Packing up and Moving out

Boy, am I thankful I don't have to pack myself.  There is just no way!!  We have way too much stuff.  The movers told us we have over double the amount of boxes than the average family!  A lot of that is due to all our food storage, but a lot is also due to our incredible amount of stuff!  I get stressed out about it every time we move.  But, we always seem to settle it into our new home in such a way that at least other people don't notice how much junk we have even if I do!  I would seriously get rid of half of everything we own if it were up to me, but Kenneth likes to keep most everything and I really want to keep him around, so I don't push it too much (even though he may beg to differ!)
Anyway, the packers and loaders were very efficient  (a few of them had 30+ years of experience!).  Things moved along quite nicely and Kenneth was around more this time, which was nice.  In the past, it has just been me at home with the packers and movers.
Let me tell you, it was quite a job getting stuff for 6 people for almost 2 months set aside before the packers came.  I also was possibly unwise to hold Emma's Birthday party on the Saturday before the Monday the packers came.  It was just too much!  In fact, I told Kenneth that Saturday night that I didn't think I could keep on moving all the time like we do.  It's just too much for me!!!!  That Sunday in church we sang the hymn, "I'll go where you want me to go, Dear Lord".  The line, "Over mountain, or plain or sea"  I realized we've just about done that- we've been all over the place.  And each time we've moved, we've felt guided by the Lord.  I know we were supposed to be in each place in which we've lived- to meet the people we've met and experienced what we've experienced.  I felt while singing that song that if I am supposed to keep doing this, I will keep doing this.  I've always gotten through it in the past and I will continue to get through it- as hard as it is!

Here are some pictures of the 3-day process:



The packers are here!  Loads of boxes ready to be filled line the front porch.

Little Grant is climbing into the packers' truck.  (Daddy took this picture- I wouldn't have let him!)

Boys will be boys!

I didn't take too much time to rest, but I did need to put my feet up for a few minutes during the packing day.

It took a day and a half to pack all the stuff and then, on the third day, a new crew came with the actual truck that would hold our stuff and they disassembled tables and beds, wrapped couches, and started loading. 

Here's the moving truck out in front of our house.  It's a big one!

 

The first thing on the truck was the chicken coop!

Things are clearing out!  Couches all wrapped up and ready for the truck.

We ended up filling the entire thing!  

We had the biggest pile of garbage and recycling.  It was almost embarrassing.

Here is what the truck looked like with everything packed in and around the chicken coop.  They were master packers!  The coop is on the bottom with that cloth draped over it.  They packed all kinds of garage and yard stuff in the run part of the coop.

Kate was so tired this day, she laid right down on the movers' pile of packing blankets to rest.

Marissa, the girls' piano teacher and our former neighbor, came to visit during the load.  We will miss her!

We finally got her down for her nap in the only quiet out of the way place with no more boxes: our master closet.  She slept great!

Our empty dining room.  This is where all our stuff that was going with us in our van lived- and where the kids played during the loading day.  

That Thursday we came back to the house after sleeping in the hotel Wednesday night and did the thorough cleaning.  It was a little frustrating trying to clean with all the kids around making more messes, but it all worked out. 
Goodbye home!  We'll miss you!

Slurping up every last bit of enjoyment

Well, we said goodbye to our home last week.  I was so busy in preparation for so long that it didn't hit me until things slowed down how much I would miss our home!  We have made some amazing memories in our Kansas home.  It's the only home little Kate has had.  Even Grant can not really remember too much of California.  It really feels like saying goodbye to a good friend.  I had a few good cries over it.  Not to mention actually saying goodbye to real live friends.  In our marriage, we have never lived anywhere longer than 2 1/2 year; and that is just how long we have lived here!  We have made some great friends here.  I am so thankful for all I have learned from and the good times we have had the good people here in Kansas.

We wanted to spent some good time with our friends we've made here before we left, so we had Easter dinner with good friends, a chicken BBQ with friends at our home and Emma's party with another set of friends.  It was also great that 2 friends had a joint baby shower in the last weeks we were there.  Good times!
Here are some pictures of our last few beautiful weeks of Spring that we have spent here in Kansas:

Grant built a 'protein tower' with his edamame

 

At the park with good friends- burying Grant

One last dinner with Kenneth's cousin, Jeff and family.  Here are his twin boys out playing with the kids afterwards.

 

Comic bowling thanks to Daddy's work

 

Crazy Kate at cosmic bowling

Everyday with decent weather (and some that I thought were too cold) the kids would do their reading time outside- many times sitting on the chicken coop.  Funny kids!

The girls wanted to be sure to spend as much time with the chickens as possible before they had to say goodbye.

More chicken coop reading with the beautiful spring green popping out

I tell you, most every day!

Fun times!

My three chickens on the chicken coop!

This day Emma just enjoyed being out on the lawn.

Kate, brushing the horse's teeth!

