PACK it up MOVE it out!!

Gilbert and Hailey went up "early"...and Becky and I finished things up and came up a week later... and low and behold.. we got here JUST in time for the massive snow storm!!

Hailey made her first snow angel.. and Becky froze in the falling snow! It was amazing!  So glad we all made it safely..

Getting ready to leave :(

While shopping, the sisters were playing.. and it just turned out to be a cute picture

 

Well, the time came.  We had to say good bye. This was the last practice the kids attended before we left. I have seen many of these kids blossom... and it was a sad sad night for me.

Gilbert and I made a QUICK trip back to Dayton to sign the lease on the house!:) We were so excited to find a house, in the neighborhood we liked, with landlords that would let us keep the dog... Lots of room for everyone...kids each got their own rooms... a living room and a family room.. and a humongous back yard!

November was a bit CRAZY for us!

For Ms. Judy's birthday.... she wanted to go hiking! I thought I was gonna die! BUT.. I LOVE my JUDY... and we made it to the top... of Madonna Mountain... I hope she had a great birthday... cause I couldn't walk for a week after that hike!!

We were able to spend Thanksgiving in Utah with my brother and his family.  Since we were headed (sort of) in the direction of our new home... we loaded a small trailer, and made a pit stop in Nevada.. and how do you beat this!!?? WE pulled in to the storage unit to drop off theboxes, and saw this amazing site... it was cold, and WINDY but the rainbow was worth it!

The first of November, Gilbert and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary.  He was able to get this amazing ring I had fallen in love with at a local jewelry store.  I went and visited it several times, and he was able to pull it of..  I love it.. but most of all.. I love him!  He is my soul mate... here's to MANY more BABE!

On our way back, we stopped in VEGAS!... The kids love stopping in Vegas, and I love M & M's... so why not satisfy everyone... and stop in Vegas, and visit the M & M Museum!

Missing California before I left

I started getting all nostalgic... I posted the above photo on facebook.. with the caption of "Gonna Miss this view".  And I think I still do...

 

 This has always put a smile on my face. I knew that this was something I was gonna miss. This is on Creston Rd. before you get to El Pomar.  Its great to know that the public works employees have a little fun while filling in all those cracks in the asphalt.  Seeing this always put a smile on my face!

And sunsets... how do you beat the sunsets of California... ??

Its OFFICIAL! Its move time!

We listed the house for sale, and started packing... and praying.. that everything would work out!

UH!??WHAT?? We go to GREAT AMERICA this weekend!

 

So Becky enrolls in dance class for her freshman year.. shes in the backyard practicing her song.. and dancing.. and crash...SCREAM comes from the back yard... Gilbert and I both run out to the back yard.. "what.. what happened.. move your leg.. what do you mean you can't!!? You have a football game in two days...AND Great America this weekend!!??"

So quick Mom- find an orthopedist!! Diagnosis:  Dislocated knee cap... yup, lots of swelling, and until it goes down...we won't be able to tell you anything....

So first football game.. on crutches

 

 

 

Gilbert and I had a ball at Great America. Knowing it was probably our last trip with the choir, we made the best of it. Let the kids run free with their friends, and we did our own thing!

AND we pushed Becky around in a wheel chair most of the time.. cause they said she probably shouldn't walk on the knee :(

For the first time in Singing Hands history.... the parents got involved! They did Y.M.C.A. and did a fabulous job... I didn't participate.. cause of course they did this while I was touring Dayton!

We spent ALOT of time on the Carasouel... why? No reason in particular, except it had a nice breeze, we didn't have to walk anywhere... it was relaxing
And yes... he held on for the whole ride! :)

Who says I am old enoughfor a HIGH SCHOOLER?

When did this happen!?  Anyone want to tell me how I got to be old enough for a high schooler??Well... It happened... when I wasn't looking! She knew we were moving.. and totally didn't want to go to school. So .. what does Mom do.. get her involved... in SOMETHING...ad what do I know about high school?  I know that high school was the BEST BEST thing in the whole world... as long as I was with band!

