Davis Reed @ 5 Years Old

Exploring the tide pools is one of Davis' favorite things to do. He collects all the shells he possibly can and then leaves them scattered all over our house. 

• Davis loves all things Pokemon, SlugTerra, and Agent Oso. He will go on and on about Pokemon characters and scenerios and, cross my heart, I do my best to act interested but I usually have no freaking idea what he's talking about.
• He has a tender heart. He will often mention to me throughout the day, with a little sadness in his voice, that he "misses Maddie." They have a really special relationship. If I'm being completely honest, I think that Davis is drawn to Maddie both because he loves her dearly and because he wants to make Isaac jealous. It usually works. The older boys, on the other hand,  have a much more tumultuous relationship. They can definitely be the best of friends (Davis idolizes Isaac), but also the worst of frenemies (both know how to push the other's buttons and do so all.the.time).
• I have mentioned before that Davis is my little sidekick. Since I didn't put him in preschool this year, we are pretty much together all day every day. While there are occasional moments of frustration, he is such a fun person to be around. If I want him to do anything all I have to say is, "Wanna race?" and he will go wherever I want him to go as long as he can beat me there. The thought of him going off to kindergarten in the fall fills me with the mixed emotions of anticipation of increased freedom and loneliness. But mostly loneliness. 
• He loves animals and science (shout out to Bill Nye the Science Guy!).
• He is talkative and friendly and loves to talk about random facts to anyone who will listen. He often gets attention from adults for using vocabulary words well beyond his age (and sometimes out of context) I think it's pretty adorable.
• He has a huge heart and a great willingness to share with others. He tells me multiple times a week how much he loves our family.
• Davis is a little boy with a lot of faith. We finished reading the Book of Mormon as a family and for weeks afterwards he would ask Heavenly Father every time he said his prayers, "Is the Book of Mormon true?" 
• I can't believe it's been over 5 years since this little man joined our family and in turn saved my life. I love him so very much. 

Making a wish.

Sunny Arizona

 I have a lot of catching up to do on this blog of ours but I'm going to back track later and just give a little ode to our short stint in the beautiful Arizona desert. There was a time a few months back when I didn't think I would ever make close friends there. And then I did. And then the amazing opportunity back east popped up and I had to say goodbye just as the southwest was starting to feel a little like home. I left a little piece of my heart there and I'll always be grateful for the friendships that we made during our few short months.

Our neighborhood was the stuff dreams are made of, I tell ya. I don't expect to ever find one quite like it again. They hardly exist anymore. Here are Maddie and her AZ bestie (and our next door neighbor) playing just hours before our flight.

Davey and his AZ bestie, who lived just a few houses down from us. 

Nater and Dave enjoying an after-school treat before our plane took off.

Our last week in Arizona, my neighbor, Tamara, planned a special snack for the kids for every day after school. She also watched my children, took all these photos so I would have visual reminders, and she drove us to the airport with a bag full of treats for the kids on the plane (which we almost missed because we lingered too long taking photos and saying goodbye). She was the neighbor I prayed I would find. 

Actually, all of these ladies were. Such great women with such great children. I was lucky to rub shoulders with them this past year. 

Monster cookies, just one of the delicious after-school snacks. 

The crazy neighborhood kids all together. We'll sure miss you, beautiful Gilbert, AZ.

Isaac's 8th Birthday Party

A few days before our big cross-country move, Isaac had a birthday party with some of his friends. Confession: it was his first real birthday party in his 8 years of life. Parties are not my forte. And truthfully I'm just glad that no one died on my watch during this party! But Isaac was so so happy, which made me happy, too. 

A Lego Pizza Party at the park.

Maddie loved being a part of it.

So did Davis.

And Nathan.

It was a Lego party with pizza and a treasure hunt. It was during the treasure hunt that the kids all went cray-cray.

My dear friend and neighbor, Banessa, was able to come and bring her two boys, both of whom became some of Davis and Isaac's closest friends.

