Isaac Isaac Isaac

Even though I never caught it with my camera, Cann Man's getting the one handed dunk down! When his dad's around to lift him up he can hardly be bothered with the little tikes hoop. We did take it to the church too though.

 

Fitting that right after we get here there would be a Hurricane. Even more fitting that its name is Isaac. Oh brother. Here's a funny line from Shawn's last email home: "So ya apparently Isaac is making a big entrance to Mississippi. He moves here and then gets a Hurricane named after him" That made me smile.  Isaac asked me if I was worried about the hurricane. I said "No, there's nothing we can do about it, we have our 72 hour kits..." (I do feel like we're well educated in the emergency preparedness department, not that we're perfect but I'm grateful that we already had flashlights and a camp stove and so on.) Then I explained that I was just worried about milk for Bubba because that's our nighttime thing -but I had a plan to go buy some powdered junk. YUCK. Anyway as time went on...yes I worried about it. Not knowing what to expect other than "we'll probably lose power" made me plenty anxious. Power was out here for 2 weeks in some places when Hurricane Katrina hit. -That would suck! In the stress department: apparently the  Hurricanes can actually create tornadoes. Yeah-I worried. I bought the fake milk junk then thought better of it and just went and bought an ice chest (too bad our old one didn't make the trip, I only paid $3 for it an a yard sale) but  this way Bubba would be able to have real milk. The lady by the batteries in Walmart said "Oh don'tch you worry, everyone's just make'n a big fuss, it idnt go'n be that bad, you goin to get hot though, you an that baby is goin to get hot. Jus try an stay cool." Too bad I don't really know how to type in the southern accent but you get it the idea. Anyway, she didn't seem to think it was going to be a big deal, it turned out she was right, but you should've see the stores. Drinking water flying off the shelves, hardly a flashlight left at Walmart, huge lines at the gas stations. Crazy.  They canceled Isaac's school for Wed but the storm was so slow it didn't even really rain Wed until the evening, then all night and all day Thursday and the wind blew but everything was fine, power included. I guess some of the campus did lose power so then ended up canceling his school for the rest of the week, plus Labor day, its a big good break from school only 1 week in.
We had the Sister missionaries over for dinner and emailed their parents afterward just like we did for the Elders but it was a nice relief for their folks to hear the Hurricane was no big deal. Pretty much though Isaac-the storm- dominated the week
Last Friday night we got our first taste of Southern HS football-and truthfully I wasn't impressed. 3 turnovers the first 3 possessions. Lame. It was a pretty big show to start with the band and everything and all and a huge crowd but that's all just hoopla. Cannon HATED all of the sticky rain on his face so we didn't survive it. Blake and Isaac stayed, they said the game did clean up a little but then it was a blowout (and not for the team of the kid in our ward-oh well) Apparently the game we went to was the "Super bowl of Rankin county" Whatever. This week we're going to hit an Ole Miss game with the youth in our ward. I am excited about it, it should be fun. Saturday I went out with the sister missionaries. We definitely want to be the good helpful ward members but yikes. They had an appointment to teach but got stood up so then they were just trying to make contacts. Yikes. I mean we did talk to 2 different really nice guys that were home with their kids but as a general rule southern hospitality ends when you step to someones door. I was with the missionaries for a little more than 2 hours but it felt like way longer. I know that's what Isaac wants to do when we retire. (I guess I shouldn't really stress yet, we've still got to get through school and get a job and work at it long enough to be able to retire, so we're not talking tomorrow or anything.) I'll have to practice up. Church is still a little different here. They have a "linger longer" the last Sunday of every month. I thought I'd bid those farewell with the singles ward-anyway just different. And then the big buzz was preparing for Isaac.
Here's our cute little reader. He's way into fanning through the pages with his thumb right now. Too cute. And I'm really happy that I learned to love reading (in my 20's) through children's books because we now have several that I bought when I was single and care free. I get them out one by one deciding each time I'd rather have my son enjoy it than "keep it nice" I love reading with him, but its extra cute when he and his dad read together.

 

Last weekend we drove to the Mississippi coast. Truthfully I never really thought of Mississippi as having a coast but it was a great little trip before school started for Isaac and Blake. We  started out by checking out the Alligators! The plan was originally an air boat ride through the swamp to see them but I'm convinced it was a rip off so I was glad we just did the walking tour.

