And We're Off!

The day has come for us to depart Arizona.  It's been a busy last week with Brian's flights being delayed then cancelled.  But we are pretty sure God planned it that way because then we all got to be together for his birthday morning and he got to help oversee the final packing of the truck.  He missed that in MN so he was in for a shock with how it all comes together!  Ha!  Anyway he finally headed off to Arkansas the morning of his birthday and we came on the 30th.  The kids seemed excited!

They each got new suit cases for the next stop on life's adventure!  A big thanks to Grandma Pauline and Papa John for letting us spend the night the past few nights, basically clearing your calendar to help out and spend time with the kids and for bringing us to the airport (and keeping it together so that the kids and Mama didn't bust out crying too!!!).  

Taking it all in!

We were on a small plane so 2 seats on each side of the aisle.  Of course Ashley had to be Mama's side kick.  And luckily she was Mama's...the girl reads the safety pamphlet so we are covered!

Trevor did great on the other side of the aisle playing with his new airport toy set!

After a quick layover in Dallas and an interesting call that Sara received, we were off on a plane where we could all sit by each other.

 It was a quick flight too and we soon arrived at XNA (the closest airport to Bentonville/Rogers, AR about 15 minutes from our house).  DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a way to start our new life in Arkansas!

First stop was to our new house to do the final inspection before closing the following day.  The kids loved it!

Then we had our first family dinner in Arkansas.  We went to Foster's Pint and Plate and were able to eat outside!  Definitely wouldn't be doing that in Arizona.

We have a feeling that God put us on this path for a reason so we are going to go with it.  Change is good.  Life is good!

We found this message from the previous owners of our house on the chalkboard wall in our new mudroom :)

June Happenings

Our last month in Arizona.  Sadness.  Pure sadness.  It's hitting us all but we are keeping our heads high and making memories left and right as you can see.  First up, Gracie's 3rd birthday party!

Katie made cake cones for the kids and they were a big hit!

Ashley was so proud to pick out Gracie's present all by herself.  No surprise she picked her favorite toy at the moment (which Mama also loves because it is self-contained!)

Snuggles with baby Finley

Cooling off at firefighter park with friends

Playing dress up with Remy

Silly faces

Louie's swimming birthday pool party

Ashley was a big fan of the cake

Trevor was excited to give Louis the huge card he made for him!

Having the Bergstrom boys over for swimming and pizza

So happy to have friends over!

Boy buddies for life!

Mac-n-cheese at Remy's.  Apparently Miss Julie makes it extra special because both kids eat it up over there!

Watching Julie rock her live interview!!!!  Proud of her!!!!

Funny girls!

Jack's birthday!

He had a game truck!

Mommy heard that Trevor preferred to watch than play but that works too!

A friend from school's birthday at Play Factory.  Not only did they have the most amazing homemade cake but these yummy oatmeal cookie ice cream sandwiches!

The kids both attended school camp during the month of June.  8-11am M-F.  They both loved it.  Ashley's was geared to preschool fun and Trevor picked a sports camp for the 1st two weeks and a Pinspiration camp for the last 2 weeks.  One day after camp we went out for lunch with Kristen and Leighton and she shared some special news of her own, that they have started the process to adopt a child!

Last time at Peter Piper Pizza!

Swimming lessons with Gracie!  She is doing a great job floating and swimming to get to the side of the pool!

These 2 are a hoot together!

Movies to cool off ...Finding Dory!

Toby is apparently Ashley's new doll!

Miss Michelle met us at McDonald's because she had a special present for Trevor.  She made a notebook with information on Arizona and Arkansas complete with games and activities to keep him busy on the plane!

Playing dress-up

Last visit with Olivia, Chloe and Beckett

Tori has been having Trevor over to play with Benjamin and Nicholas because they have so much fun together.  You can see it on their faces!!!

Poor Toby, he just doesn't know what's going on these days!

Buddies for life!

We were all excited to see Bethany one last time before we left.  How do we get her to Arkansas after her last year of college??

Ashley showing Daddy her swimming skills

Last time in our pool.  Tear.

And with that Brian is off to Arkansas.  Or so we think.  Because of weather in Dallas his flight got cancelled so back home he came (Sunday night the 26th).  Only to go back to the airport in the AM.

So he missed the moving truck excitement!  But after a day at the airport trying to get out unsuccessfully he came back home.  Don't think we will forget how we basically kept anything we needed in the media room since everything in that room was staying for the new owners.  So the movers packed up everything Thursday and Friday and when Brian came home Friday afternoon the house definitely didn't look the same.  We basically had our beds to sleep on and our suitcases in the media room!  The big truck came on Monday morning, seen below!

On Monday the Hillins took the kids for a special day to get out of the way of the movers and to simply soak up special time together.  Guess where they went?  Train park!!!

Carousel time!

And the American Girl store and cafe!

The workers worked their tails off on Monday to load the truck so that it could take off to ensure it would be delivered to our Arkansas home on Saturday!  They wrapped up near 10pm!  So Brian who was back from the airport and Sara packed up the rest of our personal things we would be flying with and we headed to Grandma and Papa Hillins to spend the night.  Brian for one night (hopefully he would get off in the morning, on his birthday!) and the kids and Sara for 3 nights.  Cleaners would come in tomorrow and then we have the water heater 'issue' to wrap up and that's it!!

Good news is that Toby and Brian finally got to take off on the 28th!  See y'all in 2 days!!