It's like we just saw you!

Oh yeah, we did. Josh and Teri and of course baby Joey came to see us off on Friday afternoon. Then they missed us so much they came to Cypress to see us this week!

Well actually, her sister lives here so it was just an added bonus that we get to see them a few times a year when she visits.
Today they came over so we could exchange Christmas presents.

New legos for Batman. It was a monster truck that after he put it together, he ramped it most of the day.
We enjoyed visiting with friends in our new home and riding bikes and playing outside (since it was in the 70's today).

First things first and movers..

Well first things first, right. The kids had to try out the swimming pool size bathtub and the water jets. I think they have willingly taken a bath everyday now! lol.

On Sunday morning the movers got there at 9am. We were ready to go. It took them all day to unload the truck. They got everything off and and in the correct rooms for us by about 5pm. We unpacked as they unloaded but there was no way to keep up!

Then on Monday morning they came back and unpacked all the boxes. When they unpack, they just take it out of the box and set it in piles around the appropriate room. It was very helpful in the fact that I have no boxes and paper sitting in the house (there was tons and tons of wrapping paper) but now I have piles of stuff everywhere! It is easier to find something because at least it is not in a box where I can't find it but now I just have to work through every room and organize. It is going to take awhile!
And here are our movers. Mark senior is the man in charge. The guys convinced the kids that his name was Jo Jo so we all called him Jo Jo the rest of the time. His son, Mark Jr., well we called called him Bubba. It was so funny to hear Batman walking around the house hollering for Bubba. And Jay, aka, Jaybird.

These guys were great. They were super good at their jobs. They were extremely patient with the kids, the kid loved them and we had a good time with them around. We ended up either picking up lunch to bring home or going out to eat with them everyday. We treated them most days but one day they even took us out to eat.

Overall it was a great experience with the movers and one that make the whole experience much much easier.

Windham family

We made it to Birmingham that first night and got up on Saturday morning and finished our drive to Hattiesburg to meet Chris's family for lunch.
We started with a few..
Ended with a lot.
And Ladybug found a new friend.
Then the kids opened Christmas from Mamaw and Papaw Windham.
The both got a new alarm clock for their room!

And a zuzu pet.
And lots of movies. All the toy stories, two scooby doo's, spirit and tinkerbell!

Too short, but we had a very nice visit with family.

Then we hit the road for Cypress. We got in about 10pm that evening and we all crashed!

All done

The kids awoke to find Jimmy Bruce in the car this morning in the cup holder. I told him we were leaving on Friday and he made sure that he didn't get left behind.

The movers came in on Friday morning and started loading everything up. 620 boxes/items later they were done and heading out by 5pm.

It was a little later than anticipated but we all (movers and family) enjoyed going out to lunch together at Amy's Cafe down the hill. It was catfish Friday and we thoroughly enjoyed lunch.
But now it is empty. Everything was out of the house. Checked and double checked. Floors cleaned and everything wiped down, we were ready to head out too.

As Chris said, it has been a good house....

One more Goodbye

We fit in one more goodbye before they packed the house. I started picking Brandon up after school this fall and he would come over to the house. The kids absolutely love him and Brandon was so good with them. They would play basketball and soccer and sometimes the Wii.
We had a little something for him and he brought the kids some sweet gifts for the road.
We will miss our afternoons with him.

Goodbyes and Packing

Yesterday I was able to go into Ladybugs class and bring a treat for the kids and get a group picture.
I made my traditional cookie cake. Wasn't sure it was going to happen but the movers were late and I was able to bake the cake before they got here and headed straight to the kitchen to pack.
And a group picture. I took a 12X12 green scrapbook paper with me and all the kids signed it. I am going to edit it in photoshop and add the group picture in the middle of the signatures and add frogs to the picture because that is their class theme and then frame it for Ladybug.
And of course a goofy picture.
There was a little chaos at school when I arrived. They decided to let school out one hour early. In fact I was supposed to go in at 1pm and Ladybug called me on the phone at 12pm and said "mama, can you come now!" So when I got there all the phones were ringing and parents were coming in to get their kids early. But we had a chance to snap a picture of Ladybug with the principle. She loves Mrs. Brown.
And with the Vice Principle. Ladybug loves her too. Whenever I volunteer she always makes her rounds to the front offices to say hi to everyone.
And the packing begins! Batman who won't smile for picture, jumped up on all the boxes and said take my picture.
Then he starts posing and changing positions and wanting us to keep taking pictures. He is paying attention at photo shoots!
And the mats that are laid all over the house so the movers can get everything in and out.

