blog mush

My first real look at Curbside in Fremont!

 Love it when they love each other.

 This early morning seminary thing is hard on Drew!

 Conserving our bath water so we can use it to flush the toilets!

 Playdoh reappears at the Hoopes' house!  Drew loves it so it will probably stay around for a while.

 Drew waiting for Jenny while she's in the bathroom.  We LOVE when she comes to visit!

 Our first taste of Georgetown cupcakes from LA!

 2 sides of Jake--tough and tender. :)

 Happy 18th anniversary to us!  

The YW I am working with!

baptism day

We thought Emmy would get baptized in October at the Bellevue Stake baptism.  

But moving brought a new baptism date, location, time, and crowd!

Grandma Johnson spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was awesome.  Emmy and the other girls sang, "The Baptism Song."  It was the sweetest thing.

We felt loved as we were surrounded by new friends, our family, and a couple old friends, too.

A11

A11 1s 11.

 AL1Son at AL1Sal

 Th1s g1rl 1s amb1t1ous.

 She 1s brave, respons1ble, and fun!

 She 1s determ1ned to learn to surf.  And she loves 1t!!

We th1nk 1t 1s so cool that she 1s follow1ng her dream!!

You go g1rl!!!

8 for Emmy!

 Her name in lights!!  And Emmy received 3 birthday cards that were exactly the same!  

 Glitter, sparkle, and shine--sounds like Emmy to me!

 3 perfect ways to describe Emmy.

 AND she's way cool and totally fun!

Shine on, Emmy!

pen pals

The dying art of pen pals is alive and well at our house.  The girls gave each of their friends at their birthday parties a little packet of notecards and envelopes complete with our new address and a pen.  It has turned out to be the BEST THING EVER!!  The girls LOVE receiving the mail and they always write back.  We appreciate so much those friends back home who take the time to write and remember us!  We love you!

making music

Emmy on keys!!

3 for 4-eyes

Welcome to the club, Emmy!  She was so excited about her new accessory!  What a gorgeous girl. 

 "Whoa!  I can feel the texture of that without even touching it."

"Hey I didn't know that girl had freckles!"

"The sidewalk is made of little tiny pebbles!"

timeline

June 5--Steve interviewed with Curbside in Palo Alto after an initial phone interview.
(Jill--Why are you doing that?  We aren't ever moving back there.
Steve--After going to the temple:  I have the impression that life may mean more than Issaquah for us)

July 17--An offer from Curbside

July 20-25--Steve (and Jake) gone on 50 miler; contemplates the offer

July 27--Steve accepts the offer, details (like start date to be worked out during the week)

July 31--After toying with the idea of Steve commuting back and forth (and after Curbside not liking that idea), we decide to go for it and jump in with both feet to get to CA by the first day of school, which is 3 weeks and 4 days away.

August 2--We start telling people that we are moving after church.  Later that night, Steve sends an email to the ward council.

August 3-9--We go to Sunnyside

August 7-9--Steve and Jill go to California to look for a house.  Palo Alto, Cupertino, Fremont all a bust on Friday and Saturday.  Sunday we decide on Pleasanton and attend a couple wards (Pleasanton 1st and Pleasanton 4th)

August 13-15 Seawheeze Half Marathon in Vancouver;  Dave and Diane come to stay with the kids

August 16--Jake's Court of Honor

August 17-22--Sort through boxes and shelves and decide what to take, what to store, and what to give away and throw away.  The night of the 22nd is the going away party at the Dayley's.

August 23--Steve is released as Bishop (called May 2014), which we also wasn't sure was going to happen in this short amount of time.

August 24--We register kids for school and check into the Pleasanton Residence Inn.

August 25--First day of school

August 26--Steve goes back to Issaquah to meet the packing truck and team

August 29--Steve returns to Pleasanton

August 30--first day in our new ward

Sept 1--Moving truck arrives to 4851 Black Ave.

Sept. 7--First night in our rental house.  Good-bye hotel.

tender mercies

Things have worked out.  I really knew they would, even though it was easier to freak out about them or complain,  or decide that we can't move until this or that happens.  For family night, we all listed things that we were worried about with moving, and how in just a couple weeks, they have been resolved or on their way to no longer being worries.  I had more than anybody.

