Overwhelmed

The last 3 weeks have been overwhelming.
Packing, loading, decluttering, moving.
Then came the unpacking, unloading, organizing, (and reorganizing because I didn't like the way I had it the first time), adjusting, routinizing (is that a word), and schooling (yes, home schooling. Never thought I would really home school. Just thought it sounded good in theory).
But truthfully, all of that has been on the smaller scale of my being "overwhelmed".
The last 3 weeks have been so utterly and completely full of
playing as much and as hard as we could with good friends before we left Oregon, and now with all of the family we have here in California,
gifts that ranged from literal packages wrapped for members of our family to a refrigerator, lawn mower, edger, tanks of gas to help with Brandon's commute, and gift cards,
service from others toward our family...sadly not a whole lot of service going out...gotta get on that, but yes, lots and lots of service (ie. babysitting, meals, loading and unloading our moving van, driving our moving van for us; thanks again Mike!, putting beds together, unpacking what felt like endless boxes, fixing our broken kitchen table; thanks Reed! and so So SO much more.)
So, ya, I've been overwhelmed...but mostly just with the outpouring of love and kindness from SO MANY of YOU! Our family thanks you.

p.s. I forgot to mention that I am also overwhelmed by all the blogging I need to catch up on! I'll get on that. After I nail down tomorrow's lesson plans, figure out what we're eating for dinner and change a poopy diaper.

Projects and Packing...

This is my bedroom right now...less than a week to go, so every room in the house has at least one box in a corner. Things are starting to look empty...and a little depressing. I'm saving taking the downstairs decor off the walls for Saturday. I don't think I can handle more than 3 days in an apartment with completely naked walls. Anyway...

I also have to keep doin' projects cuz they just make me so darn HAPPY!

I found this coat tree at a local thrift store about a week or so ago and fell in love with it instantly. It cost me $5. Nice. I've been looking for one of these for a couple YEARS now and never found one priced below $40 until now.
So, I stuffed it in my minivan, primed and painted it the same day, glazed it with a dark brown the next to give it an antiquey (I think I made that word up) look and via la!

I already had the prime, spray paint and glaze on hand, so this was a serious steal! Love that. Now, back to packing...

Day at the Beach

We spent last Saturday at Oswald with a big group of friends and Brandon's grandparents.

Oh, how I love that beach! It is seriously THE best spot on the Oregon Coast...at least of which I am aware. It is a 1/4 mile walk down through some of the most BEAUTIFUL terrain. The walk goes right next to a river...and ya, that river runs right through the sand and into the ocean. So, if you have little ones that want to play in the water, but are too timid or little to take on the waves, they can splash around in the shallow streams and play with the rocks in the river bed.
We had perfect conditions that day; sunshine and very little wind. (Wish it had been that way a few weeks ago when I took my parents and brothers out there...sorry guys!)
Carter, showin' off his cookies. When we trek out to the beach, it's seriously a day of fruit and JUNK FOOD...any excuse for chips ahoy cookies and ruffles potato chips. :)

Jemma and Carter playin' with the Skinner kids. They were gone most of the summer on rotations and we are SOOOO glad they're back so we can PLAY! Left to right: Jefferson, Jemma, Grant, Reagan, and Carter.

Gavin: still loves the beach. And, still loves to eat sand.

Kristina (mom of the Skinner clan, and the best next door neighbor a girl could ask for) playing with Gavin.

These two were laying on the sand like this talking to each other, so I had to snap a shot...

...and then snag Gavin who was eating sand somewhere else, so I'd have ALL THREE in the photo.

We spent 5 or 6 hours out there watching the kids play in the Cole's wagon,

flying the Cole's kite,

taking walks along the coast line (Pop & Gram came to town for the weekend and were good sports about joining us and our friends out at the beach),

and collecting treasures. (That's a crab pincher Carter found with Pop & Gram...he was devastated when we were driving home and he realized he'd left it on the beach.)

And here's a shot of our family inside one of the trees found on the walk to and from the beach...I look NASTY and should have put my sweater back on to cover my WHITE shoulders. (I was trying to get rid of my farmers tan...) Anyway, it was so nice just to relax on the beach for the day...I am definitely going to miss being an hour from this green, gorgeous coast.

July Quotes

I had a blue and brown watch band on and Carter said this: "You're wearing a boy watch. It's mine...but you can borrow it".

We had french bread one night with our dinner and when Carter wanted another piece of bread, there was just the heal left...we generally save the heals and take them to feed some ducks nearby...so when I put it in front of him, he said"Hey! This piece is for the birds!"

A recent prayer Jemma said before bed... "Dear Heavenly Father. I am thankful that I did have a great day...And that the garabage man did tell us 'Can you please get out of the road' and Mommy did say 'I told you to stay our of the road. I am so upset with you.' And I did cry...in my mind. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Carter: Hey Mom, pigs come from ham, and cows come from milk.

I took Carter and Jemma to watch fireworks on the 4th of July while Brandon and Gavin stayed home...and went to bed...(Brandon had to be up and off to work at 6:30...) Jemma and Carter both LOVED them...Carter was sitting on my lap during the show and we had a little conversation that went like this:
Carter: Can I touch the fireworks?
Me: No. They're too high and too hot.
Carter: No, no! I will blow on them.

...we were out LATE that night. So, on the way home, when we were stuck in a huge line of cars, Carter said, "Now we'll never get to go home!...and have breakfast."

We were listening to the radio in the car one afternoon and a Lady Gaga song came on the radio. I promptly turned it off...(I admit, her music is catchy and she's got talent, but I just can't support listening to someone who thrives on attention that comes from inappropriate behavior)...ANYWAY! I'll get off my soap box. Jemma wanted to know why I turned off the song...I explained that Lady Gaga's lifestyle (including clothing choices...or lack thereof) are inappropriate and I choose not to support listening to her music. Carter then promptly replied, "probly she is hot".

Jemma: I asked [so-&-so] if they wanted to play with me and they said no cuz I'm a girl and they don't want to play my game.
Carter: Jem, if your friends don't want to play with you, I will always play with you.