{Colorado Bound - The BIG MOVE}

  Traveling back to California from Branson took us 16 hours!  We had a four hour unexpected delay in the Las Vegas airport that almost pushed us over the edge!  Mya had swimmers ear and was exhausted, so she threw her body on the ground and had a major meltdown right in the middle of the airport.  She was screaming and every time I looked at her she yelled, "Don't look at me!"  I tried to give her medicine and she pushed my hand making me spill it all over the floor.  She pretty much screamed in the airport with us unable to console her for the majority of the time.  I've never had so many people staring at me as I did in that airport.  I felt like the world's worst parent!

  We finally made it back to California where our dear friends the Headley's picked us up from the airport and let us stay the night at their home.  We got to bed at 1am after drugging Mya (please don't judge me)  and woke up at 6am to load up the remainder of our luggage to drive to Colorado.  We again had a tearful farewell with the Headley's and started out on our 10 hour drive to Colorado.  Kenny and I both had to drive our separate cars, since he was only going to help drop the kids and I off in Colorado and then return back to work in California while he finished up on buying All Pets Center. 

Ian is excited for this new adventure!

After traveling for two days with little sleep it was hard for me to stay awake as we drove.  Kenny was downing Mt. Dew at every gas station we stopped at, but I can't stand soda, so he bought me some caffeine pills.  I popped two in my mouth just as he called me and warned me to only take one because each pill had as much caffeine as a 3 liter of Coke, too late!!!  It was AMAZING what those two little pills did, besides my heart racing!  I was on such a caffeine high that I was like the Energizer Bunny!  I couldn't sleep well for the next two nights, but it did its job and we made it safely to Beautiful Colorado!!!

Home Sweet Home

We are living with Grandma and Grandpa Summers for  awhile, while we wait for Kenny to join us permanently in Colorado and as we figure out our financing from purchasing a business.  They have welcomed us with open arms.  We know what a sacrifice this is for them.  We have upset their quiet, easy going, lives that they are used to, to let us move in 4 rambunctious, loud little ones.  We greatly appreciate their generosity, love, and support they are giving us as we make this big step in our lives.  

I do love that my children are building an awesome relationship with their grandparents, who they used to only be able to see a couple of times a year.  This was one of our many reasons to move to Colorado, so we could be closer to our families.  

We taught Grandpa to play Boche ball.  

Not only did the grandparents welcome us here, but the abundance of deer did too!  It was like waking up in another world, when we woke up in the morning to a field full of deer.

My kids have taken at least 100 pictures of the deer and the novelty has yet to wear off.

Ian captured this cool shot!

The kids have quickly fallen in love with the pools in Grand Junction.  They have enjoyed going over to our friends house the Whites, where Kenny grew up swimming. 

The city pool is probably their favorite!  They went down this slide at least 50 times!

All Smiles

Ian

Mya 

Owen didn't realize how high the high dive was.  He contemplated turning around and going back down the ladder, but his brothers kept encouraging him and he did it and loved it!  To think that just earlier in the summer his swim teacher was having to throw him off the low dive because he was too scared.  How quickly his swimming has improved.

The Fruita pool has a basketball hoop and rock climbing, so its pretty cool too.  Lots of swimming options for my little fish!

 I think what we love most about living in beautiful Colorado is the great outdoors!  In California we could see into our neighbors houses, and out here we have space, a field to run in, and it just is so peaceful.  We are excited for this new chapter in our lives to begin...let the ADVENTURES BEGIN!!!

{Elliott Reunion}

After filling the storage unit to the brim, packing our two cars with the rest of our belongings, handing the keys to our house over to renters, we said our tearful farewells, and jumped on a plane to go to Branson, Missouri for our Elliott family reunion.  We were leaving California without closing on a deal for Kenny's new vet practice in Colorado and had just signed our house away to renters for a year, so we were beyond stressed! What better way to relieve some stress than to go on a vacation and relax!!!

We threw our worries to the wind and headed to Kansas!

The kids couldn't wait to see their cousins and to spend a week playing!

 Owen and Justice bonded over the Wii!  Love these two little Super Men!

Mya couldn't get enough of all her fabulous girl cousins!

Ian fell head over heels for new baby cousin Tenlee!

Drew figured out quickly which cousins were ready to explore!

Ge is always prepared and ready for fun!

 Ge always has the best prizes!

Princess Mya won enough rings to bedazzle every finger!

The most talked about game was the jelly bean game.

Each person was given the same color of jelly bean, however each color had two different flavors.  A pleasant flavor like chocolate or a disgusting flavor like puke!

Blurry, but some great disgusted reactions!

Mya and I went on a horse ride trail in the Ozarks.  

 She couldn't wait to see what horse we would be riding!

 She held on tight to the reigns, but loved being a cow girl for an hour!

 A little "M&M" (Mya and Mommy) time!

Uncle Matt,  Aunt Holly, and Brynlee

After riding horses, we were off to get pedicures!

 Mya was excited to get her first pedi with cousin Jaxyn!

Lovely time, lovely toes!

The men spent hours in the pool!

 There was minimal blood drawn from some intense water basketball!

 The boys sure loved being in the pool with Uncle Ty and Uncle Adam!

Our room was right next to the pool and the shuffle board court.  Drew took this game very seriously!

A visit to Branson must include a trip to the Fish Hatchery!

Just a few Elliott Grands hanging around!

We spent two days riding the rides at Silver Dollar City!  The second day was rainy, but it didn't stop us Elliott's from running with our kids from roller coaster to roller coaster!  We were the only ones crazy enough to ride in the rain, so we didn't have to stand in any lines.  We rode the worlds second fastest wooden roller coaster, "Out law run" eight times in a row!  It was our family favorite ride at the park.

