Our First Home...For Sale and Sold!

We always knew that eventually we would move to Central Oregon. It was pretty neat to watch the Lord work, yet at the time I didn't know what was happening.
John was offered a new position at Domo, on a new team, and in a completely different building. This was the perfect opportunity for him to express his desire to work remotely, but at the same time, he wanted his potentially new boss to know that he was committed to Domo and had the companies best interest at heart. Eventually we were told, "Eventually you can work from Oregon, but not now". So we waited.

Then in September we were given the ok. Our house was on the market before John's boss could finish his sentence telling John it would be fine. ;)

My friend Chiami Nelson sold our house within a couple of weeks and wow I am happy we had her as a real estate agent and didn't try to sell it ourselves.
The first week we didn't have any showings, but within hours of posting our home, we had hundreds of views. The second week we had two different families come. The second family came that same day and then they came back the next day and decided they wanted it. In fact, the wife loved our house so much they asked for our couch, nightstands, entryway table, entryway mirror, and a sign I
made.

One day the buyer showed up with the inspector and I was so caught off guard. Maelee had pulled her diaper down while I was working out and pooped on my mat in the basement! I had laundry sprawled all over upstairs. The neighbors dog was outside tied up and I answered the door with Waffles in my arms. It was a little stressful, but hey it all worked out, we closed, and said goodbye to our neighbors and first home on November 5th.


THANK YOU to all my family who came to help! My Mom came to help pack and take care of the kids. Jaime came and helped me all day on the 4th. Kaitlin came and helped watch the kids and got us pizza. Then Scott, Garrett, Isaac, and Steven came. Our neighbors Eric and Jason helped, and our friends Court & Myriah came too. We were so grateful.

We ordered a smaller moving truck, but LUCKILY it wasn't available and we had to get a bigger one…we FILLED it.

THANK YOU to our wonderful neighbors for always being so kind and friendly. We will miss all of you and of course our family very much! 

Since November we have lived with Grandma Peggy and Gramps in the upstairs. It's been great and we are excited to move a mile down the road from them!!

Halloween 2016

Domo had trick or treating this year so John dressed up as Joe Dirt which was awesome! We met up with Elizabeth Chandler and her family, it was fun to see them! Then we went to Steven and Kat's, had their yummy traditional soup/salad/bread and went around their neighborhood!

Pre-School for Colby!

Oh this boy is every teachers dream. I am not trying to toot my own horn here as his Mother, but he LOVES to learn and is quick!! He has been going to school in Utah with Luke on Tuesday and Thursday's.
They have had some fun "Show and Tell" days, a Pumpkin Patch field trip, and a Halloween performance to show us parents what they are learning.

Escalante!

Laurie, Kayla, and Riley came to visit so we headed south for some fun exploring! We hiked a short trail in the late afternoon the first day and then stayed at a super ghetto motel that night...hahaha!
The next day we hiked some canyons and then split up. The visitors center told us that Peek a Boo Canyon and Spooky Gulch joined together at the end so Me, Kayla, and Riley went through Peek A Boo and we were going to meet John, our kids, and his Mom, but we came out and they weren't there.

We were lost.

It was actually really funny though because when we were looking in the distance we all pointed different directions as to where we thought the truck was parked. Well...Riley and I pointed similar directions! It started to rain while we hiked which can be dangerous because of flash floods, but we decided to turn around anyways and see if we just missed a turning point that met up with the other trail. The only way we could figure out to join Spooky Gulch was a huge drop that only someone with climbing equipment could repel down. Obviously that wasn't an option, so we continued back the way we came and at the very end where we started, there was a huge puddle of water that wasn't there when we had started. A small flash flood did come through. John, his Mom, and the kids also decided to come back to where we had split up, so we all hiked back to the truck.

September

I called Jaime and quickly realized something wasn't right. When I asked her what was wrong, she started to cry and let me know that her father in law, Ben, had a stroke earlier. I cried and cried for them.

After a few long days and lot of difficult decisions for the Shippen family, I'm sorry to say that Scott lost his wonderful father.

We wanted to bring some smiles and cheer to the Shippen's, so I made Scott homemade dough nuts and printed off some funny cat memes. Scott opened the door and I hugged my one and only favorite brother in law as he started to sob.

We were privileged to attend Ben's funeral and celebrate him. It was nice to hear more about him from each of Scott's siblings, but even better was Scott's hilarious talk that all had us laughing so hard we were crying more.

That month I also continued to check my college friend Preston Killian's Facebook or his wife's to keep updated on his health. Preston passed away the morning after Ben. He battled cancer and fought a good fight leaving behind his beautiful wife, his little four year old son, and one year old daughter. It was so heart breaking to see such an awesome guy leave this earth and I am amazed at the faith of his wife Meghan. I don't know her, but I see how she continues to carry on despite the heartache.

September was a good reminder that life is precious, it is fleeting, and although separation from loved ones is only temporary, it is also important to be present not distracted by phones or devices when spending time with others.

Maelee Kate Morgan…You're ONE!

Dear Maelee Kate/Mae/Maelee Cake/Mae Mae

Here is what I wrote on Instagram on your birthday, "Happy birthday sweet and sassy girl. This last week as your 1st birthday approached, I felt a little sad, but more appreciative than anything.
I am so grateful that I was able to carry you for 9 months, give birth to you, and then care for you this last year.
I'm so grateful that you have lived a full year, healthy, growing, and developing.
Now let's go eat some cake and clap our hands to celebrate YOU!" 

On your birthday, Nana and I made you a little cake and frosted it to look like a big cupcake! We made a bunch of cupcakes and then took them to Harvest Hills Park near Steven's house. There we met up with the Powell's, the Shippen's, the Jestice's, the Morris', the Benson's, the Jensen's, and Caitlin Janeway came too! 

You were so darling in your ONE onesie and tu-tu. Aunt Jaime gave you a cute bear with clothes to eventually dress her in and a stroller. Everyone else pretty much got you clothes, just what you needed. You don't seem to stop growing! 

You are now 16 months and I still want to tear up thinking about how big you are getting, but at the same time, I celebrate the milestones and development. You are WONDERFUL. You're such a sleeper...some mornings I am anxious for you to wake up. I am excited to go get you out of your crib to see that beautiful smile and hear your giggle. 

You make me laugh when you look at me and say, "Poo-Poo". You make me smile when you say, "Hiiii!". You light up when you see Dada (if he hasn't left for work yet), and of course you love to see Colby who tells you. "Good morning Mae Mae". 

Dada, Me, and Colbs love you so much Mae. You bring excitement, laughter, and more love into our home. We ask that the Lord watch over you and continue to bless you with good health.

Love Forever and Always,

Mommy 

Girls Camp and Nashville

11 Months Maelee Cake?!

Hawaii to celebrate Auntie KK