Adam and Penny Lain Hensley: Headin' off to the West Coast

Headin' off to the West Coast

5:51 PM by Adam and Penny Lain Hensley

We loaded up the truck with tubs, suitcases, and the boys to head off to the West Coast with tears in our eyes (maybe just mine) as we left my family and home in Memphis. The trip started out hopeful since I had the brilliant idea of using a water bottle to keep the boys in the backseat. The first day and half this worked beautifully. Then day 3 began the jumping in the front seat, moving nonstop, heads on our shoulders, etc. Finally I moved to the backseat and the boys to the front. This was a much better arrangement!

Adam and the boys took a break from riding to play on the Salt Flats!

I couldn't pass up this picture! There was a small puddle of water on the flats. I was able to capture the reflection of the sky along with the mountains.

Once we arrived to our new home, Adam headed off to work and I headed to scrubbing and painting the house. I had 3 days to clean and paint the entire house. Did I mention we bought a home much larger than our last one?!? And also did I mention the home has been empty for 2 years?!? Those of you who know my history of anxiety attacks know that this was an anxiety attack waiting to attack...literally!! After lots of Easy Off Oven Cleaner that I used on most surfaces, I was able to successfully clean the kitchen and bathrooms--YUCK!! Then on to painting the curved edged, textured walls. Luckily after several phone calls from a panicked wife, Adam hired a painter to help me since he couldn't be at the house helping!

Fast forwarding ahead, house is painted and cleaned just in time for the movers to arrive! I used Post-It notes to tell the movers where all furniture should go as well as to tell myself where I would put all my dishes and towels. In addition, I used sidewalk chalk to write in the garage where all boxes should go. Easy...right??? That's what I thought until the movers continued asking me where items went and mixed up where to put the boxes. I wanted to give them a quick reading lesson to refresh their brains on how to read!

Adam is in place ready to start checking boxes in while I begin to unpack!

After broken furniture, mixed up boxes, and trips to IKEA, our house is beginning to look like a home. The garage is still full of miscellaneous boxes and Adam's office is far from being put together. All in all we are adjusting well out here.