Hello Salem!

We landed today in our new hometown. As much as I enjoyed my time with my mom (and the boy's enjoyed their time even more than I did), I can't tell you how great it was to land in semi-cloudy, 72 degree NW weather. Ahhhhhhhh.

Love the plane ride from SLC to Salem. We took the Delta Connection, SkyWest airlines. What an experience! Starting from the SLC SkyWest terminal where the gate agents compete for PA time with auctioneer-style annoucements to the teeny tiny airplane that seats 50 people in just twelve rows. The pilots fly the plane like it's their own personal Miata in the sky. Land in teeny tiny Salem airport (which happens to be across the street from Jeremy's costco, Hello Daddy as we fly over you). Plane taxis to the "gate" which is a chain link fence and my husband and dog are on the other side of the fence. We get off, they basically hand you your luggage and off you go within five to ten minutes. I think I may like this small city living after all.

So now we're hunkered town in the Courtyard Marriott with the two boys, the dog (who is very happy to be found), and me and Jer in our 1 bedroom suite. All the boys claim it is "super fancy" - much fancier than our customary Best Western we've stayed in the past. Jackson starts school tomorrow. He will be in second grade. Talk about moving to a smaller town. Jackson's old elementary school of K-5 had close to 900 students and about 7-8 classes per grade. His new school features 275 students and each grade has 1-2 teachers. When I went to check out the school today, the principal personally greeted me and told me he had a hand in placing Jackson in his new class.

I had about five different people comment on how I "must have my hands full" as they regard my children. I believe what they really mean to say, "Holy Crap - your kids are out of control".

Stay tuned to all our new adventures from Salem.