Pantry help from Jessie: Lily and I have both been knee deep in house projects while the kids melt their brains on screens. Today, we got some extra support from Jessie who was so kind to come and help Lily make decisions about all her pantry food. By the end of it, the pantry was 100% emptied. Thank you Jessie and Lily! Morgan and Jessie are also giving us blankets so Lily and the kids can be warm after I pack all the blankets in the car for the road trip. We also hung out the Morgan and Jessie until late last night, so we have really been enjoying spending much time with them before we go!
Lily plays with the kids: In addition to endlessly driving around (an observation Lily quickly observed after being in Asia for a month with almost no driving and a lot of healthy walking), Lily has been reviewing old family photos and videos a lot lately (including last night when everyone, but Ammon looked at family photos together to cheer up Clarissa who was sad that she was not invited to Casey’s Pajama party, -where Ammon was). Lily and I have both been reflecting on many good memories, and looking at old photos and videos also inspired Lily to play more with the kids. I felt busy with projects and also unwell from my cold, so I did not join in, but I committed to play the next day. I think they played some kind of forest imagination game. The kids were grateful afterward and rewarded Lily with a foot massage.
Ammon’s Cupcake holder building: We are almost completely out of objects in the home for the kids to play with, but today, Ammon and Clarissa asked if they could play with the cupcake holders and we said yes. They are very good at imaginative play, and their creativity never ceases to amaze me. This is what Ammon built (I assume), while Lily and I visited her mom and went on a date for tea, chai and cider at a local coffee shop in the evening:
Lydia gets her braces off: Doesn’t she look great!
Tea with Jessie: Today Lily went out to tea with Jessie and told me all about what a good time she had while I walked around Vegas at night.
We have a home!: Ok, so it’s actually tomorrow (Friday) that the papers Lily signed Wednesday (using my power of attorney) will make it to North Carolina (delayed one day due to snow) and our home purchase will be officially recorded with the county. Hooray! It was a long hard-fought process (especially meeting all the mortgage lenders’ requirements since they can’t count my commissions or equity payouts), but we got there!
We almost got a puppy: Before we got Basil, we put $500 down at a burnadoodle breeder. They just had a new litter and even though it’s one of the most chaotic times in our lives, Lily almost decided she wanted a puppy right now just because of how cute this one is. Ultimately she decided against it, but it was a fun daydream.
Lily protects me: When I told Lily I was starting to feel sick on my trip, she said it sounded like the awful thing she has had and adamantly suggested I go find cold medicine with Zinc in it. I explained my schedule was insane, but she would have none of it. She basically ordered me to go find medicine and I agreed. I was bugged at first, but ultimately realized she was coming from a place of love and was trying to protect me. We went through a similar cycle when I wasn’t demonstrating the right amount of caution for my upcoming road-trip to North Carolina. I’m grateful that Lily is so protective of my wellbeing and helps me to take care of myself! I found my way to a gas station during a break, and reported back to Lily to her great delight:
First Time Gambling: My number one goal on this trip was to bond with my new region members, and tonight they were all playing Blackjack. Worth and Brent (from my region) coached me on Blackjack last week and guided to me a great app to teach me, so I was prepared. I pulled out $300, with $25 bet minimums and within 30 minutes I was up $125. More importantly, though, I found the game to be easy-paced and low key which made it easy to have conversation and relax while playing. I found it to be very enjoyable. I tried another table with the group and started losing money, but I was still $50 up on the night. It was a really good time!
Lily’s New Hair: Lily got her hair treated today and she doesn’t like it. I think she looks great, but she said her stylist wasn’t used to virgin hair and said, “I am shooketh” after the appointment. I literally haven’t given it a second thought other than thinking it looks great, telling her, and moving on to other things. But, I think it’s much more visceral for Lily, and she keeps thinking about it and loathing it. Mary provided her some comfort which we all think is rather funny. She said, “mom, I know this is a low baseline, and so maybe it won’t help, but I want you to know that you do look like a human.” LOL, what a cute girl! Here is my beautiful human:
Mary’s Party:
One of the things that is saddest about moving is Mary’s friend network. She has a group of girls that all went through 3rd, 4rth and 5th grade with her. Mary is truly sad to leave them. They did the sweetest thing today and all took her to a movie for a going away party. I think it was organized by Amy, Eloise’s mother. Lily took Ammon and Clarissa too and hung out with them in the back of the theater. Here are the pictures!
