Cookie Time!

Monday Alan went to the chiropractor on his way to work.  We didn't have much going on at home...except some cleaning needing done...like always.  So why clean up when you have a reason to make a mess :)  Since it was birthdays for two of the boys in my primary class I decided to make them giant sugar cookies that looked like cakes.  Bradley and Connor had a great time helping too.  We got them all baked and frosted so we could deliver them right after school.  We even managed to clean up a little too.  With the left over dough from the 2 big cake cookies we made some Y cookies for the big football game coming up on Saturday.  We picked Jared and Lauren up and went and delivered the cookies...it's always fun to take someone a giant cookie.  Then we came home and just did our normal after school things.  That night we had family home evening.

Tuesday was a little bit of a crazy day.  I had to go to the doctor for the first time here in Vista...it's hard find a new doctor and I was just slow doing it and then it took them a bit to fit me in.  To get to my appointment  in time I had to leave right when Jared and Lauren were getting done with school and with pick up taking so long I wasn't sure I would make it.  I also didn't know who would be able to pick up Jared and Lauren along with their kids, so I just had Alan come home to help.  I dropped Alan, Bradley, and Connor...and a wagon (it fit in the car better than our stroller) off at the school and went to my appointment.  They picked up Jared and Lauren and then walked home.  It took them a long time!  Bradley has told me several times since then how he had to go to the bathroom the whole way home, but he just held it and made it.  I went down to my appointment in Encinitas.  They thought I was a new patient...not a transfer of care patient so after a bit of confusion it all got figured out. (I had called several times to make sure my previous records were transferred.)  After my appointment I had to go over to the lab and get some blood tests and do the glucose test.  I could have waited to do them, but I was right there and I didn't have to worry about entertaining anyone else right then either.  I did stay and do the tests, but it did make me about 10 minutes late getting home for the missionaries coming to dinner.  It was ok though.  They were out talking to our neighbor across the street when I got there and Alan had dinner pretty much under control.  We were having Hawaiian haystacks.  There were 3 elders that came that night and they said they had only had it one other time their whole mission...and I'm pretty sure one of them was asking his companion what it was and how to eat it.  I was really surprised.  I expected them to say they got fed that all the time.  It was fun to have them over for dinner.

I'm not sure where Alan found this, but he took a picture and I like it.  It is a fun spin on all the posters that you see like this trying to sell something.

Had to pause the Monopoly game in the middle...

Wednesday in the morning we went to playgroup and I made a pie that afternoon to take to a Relief Society Activity that night.  Alan went to a chiropractor appointment on the way home from work again and then stayed for a new patient class after that.  I took everyone with me to the relief society meeting and Alan came to the church when he was done.  The activity was a family history fair.  There were lots of fun ideas on how to do family history.  There was a pie contest.  I was really surprised when my apple pie won best over all pie.  I was excited though because I won a pie plate...and I need a few more of those.  There was also a temple craft to make.  By the time Alan got there I was almost done so they just waited for me and I drove everyone home and Alan rode his bike home.  It fits in the back of the car, but not easily.

Thursday morning Bradley, Connor and I went for an adventure.  We drove down to the Temple to find the distribution center there so we could buy some scriptures for Jared for his birthday.  While we were there we walked around the Temple grounds.  Connor found lots of snails living under the white wall that goes around part of the grounds.  He smashed several (on accident) and got his hands all gross!  Then we drove across the freeway to find Deseret book so we could get Jared's name embossed on his scriptures.  We were lucky the distribution center had them in stock because they were back ordered online.  Since the new edition of scriptures came out in August they are in high demand.  We had a fun adventure.  It was hard for Bradley to keep it a secret though.  I told him he couldn't even tell Alan where we went.  (Alan knew already I just didn't want him to slip in front of the other two.)  Bradley did good and didn't let it come out until after Jared opened them up on his birthday.  Thursday I also tried to get some cleaning done and more just organizing of all our stuff.  It's hard to find places for everything...even if it is more space.  There aren't as many built in book shelves and closets and things, so that has been a little bit of a hold up.  Alan went to the chiropractor again on the way home...he goes 3 times a week...Monday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Friday I had to go to a volunteer meeting at the school to learn about some of the rules and guidelines and about the workroom.  It was right at the start of the school day.  Bradley and Connor just went with me.  Then we came home for breakfast, went to the library for story time, and went to Frazier Farms to do our produce shopping before the other guys were done at school.  We worked on cleaning up a little and getting ready for our company coming on Monday.
 
