Hey, Mrs. Wilson!

Our trip started out bright and early on Sunday morning. We left at 7:30 am (BC time), which, according to Noah, was not early enough. We made about eight thousand stops between Terrace and Jasper. We stopped in Smithers to pick up Kaylie (she’d gone ahead with Grannie), in Houston for gas, a bathroom break in Vanderhoof, in Prince George to drop Kevin and his stuff off and then we went for gas and lunch, in McBride for a bathroom/gas stop, and finally we got into Jasper at about 9:00 pm (Alberta time).

All five of us bathed to get rid of the sweat we’d accumulated that day. The bath tub was quite disgusting by the time we were through with it.

We started out early again the next morning (again, not early enough for Noah) and made it to Edmonton without having to stop for even one bathroom break. I was quite impressed with that. We made the two most important stops in Edmonton. IKEA and Wendy’s. Noah and I (and my dad) are quite the Wendy’s fans. Our usual order is a Jr. Bacon Cheese with fries and a chocolate Frosty (coffee for my dad). I then dip my fries in my Frosty, as Todd taught me on an infamous Breakforth trip many years ago.

After Edmonton, we started out to Saskatoon to Noah’s parents’ place. If I remember right, we made it there with just one gas stop but without a bathroom break (besides a really quick road-side one for Kaylie).

On the third day of the trip, Canada Day, we chilled in Saskatoon with Noah’s parents and sister. We checked out their places of employment, enjoyed my mother-in-law’s cooking, and saw the beginnings of their new home, which at the moment consists of only of a foundation and basement walls.

We really enjoyed our time with the other Wilsons while we invaded their house. We slept seven people in two bedrooms, with one on the couch. They were nice enough to buy some homogenized milk for Liliana, and right before we left I filled up all her bottles with it since I didn’t think they’d be using it. I put 3 full bottles in the fridge, and then promptly forgot them, remembering about 30 km outside Saskatoon. Brilliant.

Finally on the fourth day, Wednesday, we headed to Regina. Before we left, I went to a clinic to get checked out as I’d been sick for a couple days and Noah finally convinced me to go in. Apparently I either have bronchitis or tonsillitis. I haven’t gotten the call back from the doctor yet. That day, we forgot to charge the two-way radios. Thankfully it was the day with the shortest drive and we got to our new home without losing each other.

We found our place quite easily and unloaded the van and truck while Liliana took a nap. That nap could not have been timed more perfectly.

Thursday we fumbled around the city and bought some things for the house. We’re doing pretty good so far. We’d both been here a couple times before for punk shows while we were at Briercrest, so the main roads were familiar. We finally bought a map so that we could cut down on the number of u-turns we did.

Friday we brought my dad to the bus station and then took off to camp. Another funny thing that happened at camp during chapel was that Liliana was constantly trying to get up to the platform at the front. Whether it was during a song or while Russ was speaking, she made a bee-line for front. A not so funny thing that happened was that Kaylie met some not so nice girls. Kids are mean. When Kaylie tried to play with a certain two girls, they usually tried to ditch her. I finally convinced her to find a girl that was by herself and to play with that girl. She finally found a couple nice ones that I was thankful for. Also, I went through 6 packages of Kleenex while at camp. Apparently I’m allergic.

I’ve literally been sweating since I left BC. Apparently Saskatchewan is HOT! I’ve been stoked for the cooler weather we’ve had since Sunday. It’s quite a relief.

In one week, we packed up everything we own, moved it halfway across the country, set up our new home, and went to camp. I’m a little exhausted. But, for your benefit, I put together a little montage for you to enjoy.

Moving with the Wilsons from Jen on Vimeo.

In exciting news, yesterday I got a job and today we (FINALLY!) got the internet. I have to say I’m a little more excited about the internet, although the job allows us to have the internet so apparently they’re connected. So, now hopefully you’ll be updated more often and Chelsey won’t be disappointed anymore! And, I can read blogs again. My Google Reader is up to 366 and I have to admit I don’t think I’ll be able to read all of them unless I stay up all night for the next couple nights.

