The Fun has Begun

So we have been here for 4 1/2 weeks and we already had some neighbors over for dinner. We have met a really great family with three kids. Two of which are Matthew and Nicholas' age. The other one is just 2 years older than Sydney. It was nice to have them over for dinner.

We ended up having one malfunction to the evening. I planned on fixing bbq'd burgers and dogs for the kids and grilled chicken Caesar salad for my friend Christine and I, but the propane was out on the grill. Since Jake wasn't here to go fill it, I noticed my next door neighbor grilling salmon. Thank goodness he let me cook my food over there. Good thing his wife didn't mind waiting to eat cold salmon.

I can't tell you how great our neighborhood is. It is like living in your own community. You walk outside and there are kids everywhere. Sydney and Matthew don't have to ask "is there anyone around to play with?" There is such a great feeling knowing that you have someone to talk to all the time.

Anyway, the pictures are from the fun evening the kids had. I look forward to many more of these nights!

Tackle It Tuesday #1 The Craft Room

OK girls...since belonging to this whole Blog world I have been inspired to start Tackle it Tuesday. The project of getting our "Family Studio/Craft Room" has been a project I have wanted to do and has become a sight for sore eyes ever since we moved in. It tends to be the "drop off" for everything you can imagine. My goal by next Tuesday (I know you all do the whole picture before and after thing)is to be able to wrap presents, scrapbook, and let the kids do their thing with all the craft stuff imaginable. So with that said...I am now committed to getting it done since I have shown you what it really looks like today. Come back and check out my room next week.

Oh how do you find a church?

Since moving away from home the priority of finding a church as been #1. However, I have been at the same church back home since I was in jr high. So having to "shop" for a church has never been a issue. It is exciting to know that what ever church we end up at...it will be a place that my husband and I have found on our own. I have been on many websites to look at the doctrine and missions of most churches here in town. But I am not exactly sure what to look for. I suppose just going, hearing the pastor and the kids reaction will tell me if it is right or not. It is hard to have a family of 6 and try and please everyone. We have been to one church so far, and I am looking forward to visiting one this weekend. I have tried so hard not to compare to many things to our old church. But it can be daunting at times.

I am relying on prayer and the Holy Spirit to lead us in a direction that will be good for our whole family. But in the end I am sad to think that we may not find the fellowship of friends that we have had before. We must look ahead and know that God will show us the right church for us to belong to and also get involved in a small group. Through Faith and guidance we will find a church.

Fun in the Sun

The thing I most love to do with the kids is go to the park. It is amazing to me how every time we go each one does something to make me smile. Little Whitney just can't get enough of the slide. At 17 months she shows no fear and continues to surprise me. At this age going up and down the slide just makes her day.

I like how the older kids don't fight and they actually play nicely together. Asking me to push them BOTH on the tire swing or they play chase. And then there is Nicholas. He will bump his head, mouth, or knees, cry a bit and then get back up on the play structure. No memory of any kind and will continue to do what he was doing.

We are so fortunate to have such a park in our neighborhood. It has been a meeting ground for all the kids and moms throughout the day. If we don't make it to the park by dinner, we always try and make a visit before bed time. With the sun out and birds singing it is a relaxing time for me to relect on the positive side of our move away from home. Enjoy your day and have fun with your kids!!!

The Moving Headache

So I thought moving would be easy and pain free. I figured having someone pack my things and unpack for me would make life so much easier. However I forgot a few things that a MOM must do to keep the house running. For example:

• change home phone number


• have mail forwarded BEFORE you move


• apply for new drivers license


• register your car before the police catch up to you


• find Doctors and dentists for the ENTIRE family


• register kids for school


• pre-register 3 year old for preschool for next year


• open new bank accounts


• have cable, phone and Internet scheduled for hook up BEFORE you move in

This is just part of the list. I have a lot of respect for those of you who have moved more than the one time that we have moved. I guess with practice and an occasional suggestion from neighbors I will get my list completed. I suppose if I am half way down by the end of the school year we are in good shape.

Fun with Family

Just a few pictures of the kids, nanna and pappa and Auntie Megan. We love to have people come visit. Hope you all had a great Easter. I am excited to go visit Oregon!!! I will be sure to post more pictures!!!

Little Town...Big personality

Well I have figured out a lot about this little town. If you want to go anywhere other than "downtown" you are planning a good 30 minutes anywhere. This town has a lot of personality and some great antique shops too! The only thing I wish it had was a Winco. I guess Safeway is the next best thing. We even have the BIG Evergreen State fairgrounds near by. I have been told that they hold the biggest Fair in the summer. I am sure the kids will enjoy that. Not to mention a Reptile farm. I am thinking daddy is going to have to take the kids to that.

I am thankful that God has given us this opportunity to live here...and I am sure over time it will feel more like home then just a place we are living. GOD IS FAITHFUL.

A blogger friend (thanks Dawnelle) quoted a great book "Having a Mary Spirit in a Martha World".

"Any life challenge presents us with a very basic choice: fear or faith. And yet, when you think about it, the conditions that inspire fear are often the very same conditions needed to inspire faith."

It really made me think about the differences of fear and faith. I fear not having the closeness I have with the friends back home. But I have Faith that God will provide me with new friends to fill my void. And to be able to continue the wonderful friendships I have made (you know who you are) over the last 8+ years back home. I love you girls!!!