Both of the boys kept busy this week: Landon had Cub Scout
day camp, and Mike made the long trek up to Provo to teach a week-long doctoral
seminar at the Y. He also got the keys to our new house and camped out there. Meanwhile,
the girls had their own fun hanging out with friends and family.
On Monday morning, Mike and Landon went with Landon’s friend
Luke to Westlake for Cub Scout day camp. Mike worked with a couple of Boy
Scouts as a program leader, guiding all the boys’ dens through six sessions of
Bug Olympics (various relay races and games of tag). His assistants were super
helpful, and their great attitude (plus the ample shade of the area we held the
events) made for a relaxing and enjoyable day with the cubs.
Once he dropped Landon off at gymnastics and took Luke home,
he packed up the Momobile in preparation for his drive to Utah. He thought to
pack almost everything he would need—almost. Hallie thought to include some
items he forgot, and both forgot to remember other things until Mike was
already on the road or at the new house. Such is moving!
Landon continued in camp throughout the week, earning credit
toward his advancement and learning how to shoot BBs and arrows. The kid has
great accuracy and enjoyed getting out there and having fun. He also sweat and
smelled like a pig at the end of each session. To top it all off, he had
gymnastics all this week in the afternoon. Let’s just say that he didn’t work
quite as intensely as usual, and he missed a day just to rest some.
Mike woke up before 3:00 a.m. Tuesday in order to hit the
road quickly and beat both the LA and Vegas traffic (which he did). The
Momobile did him well, with the minor exception that it started to overheat
every so often (another reason to keep moving at a steady pace). Mike
anticipated that there might be an issue and took it easy, making the trip to
Springville in about 10½ hours or so. Ugh. The car is comfortable, but he was
glad to be done before the day’s heat set in. As he was a bit early to meet with
the rental agent at our new house, he got a Beto’s breakfast burrito for lunch
(and dinner too as it would turn out. Two meals there—so huge! So good!) and
got a library card at the Springville Library. He also made a stop at the giant
Smith’s Marketplace on 400 South, just a few blocks south of our new house.
Turns out that the store was not quite yet open. Its grand opening was set for
Wednesday.
After getting the keys and walking through the house, he
rested some before getting a few necessities at Walmart, which also turns out
to be quite close. In fact, everything we like or need seems to be
tantalizingly close to where we will be living: School and church are less than
half a mile north on Center Street, Airtime Gymnastics is just down by Walmart and
the DI Thrift Store, and Hallie even has a Starbucks by the new Smith’s. The
library and the art museum are along Mike’s route to and from work, as is Sam’s
Club. Costco is not too far from Walmart and gymnastics. Hobble Creek Canyon is
just a few miles up the road. All we need is family and the beach, and things
would be pretty near perfect!
While we have electricity in the new house, we don’t have
gas. Moreover, Mike forgot to bring a towel and a pillow. He did think to bring
two sleeping bags, a ground pad, an air bed (kid-sized, unfortunately), and
other toiletries. So he ate well, ran the A/C, kept his food cool, and slept
OK. But oh, what a cold morning shower! After chattering his way through that,
Mike went up to the university campus Wednesday morning to get a haircut, take care of his
hiring paperwork, and unload his office boxes in his new digs. He has a corner
office on his floor—which is great. It’s just that it’s a dark inside corner
with a wee transom window to let in whatever natural light leaks in from the
transoms of his neighbors’ offices across the hall. He thinks it’s awesome and
keeps chuckling about the situation to himself. It’s not likely that he will
have anything like the view he had from his WSU office anytime soon.
Everyone at the new office was super friendly and helpful,
which made getting ready for his class at 1:00 that afternoon a bit less
overwhelming. All too soon, though, it was time to get to work. This
educational leadership EdD seminar on multicultural education is being taught
with another seminar on the history of American education. Dr. Ferrin took all
day Monday and Tuesday along with Wednesday and Thursday mornings. Mike took
Wednesday and Thursday afternoons along with all day Friday and Saturday. Let’s
just say that is a lot of intense time for both teachers and students. And Mike
thought one Friday and Saturday per month was a lot to do teaching-wise! Still,
what a fun class! He and the students had a great time and learned a lot about
the topics covered from each other. Unique aspects of the class include the
custom of opening with a prayer and of openly bringing church-related concepts
and ideas into the discussion, both elements which he appreciated. We had a
couple of profound moments of the sort he has not had in the last 10 years of
his teaching. Humbling and awesome, to be sure.
