Moving In: First week in the new place.

Getting the moving truck down the driveway was pretty exciting.  This was the first attempt... they ended up backing out and then backing down before unloading.  Glad I wasn't here.



One of the first things that had to happen was removal of the 'wall fabric' in the hall bathroom.  Very satisfying!

This was our surprise on the day of walk-through, a full blown roof leak into the master bedroom.  After the room is done, our contractor will remove this gross ceiling and replace it.  In fact, he's already started by having one of his guys stick a foot through it from above.  (Fortunately no one was hurt, but it just shows how bad the roof was.)





Maria clowning around, after eating a blue lollipop. (No, her teeth aren't always that color.)




View from our deck.



Living room floors before refinishing - actually the best looking area of floor. It was the pet stains in hall and master bedroom (and the water damage) that prompted the refinishing. And I figured while we were at it, I may as well change the color too.



Kitchen cleaning. There were cobwebs in the cabinets; such fun.



Temporary bunk room.



Becky stuck behind a wall of the girls' toys.



Becky wearing Jim's old Halloween armor.




Last picture in the old yellow room.



Girls, saying goodbye to the green room.



My enclave of peace and homeyness. The only thing I've decorated as of yet. Can't wait to get upstairs and start painting and really unpacking.



Giant dumpster of doom.



The crane lifting supplies up to the roofers.



A heavy load, swinging right towards the window, all controlled by a handheld remote.



Joshua, oblivious to all the banging and whirring. Wish I had a bouncy seat too.



Driveway chaos - four contractors in one day: roofers, electricians, heater and floor guys.



A rare sight, all three kids asleep at the same time.



Progress, the roof half done.



Shiny new floors, after the first coat of finish.



Stairs - looks like we'll have to restain that hand rail too.



Our first visitor, seminarian Steve. He'll have to come back and see the rest of the house, after the floors are done.

Joshua update.

Sorry for not posting much... things are crazy. We're in the new house now, but not in all of it, since we're getting the floors refinished. So we have all our stuff squashed into four rooms. I did want to put some new pictures of Joshua up and maybe if the kids cooperate, I'll get pictures of the new house up too. First, some of Joshua.

Three months old.

Hey, Mom! Watch this!

Grab lion, eat lion.

Hmm, what's this?

Oh, yeah! I've got this rolling thing down. Now how do I climb outta here?

Turning on the charm.

Four months old...

My sisters love me.

Love snuggles.

Gotta love those toes.

Stats: 15lbs, 12oz., 25 inches long; eyes, still blue - the doctor says they are usually set in their color by 6 months, so they may still change, but for now we're all enjoying Mr. Blue Eyes.

Some pictures of the girls.

Here are some pictures from our recent walk in the local nature area. There are apparently several trails and streams in this 89 acre nature area. The property that we're most interested in has 1.5 acres that adjoins this nature area, so if all goes well we'll be living within walking distance of this stream.





This is Maria and her rattlesnake. During a recent conversation about snakes, I mentioned that if you see a snake you should get away quickly, especially if it's a rattlesnake. Maria said, "Ya, but you can PLAY with MY rattlesnake."

Morning.

You know that the morning is going to be interesting when you go into you room to get dressed and return to find your nearly three year old lying in her bed cuddling a cheese stick. This would be her second one this morning... I'm thinking growth-spurt.

Joshua Tree

A link to a picture of a Joshua Tree. Just because it's sooo cool.

Two Months.

I'm trying to post here more often, really I am. But with the kiddos and all the cleaning and packing and trying to sell the house... this takes a backseat.

I did at least want to post some pictures of Joshua, now two months old. We have his check-up later tonight, so I'll edit this post later to add his weight and height.

For now some cute pictures:












Update: Joshua is now 12 lbs 14 oz, and 23 inches long.

The things kids say...

1. While in the van on the way to Joshua's checkup, Maria and Amelia were poking at and pushing each other. Jim told the to stop, and had Maria put down her armrest, which was the cause of the incidence.

Maria's response: "But Daaaadddyy! Without my arm rest, my arm will not rest!"

2. Amelia wanders into my room this morning, at about 10am. She had already eaten breakfast and just had a snack of a hard boiled egg.

"Mommy, I want a plum! Dere iz a plum in da fridge. I saw id. Pleeeesss, may I have da plum. I am sooooo hungry. If I do not eat my bones will break!"

