So, we're here...

and so far, so good! Let's recap...

Thursday we watched the movers pull away in their huge semi, full of all of our household goods. They were heading to our new hometown. We, being in a now-empty, echoing home, took off for the hotel down the road. Felt a little like we were on vacation.

We are now a 2-hotel room family. Jamie and the boys get their own room, and the girls and I camp out together. We gals stayed up until 10PM watching The Walt*ns and Little House in the Pr*irie. Jenna loved watching the little girls in the dresses.

Friday morning we ate breakfast at the hotel, chatted with some gals about their weekend wedding plans and our move, and Jenna told them how much she would miss them when we moved. Yeah...'cause we knew them for a whole 5 minutes!

Back to our house to load my van with the remaining boxes, and check the house over for the one millionth time.

Jamie prayed for us before we left...a bit of an emotional moment as we said our last goodbye.

We couldn't believe the beautiful weather we had driving on Friday. It's January...we could have had a snow storm, ice storm, etc., but we drove all day in almost 60 degree sunshine. So thankful for that! The girls rode with me, and the boys with Jamie, and they all did well for a long day's journey.

We finally arrived in our new home town...greeted by a beautiful sunset, and bright city lights over the water. Dinner was next on the agenda, so Jamie took us to a local restaurant. A few items on the menu were deep fried hamburgers and corn fritters. Jamie thought we should try them. Look out cholesterol! The food was good, the service was very friendly, and we were full. Time to head to the apartment to unpack. We got almost all of our boxes and suitcases unpacked, then climbed into bed.

We slept great (even Laura with the help of some nighttime meds.) :)

Saturday morning was greeted with a bright sunrise, out to breakfast at Bob Ev*ns, and then a tour of our new house! Jamie picked it out, with my only seeing photos, and he did an awesome job. We love it and hope to be in by the end of January. We also toured the local library, grocery shopped, and then had our weekly family movie/pizza night. It was a big first day.

Sunday morning...another bright sunrise, Jamie's omelets for breakfast, and then off to church. It was a smaller church, but very, very friendly. People were coming up to us constantly shaking hands, introducing themselves. chatting with the kids. And the music? It was all choral and hymnal music with a southern gospel flair. It was like a movie of a down-south church, and I just loved it! After, the pastor and his family invited us out for a pizza lunch, along with a few of their friends. We spent the next couple of hours chatting and just getting to know one another. They all homeschool, and try eating healthy, so we had lots to share. We really enjoyed our time, and will be going to the pastor's house tomorrow night for dinner, and so the kids can play.

Tomorrow, Jamie heads back to work and I'm on my own with the kids in this new town. What to do? What to do?

Is it all rosy? No...not all of it. Right now, Jacob is homesick for our former church and a good buddy. The boys he met today know nothing of St*r W*rs or bionicles...his favorites. Char said he needs to call and see what Grandma is doing. Jenna is excited to get to our new hometown...ummm...do I tell her we're already here?

See what happens...

when Laura doesn't let Mommy sleep at night?

I didn't realize I did this until we were at breakfast at the hotel.

Boxes, boxes, everywhere!

Laura came home to this. She didn't know where to walk!

Boxes are everywhere I look...and they smell funny.

The kids' playroom...packed.

Storage room...packed.

We're running out of room to sit for quiet time!

Let The Packing Begin

The moving guys arrived at 8AM sharp, and we're ready...I think.

Kids thought they should mark themselves so they didn't get packed.

It is so cold and slippery, and they can't get their semi into our driveway.

At least we didn't get a snow storm on top of it all!

All By Myself

We have this routine. Each kiddo gets his or her own color drinking cup each day. They use it all day, and keep the cups lined up on the counter so they can reach them when they need a drink.

Laura has obviously been watching this for a while.

Yesterday, she kept knocking everything off the counter near the drink cups...including a coffee mug. Thankfully, it didn't break!

It finally dawned on Jamie and me that she was trying to get her own drink like the other kids.

So, we put her cup really close to the edge, and she's been walking to the kitchen counter all day to get her own drink! I never thought I'd be this excited to see one of my kids getting their own drink!

OK. Now what do I do with it? We have lots of puddles on the floor since she's not putting it back on the counter, but we don't mind! We love seeing each new little bit of progress...all at her own pace.

Christmas Memories 2011

Festivities started on Friday before Christmas.

Jamie was finally home...after being gone most of the past 3 months at his new job location.

We are all so happy that we don't have to say goodbye anymore as he heads hours away to his new job. The next time he leaves, we'll be heading out with him.

So, Friday night was pizza and movie night. We watched The Nativity, with Jamie's finger on the FF button for the "scary" parts.

This is where I found Laura that same day. I think she was trying to figure out a way to enter the "forbidden closet" until Christmas is done.

Christmas Eve bubble bath! Laura thought Jenna was so funny blowing bubbles!

We open our presents on Christmas Eve morning, and the kids stay in their jammies all day. They couldn't come downstairs, though, until we called them. Goodness knows, we need a cup of coffee before the chaos begins! So, this is what we found waiting at the top of the stairs! (FYI...the gate is so Laura doesn't fall down the stairs...not to put our children in jail...really).

Our annual Christmas morning, Santa hat picture.

So nice to have all of our children home this year.

Crazy fun, Daddy!

Jenna's first Christmas. She just soaked it all in, loving every minute!

Daddy helped Laura open her new, big girl booster seat. No more baby car seats for her!

The rest of the day was just for relaxing. Jenna read her babies a story while they slept in their new bunk beds.