My favorite thing so far about living in a city is the shopping. The SALE shopping! Between yesterday and today I spent $150.00 on new work clothes and got 2 pairs of pants, 2 dresses, 2 sweaters, 4 cami tanks, 1 t-shirt, 1 hoodie, 2 pairs of shoes, and 4 necklaces. I LOVE it here, but I desperately miss my friends. You know who you are!!

We’re here! With no internet!

I finally went to a Starbucks today and got onto their wireless network because I was going absolutely insane after three days of no internet. I can access Facebook through my cell, but I get bored of that after about 3 seconds. The internet just isn’t the same if you can’t blog or read blogs. I cannot remember what i used the internet for before I discovered blogs.

Kaylie and I just dropped my dad off at the bus station. We’re all really sad to see him go. We totally could not have done our trip without him. He drove the moving truck the whole way here while I followed him in the van, he babysat so Noah and I could take some much needed alone time (with which we went to Walmart - it was quite romantic), he also built all our furniture we’d just purchased at IKEA in Edmonton. He’s just an all-around pleasant guy to have around and we’re really going to miss having him with us. As we were driving away, Kaylie said, “Why does he HAVE to go?”

Our trip went quite well. We didn’t have any major problems at all. I have to make a shout-out to the Athabasca Hotel in Jasper though. Their customer service is AMAZING. When I called to make our reservation, I told them that we would be coming with a UHAUL. Before we checked in, we were looking around for a parking spot and saw a blocked off area and wished we could park there because it was perfect to fit the truck. We went to go check in and found that the spot was reserved for us! How cool is that??

We got to Regina on Wednesday and quickly unloaded the UHAUL while Liliana napped. She woke up right after the work was done, it was perfect timing. I think the Lord knew we needed a little break from her so that we could get done what needed to get done. He watched over us the whole trip and gave us everything we needed. We could feel the prayers of all that were praying for us in how smoothly everything has gone so far. We trust that He’ll stay with us as we start our new life here.

We’re leaving (AGAIN!) today to go to a camp where my father-in-law is speaking. Noah and I have really missed listening to him speak every Sunday so this is our opportunity to get our fix. It’ll also be Kaylie and Liliana’s first camp experience, so it should be a fun trip.  It was quite the challenge to try pack for camp when everything we own is still in boxes, but I finally pulled it together. We’ll be back Sunday night.

Sorry if I haven’t returned anyone’s emails. Once we get our internet up and running at home, I will respond, I promise.

I’ll leave you with one picture of my dad and the girls. They really loved having him here. Papas are way more fun than parents.

Day 1: Terrace to Jasper = 950 km
Day 2: Jasper to Saskatoon = 930 km

Things/people we could NOT have done without:

• 2-way radios (van to UHAUL)
• Google maps (to find IKEA!)
• Baby MumMums
• 3 soothers
• a portable DVD player
• Vsmile Pocket
  
• an air-conditioned townhouse complete with a LONG hot shower and a non-fast food meal waiting for us at the end of today’s journey
• my dad
• my inlaws (are you happy now Russ?)

A small update for you from the last couple days, more on these later:

1. My brother and I made the 430 km trek to get a UHAUL. (Not the most customer-friendly company ever.)

2. We bought a 1993 (1994?) Dodge Grand Caravan. (Never say never!)

3. We loaded up everything we own in a 17 ft van/truck/big ugly thing.

4. We’re spending today saying goodbye.

5. This is our last day in BC. We’ll miss you.

6. Noah says that the fact that I blogged today means I have an addiction. I beg to differ.

So, I’ve decided to take a short blogging break. Oh relax Ann, I said SHORT and you’ll be camping anyway.

Onwards.

A week from today, my dad, Noah, and I will be unloading the Uhaul at our new home. Between now and then, there is a lot happening. Way too much to comprehend. We still have to work two more days each, Noah needs to have his other two wisdom teeth pulled, we’ll finish up our lives here in BC, pick up stuff we’ve been storing at friends’ places while we’ve been in our 300 square foot no bedroom insert inappropriate phrase home, pack up the Uhaul, potentially buy a new (to us) vehicle, and drive halfway across the country with two hopefully doped up and sleeping children.

Sounds easy, right? I’m not so convinced.

