In the Car, Driving Along

Last month, we took our first vacation since getting married and Kyle's first vacation ever. It was over our one year anniversary. Since most of my family had never met Kyle and my mother always invites us to sleep on her couch any time we want--we decided to take a road trip to Portland. We left as soon as Evan got off work on Thursday the 26th, so at 4pm. Then I drove us through the night and we arrived in Portland at 4 am on Friday. On the way back, we left Monday the 2nd at 10am and arrived home in Salt Lake around 1am. I was a little worried about how Kyle would do in the car for so long, but I shouldn't have thought twice about it.

This is Kyle waiting more patiently than me for Evan to get home so we could leave.


Ekitzel and Alexis let us borrow their Prius for the trip. It meant that we stopped for gas twice during the trip--that thing was amazing. Imagine driving 700 miles for $35 in gas. This is Evan waiting for me to get us driving.


This is Kyle on the way home just sleeping. He slept for most of it, but he was awake for several hours just talking on the way there and on the way home. He cried twice for five minutes each on the way there and not once on the way back. He was perfect. We stopped once to feed him on the way there and twice on the way home. For a twelve hour trip he traveled better than almost anyone I know.


Evan drove for one hundred miles on Monday while we were driving back. I don't ever get tired driving at night, but during the day--it just seems to lull me to sleep. Evan is the opposite. So he drove and I took an hour nap.


This is Kyle after we had stopped so he could have a quick snack.


All in all, the drive was fabulous. Beautiful scenery, good company, lots of time to think, and it went so smoothly. We have decided that we love road trips and hope to take another one soon. Kyle really does well in the car. However, only if he is alone. If anyone else is in the back with him he cries, especially if it is me because he feels that he shouldn't be strapped in, but in my arms. Such a spoiled little momma's boy.

Moving Day

Last month we moved. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. When we got married and moved into our first apartment together it took me from the 28th of February 2008 to the 11th of September 2008 to unpack our house. It was difficult and I was so sick. I was a little worried about getting time to pack with Kyle and being able to unpack in the new house.

Here is a picture of some of the boxes. I had Ekitzel over to help me on moving day while Evan was at work and she moved a lot of the boxes to the truck.


This is the empty monstrosity. Evan and I bought this at Ikea before Kyle was born. It is about three hundred pounds and is a huge bookcase. It is 5 rows across and 5 rows high of square shelves. It took 22 boxes to pack all the books that were on it.


This is Ekitzel playing with Kyle after we were done and before our volunteer group came to help us move. Because we moved within our ward we had help on both sides.


It took our friends under 90 minutes to load, move, and unload everything. Ekitzel and I went to get pizza and ice cream during that time. It went smoother than I could imagine. My biggest concern was that we were completely packed and cleaned and ready to just move when everyone got there. We were, luckily. But only because of Ekitzel's help.

This is the pride and joy of my life. We bought these the day before we moved and within three days I had done ten loads of laundry. I never felt like a completed adult until I had these in my apartment and now I will never have to get quarters or go to my in-laws for laundry again. Joy!


This is our new living room. We were able for fifty dollars more a month to double our square footage and we went from one bed, one bath to two bed, two bath and a pantry with hook-ups. All in the same ward at the time we wanted. It was amazing how it all worked out.

This is our new living room. I even have windows with natural light in our new place and more privacy. Since we moved, we've been able to hold three dinner partys with two more planned. It is like my dream apartment for this stage. I couldn't have asked for anything better. There is also a playground right along my building.


The greatest thing of all is that I unpacked 75% of it in four days before we left on our roadtrip to Portland. I finished with most of it the week after. There were three boxes that hung around until the 17th of March, but in less than a month our house was completely unpacked and cleaned. Considering how long it took last time, I'm pretty proud of myself.

I'm very happy with our move and I am not trying to gloat, but after living in a hole for the first year of our marriage we feel pretty good. Needless to say, our door is always open to visitors. We have been making purchases and doing things to improve our house, so expect more house posts.

P.S. I'd like to express my profound gratitude for those who helped us doing the heavy moving. Especially Frances who held Kyle while it was all getting unpacked from the UHaul. :)