Saturday we went to the store and just worked around here.  Alan had to go do a little birthday shopping.  I made some more sugar cookies, because I didn't think there were enough to take to the game.  Some people from our ward invited everyone over to their house to watch the BYU vs. Utah football game.  We took the cookies and some black bean corn salsa.  It was fun to watch the game with everyone even if it didn't turn out how we hoped.

Sunday was just a normal Sunday.  Jared had to finish his VIP poster to take to school the next day.  We were excited for the up coming week with birthdays, lots of company, and a baptism.

Helping get the corn ready for dinner!

Alan's first visits to the Chiropractor

Monday and Tuesday were pretty normal days.  Although this week was park week.  We went to a different park every day after school.  I don't remember which ones we went to on which days, but since playgroup is at different parks frequently I've gotten to know lots around here.  I don't know which ones we went to on Monday and Tuesday, but we did go to the park.  Tuesday was also the day I think that Alan woke up and wasn't feeling great...well I guess it started before that...maybe Sunday.  His neck was really bothering him and he could hardly function.  We had to drive him to work several days this week because he wasn't able to ride his bike.

Wednesday the Relief Society President came over for a visit in the morning and we went to playgroup.  It was also early release, so since playgroup was at the park close to the school we just stayed there until school got out.  Then we came home ate lunch and went to the library for the craft.  After that we went to a park kind of close to the library and went and got Alan when he was ready to be picked up.  That night our home teachers came to visit.

Thursday Alan was feeling really bad and didn't feel like he could go to work.  I took him into the Chiropractor for a consultation.  He took some x-rays came up with a plan for treatment.  Alan stayed home all day.  We went to another park after school.  After dinner Brother Gunter came by and gave me a calling....teaching the CTR 8 class.  He asked if I could start teaching that Sunday.  They are a good class.  As soon as he left I took the kids and went to a PTA meeting at the school.  The first part of it was meeting stuff, but then they had a 2 man dunk team come and perform.  Everyone had a fun time watching them.

Friday morning Alan went back to the chiropractor for his first adjustment.  He felt better after that and was able to go to work.  We stopped by another park to play before picking Alan up that night.  I also found the hair clippers.  I had been looking for them for what seemed like weeks!  All the boys finally got some much needed hair cuts!

Saturday morning we went to Lowes for a builder workshop.  They made little fire trucks.  Connor liked driving his all around when it was finished.  We worked on more things around here.  I went to the Temple that evening for our ward Temple night.

Sunday I got to teach my primary class.  I wasn't planning on it.  Another teacher was getting called too and she had planned on teaching, but then got sick.  I found out that I would be teaching late the night before, but it all worked out.  I also found out it was 2 boys in the class birthdays the next week.  The rest of the day was spent relaxing and doing things around here.

A member of the secret service came to primary to talk about service.  At the end of sharing time she gave all the kids little tags that say You've Been Served! by the secret service to leave behind after they do something good.  The first place I found one was taped to Connor's back because they helped him put his pants on.  It was fun finding these little tags around the house all week.

Just a picture of our house from the outside.  Jared needed one for school...and I'm not sure if I posted one before.

Labor day!

Monday was Labor day!  It's always nice to have a day off from school and work.  Most of the people from Alan's work got together for a potluck brunch.  It was at a really fun park in San Marcos.  Beside playing on the playground they also played ultimate frisbee and frisbee golf.  We had a fun morning and early afternoon playing there.  It was a pretty warm day and we all got a little hot there.  On the way home we stopped in Target to look at some book shelves and organizing type things.  Later we went swimming at the pool of one of Alan's co-workers.  Then we came home for dinner.

