It's a Wrap

It's been a really nice week.  Last week Grace and I were trying to kick a cold, so it is wonderful to be well again.

Some of the highlights of this week include:

• Surviving the 27 tornadoes that swept through Sunday afternoon.  Thankfully, they were only destructive to property and no lives were lost here, but we weep with those in IL and MI who were not as fortunate.  
• We had two quiet days at home, Monday and Tuesday.  I love quiet days!  We got the laundry caught up.  We worked hard on our lessons.  We hung pictures on the walls.  I started working on a pile of stuff in our room that doesn't seem to have a place yet.  If only it would just disappear! 
• Wednesday, the kids and I went to AWANA.  The older two and I went with the teen group to a nursing home near our church.  We sang hymns, gave the Gospel message, and mingled.  I was very proud of the teens.  They interacted with the residents for half an hour.  We have some good kids there.  I enjoyed talking to the residents, too.  Made me miss Grandpa talking to other WWII vets.  
• Thursday was a normal school day with a trip to church in the evening for karate.  Karate starts later, so the kids and I are joined by Dad.  He and I have a little time to chat over an iced tea while the kids do their thing.  It's nice.  
• Friday, that's today, I will drive Trevor an hour each way to a friend's house for a birthday sleepover, then the rest of us will enjoy a quiet evening.  

All in all, I am enjoying our new routine.  I am not one who likes to drive, so I am having to overcome that one minor issue.  I thank the Lord we have a good van, enough money for gas, good roads, and a wonderful church/friends to go to.  

This weekend we hope to get the pop-up to its new home.  We found an affordable RV parking lot near here.  That is the final piece of this moving puzzle.  Getting it to its spot might be a challenge with the weather, so it might be another week.  Thankfully, it is in a friend's driveway at the moment and they are not in a hurry for us to get it moved.  

Here are some pictures I took this week:  

I think the office is finished.

Pictures hung, new coffee table. 

Grace's artwork in the kitchen. 

Powder Room collage. 

Picture hung in the Sitting Room with "new" ottoman. 

Have an excellent week!

~Jenn 

Settling In

In the last few weeks, we have been working hard to make our new home, home.  We have yet to hang things on the walls.  That always takes time.  I need to make sure furniture is not going to get moved and I need to see where to put old favorites.  However, boxes are empty and we are able to park one vehicle in the garage, a sign that we are almost there.

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks.  Besides working on the house, we hosted a family birthday party for Trevor's 12th birthday and visited a favorite state park, which is now less than an hour away.

Coming Up For Air, Briefly

The past month has been quite eventful.  We love our new home and location.  Jeff continues to enjoy his new position as well, making it all worth the effort.  Some of the highlights of this month:

• Jeff and I celebrated 19 years of marriage.
• We closed on our house almost 2 weeks earlier than planned, making our packing a bit challenging.  
• We moved two days before my birthday. 
• I turned 46 (!) spending the day cleaning up the rental house. 
• We got back to our lessons while unpacking.
• We started looking for a newer van. 
• My baby turned 12!  

Here are a few random pictures I took this last month.  

A Week in Pictures 9/22-9/29

I am making an another attempt to keep thing going over here.  The biggest reason it is an effort is because my brain is busy, not really a time issue.  My brain has one track right now, which doesn't seem to include blogging.  So, I thought I would just post pictures from our previous week, until we move.  After all, I am able to take cell phone pictures.

From Sunday to Sunday last week we kept busy with family!  

Family reunion 

Caught my avid reader in action. 

Birthday brunch with Grandpa here at home. 

Birthday with Grandma at the Lake. 

Spent a little time here. 

Gave a birthday concert.  

I also managed to keep the house going, pack 11 boxes, make 2 trips to Good Will, and kept the kids busy with their weekly activities and lessons.

We hope to get a firm closing date on the house this week.  Right now it is set for the 21st of October with movers coming on the 25th.

Have a great week!
~Jenn

Under Contract

We have a house under contract.  We will be moving in October.  I am trying to maintain our lessons and pack, so much to do!  More later...  :)

This Week At Home, 2013, No. 34

Note, I wrote this earlier and did not get it published in order.  Sorry!

Just going to bullet point this one!

Ryan, teaching himself piano. 

• On Monday, Jeff and I looked at 13 homes, eliminated 9.  
• I am thankful for our realtor. You must need to be very patient to be one.  
• Our house was shown 4 times this week. I freaked out the first few times trying to keep things show ready. 
• We learn that an applicant wants this home in early September.  
• We panic.
• We look at more homes.  

This Week At Home, 2013, No. 35

I know I am off track on my numbering and posting, but I figured I'd better just jump in when I get a moment and today was that day!

Summer is trying its best to make its mark.  Lately, we have had record heat in the upper 90's!  That is just too hot for September.  This too shall pass.  I want to go to apple orchards, play disc golf, and once again ride in my un-airconditioned van without passing out!

We continue to wait on the home buying.  We do have reassurance that the people who want this house still want this house and are just waiting like us to get released from their current home.  It is a great opportunity to build up my patience muscles.  We continue to show the house, just in case, so keeping the house tidy is top priority.

Lessons are going well.  We have managed to do work each day.  We are even excelling, I would say.  I was proud of the youngest two, who have been doing a good job with their individual studies.  I am working on training them to be more independent, like their big brother.

The cats have been working on a peace treaty.  Dorothy has not granted Giles a full pardon for invading her space, but he can at least be in her presence for short periods of time if supervised.  She forgets her manners unless reminded.  I am very happy to have reached this stage.  I see progress!

Jeff loves his new job.  The hour and twenty minute commute in the hot van is worth it, says he.   I am very thankful for this, as I personally would have a problem with such a commute!

That about wraps up the status of my life, lessons, cleaning, keeping cool, and waiting.

Here are some pictures I took on my phone this week:

My big baby loves his momma time!  

Happy birthday, Mom!