In other news, I joined Weight Watchers. Twelve weeks ago. In that time I lost 10 lbs. Actually, 10.2 to be exact. You may be thinking, Awesome! Way to go! Great job! but really, it’s attributed to moving twice in three months, being sick, and eating a whole ton of Kernels 94% Fat Free popcorn with dill pickle flavoring sprinkled on top.

In reality, I posess no self control. That is why every other diet had failed me I have failed every other diet I’ve ever tried. Three months ago, a friend of mine was telling me of her weight struggle and said that she had just joined Weight Watchers and how great it was. I told her to pick me up for the next meeting. (That’s why it works. Accountability. Or guilt. PoTAYto PoTATo.)

I didn’t blog about my Weight Watchers journey, because I didn’t feel like blogging about something that I was going to fail at again. It’s not as fun as it sounds. According to the Weight Watchers … stuff … what’s the right word? Not media … books, intelligence … I am seriously losing my vocabulary. OH! LITERATURE! ANYWAY, according to them, if you follow their “rules”, you can lose 2 lbs per week. Multiply that by 12 weeks, and you should be down 24 lbs by the end of your first Weight Watchers period.

It wasn’t that easy. By week 4, I was down 8 lbs. THAT WAS EIGHT WEEKS AGO. (And in those four weeks I was packing up 3,000 square feet of life BY MYSELF BECAUSE I’M A CONTROL FREAK and having the worse 5 days I’ve had in my married life which may or may not have involved smashing things.) After that, my weight went up and down and up and down … until I forced myself to stick to it for the last two weeks so that I could hit the 10 lb mark. I HAD TO hit the 10 lb mark. Or else. Or else what? I don’t know, I’d force-feed myself cookie-dough Blizzards or something, which would be totally self-destructive in more ways than one, but whatever.

So, does this make me happier? To be down 10 lbs? Not really. It does mean, though, that I fit into some pre-Liliana clothes. Some, not all. Not even close to all. Apparently weight loss also requires toning. I’m not toned. At all. It’s more like jello jigglers than anything. I know you have a nice mental picture in your head now. Brilliant.

So there you have it. I might post little tidbits on our journey, but other than that, I’ll catch you on the flip side.

We’ve had a couple last minute changes that really don’t affect our move too much, but they’re blog worthy none the less (to me anyway, they may bore you to death).

1. I started a new job (ish). A (most trusted) friend of mine (Tam) convinced me to sell BeautiControl. I am now officially a BeautiControl Consultant-in-training. I really hate selling things but I’m actually quite excited about this stuff. Tam is a cosmetologist and knows WAY more than me about beauty, makeup, blah blah blah, so she’s going to be a huge asset to me. She’s also been doing the BeautiControl thing a couple months already (actually almost a year I think) so it’s nice to have a go-to person when I run into problems or have questions.

Another friend of mine is hosting a BeautiControl spa on Monday as an excuse for a going away party for me, so I’ll get some hands on training before I head out to Regina where I know NOBODY (except my blog friend Jen) and try to start doing spas out there.

Should be challenging and interesting. I can’t wait.

2. We added another person to our moving caravan. My friend and upstairs neighbor, Kevin, is going to travel with us as far as Prince George where he’ll meet up with a friend of his that he’s moving to Edmonton with. Our plan was for my dad to drive the moving van and for Noah to travel with him since Noah hates to drive long distances. I love it but it bores him to death.  I, then, would drive our car (or van, see next point) with the kiddos. Now I’ll have an extra set of hands, which will be SO wonderful.

(And don’t worry, Noah’s not worried about me traveling with another guy. I’m not exactly his type. We both like men. Hi Kevin!)

3. We might be buying a van that my friend might be selling. Yes, Noah’s nightmares might become reality.  Our car is old and has almost 300,000 km on it.  It’s been running great, and we’ve had no problems with it, but I’m not totally sure it’ll pass inspection in Saskatchewan.  And, the brakes have been failing on me lately.  I almost rear-ended Tam’s jeep when I stopped by there this morning and I almost blew through a stop sign.  Yikes.  I was going the speed limit or slower, since I was pulling in a driveway and an intersection, and they still failed.  It’s a good thing I have a dad who’s a mechanic.  He’s a lifesaver.

So there you go.  You’re updated.

Today is a list day.