So...Cannon's kissed an alligator, he followed it up by picking up the little ceramic snail thing and kissing it-then offering Ayla a chance to kiss it too. Oh brother.

The alligator farm, the pool, the beach, it was all a blast! And as you can see we wore the kiddos right out! The ocean water is ugly but I'm actually a big fan of the mississippi beach. Despite the water looking a little nasty it felt great. We were at the busiest part on a Saturday and it was hardly busy at all.
We're getting settled in. I'm actually starting to think scratch moving into a bigger place for a while just on account  of how much $$ we could save (They nail ya with a big transfer fee plus then higher rent yuck, we're cramped but I think it will be alright -I am a tight wad- I can do cramped for a little while.)  Then of course I've thought of several more preferable ways to spend that money. (Not so tight) I guess we'll see, I want to take pictures but I want to remove piles before I do, then I'll just have to re-pile in who knows where...well probably this storage/toy/linen/kitchen/EVERYTHING closet...its just how it is for now and by the way I know where pretty much everything is in this pile and can get to the things I need pretty quickly :).

I don't know if I mentioned it already but we live super close to church-I love that- less than a mile, totally in walking distance if this place had sidewalks or even more than 6 inches of pavement to the side of the white line. But it doesn't, so we don't walk but we've headed up to the church a couple of times this week just to play. It reminded me of being a kid playing in the church yard, we did ALL the time, so many football games on the front lawn, trips around the sidewalk in our roller blades, and those old basketball hoops in the parking lot, back in the day that is we're Chip taught me how to shoot a layup...memory lane...
One of the days we found some ducks (whoops turn out they were Geese-thanks Isaac) at the church! We didn't have any bread and they weren't real interested in Cann's vanilla wafer but he had a great time chasing them and running around and throwing rocks...the usual.

We also hit the sweetest park I've ever been to (ok I haven't been to a lot but it was so cool) with Annie and Ayla this week. One day we tried to be neighborly and friendly this week and take our neighbors cookies and get to know them. UG disaster! Truthfully we did find one nice neighbor and I was thankful but the rest did me in, people wouldn't answer the door but you could hear them inside then they wouldn't even say anything if they did come to the door. (I think they were just wishing we'd shut up and go back to Mayberry) whatever, one was out on the porch and I started towards her with a plate of cookies and she turned and went inside. Serious, so I came home and nursed my sorrows by eating pretty much the whole plate of cookies we made for Blake and Annie. So stupid-they are the ones that would have been nice and appreciated them. Oh well. No good deed goes unpunished...I did get to talk to both Kristin and Kalyn this week. We might live 1600 miles away currently but I'm still counting them as my REAL neighbors! Thursday we had the missionaries over for dinner, and it was really fun, not uncle Shawn but we're still hopeful! We took this cute picture and sent it to all of their families too.

Little Cannon still just loves to be outside. He's still fighting these monster teeth but he's been a trooper. He loves to read books (or the atlas) in fact I found him reading himself a book in front of the bi fold mirrors the other day. So dang cute, I tried to get a video but I had to stage it by time I got the camera out and it just wasn't the same as when he was jabbering away on his own.  Here it is anyway-I know his grandma's like to see and hear him even if its not perfect. The washer was running that's why its so noisy.


I showed him a picture of Grampa's dogs on the computer this week so now he points at it and says "whoof" too cute. But I guess that's it for this time.

I'm such a structure nut. I have system. I post once a week. But WOW I have NO idea how I'm going to sum up this week in a single post. Lets go pics first, they are more fun.
A little Mississippi Braves action for our first night in town. Hello Tomahawk Chop, here we come. (Put that on the list of things I thought I'd never say, no worries I still have Cubs Jerseys for all of us for a family picture someday)

Then Camping at Blake and Annies for a few days. Bubba was so cute curled up sleeping next to his dad. Unfortunately the flash woke Isaac up. And that dang doll stroller, Cannon couldn't quite figure it out.

 

The kids (especially the two big ones) at the park...

The start of the mess... at this point I felt overwhelmed...too bad it got twice this high, 3 different times...AND THEN we still had to get all of our stuff from Blake and Annie's and unload little green. And just for the record the pic totally doesn't do it justice on showing the water damage. I swear I've washed EVERYTHING we own!

