We left on Saturday, May 29th at about 9 am after getting some breakfast at the hotel. We had stayed at the house until after midnight to get it cleaned and in tip top shape! We had originally planned to leave on Sunday, but since the packers and movers got done early, we got a head start. That enabled us to stay longer in MO with my sisters.
I only took 3 pictures on moving day. Zach was concerned about his mountain bike, so he was taking care of it for the movers.
We left our home in Chandler, AZ and drove to Tucumcari, NM that first day. We already missed all of our wonderful friends in AZ. We had a wonderful ward and wonderful people around us. We really enjoyed the home and neighborhood we were in. The kids had some tears, mainly Chloe, from missing their friends. Zach had a really great friend, Alex, in the neighborhood the he has really missed. We wish we could have spent more time with them!We stayed the night in a hotel and then headed to Kansas City, MO. It really was so great to be home where I grew up. Not at my parents home since they no longer live there, but just home. Home to familiarity, home to family, home to where I want to return some day, and home to the green! The AZ desert has its beauty, but oh, how I love the green! It truly is theraputic for me to sit outside and listen to the leaves rustle in the wind and watch the birds (carnials) fly by and smell the air after a rainstorm! Oh, I love it!
We then spent all of Monday with my sisters, Marci and Julianne and their adorable families! Thanks, Marci for letting us hang out at your place and thanks, Julianne for driving all the way down from Nebraska for the day to see us! We love you and miss you both! Growing up in an area rich in church history, I have been to most all of the sites. But, Chris hasn't gotten to go and we really wanted to take our children too. So since there were so many spots to hit along the way (that's what happens when you move so far!), we decided to go to as many as we could. Monday, Memorial Day, we went to Adam-Ondi-Ahman. After enjoying the peacefulness there and each others company, we headed back to Marci's house to let the cousins play and hang out for a bit.
This is the valley behind Chris and Zach. Beautiful, quite and serene (until 7 extra kids showed up! Ours!!)
This is the valley behind Chris and Zach. Beautiful, quite and serene (until 7 extra kids showed up! Ours!!)Marci. She is a fabulous friend to me and a wonderful mother! (kids: Morgan, Owen and baby Ruth)
Chloe and Morgan being silly and hooked at the hips! Zach and Morgan, on the other hand...well, let's just say they should be siblings! They totally act like it!
Parker is IN LOVE with baby Ruthie!!! He wouldn't stop kissing and hugging her! He was so gentle and so loving with her. It was adorable!
Owey - being his cute self!!
Julianne. Beautiful and quite funny and a fabulous sister too!! (all my sisters are quite fabulous!) She loves her little Sammy pants so much and is a fabulous mother as well! (kid: Sam)
Random pictures...
Owey and Sammy-pants lovin' each other!
Owen was trying his best to help Parker stand up... 
Tuesday morning, we drove over to Liberty, MO to visit the Liberty Jail. That is always a humbling experience every time I go. The spirit was felt by all of us, even the kids.After spending some time in MO, I have a renewed appreciation for the area in which I grew up in. It is truly beautiful and so special. The rolling hills and the green trees and grass are just fabulous!
We then drove to Plainfield, IN. We got in late, but made a stop in at our good friends, Roger and Terri Turner's house. So fun to see them! We then spent the next day hanging out in our old neighborhood with my best friend Carrie (who lives in that neighborhood)and her family. We went and visited friends in town (wish we could have seen more!) and then had a great dinner at Carrie's house with our families and my other best friend, TJ and her family. Oh, how I love those two!! They truly are one of a kind friends and we can just totally laugh and laugh when we are together. I can't wait for them to come visit me....hint!! Here are some pictures of our day together...
Taking a walk on the trail behind the neighborhood while Chris caught up on his sleep. The kids and I used to ride our bikes on this trail all the time, so it was a lot of fun to be walking on it again. Brought back many good memories of our time in Indiana.
Chloe and Nissa 
Chloe thinks this "mad" picture is so funny... (she wasn't really mad) 
I sure wish they could play together all the time! What buds!!
Chloe thinks this "mad" picture is so funny... (she wasn't really mad) I sure wish they could play together all the time! What buds!!Carrie, Boden and Parker
Seriously, when did he grow up!? TJ, with her new little darling baby, Livia! Oh, she is precious! I wish I could hold her again while she is tiny! Too bad I moved away from AZ a week before TJ moved back to AZ!! Seriously...how crappy is that!! Many tears shed!!
Sweaty-head, Evan. Man, he is so cute and so much fun! I loved to squish him! I remember squishing him when he was just a baby! He and Chloe are 4 days apart!
Sweaty-head, Evan. Man, he is so cute and so much fun! I loved to squish him! I remember squishing him when he was just a baby! He and Chloe are 4 days apart!Zach and IN best neighborhood buddy, Connor. They got to play together most of the day!
TJ, Carrie and me (please pay no attention to the dreadfully awful hair!!) I miss you guys!