It was at the Tom Sawyers ride that Kenny received an email saying the Heidemans accepted our offer to buy All Pets Veterinary Clinic in Grand Junction!!!!!   Now we finally were able to relax and know that our move was legit!

Hiking with Grandad to a cave!

Owen wanted to bring this little guy back home with us!  We reminded him that we no longer had a home, so he left it in Missouri!

I can't thank my parents enough for the time and effort they put into bringing us all together.  I love spending time with my family and love the memories we create at our reunions.  I love the relationship that my kids develop with their cousins and look forward to the next Branson Family Reunion.  

It was sad to say good-bye to family and end our relaxing week knowing we now had to face the stress of real life.  We dreaded having to fly back to California then turn around and jump in our cars and drive to Colorado!

{Tearful Good Byes}

There are so many wonderful things about living in California that I will miss terribly!  We have the best weather ever, which allows us to play outside all year long.  We are a quick drive to the ocean and to beautiful San Diego.  We live ten minutes from huge outlets with my beloved Kate Spade store.  The temple is a short 20 minutes from our home.  Seeing palm trees with a mountain landscape is breathtaking.  Kenny's work hours are unbelievable!   He is able to leave 5 minutes before work,  enjoy a 2 hr. lunch break, and then be home around 5.  I love our home and the wonderful culd-e-sac we live on with a park right behind us. 

 However, leaving all that behind doesn't come close to how hard it is saying good bye to our amazing friends!  I have never had as close of friends as the ones I made in California. The minute we moved here we were welcomed with open arms and were treated like family!  I have many wonderful memories and will forever cherish the friendships made in California.  They day we drove away was filled with tears.  Leaving my friends was so emotional for me and it hurt to say good-bye.  I plan on visiting them often and hope they will come to Colorado to see us.  However, it won't be the same as being able to just drive to meet up at the park or sit under my neighbors tree.  

Before I left I made a list of things I had to do with my friends!

Wilson Phillips Concert in the park!

Beach day!

All you can eat seafood!!!

A Frugo's Farewell!

Eating as many of Melina's Andes Mint Cupcakes as I could!  They are bit of heaven in my mouth!!!

Some of My favorite California Friends!!!!

~as I'm typing this the tears are rolling down my cheeks~

 I will always remember Crissa as my decorating go to person and my personal dresser!  

 I will always remember Melina for her amazing Cupcakes and the spiritual giant she is!  I loved our girl nights out with her!

 Oh How I love me some Ugapo's!!!!  Carrie is crazy (in a good way) and that is why I Love her!

 Tui's chopped suey and ribs were divine!  Nobody cooks like he does.   He told me that a talk I gave during sacrament meeting was what brought him back to church.

 Nia was like an Aunt to my kids.  She was always willing to take over as mom when she was around!  And baby Pua was my favorite!!!  I wanted to throw her in a suitcase and bring her with me to be Mya's sister!

 When I think of Jessica I think Chocolate!!!  She always surprised me with her yummy desserts and was always willing to take Ian off my hands!

 Yarnida, my wonderful neighbor!!!  Whenever I heard a knock at my door around dinner, I always prayed it was Yarnida with a plate of authentic Mexican food!  She taught me how to make ceviche and reminded me of a pioneer woman!

 I loved helping Amber organize and having her be my visiting teacher.  She and Ryan were great people to work for.

 I will always remember Anna's beautiful voice and sweet personality!

 Julia and I clicked from the day we met at the park and she asked my advice on potty training!  I loved watching Mya and her daughter Elliot develop a close friendship.  I will miss our dance parties and hours spent at the park.

 When I think of Christy I think of Makayla and Tristan.  They were the best neighbors and our kids played with each other every day!  I loved looking out my window and seeing our kids running together around the culde-e-sac.

Sunny Lynn has been my dear friend since college.  I totally get her personality and we always have some good laughs when we are together.  I've watched her babies develop into teenagers and love her kiddos like my own!  I will miss our talks and our nights out with the hubbies!  Whenever I need a good laugh, she is the first person I will call!

Darcy is my go-to girl!  She is full of spunk, creativity, energy, fun, and Love!  She is my party planner guru, my photographer, my spa partner, and my Sunday night walking partner.  We have been pregnant together and have raised our kids together.  Mya will forever be in love with "baby Wyatt!"  I will miss our Sunday night dinners and sitting around their fire pit talking into the evening.  Kenny will miss his bromance with Shawn!  They made us feel like apart of their family and we will forever be grateful to them for including us.

I will miss my hair dresser Terrie...not sure if I will ever find someone to replace her!

I have many other special friends from California, but did not get my picture with them.   Send me your pic and I will add an entry for you!!!

 Kenny didn't go around taking pictures of him and his friends like I did, but he did get a picture of his co-worker Kathy because I told him too!

Kenny's coworker Kathy has a special place in our hearts!  She is mentally handicapped and works at the vet clinic tearing newspapers.  We took her out for lunch every Christmas and drove her to the work parties.    She is a pleasure to be around and always makes us laugh.  She always said, "Kenny is my favorite Dr.!"  

He told her to make a funny face and she said she didn't know how!  He helped her :)

The day before we took off, we were "heart attacked!"

Cute hearts were placed allover our front porch.  

 We felt very loved!  

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 It was hard for me to say good-bye to friends, but it was heartbreaking to see my kids say their good-byes.  I will never have my kids move again!!!  I don't think I could emotionally handle it!

Drew's favorite friend Robbie!

Ian's favorite classmate Max!

Owen and a few of his favorite buddies Mason, Orin, Landon, and Anderson!

Mya's first love and neighbor Luke!

I love my friends like family and am grateful for their friendships!  What a blessing to have these people in our lives for 9 years!