CHRISTMAS UPDATE

Whosh!!! We made it to the Holiday and everyone is smiles. It's been a very busy month. At the beginning of the month I was about to boycot the Christmas cards due to timing but once again the Christmas spirit snuck in and I managed to get them sent off. I love getting them so a click of a picture, uploading to Sam's Club and a drive over to pick up the cards, stuffing envelopes, sealing and sending them, they were on their way. Sorry if I miss anyone! The weather was so nice in December that I decided to get up on the roop top and paint away to update the shutter color. My neighbors thought I was crazy but I managed to get them done and we love the outcome. I found out during the day painting on the roof would get a bit toasty so out came the work halagens and off I went painting away in the evenings. My one neighbor (Judy) mentioned she was glad to see someone so crazy as her move in we are two of a kind. Mark did help when he could and I left the ladder painting to him. Then inbetween that we were running like always with Christmas performances, church and class parties as well as Mark's work party. It was a busy but festive Holiday. We have been overwhelmed bye how many people open their doors and invite us over so needless to say it's been a ton of running and fun for all of us. From dinners, to game nights, and just plain hanging out. We have once again been blessed. I do mean this dearly, we had wonderful friends and neighbors in Califonia and it's the same on this side that is making it feel like home. Our kids and the neighbor kids are beinging to run into and out of each others homes, yesterday it was a Community Christmas with literally running back and forth between the kids checking out each others gifts and treats. So much to choose from and they were all having double the fun. We didn't loose sight of the love that came into our home and lives this year and cherish the memories we have had this year. We do miss everyone back home but know we are coming to visit soon. We hope to enjoy the last few day left of 2007 and visit with our family and friends via web cam and phone lines. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of this Holiday Season. Love to all. Yvonne & Family

December Photos

 

 

 

 

He's FOUR!!!

Bradley had a small little Birthday Celebration with a few friends here on Friday. He is offically FOUR! He had so much fun opening his present he proceeded to open one of his Christmas presents under the tree (although he took that one to his room and opened quitely then ran down to show us his present). He loves his new Train table and set. It was a fun evening. Yes, a bit overwhelming but it's his party and he could cry if he wants too.

TURKEY TIME

Bradley and I shot (a photo of course) the turkey for our blog! Enjoy the photographs of the Turkeys. We were on our way to Trader Joes (40 minutes away) and turned the corner from our driveway and there they were so we backed up and ran to get the camera to share these photos with everyone. Have a Great Thanksgiving.

Update on the New Home

Well as of tomorrow the apartment is gone! We are in the house just not all unpacked. Phone lines, cable and utilities are up a running. It's been a crazy couple weeks and at times overwhelming even having movers. I'm learning the ropes to having a upstairs and downstairs. Toys are everywhere and I can't keep up with Bradley. I finish one area and he's moved onto the next. He is loving it and you can't see his bedroom floor it's covered in toys! It's like Christmas came early but he still wants everything on the commercials. He keeps reminding me about his birthday! We are down to the last 30 boxes out of three hundred so progress is being made. I don't see Zach much when he is home he is with the neighbor boys on their motorcycles in the tree trails behind our home or with his pellet gun out hunting then with the computer up at night playing online games with his friends from California. It's a boys haven here and Mark is looking forward to doing more as soon as we get a bit more settled. Morgan is busy keeping up on school work and her games from soccer (just ended) and volleyball (she was excited our team won the undefeated team last Saturday). This weekend is the final show down for the volleyball matches. Basketball for Zachary ended last Wednesday. We are all looking forward to a break from school and sports for the Holidays! It's going to be a different Holiday here being away from family we will be thinking of everyone back in California. Mark is busy working and will be traveling to Texas in December. We saw a gaggle of wild turkeys pecking the ground this morning on the way to school and their feathers were fluffed. They were beautiful. Zach said they were eating their last meal (real funny huh!) any ways, that is our comic for us wish I had the camera to share with all. We'll look for them tomorrow. I'll lock up the gun until after Thanksgiving! Anyways all is well just keeping busy cleaning out the apartment and unpacking our home here. Trying to place everything in it's rightful home. We've so far only lost some of the heirloom items (murphy's law) that was disappointing but will salvage what we have left of them. I think we are missing one crate still. Anyways, enough of moving we are all doing well. Halloween was fun and a ton of creative decorated homes and tons of kids. We took a small road trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway just to get away from the boxes this last weekend. It was very nice and beautiful about 2 hours north of us in a town called Boone (picniced in Daniel Boone Park). We scouted out some things we'd like to do in the future here but enjoyed our day exploring. We are making the house our home and really like it so far. It still was so difficult letting go of our home in Sacramento. Hope the new owners realize all the hard work, love and money that went into their home there. It about made us literally sick signing the final papers. We will miss our neighborhood terribly. Love to everyone!!! Miss you guys!

