Westbound

Our moving plans shifted with the wind. Every day something would change and we weren't sure how things would go, but we knew it would all work out. I think the original plan when we accepted the job was that Steve and I would go out for a house hunting trip the last week of June. After finding a place, I would fly home and Steve would start his job and work for a week. Then he would fly home and work remotely until the house sold and we could all move out together. It sounded great until we actually started getting the house ready to sell. I would work on a closet or a room, only to have the rest of the house ransacked by our poor children who were just plain bored out of their minds. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't get them to sit on the couch with their arms folded without toys or food.

Somehow our plans morphed over the next few weeks into our family driving out to Washington and staying in temporary housing provided by the company while our house was on the market. The day after the house went on the market and our final day of driving we received and accepted a full-price offer on our house!

The week we headed west was the week after school got out and also the week of Cub Scout Day Camp. Cody had been looking forward to this week for a whole year. When we realized that he wouldn't be able to attend the whole week in order to get to Washington for Steve's first day of work, he was devastated, but was a good sport about it.

As a cub scout parent you are expected to volunteer at least one of the days at camp. Everyone thought I was crazy for going in the middle of moving, but I was so glad I did. It was great to spend a day with Cody doing something fun and low-stress. Periodically, Steve would send me a text with a picture of all the stuff he was doing on the house while I was gone. He was able to get a lot done without anybody home (Kylee was at camp as a tag-along and Liv was at a friend's house).

Cody practiced CPR the day I was there. The boys did chest compressions on a dummy to the beat of "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees. Apparently, if you sing that song in your head while you are doing compressions it will be the right speed.

Cody's den

They participated in a service project called "Pocket Flag Project"

First they reviewed the proper way to fold a flag. then they each got a mini flag to fold and put in a little clear bag with a note of encouragement or gratitude to troops on the front lines.

One of Cody's favorite parts of the camp is shooting BB guns. He is a great shot. Here's his target from this year (the whole center of the target is missing!)

On Wednesday at noon we got the house photographed and by the time Cody came home from camp we were ready to drive west. Steve and I needed showers desperately at this point but I wasn't about to mess up the bathroom that I had scrubbed.

Our wonderful neighbor and friend: Miss Barbara. We all miss her. The kids loved running over there any chance they got to say hi to her and her cats. She kindly mowed our lawn after we left until the buyers moved in. Whoever bought our house is very lucky to have such a great neighbor next door.

Our first hotel and not the best one we stayed in. 

Steve and I took turns sitting in the back part of the time.

We stopped in Indiana to visit with the Bleazard's. It was so fun to spend the afternoon with them. They made it very hard to leave. We loved having family within a day's drive while we lived in Maryland. Lacey gave the girls some of her headbands and lotion while we were there. They were not only fun, but very practical. I put a headband on Kylee every time she needed a nap in the car and it helped her actually fall asleep.

Liv was trying to watch a movie but the setting sun was getting her in her eyes. So she put a sleeping back in front of her face to block the light.

The kids loved the continental breakfasts. A bagel for the road? Yes, please!

Dairy Queen in Minnesota for lunch

South Dakota later that day

Steve fell in love with South Dakota while we drove through. It was really beautiful.

We pulled up to this podunk gas station in South Dakota in the middle of nowhere. There were only two other cars there, both with Maryland license plates. We all got out of the car and laughed about that one.

That headband sure came in handy. Thanks, Lace!

Blackberry lemonade from Wendy's is a good idea.

The weekend after we moved was the 4th of July. So we headed down to Utah to see family!

We got to go to the Cramer 4th of July reunion and see lots of people. Kylee got to have all the leftover name tag stickers and they were immediately put to good use while riding with Grandpa Airplane in his jeep.

We were lucky enough to meet baby Dallin while there. Raquel had just come home from the hospital during the reunion and I am amazed at how well she handled having us over for a visit.

We also got to check out Aub and Jordan's new apartment that Jordan and my dad remodeled together.

We stopped in Boise for the night on our way back home. It was so fun to see the Rich family! I taught Charlie and Duncan about the thrills of tickling Uncle Steve's feet. The loved it. These videos show them tickling.

Yay for seeing lots of cousins that we have missed so much!