1. Blog friends are AWESOME!

A little while ago, I participated in one of OMSH’s Color Me Happy Swaparoonis. It was an organizing swap. I received a sweet gift from Citystreams and put it to good use. BUT THEN! She decided that wasn’t enough and she sent me a WHOLE BOX of goodies for the WHOLE family! She wrapped each gift in tissue paper and had a note on each one. It was incredibly sweet!

Liliana got a totally sweet pop-up book that she loved instantly.

Kaylie got a gift as well, but she was on a play date when I opened the package, and then I was doing dishes when she came home and Noah put her to bed, so she’ll have to open her gift tomorrow.

Noah usually thinks my whole blogging world is quite nerdy. He totally supports the blogging thing, and likes reading what I have to write, but still thinks it’s nerdy. When he found out that I swapped gifts with my blog friends, he though I was even nerdier. AND THEN! He got a gift!

He received a John Grisham novel (he LOVES reading) and this insulated beverage holder thingy. We’re quite sarcastically witty with each other (in a loving way), so it fit perfectly!

She sent me some sweet note pads

including a magnetic grocery list. I was giddy with excitement when I saw this. It annoys me to no end when I can’t find a scrap piece of paper to write my grocery list on, and I hate forgetting things. So, this can stay on the fridge so I can’t lose it!

Thank you so much Citystreams!

2. Noah is on a liquid diet

Yesterday, my darling husband had both his wisdom teeth pulled on the right side. He’s a little swollen still and hasn’t been able to eat anything besides yogurt and frozen yogurt. Tonight he had some tomato soup to take a break from the sweets, and we went to Wal*mart to try and find some inventive non-lumpy things for him to eat. As soon as he heals, he’s going in to get the other two pulled (on the 23rd).

I am totally not envious. I got all four of mine taken out at the same time, so I’m not sure why they’re not doing that to him. It’s bad enough getting it done once, but going in again? Pure torture.

3. Weekend packing party

While we were at Wal*mart this evening, I picked up some disposable plates, bowls, and utensils for our last week(s) here. This weekend is my last weekend for packing, since next weekend is my grandma’s 80th birthday and I have a whole schwak of family coming into town and the weekend after that, we’re gone!

4. We FINALLY made it to the beach!

Kaylie’s only been asking to go since December. Since I assumed (rightly so) that Noah would need some time to rest after having his teeth extracted, I took the girls on a trip to the beach. I have many more pictures to share with you, but I’m simply too exhausted to edit them at the moment. I’ll post them tomorrow.

We don’t go to the lake all that often, but I’m still going to miss it. It’s totally gorgeous and the lake bottom is pure sand, no sea weed (at this particular site).

Also, I’d better enjoy the mountains while I can, as it’s going to be quite a while before I see them again. It’s a good thing I’m not one of those BC people who hates non-mountainous areas, because Saskatchewan is flatter than a pancake.

I love it.

I’ve had several requests to see the space we’re currently living in.

I’m finally giving in.

The kitchen. And a cute baby in the bottom corner.

See those drawers there? Right beside the stove? They are AWESOME. I love big drawers in kitchens. I still have a huge box of kitchen items since I over-estimated the amount of cabinet space I would have. I go through the box randomly, pull an item out, use it, and then stuff it anywhere I can.

Here is one corner of the living room / dining room / playroom / bedroom. It’s a little blurry, but oh well. That black wall-ish thing behind the post thingies is made of room-darkening curtains. Behind the curtains is the girls’ bedroom. The curtains give Noah and I a tiny bit of privacy and they let the kids go to bed before midnight. It’s light late ya know!

Another corner. Behind the TV is where I keep the miscellaneous boxes that I didn’t know what to do with or the kitchen items that did not fit in the cabinets. The couch is in front of a gas fireplace that we’re obviously not using.

Like I said, this is the living room / dining room / play room / bedroom. I’ve gotten accustomed to changing in the bathroom since I don’t really like being watched through the window by the kids on their way to school in the morning.

It’s awkward.

The bed/futon does fold up, but that’s way too much work to do every day, so we only do it when we absolutely have to.

The girls’ room. “Jimmy rigged” would be the correct phrase for this room. Room-darkening curtains, a single-sized futon, an extra pole in the closet (since all four of us share it).

