Finding my new normal.

What is 'normal'? I'm positive that it is a word that should not exist. Here is what Google had to say about what normal meant:
(n) the usual, average, or typical state or condition.

(adj) conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.

My normal 4 months ago was Mom/Dad working, loving, active parents. Kaed and B went to school and babysitter during the day, played with Mom and Dad at night. Fast forward to today and it looks a little like this Dad works, Mom stays home with kids.... ahhhhh!!!! Now, Kaed is 7 and Bailey will be 5 in just a few short weeks, they aren't new borns who require around the clock attention, so it isn't horrible but it's a change! Definitely not falling into either of the definitions above. 

I have always been the 'Super Mom' = in graduate school, in work full time, having two kids in activities running them around and trying to be a good housekeeper. (The later of which usually suffered the most!) And now, I've graduated my Master's program, I had to quit my job and move across the country for my husband's career, and now take care of the kids and house. I love my kids, but being stuck in a tiny, two bedroom apartment, with no TV, video games, internet, or separate space... you see where I'm going. 90% of the time, they don't even need me. Playing games, reading books, coloring pictures for their friends and wrestling keeps them pretty occupied; not to mention hours on end at the pool! I'm here to cook lunch and referee - which happens toooooo often.

But, I'm struggling. The most challenging thing on a day to day basis is 'what are we going to eat today?' Most days, I cook lunch and dinner and have it waiting for my husband when he walks in the door from work - who am I? It's definitely a change that I'm taking on and 5 days in, I'm doing okay. But, I'm looking forward to something coming along to mentally push me again. Volunteering, school work, and work - all that I'm seeking to keep me engaged. 

So, regardless of how bored I am at home, how many books I'm reading or how many times I make Mac 'n Cheese, I'm trying to settle into my new normal of being the best mom and wife. Phew - it's a lot of work! 

SOLD!

When your husband takes a new job in Iowa, and you want to move back to the Midwest, the plan typically involves putting your house on the market and ultimately selling. Well, then why is it so hard to sell our house?! Not the act of selling, but that of someone else buying it and we have to leave? Emotionally, I'm torn. Of course I want to be closer to family, but I have enjoyed our little family of four discovering new things, activities and experiences as the Four, I don't want that to stop. I'm sorry if I'm being selfish for wanting it to be just is four, for all of my children's lives, they've been passed around and shred with grandparents from weekend to weekend - I don't want to go back to that. So I'm not "sold" on moving back, yet. 

Anyway, in reference to the house - it's sold. And I'm very proud of me and Britt (Britt and I - whatever) we made a very smart, financial decision in buying when we did and then selling when we did.  Before the market got moving and just before I believe our market reaches the top! Yay! We won our first real estate battle!

Now comes a new battle, moving our life 16 hours, in four different times. Here is how the move broke down for us.

• April 18 - Britt took off on the 16 hour drive from Lehi, UT to West Des Moines, IA. Alone. 
• June 1 - Bailey flew back with my mom who had been in town visiting and watching the kids' dance recital.
• June 21 - Kaeden, Russell and I drove 6 hours to meet Britt and Bailey in Laramie, WY to do the trade off. This was soooo hard. I drove back to SLC without anyone in the car with me, my entire heart drove off in the opposite way. :(
• July 16 - I finally made the departure for 'home'. It was hard. It was sad. It was bittersweet.

But it made it easier for me knowing that my kiddos were being well taken care of. They were riding horses and fourwheelers, camping, fishing, and boating with family! No way were they going to be excited once I go there!

I was leaving behind our first home. I was leaving behind some really amazing people that were such a big part of my heart. But it was nice knowing that I was going to my whole heart, my home, my loves in Iowa.

...tbc. 

the start of Week Three...

