As the first school year wrapped up I thought quite a bit about how our journey began... the cross country trip, the adjustment of not being near friends, family, our church family, not being in our little cape cod on Kansas Ave, of not knowing our neighbors, or even having the security of our jobs. This past year has laid my heart bare and has been a reality check for me in many ways. I've been given the great gift of seeing many of the blessings of my life from new angles helping me to see that quiet simply the only real good in me is Jesus and I need much more of Him and much much less of me. It's also made me realize how enriching relationships are and to strive for good ones. I'm so thankful for the great relationships that have already begun in California... I find myself often praying for, thinking of, and missing them already.

Before we left California we were able to squeeze in quite a few play dates including a fun trip to Legoland with the Hoffmans.

As well as a trip to the local children's museum with our little friends Judah and Melody and my mommy friend Madison.

Traever finished out his semester so strong. I'm so proud of him and the amazing job he did this semester of cramming his brain with a crazy amount of knowledge, learning two new languages, as well as reading over 40 books, all the while welcoming our three little ones into his office, throwing impromptu dance parties with the kids, and singing with them in the kitchen. I love him.

Once He finished the semester we had one day to get the van packed and ready to go before we left for our cross country road trip back to Illinois.

The night before we left we decided to wash the van, I'm not really sure why, but it seemed like a good idea at the time. Anyhow, Remy eager to help came bounding out of the house buck naked and like any responsible parent we ordered her to go get some clothes on... 5 minutes later she came out in this...

We got the van packed, the kids all set up in the back with their dvd players and a bottomless bag of snacks and we were off. 

We decided to do the northern route which took us through Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa. The Utah landscape definitely took me by surprise. The kids did amazing, seriously, these are the best kid travelers I know. In the entire 2000 mile trip we never had to make a pit stop for food or the bathroom. We spent the night in one hotel and besides the car issues didn't have to stop for anything. The chauffeur who drove the entire 30 hours was pretty cute and funny, and all was well that first day. We decided to spend the night in Rifle, and then totally overslept (which seems to happen often), got a quick swim with the kids in, and got a late start. We had a short pit stop in downtown Denver to see Brett Janssen and then we were off.

But then we hit a few bumps in the road... the tread of one of our back tires stripped off completely and so we had to head to the nearest town on our spare. 

The forced stop at a Walmart in the middle of no where ended up being a pretty good time with the kids. Who knew how fun Walmart could be?!

About 4 hours later we were finally back on the road and since we had lost so much time we decided to just press through and drive through the night. About 3:30 AM in the middle of rural Iowa while Traever and I were belting out some Lynyrd Skynryd tunes and having a good time we started hearing a spraying sound and then smelling antifreeze. Traever checked the coolant level (only spraying himself with scalding hot antifreeze once), whenever we stopped but it was always fine. And the van was not overheating either. We monitored it until about 7:30 AM when we started seeing antifreeze steam coming through the steering column and dripping from the pedals. We were too nervous to continue and only a mere hour and half from home. We landed at the "World's Largest Truck Stop" on Route 80. The people there directed Traever to a mechanic nearby that was able to bypass the antifreeze problem and send us on our way. We got to my sister's house safe and sound 48 hours after leaving California. After driving the entire way and sleeping only once like the incredible manly man that he is, Traever crashed and napped for like 6 hours. His internal clock was totally messed up because that night he found out two of his best buds who own bakeries were pulling an all-nighter making bread for their grand re-opening and so he hopped out of bed and spent the wee hours catching up with them. I on the other hand slept like a rock.

We've gotten settled in, I can't believe it's been nearly a month! As I write this Thatch and Mercy are bonding and having a great time emptying the cupboards, Rem and Em are napping hard after another exciting day full of water fights, and chasing baby bull frogs and butterflies, and Adalai and Livie are on their way to have their first sleepover at Mamaw's house. Yes, we are back in the Midwest! My sister and her husband are graciously keeping us for the summer. They rearranged a few rooms and have been amazingly accommodating to us.

Sometimes Julie and I feel like we're running a daycare.

10 people under one roof including six little ones ages: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 11 months isn't exactly normal, but it feels pretty wonderful... at least to us!

We've got some good little helpers too. It's so much fun to see them together.

To beat the heat we try to have water fights, pool parties, and go to Mamaw and Papaw's to play in their water fall.

Mmmmm freeze pops!

The kids have gotten pretty good at catching baby toads and fire flies.

It's like the never ending slumber party for these girls. They get to wake up to their friends every day.

And to be honest it's not much different for Traever and I. The boys wake up and head off to work with their matching green smoothies and us girls attempt to have a cup of coffee while we keep up with the kids.There's few people that could handle so much of us! And few people that we can handle for weeks on end as well. My sister and her family are one of those few and one of the greatest blessings that God has given my family. I trust, respect, and love them so much! We'll treasure the memories made with them this summer... I know it's going to pass us by all too quickly.