The best looking plant in the back yard.

I'm not sure what we had for dinner...besides broccoli, but Connor sure got a full tummy.

Tuesday was back to the normal...school and work.  We tried to work on getting more done around here.

Alan caught a Lizard out front.

Jared got brave enough to hold it.

Wednesday we went to playgroup in the morning.  Then after school I took them to the library for the craft.  They got to paint cupcake banks.  Even Connor did a really good job with it.  Wednesday or Thursday evening we went to home depot and got some light bulbs.  Lots of the bulbs in the house were burned out and combined with the fact that there are no lights in bedrooms upstairs it was just seeming really dark in the whole house.  I was really glad once we got more bulbs and changed them so it seems a little brighter.  If we were going to live here forever I would definitely add more lights.

Friday I took Bradley and Connor to story time at the library.  Then we did some shopping at Frazier Farms.  We are starting to get in a little better routine and more used to being here.

Saturday morning Alan had to go into work for a little bit.  The rest of us went to a builder workshop at Home Depot.  They got to make football ring toss games.  I let them paint them...which was a big mess!  Alan called when we were about ready to leave and said he was done and would meet us at home so he could go to the library with us.  The library was having a big celebration for the 100th year of being a branch...I think.  They had a ukulele band there and crafts and ice cream with toppings.  After the library we did some  grocery shopping...then just more trying to unpack.

The only person I know who can get away with eating only sour cream (and maybe a few bites of something else) for dinner.

Sunday Alan taught Elders Quorum and I played piano in primary.  That night was an adult fireside at the stake center.  Alan went and I stayed home.  At the fireside they talked about how it is the stake's 50 Birthday and they want to give a special gift to the Savior.  They talked about some goals they have made for the stake for Temple work.  It was another good week.  Progress around here is slow, but we are making progress...and that's all that matters.

Alan's Birthday!

Since I'm writing this three months later (I got a little behind) I don't remember what happened each day very well.  Also we weren't so good at taking pictures once we got here and school and work started.  I didn't have internet to keep up the calendar at first either.  Sometime during this week the internet got connected.  I was able to look up some things to do...and how to get places.  Not to mention check email.  Sometime during this week Alan got a bike so he can bike to work.  His work is less than 5 miles away.  He enjoys getting the exercise each day and it saves us money too.

Wednesday in the morning I took Bradley and Connor to playgroup.  They have playgroup at parks around town.  There are so many parks that it can be a different park almost every week...for several weeks at least. Then after school I took the kids to the library for a craft.  They got to make origami our first week there.  There were people from an ukelele seniors band there to help with lots of different origami designs.  That night was also a ward temple night.  There were some people from the elders quorum who volunteered to watch kids at the church.  Even though it would be a late night for us I thought we should go.  We were the only ones to drop our kids off at the church....which I felt kind of bad about, but they offered.  It was nice to get to go to the Temple with Alan.  It was a super late night though...especially for school.

Thursday was back to school night.  From 5:30-6:00 we were supposed to meet in the classroom with the teacher.  Since Jared's and Lauren's were at the same time Bradley, Lauren and I went to her classroom and Alan, Jared, and Connor went to Jared's classroom.  Then from 6-6:30 they had meet the staff and PTA for the whole school.  Then from 6:30-7 they had the classroom presentations for 3-4th grades.  We were able to just come home.  It was nice to learn a little bit more about their school day and a little more about their teachers.

Friday morning I took Bradley and Connor to do a little birthday shopping for Alan...and wrapping.  Then after school we all worked on making some fun birthday banners.  We tried to tape them up on the wall, but our tape wasn't very good and they mostly all fell down before he got home from work.

