Tagalong

When my mom booked our tickets she told them we were bringing the dog. But we would be booking him later. I was really anxious about this and asked Brian to work on it. Then Brian calls me and asks me to measure Tagalong. He is a few inches too big. We decide to go to Alaska Air Cargo with the dog and figure out the solution. When I walk in they take a look at him and say he is too big. They measure, "he won't fit in the 500. He will need a 6 or 700. The maximum that we can ship is the 500."
"So what are my options" I ask "the ferry"
I hold back my tears until I get to the car and I just break down. Tears start flowing. The ugly kind of tears where your face makes scrunched up, open mouth mortal pain kind of face. And we drive home. I sit on the couch and I cry. All I can do is cry. I have a list of things to do and all I can do is cry. He is 10 been in our family since a puppy. I can't give him up. And we can't drive across the continent. I call Brian and tell him. He said he was willing to do that for Tag, for me.  We get of the phone and I am still crying. I'll stop do some work then it will hit me, I'll have to leave my dog. And I start crying again.  Brian called, "what do you need." I ask "just had a feeling I needed to call." And I cry some more.
I can't sleep and any sleep I do get my mind doesn't stop working trying to figure out how to solve this problem. How do we keep our family together. I go to facebook post our story in a group site asking if anyone will ferry my dog. I have a friend in Seattle. She is willing to dive him to the airport. We can get the dog. I get a lot of support and sympathy from facebook but no one is traveling soon. A few people offered in a few months. And at one of my garage sales I met a couple that Tagalong loved that would be willing to watch him till we sorted things out.
I look into many options, flying him as a horse, $2000. Using a personal transport company $1500 and many more.  All of these options were costly and burdensome. I was discussing this with a friend and, without my knowlage she set up a gofundme account to help pay for the cost of traveling with Tagalong. The brought me to tears. Not the kind I have been experiencing these past days but the joy and love that I felt just overwhelmed me. I hadn't ever experienced that kind of kindness. And the service continued.
Someone saw the post and gave me a kennel. A kennel that is able to fly the 500. I get it home with the help of some amazing friends. I put Tagalong in it.  He fits, tight but he fits.  I take some pictures send it to a manager at Cargo and wait to see what they think.
Still I can't sleep but the tears don't come as easily. A good friend suggested that I licence him as a service dog for emotional support and he can come on the plane with me. I dismiss the suggestion because I will be traveling alone, with two kids and Tagalong is cared of shiny floors. It would be miserable for everyone. But then that night can't sleep and the thought comes to me that they would have a harder time rejecting him if he was a service dog.
I like to be honest in all my actions. I don't have a medical reason to have a service dog but the last few days have shown me that Tagalong is nesessary for my emotional health. So I sign him up. A few days before we travel and they give me a call saying that he is able to fly. What great news.  One burden lifted. But the struggles to get Tagalong to our new home do not end there.

When my mom booked the flight and told them a dog was coming they didn't check to see if he could fly on on my flights or what would be done with him when we switched airlines.  So when we get to Seattle Alaska air can't give him to Delta. My mom spent about 6 hours on the phone trying to get this resolved. She was reassured that Delta would pick up the dog and I wouldn't have to leave security with my two children get him check into Delta and go through security again. I don't beleive them.
Also the flight from Atlanta to Savannah the plane is too small to take the crate. He can't leave Atlanta. We decide that the best solution is Brian picks up the dog in Atlanta and I fly into Savanna and he drives.
All this for my Tagalong. Might seem too much for just a pet. But he is more than that in our family. He is an Ashton.

