Monday, August 6, 2012

We moved....to DENVER

Sure enough. 
We packed up our favorite home in Falls Church, Virginia, and headed west, to Denver Colorado! 
Jeff drove the big yellow truck, and I putted behind, in the car, with 3 kiddos and my madre. 




              Our last treats, with great friends!!

And there she blows!!! The never ending truck!!! Funny how you pack things SO carefully, and then when they arrive, its like you threw them in, rolled the truck 15 times, and unpacked!!


            Highlights of the trip....as to not make this post the journey that it was in actuality.
*My moms bag got loaded in the back back of the truck, which meant we were then to live with her wearing the same clothes for 6 DAYS
*Loaded the keys to the car top carrier in the back of the truck, which meant we were short on space (and by now, short on patience)
* Packed up the house, packed up treats, special day activities, and generous gifts from neighbors.
* Mile 200 realized we had forgotten all the wonderful gifts, special treats, CD's and DVD's at home, in the cupboard!!! Thank heavens Walmart was in our future, where we could purchase DvD's
*SAME DAY.....arrived at our stopping destination for the night, West Virginia, only to find out there were NO HOTEL VACANCYS FOR OVER 200 MILESSSSSSssssssssssssssssssssssss

Please keep in mind, this has all happened in the SAME day, where upon loading the truck for initial departure, had BROKEN RECORD HEAT, 106!!!! 

*Miles driven the FIRST day, OVER 500 MILES.....to the closets hotel that had a vacancy, and we got the LAST ROOM!!!!  *we pulled in somewhere after 2am. We had driven since 11am!!!!!!



                   * We began the next day, after we all slept past 9:30 am @ the races....
                                                              CHURCHILL DOWNS!
                                                       Kentucky, state of the great race history! 
* As if we hadn't forgotten enough, we left our bathroom bag (with EVERYTHING essential, minus the children) in it, at our hotel, and realized it in Missouri! 
              At this point, things became very comical, and we found it fortunate that we had not left, lost  
                locked out anyone! It really became humorous, once we could bring ourselves to laugh! 

         


 * Day #3 St. Louis Missouri, where we took a journey to the top of the arch!


                      Day #4 You can't come through Kansas with out stopping for a BBQ!!!
                                   We did just that! Got ourself the best BBQ lunch in town, and
                                         ate the rest of our way through the great state!




On the 5th day, arrived at our beautiful casa!! 
I was sicker then a dog, but these pickles (the only food we could find) 
seemed to hold the kiddos off till we could get to a box, and find something real to eat (ha! Real.) 
Wasting no time, we packed up what food we could find, and headed to the zoo. 
We decided we all needed space from those boxes, and to get out and see our new neighborhood! 
We are just 2 blocks from the zoo, and love this temporary location! 



Oh Grannie! OH GRANNIE!! 
Everyone needes one of these! 
She was the babysitter for 5 days in the car as I drove, 
arranged and unpacked my entire kitchen, watched the children for hours on hours 
as we house hunted, cleaned, organized, cooked....
OH MY HEAVENS!!!!! How did I get delt this card? Thank you mother dear! 

The kids LOVE this nook. Its in the kitchen, and its prime spot for jumping, eating, snacking, 
coloring, playing! 

After my mom left, we celebrated our trek out west and headed to Casa bonita for some entertainment, 
food and clif diving.  (oh, and all you can eat scones) 





      

*Scoured countless neighborhoods looking for the perfect park. 
This is one of our favorites in Stapleton.  Not quite the average splash park, 
but it had enough water for us to wet our suites. 


The Zoo! It really is a great, shady, accessible, walkable, entertaining zoo. 
We've gone and gone, and will go again. 



One of our favorite hang outs! 
City Park!! 
Its one way traffic, but EMPTY of cars! 
We love to take our bikes, ride around the ponds, play at the playgrounds, have road races, 
chase the ducks, walk on walls.....its like a playground for the whole family!! 
(And yes, it borders the zoo, which means its less then a mile from our home!) 




Never with out his hat!! 
This was given to him by dear friends, whom we will continue to miss!!! 

What would a life in Colorado be with out a visit and taste from Hammonds candy!!??


Parade!!!?? 
You know what I'm about to say next!! 
I love a good parade! 
Our local Golden was celebrating 'Golden Days' so, why not pack a lunch and go!! 




How is your family watching the olympics? 
Ours is standing room only. 

If you haven't seen the 'magical berries' that grow at 'the girls house' 
then you are missin out!! 
These kids are up and down the street 1,000 times a day, picking all the berries of that poor little bush! 
Oh how we are loving being outside, in the day, enjoying the beautiful summer days. 
Even more so, the scrumptious evenings and the great breeze that comes through! 



And then there's Hank! 
Like I said, never with out the hat. 
Loves most his hat, then his puppy, and next his bike! 
What a stud. 


We have kept so busy since arriving here just 3 weeks ago, but I'm affraid if I stop moving, I'll realize what I've done (moving from V.A) and my heart will shatter into 1,000 pieces. 
I will miss so much, the breathtaking autumns, the great place of DC, 'the little city' Falls Church, Markets, Azaila Park, Splash Pads, being 5 hours from NYC, the diversity of the area, great runs on the trails, friends that we made for a life time....
needless to say, I hope we settle in here, and love it, but it will take some time. 
Oh my heart be still! 

6 comments:

Emily said...

Glad you're closer to us, but not close enough
:)
Love reading your adventures!

Samantha said...

You are my hero! What an adventure.

Marcus Lane said...

Ahh! We loved living in Denver, well we were in Highlands Ranch, but loved going to the Aquarium, zoo, parks, etc.... enjoy it there!!

Rebecca Barlow said...

OH I now have crazy homesickness for CO. You will love it. Give it a chance. What a trip! You are so brave. Love you!

Heidi Henderson said...

Wow... you continue to AMAZE me! Jackie... I miss you! Today I was thinking... I want to go see Jackie and was sad that you weren't just a drive away, but Denver is closer. We need to catch up! What's your email??? love you girl!!!! Heidi

Megan said...

Oh dear friend! I laughed soooo hard when I read this post. I can only image all those things going wrong. It sounds like it got to the point of being absurd. What a good sport your Mom is to wear the same clothes. You really are super woman to drive cross country.
I'm sad you moved. I'll miss seeing you in DC. I have fewer reasons to get to Denver--even though you are closer to me now. I miss you terribly. I'm sure you have lots to do as you acclimate to a new place, but don't forget to keep posting so I can keep tabs.
I love you so much!!! xoxo