Reality bites!!!

Seeing Dave park the truck in the driveway stung. The day had finally arrived and I was so sad to close the chapter on Utah.

In the 5 weeks that Dave was away working in California, I got to have picnics with neighbours, BYU school mates and church friends. The children got to have friends over and we had time to slowly pack and enjoy the delicious hot Summer which is really appreciated after such a cold, snowy winter.

At Rock Canyon park (where we would go in the winter for sledding) the dam water was being let out and it became this awesome stream on the parks oval for the children to play on in the hot weather. It always surprised me how cold the water was on such a hot day. In Australia in the middle of Summer the water would always be so much warmer. Well, this water was melted snow from the mountains and it was FREEZING!

We came about 6 times with friends. It was a minute from our place and the perfect summer entertainment!

Savannah had her birthday party with Hope & Cammy. She wanted to hike the Y and hang out.

As they were sitting down enjoying the view, we saw 4 deer stroll by.

Dave's first semester ......

During the first semester of school, all students were put on a team for that entire semester and they would work together on assignments and presentations. Fortunately Dave was put with the best group of guys in the program. These guys spent so much time together and got along so well and it was great to get together one last time for lunch.

Just hanging. The thing I just love and miss is you step outside your apartment door to beautiful friends and great conversations. Dave was away, but there weren't many chances to be lonely. Night or day, someone was always there to have a chat with you. Loved it!

If I hadn't organised anything in the 6 weeks of the Summer in Wymount it wouldn't have mattered. Millions of little neighbours were always around to entertain each other. Cheap, creative and convenient. Perfect!

Another goodbye lunch with classmates and friends. : (

The last Utah blog. Such great memories. Never in a million years did I think we would live in another country and it has been the most amazing experience. Since living overseas, I've learnt to Never say Never (this was written before Bieber)!

(Emily Carpenter to the left of me in the green and her family are in the same area as us in California and are in our ward. We love having BYU friends close by : )

Family for the Summer

We were lucky to have our niece/cousin over while Chad and Trent went to a basketball camp at BYU one weekend. It was great to have a cousin for the kids to hang out with. Abby was super fun to have around and we are glad that we have family in the same Country!

We can't let a chance go by and not go hike the Y. We went late in the afternoon because it was hot and it was just magical. The children are always so happy outside. Love it!

One of my favorite view's of Provo.

We were also lucky to have a visit from the land down under. Yay, another cousin with an Aussie accent and my sister. We felt very spoilt!

My sister came over from Brisbane Australia with my nephew Ben for some of our Utah Summer break. It was a great to have family in town and for the children to have some family to hang out with over the long summer break

We had fun exploring Bridal veil falls. It was fun having an older cousin. Ben is now in Young Mens and has grown up sooooo much! I left Brisbane when Ben was around 4. Time flies!

We got to see "This is the place" and surprise, surprise, this was my first time as well. In the 2 years in Utah we have basically seen everything 4 times over but this centre is only opened in the warm weather and we hadn't had a chance to see it when it was open. It really was worth it.

I think this was Brigham Young's cottage....

Enjoying the different activities such as panning for gold, horse ride, visiting an old school, looking at the Indian tee pee's, visiting the little town stores and lots more.

I asked Ben what he wanted to do. Penny arcade!!!!

Amy had little terror Isaac and was packing some of my boxes for the move to California so it was a treat for me as well.

Eating Aussie treats back in Wymount.

Salt Lake Temple.

Relief Society building. I had never gone in this before and it was beautiful.

I was dropping Amy and Ben off to the airport after this. So I am glad we got to see more of Salt Lake and have a yummy snack at the Beehive house before we said goodbye. I was really grateful that they made the effort to come for the second time in a year! Thanks Amy and Ben!

All good things must come to an end- Part 1

The last few months in Provo were bitter sweet. All of our friends were slowly going their way. Dave was heading to California early to start his new job and I decided to stay with the children so that they could finish school and spend some of the summer here and spend a bit more time with our friends before we finally moved. Dave and I were apart for 6 weeks and in that time he visited twice.

Above is one of our last official outings with the Lloyds. Visiting our friends new little foal.

We were fortunate to still be in Provo for the blessing of the Woodruff's baby Sawyer. Dave has known Tyson they were at BYU as 18 year olds in 1993. So we were stoked to be there for it and be part of the baby blessing.

It was sad to see the Woodruff's leave for Washington DC. They were our fun brigade! Life is definitely a little more boring without Diana ringing to ask if I want to run in a snow shoe race, make s'mores up in the canyon or go camping. I am so glad Dave and Tyson organized for Dianna and I to go on a blind running date when we had first moved to Provo.

Good times!!!

We have been in California for 7 months now and my children are still talking about the crazy Woodruffs and when we will see them again...... they also miss all the birthday cakes she made for them. I am not so good : (

The boy's primary teacher came over and took them for a ride and to say goodbye. The boys were stoked!!!

5th grade goodbyes. This was a real sad time for Goannah! She had made some incredible friends and it was very difficult for her to say goodbye : (

Loved her teacher!!!! She had 2 incredible teachers while in Utah.

The photos are out of order, but we got to go on one last hike with the Woodruffs near Sundance.

Yep, Diana is hiking with a new born!

Love Summer!

Just hanging. Now that we are in California in a house I can honestly say that I don't know how we lived in a tiny 3 bedroom apartment. We also had more children hanging out our place than ever. Four of the neighbours were over in this photo. Something we strangely miss. It was one big exhausting and fun party.

Below is some of the girls in block 16. Some of the great neighbours that I learned to lean on and (borrow an egg) every now and then. Gorgeous Connie was leaving with her family to L.A and we were all out for a girls night.

For mothers day I like to go on a date with each of my children. I decided a few years ago that it was going to be a tradition. A good excuse to spend one on one time with them and do the fun mum things I keep meaning to do.

With H'bomb, we went to the nickel arcade and had dinner at Sushi Ya!! Yummy.

A picture say's a thousand words!!!

For Beth she wanted a picnic in the sun with friends of course!

Can't be a date unless you buy a treat or two!

Edgar was doing the MBA program with Dave and Daniella helped me with the international committee at BYU and helped translate Portugese. She really helped integrate the Brazillian girls. Best cook ever!!! We loved learning more about Brazil from them and can't wait to visit them in Brazil one day. We loved spending Christmas eve with them and others Brazilian style.

Goodbye beautiful Alex. Alex wanted to do a special movie night. Diana had just had her gorgeous baby and it was to be our last official girls night out. It was a blast! Tyson was there too. But he is one of the girls and we talked, talked, ate and watched Avatar. I miss my gym buddy!