Big Change

These past two weeks have been an overload of emotions, work and travel. When Brian got the job in Savannah Georgia we thought it was best that me and the boys stay in Juneau. We prayed to know what the Lord wanted us to do and felt that this was the right choice. Noah's school is amazing and we figured Brian could get a job back in Juneau in about a year. It didn't make sense to move all our stuff and our bodies just for a year.
Brian left Juneau a day after Thanksgiving. He missed Christmas, our anniversary, New Years and his Birthday with the family. The boys and I were missing. I got a lot of help from friends and members of the ward and my crazy life became the new normal.
The only way we could make this "two mortgages" idea work was that I watch a couple kids at the house. My income would cover his costs. All my prospects and current clients just seemed to slip through my fingers. I had set up daycare with 8 different families and they all didn't work out. When my current family I was serving messaged me to let me know they were accepted into a traditional daycare center I fell to my knees and cried.  I now have to move.  This is not what I wanted. I turned and asked Noah how he felt about moving.  "Noah, you will leave all your friends.  You won't be going to your amazing school any more. Do you want to move." His response "mom, I love dad more than school."
So it was Noah's choice. And he knows it. And he will tell you that. It wasn't my choice. But I couldnt deny the boys their father just because I LOVE Juneau and all my friends.  So, before Christmas we put the house on the market.  It took a week to get the the house looking nice. I sold a lot of toys, our Christmas tree and other household stuff to make the house look less lived in. And then the showings happened. It took at least 3 hours to make the house clean enough to show. I would bake cookies for them so the house would smell inviting. But after countless showings and two open houses after a month the house didn't get a reasonable offer.
Well, a mortgage payment is coming up and even if we did get an offer it would be another month before the house sold. So Brian and I decided to rent. I was talking to one of my friends about this and she told me that she actually manages many homes and would be happy to be our property manager. What a blessing.  After one day of having the house listed for rent on criageslist we had a  family interested. i think that if I saw 100 applicants I couldn't find a better family.
But still after all this planning, preparing and obvious blessings I am not happy about the move.  I struggle with the desire to stay in a place where I know I was called and move to a place that just happens to be where my husband is.
But I still press on. My parents help us out with tickets for me and the boys to fly out in two weeks. The cost of moving all our stuff is so high that selling and buying new is the more reasonable solution. The days go by so quickly. Every day is filled with selling, preparing, packing, cleaning and planning. And I am dreading moving day.

Tired Noah

Noah has never liked to sleep. Normally we snuggle in my bed, play, talk about his day, read books, while Oliver goes to sleep in the bottom bunk. Oliver is a very light sleeper and gets disturbed by anything and Noah needs a lot of comfort before bed. Well, Noah didn't want snuggles and Oliver just went down. Noah walks himself to his room then up to the top bunk. Waking up Oliver in the process. I have to put Oliver back to sleep then sneak out. 

Around 11:30 I hear Noah leaving the room. It seams he woke up Oliver again and they both are heading to my bed. Noah tells me that he and Oliver need to watch tv. They are not tired. I tell Noah that it is bed time. He goes into this silly, half asleep crying fit about how sleep doesn't make hike happy and he just needs to be awake. 

So I tell him to go sit on the couch and wait for me to put Oliver back to sleep and then we can talk. After I am done with Oliver, which took me about three minuets, I go and check on Noah and he is fast asleep on the couch wrapped up in a blanket. 

Funny kid. 

Bedtime

Brian went downstairs to get Noah ready for bed. He found him naked watching tv. Brian asked Noah why are you naked. His response "my clothes didn't want to be on"  

Getting ready for Christmas

We put up the Christmas tree today. The boys had lost of fun removing what I put up.  Oliver thought that the garlands where his personal necklaces. Noah wanted to tie himself up with them. They had so much fun with the lights, ornaments and nativity. I asked Noah why we have Christmas and he said "it is when baby Jesus is born."  I was so proud of him that he remembered. On thanksgiving he was upset that we don't give toys and it is ony an eating day. He wanted to change the date to Christmas. 

Birth month

I think birthdays are important. So important that many parties are not only alowed but preferred. Noah's birthday is August 21. Hopefully I will be able to post some pictures for you to see. It was lego fantastic. 

But today we were able to go to a friends house. Brian is out of town for work so we visit people we have missed. Sarai Timothy is one of the most amazing people you will ever meet. She is such an amazing mom.  She has a heart of gold and is always willing to help, serve and befriend anyone and everyone. 

We had cupcakes, singing and presents. Noah got a Planes track with Dusty. Her girls helped put it together and they played for a long time. I am so blessed to have such an amazing friend. And so is Noah 

Here I am again

It has been a long time. I decided to start up this blog again to keep a family record. The kids, yes I said kids, do mind say funny things and I feel it is important to write this stuff down.  

So a quick update. Brian and I bought a house a little over a year ago.  It is such a blessing.  It is perfect for our family. Our family is BIGGER.  Oliver Dean will be a year old this October 3! Noah will be turning 4 on August 21. And hopefully going to preschool. 

Basically that it is. I hope I can find time to keep it up.