A new blog...

I had troubles getting on to this blog when we first got to China so I had to come up with a different blog. Here is the address www.floridaroses.wordpress.com. Now that Matt figured out a way for me to get to this blog I can't figure out if I should stick with this one or keep going with my new one. Any advice you bloggers out there?????

Our final day in the USA

Without beds in our house it was a little hard to stay there the last 2 days so we got a hotel! It was soooooo nice to finish EVERYTHING Thursday so we could have today to just relax and play...no paperwork, no packing, no moving, NOTHING! So we swam, went to the T-Rex restaurant at Down Town Disney and then came back to the hotel for ice cream. Whoever thought of putting a hotel right in the airport was GENIUS! And I would like to thank them! It made it so easy and I am expecting tomorrow to go sooo super smoothly because we are already checked into our flight and we are already IN the airport! All we have to do is take the elevator downstairs and we are good to go! So this is my LAST post before going to China! Wish us luck!

PS. Emma lost her 8th tooth tonight! :)

This picture is what I am going to look like if I get a scooter in China and have to pile all four kids on with me :) he he he

Would you believe this dragon is made of LEGOS!!!!????

Our move...

Moving out of our house was quite the undertaking...you really accumulate a lot of STUFF with 4 kids and after 8 years of living in the same house. Matt loved that it forced us to de-junk and we are getting a lot of the random things that really needed fixing. Through this process I have learned that I could really do with a lot less, and that things really don't matter. Here I am packing up all my "things" into storage! I really can live without a lot of the stuff that my house is packed with. I also learned that I have a MAJOR candle fetish! Who knew??? I found out that I couldn't store candles in the storage unit and I really couldn't take them either, so my kind sister Kim let me fill up an under the bed plastic container and store it at her house. After filling that container completely I found TONS more candles! Man I have a lot of candles!

This move was very mentally overwhelming for me...it was a bit confusing for the movers as well. One of them admitted this was the strangest and most complex move she has done. I had to have 3 categories that everything had to fit into. There was the stuff I was moving to China that I needed immediately and that all had to fit into suitcases. (9 suitcases, and 10 carry-ons later). Then there was the stuff that I am taking to China but can do without until my sea shipment gets there in 6-8 weeks. Then there was the stuff going to the storage unit for a year.It really should have been simple to decide what went where....but I think the movers got sick of me moving things from pile to pile and throwing things on the truck last minute. The movers were very sweet and very patient while Gavin asked them "What are you doing?" a million times and followed them around. The house got up to 87 degrees due to leaving the doors open all day.We were hot and sweaty and tired by the end and we weren't even the ones doing all the packing and lifting. I don't know how those guys do it! Things went so smoothly. It started out a little rough...I seriously had an anxiety attack the first day they came. We were TOTALLY unprepared for them that first day. I don't know what I was expecting...I guess I thought there would be one or two guys there and I could just guide them and stay with them and watch as they packed things up...not so! They have someone in each room packing the entire room, and they are EFFICIENT! I started freaking out and Matt admitted in the almost 12 years that we have been married this was the first time I scared him! :) I was really having a breakdown and he was so great to calm me down and then he let the movers know that they weren't to touch our room this first day. That really helped me...then I looked like a crazy lady running from room to room grabbing stuff and shoving it into my room. I love the challenge of having to figure out how to survive without the things you usually have around. I borrowed one pot and a cookie sheet from my neighbor and we ate what we had left in the fridge and freezer. So I scrambled eggs in a pot and luckily I had accidently left just the right stuff in the dishwasher the day they packed up my whole kitchen. We had exactly 3 spoons and 3 bowls...just enough for cereal each morning :)

Our cars were tricky to figure out what to do with...again my sister came to the rescue. She is letting me store my van that I love so much in her garage. Then we didn't know what to do with Matt's car. We didn't think his work would let us store it and wondered if that would take a toll on the car. So then we entertained the idea of selling it. In fact we had a guy ready to buy it and was practically ready to give us what we had asked for it on Craigslist. When it came down to it Matt and I realized we both love his car and would be sad to see it gone. And then his work approved storage for one vehicle. Perfect! So he just had to say "goodbye for now" to it. I think he still wanted to shed a tear when the mover came to pick it up. :)

All in all I am very please with the way things went. I know that the Lord was there helping me through it all....in fact it was a tender mercy that Matt's visa didn't come in time because I REALLY wouldn't have been ready to fly out on Tuesday...I needed the extra days to get organized and say goodbye to friends. And then tonight we got a call from our friend, who is our rental property manager, and he said he has already had a few people calling and interested in renting and they may move in on Aug. 1. So our long week is over and our next step.... China!

The Final Fantastic Festivities before our move...

