stuff got loaded up! We are so grateful for everyone's generosity in helping us! On Sunday we said goodbye to all our church friends and it was also Father's Day. Adam didn't really get pampered very much but he has been very patient with the crazy moving process. 

A letter to my Fit Self

Dear Fit Me,

 

Today was the first day I wore jeans in months! It felt so good. And no it wasn't because I finally lost all that baby weight and fit into my smaller jeans. It was because I wanted to wear something besides yoga pants, stretch pants and maternity pants sooooo bad that I bought a larger pair of jeans then I have ever owned. And it feels good. You know why? Because I don't feel bad about it. 

No I'm not the fit me I will be someday. No I'm not proud that I weigh more then I have ever weighed without being pregnant. But you know what? I'm excited about what my awesome body has done. Last year at this time I was running over twenty miles a week. This year I haven't run a single mile straight. All. Year. But I grew a human! Did you read that? A human. A tiny little person. He's adorable. And now my body is feeding him. Around the clock. Every day. That's amazing. 

That adorable tiny human might just be that last adorable tiny human my body ever grows. So instead of stressing out over losing the "baby weight", and feeling fat all the time and comparing myself to all those skinny people who seem to never gain weight in pregnancy anyway, I'm doing my best to love this season. This baby won't be tiny for long. Soon he won't breastfeed anymore, it might be next month or in a year, but he won't nurse forever. Someday soon he won't want to snuggle in the late night or early morning hours and I might not be so exhausted. Then I will see you again, my fit self. We'll go for long runs, we won't worry about the baby crying the whole time we're gone and it'll be better then ever before. 

So don't worry about those jeans, they won't be in the closet forever. Enjoy those curves! Work that mama magic. We can enjoy this bliss called motherhood, we might not be as fit as we want, but we have jeans that fit this season, and it's gonna be great!

Love 

Postpartum me

Summer 2016

We took the kids on a great hike 

Legos have been an everyday, all day activity! We love Legos! This is a basketball court, it is only one of hundreds of things the kids built this summer!

We have gone swimming at least once a week this summer. It has been a great way to cool off, relax and get out of he house! It's also a great way to make sure there is always laundry to do! We have been so grateful to our friends the Bennetts and the Beaumonts for their generosity in sharing their pools with us!

The kids have been super helpful and creative in helping me bake and cook this summer. As you can see flour at our house isn't always used for food.

Addi and Jax dos a house camp and LOVED IT! They keep asking if they can do it again next summer!

Another pool pic!

Benson Clyde joined our family this summer and Aunt Heather, Liam and Grandma Bealer got to come help us and play with us for awhile! We are so grateful for family and friends who have been so generous while we adjust to life as a family of eight!

Our cousin Chelsea also came and helped us kick off back to school with a bang! She helped us go swimming one last time and enjoy a new park. She was so kind to come and give me extra help the last few days of summer!