Moooooving

Wow what a month! I am really excited to post from a new computer, which is why this took me long. Our old one died and posting from net book is so painful. So happy to be functioning technologically again! It is amazing how much I depend on it. Now on to my post....

First to explain the Mooooving title. When you move with a large family it is often a slow and very detailed process, and I feel as though I am herding them from the car to hotel, to the bathroom (hurry quick), restuarants, bathroom again trying to get as much driving in there as possible. I am happy to say that the "our herd" arrived safely in CO and we are trying to settle in despite a few hiccups (mainly that it took forever to get our stuff and we still don't have all of it, 3 weeks later). They say it is coming freight...I will believe it when I see it. But so far we love it here and are getting used to our new home and surroundings fairly well.
But before all that fun, first a few fun things in LA ...


Amanda with her music teacher, Mrs Melanie. She was our neighbor for a while and after she moved to another neighborhood continued to make lessons super convenient for me by coming to our house for Amanda's recorder lessons. She was fantastic with Amanda and we will miss her and her boys a ton. They put on a recital for us and a few neighborhood kids for Amanda's final lesson, just a few days before we moved.

Maren (love that cheesy grin) with her teacher, Mrs Berzins. Maren really flourished under her instruction this year. And despite the curriculum not being the best match for her, did very well. She was awarded the principles award for her hard work and good behavior.


Amanda with her homeroom teacher Mrs. Parker. She received the principles award as well as a Walmart gift card for her AR reading, and a really cool plaque. It is for getting advanced in all four categories of the LEAP (Louisiana's state test). I love how much she loves learning, and it is such a blessing that she has such a natural gift for academics. What a lucky girl! I keep thinking she will one day invent something that will facilitate sharing those awesome brains with me!

Now on to the move!
Despite my efforts to plan Spencer birthday party for before the movers showed up. They changed my plans and came smack on the day of. But it ended up being a good distraction, and the party was a lot of fun regardless of the wind and my stress level.
(See previous post for pics).

After all the packing was done I helped do a wee little bit of cleaning, then skipped town with the kids to escape to TX to spend an extra day with cousins while Dave finished up cleaning (love my man!). After we left Dave was also promoted to Major before resigning his commission.
Way to go (former) Major Gordon!

Here are some pictures of our Dallas activities....
At the Zoo




Playing in the wildflowers while Andrew and Dave biked...the kids loved the huge bugs here.

Amanda, Maren and Jessica held a funeral for their butterfly, which they hand fed for a few days, as it's wing was damaged.

After leaving Dallas we put a lot of miles behind us, staying one night in New Mexico, then moving on to Durango, Colorado where we were met with chilly mountain air and beautiful mountains. The kids loved the train station and we ate at this fabulous restaurant where the kids could write on the floor with chalk.

And because you can't be in the mountains and not play, we did a river running trip with the kids...yes even the little guys got to go (although Jacob slept through most of it). It was beautiful, and fairly mild with a few big splashes to get everyone good and wet=)

And since then well amongst all the unpacking we've managed to fit in some fun as well!