See the blankets over the windows?

We’re classy like that. But like I said, I want my kids to be asleep before midnight (aka when the sun FINALLY goes down.) Don’t get me wrong, I love the sunlight. I just don’t like the fact that it keeps my kids up FOREVER.

I need my down time. Or bad things happen.

I know that Kaylie looks totally awesome in this shot, but it’s the only one I took at this angle, so deal with it. See all those baskets? They’re a life saver.

I totally love baskets. And even though I missed Laura’s Basket Carnival, I may just post a link on her post anyway, just because I know she’d like it.

So there you have it. That’s where we live.

Going from 3000 to 300 square feet is definitely something that we’re trying to get used to, but we’re looking forward to moving, because we’ll have space! and doors! and privacy!

And hopefully I won’t wake up and find someone peering down at me on her way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

It’s creepy.

Five weeks from today, we’ll be spending the night with my in-laws in Saskatoon. We’ll be about three hours from our new home in Regina.

I spent most of today making final arrangements for our move.

• I booked a hotel to stay in on our first night of traveling,
• I called UHAUL to make sure they got our reservation (they’re so unreliable it’s scary - prayer needed!),
• I called a couple places in Regina and found a sweet apartment WITH A POOL within walking distance of the University (we don’t have it yet, but we’re close),
• I found the quickest way to travel a little over 2000 km (apparently one way is 20 km less than the other - when you’re traveling with 2 small children and a big moving van, that 20 km REALLY MATTERS),
• I called my father-in-law to see if we could stay with them for a year night,
• I discovered that Liliana LOVES apples (that fact is not associated with the move, but note worthy none the less),
• I planned gas stops (I’m anal, I like to get where I’m going as efficiently as possible, and the van only goes 400 km on a full tank),
• I created a resume,
• I searched for careers in Regina,
• … and I tried to think of anything I was missing.

Our first month in Regina, we’ll only be there part time. Our first weekend there, we’re heading out to a camp that my father-in-law is speaking at. The funny thing is, that about five years ago (I think?!) Kaylie and I went to a different camp with them. I hardly even knew who Noah was, but his parents had already taken me (and Kaylie!) in.

They’re awesome like that.

About half-way through the month, we’re heading to meet my brother and sister-in-law in Banff and then going to Noah’s sister’s wedding in Canmore (on Noah’s 25th birthday! and I get to take pictures!)

Apparently July is going to be busy.

Stress. Emotions. The feeling of failure.

These things consume me when I am in over my head. These things have consumed me the last couple days. Since the company Noah works for doesn’t really give a rip that he has a family, they make him work 10-7 five days a week. That shift sucks. Since he was at work when most of the events of the last week (ish) were going on, I was carrying the burden myself. I had many near-nervous-breakdowns. One was a full blown glass shattering break down. I’m good now though. Apparently break downs make me work really hard. Who knew.

I am quite lucky blessed though. I belong to a family that has helped me more than I ever thought possible. The family of God. Who is this family of God? Here in this community in which I live, it is my church family. The people in my church have been totally and completely amazing and I could not have survived this move without them. They have babysat, cleaned, lifted, comforted, and gave 110% the whole time.

Without them? I’d be a wreck. I know that is how God designed His church to be (His church being all who believe and put their faith in Christ Jesus our Lord, not individual churches).  “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” ~Galatians 6:10.  We are to help each other, serve each other, and be accountable to one another. How much better can it get?

My God is good and he knows me well. He knows that I can be a bit too independent at times and He sends people to help me when I’m in over my head. He knows me and He loves me. You can’t get better than that.

These next couple days will include intense organizing, intense packing, and then a trip! Woo hoo! The girls and I are driving to my Opa’s place for his birthday, to Maya’s place for her birthday, and then flying to the Braam house to celebrate the birth of Kaitlyn! It’ll be Liliana’s first road trip. It’ll be interesting. I’m more looking forward to the flying part of it. I hate flying, but it’s way faster than driving all the way to Vancouver!

I know you’re starved for pictures and you’re sick of reading, so look forward to tomorrow when I will have a plethora of them! I’m finally able to cram our computer with pictures, what a great night this will be.