Fathers and Sons Campout

Growing up my family lived in Kirkland, Washington, and every early June heralded a church Fathers and Sons Campout. My brother, Ray, being the only son in my family growing up, went every year. However, since my dad was often traveling for work, Ray went to this activity for many years with a neighbor and his dad. My dad was able to make it once or twice, but not very often - always missing because he was out of town on business. One year, Fathers and Sons came up in conversation between Ray and my dad and Ray said, quite wistfully and dramatically, "You mean Neighbors and Sons." Ouch. After that painful experience for my dad, he rarely missed the event in the years to come. They had marvelous traditions of sleeping in the van (with the seats pulled out) instead of a tent, drinking bottled root beer and investing in some sugary and preservative-filled food for the trip.

Upon moving to Wendover, we were excited to find out that our district (church district, not school district - out here, for church, we are in a branch and district, not a ward and stake) was having a Fathers and Sons Campout this last weekend. Joseph was eagerly anticipating the beginning of a similar tradition to the one my brother and dad had with his own boys. Unfortunately, on Friday we learned that the location of the campout was still much to muddy for camping and so it was cancelled. To lessen the blow to our children, Joseph proposed setting up our tent out in the yard of our apartment complex and camping with the boys out there. They were thrilled. As the evening progressed, their Fathers and Sons Campout turned into its own Neighbors and Sons activity, albeit very different from Ray's Neighbors and Sons Campouts, and all of us had a marvelous time.

The boys and Joseph went out and set up the tent together and when our neighbors found out about the plan, they volunteered to help out. Our upstairs neighbor brought out her chimenea for the boys to have a campfire. Someone went to the dollar store to get some marshmallows for the boys to roast. Several of the neighbors gathered around the tent and the chimenea in camping chairs and Elizabeth and I joined in as well. We roasted marshmallows and talked for hours while the boys ran around and wrestled inside the tent. Then, when it was pretty dark, and the boys were getting pretty sleepy, the rest of us packed up and went inside to sleep while Joseph and the boys whipped out their flashlights and zipped up the tent door and Joseph read the next chapter of Little House in the Prairie to Austin and Matthew.

The girlie had a great time and snuck in a several marshmallows over the course of the night:

Austin loved roasting the marshmallows himself:

The boys actually set up a lot of the tent themselves and were pretty proud of their work:

Joseph is enamored of the chimenea and wants to own one himself:

Matthew didn't care as much about roasting the marshmallows as he did about eating the marshmallows:

Moving Tips from an All-Too-Experienced Mover

My internet is finally connected, so I don't have to snatch a minute here or there on someone else's computer anymore. Thus, you will finally have the promised moving tips I mentioned a post or two ago.

Moving Tip #1: List Everything in Each Box

As you pack, make a master list of everything in each box. I mean it. Everything. Not just "kitchen utensils." I want to see "vegetable peeler," "three spatulas," "two wooden spoons," "can opener," etc. This may seem excessive, ridiculous, and a waste of time. I assure you it is not. When you have moved and are trying to find the can opener or where your TV remote is, "kitchen utensils" or "entertainment extras" may not cut it. I have spent some unfortunate hours searching for items later when I could have spent five more minutes being more detailed in my lists when I packed. This will allow you to go straight to the box you need, when you need it, and save much time and frustration. You think when you are packing that you will remember easily when you are unpacking. You may not. And then you will be sad.

I keep the list on a yellow legal pad while I am packing and then spend time that evening typing it into a list in Excel. This way, I can even use the "find" feature (shortcut: ctrl f) to locate items later. I print off a master copy and put it on a clipboard that can be used to direct affairs when I am unloading and unpacking. Occasionally, I need to add a box or two by pencil to the bottom of the list, but I try not to let my perfectionism overwhelm me. (Can you tell I like to be organized?!)

* As a side note, this is an excellent time to make an inventory of what you own for home owner's or renter's insurance purposes.

Moving Tip #2: Label Each Box Clearly

There are a couple of different systems I have used for labeling my boxes and the important part in each case is to do it clearly and consistently.

I use labels (Avery labels 5163 or 8163) with my computer and print off a few of each number. At LEAST 2 labels of each box number, but 3 or 5 are better. I know these can be expensive, but remember how much time and sanity you are saving by making this move easier. You can also write the numbers in a Sharpie, but I have found it is much easier to read at a glance if done with the labels. I have done it both ways and been really grateful for the labels when I've used them. When printing the labels, if you only print two, place one on the top of the box and one on the side. Be consistent in your placement, for instance always place the top label in the upper left hand corner of the box and then the side label on the side towards you on the top right hand corner, or something like that. If you have three labels, place one on the top and two on opposite sides of the box. If you print five labels, place one on the top and one on each side of the box.

