I Am Home....

I am

Packing my future into this box

Along with glasses and plates and forks

All wrapped up in wrinkled newspapers

Taping it up and loading it on a truck

Hoping that when I open it again

I’ll know what to expect

That I can put prosperity, security and happiness

Into the empty cupboards

Next to the cayenne pepper and the paper towels

I’ve done this before

Fifteen times in fact

With children underfoot or waiting in the womb

Juggling jobs and dogs and nannies

Tape and boxes and newspapers and hope

Seven years of scribbling my future

On the top of a box with a big black marker

Hoping it will get to the right place

Home.

Julie Boam

October 18^th, 2009

I...Am...Home (combine the first and last sentence)....

Yes, "Home" is a state of mind for me. We are moving again...this week...downsizing to a smaller home here in Surprise, as we have found a family that wants to buy our custom home (after a three year lease). I will be living in a 3 bedroom home, which means a lot of SIMPLIFYING.

Everyone calls me an expert at moving. It's not by choice, but yes, I would agree.

I am throwing out the old and purging it all. Craigslist has been my favorite place as of late. I have been very creative with my latest postings and have had success this week in: renting out our Florence home, getting the lease on this Surprise home, selling baby toys, selling our bedroom set, selling a dishwasher and finding boxes for moving.

With packing up an entire house again (on my own might I add), with it comes a lot of sorting through clothing. How it tugs at my heart strings to be putting away Wesley's old clothing...and to see Austin's little shoes that are now too small. I CAN wait for Isaac to catch up! I am so happy to have one more little man to grow big and strong like them. (Sidenote: Isaac had his 9 month check up: 70% in weight, 50% in height, 90% in head. Austin had his 4 year: 40% in weight and 20% in height. C'mon little Double A, grow big and tall!)

There is a sock monster in my house b/c after every load of laundry I always have at least 2 mismatching socks. I have this little drawer in my (now sold) bedroom chest. Is there any organized way to place socks and undies for boys in the same drawer? How does it stay organized? I have no idea. So, as we speak, I have 7 mismatched socks from just their drawer tonight. I need to finish up sorting through the winter/summer things, as well as storing away the bins for next year. It's an exhausting event going through the clothing!

So....little by little I will start taking loads to the new house here in the neighborhood. I am so sad to be leaving my b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l home here. I love the granite countertops, the travertine, the clean water, the open floorplan, the plush carpet, the tall doors and of course the large garage. But....what is a home when you can't share it with your husband? The most important thing to me right now is that I can share it with my children, and they are what matter to me most. I am willing to give up anything I own materially just so that we can be together once again.

The adventures of the Wilson family continue...down the street.

Time Out for Women

Last weekend I went to Time Out for Women, the Deseret Book Conference, with my two girls April Ashton and Nikki Thrower...and my chubby babe Isaac in tow (how could I forget him when I am his life line?)

One word described the event for me: DELIGHTFUL

Some of the themes included:
1. If you can laugh at it, you can live with it.
2. Don't ridicule someone's positive attitude, respect it.
3. You can have problems and be happy at the same time. Don't have an, "I will be happy when..."
perspective. Find joy beforehand.
4. Happiness is a city in a state of mind.
5. Think to yourself, "Am I any fun to be with? Am I happy? What's it like to be married to me?" Make it a choice today to be delightful for everyone around you.
6. Humor gives us perspective.
7. Abundance. What do I have to offer? Make the most of it.
8. Give you ALL...."I will be there" attitude.
9. Learn to be content with your life. Use the late night hours to talk to God.
10. There was never a better Hero.

Kenneth Cope was the guest performer and what a cutie he was! His voice comforted me throughout my rough mission days, as well as helped form my testimony during college. I must be getting old to think that someone who is in his late 40's is handsome!

I was inspired to just bring on a better attitude in my day to day routine. One lady spoke who recently became completely blind. How hard would that be to never see your husband or boys' faces? She had a great outlook on life and found humor in so many things.

It is up to ME to be good company. I don't want to be a whiner when Jared calls home and I am frazzled by my children. I want to make good choices with my attitude and just be positive. I want to be a fun and cheerful wife, friend, and mama.

I loved getting dressed up (beyond flip flops and capris), going out to lunch where you can share your sweet potato fries, browsing through the Deseret Book merchandise, and of course the mother's lounge was a new favorite spot for me this time around.

A great conference. Isaac was a handful, but how wonderful to be amongst all the "sisters" and to feel so loved by a dear Heavenly Father. I know that He lives and loves me.

Wild Animals

It was a crazy week for me with wild animals.

I rescued TWO birds from my sticky pad in my garage. They were both alive and trying to fly away. More feathers were stuck to the pad then bird. I always get so nervous touching them, so I put on rubber gloves and try my best to not hurt their fragile and skinny legs when peeling.

I was driving to the Inn-n-Out burger for a dinner stop with my boys off of I-1o and Dysart Rd in Avondale. What did I see? A goat running alongside the freeway, with a german shepard as a sidekick. I guess they wanted a bite to eat as well. The Inn-n-Out workers grabbed them, called up animal rescue, while me and the boys petted them and thought about how cute they were together.