Saturday was Alan's birthday day.  The big 33!  We did some shopping and things around here.  Alan opened his presents.  In the evening we went to the Elders Quorum pinewood derby.  Alan didn't make a car and we didn't have one to just take, so we just went to watch.  They had dinner there which was just hot dogs, but it was nice to have it taken care of.  We came home and had cake.

Nothing too exciting...just some crackers, cereal, hand soap, grass beach mat, and a movie (The Apple Dumpling Gang and Apple Dumpling Gang rides again) and a necklace and stickers from Lauren (which Alan proudly wore the rest of the day).

Yum! Carrot Cake.

Sunday I got to sub Lauren's class in primary.  They were a good class.  It was a little challenging just because I didn't know any of the kids at all.  We had a good rest of the day here at home.  Someone got a hold of the camera and took lots! of pictures....I guess it was something to do since we still hadn't unpacked most of the toys.  Here are some of my favorites :)

If you need a close up of a single car we have several of those to choose from.... :)

View out Jared's window.

First day of School!

Monday was the first day of school and work.  School here starts at 7:45.  That is super early!  We had heard that the first day was a little crazy, but we had no idea how it would really be.  We left with what we though would be plenty of time...but it wasn't.  We were walking toward the school when the bell rang at least.  We had to find their names on the list of classes.  There are about 7 first grade classes and 5 or 6 second grade classes.  Then we had to figure out where their rooms were.  We took Jared first to meet his teacher and find his class.  His teacher is Mrs. Stennett.  She was super nice and very welcoming.  Then we took Lauren to her class to meet Mrs. Friedberg.  She didn't seem as nice at first meeting and leaving them both there in such an unknown place and people was kind of hard.  I only cried a little :)  From there we took Alan to work and dropped him off.  Then it was up to Bradley, Connor, and I to find our way home.  I was the annoying lady going 35 mph in the 50 mph zone trying to find my way.  We did make it home just fine.  I don't think I even had to do a u turn :)  We cleaned more and tried to unpack what we could.  Since Jared and Lauren start so early they also get done early...1:48.  I had to ask if that was the time they are done everyday because that is close to the time they would get out in Provo on an early day.  They wanted us to walk in and pick them up so we went extra early to make sure we would have plenty of time to do that.  We played outside after school and just relaxed a little.  When Alan called and said he was done at work we went and picked him up.  We managed to find some cans of food in boxes and made some chili and had chips.  We all ate around our table which was a first in a long time for us!  It was really fun.

Tuesday I woke up and showered fine, but getting dressed my back started hurting like crazy.  I had just over done it the previous few days and I could barely walk!  We dropped the kids off at school and they just jumped out of the car said bye and went right in like old pros.  Then we took Alan to work.  I was able to drive home, but I wasn't able to do much all day long.  Walking into the school to pick them up...and carrying Connor was almost more than I could take.  We had to go pick Alan up again when he was done for the day.

Wednesday I was feeling a little better.  I had been invited to playgroup, but it was swimming at someone's pool.  I wasn't sure I was up to it, but decided to go.  We had a fun time and got to meet some more people in our ward.  In the afternoon the Relief Society Compassionate Service leader stopped by to see what they could do to help (I had seen the Relief Society President at the school on Tuesday) and said they would be back in the morning.

Thursday morning after we had dropped everyone off the compassionate service leader and her daughter came by.  They were here a lot of the morning.  Her daughter helped me unpack the kitchen and the mom cleaned the bathrooms upstairs.  They left close to lunch time, but another sister showed up in the afternoon.  Right as I was leaving to go get Jared and Lauren.  She said she cleaned houses for a living and she would just clean while I was gone.  When I got back she was still at it and another sister and her son had showed up to help.  Lukas played with everyone while she helped me unpack more in the kitchen.  I was really grateful for all the help.  It made a huge difference once the kitchen was all unpacked.  We could kind of live with the rest in boxes as long as the kitchen was done.  We picked Alan up again later in the evening.

