WE ARE ALMOST THERE 72 HOURS TILL TAKEOFF.....

Well we have packed (and with that the kids have unpacked argh!)

We have cleaned

We have said our goodbyes (while picking up our leftovers in Rexburg)

We have our home in place in Soldotna (YAY!)

And so with all of that ... it is about time for takeoff ..... On Monday we will be taking off with our 5 beautiful and LOUD children (heaven help our fellow passengers and US!!)

We have been so very blessed with this whole process it has been scary, frusterating, time consuming, did I mention SCARY ...but we know without a doubt that Alaska is where we were suppossed to go.... The Lord is there he answers the prayers in our hearts and how thankful I am for his direction in my life. He is real to me and has become more so through this whole process I know he KNOWS me and care for me and my beautiful family. So we will make our great adventure happen in Alaska it is so far away from family and loved ones but we will forge on. We are so excited and hope that our loved ones make the journey to come so we can introduce them to the absolute beauty that Alaska offers. Thank you for your prayers and your thoughts we love you.

WE ARE MOVING........TO.....ALASKA!!!!

Not sure if you all had heard.... I know many of my fellow blogsters are facebook friends as well but if you havent heard we are heading off to Soldotna Alaska! how did this happen?

Well its quite a long story so here we go.... so as a prestory to the story....we finished school in August came back and had baby #5 (Tayla) Jesse took it and missed it by about 3 questions, then we lost our job in Boise, after 2 weeks we got our job back, then we moved to Boise, 2 weeks before Jesse took his test (AND PASSED!!!) they let him go (GRRR!) so we were on our bums again. No fear though I got on the ball and in no time I had 3 interviews lined up that all just fell into place..... first Casper WY, Soldotna AK, and lastly Glennallen AK so we headed to Casper. I loved Casper it was beautiful there and the people were as friendly as you could possibly get. Minus the realtor we had she was actually quite horrible and being the eloquent and awesome person that I am I managed to butt call her as I expressed my feelings of displeasure with her services. Ok fast forward we had this AMAZING Christmas with the kids the pure and simple joy of Christmas is just something you cannot explain. It is one of the times of year I am most thankful to have all the children I do...why you ask? well to see their faces and feel their excitement....and to play with their toys that eh hem Santa brings :0)

So the DAY after Christmas we board a plane heading to Alaska (cue the exciting music) arrived at 1:30am (that would be 3:30am Idaho time) and proceeded to this hotel that had more animal heads in one place then I had seen my entire life put together....well maybe not that many but it was a close call there. We had this amazing breakfast and headed from Anchorage to Soldotna and let me tell you without even HESITATING it was the MOST BEAUTIFUL drive I have ever taken in my LIFE. We got to Soldotna and were just blown away it was AMAZING the people were so friendly there was a WALMART (biggest one I have ever seen.....seriously!) and a Fred Meyer. Now it was not all love at first price...I mean sight....yeah thats right holy COW gas is EXPENSIVE! to the tune of $3.65 a gallon good GRAVY! and milk to the tune of $3.00 and the worst of all...EGGS can you believe that EGGS?!?! but one dozen eggs there is over $4.00!!!!! that threw Jesse and I a little bit but as we talked to people and compared salaries (which in Alaska is alot higher then we would get here...) not to mention the PFD which is around $2000 a person things evened out. After deciding that Glennallen was just not going to workout to drive to due to time, expense, and how flipping cold it gets up there.....we were soon touring a log cabin home that was absolutely the PERFECT place for us just felt like home there..... I hope Im not cursing myself as I write this blog as things have changed SO many times this last little bit. But with airplane tickets bought, car trasnport reserved, moving truck set to come..... things are looking up for us. There is a beauty and a feeling of peace and serenity there that I cannot explain. It is something that in order to feel it you have to go there take in this incredible scenery where you see eagles everyday and moose wandering alongside the road. It is a place where you know you are this little human in this big world and where you know there is a higher power you cannot deny it.

