Goodbye Numero: Uno

Back at the beginning of January when we sold our house, my dad hopped right to scheduling a Going-Away Party with his side of the family, which was a total gift to us. The Anderson side of the family LOVES. TO. EAT.. and we LOVE a good party (complete with games, of course!), so this was the perfect excuse to eat delicious food and to say our "goodbyes." Though, Lord willing, at least Kris and I will be back for my cousin's wedding in July, so this was the perfect time for "see you soon's" :)

Call me crazy, but despite how much I know we love a good party, I guess I didn't anticipate the lengths to which everyone would go to show their love! It was so planned out, I couldn't really wrap my mind around it. Literally, EVERYONE in the family was there... That almost NEVER happens, so it was such a gift alone to hug every family member on that side of the family, and hear from their lips and not their Facebook page about their lives.

First of all, my step-mom KILLED it with the Maurice Salads (chopped romaine, diced turkey, ham, sliced swiss, sliced pickles and even homemade dressing! GUYS, it's the BEST), rolls and tons of pizza. So, so good. My Aunt Nancy even ordered a cake with MOUNTAINS on it! It was a delish Costco cake- you know, the ones where the buttercream frosting on the outside of the cake is so sweet it almost makes the palette in your mouth hurt?! LOVE IT, and again... we LOVE. TO. EAT.

We started out the party by my Aunt Diane (who is our party planner!) passed out small Colorado and Michigan flags, which everyone taped to their shirt, signifying that no matter where we are, we're still family. We all gathered for a group photo:

 

Guys, is it just me, or is totally crazy that with that many people, the only person not looking at the camera is my 8 month old?! Is that not really, really impressive?!

 

Then, they gave us a Happy Meal box filled with dollar bills that everyone contributed to our Happy Meal fund for the road trip out west. Super, super useful, and believe me, that will be the first place we stop, I'm sure.

 

Then, they ALL (I mean, everyone. We are ALL SET for this trip) gifted us with their favorite road trip snacks. I'll tell you what, my family really DOES know how to eat, because half of those snacks may or may not already be GONE... Ha! I literally have some set aside on a shelf that I yelled at Kris for almost eating because those are the ones that I have to SAVEEE now!

 

My Aunts gifted the boys with a "This Little Light of Mine" book, so the whole family sang the song- motions at all. Just a reminded that no matter WHERE our lights are, they need to shine brightly for Jesus!

 

Lastly, My Aunt Diane and cousin Libby shared that when they moved when Libby was little, it was really, really hard for her. But my other Aunt Nancy and cousin Melissa had made little bags of gifts that she got to open when she visited the new house, to help make it sweeter for her. Well in light of that memory, they wrapped all sorts of gifts for my boys to open both on the way to Colorado and once we arrive. I don't think Keegan could be any more excited to hit the road now :)

 

 

Here we are with our Rocky Mountain Cake before we cut it up. Oh, and there's Cohen, my nephew/fourth son, who has been telling his mom since this party that he's really, really going to miss his room when he moves to Colorado!!! Ha! YES, PLEASE!!!!!

 

When we were first married it was really pretty hard to juggle the four sets of families, and figure it out. Over time we learned to manage as best we could, and we were shown grace by every single side of our families as we tried to navigate the waters.... However, now, after 7 years of marriage, one of the sweetest things is being able to love on all of these family members who love us and our children so, so well.

 

It hurts to say goodbye, but it is so, so precious to us to HAVE people and family to actually say goodbye to. We have people to long for and miss in this world, and- wow, what a gift that is.

 

So for our first "family" goodbye- Thank you, Anderson family. We will see you soon- and we treasured Sunday more than you know!

 

It's the FINALLL COUNTDOWN...

Now that we're back home for the last few weeks, we've started our final 20 day countdown until our packers come. The perks of relocating for a job are immeasurable, especially when it comes to packing. Our house sold RIGHT AWAY, which would have left me with so much time to get everything ready and packed up- so it's the strangest sensation to literally not have to lift a finger until the last minute. I'm a prepper, so this is a bit hard for me. My procrastinator of a husband is lovin' it though!

Our packers have decided they will be able to pack up our house in one full day. The next day they will load the truck and head to storage. Since we are building our new house, we will be spending three months in a furnished corporate apartment, which I'm a bit nervous for. The relocation company keeps trying to push us into a TWO BEDROOM apartment to cut costs, but we are ADEMATE- that is NOT happening. With five people and two dogs, for three months, we need a MINIMUM of three bedrooms. So there's that...

We're having to pack the essentials like large storage totes of clothing (season change, people), and baby and dog gear, and toys, obviously. There are things I never thought about that interstate moving companies will not transport and store, like cleaning supplies, laundry detergent and nail polish. So I have to bring a bunch of random stuff with us. We'll probably rid ourselves of the cleaning supplies or use up most of them before we go, but if you have ever been in my basement, you know that Kris' 90 year old Grandma's love language is laundry detergent and fabric softener... I have never, ever bought laundry detergent in the 7 years we've been married and we always have at least 25 of each on hand (that is so ridiculous to type!).... So we'll probably transport some of that since that's expensive! There's no way we'll have room for that, so as we see family and friends to say goodbye I keep giving away a laundry detergent here and there to remember us by... HA!