Gorgeous double rainbow at the party of one of the kids' best friend during our last week in our home. 

Happy 9th Birthday, Emma!

Emma turned nine years old today.  We had a wonderful party for her yesterday with friends over and today was a wonderful, special day as well.  The birthday interview is at the end and it's got some funny parts, so hold out for it!
Emma had her party all planned out:  what we would eat, what we would do, and who would attend.  We were a little worried about the weather in the morning yesterday, as it was rainy, but by the party time rolled around, it all cleared up and we were able to eat outside and everything!  Wonderful!
The kids spent quite a bit of time playing outside in the yard, then we ate a burrito bar for lunch, had a pinata, tug-of-war, a talent show, then presents and cake and more playing outside to top it off.  We love having parties where the whole family is invited because it is so much fun for us to spend time with our friends!
Here are pictures of the party yesterday:

The pinata

Picnic tables in the shade

Emma made the pinata almost all on her own.  

The birthday girl taking a swing

Spectators

Kenneth throwing the candy up after the pinata was broken

Gathering the spoils

Tug-of-war

Jacob reciting a poem for his talent, Kate climbing up to see the baby.  She is very into babies lately- hopefully it will last for a few more months!

Kate holding the second baby at the party

Grant shooting his bow and arrow for his talent

Arianna's puzzle-building talent displayed and Keaghan and Laiken's drawing

Kate's talent on the piano. (He he)  She had about 4 turns sharing her talent.  Between all the others she would run to the piano shouting, "My turn!"

Aleah playing Fur Elise

Sariah playing the piano

Matthew sharing his 6th grade recital piece with us!  

Opening gifts

The crowd gathered for gift opening

Cake time!  Emma requested a pound cake.  I also had a carrot cake in the freezer from Easter which I got out to share too to make sure we had enough.  Oh, and coconut cream laraballs.  Yum!

The pound cake

Another cake shot

Of course, after the party, we had to work our tails off getting the house all prepared for the packers to come on Monday.  Kenneth and I were up til 1 am and still did not get everything done.  Oh well, it will all work out, I suppose.

Sunday, Emma's actual Birthday, was an incredible day!  Boy, am I so glad that it is a day of rest, because heaven knows I could have worked all day to get ready for the packers, but we just put that all aside and enjoyed Emma's birthday and being together as a family.  The Birthday butterfly came for breakfast- along with eggs and cinnamon toast.  This morning, we had a special stake meeting and Elder Holland, of the quorum of the twelve was there!  Wow!  As it turned out, I happened to be out in the hall walking with Kate before the meeting started and was in the foyer when Elder Holland walked in the door!  He shook my hand and said hi to Kate and told her she was cute.  I felt very blessed to have been in the right place at the right time!  The whole meeting, including the music, was very uplifting.  Elder Holland's talk was incredible!  He was so encouraging to all of us who feel broken, who feel afraid.  He encouraged us to never give up, to never forget that the Savior loves us and we will always be okay, no matter what we may have to go through.
In the afternoon, Kenneth conducted the Birthday interview.  Then, we went on a walk on the nature trail right near our home.  It was beautiful!  We are loving spring around here.
Then we came home and ate a dinner of Swedish meatballs, salad, and sparkling cider with ice cream cake for dessert.  Delicious!  Emma opened gifts throughout the day- One from mom and dad, Grant and Arianna's in the morning, Grandma Pilz's at lunch time and another one from mom and dad this evening.
Here are the pictures:

Hello, Birthday Butterfly!

Birthday Breakfast

Kate thinks its her birthday!

Gift from Grant- he made her a barn and house for her little leopard

Here's the cute little guy that Grant bought for her with his own money

Opening Arianna's gift

Arianna made her 2 little dogs

Grandma Pilz sent A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book One.  When I said goodnight to Emma she was already on page 60.  She's loving it!

These next several pictures are of our walk this afternoon.  We didn't discover this trail (which we can walk to from our home!) until just a few months ago.  We knew we wanted to go at least once more before we moved.  I am so glad we did.  It was beautiful.

Visiting our horse friends on our walk.  We will miss these horses!  At least our new neighbors in Georgia have horses that are on their property part of the time.  

Feeding the horses grass.

I love to see Kenneth with the horses- he is so good with them!

Kate, loving life on the trail.

Throwing rocks in the stream.

Looking at the tadpoles in the water.  They never did catch one. 

Did you know Kansas could look like this?!  Beautiful!

Big teeter-totter.  The kids love it!  (And me and my big belly)

Birthday dinner with sparkling cider

Kate was delighted with the plastic stemware I found for her to use.  She loves the 'spicy' cider!

