The Big Move to the East Coast

Well, we made it to Connecticut. We are all settled in and enjoying where we live. Jared is studying hard for school and has his first final exam this week. They are moving right along but Jared is enjoying the challenge and we are enjoying having him home by dinner every night. Jared and Papa Choo Choo drove the moving truck and our vehicles out here. They made it without out any problems and had almost all of the boxes unpacked by the time they picked us up from the airport on Jared's birthday. Before we left we spent a few days at Papa Moo Moo's playing. We had a great time feeding cows, boating, chasing kitties, hunting gophers, and going exploring. Then it was time to say goodbye and get on the airplane. I was so grateful for Grandma W. to help me with the boys. I was so busy entertaining the boys that I didn't take a picture on the flights. Brig was so cute when we were taking off. I could tell he was excited and a little nervous. When we got up in the air he let out a nervous giggle and exclaimed, "I am SO brave!" The boys did awesome on the flight to SLC. We had a three hour layover there but we kept busy riding the "excavators" as Brigham called them. The flight to Boston was a little rough because we didn't get to sit together and nobody would switch seats with us, even after I explained that they would be happier if the kids weren't climbing all over them. The boys did remarkably well considering the circumstances. We were all exhausted when we finally landed and were so happy to see Daddy and tell him Happy Birthday! 

We really like Plainville so far. It has a small town feel to it but is close to everything. Jared can get to school in under ten minutes. We are within walking distance to a park, and the library is down the street along with a brand new YMCA where Brig is taking swimming lessons. 

Before we left Jared's co-workers through him a going-away luncheon and we were invited. They were all sad to see him go and played lots of pranks on him.

Benson's last time down the slide.

Brig's last day of gymnastics he learned to do a handstand.

Brig has amazing balance and coordination.

Bens loves to sit on his trike.

Here's our moving truck. I didn't take a picture of it loaded but it was pretty full. We had so many friends come by to help and to say goodbye.

Here is Brig with the Olsen's. Brother Olsen is the LDSFS caseworker in Helena and just loves our boys.

Brig driving Blue Thunder while Papa throws off the hay bales to the cows. Brig has to sit in the cab due to his hay allergies. He doesn't mind though :)

Papa and Brig going for a quick motorbike ride.

I thought I would take a few snapshots of the farm equipment for the boys to look at later :)

We got to meet the new bulls, BJ and AJ.

We took the boat out to Willow Creek for its first run of the year.

Benson's first haircut!!! He had some hair on the top of his head that was four inches long! He was a big boy and didn't cry once. His hair is still soft like a duckling.

After shot. He has the cutest smiles!

Our last family picture in front our house.

Us checking out CCSU campus. CCSU was founded in 1849. Photo bomber in the pink shorts. HA

We've decided every Saturday to do some exploring of New England. Here we are at the Dinosaur museum that is close by. There are thousands of fossils at the museum.

Here is our new place. It's a townhouse so we don't have any neighbors above or below us. And yes, my location setting on my phone are always turned off when I take pictures around the house to be safe.

Our dining room...

The screened-in porch. I like to call it the cage because the boys can be outside but can't really escape. We park our cars right by the porch door.

living room...

Our "one bum" kitchen.

The unfinished basement makes a great play room/storage area.

The boys had lots of fun making roads, forts, and slides out of boxes.

The boys' room. They enjoy sharing a room together. It works out great since Brig is such a deep sleeper and doesn't notice if Benson wakes up.

Our room

We celebrated our 8th anniversary as a family. We went to the movies and ate ice cream afterwards.

Benson loves using utensils to eat.

There is a fun amusement park close by with a great area for toddlers. We've gone a couple of times and Brig loves the kid rides.

There are even a few rides Benson can go on with big brother.

Mother's day with my handsome boys!

Benson loves to color.

Brig is such a big helper around the house.

The Hartford temple is being built in Farmington, which is about ten minutes from our house. They are still working on the exterior and are hoping to be finished Spring of 2016. 

Here's an interesting fact: Did you know Wilford Woodruff was born in Farmington, CT? The same town they are building the temple? We walked through a really old cemetery the other day (they are everywhere) and ran into several Woodruffs. Probably distant cousins to the prophet. Anyways, this cemetery overlooks the Farmington river where Wilford Woodruff baptized many of his family members.

