What can I say?

Since the last time I blogged about 3 weeks ago we have; changed jobs, packed a U-haul, sold our furniture, driven through five states in 3 days, stayed with the Edvalsons in Fresno, changed time zones, visited 2 different temples, got an addition to the Claus family (Mrs. Amanda Claus), got new furniture, started class at Boise State (again), and probably blinked a few times.

If we ever stayed in one place or stuck with just one plan, I'm convinced Hell would freeze over, and we would surely die. When I married Mr. Claus I had no idea I would become such a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants person! I can't lie though- I wouldn't have it any other way. Knowing that we are free to make the best decisions for our family no matter what they might be, and where they might take us- makes me happy.

I guess I should start at the beginning of the madness.

It was the beginning of August. We decided that we would leave the LA area where we were living and move to Boise for a job opportunity there. Jake's brother Jesse and Amanda's wedding in Salt Lake City, UT was only 10 days away and we knew we wanted to make it in time to attend. Our friends Danny and Erin, who we were working for, were throwing an end of the season work party in Fresno that weekend. We decided that we would go to Fresno for the party, and then head back to our home in Lancaster and spend the next few days packing up. The party was the Saturday, the 6th of August. It was a blast! They rented Jet skiis and a pontoon boat and we cruised around the lake in Fresno for the afternoon. It was great to take a break in the middle of all of the craziness and just have fun as a family. I even got pulled over on the Jet ski by Lake cops. Speeding in a 5mph zone. Yeah- I admit I was going 7-8mph. ;)

Then we headed back to Lancaster and tried to tie up all of the loose ends there. We sold our bed (that we had only purchased just 6 weeks earlier, but hated), our fridge, the boys' bed, and our ottoman. We tried to sell our couches and the TV, but there are so many couches listed on craigslist in LA that the prices they were going for were ridiculously low. So we crammed the couches, our 42" TV, and all of our other belongings into our 5' x 8' U HAUL trailer. We left on Tuesday, August 9th and headed to stay with Danny and Erin in Fresno.

We knew we were going to spend one day in Fresno just playing with Danny and Erin and the boys and Jake and I went to the Fresno Temple. We had a great time that afternoon. We stopped at a water park for a little while and let all of the boys get soaking wet- including Jake. Later that evening we said our goodbyes and headed out for Reno.

We arrived in Reno at about 2:00am Thursday morning and found a really nice hotel. They normally charged $200 a room, but since it was already the middle of the night, Jake negotiated $70. The boys were happy to crawl into bed and so was I!

Thursday morning the boys ordered room service (Jake figured since he saved so much money on the room, it would be a fun thing to do). Jack and Jess loved it! Although we found that no matter how fancy the meal- it's appearantely better with their feet on the table. So says Jack anyway.

Then the long leg of the journey. Reno to Boise. We left at noon, and arrived in Boise around 8:00pm. The boys were spectacular the whole time. No puking, No whining, No fighting, No crying. They just talked with us, and watched DVDs, and slept. BEST TRIP EVER in our history of traveling!

We had decided that we were going to take over Eric and Jackie's lease on a new townhouse in Boise, but they weren't going to be out of it for a few more days- so we planned on staying with my parents for the first weekend in Boise. Juli had listed our couches and TV on Boise's craigslist, and it wasn't 10 minutes after we arrived here that someone called and wanted to purchase them. Supply and Demand. Go Boise. Go Juli.


Friday. August 12th. Jesse and Amanda's wedding day in SLC. Jake and I woke up early and took my mom's car (our truck was obviously still packed full) and headed to Utah. We left the boys with my mom because there was no way we were dragging them on one more day of driving!



The ceremony was at 4:00pm, and we got there just in time. It was beautiful. Amanda was beautiful. Jesse looked happy. Seeing the family was great.

The only thing that went wrong (and there had to be something- since there always is with me) was that I pulled out my camera to start taking their portraits, and my 4 month old lens was broken. BROKEN!! I have never had a lens break in my life, and this one was just completely not functioning. CRAP. I got out my 50mm 1.4, which is definitely NOT ideal for this scenario (with huge groups of people in close proximity to one another), and started shooting. I made it work- but was less than satisfied with the experience.

There were 70 weddings that day, and brides emerging from the temple every 20 minutes, surrounded by their 50 person wedding parties. There were probably 300 people on the temple grounds at any given moment, and at least 12 photographers fighting for portrait locations.

At least Jesse and Amanda let me to another shoot the following week in Boise, which I WAS happy with. :) Thanks to them for putting up with me. They had a really cute reception that the kids got to attend in Boise a week later.

After the ceremony and the family dinner friday night, Jake and I got straight back into the car and headed back to Boise. We were ready to get home and get settled. Saturday, the 13th, we shopped for furniture, and unloaded our truck of belongings into the garage at our townhouse. Sunday we went to church and saw everyone at our old ward. I had missed all of those wonderful people and it was fabulous to see them all on my first weekend back. After church we hosted a dinner at our new house for my family, and they helped us start to put together our house. We only really got the TV mounted, and the computer put together- but we had a lot of fun just catching up.

That Sunday night was the first night we stayed in our new house (which we are crazy about), and it felt like home immediately. The next week was full of new job business, unpacking, and getting settled. It went by in a blur.

Last weekend Jakes parents invited us to go to the lake with them and Aunt Sally, Uncle Ken, Grandma Great, and Grandpa Hal (who were in town for Jesse's boise reception). We love being on the lake, and the boys can't get enough of Opa's boat. All of the grand kids were together for the first time all summer- and they loved seeing eachother. Jack even went tubing with cousin Stella and cousin Matthijas. He would never refer to it as a tube though. It was "the rubber raft". I guess it made him feel safer to give it that title. Jake and I went tubing with Arcadia and Jess (who ended up getting dumped into the lake when I lost my flip flop and was moving around in the raft looking for it. He didn't seem to be too upset by it though. He's a pretty tough little man. It was great to spend time with Jake's family on Saturday. So great- that we invited them all over Sunday for dessert and games. It just wouldn't have felt like we had really moved in until we had the everyone on both sides of the family visit the house. It's such a great house! I'll have to post pictures soon. :)

So now we are just enjoying getting into the swing of being in Boise, and working, and planning our next move. Yesterday Jake went to Boise State and registered for one class at Boise State. He just likes being on campus, his job schedule allowed him time for it- and we figured a little extra education can't hurt. He has his degree in paramedicine, but he's toying with the idea of getting a business degree eventually, since he works in the field of sales. We know that we'll be here in Boise for at least 6 months, which is long enough to finish a semester of math class. As far as the rest of that business degree is concerned, we'll just have to wait and see.

It's so great to be back. Spending time with family has been priceless! Juli and Andrew's baby Ami is getting big so quickly, and Jackie and Eric's baby is due in February- and we're super excited to be here for that. Jack and Jess love getting to spend time with their Boise cousins. The holidays just wouldn't have been the same without everyone either. So everyone that bet that I would be back within a year (Mike), you were right. :) But I'm betting it won't be for long. ;)