Amarin played his new Madagascar DS game.

Charlie tried figuring out his St*r W*rs lego set.

And we all tried our oh-so-cool dancing skills on the Wii.

On to the morning of the 25th. Santa puts surprises in their stockings.

Hey! Santa ate our treats!

Char tried squeezing his head into a new hat from Grandma and Papa.

Hugs for another grandma.

Off came the Christmas dress, and on went the ballerina clothes.

Cousins and uncles...

and more peek-a-boo and tickles for baby cousins.

It was indeed a very, Merry Christmas!

Who Can Dance?

When I grow up...

I love asking the kids this question every once in a while.

I usually know their answers, but once in a while, they surprise me.

Jacob: Right now, he wants to be a foreign ambassador. Previously, he has shown an avid interest in air conditioners (at age 2 he would skip out on beach play and head for the hotel's ac units), vacuum cleaners (age 2+, he wanted to see everyone's vacuum when we visited homes), and the Titanic (age 3+, once told an artist that he had the wrong number of life boats on his model). He has wanted to be an archeologist, paleontologist, inventor, and forest ranger. He's currently reading a book on how to earn money with your own business. Hmmm...

Amarin: From the time we met him, he has been enthralled with airplanes. "Klungbin" was one of our first Thai words that he taught us! He wanted to fly airplanes, especially with the Blue Ang*ls. He has since decided that he still wants to fly a plane when he gets older, but his own little plane, just for fun. He really wants to be a "fixer" and builder of robots now.

Laura: Well, she has decided to keep on with her cuteness, and remain with mommy and daddy so we don't get lonely in our old age!

Charlie: Mr. Dynamo wants to fly passenger planes and take people on vacation. Yeah...that would literally be a "trip" with this kiddo! Please keep your seatbelts securely fastened throughout the entire flight!

Jenna: Well, we can always shoot for the stars...even the one on top of the Christmas tree. Yep, Miss Jenna wishes to be a Christmas tree when she grows up. We tried to ask her if maybe her dramatic self would like to be a singer or dancer. No way. She is going to be a Christmas tree.

Gettin' Ready for the Miracle

We're about done winding down the activities leading up to Christmas, and our move.

Such mixed emotions right now. Excited to be looking forward to an adventure, but realizing more and more what we're leaving behind.

Last Thursday night, Jacob had an Advent service band performance. He really does love playing the tuba...or in this case...the sousaphone.

The very next morning, bright and early, he had to be back to play another concert for the school kids.

Then came his piano solo...Battle of the Heroes, for you St*r W*rs fans. Boy, his little fingers were just a flyin'!

Big breath...

Then on Sunday evening, after four months of Saturday practices (which the boys LOVE), the kids put on a musical called Gettin' Ready for the Miracle. They all did an amazing job and it was so much fun to watch.

Amarin played the little son of a shepherd. He gave baby Jesus his favorite possession...his blanket.

Jacob played a "wise guy," and also sang his first solo. Since he refused to ever sing for any of us...EVER...it was a special treat to hear him.

Charlie was able to perform, too, with the younger kids' choir. The favorite? Go Tell It On the Mountain, of course! No one can listen to that song without moving just a little!

After the performances, everyone went to the fellowship hall for treats.

And this is Pastor Joel, the Associate Pastor and music director. We found out that he used to work in a church where we grew up and knew some of our friends, too. He and his wife do an amazing job with the kids, and all the music ministries at the church. We will definitely miss this!

Happenings Here

Where does the time go? We're already 1/2 way through December, which means Christmas, 2012, and our move is upon us. But we're still trying to keep a sense of normalcy...whatever that looks like. So, I'm posting this to remind myself of what we've been doing in the midst of paperwork, house hunting, list making, Christmas prepping, purging, reorganizing...yeah. I think the Carribean Islands are calling my name. Cayman Islands, anyone?

Homeschool. We're plugging away just fine, though this year is probably the most unorganized I've ever felt. I wonder why? But as you can see, Charlie is doing well in accounting, so I guess I can't complain.

Amarin's Thai lessons are finished as we wind down on our committments. His teacher was so sweet. And, no, she doesn't always dress like this. It's part of her job. Isn't it beautiful?
Theater...yours truly.

And we're learning fashion. Girls are so much fun to dress!

Char was sooo excited yesterday to get his new math books in the mail which now include tests! He finished kindergarten math in 1/2 year, and is on to grade one. He asked last night to take his first test. Oh, if only that enthusiasm would not wane.

Laura's Field Trip

Laura literally woke up giggling and clapping this morning. I think she may have realized that today was her school field trip to the largest Christmas store in the world!

Jacob, Amarin, and I were waiting at the store when she arrived with her friends and teachers. Her teachers said that she was jumping up and down on the bus, and smiling.

The girl knows a fun shopping excursion when she sees one!

First stop...a visit with Santa.

Here she is with one of her best friends. They were waiting in line to see Santa.

Sorry about the blur...kids just don't stand still!

Laura didn't seem to want to get too close to Santa today.

But she was happy with the ornament he gave her.

Mr. "In the Know" was a good sport and saw Santa, too.

Amarin was quick to tell Santa how much he wanted another Star Wars guy.

What brought Laura so much joy? Lunch!

We had a lot of fun, especially knowing that this is probably our last trip to this amazing place for a while. Move date: 3.5 weeks and counting.

Zambia & India

Remember these packages? They were Christmas boxes for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse.

We just received an email sharing that our boxes are headed to Zambia and India!

How fun to be sharing Christmas with kids in Africa and Asia!