No need for a fork mom, I'll just use these pliers. Cute little stinker.

I just can't get enough of this cute kid and now with the mirror bi-fold doors that hide our washer and dryer...neither can he!

Tired from the mess...me too Bubba, me too!

Our first time tending Ayla, it was Blake and Annie's Anniversary, as the kids were playing cute together Isaac said "I've never really babysat anyone, this is kind of fun." We did have a good time.

Maybe I should just go with the pictures and call it good. After all I did mention last week that I try to keep the blog positive. The truth is, its been good and bad, and everything in between several times in one quick week...what stink'n roller coaster.

Saturday the apt hunt continued. I'm not sure how we ended up at this little place but we walked in the lady was great and nice but they didn't have a 2 bedroom apt open until next month, but we liked it...and agreed to sign a lease Monday morning. Sunday was good different but good. We did meet some missionaries that know Shawn and speak highly of him. I wanted to go take him out to eat or something but the mission president said no so we'll be obedient and just hope he gets transferred to our area. And now as of Monday we live in a one bedroom apt. HOLY KA-Mo-LEE. We have too much junk. And I'm feeling a lot of the be careful what you wish for. All I wanted was a kitchen I could turn around in, and a dishwasher. UM I got both but maybe I should've been going for all that I wanted above and beyond what I had. We have a pantry now, its a whopping 12 in wide and the 2 bottom shelves are busted. We had more room in our house with the 2 shelves by the water heater. When you glance at the kitchen there are cupboards everywhere, too bad they are miniature. The ones to the side of the stove, the front of the drawer is 8 or 9 inches long and 5 inches tall but when you actually open the drawer a big box of Jello will barely fit-and only if you lay it down because its too tall for the drawer to close. So dumb. I'd take a picture but its too still too messy maybe when I get it cleaned up. Pretty much, Positive Shmositive on the blog, this post is a rant! (Which actually I feel bad I haven't done a better job of documenting things Cannon's been up to lately, I've just been too wrapped up in my own little world. I'll try to do better, like we're entering the consequence phase complete with 30 sec or 1 min "time outs" and all. Hard cuz his world is upside down too but necessary. There was something else he was doing -besides climb on everything- I wanted to be sure and remember to write down but I can't thing of it...) Back to my rant? I'm going for it. Those Cupboards-there's no way to child lock those bad boys. So my kitchen, I can turn around in it, and we have a dishwasher and technically even a pantry, so I should be careful what I ask for. I thought we left a ton of stuff back in Utah but apparently we brought a TON of stuff with us. (Really I don't think we did I think its just part of going from 3 bed 2 bath a garage and a shed to one bed one bath...oh and a mini little patio) The mess picture posted really didn't even touch it, I hope to get organized and take more pictures of where and how I've stashed stuff. I told Isaac I was going to cover stacked bins for "Coffee Table" type thing in our living room. We'll see. EVERY box that wasn't shoved in Little Green got wet which translated to so much laundry! Pretty much non stop for 2+ days. And I'm annoyed I even brought most of the clothes, there's not room for them, I wish I would have given more to the ward clothing exchange.  But its not just clothes there's towels and sheets and stuff (that I don't have a linen closet for) too. Isaac had to re-sand and stain our table and chairs. (Not an in the house project in my mind-just another difference of ours but nowhere really outside to do it either and its hot and SO MUGGY, After I threw a fit -I totally admit it was a fit- he did vacuum the sandpaper dust off the computer and shut it before continuing)  And finally our bedroom, at first the way we put our bed/dresser in Cannon's crib wouldn't even fit in our room, so he was just going to have to sleep in the living room, we did rearrange that so its all crammed in there and at least we have living space and sleeping space. It's impossible to have him just cry it out in his crib though. We're RIGHT THERE and he knows it so he doesn't give up. So... so far he just keeps ending up in bed with us usually sometime after 3 or 4 in the morning, after I try his crib a couple times I just want to go to sleep myself so bad I just put him between us, he's a little bed hog too. Oh and when he wakes up from naps that he is in his crib for I know he's awake when the lights start flashing, so convenient and fun for him to have the light switch right above his crib. Its flashing lights when he's in refuse to go to sleep mode too. Oh well.
Why would anyone want to read my blog? It's nothing but complaining this time. Sorry. Probably should have gone in the regular journal that nobody reads but now that I've typed it all out NO WAY am I deleting it. (Or rewriting it somewhere else.)
Despite what the novel-ish writing above might indicate.  Life is good. Isaac's meetings at school went well. (he showed his human side with a few nerves last Sunday but he seems normal and excited about it after the meetings) We have have each other. We have internet (YEA). And cell phones. We'll be fine! AND we even have a Piggly Wiggly that I can grocery shop at when I need a smile.