Friday I was starting to feel a lot better.  We got everyone dropped of and we were able to do a little around here in the morning.  In the afternoon our neighbor across the street came over and carried some boxes up stairs for me.  It was super helpful.

Saturday was just spent trying to get more things done around here.  Alan went and helped with another move for a short time, but mostly we were just here.  We had a little shopping we had to get done too.  We were glad to have our first weekend of the school year and I was looking forward to sleeping in, but everyone got up way before 7.  I think part of the reason everyone woke up was because our community was having a yard sale that day...just everyone at their own house.  Some of our neighbors were participating and there was some noise and traffic outside.  We did end up buying a mattress and box for Connor, so he would have a place to sleep besides the floor....but the mattress is still just on the floor.

Sunday was a good day.  We had a getting to know you interview with the bishop for most of the 3rd hour.  After church we worked on a few more little things around here.  It was a good week.  The kids are adjusting ok.  There were several times in the week when they would come home and say "Wasatch is a better school because...." and it was always a different reason, but I think they are getting more used to it as time goes by.

New blooms!

We are in Vista!

Monday morning we woke up and got ready to leave Ashley and Will's house.  Will had work and Ashley had some teacher meetings that she had to go to too.  Once we were ready to go we met Ashley at a school to give back her house key.  Then we were on our way.  Nervous and anxious!  On our way from Tracy to Vista we stopped at Alan's grandpa Jim's house.  Grandma and Grandpa Atherton were there visiting so we got to see them too.  We spent a couple hours visiting with them and then we were on our way again.  We had hotel reservations (La Qunita) made for the whole week at a place pretty close to where we hoped to find a place to live.  After getting all checked in we went swimming and Alan made some phone calls.

Before Ashley had to leave for her meetings in the morning.

Breakfast at the Howe's

Popsicles at Grandpa Jim's.

Tuesday morning Alan got up and looked for places to rent.  We felt like we needed to wait until we were here to find a place and make calls because houses would come up and be gone the same day...or soon after.  We all went and had the breakfast in the office/ lobby area.  After we ate we all hung out in the lobby while Alan looked up some places.  The internet in our room wasn't working.  When we couldn't take it any more I went back to the room with everyone and Alan stayed in the lobby to look up some more places and make some calls.  He found several places that we could go look at and others we could just drive past and we had appointments to go see them later in the week...or the next week.  He came back after a bit and said we had to go right then, so we threw on our shoes and ran out the door.  We drove past a few that were on our way. Then we went and looked at a condo in a neighborhood where some of his coworkers live.  It was nice enough, but smaller than another one in the same neighborhood (and rent was more than the bigger one too) so I wanted to wait and see the other one before acting on the one.  It was getting to be lunch time so we went to a store close by and bought some fruit and bread so we could have lunch at a near by park.  We had just started making and eating our lunch when the lady from the other condo called and said it was time to look at it.  So we hurried and packed up our half eaten lunch and went over to see it.  She was very discouraging and the condo we looked at was listed as a 3 bedroom but was really just 2 bedrooms with a study.  She told us with our family size it wasn't going to work out...even though it was twice as big as Wymount.  We went back to the park and finished our lunch.  Then back to the hotel so we could look up a few more places to at least drive past.  We decided we had to broaden our search a little to include 4 bedroom place so we would comply with the laws once we have the baby...and look in a broader area so we could afford the 4 bedrooms.  We hadn't been looking at them before because bigger generally means more rent.  We drove past a couple more places that evening, but I didn't love any of the neighborhoods...especially at dusk!  We got a little caesars pizza and took it back to the hotel to eat.

Lunch at the park.

Warming up after a quick dip.

We'll never be done in here!

Getting ready for bed.

Jared's already out.

