We're BACK!!!

It's hard to believe that we have been here in Utah for two weeks! We are loving being so close to family, and speding time with friends. We are still unpacking boxes daily, and poor Taylor has to deal with all my school stuff shoved in the dining room. The highlights for Taylor include getting HD TV and a DVR and the internet. We have also planted a little garden in our backyard. (That's a learning experience). We love our little town home and living in such a charming town. Everything we need is right around the corner, but we still have the old school main street just blocks away.

A HUGE shout-out to our dads and my brother who flew to Kansas to help Taylor make the big move. I, being eight months pregnant, figured it probably wasn't a good idea to sit in a car for two days and got to fly! I even got to board with the group that "needs a little extra time." My dad also helped me set up EVERYTHING in Gavin's room. I guess I figured that if I got everything ready he would come...but it's looking like he just migh wait these last five weeks before we get to know him. Another shout-out to my mom who helped me separate and wash all of Gavin's clothes. By the end of it we were literally sickened by how many outfits this little guy has, and sad that he won't be able to wear them all before he grows out of them. Taylor reassures me that we are having more boys and they can just wear them.

I hopefully get the keys to my classroom this week. It will be a relief to get it all set up, and I can't wait to have my mom and brother come down and help me. It's crazy to think that this is my FIFTH year teaching! I can't be that old right? I am so excited to be working where I am working and teaching third grade. Despite the fact I am supposed to have 30 kids in my class, it can't really be any worse than last year.

This Sunday is our one-year anniversary and we are completely flabergasted that it has been a year. That year FLEW by! We were talking about our anniversary as we drove past Bed Bath and Beyond. The night we registered there was possibly the worst night of Taylor's life. He said, "That was honestly the hardest thing about this past year." I said, "Well if that was the hardest thing, then we have been very blessed." Isn't he cute. We have done a lot over this past year, gone alot of places, seen a lot of new things. We loved our "alone" time in Kansas, and now are so excited to be surrounded by family and friends. We are also excited that Gavin will be born surrounded by so much love. Now if only we could make the next five weeks go by a little faster!

Moving to Kansas

This is the only picture we have from moving. Somewhere in the middle of Wyoming. I had to stop and get a 50 cent ice cream cone!
Yes, it's true, we made it to Kansas. After visiting my parents for a few days we loaded up the truck and made the two day drive to Wichita. We couldn't have done it without my dad and my little brother. First of all, my dad is a MASTER PACKER. I knew we couldn't fit everything in the truck without his help. He made us pull everything out first so we could inventory what we had to pack. Then a few hours later the truck was ready to roll.

We drove through Wyoming, which is gorgeous, but we decided we didn't want to live there. Then we drove through Colorado, stopped to sleep in Limon, and woke up early the next day. Upon hearing that Kansas was compltely flat, Taylor was beyond excited when we saw rolling hills. I heard numerous times, "Look there are hills!" That day we had a special mission: Atwood, Kansas. About an hour out of our way we went to pick up this guy:


Meet Duke. He is a rare Fox Red Lab. He's kind of a strawberry blonde color. We then proceeded on our journey, not really knowing how it was going to work having a puppy in a hotel.

We got to Wichita and were greeted by 50 mph winds and a great thunder and lighting storm. I was slightly nervous about this grand entrance. Wednesday morning Tay and I woke up at 6am to go apartment hunting and had signed a contract by 10:30am that day. As we drove around we saw these yellow ones that looked kinda worn down, and we just passed them by. The second time around I may Taylor stop and look at them. Although they are not the cutest from the outside, we walked in and fell in love. Huge living room, dining room, kitchen. two bedrooms, two full size bathrooms, and.....the clincher....our own washer and dryer! We signed immediatley and were moved in by the next day.

We have done alot in the week we have been here. Here's a brief recap:

• Looked around Wichita State a few times. I snuck frozen yogurt into the computer lab!
  
• Worked in my classroom. I thought my old school was in the ghetto. Was I ever wrong. Let's just say I heard that the staff was very excited to get air conditioning last year. (WHAT?)
  
• Put together our apartment. (Picture tour coming soon!)
  
• Went to our new ward. Trying to remember everyone's name.
  
• Got a Sam's Club membership (Dang. No Costco)
• Looked at all the gorgeous homes near where we live.
  
• Went bargin hunting at thrift stores.
  
• Ate at Jason's Deli (Thanks Leslee and Sean!)
  
• Bought a used X-Box. To keep Taylor entertained for the next month before school starts.
  
• Worked out at the fitness center at our complex.
• Enjoyed (kinda) the most intense thunder and lightening storm ever.
  
• Getting invited over to dinner by someone in our ward (yeah! we will have friends!)
  
• Witnessing a near fire at the pizza place on date night.
  
• Figuring out where the RedBox is. (That's a must).
  
• Enjoying the ridiculously low gas prices!
  

So far we have been impressed by Wichita. We are excited to explore our new town, make new friends, start school and work, and just settle into our routine!