Left to right: Annika, Eloise, Lilian, Catharina, Mary
Getting things done: It has been a little stressful lately with all of the complicated moving logistics and situations and managing all of it while living out of suitcases. The house was getting messy and we were way behind on laundry so I worked last night and this morning helping get things in order. Clarissa and Ammon were so cute and helped me match socks. We made it a game. If they thought they were done, and I found a match, then I won! Clarissa said something to the effect of, “Hey, this is a little fun!” And Ammon and Clarissa did win, as I could not find a single match when they were done!
Family time: Since I was to fly to Vegas tonight and the kids have been on screens a lot while Lily and I have been handling moving logistics and Lily has been focussed on her mom, we decided to have an outing before I headed out. Lily suggested a walk, and I was a little nervous about how cold it was, but once we were outside, it was so delightful to walk as a family and get some sun! After the walk, we all ate a molcajete at Maria Bonitas and got one of their huge pina colada drinks the kids love. The walk and dinner were quick, but great experiences before I left.
I did a horrible job walking Basil while Lily was gone so I was so happy to see him get out!
Clarissa had fun trying on my glasses, and Ammon said he’d wear Clarissa’s pink coat because he, “doesn’t care what people think”
Molcajete
Pina colada
Maria Bonitas has very interesting paintings that recreate famouse works by embedding objects in the paintings.
Las Vegas: I caught an evening flight to Las Vegas. I had a really nice walk around the city before I went back to my hotel (MGM Grand) and worked on finances. I got to see a really neat fountain show in front of the Bellagio.
Winding down our home: We are definitely in a stressful time of life. Lily and I are managing the aspects and uncertainties of a move and Georgia’s hip replacement, and we are living in a home with 95% of our things gone. We are starting to get into a flow again, and plans are firming up, but it’s been pretty intense for us handling everything and feeling disoriented both emotionally and logistically.
The people we love: One thing that has made this disorienting time of life still very beautiful is spending time with the people we love. In the last few days we have seen Georgia and Andrea in Andrea’s hospital room, had Dad and Suzanne over for tuna sandwiches (and my dad’s amazing salad), had the Gruwells over for veggie burgers and berries and cream, and had a game night with the Olsens. Also, Lydia has had a playdate with Lizzie, and Mary has had a playdate with Eloise. And we all got to see Amy and her kids a week ago also. These gatherings have been bittersweet as we’ve been reminded of the people we love that we will soon be very far from. But the gatherings brightened our day, and we are encouraged by our ever shrinking world due to modern travel and technology like MarcoPolo, Facetime etc.
Here is our sweet Lydia getting back on track with her harp after a month off due to the Asia tripAmmon has had many hours on the Switch and screens during this chaotic period (as have the other kids), but he also finds creative ways to play when we don’t allow screens.
Georgia’s Fall: Yesterday Georgia fell at Legacy Village. She thought she saw Lily’s car in the parking lot and walked towards it, and when she realized it wasn’t Lily’s car, she tripped on the curb as she was making her way back. It was a hard fall, and she was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Lily was in the middle of coordinating our container pickup (getting our neighbor to move their cars for the truck), and loading the kids for doctor appointments, but she was able to follow shortly behind. Georgia broke part of the ball of her hip joint, and this morning she was scheduled for surgery for a partial hip replacement. So many people love Georgia and she has had a constant flow of visitors in addition to having Lily there for long stretches each day. She’s been through a lot of pain, and we are feeling sad about her fall and hoping that she can get her mobility back. The kids and I joined Lily for a couple hours in the hospital today, and Andrea also came. It was fun to hear Lydia and Mary report their Asia trip to both Georgia and Andrea, and Andrea looked stunning in her red-themed outfit. Andrea told us about a project she’s working on that feels it’s progressing like molasses dripping from a jar in winter. Georgia was in good spirits and we were all admiring the view. We are pulling for you Georgia!