Why do I think that is so hilarious? I don't know, but I do. I bought Piggly Wiggly syrup because it was on my list and the first thing I saw in the Piggly Wiggly brand...as I kept shopping they have pretty much everything, its just like "Western Family" at Lins or something. Right up front they sell shirts that say "See ya at the pig." Funny.  As it is, we are the "Western Family" that's here in the South and we've survived our first week. More than once we've had a conversation similar to this.
Local: "Where Y'all from, (or where up north are Y'all from)?"
Us: "Utah...out west"
Local "Have Y'all ever been to the South?"
Us: "No"
Local: "OooH, Y'all don't mess around do ya, Ya'll came way south."
Us: (shrug...smile) "I guess."

And on that note I really will wrap it up, that is the plan for the day though, even further south, as  far as the coast! A quick trip to see the sights before school starts. That was the plan before the monstrous thunderstorms anyway, it sounds like a dump truck is unloading a load of huge rocks right on your porch, make that several dump trucks. YIKES. It's crazy. So who knows what the day will really hold, Isaac did want to go to the beach though.

----sorry about all the complaining---

Mississippi

I guess this is the next chapter in our lives. Sigh. Isaac is in tall cotton (quite the figure of speech from here in the South) with all the newness and adventure, and I have a constant knot that oscillates between  my stomach and throat. I just wish he'd understand, he just wishes I'd jump in on all of the "fun" Oh well I guess we'll learn together.
I should be doing something to make progress on the apt hunt but both my boys are asleep and the blog is a bit of stress relief for me so here we go...
The sign says they'll miss us, but really we'll miss them. I cried when I walked out the door to church and saw it.

I try to keep the blog positive, or at least mostly positive, but most of the positive things this week were in that tender mercy or the Lord category. I've recorded a little more in my journal journal but sufficed for here on the blog, Heavenly Father is mindful of all of us and I am grateful. Sunday was hard hard so many hugs and tears, as much as we've loved the Ivins 2nd ward, they've loved us back even more. I HATE Goodbyes~have I mentioned that? I don't think there's anything "Good" about them, and well, mostly I'm just hopeful that we'll get to go back.
Where to begin..
Saturday we loaded.

While we took our car, our bulky couch that I'm not attached to at all but Isaac was under the impression that I was, and a random collection of what we could fit or stuff in the car, or whatever, even the sea hawk even made it on at the last minute (don't ask me why) we also left a lot behind...a lot as in pretty much all our furniture, head board, night stands, book case, desk, Cannon's furniture. My brother is so nice, we've taken over a whole corner of his garage (thankfully he has it and its huge) and my parents attic...there's a lot of junk there too. Plus the whole load we took to Huntington a couple weeks ago. The great news is we have to go back to get our stuff :) Then we camped in our own house Sat. and Sunday  nights. There was a lot of stress and tension on Saturday, and a big question as to whether it would be wise (and safe) for Cannon and I to go with Isaac or if we should just fly out and meet him. Isaac was good with either but of course would have preferred for us to go as a family. Sunday morning my dad called and they had taken my Grama to the hospital. Her health is not good right now so when I heard that I decided to stay.
Monday morning he was gone before 7:00.

