Petersen Family Adventures: Moving Madness

It's unbelievable to think that just two months ago we were in the thick of the madness of moving. It went something like this:

5 weeks before move: Ben was offered the job! Since I didn't want to pay to fly to Portland and rent a car, I began furiously looking online for places to live. I made a spreadsheet of possible apartments, then prayed my heart out. In the end we threw all logic out the window in order to go where the Lord made it very clear we should go. Wilsonville, Oregon, a town unbeknownst to us only weeks before, would be our new home.

4 weeks before move: We took a trip down to Goblin Valley with David, Laura, Julia and their families. It had some disastrous moments but was also a great time with everyone.

Playing in the Muddy River

It turned disastrous when we got Laura's 12 passenger van stuck in the Muddy River. It was 111 degrees that day and we were outside for four hours. Eventually we called a tow-truck.
Needless to say, it was a long day.

Goblin Valley

Hiking around in the Goblins

3 weeks before move: We celebrated July 4th in Provo.

Ben had to work so we went to the parade with Christina and Stuart and their family.
I love the old lady photo-bombing this picture.

I may have shed a tear when the Provo City float went by.

Lame, I know, but it's my city and I'll love it forever.

I also had my 10 year high school reunion. It was really great to see old friends. Some of us even stayed at the school until midnight talking. I went to high school with really great people.

Timpview High School Class of 2003

Old Student Government friends

We had a family gathering at a park the next day. So much fun to see everyone's kids.

2 weeks before move:

A new dishwasher arrived and Ben promptly made Nayeli a house out of the box. I'm so glad I married someone who has more imagination than I do. I was about to recycle it.

We also went with Ben's mom's side of the family to Lake Powell. It was great to get to meet Gary's family and spend time all together. We had such a good time. Lake Powell is like heaven on earth.

Falling asleep on the boat

Tubing with dad

This picture sums up Nayeli's personality just perfectly. She is such a character. I can't get enough of her.

Family photo shoot that Nayeli was not happy about

Ben's brother Sammy drove with us to Lake Powell. It's been so fun to hang out with him in Provo since he got home from his mission. This picture describes Ben and his relationship perfectly.

1 week before: Ben went to Coyote Gulch for four days with the Young Men in our ward while I furiously packed. Thank heavens for my sisters and mom who came and helped.

As I packed I pulled out crayons and let Nayeli draw on all the boxes. It kept her mildly entertained.

Most of my time was spent meeting up with friends and trying to see as many people as I could before we left.

My high school girls. We five also lived together for a summer during college. They are awesome.

Lunch with my mom and sisters Laura and Christina. We got lunch together then went to my apartment and packed. They helped me a ton. I love them so much.

My old ER coworkers. I love these girls so much.

I will miss my friend Jessie so much and Nayeli will miss Nathan. Jessie and I started to get together once a week soon after we had our babies. It was just a get-out-of-the-house type of get together but we became such good friends. We later served in the Primary together.

She was a lifesaver when I needed one. I'm really going to miss her.

Game Day (Saturday, July 27):

Loading the 26 foot Penske truck. It was way too big but it was all they had. We had so many family and friends come help that the truck was loaded in 45 minutes.

We lived in this apartment three and a half years. It was our first home after we married. Bittersweet.

Ben pulled our CR-V behind the Penske while my dad drove with me and Nayeli in the Corolla behind. It was such a blessing to have him come. I don't know if Nayeli and I would have survived the drive by ourselves.