Thanksgiving Weekend

I think I forgot to write about all the fun we had with cousins when James' parents, Russ, Rebecca, and their kids came to visit. On Thanksgiving day there had to have been at least 30 people for dinner at the Lisonbees! So much yummy food, games, and visiting. James had gotten enough pvc piping to make marshmallow guns, which were a huge hit with all the kids. The next day we put together a picnic lunch and headed for the mountains so that the California cousins could play in some snow. What a ball! We ate our lunch in our vans and then we were off to the University of Utah to show the kids a little bit of where James, Russ, and Rebecca graduated from. We picked up U hats and candy canes and let the kids run around a bit.

Then we stopped at East High to see where High School Musical was filmed. Our kids thought we were pretty cool to know that it was actually done here in Utah. Since we were in SLC for the day we had to pick up some artichoke pizza at Freewheeler's, along with some tasty garlic bread. It's just a little take-out place so we just ate in the cars again before we headed downtown to Temple Square.

We got there in time to see the movie about Joseph Smith which was really good. It was sad, but so good. Curren sat on my lap and asked some really good questions, like, "Why did Heavenly Father heal the baby but not Joseph?" The movie was well done and made me appreciate the prophet even more. Then the Breinholt's met us to walk around and see the lights at Temple Square, which never disappoints! The lights are gorgeous. Deseret Book had free hot chocolate, so we lined up along with every other Utahn who is always up for anything free. They were serving Stephen's hot chocolate and it wasn't watered down, so it was worth the wait, right James and Russ?

Before we headed home we got dinner at Bajio's. We had the whole place to ourselves! It was a super fun day with family!

Why we LOVE Utah

One of the reasons we love Utah is because we live so close to the mountains. Our house in Sandy is only 20 min from Alta and Snowbird ski resorts. James and Curren went skiing on new years eve and had a blast. Since it was Curren's first time, he was enrolled into an all day ski school to learn some basics (James doesn't have the patience to teach so...) and James got to go ski the big boy slopes. Here is a photo of Curren just before entering his ski school.

Porter, 1 year

Happy first birthday, Porter! You are a native Texan who now calls Utah home. We love you tons little Porty. You aren't walking yet. (I'm so glad). But you love it when song #1 from High School Musical comes on in the van. (16, 16 more minutes...) You let your brothers and sister drag you all over the place to experience new things. You only wave to Grandpa Jearl. Still sleep with your white silky/chenille blankie. Still have a smile that melts my heart.

Plane ride

This is dedicated to the kind Texan who bought us a bag of Teddy Grahams at Love Field before we took off. (Seriously, this man said he had been watching us in the airport as we grabbed McDonald's, ate dinner, and played before boarding). I guess he felt sorry for me, since I was traveling on my own with four kids under 7.
These kids were sooo good! Along the way several people helped me with carseats, blankies, dropped sippy cups.
Don't let these faces fool you. These children were so sad to leave Texas. They still are, in fact. They shed many tears on the plane. And that always makes me cry, too.

Friends

Before we left for Utah, we spent a week with our good friends, the Rousseau's. It was a blast! We needed a place to stay after the movers took our things, and before we were scheduled to fly out. So, it was a big slumber party with about 7 suitcases, 4 kids, 1 mom, all crashing upstairs at their house. Picture clothes all over the place, towels hanging up on various knobs/doors, and toys everywhere! Once the kids were in bed we watched tv and just hung out.

But, there is never a dull moment over there. 2 hours before we needed to go to the airport, Curren and Grant got into an fire ant hill. Curren was itchy and wouldn't eat his lunch. I told him to quit scratching, applied Benadryl, and told him to hurry and eat. He kept fussing and was getting rashy, so I told him to go get in the shower and I'd get him a change of clothes. (Yep, we're all packed up, too). He calms down and I go back to visiting with Christine and Lauren who had stopped by with a photo album for us. We were all sitting around the table crying and remembering all the fun we had there over the past 2 years. Then Curren starts coughing and says it hurts to breathe. Oh no! We call Leslie, who is a doctor and he says to take him over to Dr. Deitchman (our awesome pediatrician!), and call them on the way over. It turns out he was having a systemic allergic reaction and now must have an epi-pen with him just in case it happens again! Then we were off to Salt Lake.

Changes

Our lives have been crazy since July! I haven't said too much about the changes we experienced due to privacy issues. I tried to limit who knew exactly what our situation was. James accepted a job offer with a company in Salt Lake City in June. He started work in July and stayed with his grandparents while I stayed behind in Texas to sell our house. We were unsure how long it would take to sell our home, but following a priesthood blessing, we knew we were making the right choice. Well, it took four long months!! I cannot begin to express how difficult the time was for us. I hate being alone at night and I had to take things a day at a time. Taking care of my kids was so hard on my own and I was missing James so much. We all cried a lot. But, we had good days, too.
I have to tell about the miracle of our house selling. It was in October. I was sitting in sacrament meeting with all the kids, who were having a really good Sunday, (with my awesome babysitter helping me). I wasn't sad at all even though I was starting to feel desperate. I wanted my family to be together and there was nothing I could do. I was good at hiding this, I think. The bishop had his counselor ask me to meet with him. I accepted and the counselor offered to hold Porter for me. I sat down and he asked me how things were going. I broke down crying and told him how hard my week had been. He told me how he saw me in the congregation and felt that I might need a blessing. And, I really did. He mentioned the economy and how it would worsen. (It did). He said that our family needed a miracle and he pleaded with the Lord on my behalf for a miracle 3 times during this blessing. After the blessing, he said that we needed to fast. So, we did. I weaned Porter that week and we fasted. It had been years since I have fasted, but that day was so good for me. I came to church the following week. I was out in the foyer with Porter during Sunday School and thought I would check my voice mail. There was a message from an agent that had just shown our house for the second time and that they were going to be submitting an offer the next day! We countered, they countered back, and we accepted. The house closed in November. We were blessed with a miracle. I know the power of prayer. I am so grateful for tender mercies. Just when I thought I could do no more, my wishes were granted.

Moab Half Marathon

A couple of weekends ago we drove down to Moab with friends of ours that we met while we were living in Delaware. Now they live in Utah, too. Mindy and Ryan came to take care of our kids which was so great of them. All the kids had so much fun with them and I think that Emily is hoping that Mindy will adopt her! Thank you again, guys!

James and Michael ran the half and I did the 5 mile race. Easy. No problem. I was supposed to do the half as well, but wimped out. I have a dozen excuses, including: I have four kids and it's so cold at 5:45 am when I run/work-out. James and Michael did great.

I have to write about the "memorable night" we spent at the Robber's Roost Motel, in Green River, UT. It's one of those old motels with a neon sign that you see when you pass through small towns. (Northern Arizona has lots of them). We shared a room with our friends and as soon as Mary sat down on the bed, it fell to the floor! Then, the bathroom was disgusting, and the place was super dusty. We just laughed the whole time. Then when we finally fell asleep the guy in the room next-door kept us awake with his snoring! The next morning all of us were saying that we had been awake at least every hour. It didn't help that we couldn't get the heater to turn off. It was 90 degrees in that room.

It was great to take a road trip with old friends, go out to eat, run, and hang out and talk. This is the first time we have been away from our kids in almost 8 years. We need to do this more often.