The treasure hunt treasure was a box of helicopter toys that we played with in the field next to the park.

Isaac with his two AZ besties, Davey (R) and Eduardo (L). My friend Tamara put herself in charge of taking pictures and I am so grateful that she did because we wouldn't have any proof that this event took place if it hadn't been for her. After the party she handed me a flash drive with 70+ photos of the afternoon! I feel fortunate to have lived next door to such a wonderful friend and neighbor.

The besties again.

Play with your food!

Receiving Lego Mixels was a dream come true.

Happy birthday Isaac!

The Why

Grandma Mary-Ann showing the kids pictures of Maine the night that we told them about the big move. They took it with mixed emotions until I told them we might be getting a wii next winter since it snows so much in the northeast and it will be something fun that we can do together as a family. Cue cheers and squeals of delight. I'm not above bribery. 

As the reality of our cross-country move sets in we are knee deep in preparations to get our family back to the east coast. Housing arrangements, movers, boxes, trips to Goodwill, you know the drill. I wanted to record my thoughts and feelings about this move before they get swallowed up in the inevitable stress of the next few months.

This job change came about when Ryan decided that he would shoot a couple of resumes out to different job postings around the country. He has a good job here in Phoenix but it isn't one that either one of us could see him sticking with long term for various reasons that I won't bore you with. A couple of those potential jobs got back to him, and the one in Maine was particularly interested in setting up an interview to meet him. They invited both of us out to the east coast for a long weekend of interviewing and exploring the town. I must admit that it was really, really nice to spend that time with just Ryan and I (a first), knowing that our babies were safe in the hands of my in-laws.

Although the town is small, snowy, and very far from home, we really liked it. Children were playing hockey and ice skating outside, it is right along the coast and the water was so so beautiful, and everyone in the town was so welcoming. It has a really small town feel along with a hint of tourism. I got the feeling that it is where Mainers go for a getaway (sorta like Park City for Utahans but on a smaller scale and with an ocean instead of mountains).

It was comforting and a relief to know that we liked the town, especially since the people at the hospital really seemed to like Ryan. From the day that this opportunity presented itself to us, we have really tried to be prayerful about our decision (if there ended up being one). Both Ryan and I decided that if we make this move, we want it to be long-term. We want it to be because we see ourselves raising our family there. We were able to attend church there the Sunday morning before we left. It is a small branch of about 75 members. I prayed and prayed that if this were the right move for our family, that I would feel good about the branch since it will be such a big part of our life in Maine. We entered the chapel right after the opening prayer, and as we began to sing the sacrament hymn I felt a wave of peace wash over me and I knew that Heavenly Father wanted us to be a part of this small town. The thing is, Arizona doesn't really need another strong family, and they don't need another podiatrist. Maine needs both. And so when he was offered the job we accepted it. I have thought back to that moment in the chapel many times as doubt has crept in and I ask myself, "Why on earth are we doing this?!?!!" And then I inevitably feel peace about what we have chosen. This General Conference address has also brought me a lot of peace and direction for our particular situation.

So years from now when my children ask me what brought our family to Maine, I can tell them this story.

Mid-Coast Maine

Photo taken outside our hotel room. 

Ryan was recently offered a job in a little coastal town in Maine. It was just too good for us to pass up, so it looks like we will be making our second cross-country move in less than a year. I can honestly say that until this job presented itself, I never once thought about living in Maine. But I also never thought I would live in Iowa or Connecticut. Life is funny that way. Arizona is a great place to live and I have loved the desert. I'm sad that we haven't lived here quite long enough for it to feel like home.

Both Ryan and I were able to go to Maine when he interviewed and it was really, really beautiful. The hospital is located in this cute little tourist-y lobster town. Other than on my mission, I have never lived in a small town. It looks like I'll be trading in my convenient suburban life for one in the country.

I guess I better learn how to raise chickens.

I'm really, really excited.