I always procrastinate when it comes to updating the blog after it's been so long. So many things have happened, that it's really hard to try and fit it into one post! Obviously theres a lot more that happened in each of these months, but I would go crazy trying to actually write about it all. Here's the run down:
 |
| Halloween 2012 with Grandawnie |
 |
| Miss Erin Teaching Kimber Academy |
 |
| First morning at Oma's house. |
October 2012- moved into Hans and Christie's (Jake's parents) house while we looked for a house to buy in Boise. This was a great chance for the kids to spend extra time with their grandparents, and we are always happy to be there! We also went on our annual family vacation to Aunt Lynette and Uncle Kim's Orchards in Washington. Everyone loves going there to ride motorcycles with the bog boys!! This year we went with Juli and Andrew, and it was a blast! We also started taking Jack to Kimber Academy homeschool at Erin Case's house. This is an awesome curriculum, and we really enjoy it! Jack's favorite part is that Erin is a fantastic teacher, and he gets to be with his cousins! The hard part is that it's a 30 minute drive every morning at 7:20am.
 |
| Jake and Uncle Kim with some of the kids |
November 2012- found a house and put in an offer. This should be an entirely different post because it's a long story, but the short version is as follows. We looked at a million houses and put in offers on about 6 of them. They just didn't feel right, so after negotiating with all o them we just let them go. Then one night 9right after going to the Boise temple open house) I found a brand new listing that had only been posted for 5 hours. It was the perfect house. Brick, built in 1958, gorgeous landscaping, updated interior and exterior, sun room, skylights, hardwood floors... My 4 bed/3 bath, 2775 sq ft. dream house. So be put in a full price offer that night without even going to see it in person. It was accepted, and we were super excited!
 |
| At the closing table to buy our first house |
.jpg) |
| Cruise smile! |
 |
| Edvalsons 2012 |
December 2012- moved into our dream house, and took family pictures in the backyard that weekend. After we moved in on the 5th- we had about 10 days to get everything situated, and then we went on a cruise to the Bahamas with our friends Danny and Erin Edvalson. It was so great to see their family, and it's always nice to vacation in a warm sunny place in the middle of an Idaho winter! New Year's Eve we had a party at our house with both sides of our family, and all 3 of the kids made it to midnight!
 |
| New Year's Eve 2012! |
 |
| Shooting with Grandpa on New Years Day |
 |
| Family Portrait 2012 |
January 2013- Traded in our Toyota Tundra for a minivan. I know, sad. But it was a California truck, and it only had rear wheel drive, which is a death trap in Idaho in the winter. Because we have a stable home location now, we thought we'd try to put jack into an elementary school and see if he would do as well as he has been doing in homeschool. Jack started attending Hillcrest elementary school at semester, and went to the morning Kindergarten class. His favorite thing about going to school was riding the school bus!
February 2013- This is where things went wild..... We were planning on working for Gemtek Pest Control in Boise long term, which is why we bought our house in Boise, but that all changed. Just as Jake was about to go and get licensed for the next summer season we both felt like we were supposed to look into somethings else. Jake had been selling pest control for 8 years, but we were curious about selling home security. It's a bigger commission, and a more challenging sale, but Jake had reached the top of his game with pest control and was ready for a challenge. We met with a regional manager and another manager for
Vivint Home Security and Automation, and everything fell into place. We prayed about it, and really took the decision seriously as it would change our plans entirely. We felt that it was right, and that it was an awesome opportunity with a successful and fast growing company.
March 2013- We decided to try to start an office in Boise since we had bought a house there. Jake had never recruited a team before, but he was able to sign 7 more guys to work with him in just a few weeks. We were really surprised at how well everything was turning out. This month we also pulled Jack out of Hillcrest Elementary because he was actually regressing just by being in that environment, We knew that since he learned to read so early (when he was 3), and because he was already doing second grade math- it was going to be a challenge to keep his interest in a kindergarten class. We are going to continue to homeschool, and now we are sure that at this point in his life it is really the best situation for his continued learning. :)
April 2013- Bought a playset and spent a week putting it together in our back yard. It was a beast, but it's super fun and the kids love it! Jake spent some time traveling for work, and went to Tyler, TX for a week with a couple of the guys he works with in Boise. They loved it so much that on the last night of his trip he called me and said that he wanted our family to move there and he would take his whole team to work there for the summer. WHAT????!!!!!!!!! We bought a house. We were finally rooted in an area. We had moved 13 times in 6 years! Here's to number 14.
That brings us to May 2013. Jake actually told me that he wanted us to move to Texas on Thursday April 25th. He flew back to Boise the next night (Friday). We spent Saturday meeting with Jake's team that was supposed to sell in Boise, but that would now be going to Texas for the summer. Then then went to Jesse's senior recital Saturday night. Sunday we packed the car and our 3 kiddos and started the 28 hour journey to Tyler, Texas.
It sounds crazy. That's because it is. We do crazy. My younger brother Eric lives in our house in Boise, and has been living with us since we bought it in December. He said he knew that when Jake left to go to Texas for training in April he knew that the only reason he would be coming back is to get the rest of us. Eric said it best when he stated "Jake and Jana will be successful in life. Not because of a financial head start, or a masters degree, or a stroke of luck, but because they take every opportunity for success that comes their way." I cherish that.
 |
| Family picture taken in our front yard right before we got into our car to leave Boise. |
The truth is that having the office in Boise this year with Jake being brand new to the company and running everything by himself, probably would have worked. It would have turned out okay. Jake doesn't do "okay". That's why we have moved now 14 times. We are always looking for what is going to be best, not only for us, but for the people who are dependent on us as well. Jake saw that the opportunity for him to grow and learn, and the opportunity for his sales guys to gain knowledge and experience, was so much greater with the team in Texas. So the choice was easy. If you have the choice of better or best, you choose best.
 |
| Jack and Jess when they got out of the car upon arriving at our new aparmtent |
We drove for three days to get here. Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. The kids were better than we could have hoped for. Sunday they were excited about the adventure, and then they slept. Monday was mostly puking- but puking with a good attitude at least. Tuesday was mostly sleeping, followed by excitement for the adventure to end. :) We Drove from
Boise ID to
Provo, UT to
Denver, CO to
Raton, NM to
Amarillo, TX to
Dallas, TX to
TYLER, TEXAS!
 |
| Crossing from New Mexico into Texas! |
|
Our summer apartment is great! It bigger than I was expecting at 1450 sq. ft., and it has no stairs!! I love single level living because house work seems to take less effort when everything is on the same level, and I don't have to worry about the baby and the stairs! Unpacking didn't take long because the apartments came furnished, and we only had to bring our clothes, kitchen items, and personal belongings. And since we bought a house in Boise, we didn't have to pack up all of our furniture and put it into storage while we are gone. Thanks for house sitting, Eric!
 |
| First day of work in Tyler Texas |
It's warm and humid here. We actually don't mind it at all. We have spent some time out on the playground this week, and made some new friends. The little black girls that came to play with us yesterday kept telling Jack to "talk normal" and said he "sounds like he's from England or something". We'll get our southern drawl down eventually I guess. :) Little June has been enjoying the sunny weather too, and got her first sunburn yesterday on her now pink chubby little legs. :) She's had other firsts this week too, with her first tooth finally making it's appearance!
 |
| They love taking baths together |
We are really happy here, but that's not by chance. We have learned that when we are together as a family, we can be happy anywhere! So yes, the last 7 months have been a wild roller coaster- and we keep putting in our tokens time after time, because even though the ride is crazy- we can't help ourselves!
.jpg)
