Change Is In The Air

      So much has been going on going on in the last few months that I hardly feel like I can keep up. I'll try and catch you up to our crazy life so far. Back towards the end of last year, Ty applied for a job within the same company he works for as Software Tester. We hadn't heard anything, and then the company said that they were doing a hiring freeze until after the New Year. Then, in January, Ty was told he was getting an interview for the position. We were excited for this new possibility, but also were aware that it would definitely mean a move to Utah. I have NEVER been one to flirt with the idea of living in Utah, but something in me changed and I became more open to it, to Ty's complete shock. Before the interview, I decided to do some house hunting online to see what was available within our estimated price range. Because of so many short sales, we were finding an abundance of options. This obviously made me more excited and when I thought about moving to Utah, I felt that was the right thing to do....regardless of the job. I told Ty this and he questioned whether it was because I really felt like we should go or if it was because of a greater possibility of getting a house. It was a valid question and I really wanted to have a valid answer. The next day, which happened to be Sunday, I took some time to pray about it asking if it was really the right thing to do or if it was just because I was excited about the possibilities. I struggle with always having something to think about, but I did my best to clear my head. As I did, the thought came to me, "Go and make a new life there." This happened several times with me making sure it wasn't just my own thoughts floating in there. I'm a simple person, so to me I had my answer. However, if it weren't clear enough, that day in Sunday School the lesson was about "Receiving Inspiration and Recognizing the Spirit". I almost wanted to laugh and to burst throughout the entire lesson. I kept thinking, "Tell Ty, I'm good to go." Especially, after the experiences shared were all to do with moving. Seriously?!
 
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      Ty took a little more "convincing", but after some serious thought and pondering, we were both on board with moving to Utah. This only came after Ty's interview, which was very informative, but we both felt it wasn't right for him. Right away, we started looking for places to live. We knew that a house would be amazing, but it would need to be shelved for awhile until we saved up enough. So, we looked at renting and it was a bit of a struggle since everything was at least a year lease. Once we opened that up as an option we were able to find a lot more. We had our top two places and sadly, the first one fell through. The second was the condo we are now in and it all worked out amazingly. We had found it online and it was definitely at the top of our price range, but when I checked back later they dropped the price by $51! I was so excited and wasn't about to let this one get away. By the end of the first Saturday in April we signed on it and began preparation to move. It was a lot of exhausting hours spent packing and managing it all around Anna's schedule. The day we moved was a little bit of a nightmare. There was still plenty that needed to be packed up and I woke up with an anxiety attack after little sleep. Then, had another one later while packing. Needless to say, it was very stressful day. Once it was all done I felt immensely better. We decided to drive through the night and hope that Anna would sleep all the way through. She did fairly well, but woke up more times than I can count and was up for the day earlier than we would have liked. Poor girl was exhausted by the time we made it.

 "Look Mommy! I'm totally helping you pack and not making a bigger mess." :)

 I ain't too ashamed to say that this is what helped me pack while she was awake.

 We stopped in Tremonton for the morning to stop for bathroom break and gas.  The truck ended up having an issue and stopped at the stop sign of the exit and the trailer had a flat tire.  This little girl was exhausted, but still a happy camper.

 Apparently, the set up I had in the hamper wasn't right, so she had to reorganize it.

      Our new ward was amazing with helping us unpack and we were able to get it all unloaded in an hour and a half. Booyah! We are extremely grateful to everyone who came to help us out. Now everything is mostly unpacked, except for some wall decor and a few other things that will have to wait for a bit. We're in a third floor condo which has it's pros and cons, but overall we're glad to be here. Ty has really been enjoying work since we moved. Going in to the office, as opposed to working from home has made an incredible difference for him. It's definitely a shift in our lives. Particularly, for me and Anna. Since we only have one care, she and I are pretty much hanging out at home all day. Though, now that it's warmer we will definitely be making trips to the the club pool and taking some good walks. Ty has also started school with WGU on the first of May and has already breezed through his first class. I'm very proud of him and know he will do amazing. Anna is amazing and growing all the time. I need to do a completely separate post just for her awesome updates. Overall, we're happy here and are so glad we decided to move. We miss our family that we left behind, but are excited to see them when we come to visit.

Moving Day!