Well, Week Three is upon us! {out of seven weeks} and on Wednesday, we'll be about 1/2 way done with being without Britt. That also means that the kids really only have four weeks of school left - yikes! I seriously can't believe that the school year has gone so fast. Here are some deets:

• Kaeden - has MASTERED reading. I'm seriously impressed by this kiddo. Up until December he was in a 'Star Reading' group which meant he got extra one-on-one attention from another teacher or his buddy to get him to where he needed to be for reading. I struggled with it thinking that were weren't spending enough time practicing with him (daily confessions of a working mom). I don't know what happened, but when we went back to school after Christmas Break, he was a reading wizard! He was still in his Star Reading to keep his confidence in reading up, but has since returned with the rest of his class. so proud of him! We're currently working on reading 100 books through the end of the school year, he's excited to accomplish it, which makes it more fun for mom :)
• Bailey is also a rock star when it comes to reading. We have her in Learning Dynamics pre-school, and couldn't be more proud of her accomplishments. She is reading full books through their reading program. Thankfully, we'll be moving to school district with full-day kindergarten, because I think she would have lost all of her progress in the half-days here in Lehi - no to mention the 30-35 kids in each class! Yikes! And he's doing math! 

I had a minor melt down today, but all is well. Just a word of caution: don't tell a solo mom that you are going to a movie... it may have just made me a little sad :( I can't take a shower by myself, let alone go to a movie!

and on that note, I'm going to go and watch a movie with my babies because we all got our homework done early!!

It all seems to get better with time.

Right?!

Well, it has been just over a week (day 8 now) that Britt has moved on to Iowa to his new career. We are very happy and very proud of him, but just to be a little selfish here - I want him back! Sure, we can just pack up and go to be with him, but we are so close to being done with school and the kids are getting to the point where they realize they are moving away from their friends :( If there is a silver lining for Bailey, her best friend is moving to Dallas for the summer (her dad works at different locations each summer) and they will be moving about the same time we will.

The first couple of nights we were with out Britt were rough, Bailey slept with me until Tuesday night. She never wants to cuddle, hold hands, or sleep with us; but, with her daddy gone, she couldn't resist :( She doesn't get too sad unless she's tired or I'm leaving her a daycare, I hope she doesn't think that I'm leaving to. So, we make sure to talk to Britt every day, but she doesn't ever want to hang up!!!

Kaeden, so far, seems to be doing okay. I was most worried about how he would react to Britt moving and eventually us all moving back. When we moved to Utah, it was tough on him and we didn't realize it soon enough. My sister, Kelli, moved out here with us for a couple of months and I thought that would help with the transition, but he had some anxiety and started to twirl his hair when he was alone, sleeping and tired. It got to a point where he had pulled out quite a bit of hair over a couple months. We addressed the situation by talking through it and making sure he was preoccupied with activities, and shaved his head... Eliminate the problem. So this time, I'm hoping it's a much easier transition.

So, as we go into the second week of having a dual time zone family, we are a little more optimistic that it will be better than last week!

Stay tuned, because I had quite the meltdown yesterday and hope that it doesn't happen again! I can't stand the emotion :)

I just don't know...

So, the news of Britt's new position and our move has gotten around our store like rapid fire. That's what happens when you work with your spouse in a small location. (I get it.) We are definitely very appreciative of the support we have from all of our co-workers, very appreciative. It means a lot when everyone asks what Britt will be doing, if we've sold our house, how things are going, yadda... yadda... BUT there comes a time when I just have no more news to talk about, I really just don't have all the answers or anything new to talk about.
So that we're all on the same page, here is what we know:
1) not enough
2) Britt leaves soon... like really soon. we're inside the 10 day mark for him to head back to Iowa.
3) Bailey's last day of school May 22
4) Kaed's last day of school May 30
5) DANCE recital May 31

Then after that, I've got nothin'!

All I know is that I am done with my MASTER'S DEGREE on 5/17, and my kids are done with school after that. I have to focus on school or I will seriously be crushed. That's my focus.
Would it be great to sell the house and not have to worry, of course. Would it be awesome to get out of here and get home to be with my husband, definitely. But I have a great job that I absolutely don't want to leave, like DON'T want to leave. So until I can continue doing this job closer to Britt, or find a bangin' job in Des Moines area... I'm staying put. This could be through June, through July... I just don't know, but I know that I'm not leaving anytime soon!