Benson is 15 Months

Our sweet little boy is growing up! Benson at 15 months weighs about 22 pounds and is 32 inches tall. He is a good talker and says quite a few words including ball, all done, drink, toothbrush (tee), let's go, thank you (day doo), cheese (for pictures), "bow" for his security blankie, kitty, dog, night night, and shoe. He also loves making animal noises. He likes to read books, especially ones with kitties. He thinks he is a big boy now that he gets to share a room with brother. We put Brig to bed first and then when Bens is ready for bed he climbs up the stairs and lays down next to Brig in his bed (it's a good thing Brig is a deep sleeper.) I let him cuddle with Brig for a little bit then I lay him down in his crib. He also likes to go for walks and play at the park. He is a daredevil on the slides and always goes down head first. We think maybe he will be a dentist someday because he is completely obsessed with toothbrushes. He is always carrying one around and often climbs up on top of the toilet to reach the counter where everyone else's toothbrushes are and swipes our toothbrushes. Silly boy. He is really getting the hang of walking now and is doing more and more. I think maybe since our new house has all hardwood floors it has motivated him to get up off of his knees. Here are some pictures we had taken in Shelby by our friend Lisa before we moved. I will post more family pictures and more about our move soon. Happy Mother's day y"all! My little boys are everything to me and there isn't a better word to hear them say than "Mama."

March and Easter!

Time to play catch-up. We've been super busy getting ready for our big move next week. The last six weeks have flown by with a mountain bike trip to Moab for Jared and his brothers, a couple of ear infections for Benson (I'm blaming it on his 4 giant molars that came in), packing or selling our belongings, Easter egg hunts, and a couple of fun trips to Fairfield and Shelby. Sorry, the pictures are all out of order.

Playing around downtown Helena. I think Benson's saying here: Look, brother! We are sitting with a grizzly bear!

Wiped out after a long day!

It's too bad this picture turned out blurry. Brig's best friend Anna (she is on the dinosaur behind Brig) had her 4th birthday party at the carousel. Brig is riding on the buffalo.

Brig named his horse black night.

Both boys were actually happiest sitting on the couch instead of the horses.

The boys play hard when at the Grandparents' houses. I took this picture because they fell asleep after only 3 minutes of driving.

Benson enjoyed Uncle Jorden's chicken lollies. Great Grandma Collins always says that little kids need a chicken bone to chew on. We enjoyed being there for cousin Eli's baby blessing the Sunday after Easter. 

Here's Brig on top of the haystack after helping Papa feed the cows. He got a little too much hay in his eyes and had quite the allergic reaction with swollen eyes and welts on his face. He gets to stay inside the feed truck now and drive instead of helping push the hay bales off of the truck.

Addy on top of the haystack.

Benson sitting on the back of Blue Thunder. Benson loves the cows. Whenever he sees one he tries to moo with "oooo!"

Brig helping Papa drive Blue Thunder.

Brig in his gymnastics class. He is the youngest and smallest in his class but definitely one of the most coordinated.

Benson likes to mimic everything Brig says or does.

Benson is our little climber. He thinks he's big stuff when he can get up on the chairs.

My little train engineers. We take train track building seriously around here.

With the weather being so nice lately we've made it out to canyon Ferry lake a couple of times. can you spot the deer behind the silly face?

We love going to Loralei beach area to play- lots of sand and rock formations to climb and we usually have the place to ourselves. Benson loved playing in the sand and testing out the water a little.

We tried taking a few family snap shots while we were there. I set the camera on the self timer and then had to leap over the water to get seated on the rocks in time. It kind of worked.

I like this last one the best.

Selfie

 Jared had to work Easter eve so Saturday morning we watched some of Conference and did an Easter egg hunt in Helena. Brig was so excited to listen to President Monson. He also enjoyed sustaining the church leaders. He would raise his right hand every time and when it was done he said, "I sustain the prophets!" After that I headed to Fairfield with the boys for more Easter fun with the Haynes crew. Jared joined us after  his last night shift and getting some rest at a quiet house. Papa fired the pistol to signal the start of the Easter egg hunt. It was a chilly day but the kids made out like bandits with buckets of eggs.

Benson got lots of snuggle time with Grandma.

Benson was asleep during the hunt but he enjoyed "swimming" in the piles of eggs and eating some chocolate.

We had many egg hunts at home practicing up for the real hunts.

I just love the view when I drive back and forth between Helena and Augusta.

My blueberry boy!

The boys helping me make caramel popcorn after family home evening one night.

We had some family pictures taken last time we were in Shelby. Benson was kind of sad during most of the shoot. I will post pix soon!

Benson at the Easter egg hunt at the retirement community.

Brig thought everyone was there to watch him collect eggs. He would pick up an egg and turn around and wave at all of the parents and run to the next one without looking forward. Funny kid. 

Brigham and all of his girlfriends. His friend Emily (far left) also turned 4 this month.