Week 2

Started out the week by going to Medieval Times. It was so much fun for the kids and that makes it so much fun for the adults. It was a dinner and tournament, watching horses and knights perform skills that were really quite impressive. I was really impressed with the horsemanship. Our boys LOVED that all throughout dinner they could eat with their hands, yell and cheer, and watch a show.

Went in to DC two different days. Learned QUICKLY that there is no parking. There is plenty of parking spots on the street, but you can only park there for two hours, then you must move your vehicle to a new spot. There are garages and some underground parking, but all have such low clearance that I couldn't park in any of them. So I tried the train later in the week. The first trip we ended up spending the day at the National Zoo. It was the first time I tried getting all the kids around all by myself. I strapped Dahlia to me with our snugly, had Isabel in a stroller, and Peach/Tate traded off on who would be at back of the sit/stand stroller. It worked better than I thought. Quite a workout when going up the hills of the zoo, but for the most part great. The zoo was fun. The weather was a perfect day for this kind of activity. The second trip we didn't get to see much other than the train station. It was such an ordeal to get to DC that we ate and then started the trek back to our apartment. Even then, we weren't home until 10 o'clock that evening and the kids and myself had more then enough.

Emily went home so I am major bummed about that. I had much higher dreams of what my summer would be like with her here, but will have to settle with working full time and not going anywhere. Defiantly not my ideal summer but the way it turned out.



Side note: My neighbors in Utah have threatened a legal battle over our joint fence... I wonder how crazy this will get.

Week 1 in Baltimore

I left Utah last Friday and arrived in Baltimore on Sunday afternoon. It was a long drive, by Emily made it great. This week was spent just trying to get my bearings. There is always office stuff to deal with. We needed to get another apartment (since we had three new guys come in yesterday and two more soon) Then just watching numbers and hoping our guys do well.
I have already been to DC, but only to the Platinum office there. I did see IKEA, but the kids did not want to go in, so neither did I.
Our apartments are amazing! They are big and the area is beautiful. The pool looks fun for the kids. Kids are working on keeping their voices down and doing what they are asked. I am working on not getting my feelings hurt so easily and getting the laundry, dishes, and dinner ready by the time Gentry gets home.
I am so glad Emily (my sister) will be here for the summer. I hope we don't drive her crazy.
So..... not much to report. This next week is going to be amazing, so stay tuned.

Gentry + April

I recently shared the story of our beginning on another site; I figured I would repost it here.
Gentry and I met on a Thursday night. I had just joined the SUU Ballroom Dance Team and as a requirement to be on the team, I had to take Fundamentals of Ballroom each semester. It was my first time to the class and I got there late. I walked in and noticed him right away. He was clearly the best dancer on the team and so hot!!! The instructor talked to me for a moment and then put me in line to next to her and told the guys to switch partners. It just happened that Gentry was to dance with me next. Unfortunately, he was too busy flirting with the girl he was currectly dancing with and wouldn't let go of her. The next guy in line got tired of waiting so he side stepped him and started to take me in dance postion when Gentry cut in and took me in his arms. That was it for me. I was gone over the moon for him. He looked into my eyes and said; "You have the most beautiful eyes." I blushed and souldn't look at him again. The music starts and he introduced himself, asked my name, and we start talking. When our instructor tells everyone to seitch again he said we didn't have too and we just keep dancing. Eventually class os over and I float home. He runs home and says to his brother and roommate Landon, "I met her. I met the girl I and going to marry. Her name is April and she has the most beautiful eyes."
We dated exclusively till the end of the school year at which point we broke up. Not because we didn't like each other or because of some fight. It was really because we had never really thought about getting married. We wanted to remain friends. We would call or write over the summer but with no expectations and no promises. We were both free to date and kiss whomever we wanted. If in the fall we wanted to start dating again, we would. If not, we would go our separate ways.
After only about two weeks of being home I knew that wasn't going to work. I missed him so much. I hoped he would call in the evenings. I checked the mail everyday for a letter. I turned down friends for dates. I told people I had a boyfriend. I was sying to know who he was spending his time with. Who was he thinking about? When would we see each other again? One evening after getting off of work, I saw a guy I have had a crush on in high school. He came over and we talked about the past year. He told me about his plans for his mission and how school was going. Some flirting was happening and then he asked me what I was doing that night and if I wanted a ride on his motorcycle. I didn't even have to think about it. I said no thanks, and then headed home to call Gentry. It was the night I decided to marry him. I realized I was IN LOVE with him. I didn't want to date anyone else. I wanted to be with Gentry and hoped he felt the same way.
The end of the summer we were married. Although we haven't always been as happy and as in love as we were during the dating/engagement process, I am still over the moon for him. I still get butterflies after periods of being apart. I thank God for the blessing that is Gentry when I see him wrestling with my boys and dancing with my girls. I often wonder how I got so lucky. This year will be fourteen years since we were married and I can still remember what he was wearing that first time I saw him, the song that was playing the first time we kissed, and how it felt when he first told me he loved me.

And away we go!

This is it!!! The week we move. It is the last week of school for my two boys, both of them have birthdays (Happy Birthday Court and Tate!) I have to meet with the couple that is house sitting for us. We are going to the Planetarium. I planned out options for each day of driving, full of treats, car activities, and movies to watch. I will need to have every stick of clothing washed, folded and put away, along with every piece of linen. My house cleaned. Bills paid. Run to the bank. And I need to be prepared for Dahlia with bottles and diapers.
I have missed Gentry. I get frustrated so easily at him, I wish I didn't. I try to not let it show but I have NEVER been good at covering my emotions. I think being away is what is hard on me. He has never been a big phone conversationalist (I may have just made that word up) and he is eat, sleeping, dreaming about work so we don't talk about anything else. I think of myself as fairly independent, but with five kids I can't just do something on my own, I have to haul everyone with me and I find myself longing for my partner.
I am already missing my mom and dad, ward, house, BED, yard and life back home but also looking foreword to the adventure that lies ahead.
If anyone lives along I-80 and is dying to see me and my gaggle of kids, drop me a line. I would love to have something to do along the way.

Lots to Do

The summer has officially begun in our house. I know it snowed Friday Gentry is in Baltimore. I have been there and back. His office is put together and running (not quite smoothly yet but that will come).


I thought I would come home from being out there and be bored, but so far I can't keep up with everything that needs to get done. The kids are filling up all of my time with end of year activities. It really is so fun!
My week looks like this:

Monday
Grocery Shopping, including diapers and formula
Return some hats to the mall
Get some clothes for the boys birthdays
Laundry

Tuesday
Sister's birthday
Peach to preschool
Court field trip
Kevin here to help finish up Courts car
Hope of America Performance at BYU

Wednesday
Another sister's birthday
Bank run
Clean house
Court's ballroom practise

Thursday
Peach Preschool
Boys send flowers and gift certificates for teachers
Courts dress rehearsal for ballroom
BOOK CLUB

Friday
Tate's field trip to the zoo
Laundry
Pinewood Derby
Ballroom Performance

Saturday
Yard Work
Ballroom Performance