Our next stop was Buffalo, NY, with a couple stops in Ohio along the way. We decided to drive past the house I lived in in Akron, OH when I was about 1. We moved from that house to Blue Springs, MO when I was about 3. I then stayed in that MO house until I went to college! (This picture is mainly for my parents b/c this is their very first house!) The only thing I remember about this house is that we had a bunny in the backyard. I remember playing with it and then remember that it got loose and ran away. 
The next stop was a tour of the Kirtland Temple, built by the early saints in Kirtland, OH. It is no longer owned and operated by the church and you can take a tour of it. 
The next stop we made that day was in Palmyra, NY. We visited the home of Joseph Smith's childhood home which was a very small log cabin. (this is a replica, but built in the exact spot the original was built)
Joseph Smith's father owned 100 acres and so they decided to build a larger home just down the road. After loosing the title to their home, they then moved back to the small log cabin. (this is 85% original)
The next place on the tour was The Sacred Grove. (if you haven't clicked on any of the hyperlinks I have put up, at least click on this one. It is short - I promise) 
We then drove up the hill to see the new Palmyra Temple. You can see it poking through the trees from the Smith Farm. It overlooks the Sacred Grove. President Hinckley (prophet at the time) directed the three front windows of the temple to remain clear instead of frosted so that you could look out them and see the Sacred Grove. 
After driving close to 3,000 miles....we made it to Maine!!!! Whew!!! What a week! Maine is gorgeous and the people here are extremely friendly! We moved into a great neighborhood that has lots of kids and fun things to do. After unpacking for 4 days straight and going stir-crazy, I took the kids to the beach about 3-4 miles down the road. We met up with some new neighbors we had met and had a great time. It is in an inlet, so the water is very calm - great for little kids! Hopefully things will get settled in around here really soon and we can enjoy the time we have here in Maine!
Our next stop was Buffalo, NY, with a couple stops in Ohio along the way. We decided to drive past the house I lived in in Akron, OH when I was about 1. We moved from that house to Blue Springs, MO when I was about 3. I then stayed in that MO house until I went to college! (This picture is mainly for my parents b/c this is their very first house!) The only thing I remember about this house is that we had a bunny in the backyard. I remember playing with it and then remember that it got loose and ran away. The next stop was a tour of the Kirtland Temple, built by the early saints in Kirtland, OH. It is no longer owned and operated by the church and you can take a tour of it. 
Taking random pictures in the gardens...
After getting in very late to Buffalo, NY, we got up early and headed to Niagara Falls and Horseshoe Falls. Talk about beautiful!!!!
The next stop we made that day was in Palmyra, NY. We visited the home of Joseph Smith's childhood home which was a very small log cabin. (this is a replica, but built in the exact spot the original was built)Joseph Smith's father owned 100 acres and so they decided to build a larger home just down the road. After loosing the title to their home, they then moved back to the small log cabin. (this is 85% original)
This is Brigham Young's father's grain threshing barn that was moved piece by piece from upstate NY to the Smith Farm for historic preservation.
This is the cooper shop where Joseph Smith hid the gold plates to keep them out of the hands of mob men. 
The next place on the tour was The Sacred Grove. (if you haven't clicked on any of the hyperlinks I have put up, at least click on this one. It is short - I promise) I remember coming to the Sacred Grove when I was 16 on our family vacation. I remember walking through those woods and feeling the Spirit so incredibly strong. It is a sacred place and a place that holds such a sacred spot in my heart. Because a 14 year old boy decided to pray and ask God which church to join, we now have this wonderful Gospel restored. I am grateful to him and grateful to my Savior.
It was a different experience this time walking through it as a mother. Although I couldn't just focus on myself and my own feelings and thoughts like I could when I was 16, I felt the Spirit with the same intensity, nonetheless. It is a beautiful place!
We then drove up the hill to see the new Palmyra Temple. You can see it poking through the trees from the Smith Farm. It overlooks the Sacred Grove. President Hinckley (prophet at the time) directed the three front windows of the temple to remain clear instead of frosted so that you could look out them and see the Sacred Grove. We then drove up the hill to the Hill Cumorah monument.
After driving close to 3,000 miles....we made it to Maine!!!! Whew!!! What a week! Maine is gorgeous and the people here are extremely friendly! We moved into a great neighborhood that has lots of kids and fun things to do. After unpacking for 4 days straight and going stir-crazy, I took the kids to the beach about 3-4 miles down the road. We met up with some new neighbors we had met and had a great time. It is in an inlet, so the water is very calm - great for little kids! Hopefully things will get settled in around here really soon and we can enjoy the time we have here in Maine!
Chloe is writing her name, letters, small words and also starting to sound out words. She is a smart and beautiful little girl and I am glad she could have so much fun this year in school.
We love you, Chloe! Good job this year learning so much! You are a wonderful daughter and we are so happy you are in our family!