I'm BACK!!

So- has it really only been 10 days since we left? Everything went great getting moved. Having my parents to help was PRICELESS. I cringe when I think about what it would have been like without them here. My dad is a great packer, he can fit alot of stuff into a horse trailer! We arrived on the 1st with half of our stuff. My parents stayed through the weekend, so I was able to get a lot unpacked while they were here. On the following Tuesday, some friends, Blake and Travis, brought the rest of our things up. I had the house unpacked and set up by Friday. The garage can even hold both vehicles. I cannot live in chaos. It makes me crazy. On Thursday we got cable hooked up and Friday internet. This week, the kids and I have visited a kids clothing exchange store and went to story hour at the library today.

Picture this. My sweet little INTENSE INDEPENDENT daughter had to go the bathroom when we got the the library. I told her that I was staying in the bathroom, but that she could go in the stall alone. It was going great until, she tried to climb on the toilet still wearing her tights and skirt around her ankles. Ella does not back up to the toilet and hop on. She crawls up facing the toilet, then shimmies her way around, on her hands and feet, until she is able to sit, legs totally stretched out on the toilet seat. This tasks is not possible with ones tights and skirt around the ankles. She did not realize this until mid shimmy at which point she began to scream. On yeah, did I mentioned she had locked the stall door. I calmly spoke to her through the crack encouraging her to get down, and unlock the door so I could help her. She cried and yelled and screamed and stayed on the toilet in a very awkward position. A lady opened the door and looked in with concern. I smiled as a hot sweat crept over my body, " She's mine. She's fine." After a few more failed attempt at giving Ella directions through the crack in the stall- I set Thomas down, and army crawled my way to her rescue. The moment I picked her up and her feet hit the ground, she asserted, " I do it BY.MY.SELF!!" So she did. We washed up- what we could in the sink and joined the other kids who were, by this time, sitting quietly in a half circle learning about Elk antlers. I am so glad we were in the Library bathroom and not a rest stop bathroom!

So- I promised pictures. I would like to get more of the scenery outside, but the camera's battery that I have to use will not hold a charge. First, my Ella. She is really into funny faces right now. Yes- that IS a funny face- The cats have become house cats. We have offered to let then out. They stay out for a few minutes then want back in. Ella has been bonding with them. It makes me glad we brought them. Next, the house. The house is great. I really like it. It is bigger than I had remembered from the one time I had seen it before. We fit nicely into it- and it is cozy and comfortable. God is so good. This is the view from the sliding glass door window. We have a great deck. Chad shoveled the deck last night. I am not sure sure if there is grass under all that snow or what! It will be interesting to see as the huge piles of snow melt! It doesn't look like it from the picture- but this IS a raised deck! This picture is for my Mom. This is a window at the front of the house, next to the front door. This little table fits perfectly on the space! This is where we live! The flowers on the table are from my parents and sister, Shannon! Thanks- they are lovely!! This is our office/master bedroom. It actually all fits in just fine. I was worried about where we would put the computers and office stuff. The kids closets have a lot of space too, they are packed with storable stuff. I couldn't get good pictures of their rooms. Just not enough space! They are not too small. Just a nice size. This is what I see, while sitting at my computer, when I look up and out the window. It is beautiful here! I will end for now. My children are waking up. Ella wants to go on a walk. I made cookies for the neighbors- so we will walk and deliver those. Thanks for checking back! More to come . . .