Thank you, Sid the Science Kid. (warning the link has sound... if your kids are around don't go there, unless you want them crowding around the computer and asking to play Sid games...but maybe that's just what my kids do.)

7 Quick Takes Friday.

Ok, I've been too lazy to do this before, but since it seems that there may be a prize come Monday, then I'm in for today. If I can think of 7 random things, and if I actually have a chance to write them, with three little ones, and 80 different chores to do.

1. It's amazing what a little paint will do. We're trying to get our house ready to go on the market but then end of this month, so my brother-in-law has been coming over to help us paint. (I know, we've got great family.) Yesterday, he finished up the linen closet door and rehung it. It brightened up the hallway so much that I'm almost rethinking my decision to stain the new pine doors. If I didn't have two of them done already, I might just do it. As it is, I want to paint all the "core" doors on the closets, but Jim doesn't like it when I add to the list.

2. Trying to do anything substantial with a one month old is pretty much impossible. I'm still trying. Yesterday, my MIL had the girls, so Joshua and I went to the Lowes and Target. Since's he's nursing every 2-3 hours this makes for and interesting time. While waiting for the blinds to be cut, he got hungry. The binky sorta works to keep him calm... but only if I hold it in for him. This makes pushing the cart difficult. One thing that makes the trips easier is having the van, there's so much more room to relax and nurse. I'm thinking of getting a sign that says, "Don't look now! Breastfeeding in progress," just to post on the front and warn passerby who become overconcerned that the engine is running and decide to peer in to make sure someone's there.

3. I'm thinking about starting a lending library. I've already packed up about 7 boxes of books, and have probably about a dozen or so more to go, if I were packing them all now. Many of these I have not read... I pick up used books at yard sales, flea market and the library's sale, so that's where a lot of the unread ones came from. I also have a habit of buying books from conferences and retreats that I attend. Those are another chunk of unread ones. I'm thinking that if I take the time to catalog all my books, then when I want to read something, I'll be able to easily look it up. Also, my friends will be able to come over and browse the collection, then check one out... this way I'll know who took my book. Ideally, when we move, we'll have a room just for the books... I suspect this will only happen if we win the lottery before we buy the next house though.

4. Hmmmmmm, I wonder if my "quick takes" are too long. I have a habit of rambling when I tell stories. My mom used to say that I was "writing a book," everytime I wanted to explain something that had happened to me. I like to think of this as being detail oriented... something I can put on my resume should I ever need to return to work.

5. I've had my first failed attempt at leaving the house for today. I had the girls ready, Joshua "packed" in his car carrier and was almost out the door, before I remembered that my sister will be dropping of boxes today. I wouldn't have made it back in time to be here when she arrived, so now we're all having a snack and waiting. I'll make another attempt later... before lunch and naptime comes, if I can muster up that my energy again.

6. I want to know why it is that both girls must try to talk to me at the same time. There will be minutes of silence, then both of them talking at me at the same time. It makes my brain want to explode. Often Joshua will be crying at the same time, usually when both of the girls "urgently" need my attention. When I try to get them to talk one at a time, I just add to the noise, since the fact that I'm speaking doesn't prompt them to stop and listen. I'll take any advice on how to fix this.

7. This is what happens when "boy toys" are introduced into the home of girly girls.



The princesses pile-in for a joy ride.

It's been one month...

...and I'm still having trouble figuring out the camera. :) But I'll try to post more pics in the next few days.

welcome joshua robert!

born monday, june 22, 5:06 pm
9 lbs 12oz, 21 1/4 inches

(typing one handed is fun!)

Getting ready.

Yikes, those newborn diapers are small!

If I get motivated I'll take/load some pictures of our other preparations... the co-sleeper's set, and the van has been purchased. I've unpacked toys and tiny baby clothes, blankets and towels.

We also got a new camera, as our old one was dying and then was misplaced by one tired pregnant lady and a small unwary accomplice. (Amelia probably took it and played with it while I was catching an afternoon nap on the couch... I remember her bringing it to me... but I don't remember anything after that. I keep waiting for it to turn up in a toy bin somewhere.)

Now, I just have to make sure that Jim knows how to use the camera, so we'll have good shots of baby's 3 first moments out in the world. :)