Sometimes, I come up with cockamamie ideas.  Like moving.  Who does that not even a year from the last time they moved?!  We do, that's who.  Finding a place was easy enough, but transitioning between two places is a whole other matter in and of itself.  After we found this wonderful new home, which is one side of an "A" duplex in Richland, I went to work and began packing up anything that didn't require imminent use.  As my luck would have it, my hips and low back had flared up only a few weeks before, making packing and relocating our home extremely painful.  However, I have some pretty amazing maternal figures in my life.  First, my mommy came over and helped me get some boxes filled.  Since we signed the lease in the middle of the month we were free to move in at any time.  We took advantage of this as much as possible and took boxes over before the "BIG" day.  The day after, Ty's momma also gave me some much needed packing support.  Again, packing took place and boxes were transported.  Ty's parents were going to be in Provo to support his brother with his music, despite my efforts to remind them that Ty is their favorite.  Because they wouldn't be available when we moved the large and heavy stuff, they offered to help us, the weekend before, move anything we could fit in their trailer and truck-bed.  Ty's brother and his family made a surprise visit and came to lend a hand...or two.  And a couple of arms.  We so appreciate it all!  Also, it appears that packing (or whatever it was that I did) helps hip pain because by that Sunday I actually felt 100% better.  Yay!

It took us a little while, but we finally decided to make the big move day the last Friday of the month.  We let our family and our ward's Elders Quorum know and proceeded to make plans.  My mom and dad would arrive with the trailer at 5:00 PM and the Elders Quorum at 5:30.  Throughout the week we packed and took more things over to the new place.  I took one day to unpack the kitchen and I'm so glad I did.  When we officially moved in, at least that was done.  Friday came and Ty was able to get half the day off and we took a few car loads of stuff over.  My mommcita called me to let me know that they would probably be running about an hour behind.  A flush of anxiety came over me.  I was worried our Elders Quorum would be standing around for half an hour with nothing to do.  They, essentially, worked out what they needed to came to the rescue of their favorite (okay, only) daughter and were here (I mean there) a little after 5:00.  To pass the time, until the ward members came, we began packing the trailer with what we were able.  Five-thirty came and went, and before you knew it, it was 6:00 and no sign of the Elders Quorum.  The aforementioned anxiety was quickly returning, bringing panic along with it.  I called our ward's missionaries, but unfortunately for us they had some appointments already set up.  Ty called the Elders Quorum Pres., only to get his voicemail.  He called the bishop to get the number of the guy in charge of the sign-up list.  Thankfully, we got ahold of the bishop, but not sign-up list guy.  More anxiety and panic.  We were getting to a point where we didn't know how we were going to be able to pack up the trailer and then go unload it all in the same night.  Then, out of Nowheresville, the bishop shows up!  And he brought back up.

Things started to look up and progress from there.  Once we got everything in the trailer, we made our way to our new residence.  The bishop had company and one of the guys he had rounded up needed to get back.  However, he said that he would try to get in touch with someone from our new ward.  By the time we got all set up and ready to unload, the Elders Quorum Pres. from our new ward, our new missionaries, and another member from our new ward came to join in the madness.  Even the bishop came, despite his company.  What an amazing man!  The unpacking went swiftly and without a hitch.  Previous to all of us going insane, Ty and I procured donuts and milk for all willing participants.  The missionaries seemed the most interested.  Even after all of that, Ty and I still needed to put together our bed so we could sleep somewhere.  Luckily, that didn't take long and neither did us falling into unconsciousness.

Thought we were done, didn't you?  Oh no.  Saturday, Ty and I still needed to go back to the apartment to gather a couple more car loads of stuff that we didn't have time or space to get the night before.  We were so exhausted and ready to be done, but I couldn't give up yet and we started to unpack our office books.  It is now all pretty.  :)  Monday, I spent a long 7 hours white-glove cleaning the old apartment.  UGH!!  Today, we'll go through with the landlord and officially be done with the old apartment.

I'm Jennifer Robbins and this is my moving story.  Thank You.

The Stories I Could Tell

Holy Lil' Smokies!  Did ya miss me?  I've missed you.

So much has happened since our crazy reunion events.  Seriously, I could write a book about all the stuff that's happen, but I'll just have to settle for a blog post.  The things I could tell you!

I could tell you about the free tickets we got from Ty's work to go to the Tri-cities Dust Devils baseball game.  How I wasn't all that excited.  Baseball is for the birds.  Maybe, it's my ADD talking, but I get so bored and can't figure out what's really going on.  Regardless we went, got a free meal, watched a bit of the game, and I pined for popcorn.  The aroma was coming from all sides and taunting me.  I have no willpower when it comes to butter.

