The Geek Life!: July 2015

Today marks the one year anniversary of our huge life change. While no one in our family changed gender we did change where our family resides! To say that the move from New England to the Midwest has been a culture shock would be an understatement. We are definatly still adjusting everyday but I think we are doing much better then I thought that we would. The Kids have been not only happy go lucky and really a true example of rolling with the punches but they have thrived. I wish we had been more settled so I would have been better about documenting our adventure. As we finish the first month of summer break (which has been anything but a vacation) and find ourselves reaching this milestone I felt it would be a good time to recap.

The kids and I took our time when we left CT. For four days we traveled a very round about the way to reach WI. Our first stop was Palmyra, NY and all the church (LDS) sites including the Pageant. For all my non-LDS (Mormon) friends and family the Palmyra, NY area is where many of the first events of the LDS church took place, including the publication of the Book of Mormon. The Hill Cumorah Pageant is an annual event put on by the LDS church which depicts the events of the Book of Mormon thru it being given to Joseph Smith for translation by the Angle Moroni. Day 2 saw us head over to see Niagera Falls before heading to Kirtland, OH for the night. Day 3 we spent the morning visiting the LDS historical sites before we headed to Indiana to visit some of our favorite friends. Day 4 was our favorite day by far, we spent most of the day with our friends in Indiana which after 3 days of driving was a bit of Heaven on Earth. We stayed a little later then we planned but it is always hard to part from friends. We headed for WI via a quick stop by the Chicago LDS Temple. I thought it was a good idea to get the kids familiarized with the places that would shape our life here.

     We arrived safe and sound before 10pm, exhausted and ready to not get in the car for a long time. Then we started the daunting task of unpacking. We worked hard and got unpacked enough to feel functional within a few weeks. By the beginning of August we were busy trying to figure out were everything was, checking out local events and getting the kids signed up for school.

   Once the kids went back to school life got pretty busy, between church activities and school activities and community activities we really had lots of chances to make WI feel like home. We did make a quick trip back to CT to celebrate my sisters pregnancy in October and I got a great birthday treat in a trip back to meet my nephew. We spent most of our Spring Break visiting Kelton's family in VA. The kids both had great years in school. Victor turned 14 shortly after we arrived and was off to high school. We are super proud of how well he did. Not only did he have to get up every morning to be ready to head out the door at 5:30am to attend Seminary, which for our non-LDS family and friends is a one hour religious class he will take before school every year while he is in high school, but he took a full load of honors classes. He also volunteered with a local youth group, attended several after school clubs, one of which was building battle bots, and took part in lots of church youth activities that included scout activities as he continues to work toward his goal of becoming an Eagle Scout. Rowan turned 10 last fall and had a wonderful time in 4th grade. She made lots of new friends and enjoyed living in Packer Country. She had fun with activities like Pom Pons (cheerleading), gymnastics, and having mom called as one of her Activity Day Girl Leaders (non-LDS translation- girls 8 to 12 have Tuesday night activities twice a month to learn about gospel center ideas in fun and creative ways while they work towards earning their Faith in God award). We are proud and very relieved with how well the kids transitioned. We grownups have made the best of it. Thankfully Kelton really loves his job and since he grew up all over moving wasn't outside his comfort zone, although he handled it much better once we got here. I have done my best to stay positive, especially when the thermometer was so very negative. I feel super blessed that shortly after we arrived here another family moved into our Ward (non-LDS = Church Congregation) from Arizona. We have become very good friends as we have lived this transition together, which for us mom's has been extremely helpful. We have had fun adventures exploring, hanging out, and hitting rummage sales while the kids are at school. I know that this blessing has been what made this year survivable and I thank my Heavenly Father for it often.

     WI is beautiful but as much as it annoys some CT and NE will always be home. If I had to choose one thing to complain about it would be that the pizza here is not NE pizza. Crust here is like a cracker and considering I am not a New York or wood-fire pizza fan it is down right awful. But when you think of all the things I could find fault with pizza isn't too bad. They do have Pizza Hut so I will survive but as I proved to my family when I visited in January, every chance I get to have real pizza I am going to take it. I will never delete the numbers for Georgina's or Willington Pizza from my phone because I will be using them ever time I visit!!

     This last year has flown by. I can hardly believe we have been here a year already. There has been lots of things to learn and do. Surviving winter was a challenge for me but everyone else seemed to take on the WI attitude of life goes on no matter how cold it is or whether the sun shines or not. My travel bubble gets bigger little by little, and we are making WI a comfortable place to live as time goes on. The kids have had so many activities already this summer that it maybe a break from school but it certainly hasn't felt anything like a vacation. I am sad that we had to decide to push our visit home till the fall because of activities but I would rather enjoy it instead of feeling rushed because someone had to be somewhere. If I could only talk the boy out of Football life would be pretty grand here in the Badger State for us Nutmegers!!