We Have The Keys

After a long day working out details we have the keys to our new home here in North Carolina. Kids are looking forward to seeing it on the inside. Will be painting all night and our items arrive tomorrow morning between 9-10. It's been a long four in a half months. I'll write more later. Happy Halloween to all our Family and Friends we miss dearly. Have fun Trick or Treating. We've had a day of Tricks and then finally the Treat (Keys). Love to all. BOO!

Howder Update

Well I missed a week updating but all is well here in North Carolina. We hope on this Friday our house sells in California a HUGE THANK YOU to George and Jason for helping us out on the pest report and home inspection, we love you guys. Actually we already released the home to the relocation company to sell to the buyers so I guess that is a done deal but I'll believe it when it is final and hope the couple purchasing has as many great memories in the house and neighborhood that we did. If anything they won't have much to fix after the two years we've been fixing everything. Then on Halloween we should beable to close on the home we found here in Huntersville. Let's hope it's a TREAT not a TRICK. It will be nice to quit looking at homes to purchase and just get on with life here with all our belongings the moving truck is planned for arrival on November 1st. Bradley is awaiting all his toys and bike to ride. I am a coach for Morgan's volleyball team with a couple other dads on the team. It's been fun getting to know the girls and they are doing really well 4/1. Same thing here as usual with children, schooling, sports, church, work and some play. We did manage to go out to the Blue Ridge Apple Farms and pick pumpkins and get Apples it was the closest we could get to Apple Hill (missed seeing Grandma Linda, Sonja, John and the most talented face painter around). It was so beautiful and fun to just get away for a day. The leaves are changing at least the ones that aren't dry from the drought here. Lakes and rivers are low but today the rain is coming in for the next few days. Our apartment we've been living in had a get together this past weekend and we enjoyed a great band and some great food hanging out with the kids friends they have made here in the apartments. Morgan has started babysitting two adorable little boys and loves it and them. It reminds me of when I started babysitting. Bradley went to a birthday party for a friend "Ethan" here and had a great time with his friends at Chucky Cheese. I am making his Halloween costume he is so excited! Keep looking at the blog for that surprise! This last weekend we also had some not so good news about my cousin Edward that is 13 in Salt Lake. He has been dealing with his cancer and so we are all praying harder for him this week as he gets ready for another surgery to remove another brain tumor they found in his most recent MRI this Wednesday at the Primay Children's Hospital. He has a lot of family and friends praying. It's a hard road they have been riding on the last year with his kind of cancer. Please add him to you your prayers he is such a trooper. Hang in there Edward and Family. Enjoy the photos I posted today.

Happy Fall To All

Weather is getting more pleasant here and we are still hanging on. We are going on our third month here it seems like a long time but it's going bye fast. We are still homesick missing our home/yard, family and friends.

Our home in California hasn't sold (you Californians know what we are talking about with the market so messed up) so we are still in temporary housing which I think hasn't made us feel settled here in North Carolina. I think this is the hardest for me with the Holiday's around the corner. It's amazing how much empathy I have for those that loose everything in natural disasters it's really different starting over and without your belongings.

The little things I didn't think to hold out were our recipes and some of the normal can't live without kitchen gadgets but we wouldn't have had room to squeeze in another thing into the truck for those of you that saw us off driving away from our home you know how packed in the truck we were. We are hoping the weather doesn't change to much too quickly we have only the duffle bags we left with and all our warmer clothes are pack away somewhere here in Charlotte. Although the kids are growing like crazy in such a short time Morgan and Bradley are getting taller and Zachary is still about the same size. I think next year we will see him sprout taller looking at the difference between a 7th grader and 8th grader. This is the age were the girls start to get taller than the boys.

