Some Days Are Not That Awesome

This morning I decided we'd better do our Target run first thing while everyone was "fresh and happy." We tried to do our back to school shopping, but we didn't get through 1/3 of the list before one needed to go to the bathroom, one wanted to "go home and rest" and the other refused to stay in the cart without screaming. We left. I'll find a way to finish by myself.

We spent the day investigating child care. It was fine I guess. I've never really done that before and it is a heart-wrenching responsibility. I am trying to be prayerful and considerate and I want to make all of the right choices. We visited three places today and found some good choices.

After the third visit I was backing out of the driveway and hit a parked car that was right behind the driveway on a very narrow street. It was just two small scratches of paint that left my bumper and landed on his, so not that big of a deal, but not fun either. Jackson fell asleep during the ordeal of insurance exchanges, etc. Harrison fell asleep on the way home.

I carried both boys up and tried to spend some quality time with Lincoln, trying very hard to ignore the million things there are to do (like all of the dishes by hand because the dishwasher isn't working or unclog the laundry chute or fold all of the clothes or unpack boxes or, or, or...

My spirits have been high through all of this, but then this evening I found that I still have the lice and it puts me over the edge. I've spent the last 2 1/2 hours combing my own hair, knowing that the box says that it is impossible to self treat. Jackson woke up from his three hour nap so he is refusing to go to bed. I was really hoping he would just sleep through the night.

Now I should go to bed or go and revisit the list of things to do, but I needed to vent. Venting complete. Going to bed now - after I change the sheets. Again.

Lincoln Quotes

Lincoln saw a Chinese restaurant and said, "that place looks like China destroyed it." I think he's heard us talk about the Asian "district."

Ivy was trying to take a picture as we were driving and the trees were blocking her view. She said, "stupid trees," and Lincoln immediately piped up with, "trees are not stupid!!! They help you breathe."

Getting Settled

Thursday and Friday were pure business as movers arrived and we began to get everything in place and unpacked. We had the cable guy and the pest control guy and even a professional organizer here to help us. (He said he's been on Hoarders a few times!) We have been swimming in cardboard and paper, but things are really starting to come together. I'm down to three boxes in the kitchen and the piles in each room dwindle down a little each day.

On Saturday we were expecting to pick up Jeff from the airport at 4:30. Boy was I surprised when he walked in the door at 7am! He was so anxious to get home that he found a late night flight from Seattle that got him in at 4:40 am instead. He was exhausted, but so ready to be back home and we were thrilled to have him.

Today we went to our ward for the first time and I felt very much at home. The building is the same design as our stake center in OKC, so it was easy to find our way around. The people were very kind and friendly and testimony meeting was very Spirit filled. I was especially touched when the chorister was overcome with emotion during the closing song. I noticed it, but didn't think too much of it until a young man saw it as well and walked forward to take her place. It was very tender and kind.

I'm grateful to have met a few people and to have some phone numbers to call if I need anything. I have only had one moment when I was overcome because of not knowing anyone (wishing someone would cut all of our hair short because I'm paranoid about the lice now!). Ivy has been a huge help to me and I'm so grateful that she was willing to come along. The young women were so excited to see that there was a new girl and equally disappointed when they realized she wouldn't be staying. I'd keep her if her mom would let me!

Camping Out in the House

There were plenty of things to keep us busy in our empty house (namely three children!). I came prepared with sleeping bags and an air mattress, etc. We stocked the fridge with things we could cook in the microwave and waited patiently for dishes, pots and pans. We cleaned and put away the things that we had brought with us and we continued to play. Everyone's favorite afternoon was spent at the beach on Lake Michigan downtown. It was a little chilly, but definitely worth the chill for the fun of the waves and sand. It was unique to have the feel of the ocean, but without the salt water. I loved that!

We are on well water and it is NASTY. It smells like sulphur. I've heard that it isn't harmful, but we've just been drinking bottled water exclusively. Jeff is working to get it filtered properly.I took the kids to see the Smurfs movie (they've been waiting and waiting for it to come out). Afterward Jackson said that he felt bad for going without dad and wants to go and see it again with him.

We met quite a few neighbors and have found the area to be extremely friendly. I think I might already know more neighbors here that I knew in my old neighborhood! Everyone is out walking and playing and they all know one another. There are no fences. It feels very safe, quiet and well, friendly.

The boys have found some friends two houses down that have 5 girls (the mom's name is Christine - goes by Chrissy!). We met the family two houses down the other direction who have a boy 9 and a girl 7, so I'm sure we'll have a chance to play with them as well.

The Road to Milwaukee

Jeff had to be in Seattle during the drive to Milwaukee so I decided to make a fun road trip of it and stop along the way at fun places, taking short drives instead of doing the whole thing in one long haul with three children. Sweet Ivy agreed to tag along with me and help with the kids so that I wouldn't have to do it all on my own. She has been a lifesaver!

The first night started off with a quick two hour drive to Tulsa and stayed with Spencer and Aimee. We had a nice little visit and got to see how big Hunter is growing. Spencer took Jackson, Harrison and I on a little adventure in their neighborhood to an interesting open area for a little hike. When we woke up the next morning Jackson told me that he had an itchy head. We knew that we had been around some lice, so I checked and sure enough he had them too. I ran out to get the treatment and we spent the morning taking care of that. Ivy has been such a trooper having to deal with that - she certainly didn't expect lice removal to be one of her duties on this adventure!

We got off about two hours later than planned, but it was just fine. We cancelled our visit with my friend Dayna's parents so that we wouldn't share our little bug friends and checked in at a hotel instead in the St. Louis area after our longest drive day (about 7 hours). I was sad to miss out on our visit with them, but the kids enjoyed the hotel and we knew they would be washing everything we touched anyway!

The next morning we enjoyed a fancy breakfast buffet as part of our reservation (Jeff is good at finding the deals!) and headed out to the Grizzly Grand Lodge in Utica, Illinois. It is similar to the Great Wolf and has an indoor waterpark as well as an indoor amusement park, a large area of inflatables and mini golf, etc. We were able to check in early and spent the afternoon playing in the water. The very first thing I did was take Harrison down a kiddie slid. I tried to stop by standing up, but the water pushed me forward. I wanted to keep Harrison above water so I had to catch myself with just my knees. The ground was rough and I scraped up my knee pretty bad. It has been over a week and it is still tender. It was embarrassing, so I tried to stand up and act like nothing happened, but it was painful! The kids had a great time there though and it was a good place for us.

We stayed and played for another night as well, though everyone had pretty much had their fill by the end of the day. We could have stayed and played in the morning, but we opted to just get on the road and get to the new house. Our last leg of the journey was just three hours. It was pretty much just fields of corn and soy the entire way. The barns and homes were so picturesque. I enjoyed it thoroughly. We were able to get right into the house and the kids spent a good hour exploring every detail. They were full of excitement and I wish Jeff could have been here to see it all.

In the evening I was surprised by a ring at the door bell. Jeff had sent me some flowers in hanging baskets for our front porch (so sweet - points for him!). They were amazingly huge and I loved them, but they didn't fit into the holders, so I took them and exchanged them for something a little bit smaller, but still gorgeous (before and after pics at the top). It was the perfect touch to make it feel like home.