I didn't hear a lot but I know he had some trouble. 7 hours later he was still in Page, Az when I got that first call I was so relieved weren't with him (its should be about a 3 hour drive). It was slow going but all he'd say was that it was going "okay" and he didn't have a car charger for his phone so he'd turn it off to conserve battery so I didn't hear from him much. He did finally by a charger. He seems slightly offended when I say he pulled our cruddy car on our cruddy trailer with our cruddy truck. I just thought it was the truth. It worked though and I wasn't with him so whatever right? (I still haven't seen our stuff to see if it really survived though) For us Monday turned out to be a big bonus day. I pretty much felt like my life had been extended. Tuesday I caught a temple session with a few extra phone calls to be able to get in since my recommend was on its way to Mississippi. We just played and cherished the extra hours and minutes and put off finishing cleaning our house because then I had a reason to go back and it was still home. Wednesday we hit the splash pad I could have cartwheeled clear over to the little shade tree I was so excited. Isaac made it to Jackson on Wednesday so I got online to buy a plane ticket for Friday. Somehow I ended up buying one at 10:00 at night for Thursday morning, the next morning. HOLY HEART BREAK and disaster. The two best neighbors in the universe (Kristin and Kalyn) came and helped me finish cleaning my house out while I cried (and cussed) a lot and in a wirlwind I we were gone. So so sad to say goodbye. I'm going to cry again typing it so moving on...Despite a 3 hour layover in Salt Lake and 4+ hour delay in Atlanta (UG, I could do without that city again) we made it, and here we are.  Cannon was happy to see his dad and play with some of Ayla's toys. It was such a long miserable day. I tried to get a picture with the plane in the background but they didn't work. Here we are sitting on the floor in Atlanta, of course there weren't any chairs left...

 

 

Some of the other pics from the week, just cuz I can't get enough:

GRAMPA's DOGs. They had to be #1. I'm sure Samps got enough extra treats to make up for Cannon riding him.

 

 

 And we played with Aunt Laur and rode Uncle Will's bike (blurry phone pic)

Driving the cool cart at Home Depot.

 

And a picture of Isaac's tree he got for his first fathers day so I'll have record of it...I mentioned it at one point and the sentimental value hoping it would mean we couldn't leave. Of course I got the response "Should we dig it up and take it with us?" I'll settle for the picture for now. 

So Mississippi it is, at least for now. The mountain-less Forrest here is EVERYWHERE and super THICK. Isaac said something about learning about the civil war in school and remembering hearing that armies would get ambushed on the road. He thought it was so stupid that they would even be on the road but after seeing what its like here it made more sense, they would have HAD to be on the road. It was kind of a cool thought that I wouldn't have had on my own. 

This is just right out side Blake and Annie's apt but it shows how thick it is.

As things happen I think "I've got to remember that for the blog" but after thinking that at least 7 times today I have no idea what any of them were. Its muggy here but not hot. So far, the people are all very nice, I guess that southern hospitality thing is legit. After 1 day I'm pretty sure I could pull off the southern accent thing if I wanted...oh brother...I get telling Isaac what somebody said though and I can totally say it like they say it! Now how am I going to avoid talking like that if we're really here for 4 years?! Oh well. (or should I say Oh "Whale" with long extended a sound. HAHA)

Ok I guess this is it until I remember more of those things I wasn't going to forget.

Friday Cannon and I slipped over to Keegan's birthday party. We had a good time and Cannon got in on the "Heavy Heavy Hang Over" tradition and came home with a present too. Oh we are going to miss the Stouts, they are such good neighbors. It was so fun. We hit the river and the splash pad one last time too. (One last time for now, Kristin has assured me in 4 years they will be doing all same fun things and we can jump right back in on the fun.) Cann is getting a lot better about playing in the water and the river was pure mud. SO GROSS, but little boy heaven, the older boys were calling it Chocolate Land, I was fine with the mud...until he wiped out, was sad, and wanted me to hold him. I had to get over the mess and both got in on that filthy fun.

 

 

I'm hoping that the anticipation of the move is worse than the move. One of the days this week I wasted over and hour playing the Albertson's Million dollar sweepstakes game...just hoping for a miracle...
PACK PACK PACK Laundry Laundry Laundry...such is life,  Run away to Kristin's when I can't take anymore.
This week we did a yard sale to get rid of some stuff, visited the Allreds, had a fun family party, I caught a movie a little girls night out style with Lory Linds and my mom, dessert and more family fun plus Aunt Laur came Wed, and we had dinner with Matt Nichole and Lilah. Lots going on but all so fun. 

The light is terrible but I loved this picture of him running with Grampa Frei's remote. He's a wild man and likes everything on Grampa's little table. Its a very accurate picture of what its like when we go visit.  He's also added climbing to this bag of tricks. Then there's just a few pics of some of the fun we've had this week.

He really tasted every puddle.
And Lilah taught Cannon how to do snaps (that ya buy when fireworks are out) but try as I might I couldn't get a good picture)