We found an Apple Hill like area of North Carolina we are going to see next weekend. We haven't seen a ton with Mark being on the road so much but it looks like he has one other trip to Texas and he has closed the Sacramento call center so no more trips home for him. I think he is ready to just get everything on a routine for a while, having traveled a ton this last year opening the new call centers for McKesson.

I have scouted out some of the stores but just window-shopping at this point. Miss having everything so close to home like Morgan says everything is more driving to get to.

Our laughs this week were Bradley; Mark kept asking him at dinner the other night if he wanted some meat (he was beyond tired)! He stood up on the chair at the Table and said with his high-pitched little boy voice, "You keep saying do you want meat, do you want meat, do you what meat, well if I wanted meat I'd tell you I want meat!" Mark and the kids just rolled I was out for a ladies night at church! Then he fell asleep across the chairs at the table without finishing dinner. You can see who is trying to run the house here! He is so funny our cheap but priceless entertainment!

Well a much better couple weeks. We are doing good. Just received our callings at church (callings=positions) Mark was called to the Stake Young Men's presidency and I was called to the Ward Young Women's over the 12-13 year old girls. We have been looking at homes but still no action until our sales in California. Morgan attended her first birthday party here and had a great time. A ton of girls her age here but she still misses her special California friends. Zachary hasn't had any trouble meeting anyone (Anyone Surprised?). Him, Morgan and I all enjoy being on the computer messaging our friends and seeing them via webcam it's a fight for the computer. Bradley is loving being a home body on the days he doesn't go to pre-school. So know that school is back in session we are on the run. Thursday and Friday sport practice, Tuesday night Youth night. Mark is back in California this week closing out the Rancho Cordova Office (it's real). He's sad to see his staff affected by this but it's a Corporate decision. Anyways, we are all doing well and hanging in here. It's cooling off and the trees (that haven't been affected by the lack of water) are starting to change some colors. Looks like Fall will be beautiful. Love to all!

PHONE

We have a temporary address and phone 704-896-2190. Sorry I haven't sent out our information because we are hoping to get more permenant living soon.

KONA'S GONE!

Well we had a sad day! As many know we've had Kona for about 9 years. We had to leave her behind in the move because the weather was too hot for traveling pets. The airlines would not fly her until it was 85 degrees or lower. So my Mom was taking care of her until the weather permitted, Thank you Mom. We were concerned about her ears and decided to have tubes put in and then seal her ears to avoid any further problems and make it more comfortable flying. Yesterday she went in for the surgery. The surgery happened and she had to stay the night and during the night she ended up passing away. It was news to us we are all so sad! Luckily Mark was in Sacramento so he picked her up and buried her in the backyard she loved. The kids wanted her put under a tree with her rocks she loved to play with. It was heart wrenching telling the children about her passing. Bradley last comment for then night after watching a day of crying was "Why my tears aren't falling out". Well Morgan, Zach, Mark, My mom and grandma's and mine have cried plenty today! We will miss you Kona!

FIRST DAY AT PRE-SCHOOL

Well we managed to get to the first day at Pre-School. I asked him if he wanted to go to pre-school in the morning and he said "No I still tired." so I packed up his clothes and we took Zach to school and then ran errands. Next stopped at the post office and he had to get dressed in the car so we could check the mail and he agreed. Then I proceeded to drive to school and once he saw the kids and play ground he walked with me to the front door. He told me he had to pee and went in took care of business, washed his hands, kissed me good-bye and then the teacher asked him to pick a turtle to sit on his response to here was "But I don't like turtles" Oh what a kid, he is a crack up. I left and he enjoyed his day. Loved his new Spiderman BIG Backpack like Zach and Morgan's.