Wednesday morning Alan got up early to look up more places and eat before the rest of us...so he could help the rest of us eat.  He found a place or two to try calling.  After we ate he made more calls and looked up some more.  We hadn't been looking on Craig's list at all to try to avoid any scams, but decided we better start looking there because of the other sites we were looking at like zillow the places were just going too fast.  Alan looked on Craig's list for the first time that morning and saw a property listed that he recognized.  It had been up on Zillow a month before when we were kind of looking just to get a feel for things and how much rent probably would be.  He wasn't positive it was the same place, but if not then really close to it.  After we had eaten breakfast I took all the guys back to the room to hang out.  Again after what seemed like forever with these guys in the small room Alan came back and said we have to go right now.  This house just came up with 4 bedrooms and the guy is at the house right now and more people are coming to look at it later.  We jumped and ran again.  We got to the house and had to let ourselves in.  The guy was in the back yard.  We walked around the house and talked to the guy for a bit.  He said if we wanted to start the application process then just print out the standard CA rental application and email him our credit score.  We said ok and left.  We still weren't sure that this was the right place, but it seemed like a good possibility.  We decided that we would start the application process so we went to one of Alan's coworkers/ friend's house to use their internet.  Alan couldn't find the right form so he called the guy back.  The guys said oh I actually have the form here with me at the house you can come back and get it.  Alan's friend's wife offered to let me and the kids stay at their house and walk to the park while Alan went back for the form.  We decided that would be good so Alan went back to the house for the form and I went to the park.  Alan came and found us at the park with the form.  He said the guy told Alan that he liked our family and our credit score was good so if we wanted the house it was ours.  Aaaaahhhhh!  We had to decide right then.  Our friend said she could keep our kids and walk them back to her place if we wanted to just go and she had already offered to feed us dinner that night.  Alan and I went back to the house...we took Connor and he fell asleep.  It all seemed to happen so fast, but it also all seemed like the right thing.  Everything was just falling into place.  We signed the year lease and paid the first month's rent.  He gave us the keys and said we could come move in anytime, but the lease would start on Friday.  We had a place to live.  It was a little crazy how it all happened, but it still feels like the right thing (almost 3 months later).  One of the things that was a little sign for me to know it was right was there are bird of paradise flowers all along the front walk.  At the time there was 1 in bloom on all 4 or 5 plants....they just hadn't been getting enough water.  But that one bloom was comforting to me.  (We had bird of paradise flowers as part of our centerpieces at our wedding reception.)  It took Alan a day or two to notice the bloom, but I had noticed it right away.  As we drove away there were a whole new set of feelings.  relief mostly at finding a place, but knowing there were still a ton of things left to do.  We went back to our friends for dinner and to get the rest of the kiddos.  Then back to the hotel to sleep.

Jared had to finish building before eating dinner.

Thursday first thing after breakfast we went over to Jared and Lauren's new school and got them all registered.  There were quite a few papers to fill out for each of them.  The class lists hadn't been posted yet.  They were going to be put up Friday afternoon.  When we were about done there some friends called to see if we wanted to go with them so they could show us a good store to get produce at...Frazier Farms.  We ended up just meeting them there.  We did buy a few things to eat for our lunch there..oranges and celery I think.  Then we drove past Alan's new work.  We all went in and got a tour of the building and met lots of people (none of whom I really remember...unless I had met them before...I'm sure Alan knows all of them).  Then it was about lunch time.  We weren't feeling as stressed at lunch as previous days (and people kept asking us if we had been to the beach yet) so I had the great idea to go eat lunch at the beach....it really wasn't a good idea!  We weren't dressed for it and couldn't really get in the water and I didn't want everyone to get all sandy.  Of course everyone wanted to get in the water and keeping sand out of our peanut butter sandwiches was a challenge with the blowing wind and sand kicking kids and then sticky hands from the oranges.  It was still fun, but also a little stressful.  We went back to the hotel and got to go swimming again.  We had some other things to work on.  Alan made calls to get water, power, and garbage and all that good stuff switched into our names.  I think we ate Carl's Jr again for dinner this night.

You make a mean saaaandwich!

The sunset from the end of our street.

