The Adventures of the Johnson Clan: Week Three, Complete!

It's hard to think that for three complete weeks we've been living in New York; at the same time, three weeks really isn't that long. I keep thinking "Man, people would kill to live in New York and have this long list of things they want to do here, and here I am wasting this experience." ..... Then Travis has to remind me that we just BARELY moved in, we're still setting up the apartment, and I have already done quite a bit.

He's right you know.

I think adjusting to a new area always gets me a little worked up. Like I don't do well with the assimilating portion of the move. I just want to jump right in have a new routine. I feel extra guilty that my kids have watched as much t.v. as they have. I feel fat from not having a work out routine (or time)... not to mention that tub of cookie dough I just ate this week :)

But you know what I mean? I just went from having a really structured routine where my babysitters were booked out a month in advance, we had school three times a week, a sports class twice a week, play groups several times a week, an acre of backyard, trails, my personal friends, work, inexpensive activities, and the most GORGEOUS WEATHER to.........

................... subways that I can't seem to get myself to take with Aaron alone; if it were just Maddix, we'd explore the city all day everyday. We have nonstop traffic, garbage/glass/dog crap everywhere. Can I tell you how many times I've actually heard the phrase, "Welcome to New York." And it always follows something very annoying. Like on the way here when we paid hundreds (no exaggeration) of dollars in tolls and all they had to say toward my complaining was "welcome to New York." Or when I got shoved into on the subway and it knocked me off balance, and you know what they said... "Welcome to New York." OR at the stores when everything costs an arm and a leg.. "Welcome to New York." Yesterday this phrase came after Travis was pulled over and ticketed for making a turn with people exiting the crosswalk on the other side, something that isn't a law in Utah. When he pleaded that we've only been here a short time the officer smiled and gave us the ol' "Welcome to New York." I don't think New Yorkers actually know what WELCOME entails... ha ha.. or they'd never say it!

And now i'm not just mom, but I'm also teacher, friend, and athletic coach. I feel like I constantly move all day, but by the end I don't know that I even accomplished anything. And people say, "Well you can't see the seeds you're planting in your children... yadda yadda." But when I spend the whole day so busy with tasks that I can't even remember if I took he time to just play with them like i did before because all their other needs were being met through other activities, then did I really give them what they needed? Yes, we get amazing time together, and I love it. I guess I'm just feeling like I'm spreading myself thinly across so many categories that I don't even know if I'm making an impact in any one category; like trying to take one cup of water to wet down 8 flowers, instead of just properly watering one...

Wow, that is not even what I meant to write, but I guess that's a bit of how I've been feeling. Overall, I don't really care that it's New York, or Minnesota or Alaska that we moved too. The only thing that matters to us is that we have Travis back; that makes everything worth it. Every day Aaron wakes up and just shouts, "Dahd! Dahtty!!" He even dashed out the back door in nothing but a diaper yesterday as soon as he heard the car return. It's cold here. He screamed when I took him on the inside of the door because all he wanted was his Dad!!

And on top of that we've been so blessed to be here, we really have:) It just takes me some getting used too. I'm grateful we have the apartment we do, it's absolutely perfect for us. I'm grateful for the ward we've been put in and the ability to meet Carol and Whitney.

I'm grateful for our location because we can walk to everything! And if I have to drive, the places I go aren't too bad to get to. We have this amazing experience waiting for us, so I don't mean to sound gloomy or negative; we're really upbeat, happy, and excited to be here!

And you know what else is great about being here? Nala!

As I got looking through all the photos from this week, I noticed almost everyone of them included our puppy Nala:) She has taken these boys as her own pups. They climb on her, chase her, tease her. They love her, and cuddle her. We walk and brush her everyday, and in turn she keeps us company and loves us unconditionally. She sleeps with the boys every night, by choice. We love her.