Jake:  having no friends; I met new people

Ali: schools and friends and that I wouldn't make enough friends like my old friends;  I found friends.  I was also worried about our house not working out for us; the house is ok.  I was worried that there wouldn't be a good orthodontist but I think we found one.

Emmy:  I worried that I wouldn't like the house;  I sort of like it. I'm just glad we didn't have to move to another continent!

Steve: job commuting and liking it?  Everything's been awesome.  Biking buddies--all of the Bishopric!

Jill:  finding a gym I liked, new schools and friends for the kids and would they be happy?  Changing Emmy's baptism;  found a gym that I love, kids are making friends and are happy at school, baptism is being planned and going ok.

There were also a lot of unresolved issues as we began to make the move that concerned me:

• We didn't have renters for our house yet
• Walnut Grove Elementary was full
• Was the house on Black Ave. going to work out ok?  We hadn't even been inside!
• The Pleasanton Residence Inn was full and had been full the entire month of August
• The moving truck could take up to 10 business days to arrive.

However,

• As soon as we got our house cleaned up and ready to go (which was a modern day miracle itself), we found renters for our house.  We didn't have to pay rent and mortgage the same month like we were worried about.
• Alisal Elementary is almost as close as Walnut Grove and the girls like it there
• The house is in a great location and has an amazing yard and it will work!
• The Pleasanton Residence Inn opened up our 2nd night here--the night before school started.  We only stayed one night in Livermore.
• Moving truck was here in record time--Pleasanton, CA was its first stop of many.

As I later explained to my siblings in an email:

I found this quote from Elder Bednar that I loved, so I thought I would share.  This moving thing has been pretty hard.  I don't know why I've been surprised at how hard it is, but it's tough.  There are moments (frequently) when I wonder what the heck we did.  We miss everything about Issaquah and our "old" life.  We miss the important stuff like family, friends, and taking care of a ward we loved, to the little things like carpet, Zeek's Pizza, and our big kitchen with tons of counter space.

And the hard part for me has been I don't feel like I ever got a resounding YES! answer.  We prayed, we fasted, we went to the temple, and still my head and my heart were not on the same page.  Maybe it was just my stubbornness and unwillingness to accept or recognize a YES answer because I didn't want to move.  Steve felt sure that this was the best thing for us, and the job opportunity was easy to love, so here we are.  Along the way, there were a couple very clear moments when I felt complete peace about decisions we were making--the date we chose to move so we could be here for the first day of school, and the house we chose to rent.  Other things have fallen into place as hoped and prayed for, but it's still hard for me to believe we gave up so many wonderful things to come to California.  Again.  And now, the quote:

"In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon, and to trust in Him.  We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions.  We frequently may press forward hoping and praying--but without absolute assurance--that we are acting in accordance with God's will.  But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps."

Here's to hoping our steps were guided!! :/  Thanks to all of you for supporting us and not asking us if we were crazy.  :)  Love you all!!

moving day

Dear Pleasanton Residence Inn,

Good-bye.  Thank you for making room for us when you've been fully booked for so long. We will miss your pool, your free breakfasts that were so delicious, your housekeeping service, and your 3 washers and 6 dryers.  You've been good to us, and we will always remember our first two weeks in California with you.  --love, the Hoopes family

Capitola and Colorado

Jake spent Labor Day weekend with cousins in Colorado for Ryan's farewell.  He had a blast.  The rest of us stayed in California and went to Capitola.  We are digging this beach thing.  Ali is so happy she gets to learn to surf, Emmy loved bringing the class pet, Reado, along, and Drew liked building in the sand.

Rage Soccer

Good-bye Issaquah Soccer Club, blue uniforms, Green Geckos, Ladybugs, and mud and rain.

Hello Pleasanton Rage, orange and gray, Blizzards and Meerkats, and sunshine and warmth.

 Ali playing for the Blizzards!

Emmy and the Meerkats

 And we had to record Coleman and Jake as matching referees!