We have moved

It has finally happened. We moved to Prescott. We spent the first 17 days of July packing up everything we own and getting our house ready to rent out. On Saturday, July 18, we headed out and drove to Prescott. We had a great amount of help from friends and family to get this move done and we are very grateful. Chad's mom and brother, Vance, came into town for a few days to help pack, make repairs and paint rooms. While Vance and Barbara were here Chad and I made a deal. I could hire someone to clean the house instead of doing it myself and he could purchase Guitar Hero for our Wii. We both won and we were both happy. That's the best kind of deal. We had several guys from the elder's quorum in Tucson come help us load the truck. Our 26' truck was loaded in less than 90 minutes. My brother David came into town to help us drive a car up to Prescott and unload. We had several members of the ward here in Prescott meet us to unload. It is sad to be gone from Tucson but we are enjoying our new home. We have more space inside and out and the weather is much more tolerable although significantly hotter than when I was growing up.

(The door that was finally repainted - Sooner scratched it up and now it's good as new)

(Grant playing Guitar Hero)

(Barbara playing Guitar Hero)

(Our living room while being packed)

(One of many stacks of boxes and bins)

Just a few short days after moving to Prescott, we headed to Estes Park, CO for a Jones family reunion. That is Chad's mom's family. It was great fun but much too short. We headed to Phoenix Wednesday evening and flew out Thursday morning. We had a fun Chuck Wagon dinner on Thursday night. We got to see all of the family that we haven't seen in ages. Grant met up with his "friends" and after dinner disappeared for the rest of the evening. On Friday, we went hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. We took a fairly easy trail to a lake and enjoyed lunch and the view. It took longer than it should have to get there because Grant was whiney and very slow. He made it though. We wee going to head back after that but Grant said he wanted to hike more so we went on to the next lake. Of course, he whined and was very slow up to the next lake but we made it. We took a detour on the way back and found a beautiful flowing stream with waterfalls. Friday night was the adult dinner. We left Grant with his cousins and some babysitters and went to a church our family rented (not one of our churches). We had dinner and enjoyed a hilarious skit by Barbara and her siblings. Cole slept the whole time in a crib in one of their nurseries. We need some of those at our church. On Saturday, very early, we headed white water rafting. We left with the boys with Kim, Barbara and her kids. The boys had fun with their grandma, aunt and cousins while we floated down the river. I have not had so much fun in a long time. I definitately plan to do that again. Chad's cousin Julia fell out of her boat and a boat of younger kids flipped on the easier rapids but no one was hurt and everyone had a great time. We all rushed back from rafting to watch a video Vance made of a bunch of family photos we all submitted. It was great to watch. We watched it in an actual movie theater we rented. Saturday night was family game night. We were back at the same church from the night before. All of the kids were playing in their fantastic nursery with tons of toys. At one point I went to check on Grant and he actually told me to go away and leave him alone. I think he was afraid I would say it was time to leave. Overall, we all stayed up way too late with our family relaxing in the hot tub and hanging out. Grant had so much fun with his cousins. I am in love with Colorado now and want to go back and even move there. Sadly, we were only there for two days really. We left Sunday morning to fly home.

(Lindsay, Cole, Grant and Chad on the wagon ride before the chuck wagon dinner)

(Kym, Trent, Vance, Barbara and Alisha on a wagon ride before our chuck wagon dinner)

(Alisha, Vance, Ellie, Trent, Jake, Barbara, Chad and Grant at the chuck wagon dinner)

(Chad and Vance at the chuck wagon dinner)

(The cousins, Hayden, Brookie, Sage, Ellie, Little Vance and Grant with Trent relaxing in the hot tub)

(Chad with Grant trailing behind hiking to Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park)

(Chad, Lindsay, Cole and Grant at Crystal Lake)

(Brooke, Vance, Ellie, Brookie, Kim and Little Vance at Bear Lake)

(Chad, Lindsay, Cole and Grant at Crystal Lake)

(Trent, Brooke and Cole - the three redheaded Mellens)

(Trent with the Siebers, Hayden, Steve, Sage and Jake at Bear Lake)

(Cole and Jake hiking)

(Brooke and Cole hiking at Rocky Mountain National Park)

(Grant and Cole taking a lunch break at Bear Lake)

(Brooke, Brookie, Little Vance, Vance, Ellie, Cole and Jake at the secret waterfall we found)

(Kim with Little Vance, Ellie and Brookie at Barbara's condo)

On Tuesday, July 28, Amy, Nicholas and Zachary Studley came to visit and see our new home. Grant and Nicholas had a great time as usual. Those two are more like brothers than friends. I loved having Amy here. She is like a sister to me and I will miss seeing her daily. Grant and Nicholas spent a lot of time driving around in the Powerwheels. They figured out early on that Grant was the better driver and Nicholas the better gas pusher, so despite repeated warnings from moms that it was too dangerous, Grant steered and Nicholas pushed the gas. We spent a full morning at Goldwater Lake on Wednesday. We took the boys on a hike to the dam and back, had lunch and threw rocks in the water.

(Nicholas and Grant enjoying a chocolate chip cookie outside before bed)

(Nicholas, Grant, Zach and Cole having breakfast before going to Goldwater Lake)

(Grant and Cole at Goldwater Lake)

(Nicholas and Grant at Goldwater Lake)

(Nicholas, Grant and Zach on the swing after hiking around part of Goldwater Lake)

(Nicholas and Grant climbing a tree at Goldwater Lake)

(Cole at Goldwater Lake)

(Amy and Zach hiking at Goldwater Lake)

(Cole on the grass at the Square dancing to the music from the cloggers)

We are enjoying our new home here. Grant did finally figure out how to steer his PowerWheels Jeep by himself and loves to drive around our property. He particularly loves it when Cole rides with him. We have done some hiking at Pioneer Park and the Willow Lake trail. I plan to do more with the boys and dogs. The dogs are loving the freedom and the cooler weather. They are free to run here and Sooner has become a whole new dog. I almost don't hate my dogs anymore now that they are outside more. I have started a garden. I am still trying to dig up the dirt and remove the rocks but by the end of this week it will be planted.

(Grant and Cole Jeeping)

(Grant and Cole hiding in a bathroom cupboard - my whole bathroom is unpacked and this cupboard is still empty Yeah!!!!)

(Cole in our new giant shower - he climbed in while I was showering so I took off his diaper and let him play - yes, the shower is as big as it looks)

(Cole stayed in the shower and played while I was getting ready)