Tuesday, March 26, 2013

whirlwind {take two--december through march}

We moved out Nov 30th and had our first Christmas the next day! I think the next week was basically a crash and re-coup week!  It didn't take long though.  There's something fun about putting things away and finding new spots to put them.  Problem was, I decorated for Christmas first, so a lot of things had to wait.
  

December:
Living amongst boxes....still...




Christmas decorations and gifts ready for the kids


First big snow


Best Christmas picture


Unwrapping gifts


Mmmmm, cookies!


Reading Sheep Tales {by Ken Davis}
A great book to read with the kids as they get older.  It's the Bible stories from the animals' point of view!


Baby trying out the baskets!


Mr. R. turned 12 the end of December!  He's almost a teenager, yikes!




January:

Most of our Christmas gatherings were in January...it's kind of nice to have them spread out.
Gifts all ready


Baby loves babies!


Miss G. fell asleep with all three American Girl dolls.  So sweet!


Christmas at my parents' house


Mr. I. got the cowboy hat he wanted!


The babies found the jackpot!


My talented nephew!  His family left the next day for three months in Montana!  What a blessed opportunity for him to be able to take lessons and compete!  They are on their way home right now and we can't wait to see them :)  Especially since we now live just a few miles from their house!


Oh what fun!  I grew up sledding these hills...they were the best!


 One night Eric and the kids had a big pillow fight in our basement.  It was hilarious!  They were hot and sweaty by the time it was over.


Notice Mr. R. has a red eye...he got hit in the face a little hard...oops!


Baby approves of the new end table.


We also got a desk!


February:


I'm so silly!


Ugh, these are too hard to walk in...


Maybe I'll try helping Mama instead!


Mr. I. turned 10 on Valentines Day!  We had a small celebration at home.  He chose what he wanted for his meal.  Lemon Rosemary Chicken, broccoli, mixed fruit and cake!

Goodies from Gpa & Gma!


Whoosh!


The very next day we celebrated Miss G. being home with us for SEVEN years!
So many precious memories!  She's growing into a beautiful young lady and is such a good help around the house! 




March:


Guess what Baby found?!  It was inevitable, wasn't it?


Wearing Mama's robe...such a ham!


Drifting snow during a storm created a unique looking car!


March 12th Baby and I, along with my mom, sister and a couple nieces went to the Indianapolis Flower & Patio Show.  We've done this annually for many years.  It's always a nice breath of spring while it's still cold and wintry out!  Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera.  Too many other things to drag along since L. was with me.  Oh well.  I took a few pictures on my phone though, but I'm not sure how to get them onto the computer without Eric's help :)


One moment she was sitting in the seat....I turned around and a minute later she was on the tray!  OY! She keeps us on our toes!



When we moved I couldn't unpack my china and good dishes because I didn't have a cabinet for them.  The one I used at the old house stayed with the house.  So the dishes stayed in boxes....until....a sweet friend put this beauty up for sale!

It fits perfectly in our kitchen!


And that brings us up to date!  Our lives have truly been a whirlwind.  I'm not sure the next few months will be any different!  Being homeowners means there's always something to be done, right?  We have a window well to finish, grass to plant, some things to dig, a little more painting that needs done, more organization and the list goes on!  But we are thankful!  And blessed!  So very, very blessed.

God is taking us on a wild ride right now!  I alluded to the fact in my previous post that He has us in a season of waiting right now.  We wait for His direction and for Him light our path.  It's not always easy, but I must say He has blessed me with tremendous peace.  And THAT makes the waiting so much easier!



whirlwind {take one--september through november}

It seems and endless cycle.  Busy, busy, busy...and then several months later catch up on the blog.  Maybe I need to resign myself to the fact that I'm not like other bloggy moms who can do it all?

Life the past 6+ months as we've known it:

September:
 Look alike jammies from Grandma


Huge Honeycrisp apples


Jack-o-Lantern fun


September also brought the beginning of a new adventure for us!  For years we have wanted to move closer to Eric's job (35 minutes away) and our church (1 hour away).  We looked for houses off and on, but never found the right one.  Until then!  We put an offer on the house, and signed a contract about a week later!  This brought about weeks of waiting, inspections, waiting, paperwork, waiting, more inspections, oh and did I mention waiting?  I am not a very good 'waiter' sometimes and there was a stressful day here and there...

God now has us in a very different season of waiting.  I guess He wants to make sure I learn to wait and trust Him!


October:




Exhaustion


Fall color fun


Family pictures



 Baby's first birthday!  Where did the time go?!  We had a little party to celebrate our sweetie.

Our sweet pumpkin


Happy 1st Birthday!


Fun and super easy cake.
Two mini bundt cakes with flat sides together. Decorate. 


Oh what a mess!


Supporting a local girl with cancer


October also brought a little packing here and there.  Accumulating lots and lots of boxes.  I didn't want to pack too soon though.  Not until we knew for sure and had that last final approval would I kick it into high gear :)


November:

                         
Baby unloaded the Tupperware drawer while I canned chicken! Hey, it kept her close and I knew she wasn't getting into something else or getting hurt!


                         
Baby enjoying her first taste of lollipop!


                         
 The boys going through their treasures {or junk} and packing only what is most loved/necessary


We got word the second week of November and signed our lives away {at least it felt that way!} as we became first time homeowners on Nov 16th!

That evening our dear friends came and helped at the new house.  First task, digging a window well and getting ready to put in an egress window in the basement.

Eric and T. hard at work digging.  Notice Eric is penniless now!


Two pizzas devoured by our hungry families!


The littles playing in the cupboards

  
Having a little fun with the bar in the basement before it got torn out :)



 Thus began two EXTREMELY busy weeks of living at two houses!  Packing, construction, painting, etc.  We were so, SO blessed with the help of family and friends! 

The kids and cousins playing Simon Says


First list of things to do...made on the pizza box lid from that first night!


My sis-in-love came several days to help paint all the trim and the closets.


Thanksgiving weekend my family came and helped with the big projects and some of the moving.  It was a beautiful weekend and had lovely weather too!  We were/are so very blessed and thankful for their help!


Bye-bye bar!


My brother after sawing a hole in the concrete for the egress window! 
What a dusty mess!


More digging


And there's a hole!


Loads and loads of boxes and things


And lots of cleaning!


We have a window!


At one point, my dad, sister and I were all in the bathroom painting!


Filling up our new home


Finally the kitchen table is moved!


So excited for a pantry, finally!  
Many thanks for the help painting and hanging shelves!


Last morning in our old house.  Tim Horton's for breakfast on the kitchen floor!

Looking back through all these pictures makes me exhausted!  It was such a whirlwind of busyness. And it doesn't stop once the last load is moved...then comes the unpacking and the settling in!

Psalm 23:5b "...my cup runneth over."