Anyone want to help us pack :) This is all happening so fast!

Can I get an 'easy' button for life?

Well, in true 'Kim and Britt' fashion - we don't do anything easy. Not that I think others do, but I just honestly feel we have the make the situation as difficult as it can be and then kill it!

1) 2007 - Having a baby at the end of junior year of college... then taking 18 - 21 credit hours to graduate on time and with your class because someone once said, "so, what about college now?"  - well. what?!

2) 2009 - Have your second baby when living in a tiny two-bedroom apartment?  Oh, and 1a) having baby and then moving into your own apartment for the first time... in the ghetto of WDM... hey, it's rough!  back to 2) have two babies, your husband starts traveling every week for a week for work... working full-time and paying out the butt for day care. Did I mention I was seriously crazy when pregnant with Bailey?

3) 2011 -This one is a doozy... a) decide to move to SLC, UT, b) quit a really good job, c) get married within two months of planning, d) travel to SLC and E) BUY A HOUSE f) start new awesome HR job!

4) 2012 - Move to Utah - an entire world away from Iowa. But during the move... let's break your back, Kimbo. smooth move. And then what's that, the house won't be ready for another week? Let's live in a hotel room; Britt, Kim (w/ broken back), Kelli (Kim's sister), Kaed and Bailey... and start work full time, 50+ hours a week.

5) Here we are, 2014. Looks like we're due for something. We are MOVING again, back to Iowa.

I don't like to think of it as moving back to Iowa, because it sounds like we couldn't hack it out in Utah. Well, most days, I couldn't - it was tough for me. But I'd like to think that we could live out here for a long time. It is gorgeous. It is seriously, the prettiest place ever! There is so much to do, regardless of the weather. We are moving to an opportunity that came Britt's way and we are just very fortunate enough that it is close to family and friends in Iowa.

That's all the details I've really got for you now, I'm still kind of processing it myself. More to come!

...easy button, anyone?

Welcome Back... Welcome Back... Welcome Back!

... to blogging!

I originally had created Days By Davidson to share our family's adventures during moving from Iowa to Utah, in 2012.  Here we are, 2014 - almost exactly 2 years later, and I'm just getting back into it! Oops.  Well, if that's any indication of what we've been up to - we've been busy!

2012 - We moved into our first house, one that Britt and I were able to design everything in. It. Was. Fun.... and now that we've moved in, we bought lots of cheap furniture to get it filled.  We moved from a two bedroom apartment, we had nothing!

2013 - What a FUN year!  I felt like in 2013 we really got a good feeling for living in Utah. We spent many days hiking and picnicking up American Fork Canyon, playing with new friends in the neighborhood, getting close with great friends and spending lots of time with family. Kaed and Bailey spent a good month back in Iowa with Grandma and Grandpa x2 - and came back more spoiled than ever. I ran three crazy races with crazy friends, Ragnar and Red Rock Relay(x2). These are relay races that cover over 75 miles! Don't worry, I'm back for more and have registered for two already! Britt has been busy creating a Non-Profit Organization that combines retailers and local law officials to combat crime and apprehend criminals, did that sound like a SuperHero plot - he's our Super Hero! 
We enjoyed family visitors from Iowa and Nebraska, and showed off the mountains and all the good food Utah has to offer - never a shortage of either! 

Here we are... 2014 - Kaed thinks it is just crazy that we are in the year 2014! What I think is crazy that he'll be 7... 7 --- did you read that?? SEVEN!!! What does he know about it being crazy that it is 2014?

We hope to have lots of fun in 2014. We hope to visit Iowa more, have more visitors to Utah, and watch the kids do so well in all of their activities.  Dance, soccer, baseball, basketball - oh, my! Stay tuned as (I anticipate - better than promising) to write more!

Did you know we have a dog? Meet Russell, he came to us in 2012 and he is awesome!