SCHOOL HAS STARTED

School started this week. Yeah for mom and kids! The kids are enjoying it so far. Very different more kids which means more adults (chiefs) directing traffic at schools both parental, auto and student traffic. Zachary and Morgan have made friends right away. Zachary was bummed when he saw he only had PE half of a semester not realizing all students have that. I have most everything done doctors, dentist, school paperwork finished and other normal relocation check list completed. It's amazing how much paperwork goes into relocating. I was a bit overwhelmed but did it so far but sure I've missed something. Yesterday we had a our first down poor for about 15 minutes the kids were all running through the rain and came in dripping. We have some really nice neighbors here in the Corporate Housing that are in pretty much the same situation with a house on the market and just moved in waiting for their home to sale before purchasing so I know we aren't alone in this transition. I think half of this town has been through this type of situation. We found out a lot about shipping our Kona (our dog) to us a huge Thank you Mom for watching and loving her. Animals can't ship cargo until all airports weather is under 85 degrees and the hard part is all the connector flights I've seen are through Dallas, Vegas, Arizona which makes the wait longer the airlines told me to call back in the Fall. Although United has a direct flight from San Fran to Charlotte so that may be our ticket to getting her here faster. She is going in for surgery to close her ears (to many infections) sounds familiar for our family. Zachary has his next hearing test this Friday he is not hearing again in his right ear. Looks like we'll be on surgery number eight with him or look at other options of reconstuctive ear surgery, I keep praying he'll grow out of this but no luck yet. Anyways, we are all doing well. Keep watching for more updates Pre-School will be next week. All our love to everyone.

Settling into Life in NC

Well we have been getting adjusted to NC. It's been Hot here and record breaking at that from what everyone is saying. It isn't as bad as I thought, just miss the delta night breezes. The humidity is not as wet as I thought so if this is as worst as it gets I think I will be fine. The first week we have been getting to know the area running back and forth to the stores when we realize we don't have certain items for cooking. Morgan is excited we have two malls very close and we can get to most everything without driving the highways. We had to get the school supplies so Zach is planning out his decoration of photos of California friends to put inside his locker then Morgan is doing the same with her binder. I enrolled the kids into school this week and looks like they should be fine but I'm sure a huge culture shock on the environment it is very traditional and all about academics not so much about field trips. Morgan will attend Torrence Creek Elementary and Zachary is going to Bradley Middle School. Torrance Creek has five fifth grade classes. Zach liked the gym (larger than El Caminos and he liked the seperate cafeteria) it's all about food and sports can you tell. He will be in all the Honors classes and has band as an elective and modern dance. Has put in an interest for a few clubs not yet knowing which one he will get. Tryouts for tackle football at the school begin after school starts I did enroll him in a Basketball and Morgan in Volleyball and Soccer. Bradley is the last one to find a school but I may have found one today. Mark center had it's Grand Opening and everything went beautifully and not a glich! It was also his birthday yesterday so we celebrated as a family. All is well in NC but this time change we aren't sure about with trying to keep in touch with friends and family. The kids are loving the webcam and instant messaging. Love to all of you. Yvonne

We've Arrived!

First, I had hoped to summerize our trip daily but some things from technical disadvantages and then when we had some technical time the sleep ended up being cherished along this trip when we would arrive at the hotels in the evenings to upload the photos. I hope this helps summerize our journey.

It hit home that I had left our home in California while in Nauvoo when I read a saying from a journal entry of Bathsheba Smith, "My last act in that precious spot was tidy the room, sweep the floor, and set the broom in its accustomed place behind the door. Then with emotions in my heart... I gently closed the door and faced an unknown future ....(boy that sums up how hard it was leaving as I swelled with tears) and I knew with her faith I could make it to North Carolina in our Ford! That entry will forever be marked in my soul!

We arrived August 1st at 8:00pm. Over 4000K miles and a lot of Hotels and restuarants (oh yeah! a lot of photo stops). We had a great time and actually had not to many problems with the kids, kuddos to them sitting in that back seat tightly! I think having stretched the trip into 14 days helped out a great deal. They were so excited to see what the next hotel or stop had in store. Learned a lot along the way! Just a summary

California-Nevada-Cried/Refected on our memories while reading our photo album

Utah took a deep breath relaxed and repacked to lighten the load

Jackson Hole - Tourist trap but fun!

Yellowstone - A very large park with so much to see

Cody Wyoming-No elevators in the Hotels in the whole town (2nd Floor, sorry Mark)

Keystone, SD - A wonderful free county we have here in America!

Omaha, NE - A very long drive from Keystone with nothing in between (here we did loose a great neighbor Cecil) what was amazing we had zero reception but managed to get that one phone call at that particular time just to be informed of his passing)

Nauvoo, IL - A very lovely place with very rich history (learned a ton)

St. Louis - The arch is a National Park for some reason Mark and I never knew that part of History! Same gifts in the gift center just a different names on them. This day was a bit hard with some health concerns for our dog Kona whom we left behind to fly out later she has to have surgery on ears and tumor will know more in the morning about if she'll be joining us!

