FALL 2018

We moved in on August 14th and the kids started school a week later! I really really wrestled with what school to put them in and ultimately decided to do the public school they are zoned for. The bus comes to get them and the majority of the kids in the area go there as well. It seems to me that the bus is where they get their social time. If we don't have a playdate set up, lessons or sports, or Scouts, I know that they'll see friends there. 

I was so freaking proud of them for going to a brand new school, new bus, new everything. They've been comfortable and cozy at their PG schools for years and I was too. I loved their PG school! We all had to start over and I made it a point to go bring them Jimmy John's the first day of school and was fighting back tears the whole time. They had good days and they've really done well. Made new friends and assimilated and figured it out! GO FRAMES!

Cal didn't have a friend yet and I was SOOOO glad I went. I snapped these pics fast because I didn't want to be obvious so they're not great, but they still give me the lump.

Hayes was ready to roll with our neighbor Ridge. SOOO lucky to have that family two doors down. We carpool everywhere together and they play when they can!

Ridges first time coming to play. I was so freaking excited. They were too cool.

Two weeks into living in Wallsburg there was a fire across the valley, lots of neighbors had to evacuate. It was crazy and we're so lucky it wasn't worse. Especially considering this is the fire truck in Wallsburg, haha! Can you imagine?? Russ said he'd go down with the house if it burned down.

All the while my business Bijou Market was transitioning, we had lost our last venue and were facing the 6th move in our 9 years. It was either put the market on hold while we found a permanent place to be (every time we moved we lost revenue), close up shop, or buy our own place. Of course with the stresses of our house, I wanted to set fire to everything and quit, Small Fry included, but tried not to be rash. ;) We toured several locations really just to appease Rashelle,  (remember I want to quit my life at this point) but they were awful and not ideal in the slightest. Then we toured this one place. And it was everything we ever wanted. And somehow we put in an offer, and they accepted. TIMING COULDN'T HAVE BEEN WORSE, but we took the leap of faith and bought it. Bijou's earnings have paid its rent so far and we've put in lots of money and Russ' time for renovations. We are planning to be done by April for weddings -- which we have booked already. Very exciting, very scary. I've never ever had a business in my 10 years of entrepreneurship that I had to invest in. They've always been self sustaining. So this added to my anxiety for the house, getting it done for Marazzi and digging ourselves out of the money pit we had dug. It definitely took a toll on my mental health!


After a day cleaning the filthy beast. // Somehow we got it done 3 am the night before for Bijou.


Right when I thought we could go back to normal, Russ continued to work for free as our investment was partially sweat equity. So I've kept trucking with my own work and really had to dig deep this past Fall. Again, Russ has put in insane hours to juggle all these things, and done lots of amazing paid work to fill the gaps.


My mom got remarried a week after school started and my dad got remarried a month later in secret. Never a dull moment with those two!!

I remember Russ and I planning on a super big vacation to the beach somewhere to celebrate our anniversary and finishing the house. When it came time for said anniversary -- SLC it is! We had an overnighter and had a great time! Maybe next year.

Halloween -- Cal was a skeleton and I have video footage of him but no pictures. Wish it was easier to add video to these! We went trick or treating in PG and they love the time they spend with August and Boss. Hayes with half face paint because you can't do the whole thing at school. Raleigh's first door knock with Tuesday.




While Russ finished things on the house, I prepped as best I could for Marazzi to come and shoot. I unpacked every single box in our house myself. I organized, I busted it out and I had it all unpacked in a week. Hell yeah I'm proud. Then tackled as much of our storage container as I could. This was after that day.

Conference Sunday. // Regular Sunday, the ward is really really good here. Its reignited Russ' love for the church and I really enjoy it as well!

The boys have spent a TON of time together since we moved. All their time really. Not sure if its good or not, but glad they have each other. // Cal after church. What does your crown say Cal? Goes to the mirror "RTC!'



Raleigh // Another playdate with a neighbor.





Tried my best to be open to all opportunities in Wallsburg. Said yes to everything. Made new friends, went to several people's homes for dinners. Had BBQs and honestly felt so welcomed so quickly. Here I am at the park with two ladies from my ward.

Our deal was that they'd donate all the tile if they could use our house for the marketing in 2019. I felt confident I could get the house full decorated within a couple months so we planned the shoot for early November. Again Russ worked until 3 am to get ready for this one. We got through by the skin of our teeth. It was a vulnerable place to be not having any more money to put into the decor while a company came to professionally photograph it. They were super great and didn't make me feel bad at all, just brought in their props and made it work. 2 FULL days of shooting!


I kept thinking if I can just get through November then I'll be fine. It was a doozy. Once we finished the shoot we had Bijou on our heels, and then had a family picture shoot (priceless) and then family stayed with us for Thanksgiving. We hosted two dinners and lots of fun parties and the house was trashed and Russ nearly blew a gasket. Ha!
 Raleigh and Stella playing hide-n-seek.

And just casually saw two bald eagles on this tree that is shaped like an "F" that I took as a sign when driving through Wallsburg the first time. I had been listening to John Denver Rocky Mountain High when he says "Though he'd be a poor man if he never saw an eagle fly." Magic moment for sure.

FALL nearly killed us, but things calm down next post I swear!!!