THE long-awaited, much-anticipated, family move!

We have been preparing to pack up our moving truck and move south.

And the day finally came....

But first, a little backstory about this move:

With Richard's decision to specialize in NUCCA Chiropractic (click HERE to learn more about the amazing way NUCCA is helping so many people), we knew we would have the possibility of doing a preceptorship (internship).

When an amazing doctor invited Richard to intern with him and possible join his practice, we knew we had to follow this opportunity.

AND...

So we did!!!!

A few memorable snapshots for the day...

Merrills (Jordan, Molly, Faith, Celeste, and Scarlett) We miss having you just up the street! Who is going to come and sit at the house with our girls while we go to the emergency room? Or come down and look at the Wii and tell me (Becky) that there isn't a game in there TO eject? (0:

The Colvins (Tanise, Kaushay, Kaia, cuz Destiny, and Kamari).

Richard has been their home teacher since we moved into the ward.

He was able to help them come back to church and the girls be baptized.

Beautiful family who we love and even wrote us an amazing, funny, sweet, silly, wonderful song to remember them by!

We love and adore you and miss you and, did I mentioned that we love you!!!!?!?!??!

~miss you~

One of the only pictures of the drive...

Sarah and Emma playing "Guess Who".

Our new apartment, made possible by Richard, Grandma Joy and Grandpa Lynn

AND

some fabulous and amazing men in our new ward.

So grateful for each of you (especially those troopers who carried my piano up to the 2nd floor apartment!).

Living amongst boxes...

Playing card games with Grandma Joy. So much fun!

St Patrick's Day

The girls found something green to wear!

Also, on St. Patrick's day, Grandma Joy did their traditional Easter Egg Treasure Hunt.

The girls LOOOOOOVE this!

They love to run and look in the fridge, the bathtub, on the front door...

... in the shower, under the towels, in books on the shelf...

...under the front door mat, under pillows, in the stove...

UNTIL...

The baskets are found and treats are eaten!

Oh, and then there is this...

... AND Richard and I make a fool of ourselves running around for our hunt and then put the buckets on our heads.

YEP! We are that awesome! (0:

Then it was time to say goodbye. The hardest part.

Group picture taken with the auto-timer.

LOVE you all!

"Why can't you stay, Grandma?"~Rachel

Sarah saying goodbye to Grandpa.

We love you miss you Grandpa and Granny (0: !

You are the BEST!

Our lives would be perfect if we could just live in your house forever and ever.

Thank you so much for coming and playing with us and helping us and hugging us every single day!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

Come visit us again soon!

PS Yeay for a direct flight to SLC!!! (0:

Rachel's Baptism Day!

On Saturday, March 10th, 2012

Rachel Joy

was baptized a member of

the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Rachel's birthday was in January but she wanted to wait to be baptized until Grandma Patty and Grandpa Lynn & Grandma Joy could come in March.

It was a beautiful evening!!!

A few weeks before her baptism, Rachel asked if Grandpa could baptize her.

We were a little surprised, but talked a lot about it with her and she decided to have him do it. They have always been such good friends and it was a wonderful day! Thank you so much, Lynn!!! Grandpas are so wonderful!

We were so blessed to have wonderful friends come that day.

We love the Milne family!

And of course...

Ms. Kate and Austin!

~yeah, we know we are silly!~

Great to have family with us!

We love Grandpa Lynn and Grandma Joy and Grandma Patty!!

Our Rachel, we are so proud of you and your decision to be baptized!

You are a wonderful, beautiful, sweet, funny, good, kind, spunky, amazing Daughter of God and we are so grateful every single day to have you in our family!

Ready for the BIG ONE!?!?!!? (part 2)

Whew!
And there is the other half of our trip!
~We had a fun BBQ with some great friends! Some of who we have been friends with for over 20 years!

Richard, Me, Mark, Alisha, Angela, & Mike.

All the kiddies!

One of the things we did every day was jump on the trampoline!

Jumpin' with Uncle Jon

We visited Logan, UT to reminisce about when we were first married! We visited USU and our first apartments, and so many other fun things (and people)!

Feet in the nice FRIGID water running down the street!


Visitin' with mom's old roomate Joylynn Boekweg Gonzales


Emma in front of the Logan Temple & Rachel eating at the USU creamery- Aggie Blue Mint, of course!!!

To finish off our amazing trip, we spent a week up in Midway at an amazing home with Richard's family! The time was filled with playing cards, swimming, and ....

Ruff Family LOVE!!!


Sitting at the table with Grandma and Grandpa


The Ruff Grandkids


Grandma's fun puppets


Making beautiful bean bags


AAAAARG!!! The big kids got to do a Pirate Treasure Hunt!
Thanks Aunt Marianne and Uncle Brian.


And we can't forget the AMAZING Rockets with Uncle Bryan! Emma's of course had a princess on it! Great action shot with the rocket launching into the air.


Emma and her flowers!


We were heading back to the Midwest and stopped at a Veterans Memorial on the way out of town and talked to the girls about war and peace and sacrifice. It was a beautiful monument on top of a hill and I think the girls learned so much.

It was an amazing and busy and crazy and wonderful trip!

We love all of our friends and family!
Thanks for the wonderful time!

Sarah's Baptism!!!

On September 18th, 2010, Sarah chose to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was a big decision for an 8-year-old to make and she took it very seriously.
We are so proud of what a wonderful young woman you are growing into, Sarah!

Before the baptism outside our church


Sarah is so happy to have her Dad baptizing her! What a blessing!


Dressed in white, all ready for the baptism!

A few things to remember from that the day:

Mom french braided that beautiful hair!


Add a beautiful white bow!


Thanks for the CTR ring Grandma Patty!!


Beautiful bracelet from Aunt Katie and Uncle John in Utah!


Sarah loves Butterflies, so we had the bakery put one on the cake for refreshments. So beautiful!

But never forget the way you feel today, Sarah! So clean and pure. Listen to the Holy Ghost and you will never choose the wrong path!!!

Family Pictures after the baptism!

Mom and Dad and sweet Sarah


Sarah and her wonderful Grandma Patty!


Grandpa Lynn, Grandma Joy, & Aunt Michelle with Sarah


Extended family. Thanks so much for coming!


Our Family

We are so grateful to have you in our family, Sarah!
Baptism is the gate to get to where you want to be, with your family forever!

Families are Forever!!!!

PS Keep reading below, there are like 4 other new posts!