Nashville, TN - A fun place to visit but pretty hot that day!

Knoxville, TN - Lots of kids (Junior Track and Field Olympic going on)

North Carolina - A beautiful state with trees galore! Will take some time to get use to living here!

Thank you to all that helped support us off on this new venture in our lives, we have cried many tears some even tonight as the kids realize they miss family and friends. It's settling in that this is our home but California will always be our roots of memories we created with all of our love ones and friends. We look forward to keeping in touch and hearing from all of you. I have to say it is a bit strange though only here a day not having someone walking into our home or the phone ringing off the hook! Love to all!!!!!!!! The Howder Family

More to write later. It's 1:37 am on the 3rd I guess!

Our Update

Due to technical issues we were unable to access our blog until tonight. Intermittent signals in the bad lands! Here are some photos of our trip so far. It's a bit late tonight. We will be journaling more details soon! Love to all! All is well with us! Enjoying the trip so far. We have a beautiful country! Sorry no photos of leaving California and through Nevada(to busy crying)!

Beginning of July Update

Well we are currently done with fixing things in the house (cross our fingers) and getting it ready for sale. The sign is up and home is listed on the web. We have spent some time with family and kids are dying to spend more time with their friends (little do they know there is never enough time to spend with friends we love). We will be home from the 4th of July through the 8th. Between scout camp, friends birthday parties and Mark and myself heading to Charlotte the 9th-13th we don't have many days left here in Sacramento. We are wrapping up the loose ends and getting all the doctor appointments current. So much detail to do with relocation a family but I think we've done pretty good for our first move being out of state. We are still physically staying at our home camping in the family room and garage (Mark is looking forward to his next business trip to have a actual bed). Thanks for all the information and advise I have received from friends and family. We will miss all our family, friends, California coastline and mountain views and weather. Although, we've been reading a lot about the Carolina's and there is a lot of beauty there to experience and still within a two hour drive to coast or mountains. Still no address to forward mail but we will be staying in corporate housing until the sale of our home. School there starts on the 28th of August.

BOXES ARE PACKED

Well it's real! Our home is packed and ready to load in the morning. It's so sad and the kids are starting to feel the reality. Bradley is walking around the house lost and mad about his toys missing. He doesn't quite get the whole thing just keeps saying, "but this is our house and I want my toys and bike to stay here! As I cry feeling his pain. We have about 300 plus boxes in the house and garage, wish our driver well as he takes everything across country. In reality all we really care about are the sentimental items pictures, home videos and kids memories. I am going to Carolina on complete FAITH! I'm starting to feel like it's not our home it's become a house. We have learned a lot about moving across country and know we have a lot to purge on the other side. I'll be unpacking for most of the year I'm sure!

TRIP BOOKED

Well things are wrapping up! We have three last days and school is over! Yippy and boy do I mean Yippy! Mark and I sat down last night and booked our trip back east. We look forward to visiting as many as we will see before we leave. Time is the hard part. The challenging part will be fitting everything and everyone into our schedule this summer while struggling to wrap up some of the kids events before we depart. We will be staying in Elko (NV), Bountiful (UT), Jackson Hole (WY), Yellowstone (MT), Cody(WY), Keystone (SD), Omaha (NE), Nauvoo (IL), St. Louis (MO), Nashville (TN), Knoxville (TN) and then on into Charlotte. Arriving about the 1st or 2nd of August so Mark can prepare for his Grand Opening in Charlotte on Monday August 6th. School there starts on August 27th. We still have no address there and it looks like we will be staying in Furnished Corporate Housing for a month or two until we finalize a home. Timing is everything! I think all of us are going through mixed emotions but trying to get everything done so many small things that need to be done that take huge efforts. We will be working on keeping this updated via others computers. Look for more information later! Love to all

Last nights performance for Zach and Morgan. They performed at "Blaze the Trail" and event for local stroke victims. They did a great job and everyone loved it. Thank you Rene for inviting them to perform.

Here is some information on our move we will be making the next month. As of today we are having our home packed up on June 11-13 and loaded on the trucks June 14 -15. House will then be empty to do final touches to it before it goes on the market. We will be physically here until July 18th. Then we will be off to Carolina for a new adventure.