cows & crawling

 Why Yes, yes that is the world's largest cow you are looking at! 

Welcome to North Dakota everyone! 

This was just one of the many wonders on the 'enchanted highway' from Bismarck to Dickinson... So, I ended up leaving the kiddos with grandma 1, and grandma 2, and made the trek out to see Tyler this past weekend. I flew out Friday night to Minneapolis, had a quick layover, and then flew into Minot to meet Ty! He gave me a quick tour, and we headed to bed to get up and make the drive down to Dickinson. We do have a really nice apartment waiting for us in Minot, but there is more business in Dickinson, so we are hoping to find somewhere to live there! The problem is the housing is ridiculous there! They want $3,000 to rent a mobile home-- Seriously. It's outrageous! The oil companies just have so many workers that they are trying to find housing for, and they will just pay whatever it takes to get housing, so people can charge really whatever they want. We are on a waiting list for an apartment complex there, and are hoping to get in before we move, but it's looking more like April-ish. Yay for moving twice! Jk....

cute Tyler--- you can see the cow in the background if you look closely! Haha...

 Dickinson is REALLY small, but I actually really did like it. They have a pretty amazing brand new community center there, and there is a wal-mart, and even a small mall! And when I say mall, I mean there is a JC Penny, Sears, and Big-K. Wahoo!! Haha. And that is pretty much all they have in the town. We actually drove by the church and saw some cars outside, so we went in and talked to a few members of the branch who were there cleaning, and it seems like a great area. There are actually quite a few people from Utah, Idaho, and Arizona. We ended up being at the Ward Conference back in Minot on Sunday, and learned that the stake has literally gone from 2,100 in 2010, to 4,200 in 2011. The branch in Dickinson is becoming a ward, and everything is growing like crazy!

It's hard to explain just how good the economy is out there, and yet how chaotic it is because it's booming so much, but there is literally a 'Now Hiring' sign on every other business, service is horrible everywhere. Because every capable human being is working for the oil companies making over $100,000 a year. It's nuts. Seriously- There is something being built on every single corner, and full apartment complexes and town-homes are overrun by oil workers. Just in the area right by our apartment there is a huge town-home community owned 100% by Halliburton. There is a big white Halliburton truck in front of every single house. Another huge apartment complex by us is also completely rented out by them. And around the corner is another huge really nice brand new building that is completely rented out to another oil company just for all of their workers. And that's just in Minot, Dickinson is way closer to all of the oil, so finding somewhere to live there is a joke! They want $1,100 a month for one of the bedrooms in a 4-bedroom mobile home to $3,000 mo. for a nice 2 bedroom apartment. It's pretty weird! 

That all being said- I think we will be fine wherever we end up. Minot is actually pretty big- relatively speaking-- has a pretty good mall, a Target, Barnes & Noble, a few good restaurants, a great YMCA etc... So wherever we end up, it will definitely be quite the adjustment, but we'll be fine!

It was so nice to spend the whole weekend with Tyler- it would have been way cooler had we had a nice bed to sleep on, rather than two twin mattresses on the floor of our new apartment- haha- but have 3 nights alone was pretty great! I can honestly say that though I missed our two cuties, I really knew they were in the best hands, and enjoyed my alone time without them! I'm also glad to be home too! I flew in Monday night, and what do you know- my mom dropped me and the girls off at my apartment, and i left my keys in north dakota with Tyler. Awesome right? I am such a loser- We had to sleep at my moms because no one would let me in at night! Not one of my brightest moments...

Honestly, it's the little things like having to cook every single day that are making me nervous. No Sunday dinners at the grandparents houses, and quick lunch trips to cafe rio... Tear. No Baby Gap, or Banana Republic. I may have to pick up online shopping.... Haha. I'm kidding- mostly. =) I am excited however to spend more time just as our little family, and doing fun things with my two darling girls! I'm going to sign Lucy up for swimming lessons, and then dance or gymnastics when that is done. I'm also hoping that I can form or join some sort of playgroup within our ward. I'm sure we will make a lot of great friends. Or so I hope!! It's still pretty surreal that we are actually moving.... Seeing how we do leave in like 2 1/2 weeks I should probably start packing! Ah!

and in big news-- as of last week, Clara is crawling everywhere!

that thing she is crawling towards might just have jumped out of the DI pile by our door--- it's a pretty sweet back massager though! Haha.

She started crawling like 2 days before I left, and over the weekend- Bam! She is crawling maniac! Ah, I seriously can't believe how cute and how BIG she is getting. She is really the sweetest, cutest baby ever! Stay little Clara! She is already in 9-12 mo. clothes, and just moved up to a size 4 diaper. I can now shop for both her and Lucy in the toddler section! Ah! I just love her.