We have soooo many wonderful friends and it was great to be able to get together with most of them before we leave....Luke's friends Ethan and Grant came over and gave him a gift and then he went swimming with them and hung out for a couple of hours. I had tears in my eyes when I saw him have to say goodbye. Then on Monday we had Family Night with a few of the families from the ward at the beach! Talk about a great night of chatting, relaxing, and kids having fun. It was a perfect evening. I don't know how I got blessed with such wonderful friends, but they are amazing. Beckie came to my house before we got home from Utah and brought milk, orange, juice, muffins and bananas for breakfast because she knew I had a late flight and would need that in the morning. I swear she is always a step ahead of me and knows what I need before I know what I need! She is always calling asking if she can take my kids while I am busy with this and that. She is amazing. And Amy is always there for me...taking my kids, giving me things, there when I need to talk! I LOVE her and will miss her tremendously!

Tuesday the movers came and got started on the house and I did much better then I did the previous week when they first came. Wednesday they came to finish the packing and they started loading. Then we had a spontaneous neighborhood party. My friend Kristine came over with her kids, a few from across the street and soon we had a bunch of kids playing basketball, baseball, riding bikes, scooters, and eating Popsicles. Liz, from next door, came over after she got back from work and there were many tears shed as I hugged her tight and thought about what a great neighbor and friend she has been. She is truly one of my best friends and has been there for me through many little adventures, whether it be breaking the water main, checking my head for lice the first time the kids came home with that dreaded letter that someone in their class has lice, or when we had to scoop and shop vac water out of her laundry room after she flooded it. I could ask her for the shirt off her back and I'm sure she wouldn't even hesitate to give it to me! I love her! Then on Thursday after the movers left we went out to dinner with Mikey. Mikey is one of the boys from our ward whom we have become close with this last year. He has been coming over for Family Home Evening and dinner quite a few times. He recently got his mission call to Ogden, Utah! He is such a great kid and I am so excited for him to go out and learn to WORK :)

So yes we have said our goodbyes and now it is time!!!! CHINA HERE WE COME!

Ethan, Grant and Luke...the 3 Amigos!

Spontaneous neighborhood party!!!!!!!!!!!

Soon to be Elder Mikey Mitchell!!!!!

Firsts for Eva...

Eva was a trooper and was with us in our HOT HOT house during the move all day long! So she got to experience her first popsicle and first ice cream! I think she liked it! :) In fact now she isn't quite enjoying her carrots, beans and peas like she used to. Once you know what you could be having, it's hard to go back :)

FUN FUN FUN out WEST!

There are definitely pros and cons to going on vacation for 2 weeks RIGHT before moving to China....the pros...I had plenty of fun times and memories were made with family right before leaving for a year, and I hardly stressed at all while we were there... Con is facing the packing the day after I got back and having the movers show up at your door step the following day, which then led to a minor anxiety attack/breakdown (Matt might not agree that it was minor...he might say MAJOR breakdown). Needless to say it was worth EVERY minute of it! Our trip to Utah/Idaho was TONS of fun!!!!! Here's the breakdown of our agenda and the pictures that follow pretty much tell the story:

Sunday: Got to Utah and got to go to church with my parents.

Monday: Had to work on China paperwork/Visa stuff etc.

Tuesday-Friday: headed with my family to Wolf Creek Lodge and had a WONDERFUL family reunion. We swam, hiked, had a mini Olympics (thanks to my awesome brother Scott and his family for planning that!), had "Made in China" night (thanks to my awesome sister Kim), watched the kids dance, dance, and dance some more. Just had FUN and enjoyed each other's company. We missed having my brother in law Morgan there and my nephew Danny that is on his mission. We were sure to make him a part of things and the kids painted a sign in his honor. I was in awe of my cute nieces and nephews and the cute way they played with my kids. My kids idolize them and enjoyed every minute! What an amazing family I have!

Friday: We headed to Logan, UT to Matt's sister Julie's house. They had rented a waterslide and it was so fun to see the kids reconnecting after not seeing each other for so long. They had a blast on the slide, the tramp, the sand pile, the swing set, the play house, and eating brownies and rice crispy treats galore. It was a beautiful day and it was so relaxing to sit and visit. Matt's cousin Chrystal and her husband Chris stopped by and so did his aunt Christie. Also his Grandma Johnson was there. It was so great to see her because she was recently in the hospital and so it was refreshing to see her on the mend. What a wonderful day. We were sad we had to skip out early to go to Matt's mission reunion. But thank goodness we did because it was an amazing experience! It was my first time meeting his mission president and it was amazing to meet old companions and missionaries he had served around. I know Matt was such an amazing missionary just by the man he is today, but it was such a joy to have SO MANY old missionaries come up to me and say over and over again just how amazing he was. They said he was one of the great leaders who many looked up to. I got so emotional each and every time they would tell me of the great stories. I am so grateful to have such a stalwart man!

Saturday: We got to meet up with my family again and go to Cherry Hill Water Park! Talk about a blast! Need I say more! :) And then we ended the night in my sister Heidi's amazing backyard for a movie on the big screen and smores. FUN!