Friday was the big moving day!  Our truck was coming between noon and 4.  It got there right before 4.  We had spent the earlier part of the day checking out of the hotel and getting a few cleaning supplies and cleaning our house.  We worked on it all day!  All the floors needed mopped and the baseboards wiped and window sills...and pretty much everything was gross!  We worked hard on it all day.  Some guys from the Elders Quorum came by at 6 to help us unload.  A few came a little before that too.  (One of Alan's friends who is also in our ward called and got it all organized for us on Wednesday before we had a chance to call anyone.  We got a call that said people would be by at 6 to help us.)  Alan got the truck opened up and once people started hauling it in it went fast.  They were all done by about 8.  It was pretty amazing to have so much help.  One of the neighbors on the side of us brought some snacks over for the kids to eat while it was going on and after a while they went and played at the house across the street that are also members.  The kids were able to sleep on their mattresses on the floor that night and Alan took the time to set our bed all the way up for us.  I thought I would have to sleep more of the move on the floor, but I only did twice for the whole 3 weeks.  That was pretty amazing I thought.  We were exhausted at the end of the day, but happy.

There were a ton of spiders all over the house....I mean are a ton.  This guy is a pretty tame looking one compared to some.

The tuck got here and just opened up.  Lauren looks ready for the show to begin.

Cleaning cleaning cleaning!

Helping mop...or soaking the whole floor :)

A couple of pictures from the inside before any of our stuff was moved in.

The truck is unloaded!

Saturday was another day filled with amazing blessings.  First thing in the morning Alan went and helped for a little while with a family moving out.  He brought home some chairs they were getting rid of, a microwave (ours is on its way out), and some very much needed lamps for bedrooms upstairs.  After getting home from that Alan's goal for the day was to find a fridge, washer and dryer.  Since we didn't have internet he would go park outside his friend's house and use theirs (with permision) to search for the things we needed.  We figured we would need to rent a uhaul for the day to get all the big things here.  First he was able to find a washer and dryer.  He went and checked them out and they were good.  They were still in the back of a truck.  The people said they could just deliver them for us since they were already loaded in their truck and it wasn't too far.  Next Alan worked on finding a fridge.  Another friend and his family stopped by just to see what they could do to help.  He went with Alan to check out the fridge and she stayed here with me and helped me clean up around here some more (which is what I had been working on all day).  When Alan got there to see the fridge they decided it was a good one.  They said they would go rent a truck and come back for the fridge.  The people selling the fridge said they had to leave in about 30 minutes to meet some friends.  They had a truck and we kind of lived on the way...so they would just deliver it for us.  We didn't have to rent a truck after all.  Alan's friend helped Alan get it all set up and made sure it worked and they invited us to their house for dinner.  We had to go school shopping for Jared and Lauren's school supplies and to get a few things that we would need for Sunday.  We took the kids over to their house while we went to walmart (Jared and Connor went with us...Jared wanted to and Connor was sleeping) and they made dinner.  We got to eat a yummy dinner when we were done shopping.  After we left their house we tried to drive past the school to see if we could see which classes Jared and Lauren were in (I had totally forgot on Friday since the lists were posted the same time the moving truck arrived.)  The school has a gate all the way around and it was locked.  It didn't really matter since we don't know the teachers.  I just thought they might be able to meet someone at church who was in their class.  We were super grateful for everyone's help the whole day!

Even with all our cleaning the place was still filthy...and a dirt back yard doesn't help much either.

He had to get a quick bath in the sink before we could go eat dinner.

Sunday we went to church for the first time in our ward.  Everyone was very welcoming.  We got there just a few minutes before it started and have to sit in the overflow.  There were a lot of people there for a missionary farewell.  It was also the sister missionaries' first Sunday in our ward.  Connor had a little of a rough time in nursery so I went in there with him.  That evening another of Alan's friends invited us over for dinner.  We felt very blessed the whole week with they way things fell into place and with how willing everyone around here was to help us.  I really feel like we must be doing the right thing at this time to have everything work out how it has.  We were exhausted, but blessed and happy.