So far, the move is going well. On day one they packed Ladybug and Batman's room, the kitchen, the apartment and much of the garage. Three guys are doing the packing and they do move fast.

Today, they brought another lady with them to help pack and they started at 8am with the master, garage, closet and first bathroom.

At 3pm today a professional company comes to begin building crates for our flat screen tv.s glass table tops and to disconnect the ice makers and front load washer and dryer to be shipped.

Batman and Ladybug have had a great time with the movers. One of the guys is called Bubba and Batman loves walking around calling him Bubba and they have become fast friends. They have begun calling Bubba's dad JoJo because they convinced the kids that is his name. It is really Mark and Mark laughs everytime they call him JoJo.

Now for the sad part. Maybe for you and a lot for me. Mark walked in this morning and said "when can I pack the computer?" So this may be my last post for awhile. I won't have easy access to a computer with internet for probably a week or two. I will try to update as soon as I can and post pictures of our move down south.

Snow day #2

Well for planning on the movers to be here bright and early today, and for them getting stuck in bad weather and not coming, I managed to completely fill my day. Most of it good with a little bad.

The good! We made it to Batman's last swimming lesson.
We met some friends for lunch and played for two hours until they wore themselves out!

We ran several errands that I really wanted to get done.
And we got to go to our last piano lesson with Ms. Becca!

The bad:
I so got stuck on the ice coming home from piano tonight. There is a really big hill that is hidden from the sunshine. On the way there I slid just a little but there were clear patches so I didn't have a problem holding traction.

On the way home, I was not so lucky. I took it slow and made it down the hill and about 3/4 the way up the hill and began fish tailing and couldn't get enough momentum to make it up. I hit the brakes till I stopped moving and frantically called my husband.

I couldn't go back down backwards because there was at least a 20 foot dropoff on both sides into the creek below and I couldn't get the car up the hill.

He didn't answer. I knew that he was on a conference call. But our rule is if you call right back, it is an emergency, he answered the first ring the second time.

I need help!

He loaded Batman up and got there as fast as he could. A guy and his wife stopped to help as well. He had four wheel drive but no tow cables. Chris didn't have four wheel drive but he did have tow cables.

I sat in the van with both feet on the brake because I was scared to death to put it in to park and start sliding backwards. All in all from the time I got stuck till we got the van up the hill was an hour. My legs were shaking from holding the pressure on the break and they still are tonight. I will be sore in the morning.

I sat there watching it get darker and darker and watch the icy spots refreezing and becoming shiny and icier.

Chris got there and we got Ladybug out of the car and up to the top of the hill and then he got my car tied up to the guy with four wheel drive. After a few minutes Chris finally got it up to the top of the hill.

I don't want to say I have never been so scared in my life but it was pretty close. Scared me to death. I am still cringing when I think about it and think about any other cars that might have the same problems tonight and tomorrow.

But we are all home safely now. I have never been happier about moving to a warmer climate and I have a new respect for icy roads and four wheel drive.

3rd Annual First Snow Day Playdate

Ok, we pulled it off the week of moving!

Our first snow day of the year came much earlier than usual and we had a chance to have our 3rd annual first snow day of the year get together.
Let's see, 18 kids in all and 7 mom's. One destroyed house.
And face painting! It is was my first attempt at face painting. Not exactly professional but I see a lot of possibilities with a little practice and training.


And this sweet little girl joined us!
My Ladybug wanted to be a snow princess.
Spaghetti time. Found out that using the largest pot I have was not quite big enough to make enough spaghetti.
Here are our boys. Gotta love them.
And our sweet girls.
The whole gang, minus the two that were a little pictures shy at that exact moment.
Time for outside play time. This did not last long seeing as the temps were in the teens. But daddy braved it with them. I was content to take a couple pictures and head back inside.