When he wasn’t teaching, Mike ran a few job-related errands
on campus and went to the university bookstore and the library. After
getting home in the evenings, he ran some home-related errands and unpacked the
boxes we’d brought up for the house (the Momobile held a massive amount of
cargo: boxes upon boxes along with several pictures, the sleeping gear and
luggage, and so on). Mike continues to marvel how we live in a magical time, technology-wise.
Just with the data plan on his cell phone, he could not only prep for each
day’s class and answer emails but could watch TV and otherwise keep entertained
with everyone else so far away.
I spy a university bowtie! |
Posted speed limit? Where? Oh. . . . |
He went to the Smith’s Marketplace grand opening on Wednesday
(along with everyone else in Springville, it would seem) and then again later
in the week when it was a little less overwhelming. He also did some walking
around in the long twilight hours to gauge the distance to stores, schools, and
church. Seems pretty nice all around. He even made it to church on Sunday (to
the 9:00 a.m. ward. No sense babbling about our moving in given that we won’t
really be here until August, right?).
Still, with all the adventuring, Mike was more than ready to
get back to Hallie and the kiddos and to hear about all their activities while
he was away.
Tuesday, while Mike was headed to Utah, Hallie and Eliza
took the boys to camp. As they arrived they saw Grandma M and chatted for a
bit. Then Hallie saw her friend Libby. They have been friends for over 20 years,
but it has been a while since they have seen each other in person. How fun to
chat! Eliza and Hallie decided to go visit the Maygren/Hopkins and play for a
while. Sawyer and Eliza played so well for nearly 3 hours, and Hallie got to
hold and play with Finnley while she chatted with her parents. What a great
time! The girls headed over to get Hallie’s nails done and set up an
appointment for them to be all glammed up before Diamond’s big day in just
about three weeks!!!
After taking the boys to camp again on Wednesday Hallie and
Eliza took our cute as a button neighbor Annabelle with us to see Ice Age
Course Collison at the local movie theatre. The girls had a great time.
Both kids had gymnastics, and let’s just say this is where
Landon started losing his steam. It has been quite warm every day, and then
gymnastics has no air. Poor guy. Coach Wu didn’t quite understand what was
happening and why Landon couldn’t push himself more. We appreciate each coach's dedication and love seeing him give our little ones those extra pointers to improve.
Now that Hallie’s portion of transporting the boys was over,
it was time to rest. At the end of last week Hallie started feeling really
tired, which is a bit of a turn since surgery. So, Hallie emailed her doctor
and asked some questions. The answer was take your iron and rest. Grandma M.
came over to visit for a while, and we went out to lunch. They had a very nice
time and ran an errand afterwards to buy sandpaper. A while back Eliza decided
to put green handprints on the newly installed fence in the backyard and now
that we are moving we are trying to get it off. No luck with the sand paper.
Everyone hung out the rest of the evening.
On Friday morning the girls headed to Sam’s Club for a few
items and then it was time to do some chores around the house. Grandpa M. came
over with an electric sander to take his shot at the fence. His shot worked!!!
It was so exciting to see it clean and to know that little thing was off our
backs. Grandpa also helped Hallie empty three large water containers that they
will be getting rid of; no heavy lifting for two more weeks.
Landon came home a bit later in the afternoon and laid
around after a long week. For pizza and a movie night we watched a movie called
Magic Ice Skates which was quite cute.
A late start was had Saturday when Hallie woke up with only
20 minutes to get to gymnastics. Everyone went really fast, and we were only
five minutes late even with getting some gas on the way. Hallie went back to
Camarillo for a little bit and attended the Farmers Market where her friend
from school was selling homemade bath products. Then it was back up the hill to
watch the kids at gymnastics. Landon is learning how to do giants on the high
bar, and Eliza is perfecting her skills on the beam.
In the late afternoon we headed to our friend Jack’s
surprise birthday party at Valle Lindo Park. All of the kids had so much fun
playing. Their energy always amazes Hallie. Moreover, how do the kids always
make it on top of the playground structure?
Shortly after getting home, Carly sent us a text about meeting
her and the family at Panera for dinner. We try never to miss a chance to meet
up with family! The kids had a great time hanging out and walking around the
Outlet Mall.
Sunday we went to church. Hallie taught her primary class
and had an interview with the Bishop so she can apply for school. Wah hoo! We
called and sang our nephew/cousin Porter Happy Birthday and talked to his
parents for a few minutes. We are trying very hard to find a time to go and
visit the Maygrens in Washington. Hallie has continued to be very tired, and so
the kids watched TV L most of the afternoon as Hallie drifted in and out
of sleep. Mike won’t be home soon enough in Hallie’s mind.
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