Finding...

A New Home!!!

Maggie and I left straight from the East for the West, the Mid-west that is. With Mike's new job as the city planner for a small town south of KC (Kansas City for all you folks that don't know the lingo), we needed to find a place to live. Mike met us there on Thursday and together we embarked on a whirlwind househunt. Mike's parents and brother had done a lot of preliminary searching for us (thanks guys!!) and so we had a good idea of what to expect. Still, it was pretty surreal to actually be looking at houses to buy for us to live in. Surreal, but exciting! Anyway, the above picture is the result of our search. We haven't closed yet, but on Saturday we made an offer and it's been accepted, so hopefully all will go according to plan and by the beginning of March we should be out of Utah and into Kansas. Crazy!


Anyway, the best option in our price range seemed to be this brand-new ranch-style house, with a fantastic kitchen and three bathrooms. We also loved that it had a finished basement family room and plenty of unfinished storage area. It's a small home, but much more than we need or expected to find. Here are a few pics:

The kitchen

Maggie and I play peek-a-boo from the built-in pantry

Maggie standing in her new room

Grandma and Maggie at the top of the stairs

Grandma and Maggie in the family room

Another thing we love about the house is that it has several trees in the yard and more bordering the property, but I won't show you pictures boring you with those details. Anyway, we are very excited to be moving so close to Mike's parents and three of his brothers, not to mention for Mike to have such a good job opportunity, though we will miss our wonderful friends and family in Utah (and will continue to miss our loved ones in the East, though we are at least one step closer).

More Shots From Our Trip East

Maggie held by adoring cousin Lauren, as Emily and Cat look on

Maggie waves from the bathtub at Aunt Melissa's

Maggie and Grammommy

Aunts Cat and Rachel with the Magster

Maggie and Great-grandma Wanlass

A good time was had by all!!!

Visiting Aunt Missy

Maggie and I started last week with a visit to see Aunt Melissa and Uncle Charlie in Virginia. They have a beautiful home and farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was so much fun to visit with them!

Here's a group shot of the Wanlass clan, two Gotfredsons, and Grandma Mayse!

A shot of Aunt Missy, Grandma, the baby, and me

Aunt Cat introduces Maggie to a horse

Maggie's First Flight and More

Maggie left for her first out-of-state vacation on January 7th to visit my parents, siblings, and grandmothers in south Jersey. Here is a picture of Maggie and me leaving for our trip:
What a good traveler she was!! Despite various delays and a little turbulence, Maggie remained quite calm the majority of the flight (or should I say flights--we had a layover) and attracted lots of attention with her new trick of waving at people. When we finally got to Philadelphia, Grandpa and Cat were happy to greet us, followed by the rest of the family when we got to the house. Maggie's grandparents and aunts and uncle have enjoyed having Maggie around to play with and Becca was thrilled to finally meet her niece as she was unable to come out with rest of the family when they came out in the summer. Here are a few pictures of Maggie with her East Coast relations:

Maggie on Grandpa's shoulders

Grandmommy, Aunt Rachel, and Maggie in matching Sunday attire

Uncle Matt and Aunt Rachel work hard to entertain Maggie

They are even showing her how to play Wii

Aunt Cat shows Maggie how to be stylin'

Aunt Becca teaches Maggie to play the piano

Maggie-bear takes a ride

Since we have been here we have had several visitors. On Saturday my friends Elise and Emily came to visit and on Sunday Jessica, Phoebe, and Mike came to call. It was so fun to see my best high school friends again and have them meet Maggie. Thanks for making the trip everyone!!

Elise and Maggie smile for the camera

Hug for Emily

Group shot

Phoebe and Maggie looking rosy

Jessica and Maggie looking pretty

Presents!!

A tea party

Another group shot

Mike has been holding up the fort at home in Utah while we have been gone and has landed himself a job opportunity in a small town just outside Kansas City. Maggie and I are very proud of our man. Kansas here we come!