I could tell you about how I left my cute hubby for a few days and went to my mom and pop's to visit and help my brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Jenny, pack up before moving.  How we went to the Grant Co. Fair and saw animals,

 

I just noticed that kid in the back.  I don't know what he is doing.  We have no association with this child.

 

My niece, Kamrie, with her goat that she sold @ fair.

saw a llama spit on somebody,

one of my nieces and one of my nephews milked a goat (I will leave out the visual.  You are welcome.), ate yummy food, and watched my niece, Sammy, fearlessly, get thrown into the air.

 She got so excited and I'm pretty sure the kid who was helping her achieve maximum air had just as much fun seeing how far she would go and that she was all giggles.
 I could go into great detail about the Chocolate covered Strawberry Kabobs we saw fit to devour within seconds of receiving.  Somebody out there is going to make millions with that.  BEST TREAT EVER.  There are no pictures for there was no time.  Remember what I said about the devouring?

I could tell you about how I again left the cute husband for a few days and spent some time with my sister-in-law and kids while my brother was still working before being able to move with them.  (Phew!  I need to learn how to shorten sentences, instead of making them run on and on forever and the end barely in sight.)
How we went to the zoo,

What?!  How'd that get here?!

which ended with us leaving to take little Jakers to the ER after he fell on his head and got an ouchie.

Luckily, they glued it instead of giving him stitches.  I kept thinking the doctor reminded me of someone, but I couldn't figure out who it was.  Then it hit me.  Joe Zee from Elle Magazine, also seen on MTV's The City.  I wonder what kind of look the doctor would have given me if I told him that.

I could also tell you about how we took the kids on a ferry ride the next day.

How we ate at a really yummy place called the "Grub Hut".  Because with a name like that, how could you not?

My sister-in-law got the Hawaiian 5-0, while I played it safe with a regular cheeseburger.  You can never go wrong with a classic.

How adorable the kids are when they are all sleeping in their carseats at the same time.

How gorgeous the scenery is in Seattle and I may have to convince cute husband to someday move there.

I could tell you how my other sister-in-law, Danielle, had a whopping 10 lbs. 2 oz. baby boy they named Beckham Campbell.  How we got to see him when he was only 8 or 9 hours old.

I could tell you about how I finally took out the S'more set I had sitting in its box for years, and never did anything with, and put it to good use.  How I'm so excited to have this new/old toy.

I could tell you about how our TV went broke-dead a few months ago and the place we took it to couldn't find the piece that needed to be replaced because they don't make this particular TV anymore.  How I had had it with watching movies on our laptop and we bought a TV we found on craigslist for $35.

How my cute husband, Ty, is a genius man and decided to keep the broke-dead TV just in case we were able to find the piece we needed, even though I was fully prepared to purchase a lovely new TV.  Then, out of nowhere, he ends up finding the piece online and fixes the TV himself, saving us hundreds of the money stuff we like so much.

I could tell you all about that stuff.

Instead I'm going to tell you about how we MOVED!

Our lease had run up and we were continuing on a month-to-month basis.  Though we truly loved where we were (TWO bathrooms, lovely painted walls, close to a million different grocery stores, wonderful ward), we still felt the loss of a few things.  Including our dearly missed couch that WOULD NOT fit through the door and was kindly being stowed away in my parents garage until further notice.  I decided to hit the Craigslist to see what I could find.  As luck would have it, a place in Richland, close to where Ty works, was soon to be available.  Many things about this place were enticing.  A nicely sized backyard, a finished basement for storage, Central Heating & Air (a luxury we have never enjoyed as a married couple), a kitchen to rival the one I was currently squeezing into.  There were a few cons to it, just like with anything else.  Probably the biggest thing being that we had to down-size to one little bathroom.  We decided to overlook it and were thrilled when we found out that we would be moving in.  The actual moving in is a story all on its own that I'll save for another post.  For now, here's a few pictures of my living room and kitchen.

 

 

I know.  You love what I've done with the place, right?

Okay seriously.  We've only been here for a few days and our progress is only as fast as when Ty is home to help me lift the big stuff.  Last night he did manage to hook up the TV so we could watch Chuck and Castle.  Where would I be with out him?  (Ty, not Chuck and/or Castle.)  I also was able to unload all of the books in the office.

They are now organized just the way I want them.  I like that part of moving.  Having a fresh start.  I'm excited to get that with everywhere else in the house.  Until then, we won't be having any wild and crazy parties.