Its A Snow Day!

I said a little prayer. Maybe a week or two ago. It was just a little one. I asked for one more snow day from school before we left. Ya know, just one more day to get everyone together for that first snow day of the year. A day to play inside. A day to make a big pot of spaghetti. A day for the kids to destroy the house one more time.

It doesn't usually snow in December. Not enough to close schools. So yes, it was a long shot.

But He was listening.

I heard the news on Thursday it might happen.

I went ahead and bought the food on Saturday before the Spaghetti Sauce went off sale (10 for $10 for ragu!)

The forecast was one inch of snow while we were sleeping on Saturday.

I awoke at 8am to.........



NOTHING!

Bummer. Did it miss us?

Nope. Just took a little longer than expected.

Mrs. A was doing the snow dance so I was sure that it was going to happen!

It started slow and I thought it would never cover the ground.

But after about 9am on Sunday it snow lightly alllll day. It finally covered the ground.

At 4pm the roads were getting white and icy.

The call came after that. No school on Monday. Tuesday is yet to be determined.

So one more snow day it is. Friends, playtime, visiting and spaghetti.

Can't wait.

I completely trust your judgment.....

And I do. I told Chris that about buying a house. And honestly, he is much more opinionated about housing than me. I felt, and still do, completely confident about the house........

even though I have not seen it.

Yep, I said it. I have not seen it and honestly I didn't think much about it. Till the title company called me on the phone during closing and said "you really haven't seen the house."

Chris took possession on Wednesday and was there that night to begin getting the house ready. The neighbors on either side came by and said, "So your wife hasn't seen the house yet?"

Then two night later, he said a lady from another street came over to introduce herself and she heard that I have not seen it yet!

Chris called me tonight and made sure that I knew, if I said something around there to anyone it was like broadcasting it on e-mail and forwarding it to everyone. lol.

Apparently when he met the previous owners they got their facts mixed up. The next door neighbor has a four year old boy and was so disappointed to find that our four year old was a girl. They were extremely happy that it turned out he was actually a boy. Because apparently many of the kids on the street are girls.

The other neighbor thought that we had two boys and another thought that our boy was older than our girl. I think he has set the record straight and all genders are now being circulated through the grapevine.

We have lived here for six years and maybe talk to our neighbors once or twice a month. I just met the people two houses down a couple months ago and they actually have kids my kids age, I just never see them outside playing.

Chris says that Friday night there were at least 15 kids outside playing. Everyone's houses are decorated up with lights. Neighbors are coming over from everywhere to introduce themselves, kids are out playing soccer and waiting on the bus in the mornings with parents out talking. It sounds like we have chosen a great place to live.

But back to the house.

My MOPS table bought me a present last week. It was two plaques that really said it all.
She said that she knew that we had been apart so long and that once we were back together it would be happily ever after. I loved it! It will go up in our house.
And this was perfect. Being apart for six months has readjusted our thinking a lot and it will truly be a blessing when we are back together again for good. It doesn't matter where the house is or if I have seen it or not.

The girls get together.

Ladybug met two girl friends last year in Ms. Kannon's class and these three girls have remained great friends. One is in her class again this year and I hear about these girls everyday after school.

At a birthday party last month we decided we needed to get them together before heading to Texas. So we had a dinner party. Chicken alfredo was on the menu, one mom brought bread and another brought delicious cupcakes from a bakery here in White House.

They brought their brothers and sisters all had a great time playing together.
Dinner time.
The three girls.
The little sister.... They met at the birthday party and took an instant liking to each other. She ran in the house tonight and the two of them disappeared into his room. Too funny. Ladybug came home and said the girls were all saying he had a crush on her.
The cupcakes! These were realllllly good.
They found the dress up clothes. Anyone that comes over always does! And of course they loved them.
And Batman and his little girlfriend. Two cutie pies.

So glad these ladies came over tonight. We all fed the kids and then they were off to play again and we had a nice time sitting and chatting over dinner. And the kids all had a great time.