We're working on completing medical releases from our current doctors and dentists so they can transfer files to new doctors and dentists when we get those established. I've been making LISTS for months about what we have to remember to bring with us to corporate housing, and things we have to do before hand, but I know I must be forgetting SOMETHING.... So, friends... I know a lot of people who have done out of state/cross countries moves... Was there anything that you absolutely wish you would have done or done differently? What should I make sure to remember?!?!

Here we come, Castle Rock... We're comin' for ya! ;)

ARUBA: A Little Trip [way] South Before Heading West

Back in October, Kris was awarded with a trip to Aruba from his company for this February. I never, ever, ever would have thought we'd be traveling right before a cross-country move, but I can say that this was a gift from above that was terribly, terribly needed before all of the chaos that is currently beginning to ensue (good chaos- but chaos no less).

Okay guys, I've never been to Aruba, and truthfully, didn't Google anything about Aruba that wasn't related to the Natalie Holloway case, and only learned a bit about it from the travel magazine on our way down. First of all, it's only 20 miles from Venezuela... Who knew?!

Next, SUPER clean water. So delish and some of the cleanest drinking water in the world. For this girl and her dislike of Mexico for that very reason (and drug lords- I don't like them more than I don't like diarrhea while on vacation... or ever, for that matter), so that was a HUGE check in the plus column.

ANYWAY...

We were exhausted when we landed. We had MAYBE three hours of sleep the night before thanks to a crying baby and an early flight. The kids stayed up north at Grammy and Papi's and we adventured alone, and it was GLORIOUS. I love my kids. Big time. And [obviously] they love us too. However, this was precious time, and was so needed. I had no issue with my phone not working internationally, and it was freeing to leave everything in the room except the room key and just be PRESENT. It was great.

Here's the view from our balcony (we forgot our selfie stick this trip... oops)... He really is one of the most handsome men I know. It's kind of crazy to think that it's been almost seven years since we got married. Part of it seems like we just met, but part of me feels like we've just always been. I like it that way :)

 

Right on the beach the first evening. Right after this picture, we stood in line for coconut drinks and a portrait. So fun, right?!?! I really do love his company- they treat us well, and it's super fun to be spoiled in ways that I would NEVER, EVER pay for.

 

This was the view from one of the restaurants that we had breakfast at the Hyatt Regency (where we stayed). And serious, that monster iguana almost fell on me the last day. I was ready to come home after that.

 

#FACIALTIME! Whoop. My husband is a sport. Originally he just committed to do the spa things with me both days so we could spend time together (and lets me real, I'm not really up for riding horses with a group of my husband's co-workers on the beach), but he ended up #lovingit and by the last day, he was eager and willing for that darn mani/pedi. #getitson

 

Okay, this is the view from the chairs that the beach valet put right in front of the water FOR US. I mean it, this was a fancy trip! Anyway, this was also the site where we both received some of the most tragic sunburns of our lives. I used sunscreen, but the sun was SO, SO strong and the breeze was SO refreshing, that you just couldn't feel how fried you were getting. I literally have scars on my chest from where you can see my finger prints separated and I missed a couple spaces. My husband is part Greek so he doesn't think he NEEDS sunscreen ever... Well his stomach and his legs were laughed at by the Colombian woman doing our nails... #lessonlearned

That night they bussed all of us to our restaurant of choice. I had a fantastic Thai Shrimp Noodle Dish, and Kris had the Lobster... and of course we each got dessert because #wheninrome #whenthecompanypaysforit. Afterward they dropped us all off at the piano bar around the corner of the hotel to enjoy and mingle. We tuckered out after a long day of sun, drinks and fresh air, and we ducked out early.

 

The last night the company set up an entire reception that was nicer than any wedding I've ever been to. They literally hired an Aruban Carnaval Marching Band with dancers and a drum line just for this. They even did an after party with a photo booth, dance floor, live band, open bar and face painting. Super fun. We were leaving the next morning, so we (again) had to leave before things got too cray :)  

 

The company had put a ton of credit on each hotel room for gift shop, restaurant and room service. They provided pretty much all the food, so on the last day we found a way to spend our credit (along with every other of Kris' co-workers that were there!)... #raybans!!! I would never, ever, ever spend my own money on fancy sunglasses... but again: #wheninrome #andthecompanyispaying :)

As we were leaving for the airport I had Kris snap one last quick pick from the lobby. The colors were EVERYTHING. I love the line of bright pink flowers that contrast the bright blue ocean. It was a great week that came at a great time....

The last morning I was sipping my coffee and just watching a palm tree blow, and Kris asked what I was thinking... and truthfully, I was just trying NOT to think, and was soaking in my last hours of being able to relax and literally think of NOTHING until we settle into our new home and get into a new normal.

So thankful for the time I had with one of the hardest working, kindest men I know. Super proud of my husband, and so thankful for my parents watching the boys so we could have this much needed break! And now we're back to the grind... Moving day is only 21 days away, folks! It's starting to get real! :)