8 Years Later...

Today as I was trying to figure out the best way to share my journal entries and trip pictures from our big summer excursion to Europe this last summer.  I suddenly remembered this old blog from 8 years ago and thought I would give it a whirl.  We will see if I remember how all this works now!

The Moving Help

These pictures don't even scratch the surface of all the people that helped out while we were trying to move and I know that if I try to name names (like the Kearns, Herrings, Hales, Sangsters, Meldrums, Brumbaughs, Mahina and Michelle Neilson, Joe and Joan Canzonari, Sheila Cummings, Ellen Moorer,) then I will undoubtedly miss some names so I will refrain  :)
The point is that so many people helped.  I guess they were either REALLY excited about us moving away OR we have some incredible friends!

Jo Jo and Baby Rowena - I couldn't have gotten anything done without Jolene coming and holding Rowena for me.  Not to mention that Jolene was the only one that could get Row to take a nap!  Oh how I need you now Jolene!

Chelsea Taylor packing boxes and patiently
 letting Ellie label them.  And Chelsea barely knew me!

Ailene and McKenzie Hale took Ellie and Noah to the Toledo Zoo the day before we left Michigan so Matt and I could try to finalize some things.  The kids came back with balloons, stuffed animals, painted faces, candy, and toys!!  Needless to say they are still going through "Hale" withdrawals!

Tyler Kearns prunning away!

Alex Kearns and his friend - who decided that weeding our
backyard was the way he wanted to spend his BIRTHDAY!

Jerry Kearns - the Weed Master

Logan Kennedy

Jeff Kennedy - Man enough to use the little pink rake!

"You're getting very sleepy . . . You're getting very sleepy"

Alex back for more!

This is how Matt was taking car of Row while he was drilling
in the holes for the door knobs. . .
apparently she liked the vibration :) 

Joe Canzonari - Everyone knew when we were out of town because our yard always looked remarkably better than usual thanks to Joe and Joan. They always showed up and just started mowing or shoveling or raking without ever being asked.  They would see the need and take care of it. Joe was the greatest neighbor anyone could ever ask for.  He was over helping with every situation that we ran into while we lived there and even now he continues to help watch over our house there in Michigan.  There was/is no stopping this man.  He shows up and gets the job done.  His daughter Joan - though not photographed-  is exactly the same way - though she might resent me saying that!  ha ha!  We miss these two people as much as anything else out there is Michigan!

Here's the HE-MAN Crew! Jacob Herring, Boone Sylvester, Matt, Alex Kearns, and Matt Bagley.  These guys had to hoist this piano THROUGH our living room window!

Ellie was testing out the piano in the truck and saying her goodbyes :)

Our Last Saturday of Softball

What did we do the day before we moved across the country when our house still wasn't completely packed and there was still cleaning and organizing to do? . . . Well, it was a Saturday during softball season so we dropped everything to go play softball OF COURSE!  

So many people are missing from this picture, but this is who we had on this particular day . . . (Back Left: Chelsea Hertig, Vicki Gilbert, Emily Brumbaugh, Me, Laura --- , Amy Adcock, Melissa Kennedy, Kyla Sylvester, -- Front Left: Julie Plummer, Mandie-

Matt's games are always a bit more serious :)

Vicki and Jason Gilbert surprised us with a cake at the men's game!  They are so amazing! 

Ellie and Claire Gilbert.  They were best little pals, especially at HighScope -their preschool

Joe and Joan Canzonari

Matt, Joe, Joan, and Me

It was late Saturday night when I had to say goodbye to our dear friends Joe and Joan.  Joe lived across the street from us and Joan came over everyday.  California just doesn't feel like home yet and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that I don't have Joe and Joan across the street to help with anything that I might need.  We had some great times with these guys: going out to dinner, sparklers on your front porch for the 4th of Julys, games of Yahtzee, many raking and shoveling days, Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas Eve re-enactments, all of the kids' birthday parties, gum drop candies at every visit, our Thailand slideshow, all the car and bike repairs, and of course our many visits involving the borrowing of some tool :)  We even got you to come to one of Matt's baseball games! Aw man do we miss you guys!!  You are our Michigan Family!