Final Prep: Lily, Lydia and Mary came home today! I had a busy day at work, and did some final prep for their homecoming afterwards (like dumping off the Christmas tree, getting more packing supplies, dropping off the broken vacuum at the shop, making dinner and getting the kids clean) and then it was off to the airport for Lily, Lydia and Mary! I told Ammon and Clarissa I would do “bubble machine” for them, and when they didn’t know what I was talking about, I realized that I must have mostly done that for Lydia and Mary when they were younger. Bubble machine is when I use my hands and arms to vigorously swish the bubble bath in the water to create lots of bubbles for them.
Ammon and Clarissa were enamored with this toy at the vacuum shop
So much travel: By my calculations, Lily, Lydia and Mary had almost two full days of travel coming home. I’m sure they were excited to be home and have a bed. Lily said she had hardly slept (maybe none at all??) for two days straight!
Opening Gifts: It was so fun to pick up Lily, Lydia and Mary from the airport! I can’t believe they were gone for so long, but we immediately connected over their trip and the excitement of having them home. Also, they got tons of gifts for the family from Asia. At home, we all sat down and opened some of their yummy treats from Japan. They also got me amazing tea and some T-shirts which I love. Lydia and Mary also opened their Christmas stocking and gift, and Ammon and Clarissa opened their gifts from Georgia (which I finally found in the garage). Lily also opened a cashmere hoodie and Kizik shoes which I got her. It was such a wonderful evening filled with gifts, togetherness, and sharing. I got to hear everyone’s top three favorite things from the trip on the car ride home. It was such a fun evening! Some things I remember from people’s top 3 are the Peak, Snorkling, I think in Palawan, Team Labs (Lydia?), Tea, and the tram ride to the big Buddha.
Lydia’s sweater from her stocking
Mary loved organizing her stocking candy in the lock box I got her.
All the gifts from Asia!!!!Dress, fan and purse for ClarissaHome sweet home, although her bed is gone. Thanks dad for lending us this air mat!
Lydia Puking: All day today Lily and the girls are in transit to Salt Lake. They wont arrive until 6:30 PM tomorrow. They were excited for their 9 hour layover in Japan, but then Lydia got really sick from the food she ate at Jollibee and she puked red vomit all over the floor near the line they were all in. Lily told me that when Lydia told her she had to throw up, she said, “Not now Lydia, you always choose the worst times to introduce drama.” Lydia then said she really did need to puke, but Lily still insisted that it wait since they just got to the end of the line they had waited in. At that point Lydia just started sprinting to get to a bathroom, and she didn’t make it. She did get to the end of the line so she managed to not puke on any people (except herself and apparently some got on Lily). Lily said there was an audible gasp in the croud. Lily was feeling a bit penitent about her response to Lydia, but I thought it was a really funny story. Lydia was feeling much better by the time I talked to her several hours later. So instead of seeing Japan, they all hung out at the airport for the 9 hour layover so they could rest and so Lydia could be near a bathroom. Even though they didn’t get their last outing in Japan, they did get to have a more relaxed pace (and not have to worry about their ever shrinking supply of cash needed for Taxis to get to and from the airport), and they got to shop at sweet shops in the airport, which were amazing. Also, it was really fun to facetime with Lily, Lydia and Mary tonight while they were waiting at the airport. We cannot wait to see them!
Playing in the snow. We had a snow storm yesterday and since then Clarissa has been begging to go play in it. I spent the morning catching up on blogging, but after that, I took them out to play in the snow. I got a little shoveling done too, but mostly we just worked on a fort together. It was super fun. Clarissa eventually said her ear was very itchy and then went inside and fell asleep on the floor. I hope that doesn’t mean she’s getting an ear infection! I had to record her sweet 6 year old snores. I think they are the cutest!
Taking care of business: After playing in the snow with the kids, I banished them to the upstairs while I spent several hours on the house. Filling the container up almost all the way yesterday was a major feet, but it it did leave the house looking like a tornado hit it. I put things back together and also made more progress on the garage. I really enjoyed listening to Dixie Chicks, Dave Matthews Band and Morgan Heritage while working. I want Lily and the kids to come home to a somewhat presentable house and things in decent order. I can’t wait to see them!!
