10.05.2008

I'm Not Complaining

Ahhh, this feels good!  I finally had Kurt hook up our computer to my mother in laws internet because it's taking us a lot longer to get internet to our house than planned.  So... if you were wondering, the flight over to Utah was great!!  The kids slept the entire way to Portland, ran around like crazy for our three hour layover then slept the entire way to Vegas!  When we got to Vegas the dumb airline lost Brody's car seat but luckily they had an extra one for us to use until they could find it and send it to us.  Since the kids practically slept the entire way to Vegas they were awake and kinda cranky the three hour shuttle to Cedar.  It didn't get bad till we were six minutes away from home though.  So all in all the flight over here was great!  We stayed at my mother in laws house for a couple of days till we could move into our... da da da daaa... trailer!  Yup people we bought a trailer that belonged to Kurt's aunt who bought it from Kurt's brother who bought it from Kurt's sister, that sits on the back of Kurt's grandma's property.  I wanted to take pictures of it to show you but stupid me couldn't find my camera's battery charger before we left Hawaii and now the battery is dead.  Have no fear my mom found it and will be giving me the hand off later this month when she flies to Utah to help my older sister Nikki with her newest addition, yet to come.  So in the meantime let me explain.  In Hawaii we don't have trailers.  We have a bad stereotype of people in crap holes with girls in daisy dukes and all the guys have mullets.  And although you may find that more in a trailer park, it really isn't as bad as people think.  We remembered the trailer when Kurt's brother and his family lived there.  The outside is very, trailery, but the inside was very nice with a new paint job and carpet and just all around NICE!  We didn't get to see it when it was being lived in by Kurt's aunt and uncle, and as we most recently found, their three dogs.  After they bought a house they started renting it out to a girl who was going to anger management because she had lost custody over her two kids.  She was only on a month to month so when Kurt's aunt and uncle found out we were moving here and needed a place they decided to kick her out. Well it was a good thing too.  She smoke and drank in there, which she wasn't supposed to, and she lost her job so they were pretty sure she wasn't going to pay for next months rent.  So anywho, who go back to look at the trailer with our memories of it being nice and it turned out to look like my stereotype of a trailer.  I wanted to cry.  The smell of smoke hit you when you first opened the door, the blinds where hanging to one side, the curtains were a mess, some of the carpet was fraying on the side, there whole big nail holes all over and giant black scuff marks on the wall.  We walked to the kids' room to get them excited and Brody put his hands up by his face in a claw motion and said, "Roarr", which means scary, and Drew said," Mommy I don't want to sleep here.  My room is scary!"  I couldn't blame them.  I immediately thought of a bad motel room.  We didn't move in immediately.  We bought some cheap furniture first and provisions and now I'm happy to say that it looks a lot less scary.  There's also a wood burning stove and after messing around with it a little bit our house smells like campfire instead of cigarette smoke which I'll take any day.  The girl only lived there for a month, not very long enough to make her smell, stain.  It's just so sad that we have to wait for money to be able to make as homely as we want.  We want to put trip on all the windows and paint all the walls but it just money that we don't have.  I also ripped down all the ugly curtains and threw them out.  So now were feeling better about our place, our car was another issue.  We didn't have the money to buy the car we found on craigslist so we applied for our first car loan.  Turns out we have really good credit but Kurt didn't have any current work history in Utah, so we needed a cosigner.  Kurt's mom was happy to cosign but between, stupid and stupider people it took us a lot longer to get that stupid car than we wanted.  So now were happy to say that we have a 99 Dodge Durango with three rows and leather seats.  After we got it home, however, we realized that there's a problem with the starter.  It takes the car 3 - 5 times to start now.  Talk about a humble beginning.  We can't afford to fix it now but we're hopping that it won't completely bog out on us until we can afford to fix it.  Other than all the materialistic things that are sadly needs and not wants, were doing good.  The kids are loving, absolutely love living here.  They see all kinds of animals everyday, play with their cousins almost everyday, have two grandmas that live 30 sec. away.  Kurt's dad has a garden and the kids have so much fun going back there and picking fresh fruits and veggies.  While they're having fun I'm keeping busy lathering up the kids with lotion, wiping runny noses because it's gotten cold, layering on their clothes, and yelling at Drew for taking of her shoes, that's a whole other story.  When we put Brody's shoes on him, after it had been at least a couple of months since the last time we put shoes on him, he was walking around like a dog with shoes.  Till he finally threw himself on the ground and started bawling.  My kids hate wearing shoes.  I had really forgotten what Utah was like until we went to Walmart for the first time.  Picture this, we walk through the doors and it takes me a second to notice all the mom's dressed and makeuped to a tee, and every other women there pregnant.  I noticed in the shopping carts all the little girls that are as equally as primed with cute little outfits and their hair all done up with ribbons and bang styles from the 80's.  Then I look down at my cart at Brody with snot running out of his nose, clothes that he's been in for two days, and Drew screaming that she doesn't want to be in the cart, but she didn't bring her shoes and we told her to, she's wearing mismatching shirt and skirt because she picked it out and her hair is one huge rats nest because it's not doing well in the dry air.  I just had to laugh. Now I'm not complaining, I'm not being mean, I've just realized what Hawaii does to you after you've lived there for a while.  Oh, I miss it so much!  I know this is where we're supposed to be, I just wish there was a little more laid back Hawaiian culture here.  

