Hello Memphis!

The movers came to pack up all our stuff on Thursday then on Friday they loaded everything up.  Side note: It was really nice to have people pack up all our stuff, but after unpacking it this past week I am peeved at the way they packed it.  We had people pack our stuff and move it a year ago and they packed everything so nice, but this time boys who looked like they were 18 packed our stuff and a few things made me really mad.  We had all of our bedding packed on top of our cleaning supplies… FOR REALS!  We had some Clorox spray bleach that leaked out onto all of the bedding and burned holes through everything.  Who on Earth packs cleaning supplies with bedding?!?! Also a bunch of our baking stuff was pretty much just dumped into a box and a bottle of lecithin leaked out onto everything.  Lecithin is impossible to get off anything so I had to throw out a bunch of stuff. 

After our stuff got packed up we stayed at our good friends’ house in Cleveland until Monday when we flew out to Memphis (the first day our stuff could arrive).  We were given a 7 day window for when our stuff would get to Memphis.  When we moved to Cleveland from Utah the mover also gave us a 7 day window as well but got our stuff to Cleveland in 2 days, so we were planning on it taking about 2 days to get to Memphis.  Once we were in Memphis on Monday we didn’t hear anything from the driver so we assumed it would be a few days to arrive so we stayed in a hotel for 3 nights and then we started getting antsy because our cars arrived on Wednesday but still no word on our stuff.  On Wednesday I found the driver’s phone number and called and asked when he’d be to Memphis.  He told me he hadn’t even left Cleveland yet and he wasn’t planning on leaving until Thursday so he’d get to Memphis on Friday! I was so mad.  I was sick of being in a new place and not having my stuff! Casey’s cousins who live about 25 minutes away from us in Southaven, MS graciously let us stay with them so we wouldn’t have to spend any more money on hotels. Then on Thursday night we got a call from the driver again saying he still hadn’t left Cleveland because his son just had a baby so now we wouldn’t get our stuff until Saturday!  Anyway, it doesn’t seem like a big deal looking back on it now but it was then. I hated the thought of Casey having a week off of work to move and unpack stuff but we didn’t have our stuff to unpack and it didn’t feel like a vacation, I felt like precious vacation time was being wasted! We did go sightsee and do fun things but I was stressed out!

We moved in on Saturday went to our new branch for the first time on Sunday and then Casey started work on Monday.

Random First thoughts of Memphis

- We love our nice new house we’re renting, I especially love the ice maker we have in the freezer, it has been used so much already.

-I love people’s accents here and how all the kids are respectful to their elders and call them mam and sir.  People notice all the time that I don’t have a Southern accent.

-There are tons of bugs in Memphis.  I took the girls out on a walk and came back with 10 mosquito bites (not exaggerating).  It has also been extremely hot (except for this weekend) so we pretty much stay inside and play.  I keep telling myself the weather here will be amazing come Fall/Winter!

-It’s fun living in a small town (Marion, AR). Everything here runs slower and more laid back.  People are friendly and helpful.

-I’m excited to experience living in a branch.  I have already decided that everyone needs a chance to see how the church is run in a branch.  Although it’s small everyone helps out and doesn’t complain. The first person we met in the branch was a nice man with a big bushy beard and a ponytail.  Come to find out he’s the 2nd counselor in our branch!  Welcome to Arkansas! 75% of our branch is related in some way.

-Sales tax is ridiculous here!  It’s 9.75%!!!!!!!!!!!!

-It blows my mind that to go to the closest Target I start out in Arkansas drive through Tennessee and then end up in Mississippi. My Target route:

-Grass here is weird, but there are so many beautiful plants here.  I am in heaven.  Some people in our neighborhood  have palm trees in their yards.  My favorite tree/flower/plant that I have discovered here is the Crepe Myrtle.  It is all over the place and so beautiful.

We are excited to explore Memphis for the next year!

Bye Cleveland

We’ve had a really busy past 2 months.  We had visitors come to Cleveland, and then we packed up and moved to Memphis.  I have been so tired, emotionally and physically and I finally feel like I can write about all the fun stuff we did during June and July!

In June we headed to Utah for a week for a Green family vacation.  We spent a lot of time hanging out with family and eating good food. 

Holland met Uncle Jacob for the first time (he’s getting married in less than 2 weeks!)

Ate Café Rio a few too many times, if that’s possible?

Went to Seven Peaks Salt Lake with cousins

Carly got to hang out with one of her favorite cousins of all, Lissy

Went on a fun scavenger hunt of Kaysville, Utah

Carly got to hang out with more favorite cousins, Sadie and Taylor

Ate ginormous shaved ice with Grandma Kathie (Carly was asleep)

Played the piano with Grandma Kathie (Carly was still asleep)

Got the girls’ pictures taken

And then daddy picked us up at the airport after the worst flight of my life.  I won’t go into details, but Holland was overtired and wouldn’t sit in her stroller or go to sleep so she ran around the airport like a crazy child and then she screamed a lot on the plane. I vow to never fly without Casey again.

We’ll be out to Utah again in a week and half for Jacob’s wedding!

The week after we got back from Utah Ann and Katie came from Wisconsin to come visit!!! Ann is Carly’s “Wisconsin Grandma.”  We hadn’t seen Ann and Katie for a really long time and they were so kind of drive from WI to Cleveland to come visit! We went shopping, went to the Zoo, saw the sites in Kirtland, and Ann and Katie took Carly and Holland shopping for fun clothes.  Ann spoils our kids so much and they love her so much.

Carly was not happy in this picture because Ann and Katie were leaving :(

Holland’s favorite book that Ann and Katie brought.

A few days after Ann and Katie came my sister Brooke and her family drove out to Cleveland from Utah to visit us and keep me company while Casey was gone at scout camp.  We went to the beach, did lame-o fireworks on the Fourth (apparently Ohio has one of the strictest firework laws in the US and you can only buy smoke bombs), went to Kirtland, did tons of shopping, ate lots of donuts, and played.  Brooke and Brad and their fam were so kind to drive the 24 hours to come visit.  We love having people come visit us and being able to show them around the area.  Brooke and Brad were even awesome sports when on their drive home their car broke down and they ended up having to buy a new car to get home! 

                     

Then Casey came home from scout camp 2 days after Brooke and Brad left.  It had felt like he’d been some forever and it was so good to see him!

Then we had our favorite elders, Elders Kay and Hyde over one last time before we moved.

Then 2 days later people came and packed up our stuff and we stayed with the Payne’s for a few days before we flew out to Memphis (see next post)!