Friday, January 30, 2009

Changes!

For those of you who have been wondering what happened to our family since our last post in November, we are finally here report! It has been a jam-packed, crazy past three months. Here's a look at what we've been up to:

In November, we took Taylor on his first plane ride to Alabama--to celebrate Thanksgiving with family in Birmingham!

We really enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at Andrew's parents' home. Delicious!

Taylor and his cousins (minus baby Norris #13--in Aunt Mindi's tummy right now) dressed-up and celebrated Christmas while we were there, since we wouldn't be back to Alabama in time for the holidays.

Taylor played with his little cousin, Kate, who was born one month before him in May.

Andrew Graduated in December!
Andrew's parents made the painful journey up to Rexburg again for the sixth time in 2008 (is that dedication or what?!). They are so supportive. We loved having them with us to celebrate!
Tiff's parents and brothers also traveled from Utah for the occasion. We were spoiled!

We spent Christmas 2008 in Utah.

Our good friends, Mike and Stacie Tonks, had their first baby--Megan Charlotte--just days before we traveled to Orem for Christmas. It was so fun to see them and to hold a newborn again. She's a cutie!

Tiff's mom loves being a grandma...and Taylor knows it! He was one of her biggest fans while we were with family for the holidays.

We spent Christmas Eve at Tiffany's grandparents' home.

Taylor got to know Tiff's uncle's little girl, Courtney. Like cousin Kate, Courtney is just one month older than Taylor! He's really blessed to have two cousins--one on each side of his family--that are his age.


We took Taylor swimming in January, with Tiff's brothers Kyle and Devin.

And the biggest event for us since November (and really, since Taylor was born), is that we moved at the beginning of January!

Andrew got an internship offer for a construction company in Denver, Colorado called Haselden Construction! Especially during this time of economic struggle in our nation, we feel so grateful for this wonderful opportunity.

It was a whirlwind of a move, though: on Saturday, January 10th, Andrew was offered the internship, and on Thursday, January 15th, we moved--just in-time for Andrew to work the next day, on Friday. It was crazy, but our Heavenly Father blessed us and everything came together in four days. We both were able to quit our jobs, sell our housing contract...and Tiffany's mom and brother Larry both drove up from Utah to help pack and take care-of little Taylor. Their help was huge! Without them and the help of our student ward and other dear friends in Rexburg, we wouldn't have made the quick move work. We feel so touched by the immesurable amounts of service that were rendered in our behalf that week. We are so blessed.

Here are most of our belongings, piled into our family room on the afternoon of Tuesday the 13th.


This picture is for Tiffany's Dad--it's Mom playing with Taylor as we packed. We wondered: would he like this as much as he liked "baby in the sink?"


Here's Mom enjoying Taylor during our last night in Rexburg.


Our cold, but clear Thursday morning arrived. This is our last look at our Rexburg home! :(

It was beautiful traveling through Star Valley, Wyoming.

After just one day of searching, we found an apartment that would let us sign a contract and move-in on the same day, so we wouldn't have to store our belongings in a storage unit for a couple weeks. The blessings just keep coming! Here is a look at our new home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado (our door is on the ground floor--hidden by the stairs in this picture).