Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Day 6 & 7

So I took a trip downstairs to inspect my freezer.
Day # 6 - I found a ziplock bag of chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles.  It was perfect - it thawed and re-heated in the crock pot while we were at gymnastics.  A friend brought by some amazing cajun chicken and rice.  My husband had it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  I'll be getting that recipe before I leave.  Thanks Anna!

Day #7 - Overnight - I thawed a spiral ham that I found in the recesses of my freezer.  Steamed some carrots, threw together a salad and some fresh fruit.  For dessert, I used a pie crust I had in my fridge, as well as some cream cheese that needed to be used up, and fresh strawberries to make a strawberry pie.  I'll be posting that recipe.

I realized that I'm just not sure how long this will last.  I've got some friends coming over tomorrow to help me start boxing up my food storage.  Kind of tough to live off of, it if is all boxed!  

Monday, June 20, 2011

Chronicles of the move part 1

This morning I decided that I will keep sane during this move.
I know I won't have very much time, but I want to be able to look back at this.

Last week, we came home from our family reunion realizing that the next project on the list is THE MOVE.  My brothers in law came by and helped us move a mammoth couch from upstairs, and a couple of tables.  We unloaded some food storage, snowshoes (so sad to say goodbye to those babies), coats, boots, sleds, all sorts of stuff on our family members as they headed out of town.

And then I got sort of side tracked.  We started pulling stuff out, and found the pile that we started last summer of things we wanted to sale at a garage sale.

We decided (I being the operative part of we) to have a garage sale.

I began boxing up my recipe books, and Thursday morning I got a call from someone wanting to see our house to potentially rent it.  I sped cleaned (cleaned probably isn't a correct adjective, but you get the idea) and was then completely exhausted and overwhelmed afterwards.  A painter also showed up at the same time to give me a bid for painting some of our rooms.  After feeling overwhelmed, I spent the afternoon, and part of the morning on Friday searching for housing in Florida.

We headed down to Lowes Thursday evening and picked up new blinds for the front room.
They cut them too short.  We got home and put them up, and they were 1/2 inch too short.  Bummer.

On Friday I got the girls to work with me and we boxed up 4.5 of the bookshelves downstairs.  We still have 2+ to go, but we got a lot done.  14 boxes down.  That's something to feel good about.

On Friday night we pulled out lots and lots of stuff from the attic.  The stuff we've been saving for 7-9 years...and not exactly sure why.  I had a tough time sleeping Friday night - especially knowing that I had to get up early.

Up at 5:45 Saturday to start pulling everything for the yard/garage sale out.
My girlfriend showed up at 6:20, and by 7:30 we were rocking and rolling.
It was a total blessing that I speak spanish, and I know how to barter.  :)

At 10:00 the girls opened a lemonade stand.
We had a very steady stream from 7:30 - 11:30.  So steady I didn't have a chance to get breakfast (kids had to forage), go to the bathroom, or put sunscreen on.  I got FRIED.

By 11:30 the cars stopped lining up, and we were left with a lot less than we started with, and my pants kept slipping down due to the weight of quarters in my pockets.

Meanwhile, my husband was prepping and painting the upstairs loft.  My girlfriend's husband is a painter, and he was drawn by the smell of paint, and helped my husband out a little bit.

We still had all of the big furniture (mammoth couch), chairs, desks, dressers, and some sundry books, clothes etc. We loaded it into our friend's van, and 5 trips later, the driveway was free except for the mammoth couch.  My husband made his famous tuna sandwiches and we all sat out on the couch at the end of the driveway resting and chatting.  We weren't sure what to do with the couch.

Our friends left, and I began cleaning the kitchen and front room while my husband finished up the second coat of paint.  We then decided to head back to Lowes to resolve the blind issue.  There we met my cousin who had come to the area for a hike with his family.  We had dinner together, and then we headed back home to collapse.

Only Sunday morning did we realize that we were out of milk, bread, produce, and most everything else!  Our fridge is almost bare, and pretty quick here, we will begin eating the condiments.  I'm joking of course, but sure don't want to buy food that I'm going to turn around and throw away.

Sunday morning - the couch was still there.  Sunday after church - the couch was still there.  How do you unload a sofa sleeper couch?  It was huge, and heavy, and second hand when we received it.  We don't have a van or truck.  So we left the sign on it, and said a prayer that someone who needed it could get it.
Sunday afternoon our friend Placido came by.  He is so sad to see us move - we've known him for 11+ years, and he just lives down the road.  He joined us for dinner, and we visited, and he asked if he could help us with anything.  Jokingly, I said yes - we have to get rid of the couch.  I'm our HOA president, and I KNOW that people in the neighborhood have been having a coronary every time they drove by and saw my couch with the free sign sitting at the end of my driveway.
Well, just like that, Placido called a guy, and 2 hours later (when his wife got home with their van) Alex showed up and drove away with our couch.  He was SO grateful for it.  We were SO grateful that he took it.
I think I forget how often the Lord blesses me and answers my prayers.  That was a relief.
 
Moving forward, today - I am tackling my laundry.  I'll be able to cull through the winter clothing, and get rid of a lot of long sleeve shirts and jackets.  It is a daunting task, but I've got to get started, and we've got someone else wanting to look at our place tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow I've got some friends helping me, and will dedicate myself (and my slaves for the day) to loading up our 1 year supply of food.  Wednesday, we've got the moving company surveyor coming out, and we can finally get an idea of when our move date will really be!  So much to do, and so little time!

While I know everyone moves, and this is nothing original, it has been a long time for us, and 2000 miles is a long ways to carry all this stuff.

