We are well into the middle of our move. It has been crazy! Friday we got almost everything loaded up into our little car and trailor. We had to get rid of more than we wanted to, but life goes on and possessions are virtually meaningless anyway. That night Ethan slept in his play pen while Jonathan and I slept on the floor. It would have been more fun if I wasn't 5 1/2 months pregnant. Saturday morning Jonathan's brother and sister, Norman and Joy, came up from LA and San Diego to help us finish loading the cars and clean up the house and then it was off to Auburn. Jonathan drove my car with the trailor behind it, I drove Joy's car with Ethan in the back and Joy drove Jonathan's car with a very large Saint Bernard and a lively puppy in the back.
Sunday was our wonderful baby shower. Thank you so much to Sarah and Beth for throwing it and thanks to all that came! It was so much fun and so relaxed. Exactly what we needed to unwind from the previous week. Monday was more relaxing and getting things ready to go and Tuesday morning is when we all parted ways.
Jonathan and Joy began their trip quite early Tuesday morning (I don't know what time they left because I was still sleeping, but it must have been early because I got up at 6:30 with Ethan.) They made it to their first destination (Utah) at 8:00 (Utah time) and slept from 10-4. Wednesday morning it was off to Kansas. I talked to Jonathan about 45 minutes ago, which was 8:30 pm, and he said they still had at least 3 hours of driving until they got to his sister's house in Kansas! That means they have been driving for 16 1/2 hours and are still not there! What a crazy long day. Kudos to you Jonathan and Joy! You are two tough cookies and we are proud of you! Please pray for a safe arrival for these two. I worry so!
As for Ethan, Camille and I, we are just relaxing in Auburn. Visiting friends, hanging out, and exploring the crazy changes taking place, (for those of you who lived in Auburn and moved away, they are building a Best Buy where Ralph's used to be, now if that isn't crazy I don't know what is!) Sorry, small town. We have a busy week planned and then we are flying to CT and then driving to Massachusetts on June 4th! So exciting!!
Ethan has been a bit of a pain in the butt for me these past couple days. I think the stress and confusion of moving is really getting to him and unfortunetly he has needed his comfort object (binky) much more than usual. He loves his grandparents though and they offer me relief a lot. I am so grateful for that! Ethan loves the doggies here, he loves the big grassy hill to roll down and he loves getting into everything he shouldn't! He hates showers now (which is very odd to me since he used to love them) and he has not been able to take any baths, I'm sure he will be happy to start baths again next week.
Anyway, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we go through this move and transitional period. It will be stressful and difficult but at the same time exciting, fun and challenaging. I am going to head off to bed and get rested up for hanging out with friends and chasing a toddler around tomorrow.
Here we are in San Fransisco.
This is at my house. Just laying around and being goofy.
This is our first camping trip. I can't remember the name of this place but this is where Jonathan wanted to propose. It was too far away though, he only had one day in town.
It is starting to get colder in the night. We don't need our fans anymore and we are starting to wear more clothing when we sleep to keep warm. The leaves on the trees are changing colors. This means fall is almost here! I have heard from almost everyone I've talked to that fall in Amherst, MA is gorgeous, but that it only lasts 3-4 weeks. I love fall and I have missed the feel and smell of cold air. The cold weather reminds me of family and makes me very homesick for Auburn, my parents, my sister and my friends from back home. This is definitely my favorite time of the year. When it starts to get cold and the leaves start changing it means Halloween is just around the corner, then Thanksgiving and then, my favorite, Christmas! I cannot wait to experience these holidays here, but I also yearn to be with the family and back in Auburn. Oh well, I look forward to the new experience. The photo is what an Amherst Autumn looks like. I can't wait. What are your favorite parts of Autumn and the holidays?
Jonathan and I ventured home for our first Christmas with our baby son. He was only 2 weeks old and it was an 8 hour drive. We were brave, wouldn't you say? It was a lot of fun seeing our family meet our little guy. Christmas was really fun as well, even though Ethan slept through the gift opening at my house and nursed during the gift opening at Jonathan's, it will always be a memorable Christmas.
We were married on December 17, 2005 at First Assembly of God Church in Auburn, CA at 2:00 PM. My maid of honor was my sister, Karena Gargan and my bride's maids were Elizabeth Aloisa, Sarah Lawson, Nicki Cavalier (now Benson) and Jessica Burkhard. The best man was Chris Farrell and the groom's men were Ben Burkhard, Shawn Cummins, Daniel James and Seth Shore. We spent our wedding night at the Rainbow Lodge in Soda Springs, CA and Honeymoon for 2 nights in Tahoe and for a week driving down Hwy 1 stopping and staying the night in Santa Cruz, Montery Bay, Carmel and Pismo Beach before we made it to our new home in Santa Barbara.
