WA to KS

9 States, 3 time zones, 1,900 miles, 3 long days, 32 hours in the van and 3 young children going along for the ride...literally priceless!
I really did not have high expectations for my kids on this trip, granted we're only 1/2 way through, but they did soooo much better than I would of imagined. I don't know if it was all the electronics, books and toys we packed or the fact that my parents and sister came along, but they did WONDERFULLY! I am so very grateful to have made it to my brothers home safe and sound and look forward to days of getting to know my 2 new nieces, Kaija and Devon.
Kaija

Devon Lovin on Chi

Day 3 WA to KS

June 22, 2011- Finally! Cheyenne to Lenexa KS, 646.41 miles, and 11 hours, making our grand total 32 hours in the car. Another time zone, equaling another hour lost, but that's ok. We made it safe and sound. My uncle Lou, Aunt Paulette, Grandma Mattie and 2nd cousins Jordan and Hezikiah arrived about 10 minutes after us, safe and sound from Columbus Ohio.
At the end of the journey we were afraid that we were going to encounter our first delay with the flooding in Missouri, but luckily they had just opened the road we detoured on.
Highlights of our LAST DAY were:
1. Picking our battles with Boo...She did not want to wake up that morning and the day was destined to be trouble.
2. Letting JoJo use my toes as a joy stick.
3. JoJo clapping with pure Joy every time her door opened to get out.
4. Watching JoJo layed back in her seat with her foot up like Shar, texting away on her phone.

Day 2 WA to KS

June 21, 2011- Ontario to Cheyenne WY, 789.96 miles and 14 hours. This was a long day, but it had to be done. We started at 9 a.m., which actually turned out to be 10 a.m. arriving in a new time zone, making our day even later than we anticipated. We made it and that's all that matters.
The best parts of this day:
1. Dropping off Dakota to Paige in Ogden, UT at Cafe Rio (nice bonus, even got to start a punch card).
2. Being able to drive 2.5 to 3 hour stretches with out stopping...miracle!
3. All 3 kids sleeping at the same time.
4. The prairie dogs that provided pure entertainment at our dinner rest stop.
5. Boo getting tatooed by grandma with markers.
6. The iPad performing its own miracle and lasting the last hour of the day on 8% battery....amazing!
7. When Boo decided to finally stop talking and singing at 2 a.m.

Day 1 WA to KS

June 20, 2011- Tacoma to Ontario Oregon, 420 miles, and 9 hours. We had a late start today, but we made it. Our plan was to stop in Boise ID, but for some reason everything was booked and apparently we were lucky to find anything in Ontario due to the Weezer Fiddle Festival. Luckily Colonial Inn- Budget Luxury had rooms, thanks to their lack of technology no one really knows they exist unless they come to town. Shar wanted to give them a review, but without a website it's pointless.
The Best parts of this day were the following:
1. Boo singing "Old McDonald" all wrong... "With a duck duck here and a cow cow there..." She also gave us a rendition of "Old Christmas Tree."
2. Grandma teaching Boo the smell your hand slap trick and it totally backfiring on her with Boo throwing a fit.
and 3. Chi Chi and Grandma knocked out on each other...too priceless!

Field day

Chi Chi's school had an end of the year barbecue and field day Thursday. The girls and I ended up spending the whole day at school....exhausting to say the least. But we had a blast. It was fun to see Chi with his buddies and Boo maneuver her way into the class like she's been there all year. I think the most entertaining game the kids played was tug of war...the girls took the boys down hard.

2011 update

I'm totally envious of those who blog everyday, every other day, once a week. I don't get it. How do you have time? Not to mention I cannot for the life of me figure out how to make this blog better. Please let me know if people are willing to help because I think I'm down to once a year....yikes! Here's just a quick update of my kiddo's, also known as the main links in "The Chang Gang."
Chi Chi is finishing his final year of preschool next week. Kindergarten here we go. JC and I made a tough decision back in January to move him to another school, guaranteeing him a spot for Kindergarten. Best decision ever! He's currently attending one of the only two public Montessori schools in WA and it has been such an amazing change for him. He has grown in so many ways socially and intellectually, definitely a great investment. Although it was probably a little early for the morning rush of get dressed, eat your breakfast, brush your teeth, wash your face, back pack, lunch, jacket, shoes....he's happy and we're happy.
Some of my favorite things about Chi Chi right now are embarrassing him in front of his friends with hugs and kisses from mommy, listening to him read (amazing), watching him break dance, listening to him beat box (no idea where that one came from, probably the playground), listening to him sing primary songs that yours truly taught during singing time, watching his sisters adore him as he freely helps them in any way he can and most importantly watching the testimony of our Savior grow within him. He loves to memorize articles of faiths, is our best listener during FHE and always tells me what he's learned in class on Sundays. He's my baby boy...yes Chi Chi even when you read this for the first time as an adult, you'll still be my baby boy!

And then there's Boo. I was looking at a picture tonight of myself around age 5 and I totally saw Boo in me. This girl and I, we go round and round almost everyday. I just know she's gonna be my best friend for life (isn't that what BFF's do?).
Boo will start preschool next fall and man she is ready to go. Everyday that we drop off Chi Chi she asks if she's going too. It just breaks my heart to tell her "not yet baby, next school year is when you start." And then I'll probably have to explain why she's not going everyday, which trust me is tempting. Boo is for sure my little spit fire. She can go and go all day long. I had to take away her naps this year just because I couldn't/ can't get her to go down at night. It's amazing to me how long her battery life is.
My favorite things about Boo right now are her warm hugs and kisses (genuinely the best ever), her adorable feminine voice, her enthusiasm to help me cook, the fancy B's she writes in her name, and her nurturing nature towards her baby sis.
Boston loves almost everyone she meets and has a magical way of sucking people into her bubble. While I don't appreciate her firm, sometimes stubborn, 3 year old confidence on most days, I know she's on her way to becoming a familiar face and personality, which I can appreciate for sure!

And my Jo Jo. This baby girl is growing up way too fast. She tries so stinking hard to keep up with big bro and big sis. Tonight she had me in stitches as she tried to mimic Chi Chi's break dancing. Her little feet never left the floor, it was hilarious. From birth JC and I have said that there's something about this girl and we still feel the same way. For 14 months now she has warmed our hearts with her intoxicating smile.
My favorite things about little Jo right now are chunky cheeks that I can't get enough of, her wild hair that I let fly free most days bc it just fits her personality, her waddling diaper booty, when she yells at the other kids and I only understand one word...NO No!, when she dances around her one little stable foot in a circle while clapping her hands and laughing hysterically at herself, her yummy wet kisses and the warm welcome home she gives daddy everyday.
People ask me all the time if she's more like Chi Chi or Boo and I honesty can say she's holding her own. She's her own little person and I love every second of everyday I spend with her.