So thats the story .... we are headed to Alaska flying out January 31st, 2011 to start our new chapter. Lets hope our story is non-eventful for awhile..... All I want to report on from now on is all the fun outdoor things we will be doing. .... So now all of you who read know someone who will live in Alaska .... So dont hesitate to call and come take a visit into heaven!!!

Ahhh yes I am still alive.....hatw

This is me after losing a bit of weight..... much more to go! and more pics to come of halloween lots of the pics are on facebook though....... so friend me and look at those pics ;0)
After a recent request to update my blog I thought it must be high time to do so :0)

Sooooo last time I blogged we were waiting for the big test.....and.......welll....... we are still waiting for the big test...again. Jesse missed passing his test by about 3 questions. I will never forget that time in my life that was now 2 months ago but still is fresh in my heart and my mind. Seeing the word fail is never something you want to experience after going through years of school. In Jesses case he was so sleep deprived with a new baby fresh out of the NICU and a very very sick wife. So basically for the next month we were absolutely lost, depressed, and well lost. We had a very close and wonderful friend of ours offer us a apartment in Rexburg so that we could continue with our plans to rent our house. As we were packing for that we decided to write the company Jesse had originally gotten hired for and then lost the job after he had not passed. We asked them to reconsider us and that we loved their facility it happened to be when we had sent the email they were in a meeting discussing us and wanting to offer Jesse the job again in November but since we had written they decided to have us come to Boise to work part time so by the time Jesse passes the test he would be all ready to go.

So with that we were off to Boise ..... and here we are! we love it here it is beautiful weather and the mountains are amazing. We are crammed into a little rental home but we do enjoy it our ward here is amazing and I have to say I have met some amazing people here that I hope to stay friends with always. Other then that I stay busy working out (constantly) taking care of the kiddos and trying to eat as clean as possible thus far I have lost about 10 pds and around 10 inches wahooo just started on the journey of getting healthy but look forward to the rest of it its very hard but its def a growing experience.....

So what are the new plans you ask..... well the test....again but this time he will pass I just know it it is in 3 weeks so all prayers are welcome. After that...well there is a beautiful home that we have our eye on and are quite serious about it has 5 acres and is open and beautiful we are excited for the future. However, I have learned so many important lessons. First I have to trust more it stunk to not pass the test but honestly we are in a whole lot better place then we would have been. I have learned to trust my Heavenly Father a whole lot more I thought I was this strong faithful person but I absolutely lost all faith their for a few days and I was so mad..... I know better now being mad doesnt fix anything it actually just made it a TON worse. Third I need to live more in the NOW to an extent my kids are growing so fast and if I just keep looking forward to the tomarrows Im gonna miss the todays and I do not want to look back and regret that. How grateful I am for my husband and children they are absolutely my life and have been there every step of the way they have wiped my tears, given me non stop hugs, and been there they are truly my greatest joy in life. How blessed I am to have such wonderful family and friends. I sincerely thank you all for the words of support and encouragement they were a light in the darkness and I love you for it. So onward we go with faith love and happiness hoping this time around there is another story to tell of joy and happiness and new beginnings.

In Remembrance.....

It has now been 2 years since one of the most amazing people I have known in this life has passed onto that great beyond...... I will never forget that day....I will never forget the sadness but at the same time it brought into focus what is important in my life. Number one the gospel the knowledge that I know there is more to this life after we pass. I felt it in my heart I felt that sweet spirit that he was at peace and comfortable after years of pain. I knew he loved each and everyone of us, I was his Heather Girl that was my name and I will treasure that memory of everytime I would greet him hello he would ask how his Heather Girl was doing.... He accepted Jesse so openly in someways I felt he knew how wonderful Jesse was for me... he showed examples of service and kindness in all he did, he showed me what a great marriage could look like in 50 years and beyond. I was around 13 when I sang at his 50th anniversary never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would be singing the same song at his funeral years later.