Here is Gilbert and I in band... this was the year we started dating, so yes, of course we are standing next to each other... second row from the top... # 6,and 7 from the Right... that's us! :)
So.. greatest experience in my life.. so what do I do...:

YUP! Put her in the color guard! SHE LOVES IT!! She looked beautiful, had a blast, made some great friends with these girls!  Lets see this bottom picture... That's Kaitlyn, Sarah, Beck, and Alora.. in the top row... and bottom is Stephanie, Shasta and (I don't know her name, she wasn't involved too much, and ended dropping shortly after this photo was taken)

WE ARE WHAT!??

We are moving? What do you mean WE... WE are moving??
We had some BIG decisions to make... Gilbert's work had been investigating for some time, about moving to Nevada... and they were going to do it.. it was actually happening.. would we go.. would we stay...we decided we were going to visit first... Lets go out, see if we like it.. and go from there... so.. off we went...
We landed in DAYTON NEVADA... it instantly felt like home....

We decided that weekend.. we were moving!

We went site seeing:

 

I fell in love with this barn- its rustic, beautiful, got good lighting...
 

 

 Wild horses ... we were told they were all over... this was the ONLY one we saw... this trip.. it was all by itself.. this picture instituted the game of "Lonely Pony"... with the kids... every time we came to visit... they searched... for the "lonely pony!"

 This is an old school house in Virginia City.  I was not sorry Gilbert and I ventured out there before coming home... it was a great little city, lots to see. and lots to take in! 

 We found the firefighter museum there in Virginia City as well.  It was small and quaint, but had a TON of history in there!

We were even able to find a patch from Paso Robles... they had a San Miguel Patch.. but it wasn't "our" San Miguel.

 

 

We had some amazing family photos done by Cindy at Looky Loo Photography... while everyone was together for Becky's graduation!  Besides Kayla being grumpy.... we all had a great time and I love the way they turned out!

I think the last time we did a photo like this... we still lived in Los Osos... it was for Fathers Day

This was my favorite... The kids look great.. the sunset is beautiful.. and Kayla is ALMOST smiling

I don't think my sister and I have a photo together... ever....

YUP! A SMILE!!

She's a ham.. she's a clown... and she is beautiful!

Becky is always so gorgeous! I don't know what to do with her sometimes!

The following day after graduation, I went to the awards assembly... and I had gotten this great idea off of pintrest to give Becky the book "Oh the Places You Will Go".. Dr Suess... and well... We were all waiting on some late teachers that day, and so I took the opportunity to read the book to the whole school instead of making them sit and be quiet doing nothing... so I cried through the whole book, with Becky in mind.. knowing I had had so many people sign it and give her all sorts of good advice and well wishes.. not knowing what was going to be in store for her so shortly.

GRADUATION!!? WHAT!!?? I have a kid old enough to o a graduation for?!!? I don't know how this happened!

Yup- There she is... with her teacher.. the whole 8th grade class of Bradley School

She gave her speech which she didn't want to write... but her teacher said she needed to...

 

 Then we learned about Becky's driving skills from Kevin Richards... cause you see.. Becky is at the wheel of her life... she has to make the choices of which way to turn... and well... Kevin has been the only one brave enough to let her drive his car... he's a lawyer...he can be trusted....RIGHT?!

Yes, this would be her principal.. Mr Trejo in a kilt.... I think she almost died when she saw him!

Her teacher, Mr Sobraski, had this cake made for her.. by his sister in law//she did an amazing job, it tasted delicious!

YUP... DYING!

Mr Trejo AND Grandpa in Kilts!

This is when Kevin taught us about the "law of diminishing IQ".... The more girls that are together to do a certain task, or activity.... the smaller their collective IQ seems to be... its true... (for boys and girls!)