On my way to the gym, I passed by THREE horses happily munching away on some grass in someone's front yard! That was a surprise for sure. I wasn't sure if I was seeing them correctly, but they were not fenced in, and did not have any reins or saddles on. I am glad that they didn't dart out in front of me or I surely would've hit one. I told myself that if they were still there on my way back, I would call for help. Although, how the heck would I manage to keep three horses in one spot while help arrived? Those animals are huge and intimidating! Fortunately, they were gone by the time I got back...hopefully safely corraled back to wherever they had come from.

Now the big event...that same day on my way to visit April Ashton, I saw this huge African Desert Tortoise cruising alongside the road, headed towards the Waddell intersection. She was at least 50 lbs and maintaining a pretty quick speed! That was another huge surprise. I live out in the boonies, so there was no one around and I had no idea where she had come from either. What to do? The boys and I hopped out of our cars to try and pin her to a corner. She didn't care though, she would just turn in a different direction, go pee, eat some grass, and keep on crawling. My boys were thrilled to see her so they petted her, and even tried to go for a ride (I stopped that one). But, I didn't know what to do! I couldn't just leave her to go get hit by a car! Fortunately, I flagged down a passing truck, and my own dad happened to be driving by. So, we loaded up the tortoise in her truck (dad was a bit nervous with those flapping arms and legs), and April tortoise-watched until we could find the right people.

That tortoise was a hit with all of our kids! We got some great pictures together and she was so happy in that backyard with the water and grass...and even made herself welcome by going inside April's home! That was soon stopped and it was pretty crazy seeing such a large "wild" animal in person. Jared told me that he had remembered a neighbor with tortoises, so we tracked down the realtor that was showing his home (he has since moved), and he was able to come and rescue his pet. I guess she creeped out while the landscapers were working. I am just grateful that we could help her find her home again and not get lost in this hot desert!

So...from birds to a goat to a dog to horses and to a tortoise, it was a full week!

San Antonio

Arianne + Rain + cookie dough + movies + mohawks + late night chats + Panera Bread + Life Time Fitness classes + General Conference + naps + pancakes + bedtime kisses + Ellie's hair + Shark BBQ + River walk + lip gloss + Christmas boot stockings + The Alamo + Victoria Secret + exhaustion + Continental Airlines + Bret's umbrella = A GREAT WEEKEND!

I promised Arianne that I would go and visit her in San Antonio back when she left me this summer. Bret is finishing up his residency as an ER Doctor. I sure do miss having him around to check my boys' ears for infections and to let us know when there is a broken bone. They are such a great couple b/c Arianne can actually keep up with his medical lingo and they always know exactly what over-the-counter drug you need for whatever symptom of illness you have.

I left the boys with my dad, Leslie, Jared and niece Chelsea so that Isaac and I could go down and visit her for 4 days. Lots of preparation just to leave! Isaac did a great job traveling with me, but unfortunately he is now officially connected to my hip. I couldn't put him down in the airplane, and he was nervous being in a different house in TX, so...now he is a spoiled baby who cries for mama whenever I let him down. He is determined to start crawling on all 4 anyday now, and he has even climbed up onto our one step in the kitchen. The boys started clapping in his honor when they saw that.

I am exhausted after spending so many long late night chats with Arianne! We have kept our relationship very tight despite the distance, so it was not hard for us to come up with things to say 'til 1am. Even though she would fall asleep on me sometimes, she was so good to me. The rain was very refreshing, and the humidity kept my skin very moist (as well as my hair!). I loved working out with A at the Lifetime Fitness classes where sweat was flying with every kick or bicep curl.

Another highlight was the Riverwalk along the Alamo. I felt naive that I didn't know more about the big battle, but there was a lot of reverence and peace as we walked the grounds. The Riverwalk was very unique with stores along the water front. I even bought some really fun Christmas cowboy boot stockings! My MIL Carol started the idea back when we lived in El Paso, and I couldn't pass by these cute boots. My boys will love them.

Thanks A for being a superb hostess (including keeping a spotless house, serving me homemade pancakes and syrup at 11pm upon request, going bra shopping with me, letting me take a nap, and listening to all of my random chit chatter 'til the morning hours every night).

Love you so much my SS (soul sista)

Happy 4 Austin!

Born September 26th, 2005

One year old...pre-hair cut (which we always do at the year mark)


New handsome haircut!
2 years old...into mama's make up

Batman PJ's that are so cute

Our big 3 year old at the pumpkin carnival in MD


The blue hair was his favorite

Who knew the laundry basket was so fun?


Now you are 4 and oh-so creative!

Birthday breakfast...and the fun day begins...

Our sweet firecracker and giraffe-like eyelashes boy has turned the big FOUR.

We celebrated his big day with a "huevos con jugo y un durazno" for breakfast, rice crispy treats for preschool, dress up play time, and a LEGO birthday party with friends. The party was complete with a lego building contest, birthday hats, musical chairs (great job Jared for being such a great leader), duck duck gooes, a big Spiderman Pinata and cake afterwards.

Austin is very independent, talkative (he spoke full sentences before age 2 in both languages), affectionate, stubborn, creative, sensitive and skinny! We love you so much bichito!