Moved to Arizona

After a year of serious contemplation about leaving our Emerald Isle, we finally decided to and took the plunge- head first! Getting to Kodiak was easy, Providence paid for everything as long as we would sign a three year contract with them. Not one company in the lower 48 would be crazy enough to pay relocation for a family in Alaska to move to Arizona when there are plenty of eligible candidates in their own state. Needless to say, this move was on our own dime. One of the most intimidating things about Kodiak and I believe to be a main factor as to why people stay, is coming up with the money to leave. I am happy to report that we sold our house within five days and we actually made some money off it. We also sold our F-150 (we won't need that in Arizona). These funds were used to move us to Arizona.

We decided well in the beginning that we would not tell anyone in my family and make it a huge surprise. For a month or so the only person who knew in AZ was my friend Kristin (who was very pregnant), she was going to be our person who looked at homes for us. Knowing that Kristin was probably very uncomfortable I thought of the one person in my family who could keep their trap shut- Nikki. I told Nikki and she looked into a home for us in Chandler- after seeing that one we saw one in Gilbert with a pool- which one do you think we chose?

Meanwhile, I talked to my Mom and Tia daily and very carefully never mentioned anything and acted as if everything was normal in Kodiak (even though I was surrounded by boxes and very stressed finishing my internship). If we could pull this off, it would be a surprise of a lifetime.

Our journey started with a nine hour overnight ferry trip from Kodiak to Homer. Tim and our dog Chee Chee drove our UHAUL which was packed to the brim and I drove the minivan with both girls and our cat Lenny. We got a stateroom with facilities this time. Leaving on that ferry was bittersweet and so exciting! Once you leave "the rock" it is such a feeling off the chains breaking loose and being able to breathe again. I loved Kodiak in its own way but always felt so isolated and stuck. Kinley loved the ferry- especially watching her Dora's Birthday movie and using her new crayons.

We arrived in Homer on August 7th at 7am. We drove from Homer to Anchorage and the girls and I were dropped off at the airport by Mike Davis (Tim's friend- who drove the AL/CAN with him). I was in the airport five hours earlier than our flight- I had no stroller, had a buggy with three bags and a cat while holding the hand of a four year old. I was sweating and stressed. Elizabel wasn't happy and I kept having to go to the nearest facility to get hot water for her bottle. I broke down and let them play on the airport floor to give my arms a rest. I did have my ergo with me but she got tired of that real fast. Our flight was delayed by one hour and Elizabel was tired and cranky. Kinley remained a perfect angel of course (not kidding). Once we got on the flight and were taxing- Elizabel continued to scream. With glances of judgement and some "your doing just fine, hang in their comments", I made it to my seat. Elizabel then puked all over me and her- I stripped her down to her diaper and sat in my chair and cried (I really did). It was hot, we were squished and Kinley was being ignored (not on purpose). Elizabel finally fell asleep and we made it to Seattle in once piece. Mark met us at the airport and I took a huge sigh of relief. Oh the cat, he was just fine the whole time regardless of being jumbled around a bit.

The girls and I were in Seattle and Tim and Mike drove the Al/Can pulling the minivan behind them. The goal was for Tim to make it to Seattle by Tuesday so that we can surprise my family that weekend in Arizona. Tim and Mike did make it in on Tuesday and we left Wednesday morning for Arizona. The girls, both pets, and I were in the van and Tim was in the UHAUL with no air conditioning. The first night in the hotel at Grants Pass, Oregon, Elizabel got very sick and puked all over her crib and had explosive diarrhea. She was sick, really sick. Low grade fever, diarrhea and vomiting. I got a text from my friend Carla stating that all the kids who went to Imagination Station the day we did were sick- great- poor thing. Not in her own environment and sick. The trip soon turned into a nightmare- not the fun family trip I expected. We drove as much as we could and made it to Lamar, California the second night. Elizabel was still sick but slowly getting better. We had three explosive diapers in one day, changes of clothes and really tore up some McDonald's and gas station bathrooms all in 108 degree heat- that was all new to us- miserable.

We made it to our new house!! Safely and together. Our new house and great! We are just renting for now. It is huge and vastly the opposite of our house in Kodiak. Huge open floor plan and a pool.

Nikki told everyone in my family that they would be going to Mike's grandparents house for a BBQ Saturday night. It worked, everyone showed up at the door at 3pm. When they saw us they nearly died of shock! Here is the video!

So we are in Arizona now. I never said I would come back but it is truly different as an adult with two kids. We have an abundance of resources at our hands and family nearby.

I start work tomorrow and Kinley starts her new preschool. More blogging to come!

Pics of our pool: