Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label moving. Show all posts
Monday, March 5, 2012
Voila!
Voila! We have a house. And we are loving it. But we are very busy emptying and cleaning the apartment, and filling and cleaning the house. I feel like I should be running on Energizer batteries. But I'm not. So my free time is spent doing things like snoozing, or negotiating world peace within the household, or wishing I had about 40 more hours in the day to get things done, so my house could be instantly put together. Whatevs. I'm still here. Just not here.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
We Have a House
At long last we have closed on our house. So exciting.
I thought I would develop an ulcer on Friday while we waited for the bank to figure out what the heck it was doing (reassuring, that). One of my friends commented that it was like waiting for a baby to arrive and being afraid to be told it would be false labor.
BUT at 6:30 on Friday night, we closed, and are nowdeeply indebted the proud owners of our new home.
So today we moved a load of junk in. We don't have utilities hooked up yet (because we didn't close until so late), so we just moved a bunch of stuff into the garage and basement. We want to get the carpets cleaned and a few other things taken care of before we get too far in.
Worn out, but so looking forward to moving all the way in!!
I thought I would develop an ulcer on Friday while we waited for the bank to figure out what the heck it was doing (reassuring, that). One of my friends commented that it was like waiting for a baby to arrive and being afraid to be told it would be false labor.
BUT at 6:30 on Friday night, we closed, and are now
So today we moved a load of junk in. We don't have utilities hooked up yet (because we didn't close until so late), so we just moved a bunch of stuff into the garage and basement. We want to get the carpets cleaned and a few other things taken care of before we get too far in.
Worn out, but so looking forward to moving all the way in!!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
On Pedophiles and Prayer
We have recently fielded several questions from people here and in Oklahoma about certain events that occurred right after we moved to Georgia. I have previously debated the wisdom of posting this story. However, it is a record of our family history, and more importantly, a record of Heavenly Father's watch care for us, and how He answers our prayers in the way that is best for us.
When we moved into our new ward (congregation) at church, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that another family from Oklahoma had moved in just a few weeks before. They were getting baptized our first Sunday in town. After years of living in a ward where college families moved in and out pretty regularly, we had learned that the quickest way to get involved in your new church family is to ... well, get involved. So we attended this family's baptisms. We discovered they were from Edmond, about 45 minutes to an hour from Norman. Although, we didn't know this family in OK, it was nice just knowing someone around who would know what the Warren Theater is, what "Don't Edmond my Norman" means, and that when the tornado sirens go off, you are, of course, supposed to run outside and check the sky.
As if those coincidences weren't enough, this family was renting the house next door to the house we were trying to buy. They had as many kids as we did, and their two daughters were the exact ages of our older girls. We really looked forward to getting to know them. They seemed like good solid people. The kids were kind and polite. After coming over to help us move into our apartment, they came back to bring me cake and ice cream for my birthday after a long, physically straining, tearful day. Their kindness made me cry more.
A few weeks went by, and then the sky crashed a little bit.
The father had been arrested and taken into custody here as a fugitive ... from Oklahoma, where he had run from his trial for the molestation of some girls, including his two daughters. In his absence, the jury had convicted him on maybe 12 counts of molestation and sentenced him to something like 186 years in prison.
Along with the rest of our new ward, we found the news stunning, shocking. We were disbelieving and felt betrayed. And then: how did we not detect this crazy perv amidst us? And how was he living with his wife, the mother of the children he had apparently abused, and those very children!? Oh my heavens, we'd had the man in our house, talked to him at Wal-Mart, encouraged our children to befriend his children!!
But along with feeling sideswiped by the news, Bob and I felt an immense sense of relief and a sure knowledge that Heavenly Father was looking out for our family. We had been trying to get that house--which would ultimately be next door to this family--since our initial visit here in June. We had an offer in on it, and were hoping to be able to close on it as soon as possible so we wouldn't have to find a temporary living situation. We actually tried to rent the house, but no matter what our real estate agent tried and no matter how fervent our prayers, no dice. We ended up having to rent this apartment, which cost us a significant chunk of money, and will force us to move our belongings a second time, AND I have to walk our ridiculous dogs every freakin' day.
But you know what? Heavenly Father listened to our prayers to get that house when we wanted it, and He said no, repeatedly and firmly. Instead, He listened to our many prayers over the years to keep our children safe and to preserve them from danger. Had we moved in next door to this family, our children would have played with their children, we would have developed a relationship of neighborly "trust," never knowing what really lurked there.
Many people here are curious as to whether we knew this family when we were in Oklahoma. I think it's a valid concern ... I would want to know that, because I'd be wondering if we had kept such sickening and important information from the ward that had so lovingly and unquestioningly taken us all in. The answer is: no, we didn't know. We don't watch the local news very often, and weren't taking the paper as we got ready to move. This family lived in Edmond, on the other side of OKC. Oklahoma looks like a little nothing state in the middle of nowheresville, but there are a lot of people between Norman and Edmond. It later emerged that this family weren't really new converts to our church, but had actually been members back in Oklahoma for a long time. That's two stakes (groups of 8-11 LDS congregations, about 2000 members in each stake) away from our stake in Norman, which stretched south, not north. We were as blindsided as everyone else here.
And for the people curious back home, this man is in custody again, and his family has moved away and we have not seen them since. No dangers of living next door to that pedophile. Although my heart still breaks for those kids.
That's a lot of really weird coincidences. I don't believe in coincidences; I believe things happen for a reason. I don't know why things happened the way they did in this case, and I probably don't want to know. I hope our presence here made that guy really, really nervous; I hope that somehow it made his stay in Georgia--with those kids--shorter than it otherwise would have been. And I do know that it has reminded US to be more cautious in our friendships and with our children.
I count my blessings every day, every single day we are in this crazy, yard-less, half-basement apartment with 6 kids and 2 dogs. I count my blessings every single day that goes by that I don't own a home again. Do I want out of this apartment? Do I want to spread out and own my own home again? Heck yeah!! But I don't have those things because my Father in Heaven kept us safe in spite of ourselves. I'll take that any and every day of the week if it means He put my children's safety before my uninformed desires. When we prayed to Him with meekness, and included a sincere "not my will, but thine be done," He listened and prioritized our needs and desires.
I don't know why not all prayers end up like ours did. My heart aches for those children, for surely they prayed for relief when they were at the mercy of someone else's agency. All I know to do now is to include them in my prayers. After all, they work, right? Please include them in your prayers as well.
When we moved into our new ward (congregation) at church, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that another family from Oklahoma had moved in just a few weeks before. They were getting baptized our first Sunday in town. After years of living in a ward where college families moved in and out pretty regularly, we had learned that the quickest way to get involved in your new church family is to ... well, get involved. So we attended this family's baptisms. We discovered they were from Edmond, about 45 minutes to an hour from Norman. Although, we didn't know this family in OK, it was nice just knowing someone around who would know what the Warren Theater is, what "Don't Edmond my Norman" means, and that when the tornado sirens go off, you are, of course, supposed to run outside and check the sky.
As if those coincidences weren't enough, this family was renting the house next door to the house we were trying to buy. They had as many kids as we did, and their two daughters were the exact ages of our older girls. We really looked forward to getting to know them. They seemed like good solid people. The kids were kind and polite. After coming over to help us move into our apartment, they came back to bring me cake and ice cream for my birthday after a long, physically straining, tearful day. Their kindness made me cry more.
A few weeks went by, and then the sky crashed a little bit.
The father had been arrested and taken into custody here as a fugitive ... from Oklahoma, where he had run from his trial for the molestation of some girls, including his two daughters. In his absence, the jury had convicted him on maybe 12 counts of molestation and sentenced him to something like 186 years in prison.
Along with the rest of our new ward, we found the news stunning, shocking. We were disbelieving and felt betrayed. And then: how did we not detect this crazy perv amidst us? And how was he living with his wife, the mother of the children he had apparently abused, and those very children!? Oh my heavens, we'd had the man in our house, talked to him at Wal-Mart, encouraged our children to befriend his children!!
But along with feeling sideswiped by the news, Bob and I felt an immense sense of relief and a sure knowledge that Heavenly Father was looking out for our family. We had been trying to get that house--which would ultimately be next door to this family--since our initial visit here in June. We had an offer in on it, and were hoping to be able to close on it as soon as possible so we wouldn't have to find a temporary living situation. We actually tried to rent the house, but no matter what our real estate agent tried and no matter how fervent our prayers, no dice. We ended up having to rent this apartment, which cost us a significant chunk of money, and will force us to move our belongings a second time, AND I have to walk our ridiculous dogs every freakin' day.
But you know what? Heavenly Father listened to our prayers to get that house when we wanted it, and He said no, repeatedly and firmly. Instead, He listened to our many prayers over the years to keep our children safe and to preserve them from danger. Had we moved in next door to this family, our children would have played with their children, we would have developed a relationship of neighborly "trust," never knowing what really lurked there.
Many people here are curious as to whether we knew this family when we were in Oklahoma. I think it's a valid concern ... I would want to know that, because I'd be wondering if we had kept such sickening and important information from the ward that had so lovingly and unquestioningly taken us all in. The answer is: no, we didn't know. We don't watch the local news very often, and weren't taking the paper as we got ready to move. This family lived in Edmond, on the other side of OKC. Oklahoma looks like a little nothing state in the middle of nowheresville, but there are a lot of people between Norman and Edmond. It later emerged that this family weren't really new converts to our church, but had actually been members back in Oklahoma for a long time. That's two stakes (groups of 8-11 LDS congregations, about 2000 members in each stake) away from our stake in Norman, which stretched south, not north. We were as blindsided as everyone else here.
And for the people curious back home, this man is in custody again, and his family has moved away and we have not seen them since. No dangers of living next door to that pedophile. Although my heart still breaks for those kids.
That's a lot of really weird coincidences. I don't believe in coincidences; I believe things happen for a reason. I don't know why things happened the way they did in this case, and I probably don't want to know. I hope our presence here made that guy really, really nervous; I hope that somehow it made his stay in Georgia--with those kids--shorter than it otherwise would have been. And I do know that it has reminded US to be more cautious in our friendships and with our children.
I count my blessings every day, every single day we are in this crazy, yard-less, half-basement apartment with 6 kids and 2 dogs. I count my blessings every single day that goes by that I don't own a home again. Do I want out of this apartment? Do I want to spread out and own my own home again? Heck yeah!! But I don't have those things because my Father in Heaven kept us safe in spite of ourselves. I'll take that any and every day of the week if it means He put my children's safety before my uninformed desires. When we prayed to Him with meekness, and included a sincere "not my will, but thine be done," He listened and prioritized our needs and desires.
I don't know why not all prayers end up like ours did. My heart aches for those children, for surely they prayed for relief when they were at the mercy of someone else's agency. All I know to do now is to include them in my prayers. After all, they work, right? Please include them in your prayers as well.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Three Things about Georgia
Three things about Georgia that my children find very disturbing. I will note that they came up with these all on their own. They independently made these observations and brought them to me.
- Construction signs may or may not be weighted down with sandbags. Usually not. What are they going to do when the signs blow away? the children ask. But the thing is: they don't blow away very often because the wind doesn't blow very often. (Have I mentioned that my phone app sends me weather advisories when the wind will be gusting anywhere above about 5 MPH?) We did see a sign blow over onto the ground once a few weeks ago. But that was it. In Oklahoma we would have had the excitement of seeing something get dented disastrously, I think.
- Traffic lights are not on poles; they are on cables. That is so dangerous! the children say. Think of the damage they could do if the wind blows hard! they say. Again, we're back to the wind, which never blows like it does in Oklahoma--for which my hair and my winter nerve endings are grateful.
- And in the middle of December and January, many of the grasses are still green here. What the what? the children say. It's green in the middle of winter here. Guess they are used to everything, even a few of the evergreens, being dead brown from December through February. And July through September, too.
And so we will continue to deal with our children's great anxieties about moving.... ;)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
A Little More Drawl
One of my favorite discoveries about Georgia is this:
It was also awesome in Wal-Mart when the checker told one of the kids, in a very Southern drawl, to get busy loading her mama's cart. Yeah, that was awesome, too.
I know we need to be expecting and fostering this respect from our kids regularly, but sometimes I get so tired of ... the endless battle. It's nice to be backed up. And a whole heck of a lot easier to return respect for respect.
Yes, ma'am.
Yes, sir.
No, ma'am.
No, sir.
My kids say it all the time now. And rarely with attitude. Because that is what they are expected to say here. Without attitude. And without question. Lizzi started it first in our family, but her math teacher has high expectations for her students and isn't afraid to tell them how it is (have I mentioned we love Lizzi's math teacher?). But now even the boys and Sariah do it, too. There was a family in our ward in Norman whose kids said these very politely, even to Mom and Dad (yes, they lived in Georgia), and we wanted our kids to learn how to do it, but it just never came together. Maybe it's that whole "it takes a village" thing, because now our kids know what is expected of them. It's completely awesome.
It was also awesome in Wal-Mart when the checker told one of the kids, in a very Southern drawl, to get busy loading her mama's cart. Yeah, that was awesome, too.
I know we need to be expecting and fostering this respect from our kids regularly, but sometimes I get so tired of ... the endless battle. It's nice to be backed up. And a whole heck of a lot easier to return respect for respect.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Favorite
Fall is my favorite season. And apparently I've hit the jackpot here. The colors here are awesome. Now, some of the locals say that here, south of Atlanta, we don't have anything, and I suspect that's true--I have been farther north, up in the Ozarks in the fall, and you definitely got some bang for your buck there. However, no nothin' here is still a lot more colorful than some years in Oklahoma, surely better than Texas fall, and absolutely more colorful than autumn in the desert (although all of those places have their own seasonal charms). I'm in seventh heaven for a little while.
The cars aren't terribly romantic, but I love that when I drive into my parking lot at the top of the hill, I can see not only green, but also red, orange, and yellow.
These others are from my daily walk around the apartment complex. Evergreens don't really do autumn that dramatically, but they make me feel like home in the mountains. :)
Monday, October 3, 2011
Grrrrr...eat
However.
It's my jeans. My very favoritest jeans; there are about 3 pairs of them that I adore. They were tight so I quit wearing them. So when we moved, I packed them in a box. Yeah. That's bad. Because now I can't find the box. I should be able to find the box, because it was supposed to wind up in our apartment, not the storage unit, and I was hoping to be back in them by Christmas.
The good news is that I can fit back in them MUCH sooner. Like now. The bad news is that I can't find them. And it's getting colder. And I have to do things this month like pay the phone bill, so there aren't any shopping sprees in my future.
It's not a terrible dilemma to have. But it is a dilemma. Especially when my pants start slipping down my hips.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Callaway Gardens
Today, while I laid around at home nursing a fever, headache, and sore throat (surprise, surprise!), Bob took the kids to see Callaway Gardens. Apparently, they had quite an adventure. Because they came back with so many amazing photographs, I will need to break this into two posts. Hannah took some fantastic pics of butterflies and flowers with her photog skilz--I'm going to put them in their own post.
In the mean time, peruse these pics and see what they did all day long.
Exotic butterfly gardens.
Cute babies!
Life for Sariah is, as always, a musical. And meanwhile, check out Rex's gangsta look.
Apparently, this bird wasn't in a terribly fantastic mood. Not too long afterwards he tried to take a bite out of his trainer's finger.
Check out Sam's new sneakers--his very first pair.
I just want to eat him up, he's so flippin' cute!
I think this is when Sam decided he was done walking.
Caleb took this one. I'm jealous I wasn't there.
And of course, there's the obligatory snake on their nature hike. I think it's an Eastern kingsnake, cuz you know I'm a snake identification expert (eyeroll).
I like this one for two reasons: first, brotherly love; and second, Sam's curly curls in the back.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Swimming Time, the Text
Well, I thought I attached my post to the pictures, but apparently not. So here goes again.
Yesterday, the littles and I went to some new friends' house to swim. They are folks from our ward who invited us over for dinner our 2nd Sunday here. Had a very nice dinner, and Sariah and their little granddaughter hit it right off. I hadn't really wanted to leave the house much yesterday...I've really been missing everyone...but we dragged ourselves out anyway--there really was no keeping The Diva from her play date. I ended up being so glad we went. It was such a comfort and a blessing to see Sariah and Sam taken in and mothered by this grandmother and her mother (the great-grandmother). It's hard being so far from our Grammy and our Nanna. But it's nice knowing there are people here who will cherish and love my little ones, too.
Yesterday, the littles and I went to some new friends' house to swim. They are folks from our ward who invited us over for dinner our 2nd Sunday here. Had a very nice dinner, and Sariah and their little granddaughter hit it right off. I hadn't really wanted to leave the house much yesterday...I've really been missing everyone...but we dragged ourselves out anyway--there really was no keeping The Diva from her play date. I ended up being so glad we went. It was such a comfort and a blessing to see Sariah and Sam taken in and mothered by this grandmother and her mother (the great-grandmother). It's hard being so far from our Grammy and our Nanna. But it's nice knowing there are people here who will cherish and love my little ones, too.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Waxing Eloquent ... on Middle School?
Lizzi's Open House at her school took place this evening. I'm just going to say, in my excitement, that I could not be more pleased on a variety of levels.
Loved the structure--parents were escorted by their students through their bell schedule. The teachers were friendly, open, and professional; didn't meet a single staff or teacher whom I didn't like. The school was clean and functional and well-organized. There wasn't the feeling of The Dread & Dreary Middle School.
Oddly, and Bob agreed when I mentioned it, the students at this school seem much younger than the middle schoolers where we were coming from. I don't think I saw any inappropriate dress, and I noticed very little make up on the girls. They seemed so fresh and clean instead of somewhat jaded.
It was just a really pleasing and pleasant experience overall. I'm super excited to be a part of it, and especially happy for my kiddos. Not so nervous about sending my boys to middle school after all.
It's the tender mercy of my day, I think. And helps me to get over those what-have-we-done moments that still happen now and again. Lol!
Loved the structure--parents were escorted by their students through their bell schedule. The teachers were friendly, open, and professional; didn't meet a single staff or teacher whom I didn't like. The school was clean and functional and well-organized. There wasn't the feeling of The Dread & Dreary Middle School.
Oddly, and Bob agreed when I mentioned it, the students at this school seem much younger than the middle schoolers where we were coming from. I don't think I saw any inappropriate dress, and I noticed very little make up on the girls. They seemed so fresh and clean instead of somewhat jaded.
It was just a really pleasing and pleasant experience overall. I'm super excited to be a part of it, and especially happy for my kiddos. Not so nervous about sending my boys to middle school after all.
It's the tender mercy of my day, I think. And helps me to get over those what-have-we-done moments that still happen now and again. Lol!
Boring ... but then again ...
My days here have taken on a boring predictability that includes walking the dogs, changing diapers, cleaning up the apartment (again), grocery shopping, and making ourselves residents of Georgia.
I surrendered my Oklahoma driver's license on Friday. It made me sad. Especially after I saw the picture on my new license. Lol! On the up side, I was only in the department of driver services about 30 minutes with 2 small children. Sam was apparently the entertainment of the day, running back and forth and creating mayhem, but he was too cute for anyone to get mad at. Thankfully.
I joined Weight Watchers on Friday. Again. I am seriously committed this time, since I am having to take out of my grocery budget to pay for this. I am excited to try the new program--I think it's more nutritionally accurate, in light of all the information that's come out in the last several years. And after 5 days, I am now aware that I have been eating terribly in regards to quality and quantity. Unfortunately, only 4 year olds have slimmed off trudging up and down the hill to the bus stop daily. Oh to be younger! I had a friend once tell me that once you hit about 30, it became much harder to keep weight off. She was right. I'm sure giving birth to 5 kids doesn't help much either.
We had a really great Family Home Evening last night about how during Christ's ministry, He not only went about preaching and teaching, but healing those around Him. We are focusing in our FHEs more on the Savior's ministry. We frequently tell our children to be like Jesus Christ, but I want to make sure we are teaching them what He was like. We talked a lot about how to be like Christ in this aspect of healing--how our words and are actions should soothe and comfort others. I used an article from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. You can find the article here.
My favorite part came from the end of the article where the Atonement of Christ was addressed. As much as we help and serve others, we are only to be instruments in His hands, and we are still ever-dependent on Jesus Christ for all that we are and have. For someone who has been through some dark times in her life--both those caused by sin & error as well as those caused by a physical & emotional affliction of the mind--Elder Holland's words really found a place in my heart:
I surrendered my Oklahoma driver's license on Friday. It made me sad. Especially after I saw the picture on my new license. Lol! On the up side, I was only in the department of driver services about 30 minutes with 2 small children. Sam was apparently the entertainment of the day, running back and forth and creating mayhem, but he was too cute for anyone to get mad at. Thankfully.
I joined Weight Watchers on Friday. Again. I am seriously committed this time, since I am having to take out of my grocery budget to pay for this. I am excited to try the new program--I think it's more nutritionally accurate, in light of all the information that's come out in the last several years. And after 5 days, I am now aware that I have been eating terribly in regards to quality and quantity. Unfortunately, only 4 year olds have slimmed off trudging up and down the hill to the bus stop daily. Oh to be younger! I had a friend once tell me that once you hit about 30, it became much harder to keep weight off. She was right. I'm sure giving birth to 5 kids doesn't help much either.
We had a really great Family Home Evening last night about how during Christ's ministry, He not only went about preaching and teaching, but healing those around Him. We are focusing in our FHEs more on the Savior's ministry. We frequently tell our children to be like Jesus Christ, but I want to make sure we are teaching them what He was like. We talked a lot about how to be like Christ in this aspect of healing--how our words and are actions should soothe and comfort others. I used an article from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. You can find the article here.
My favorite part came from the end of the article where the Atonement of Christ was addressed. As much as we help and serve others, we are only to be instruments in His hands, and we are still ever-dependent on Jesus Christ for all that we are and have. For someone who has been through some dark times in her life--both those caused by sin & error as well as those caused by a physical & emotional affliction of the mind--Elder Holland's words really found a place in my heart:
In spite of life’s tribulations, there is help for all of us on this journey. When Christ bids us to yield, to submit, to obey the Father, He knows how to help us do that. He has walked that way, asking us to do what He has done, but He has made it very much easier for our travel. He knows where the sharp stones and the stumbling blocks lie and where the thorns and the thistles are the most severe. He knows where the path is perilous, and He knows which way to go when the road forks and nightfall comes. He knows that because He has suffered “pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind … that he may know … how to succor his people according to their infirmities” (Alma 7:11–12). To succor means “to run to.” I testify that Christ will run to us, and is running even now, if we will but receive the extended arm of His mercy.
When we stagger or stumble, He is there to steady and strengthen us. In the end He is there to save us, and for all this He gave His life. However dim our days may seem, they have been a lot darker for the Savior of the world. As a reminder of those days, Jesus has chosen, even in a resurrected, otherwise perfected body, to retain for the benefit of His disciples the wounds in His hands and in His feet and in His side—signs, if you will, that painful things happen even to the pure and the perfect; signs, if you will, that pain in this world is not evidence that God doesn’t love you; signs, if you will, that problems pass and happiness can be ours. Remind others that it is the wounded Christ who is the Captain of our souls, He who yet bears the scars of our forgiveness, the lesions of His love and humility, the torn flesh of obedience and sacrifice.
There really isn't anything that needs to be added to that. :)
Friday, August 19, 2011
Observations at Random
- It's much more humid here. I sweat all the flippin' time.
- It's much cooler here. And quite frankly, I'll take the cooler and humid to the Easy Bake Oven experience.
- The library here isn't as kid-friendly as the one we came from.
- The library here isn't as busy as the one we came from (that's a bonus when you have a toddler who takes off places whenever he feels like it).
- AT&T is less. than. ideal. here. They really made Bob mad. They probably shouldn't have done that.
- I hope that Verizon does us a little better. And that we like our new toys. Coming today. I'm excited. We picked Droids instead of iPhones. Who knows!
- The boys' open house at school was last night. It was a little long and boring.
- Back to school night wasn't nearly as cost intensive as where we came from. Made me happy!
- I'm really glad that I'm not a Pooper Scooper by trade. Although. Maybe getting paid for cleaning up multiple kinds of poop all day long might make it more worth it.
- I can't wait for a yard for my dogs and my kids.
- But the complex pool is nice. Nice and cool. Nice and fun. Nice leverage against my kids' poor behavior. Just sayin'....
- I started a quilting class at church last night. It's to make a nativity wall hanging. It's going to be super cute. Except that I picked the fabrics. And everyone knows my color combos leave something to be desired. Still, what fun.
- Life is back to be a musical for Sariah. It wasn't for awhile there, but she has started randomly bursting into song to narrate her life again. It's all good.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
A Brief Essay on Drawling
So, "everyone" said that my kids would pick up a Georgia drawl out here, especially the two little ones. I just didn't know how fast it would come on. Caleb's started in. The babies actually haven't, but that's because the only person they talk to is me. And Lizzi! Thank you, Georgia D., for teaching Lizzi to mimic accents. She can talk like a true Georgia peach now. It's fascinating to me how well she can do it.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Birthday Blues
I turned 36 on Saturday. We spent from about 8 in the morning to 8 in the evening unloading our truck, dividing its contents between our apartment and our storage unit. I don't think I've put in a full day's work like that ... um ... ever. I was doing pretty good not remembering that it was my birthday and focusing on the task at hand, until about 5 o'clock, when I decided I was ready to be clean and have a sit down family dinner at Texas Roadhouse. The problem with this was that the truck wasn't finished.
I settled for pick up from Five Guys. Some new friends from church showed up to help, and we went back to work. Finally got it all unloaded. Now the mess was in the apartment. The kids were cranky and feeling neglected (or put out that they had to babysit little ones all day long).
As we were trying to get everyone cleaned up and in bed, there was knockety-knock on our door. It was late, about 9:30, and our complex is gated, so I figured it was a neighbor. It was our Oklahoma church friends with cake and ice cream! They'd jumped the freight fence and walked up to our apartment to make my day special (shh! don't tell anyone). It made me cry. Again. It was just what I needed.
We are so thankful for the help that we had throughout the day. Now we'll tackle more unpacking. Yippee-skippee.
I settled for pick up from Five Guys. Some new friends from church showed up to help, and we went back to work. Finally got it all unloaded. Now the mess was in the apartment. The kids were cranky and feeling neglected (or put out that they had to babysit little ones all day long).
As we were trying to get everyone cleaned up and in bed, there was knockety-knock on our door. It was late, about 9:30, and our complex is gated, so I figured it was a neighbor. It was our Oklahoma church friends with cake and ice cream! They'd jumped the freight fence and walked up to our apartment to make my day special (shh! don't tell anyone). It made me cry. Again. It was just what I needed.
We are so thankful for the help that we had throughout the day. Now we'll tackle more unpacking. Yippee-skippee.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
This and That
I am feeling even more random than usual today, which is why I haven't gotten around to posting anything. It's been more of a Facebook day than a blogger day. You know what I mean? The random snippets of thought that you can't really string together into a coherent order. Does that mean I have some sort of attention deficit disorder? Probably. I've suspected it for awhile anyway--it's how I clean my house. I try to get my chores done, but I end up doing them here and there and not finishing any one thing in order. ADD, I guess. No one would ever accuse me of ADHD (anymore).
My truck came! I have plates and chairs. Yeehaw! The Scentsy box came in today, and I've already had one going. Perfectly Pomegranate, yum! Sam's high chair came in today, too. He was so thrilled to see it. It was dang cute. He sat in it for an hour or so, just hanging out. Then we ate dinner. It's the first decent food we've gotten into him since we arrived here. He gets too distracted when he's not tied down. Wonder where he gets that from...?
Checked more stuff off my list today. Renter's insurance. Car insurance. Guess I need to get me a driver's license soon. Maybe some car tags, even. And I absolutely cannot put off investigating the library any longer. After all, I've almost finished reading the last book I bought (The Help, by Kathryn Stockett). Time to run up some more fines. Except I think I'm going to have to be good here, since the late charge for books is 25 cents a day. Yikes!
Time for bed. I can't even catch any of my random thoughts anymore. Night, all.
My truck came! I have plates and chairs. Yeehaw! The Scentsy box came in today, and I've already had one going. Perfectly Pomegranate, yum! Sam's high chair came in today, too. He was so thrilled to see it. It was dang cute. He sat in it for an hour or so, just hanging out. Then we ate dinner. It's the first decent food we've gotten into him since we arrived here. He gets too distracted when he's not tied down. Wonder where he gets that from...?
Checked more stuff off my list today. Renter's insurance. Car insurance. Guess I need to get me a driver's license soon. Maybe some car tags, even. And I absolutely cannot put off investigating the library any longer. After all, I've almost finished reading the last book I bought (The Help, by Kathryn Stockett). Time to run up some more fines. Except I think I'm going to have to be good here, since the late charge for books is 25 cents a day. Yikes!
Time for bed. I can't even catch any of my random thoughts anymore. Night, all.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
First Day Trauma Is for Babies ... and a Topic Hop
Apparently, I am the only one traumatized by the first day of school in a new place. That's good news, right?
Well, emotional trauma anyway. Rex came home from the 3rd grade with a real blue ribbon of a black eye. He says someone ran into him. Time to email the teacher? I think so. They supposedly tried to call me, which is probably true, but--oh my heavens, are we back to my phone service again?!?!
Everybody made it where they were supposed to and back again. Everybody made it home with homework and more papers for me to fill out with information that I don't have...you know, like a local phone number or emergency contacts that don't live 5 states away. Details!
If only I can find a preK for The Diva.
And in other news, you know what really fascinates me here? After it rains on a day that's been hot, it's generally nice and cool (so far). But the asphalt in the parking lot steams. Dorky me, I kept looking for the source of the smoke at first. It took me a little while, but I finally figured it out, and now it fascinates me. I'd never seen that before. Crazy!
Hannah started seminary today. An hour of scripture study in the morning, kinda like another high school course, before school starts with a bunch of other LDS teens. They are digging right in with the Old Testament. I should probably brush up...guess I have time on my hands right now. :)
Yes, today is a better day. Some days are harder than others, especially when your brain can't seem to produce the right amounts of the right chemicals. And I heard moving was 3rd on the list of traumatic things to do with your life (preceding were the death of a loved one and divorce). Anyhow, I've got my smile on again (the real deal, not a pasted on one), so all is well.
Hugs to all!
Well, emotional trauma anyway. Rex came home from the 3rd grade with a real blue ribbon of a black eye. He says someone ran into him. Time to email the teacher? I think so. They supposedly tried to call me, which is probably true, but--oh my heavens, are we back to my phone service again?!?!
Everybody made it where they were supposed to and back again. Everybody made it home with homework and more papers for me to fill out with information that I don't have...you know, like a local phone number or emergency contacts that don't live 5 states away. Details!
If only I can find a preK for The Diva.
And in other news, you know what really fascinates me here? After it rains on a day that's been hot, it's generally nice and cool (so far). But the asphalt in the parking lot steams. Dorky me, I kept looking for the source of the smoke at first. It took me a little while, but I finally figured it out, and now it fascinates me. I'd never seen that before. Crazy!
Hannah started seminary today. An hour of scripture study in the morning, kinda like another high school course, before school starts with a bunch of other LDS teens. They are digging right in with the Old Testament. I should probably brush up...guess I have time on my hands right now. :)
Yes, today is a better day. Some days are harder than others, especially when your brain can't seem to produce the right amounts of the right chemicals. And I heard moving was 3rd on the list of traumatic things to do with your life (preceding were the death of a loved one and divorce). Anyhow, I've got my smile on again (the real deal, not a pasted on one), so all is well.
Hugs to all!
Monday, August 8, 2011
First Day
I'm still wondering from time to time what the freak I've done to my poor children by moving out here.
Today was the first day of school for the four oldest. As with most places and situations, some things are better here and some things are worse.
For example, I am really struggling with how the schools communicate here ... or don't. The bus stop for all the schools was at the same place at the same time. But the buses didn't show up at the same time, and I'm sure I completely humiliated my middle schooler with my lack of info. I was also the only mom out there because I had the boys and they are too young to find the bus stop themselves on the first day of school. Lizzi's bus also involves some sort of switch somewhere along the way. Gee, I sure hope she made it to the right school today. Poor baby.
Meanwhile, it was Hannah's first day of high school. She was a nervous wreck. And I sent her in all by her lonesome. At the wrong door. The 9th graders here have their own building, but apparently (and again, I didn't get the memo) you still drop them off at the "big" building.
Oh my heck, my poor children!
And how am I supposed to be excited for Hannah's first day of high school when I'm worried sick about her?
I'm pretty sure this day is going to involve some chocolate. Is it really only 10 am?
Today was the first day of school for the four oldest. As with most places and situations, some things are better here and some things are worse.
For example, I am really struggling with how the schools communicate here ... or don't. The bus stop for all the schools was at the same place at the same time. But the buses didn't show up at the same time, and I'm sure I completely humiliated my middle schooler with my lack of info. I was also the only mom out there because I had the boys and they are too young to find the bus stop themselves on the first day of school. Lizzi's bus also involves some sort of switch somewhere along the way. Gee, I sure hope she made it to the right school today. Poor baby.
Meanwhile, it was Hannah's first day of high school. She was a nervous wreck. And I sent her in all by her lonesome. At the wrong door. The 9th graders here have their own building, but apparently (and again, I didn't get the memo) you still drop them off at the "big" building.
Oh my heck, my poor children!
And how am I supposed to be excited for Hannah's first day of high school when I'm worried sick about her?
I'm pretty sure this day is going to involve some chocolate. Is it really only 10 am?
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Georgia
So, at last we have internet. I love my little iPhone, but I'm a full keyboard kinda girl, I guess.
Plus, my beloved little iPhone doesn't work so well out this way. Apparently, AT&T is NOT the wireless carrier of choice, and for good reason, too. Oh dear, I might have to get me a new, bigger, badder, more beloved little iPhone at a different carrier. I am aghast at the possibility, I assure you.
Meanwhile, Georgia is treating us well. On the day we left Oklahoma, the thermometer in my car read 113F. What the heck!! It was dryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy and hooooooooooooooot. My OK friends will probably wish to flay me for saying this, but when we pulled into our new area on Thursday at 3 in the afternoon, my car read 74F, and it was pouring down buckets of rain. People here keep asking me how I feel about the heat, but I think we shouldn't have packed our sweaters on the moving van. But for my OK friends, the day after it poured, it was 97F, and like about a million percent humidity. Hot is hot, but there is something to be said for dry heat ... except when it causes fires which I hear have been pretty terrible, but I digress, I think....
And getting back to the moving van. It was supposed to be here on Friday. And I was supposed to have furniture in my snug little apartment today. But alas, as of this morning, the truck was still in Little Rock. Little Rock?! So, we are still sleeping on air mattresses and sitting on the floor.
But what I miss most of all is my washer and dryer. They were supposed to be here today, remember. I've had to do laundry at the laundromat. Haven't had to do that in about 12 years. Ugh, ugh, ugh. Haven't had to climb stairs with all my groceries in about that long either ... fortunately, we are actually climbing down the stairs so it doesn't seem nearly so horrible. And maybe I'll lose a few pounds (hahahahahaha).
Church tomorrow. I am so looking forward to having friends again. I must confess I have been a little lonely. I had hoped to be able to call all my favorite people when I was feeling blue, but alas, my wireless carrier is flaky. Must remedy that soon.
Post comments if you love me. Because I seriously miss all you guys. :(
Plus, my beloved little iPhone doesn't work so well out this way. Apparently, AT&T is NOT the wireless carrier of choice, and for good reason, too. Oh dear, I might have to get me a new, bigger, badder, more beloved little iPhone at a different carrier. I am aghast at the possibility, I assure you.
Meanwhile, Georgia is treating us well. On the day we left Oklahoma, the thermometer in my car read 113F. What the heck!! It was dryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy and hooooooooooooooot. My OK friends will probably wish to flay me for saying this, but when we pulled into our new area on Thursday at 3 in the afternoon, my car read 74F, and it was pouring down buckets of rain. People here keep asking me how I feel about the heat, but I think we shouldn't have packed our sweaters on the moving van. But for my OK friends, the day after it poured, it was 97F, and like about a million percent humidity. Hot is hot, but there is something to be said for dry heat ... except when it causes fires which I hear have been pretty terrible, but I digress, I think....
And getting back to the moving van. It was supposed to be here on Friday. And I was supposed to have furniture in my snug little apartment today. But alas, as of this morning, the truck was still in Little Rock. Little Rock?! So, we are still sleeping on air mattresses and sitting on the floor.
But what I miss most of all is my washer and dryer. They were supposed to be here today, remember. I've had to do laundry at the laundromat. Haven't had to do that in about 12 years. Ugh, ugh, ugh. Haven't had to climb stairs with all my groceries in about that long either ... fortunately, we are actually climbing down the stairs so it doesn't seem nearly so horrible. And maybe I'll lose a few pounds (hahahahahaha).
Church tomorrow. I am so looking forward to having friends again. I must confess I have been a little lonely. I had hoped to be able to call all my favorite people when I was feeling blue, but alas, my wireless carrier is flaky. Must remedy that soon.
Post comments if you love me. Because I seriously miss all you guys. :(
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