The Exodus

Well, it's official, we're no longer Vermonters. I'm not going to lie, I still cry a fair amount when I think of everything (and everyone) we've left behind. We've been in Indiana for 4 days now and it just doesn't feel like home (yet). It's been a whirlwind week.
On Thursday we loaded our truck. That was fun (insert eye roll here). It was stressful, but the kids were (fairly) well behaved - no small thanks go to Grammy for that one, we had some great help, and it went pretty smoothly (I think). The noteable exception being Noah taking a header off the back of the truck. Fortunately, our brain surgeon friend, Chih, was there to check Noah over and give him a clean bill of health!
Sad empty living room:
The boys loved helping load the truck. Truthfully, they weren't our greatest 'helpers' but they win the enthusiastic award!!
Running around in the empty truck before we started loading it:
Josie loved all the boxes and things that were all stacked on top of each other. She's a climber for sure!!
On Friday, we closed on our Vermont house (goodbye Logwood Street), and hit the road!! We had decided to break the trip up into three days. Friday was just a driving day. We stopped for the night in Utica, NY where Josie and Noah had their first experiences with hotels. I have to say, I was really impressed with how well my kids handled staying in a hotel (actually, I am really impressed with how they handled the whole trip. period.).
These boys loved the hotel stay. They have seen this whole trip as a 'grand adventure' (as Grammy would say). Their attitudes have really impressed me and helped me with MY attitude. What can I say, I have the BEST kids!!

Good thing Wiebke was able to make the trip with us!
On Saturday (Josie's birthday), we decided to celebrate with driving to Palmyra, NY and seeing some church history sites. We were able to see the Hill Cumorah, the Joseph Smith farm, and the Sacred Grove. It was really cold (apparently New York didn't get the memo that it's SPRING), but we had some good experiences and I'm glad we made the stop.
Grammy and the boys in the Sacred Grove:
An amazing view of the Palmyra Temple. Wouldn't this be GORGEOUS in the fall?!?
Justin and Josie on top of the Hill Cumorah. Man alive, that is one steep hill!
Grammy and the boys on top of the Hill.
After seeing the sites of Palmyra, we continued to drive in to Conneaut, OH. When we woke up on Sunday we drove in to Kirtland, OH and went to church. After church, we saw the sites of Kirtland. We were able to see Old Kirtland (the Newel K Whitney store, the Whitney house, the Johnson Inn, etc.) Old Kirtland was my FAVORITE! The cute Sister Missionaries who took us around were amazing and had the boys eating out of the palms of their hands! So cute! It was a really great experience.
In the School of the Prophets on the second floor of the Newel K Whitney store.

Grammy and Clayton
Hands down my favorite picture of the whole trip! Everyone's looking and smiling!! This is inside the store part of the Newel K Whitney store.

At the Johnson Inn, Josie fell and hit her head on the corner of one of the exhibits. She has a pretty awesome bruise from that fall. Fortunately, she's a tough cookie and took it like a girl!
After seeing Old Kirtland, we took a tour of the Kirtland Temple. I didn't get any pictures (honestly, I spent most of my time chasing Josie and Noah), but I thought this was a cool picture of Noah looking up at the temple.
After seeing the sites of Kirtland, we drove into Indiana. We are currently staying in an extended stay hotel that I can describe in one word - small. We're pretty cramped in here and nerves have been high the past few days, but we are scheduled to close on our new house on Friday and we can't wait!! Our hotel days are numbered (thankfully)!
Indiana happenings: Clayton has been re-enrolled in school here and had his first day today. His teacher seems nice and he had a great day. We were able to take Noah to check out a potential pre-school and he thinks that he is 'all growed up' now that he's been to school (once. for, like, 15 minutes). Josie's been doing okay, but this hotel stay has been the roughest on her because she really can't see this as an adventure the way the boys can. The boys have enjoyed seeing their cousins every day and it sure doesn't hurt that Grammy is still here! Finally, I've learned that Indiana-ans are called 'Hoosiers' (okay I already knew that, but still). FYI, the term 'Hoosier Daddy', NEVER gets old. Deal with it!
I leave you with this picture of Noah (apparently this is what it looks like when you're 'all growed up' - I love that he thinks he's such a man now):

So we've left Vermont. It's been an emotional experience, but we made it to Indiana alive and sane (well, as sane as we ever were anyway). A giant thanks to Grammy for coming on this trip with us. I know for sure that I wouldn't have been able to make a 3 day, 14 hour drive with 3 kids without her!! Another big thanks to Justin for driving the MASSIVE Penske we had to rent to haul all our stuff. He did a great job! So that's the update. We're here. We're together. It's good. Hoosier Daddy!!!