Then I look around at this beautiful family I have with my amazing wonderful husband I have 5 kids sealed to my love and I forever. He has met everyone of my children 3 in this life and 2 in a previous time and place I know he is aware of us all and he loves each and everyone of us. Most of all his darling wife my amazing Grandma how blessed I am to have such an example and I will forever remember him and strive to have an attitude half as good as his. I will cherish every memory that I have of him and I will pass on those treasured stories that I have to my children so that they to will feel as though they know him because I know deep in their hearts all 5 of them do. I love you Grandpa I will never forget what you taught me Thank You for your fine example I know you have helped one soul plant her feet firmly on gospel sod and I know that one day I will meet with you again.

Tayla Heather Mumm is HERE!!!

More pictures to come...

TAYLA HEATHER MUMM

BORN AUGUST 18TH 2010

WEIGHING 5 POUNDS 8 OZ

BORN VIA CSECTION 10:03PM

Well everyone.... as most of you have probably heard our little Tayla Mumm was born! she made her entrance on August 18th, 2010 at 10:03pm via csection due to labor commencing and not being able to stop it. So here is the official story on that ......

Jesse had been going to the library everyday to get as much studying done as possible and would leave me home with the 4 kids to try and relax and keep this baby in. He was originally scheduled to take the test September 1st but that has obviously changed now. Anyways that morning I started contracting I would take a tributaline and they would stop of a little bit but then come back stronger and stronger. By the time I called Jesse at 4 to tell him to come home I was pretty sure this was it. We called up Jesses parents and whisked the kids away to their house and got to the hospital asap. Got all hooked up and checked out and I had dialated to 2cm and was thinning out.. They gave me more tributaline and alot of other drugs to get me to relax and handle the contractions but never got them stopped so they decided to do the csection.

I was rolled in around 9:30 and as you know I had been dreading the spinal tap from the day I had gotten pregnant lucky for me though it was AMAZING no pain really at all. He was just awesome they all knew Jesse in there and even joked about having him come assist with the surgery I was like ummm NO he can stay here holding my hand he helped make this baby after all. I remember looking at the clock at around 9:55 and really starting to feel the pressure of them getting little Tayla out Jesse kept standing up to see and then at 10:03 I heard the most beautiful loud cry of my adorable baby girl. It was absolutely magical I love that feeling of life entering the world and we thought with her loud cries she was going to be ok..... but well it is us The Mumms right so we have to do things the hard way I suppose sooooo unfortunately off to the NICU she went. She had some cloudiness in her lungs and so they let us know she had develped pneumonia which was just devestating I cannot express how guilty I felt not being able to hold a single one of my babies in long enough to not have to endure the NICU I really thought I was going to make it with Tayla but alas it was not meant to be. On a interesting side note when they did my csection they told me my uterus was incredibly thin and worn out (go figure 5 babies in 7 years will do that I guess) so Jesse and I think my body signaled and we saved ourselves alot more trouble in the long run with Tayla being early instead of say my uterus rupturing.

So as of today Tayla has been in the NICU for 13 days it has been insanely hard as we are juggling 4 children, Jesse preparing for his PANCE test, packing up our house to move, and at the same time trying to sell our house and buy another. I do not think I have ever been so stressed out as I have been in the last 2 weeks. We did make an offer on the house of our dreams unfortunately 2 other people thought it was the house of their dreams and made offers before we could get ours in so we will hope and pray that it is in fact the house that we are meant to be in. With all the insanity I am so very grateful to so many people the family and friends that have upheld us with all of our trials, the ward has been amazing planning dinners and babysitting for us, and of course my Heavenly Father who has kept his ever watchful eye over us.

It is so hard for me to once again to understand why I will never have the chance to hold one of my children in my arms after birth. It may be something I struggle with forever but all in all I know that he is watching over me, he knows me, he has listened to me, he has listened to my frustrations and sadness, and after it is all said and done and all of those feelings are let out I have never walked away feeling sad or angry I walk away with this special peace in my heart that he has heard me and understands my pain and that there is a lesson in this experience. So I will trust him and love him and have faith that he knows what he is doing....while it is not how I would have it he knows all....period I trust in his masterful plan I have seen it work miracles and in the end little Tayla will soon be in our loving arms at home where she belongs and right now that is all I could possibly ask for. So please keep those prayers going for us we need them in all aspects we want our little girl home and want her daddy to pass his test we love you all and are so grateful for the love, support, and help you have been to us. Bless you all and know we will never forget the kindness and will always strive to pass it on.