In addition to a number for each box, it is extremely helpful to also place a letter on the label indicating the room the box is moving to. You can create a code such as K for kitchen, O for Office, M for master bedroom, B for bathroom, etc. This way, when you (or anyone helping you) are moving boxes in, they can take them right to where you want them, without having to consult your list. If you don't put letters on the labels, it is helpful to have someone directing as people bring boxes in to let them know which room that numbered box should go.

Moving Tip #3: Set Up Your Bed Before You Do Anything Else

Almost the first thing you should do - perhaps before you even finish unloading all of your boxes - is set up your bed, sheets and all. This way, no matter how overwhelmed or exhausted you feel at the end of the day, you have a clean place to sleep that feels like home to you. There is nothing worse than finishing a day of unloading and not have a place to sleep except for a couch or on blankets on the floor. If you sleep in your own bed, you will feel more rested and able to face the chaos that the second day is sure to bring. Learning this trick early in our "moving career" has made all the difference for me. Do yourself a favor and try it next time. You will thank me.

Moving Tip #4: Have a Container Set Aside With Important Items

When we moved this time, I set aside a blue laundry basket (all my other laundry baskets are white) to have an easily identifiable location for all of the essentials I would need right away in our new place. I put it in my van - not in the moving trailer, not in anyone else's car - so that it would be right where I needed it. In this basket went some things that made life a lot easier. It had my purse, my keys, my master moving list on a clipboard, scissors for opening boxes, a roll of toilet paper to place in the bathroom immediately, handsoap for the bathroom, one bar of soap for the shower, paper towels, extra garbage bags (and grocery bags), remotes for the TV and DVD player, a few carefully selected DVDs for my children to watch, a few bottles of water, and a few snacks. I also included my scriptures so that I could take some extra moments to create some peace for myself amid the craziness of the first few days (or weeks) after a move. Some other helpful items to place in here are some paper plates, plastic cups, and perhaps some plastic utensils. Many of these items have come to my attention from past "learning" experiences, such as the toilet paper and soap.

Now it's your turn! What are some of your tips that I have left out here? I would love any suggestions for the next time I have to do this.

Small Town Adventures

Earlier this week we found out that mail is not delivered to our apartment. We need to get a P.O. Box. This is, of course, after I have already been efficient and changed our address for several essential places we need mail from. I finally found the post office open (after many failed attempts by Joseph earlier this week) on Friday morning and got our P.O. Box. During this adventure, I learned a few things about living in a small town.

Drawback: the only post office in town is only open from 8:30am until 4:30pm, and is closed from 1:30 to 2:30 afternoon every afternoon for lunch.

Benefit: if any mail comes with your name on it - even with an address not resembling yours at all - they will still put it in your P.O. Box.

Moving Day

After 8 long months, moving day finally came. On Thursday, with a trailer loaded and hitched up to my dad's truck (full of all the items accumulated during our "stay" at my parents' and the stuff we have been actively using during that same time period), and two other cars loaded with children, helpers, and more loose belongings, we left the driveway a little after 9am. After a 2+ hour drive, we arrived in our new hometown: Wendover, Utah.

I was so tired and overwhelmed at that point, and utterly thankful for Joseph's hard work in preparation as well as full gratitude for my "moving crew." They stepped in and took over while I kind of wandered around in a daze and directed things. My "moving crew" consisted of my mom and dad, my siblings (with a couple of their children in tow), and my very good friend (Trish). Joseph walked the two blocks home for lunch and then came and helped more after school was over.

We are still sorting through things and trying to gain some order to the vast amounts of things we own. I am still pretty overwhelmed. However, I have used this time of change to assess my life and have set some goals. One of those goals is to greatly downsize the amount of "stuff" we have and focus more on what really matters.

Being in a combined community (Wendover, Utah and West Wendover, Nevada are technically two towns since they are in different states, but operate in most ways as one community) of about 7000 people is going to be a huge adjustment for me, but I am looking forward to the opportunities to learn, grow, and serve that will be presented to me as I live here.

My mom moving artwork past Matthew, with the background of our crowded living room:

My boys, in heaven while "discovering" all the toys that have been packed away:

My niece, Madeleine, sleeping in the middle of much chaos:

Trish with my boys:

Since this is the seventh place we have lived in the six years we've been married, I've become an expert in moving. I will post my moving tips in the next week so that you can benefit from my vast experience in packing, storing, and unpacking my home.