New Tricks

A week or so before Autumn turned the big 6 months we gave her rice cereal.  She had been interested in big people food for a couple weeks, but I wanted to wait until we got to our new place to try it out.  She loved the rice cereal.  She couldn't get enough of it.  She kept grabbing for the spoon.  It was really fun to watch her discover something new.

Also she started this new thing where she bends her head to the side to look at things.  It poses quite a problem when you are trying to hold her, but it is so darn cute.  I wanted to make sure we had a picture of her discovering her world from the side view.

Road Trip

The short version: 5.5 days driving from Gilbert, AZ to Detroit, MI.  Stopped to see family, gave Autumn a bath in the sink at a Holiday Inn Express after a blow out, lots of stops for gas and feedings, listening to "Dr. Jones" and "Upside Down" to calm Autumn down and one 16 foot Budget truck pulling one of our cars.

The long version:  

LEG ONE: We left AZ Saturday afternoon and arrived in Albuquerque at Aunt Meagan and Uncle Justin's place early Sunday morning.  The hills were killer for Evan and the Budget truck, but Autumn took a very long nap in the car and we did just fine in the car.

LEG TWO ABQ to Cheyenne:  Autumn pooped.  ALL OVER.  We stopped to feed her in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn Express and ended up bathing her in the sink of a public-ish restroom in the hotel.  It was gross.  She was also awake a lot of this leg.  She was soothed by Aqua's "Dr. Jones" and "Barbie Girl" as well as "Upside Down" by A*Teens  basically I kept it on repeat until she fell asleep then I turned on my book on tape.

Melted chocolate chips anyone?

a toy I discovered that kept Autumn's attention for a while and even if she dropped it she could still play with it using her feet

Why hello Uncle Patrick

On a walk with Grandpa

practicing good oral hygiene

After a full day of rest with Grandpa Norby and uncle Patrick it was time to hit the road again (Grandma and Cameron flew back to Arizona to help Sara after she had her baby)

Leg Three Cheyenne to Omaha: at a gas station taking a break

LEG FOUR Omaha to Indiana:  It took awhile to get on the road this day because I insisted we go to Winter Quarter's, Nebraska and check out the church history site.  However it was very difficult to find a place to park a 16 foot moving truck with a car hitch that can't reverse, so we drove around the little city for almost 30 minutes.

The temple in the background...Angel Moroni is above Autumn's head.

Autumn sitting in front of a replica Salt Lake Temple at the Winter Quarter's visitor's center

playing dress up

corn...I was disappointed at how short it was

cool ride at the hotel in Indiana

Leg FIVE Indiana to Detroit:  This should have been our shortest leg.  Autumn was doing well and we were close to our new home.  After we stopped for lunch there was an accident involving a semi-truck and they closed the freeway.  It took us 90 plus minutes to get to the next exit.  We finally made it to our new place after dropping off the tow dolly and signed our lease.

We stopped at too many McDonalds for lunches, breakfasts, and dinners.

Home sweet Home

Saying "Good bye"

After the graduation festivities were over and Evan's family drove/flew home the reality of us moving in a mere 6 days sunk in.  I convinced my mom to stay and help me pack (I usually start packing weeks before a move.  This time...well I didn't and was in trouble.)  So thankful my mom stayed, I'm not sure we would have gotten things finished without her.

Saying goodbye was a little bitter sweet.  I love Arizona.  I loved the heat.  I loved the desert.  I loved the freeways.  I loved all the conveniences of close shopping.  I am OK with change and I'm up for new adventures, but moving to a state I've never been to and so far away from family would be a challenge.

saying goodbye to the swimming pool

saying goodbye to the fountain out front Autumn loved, and where Evan dropped his phone.

Helping Grandma pack up her closet (yes I will miss that giant closet too).

packing up

cousin Kallie came to watch Autumn while we packed

saying goodbye to Grandma is very hard to do

Good bye 1333 W. Guadalupe Road apt. 2027 Gilbert, AZ

FAMILY

We had lots of fun with family the weekend Evan graduated here are some pictures.  Evan's brother's and sisters and most of the grand kids came as well as Evan's grandma, aunt Sharon, and his parents and my parents made it down for the big shin ding.  I didn't get any at the water park/community pool we went to but just close your eyes and imagine water and  people in swim suits NEVER MIND moving on.  

Eating Dinner Pool side

hanging out and eating of course

This is one of my favorite pictures.  Grandpa Brian and Autumn reading the newspaper together.  It was one of my favorite past times as a kid.  Reading the Sunday comics with my dad.

Reading the paper

Grandpa Brian

Grandpa Norby

Aunt Meagan

Uncle Patrick

Singing songs with Grandpa and Meagan

Evan's "Future is Bright"

Even though we had a party the day of graduation I wanted to have a special party just for Evan.  He worked hard for four years of medical school to become Dr. Norby and many years before that, in preparation for medical school.  I wanted to show case some of his hard work.

Evan's Mom Linda was in charge of show casing Evan's pre-medical school life.  We watched a bunch of home videos from when he was a little boy up to high school.  Then we played "Are you "Brighter" than a Doctor"  (a play on "Are you smarter than a Fifth grader?" but I used light bulbs to decorate so it was "brighter" get it?) We had two teams, but both teams were playing against Doctor Norby.  The Categories were things like Resid"city" (like Residency and City...so things about Detroit), E.N.T Entertainment on Nightly Television (TV Shows about Doctors), Medical School, ect.  I didn't take any pictures of Evan at the party oops.  He did get a giant tube of golf balls from his parents and I gave him three new wedding bands just in case he lost a couple he would still have an extra (I don't want any nurses getting any ideas:)

The nieces in their matching shirts from Grandma

There is his diploma!

The after party

A couple of friends and I threw a potluck for the graduates and their families at the stake center.  I think it was a huge hit.  It was very low key, but fun to see everyone before we all took off for our different adventures.

After the potluck we went back to the house the Norby's were renting for the weekend.  The boys enjoyed the pool all to themselves.  They had a good time playing with Patrick's cool underwater camera.