Well the graduation is over......now what?

It was so HOT Riya would not part with her shades!
Do you see the pregnant glow...ok thats actually sweat SOOO HOTHE DID IT!!!!!!!

Thats my HANDSOME graduate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have finished.....

Seriously after all this time we are DONE .... well pretty much done Jesse has yet to take his big test but after that DONE DONE DONE.... we have the degree....we have the award.... yeah thats right Jesse got a special award ha ha ha.... ready for this RIP VAN WINKLE award ha ha ha he got a special blindfold and pillow for his sleeping efforts in class :0) but you know what he must have absorbed something all those times he fell asleep on his computer.

The Graduation was amazing I always used to laugh at people who cried at graduation because my thoughts were this is BORING why are you tearing up at THIS. Ok now I know why the hardships the trials and the sacrafices we have made as a family is why people tear up. We have given up a father we have given up a husband for basically 2 years. He has been here but not fully ours and when Landon turned to me and said, "Mom does this mean we get our daddy back now?!?" I almost lost it.....then they had this great bagpiper to lead this whole huge procession of graduates and as Jesse walked by Riya and Zade ripped away from me and ran to hug their daddy and that is when the tears came. There were a few people who were touched by the moment especially Jesses classmates they knew how hard it had been for us.

To watch my husband walk across that stage get hooded and take that diploma I have never been so proud of him with the kids screaming 'GOOOO DADDY WAHOOOOO" it was hot! ( like around one hundred degrees!) but it was worth it to see him walk worth every penny worth every hard day in that hotel it was THE END of this incredible journey.

So who are we now..... well we are graduates of this program, we are the parents of 5 beautiful children (no lil Tayla has not made her appearance but we are a few weeks away from welcoming her to our family) We are SURVIVORS yes thats right we survived this insane rollercoaster of emotions, trials, errors, high points, and low points.... we have made incredible friends and even met some family we never knew existed I have always wanted sisters who knew I would find them in Portland Oregon how touched I have been by them their kindness and their stories they have made me a better person all around. We are better people for what we have gone through oh how we have learned and how we have grown.

So now what..... well test first whew that is nerve racking but Jesse will do great he is such a smart guy he leaves in the morning and heads to the library to study till 5 everyday. So we will keep that up till his test on September 1st (any prayers our way for this would be WELCOMED!) After which we will move to BOISE IDAHO!! we are actively looking for homes and eagerly await that magical home that will become our new haven from this hard world we live in. One that we can welcome daddy home with open arms EVERY night no more travels no more long study nights exciting times ahead my friends and we step forward with our heads held high our hearts filled and with a unwavering faith in our Heavenly Father that he knows best he is there and he is always watching down on our family.

WE GOT OUR JOB!!!!

Well after literally MONTHS of applying to literally HUNDREDS of jobs we FINALLY have settled on the one we are going to go with ....ready ......drumroll please.......BOISE IDAHO!!!!

we had no idea we would be staying in Idaho honestly we thought that we would end up across

country in some random place but much to our surprise our first interview we went to was the one we decided to go with.

We went to a few different interviews the furthest being in Iowa and then on in Aberdeen countless phone interviews from Texas, Arizona, Montana the list goes one but when all was said and done it was Boise that totally won us over we had such a good peacefull feeling there. We thought at first that it was the initial excitement with the first interview but as things went on nothing compared to a few choice moments that we had there in Boise we truly feel that it is the next step of our life with our beautiful family. So now what right Heather is 8 months pregnant and doing well the day we found out about Boise she had a slight misstep and ended up in the ER to get her contractions stopped but she is doing better now aside from the flu she has on top of it.

We are now 9 days out from the countdown of GRADUATION!!! we will post pics and such when those shindigs go down thanks for reading and thank you for all your prayers they have helped so much in this crazy journey that we have taken.