24 comments:

Stewart Family said...

I am glad that you are working on making your place more home like. I am scared to see our place. I am also VERY scared to go to Utah. Hawaii runs deep in my blood. Don't know if I can handle doing my make-up for a shopping trip :o) Come take you trailer and move by us. We can be a team with the "crazy kids" :o) I am so happy we will be in the same state!

Melissa said...

wow! sounds like an adventure!!
glad the airplane ride, went well and you all made it safely!

Laura said...

I'm glad you are starting to make your own home. And that's great that the kids like Utah, it makes it easier for you! Jonah still says he wants to go back to Hawaii and doesn't like it here. well we're signing a lease on a trailer tomorrow it sounds like yours but the inside fortunately is still decent, it just needs some surface cleaning, so we're excited to have our own place. Congrats on the successful flight too!

Alissa said...

Wow, what a start! It sounds like things are looking up though. You have to let me know the next time you'll be in the northern half of the state and I can come meet ya somewhere.

Kim's just sayin' said...

isn't it crazy how many things go into moving? It is so stressful. You sound so optistmistic and I bet your kids were the cutest ones at walmart! :) Good luck with everything.

Keiko said...

I'm so glad you had a safe trip to Utah. I know it will take some time for you, but at least kids like it there:) That helps!

Unknown said...

what an adventure! I'm glad you're making the best of it and don't worry about how your kids look and how you look. You just moved and you shouldn't conform!! ;D
I would have looked worse than you!! Have fun in Utah!

Shanae said...

Noel, I love you and I loved this post:) I know after you get settled things won't seem so foreign. You just need to teach everyone there what laid back living is like, they will realize they want to be just like you and then they will enjoy their lives more:) Are you feeling OK, with the pregnancy? It is good you are still so close to family. YAY, for babysitters:)

Stephanie Williams said...

When you told me things werent great I didnt imagine that! I am so sorry! That sucks, but at least you were able to get the bad air out and make the house better. My mom lived in a trailer my whole childhood in Cali and I remember hating it and thinking the same thing Drew did. I was convinced someone was gonna stab me with a knife while I slept there and so I stopped sleeping on my back. Weird I know, I figured thats how people got stabbed. To this day I can NOT sleep on my back. so stupid. Anyways, I am glad you guys are there safe and sound. We miss you, but we might be coming for a visit next month or so, we'll let you know!

Erin said...

james is jealous of the trailer, seriously, it is his dream to have a trailer to live in. I looove all the details so i could truly imagine the whole thing! and I looove what you had to say about utah walmart. James was thinking how he wants to move there for the seasons, hunting and so on and then I reminded him of the kind of people that live there, similar to arizona but a little more high maint. women would talk trash on me for only wearing mascara and never doing my hair! ;)
and yay for a car! why is it always sooo hard starting off in a new place again!