I'm off to start my day.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Camping 2

View of the lake.
The girl's favorite part was kyacking and paddle boating around the lake.
Our oldest daughter caught the only fish, and our youngest got one on, but didn't get it brought in all the way.

Bubbles at grandma's cabin




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Camping

As we were waiting for breakfast, the sausages just weren't getting done quick enough.
My BIL and I decided to take it into our hands. We pulled out the marshmallow roasters, and roasted our sausages over the fire a la hot dog style.




Our beautiful view of the lake



The kids had a scavenger hunt that the aunts put together - running through the woods searching for flowers, pinecones and lots of treasures.


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Splash fountain and camping

We found a splash fountain (okay - so I knew where it was and led everyone to it) :)

The kids got pretty wet.

Then we led them to some hot dry pavement, where they littered their bodies around as they sought hot spots to warm up with.




And then, later that night, all of the kids hung out at the hotel swimming pool - with grandpa, aunts and uncles, and cousins.




After church and dinner on Sunday, we headed to the family reunion, and the girls got to spend the night in grandma and grandpa's cabin the first night.
Here we are ready for bed!


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Family shots

My husband's entire family came for the baptism, and for a family reunion afterwards. Here is about half of the family - trying to get it together for a family photo. A little crazy!


While many members of my family planned to come out, for various reasons, my parents were the only members of my family who were able to make it. We were so happy to see them, and grateful that they were able to come.




Later that evening, we headed up to one of our favorite resort areas. Here's one of my husband's favorite statues:


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Post baptisms

Because our daughter's birthday is only one day apart from one of her friend's they were able to be baptized during the same baptismal service.
Here they are together just before


Just after her/their baptisms




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Baptism

We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Last weekend, our daughter made the decision to be baptized. She's been so excited about it.
Here she is just before her baptism.

She and I




She and her Dad - who had the opportunity to baptize her.
(I love that this photo almost looks like a family portrait with Christ as a member of the family)


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Last day of school #2

I just found some photos on my husband's phone that I didn't have.
On the last day of school, the kids (and parents) get to watch a slide show of photos of the kids throughout the year. Then, starting with the graduating class, the kids all march out.
Here's our very excited daughter


My daughters grade got to meet together and sit in a circle, and in open forum, got to thank each other, their teachers and the staff, and mostly share their feelings regarding the year they just accomplished. It was pretty interesting. Not many parents piped up, but our daughter shared two or three times, and then started giving me the Eagle eye...trying to ellicit something from me.
Truly, we are so grateful for all of the staff at their school these past many years. We will be very sorry to leave them all.

This year's teacher has vied for the favorite teacher status. We are really grateful to Mr. M. He definitely made learning fun. Bowling, helicopters, mentos in coke - you name it - they had a blast learning!




In art, some of the kids have an opportunity to paint their own ceiling tiles. Here's a collaborative work from this year. If you can't tell...it is a gecko.


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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Moving along

I've been a little busy lately.
It's going to get worse.
I'm already overwhelmed. And then some whelmed on top of that too.

1 month ago, my husband and I were in South Carolina interviewing for a new job (I didn't interview - I house shopped).
The next week, he was in Florida, interviewing for another job.
Both jobs were offered, we accepted the Florida job.
I know..sun, sand, Disney..kind of a no brainer. Did I say sun? Apparently it is suicidal to move to Florida in July. Yep - that's the kind of people we are. Crazy to boot.


I just wanted to let everyone know that if they don't find me here in the next month, I'll be packing/cleaning/painting or freaking out.

We are trying to rent our home and praying that everything will work out - both here, and in our new abode where ever it may be. Thanks in advance for your prayers!

Chances are, I'll pick back up once the move is over and I'm re-settled.
On to new adventures!!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Before and After

First Day of School 2010

 

Last day of school 2011

 

First Day of school 2010
 



Last day of school 2011
 
They were actually on time for the first day. Unfortunately, even today - they were late!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Candy Bar & Deco

While I essentially only had a day to plan this party out, here's some of the deco.
I think the kid's favorite part was the candy bar.
Get it?...candy...bar

I thought it was clever at least.


I found directions on how to make these cool daliahs on Martha Stewart.
I love how they turned out!



We decided to add a little more frosting to the giant cupcake later on.




Yesterday was SUPER windy, and I wish I'd taken some pictures, but I was running a million miles a minute and didn't get a chance.
I bought some thick dowels, and cut out large posterboard circles - stapled them together and stuck the circles onto the dowels.
Tied a ribbon around the stick, and placed 2 foot high lollipops all over the yard.
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Pinata & the aftermath



After a while, the pinata had to be pitched.




Finally - here's the aftermath. It was a little scarey. I was really glad my husband came home half way through the party. I don't think I'll ever do a party without another adult there. I was fairly frazzled.
We invited a little girl who JUST turned 5.
At one point she decided to hide and for 5 minutes and we couldn't find her. We searched every room in the house, outside, at the park, everywhere. Everyone dropped everything to search for her.
Finally we found her.
Hiding in the kitchen curtains.
It was a little frustrating.
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sUgaR aNd SpIcE

We had a sugar and spice birthday party for our youngest yesterday.
They did a relay game with sugar cubes and cinnamon sticks. Racing to transport everything from one side of the room to the other - using a plastic spoon. Then, they had to work together to build something out of the materials.

We had a treasure hunt (see previous post for clues) and they found cupcakes in the oven which they all got to frost for later consumption.

Of course, we had two or three cupcake incidents.






Here's the "big Cupcake". We were grateful to a friend who let us borrow her cake mold.


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