Sunday: We went to Park Valley for the baby blessing of Matt's cousin Bill's new baby boy William! This is a BIG DEAL! This is Bill's FIRST boy and the one to probably run the ranch someday...how exciting that we happened to be in town for the blessing. It is so amazing to be in Park Valley. You feel so honored to even be there and be a part of the community. It just feels as though you are part of a rich heritage and it makes you grateful to be in the family! It was the perfect opportunity to visit with Matt's grandparents. His Grandma has not been doing well and so we were so anxious to see her and spend time with her. What a neat day. That night we stopped by Matt's aunt Sheri's house and it was an instant party! His other aunt, Christie and her family came too and soon we were barbequing, eating smores, the kids were playing putt putt, Gavin was dancing his heart out in the back of Matt's cousin Hunter's truck, and then there were fireworks. What more could you ask for???? Oh and we got to meet Nate's cute fiancé Shelby.

Monday: It was back to my family for the annual 4th of July celebration at my aunt Lori and John's house. This year was record breaking...I think we had 47 people there! If my Grandma and Grandpa Searle could see us they would be so proud (I'm sure they were looking down and smiling!) My cousin Jennifer just adopted a new baby girl, Paisley, and my cousin Chris and Kim had a new baby, Amelia. There was swimming, volleyball, homemade ice cream, a gift exchange (this is how we celebrate my Grandpa Searle's birthday), and tons of visiting and just as much eating. What a blast! That night we were so tired we just did fireworks at my mom's house. Matt surprised us with a GRANDE FINALE firework that was one of those awesome aerial ones! And you can't have the 4th of July without sparklers of course. And I am happy to report we were burn free this year :)

Tuesday: We headed to Blackfoot to spend time with Matt's parents and sisters and their kids. Matt's parents had purchased a little pool that kept the kids entertained for HOURS! We had GREAT food (Loved the ribs!), the kids picked peas, and we had a great time chatting it up. We even got to see Matt's uncle Mike and his cute wife Meg...I love their story, they knew each other in High School I believe, and then they reconnected at OUR WEDDING! They tease that we are responsible for their marriage :) They came to take Grandma Johnson to help her with some of her new living arrangements at the retirement center, etc. What a great day. My kids would rather hang out at Grandma and Grandpa Rose's then go anywhere around town.

Wednesday: We got to go fishing! What a fun day. Luke and Grandpa Rose caught 4, and Emma and Grandpa Rose caught 1! The kids were SO excited! Gavin was a little disinterested, but I'm sure it will come with time. Luke even caught and reeled in the last one by himself. It was a beautiful 13" cutthroat trout. I think he walked a little taller after that. Then the kids got to shoot a pellet gun. Gavin had his eye a little too close to the scope, like right on it, and has quite the little black eye to prove it. He tells people that the gun "kicked" him.

Thursday: We got to go to Island Park for the night. We stayed in BEAUTIFUL cabins and had a wonderful time. We stayed at the Pond's lodge, which Matt's Great Great Grandparents once owned. Matt's dad had to go speak to the YW in their Stake at Girls Camp and so we took the opportunity to drive around and sight see. We went to Big Springs and saw fish and a muskrat swimming around. Then on our drive around Henry's Lake we saw 2 moose and an elk! Awe nature. It was so refreshing.

Friday: We got back to Matt's parents house and got to spend more time with his sisters Julie and Cindy and their kids. Julie & Stanton and Matt & I got to sneak away for a little "date". While the kids were all going down to bed we snuck out and went to Rupe's for burgers and ice cream. We had SUCH A BLAST laughing and talking! Stanton if you ever read this I still want to see that diving video!!!!!!!! I can't stop imaging it and I laugh to myself often :)

Saturday: The kids and I got to go to Matt's sister Cindy's kids track meet! My kids were so inspired that when we got home they were doing laps around Grandma and Grandpa's back yard :) Congrats Jordyn, Morgan, and Regan for your AWESOME meet! You guys are amazing! Matt got to go on a cattle drive with his dad. I love seeing the cowboy come out :)

Sunday: I woke up and noticed that Emma was not in her bed. This is actually a normal occurrence. She is usually the first one up and then starts her day with some sort of project. When I came upstairs to make sure she wasn't into mischief, I was pleasantly surprised and touched...she was sitting on the couch with Grandma Johnson reading to her! How sweet is that?! She will probably remember that moment (well I think it was more like 45 minutes), for the rest of her life, when Grandma Johnson spent that quality time with her. We then had a great Sabbath day at church with Matt's parents and then headed to Salt Lake for our last night with my family.

MONDAY: My poor mom had surgery on her knee. Talk about torture to leave town while your mom is suffering in a hospital bed! At least I got to see her after she got out of recovery for a little bit before my plane departed. I hope and pray she has a wonderful recovery and that she has no regrets that she went ahead with the surgery. I HATE seeing my mom in pain! I am glad my dad and sisters are there to take care of her.

Well that's it! It was an amazing trip and it was just what I needed to keep my mind occupied before this huge undertaking of moving to China. I am so grateful for all the family's support. NOT one of them told us we were crazy for going, they were all so excited for us and lifted us up and made us feel like we can do this no problem! I love you all and am so grateful for you!