Mackenzie said...

When I read about all those done up moms all I could think was "yep, she sure is in Utah" Its pretty sad that they all do that but hey, we're all different and thats what makes the world go round. We need both sides of the spectrum so that we can laugh at each other!!!

stef j. said...

pwah ha ha!! oh so funny. every single bit of it. i am LOVING your life experience right now. the trailer is classic, the starter-issues durango, the utah 'done-up' culture ... maybe i'm a bit odd, but i look at it all and think, "man, what crazy, good memories all of that is making!"

and i'm sure at least one of the well-groomed mothers looked at your wee ones and thought, "oh, so sad. teenage mother."

*sigh* i think i'm going to go read the post again. it was THAT good.

seriously LOVE it!!!!

stef j. said...

so, i just read it again.

questions: so is kurt growing a mullet?? :)

Tyson and Shelise said...

Hey guys!! I for one am so excited that you guys are back in Utah for a while. I have not seen your kids well for... I dont even remember! We will be down in Cedar this weekend so hopefully we will be able to stop by and see you and you can finally meet my husband and keithen. Our blog is www.thedoves-dove.blogspot.com. See you soon!

Tyson and Shelise Dove

Anonymous said...

Isnt that the luck... You move across the ocean to a mess of bad luck. Hope it turns around for you guys soon!

The Songer said...

My Girls asked about Drew the other day! They couldnt remember your name but they said.. "You know mom..she's the pretty aunty and her husband is uncle reynolds.. remember he use to always play with us and make trouble to us!!! I just laughed and thought about how the girls were always so happy to see Drew when she came around!!!

Good Luck with Utah and the happenings there... Just take your time and everything will everntually fall into place!

Anna said...

Noelle!! I didn't know you guys were back! I am so excited!! I can't wait to have you down to hang out! How did you land back in UT? We thought you were in Thailand, or Figi or something ... wow, can I just say I'm SO glad you're back! Amazing portraits!! LOVE them! My 3rd pregnancy was SO much different than the first two, too. Don't let Cedar get to you, hold onto that carefree spirit, I've missed your smile, don't worry, I'm not being creepy or anything, but we totally have to get together!

Victoria, like the Queen said...

Hey! I'm glad to hear you're now in good ole' Cedar City! I hope things settle down for your little home--I'm sure you'll make it super cute! Jeffrey and I totally need to take a trip down there to go to the corn maze! When do you guys wanna go??

Unknown said...

glad to hear you guys made it safely :) sounds like the kids are having a blast!! good luck with all of the moving stuff!

Alissa said...

So I got roped into this tag thing and now I'm tagging you. Look at my blog to see the rules/etc. I won't have my feelings hurt if you don't do it. promise. :P

Alissa said...

So I got roped into this tag thing and now I'm tagging you. Look at my blog to see the rules/etc. I won't have my feelings hurt if you don't do it. promise. :P

Leah Remillet said...

What a response to this post!! Did you have any idea how much you are loved - and how many people are checking in on you.
I love all the details! I wish so badly we could have seen you - but that opportunity will come!!! We really miss you - I'm so glad I have you in the blogging world so close by!

Cari said...

so glad you made it safe and sound! so how are you feeling pregnency-wise? :) hope you're all doing well!

Carrie said...

Hey! Whoa, I am way late on commenting on this post...sorry, I've been kind of out of commission until this week :)
It's so good to catch up with everything that's been going on! What an adventure! I'm happy most of the trip went smoothly and I loved reading all the details...I could just picture everything---you are a very good writer! I look up to you tons and I know you will make the best of even the things that seem frustrating at the moment! My personal motto for this year is to "Enjoy the Journey" and it's helped me appreciate the "small" yet truly MOST important things more fully, while better recognizing the things in life that really just don't matter! (random info that just popped in my mind :) Love you lots!

 
design by suckmylolly.com