Today Lily and the girls flew to Manila to start their journey home. While in the Manila airport, Lily told me that this trip was the best trip she had in her life. Here are some of the reasons why it was so special for her:
She was over the moon about being with her family in the Philippines
She loved the beauty and history of the Philippines
She loved high tea in Hong Kong
She’s in love with Asia overall and feels she could spend a year there
She was so thrilled she and the girls connected to their Filipino roots
She loved the orderliness of Hong Kong and Japan
And the list goes on
Before leaving to Manila, they had one last day in Bohol in the Philippines. Lily has loved Bohol and told me about the 5 or more incredible pools (some with long lengths for swimming) at the Bohol resort. She had so much fun swimming there. They also had some great outings. First they went to a zoo.
Lily got a kick out of the decorative toilet
They held a giant snake!!
After their fun at the zoo, they headed back to the resort:
This is one of the amazing pools Lily was raving about:
Cousins!
Then they all enjoyed some beach time. What a great day in Bohol!
Back at the homefront, I had a monster day and I was so touched by how my family and Todd supported me today. First of all David and Olivia picked up Ammon and Clarissa and took them to see Wish in the morning. Clarissa and Ammon both have wanted to see the movie, and Clarissa especially has been begging, so it was such a nice thing for David and Olivia to do. Plus it was just so neat that they got to spend time together. It looks like they had such a fun time. Here is a really cute picture and video:
After they picked up Ammon and Clarissa, I went to Georgia’s and helped her pack and did two loads of her things in the Subaru. It was amazing to see how Georgia was up and doing to help with the move. It’s a big effort for her both mentally and physically and she was up for it. I was reflecting on how she’s actually in better condition now than she was a few years ago when she first entered the care facility, and I’m hopeful that she wont need memory care in her new facility, and she might thrive more without it. Also, over and over, I’m getting staff telling me that they miss will miss her, and they are so sad to see her go and they love her etc. One staff member told me she cried when she learned that Georgia was leaving. Also, a couple of the guys in the choir that sings there periodically read Georgia’s autobiographical book she made, and gushed to me about what an incredible person she is. It’s amazing that all Georgia is going through, she is still brightening the lives of those around her so much so that they are genuinely sad to see her go. I am sad for her to leave this community, but I know she will make friends in this way no matter where she goes. She told me that God told her at this facility her mission was to love the people, and she certainly did that well.
After some hours working on Georgia’s things, I met my dad back at the house. He picked up the kids from the theater and brought them home with him. Then my dad and I cranked on the house for almost 7 hours. My dad is 66, and I marveled at how healthy he is. He is very focussed on his diet, and sleep and he takes a lot of supplements and he said right now he feels he’s at one of the healthiest periods of his life and he feels great. It was amazing how much he knocked out with me over such a long period of the time. He helped me move furniture and boxes (some very heavy). He took down our Christmas tree decorations and the tree. He helped pack boxes, and helped me pack the container. I was energized by having his support, so I was moving very fast, and 1+1 truly equalled 3. We want from having the second container about 15% full, to having it 85% full. It was a massive achievement and it made me feel like the hardest parts of the move are behind us. It was a huge relief. Also, it was just so fun to chat and pal around with my dad in the process. I also played some Bob Marley while we worked. Bob Marley is an artist we’ve shared our love for for many years after I introduced him to my dad as a teenager, and then my dad went deep and got many many albums and played them a lot while I grew up.
Halfway through working with my dad, my friend Todd came over. He borrowed his dad’s pickup truck so that he could help us go pick up Georgia’s red reclining chair. It was also so fun to see him, he is such a good guy.
Ammon and Clarissa enjoying Georgia’s chair before we moved it.
So much got done today, and so many fun things happened, and it was all thanks to my incredible friends and family. My dad, David and Olivia and Todd all really showed up big for me and I was very touched by it. It turned out to be an amazing day, and at the end I collapsed at a massage that I booked for myself to finish off the day. It was an incredible massage.
When I got home, I tucked in Ammon and Clarissa and they asked for Smash hugs. A smash hug is something I started a year or so ago and the kids love it. A smash hug is when a kid is in bed and I try to smash him/her as much as possible in the process of giving him/her a hug. Sometimes I even grab the mattress to pull myself in for an even greater smash. The kids love it. One time, after giving Clarissa a smash hug, she lifted up the covers and evaluated herself. She told me, “I’m seeing if I am flat.” She is so adorable!
