Aric Had A Birthday...

Needless to say our lives have been turned upside down and the past few weeks have been a whirlwind. We have hardly had time to sleep but there have still been some blog worthy moments and Aric's birthday is surely one of them!

So we sort of celebrated Aric's birthday on his birthday. I made him some cinnamon applesauce muffins...from scratch....for breakfast. (That is love.)

Then I went to pick up the kids who had been in Oregon with my parents. Sadly Aric had his last night of class so as soon as we got home he ate and ran. He did get some pretty sweet luggage for his gift. No pictures.

Then we celebrated with friends the next night.

Before the party I sent out some questions for everyone to answer. A couple of buddies couldn't be there but sent their answers  Here are a sampling of some of the questions and the answers...

If Aric were an animal what would he be and why...

A Sasquatch.Hey that's kind of an animal. And of course it's because he could make all of Camden's dreams come true:)

I think he’d get a kick out being a Sasquatch, not only because he's a believer but I think he'd have a whole lot of fun scaring the crap out of anyone and everyone he could. Imagine what a rush he'd get from jumping into peoples' window wells as Bigfoot.

Liger - because Aric is the perfect blend of rugged manliness and feminine sensitivity.

If Aric had a theme song constantly playing as he went through life what would it be...

"Stayin Alive" and he would walk really slow in his size 4 women's bell bottoms with a creepy mustache and sunglasses.

I can't go for that..by Hall and Oats

Hold On - Wilson Phillips

(Mike and A)

If Aric had another life what would his occupation be...

He would be in the magical alliance with Gob Bluth and would be an illusionist.

Reality TV Host

Something manly like construction.

(A getting cozy with George and Randi)

If Aric wrote a book or an autobiography what would the title be...

"The many faces of Mustache Man" A Memoir

"The Brotherhood of the Traveling Mustache"

"My Life as a Prankster"

(Adam and A)

If Aric were the lead in a movie or tv show which movie/show would it be...

Biggest Loser:) J/K No he would definitely be the creepy nightline guy on Saturday Night Live.

Gigli, he is tall dark and handsome like Ben with his little latin spitfire on his side. 

It would be a sitcom about six "friends" in their thirties living in posh apartments in Manhatten trying to adjust to life in the "real world." One would be a paleontologist, one would be an actor, one would be a chef, one would be a masseuse, one would be a waitress, and the other would be Aric. No one would really know what he did for a living, but he would be the ultimate "funny guy" and would do anything for a friend. He would eventually marry the bossy, overly-dramatic, neurotic friend, which would be completely different from his real life.

Bad question...we already know he IS the real Phil Dunfey.

(A getting smooched by Mark and Cami)

If you had to pick a nickname for Aric what would it be...

Well the nickname that I do call him is A-Rick. 

Vanilla Jalen. He will never stop talking smack...and he'll back it up too.

“A” because Aric loves texting curse words abbreviated by their first letter.

 (A and Jessica kissing Ryan's guns)

If you had known Aric when you were growing up, would you have been friends...answer yes or no and explain...

I would have been his best friend. He would have loved me because I would have made him only the second scrawniest kid in school.

Probably not, because of his filthy mouth:)  For some reason, I think he would have been a bad influence on me.

Absolutely. Although it’s better for my criminal history that we weren’t.

Yes - he would have enjoyed the brand of mischief propagated my me and my idiot friends, and we would have welcomed his quick wit and high energy.

Our relationship would mirror that of two young African lions or bull elks: bitter rivals, competing at large (and maybe to the death) for the ladies. 

(Kyle enjoying some love from A hoping Ashley won't notice)

If Aric were bff's with a celebrity, who would it be...

Ashton Kutcher. He would come up with the ideas for Punk'd.

Chuck Norris' beard. Not Chuck Norris, just the man's beard.

Jennifer Lopez. He seems to do pretty well with the Latinas.

(J-Lo has nothing on me!)

What do you see Aric doing 30 years from now..

Whatever Jessica tells him to.

Being the best heart device rep in the country, living in St.George in a mansion with unlimited mello yellow on tap and hanging out by his pool eating chips and salsa.Oh did I mention that he would be doing this with his neighbor Garrett?:)

Remodeling something in his house - shirtless.

Trying to be a sports agent for Camden...

The Dishes

What will you miss most about Aric once he has moved....

Stuffing our faces with chips and salsa late into the night. Either that or his creepy drive bys out our front window while we are eating dinner.

A good laugh in any conversation he's in. He is one funny guy and you always know it will be a good time when Aric is around.

His drawings of ward members.

Watching him wander up and down the aisles at church pretending to count the congregation while is really sizing up the crowd to determine if this the Sunday that he leads the coup to overthrow Bishop Nebeker and topple his puppet regime.

Having someone across the street on whom I can rely for anything. Someone who will hear me out, help me with moving/home teaching/blessings/etc., distract me from life's stresses, give good advice without lecturing, leer into my front window while I'm eating, bring me cans of forbidden soda, pass me notes at church, touch me inappropriately while playing basketball, show me crazy things he's Tivo'ed, etc. etc. etc....oh boy, this is going to suck!

(G and A eskimo kissing with Rachel trying to get in on the action)

Remember that storm I was telling you about...

This may look like an ordinary box, but I assure you it is not.

This box, my friends, is the first box that I have packed. As in the first box I have had to pack because we are moving.

MOVING!!!

YES.It is true.

After almost ten years, we are leaving the only home my children have ever known.

We aren't making a nice and easy jump from one job to the next. Oh no, no, NO! That would be just too easy.

We are changing careers entirely. And because of this, Aric has to  do some training. Six months to be exact.

Thankfully it is not in some tragic place like Missouri. God knew that if he was going to rip us out of our lovely life here in L.L. he would have to send us some place fantastic. Some place that I already know and love. Some place that I have dreamed to take my children. Some place where I will wear my Red Sox gear with great pride.

We are heading to Boston!

Aric leaves in May. I will go with him to get him settled, then I will stay here until the middle of June when the girls get out of school. 

(Speaking of girls in school...Maya got straight A's again and Miss Edee got all A's and one B. So we celebrated with some frozen yogurt)

This fall we will announce where we will land but for now we are going to try not to kill each other while we finish our master bathroom...speaking of that lovely project, here is a sneak peak...

...and finish everything else that needs to be done to get our house on the market and sold. Aric and I have spent almost nine years making this house everything we ever wanted it to be. Our master bathroom was our last project...it's killing me!

Although this opportunity came rather quickly, the decision to go was easy to make. We knew that God's hand was in it and he has prepared us for the past year to make it. It is still very difficult to wrap our heads around what this means. Leaving behind a life that Aric and I spent ten years creating is heart breaking. We have family near by and friends that have become family all around us. Aric is leaving a twelve year career that he as worked hard in and made a name for himself, it does seem a little nuts. 

Which is why I am so grateful for my faith. It has been tried and tested many times. Because of all those trials and tests I have gotten really good at communicating with God. I have been able to tune my ear and my heart so that I can hear the Holy Ghost speak to me. Once again miracles have been performed on our behalf, just another witness that we are on the path that we are supposed to be on. I have peace. Aric has peace. Even my children have had their own special experiences with the spirit that have witnessed to them that this is part of Heavenly Father's plan for our family.

So although there are moments, lots and lots of moments, where I feel like we are struggling to keep afloat as this crazy storm tosses us to and fro, somehow, some way I find a calm and strength that is beyond me. When I start to freak out I pray to remember the feelings I have felt and then the peace washes over me. The comfort comes and I am reminded of who is steering this ship and then, just like that, all is well.