Here is the Birthday Interview:  

How old are you today?  Nine
Do you have a nick name?  No.  Well, my sister and brother think I do, but I don't.  What do they think it is?   [Grant]  Like Lemon.  She likes it when I call her Em.  No I don't.
What do you enjoy doing most?  I have no idea.  I don't know.  Is it being outside, playing the piano, eating, going to church?  Doing stuff with my family.
What is your favorite book?  I cannot tell you that.  Why?  Because I don't know.  What do you know today?  Okay, chapter books.
What is your favorite animal?  [Grant] Horses.  What kind of animal?  Stuffed animal?  Toy animal?  No, real animals.  A leopard.
     Since when? Since about two months ago.
     Why?  I have no idea.  

What is your favorite color?  The colors of the rainbow  Any one more than the others?  No.

What is your favorite food?  Sweets, maybe.  I don't know.  

What is your favorite treat?  Pound cake.  Is that what Mom made for your birthday?  Yes.

What is your favorite song?  Colors of the Wind.
   Can you play it on the Piano?  Yes.  Did you know that's Dad's favorite piano song you play?  Yes, that's what you always say.

What is your favorite movie or show?  Probably Spirit.

Where is your favorite place to go?  Maybe the farm.

Have you ever caught a fish?  No, but I've tried.

What is your favorite toy?  I cannot answer that too, but I don't know.  Because I have too many favorites. Can you name a few?  I cannot.

What is your favorite sport?  Soccer.
    Are you going to play soccer on a team?  If you really need me to.

What is your favorite time of the day?  When you come home.

     Why? I don't know,  Aw come on, think hard.  Okay, because I love you so much.

Who is your best friend?  Nani.

What do you want to be when you grow up?  Be a mom.
Are you going to go to college?  I don't want to.
  Why not?  I don't know, I just don't want to.
  [Mom] What?  But it's wonderful!  You learn so much and experience so many wonderful things.        [Grant] Yeah, I'm going.

Who is going to pay for your college education?  I'm only paying $10.  You're paying the rest, Dad.

Who loves you the most?  You already know the answer to that question.

What talents have you discovered? The Piano and bla bla bla.  Is that all?  Yup.
What's your favorite talent?  The one I just said.  Not the bla bla bla.
Mom and Dad are very impressed with your Piano playing.  How did you get to be so good?  It starts with a P.  then R and A and whatever.  [Grant] Practice.
What have you learned in your years of experience so far?  Things about strangers and fires.  What about them?  What to do if they come across you.  What do you do if a fire comes across you?  I don't know because we don't have a meeting place yet.  If we do, I don't know about it.

Anything else?  Can we be done?  Almost.

What grade are you in?  3rd

How is school going for you?  Good

What do you like most about school?  Learning
What's been the most interesting thing you've learned this year?  About my body.
What was your favorite project or science experiment?  An egg soaked in vinegar.  Why?  Because it was exciting.
Does Mom do an excellent, incredible or awesome job homeschooling?  Excellent.
What would you like her to do differently?  Nothing.
Are you a mammal, an amphibian or a reptile?  I'm a mammal.  I had that question last year.

How many marbles have you eaten this week?  Zero.
How soon will you seek employment to help pay the family bills and fund this operation?  What are you talking about?  How soon will you start working?  When I'm 22.
On what day of the week were you born?  Wednesday.  Are you sure?  Yes.  How do you know?  Because you told me.
If you encountered a chicken crossing the road, please describe what you would do first:  If there weren't any cars coming, I'd go get it.  If there were cars coming, I wouldn't.  [Grant]  You could make a stop sign.

What has been special about your birthday thus far?  A Party.  That was yesterday, what about this morning?  Seeing an apostle - Jeffrey R. Holland.
What else will you do today, for your special day?  Take a walk and beat Dad in chess.

What does Dad do for work?  He's a mechanic.  Well, I think so.  Wait, no, he's an engineer.

What does Mom do for work?  She takes care of the house and us.

Are you stressed about moving to Georgia?  No way.
Will you miss Kansas?  Yeah.
What will you miss most?  My friends.
What excites you the most about moving to Georgia?  Getting bunnies.  And having a swimming pool close by.  But you can't swim.  Oh, I'll learn.
Are you going to let the packers pack all your animals?  I have all my animals that I want picked out.
Do you still miss the chickens?  Yes
     Which one do you miss most?  Peepy
Do you treat your siblings well?  I think so.

Do you love them?  Yeah.

Emma, how would you describe yourself?  A girl.  With a lot of challenges.  What kind of challenges?  Oh, all sorts of challenges.  Are you handling them well?  I guess.  Will they go away soon?   Yes, but then I'll get new ones.  Anything we can do to help?  Not really.
What would you like to accomplish this year, before you turn 10? Making new friends in Georgia.  Anything else?  Yeah, but I cannot think of it.

Any last words for your Birthday interview?  No, except that I'm tired.  [Mom]  I thought you asked that question like 10 minutes ago?  What happened?  Buzz off, Mom.  Emma was a deep thinker.  I feel like going to sleep.