First day of school

Here is Ellie on her first day of school. She is excited and nervous. Or maybe nervous and excited.

Last night we organized her supplies and made her lunch.

Today, I got her up at 5:45 am. She got herself dressed, brushed her hair, and ate some of her breakfast. She was nervous, so didn't quite finish it. She brushed her teeth and went potty. She put on her sweater and backpack and walked around with it on, while waiting to leave.

There were no fits. There was no complaining or whining. We had a great morning.

All four of us went with Ellie to the bus stop. There is another boy in kindergarten (but not her class.) There is a girl in fifth grade who says she helps make sure everyone is doing what they should. And several other children in the grades in between.

The parents were all friendly and nice also.

I held back my tears as she rode away.

The Last Day

Today is the last day of summer vacation. We went to the beach. Lake Wallenpaupack has several beach areas. The beach was technically closed since there was no life guard. But yesterday when the lifeguard was "on duty," it couldn't possibly have been any safer, what with him at least 100 feet away from the water, hanging out with his buddy, instead of guarding my children's lives while they frolicked in the water.

We came here yesterday as well. For lunch and dinner.



Here's the expanse of the beach where the lifeguard was definitely not.






And the kids frolicking.

A new school, a green school

While looking at the school district's website (which, by the way, could be a bit more user friendly) for a breakfast and lunch menu (which claims to have healthy choices, though I wouldn't want to use their nutritionist,) I found this video of the new elementary school the district is building. I really like that it's green.

Finally here they are . . .

. . . beach photos!




Ellie
















Josh












Gary, Josh, Ellie, and me















Malachi












Aunt Jessie and her posse









Aunt Linda with Caleb














The Next Generation









Matt keeping Madzie and Ellie safe










Our little plot of sand








Simon and Josh having a toss









Aunt Linda, Bridget, Sophie, and Caleb

Garbage is another matter

There are exactly two garbage haulers we can sign up with. Both have restrictions on the weight of our garbage. 30lbs. The can can't weigh more than 30 pounds. If you ask me, that is just plan stupid. Not the weight restriction, but that it's only 30 lbs. Who's garbage can weighs under thirty pounds? Josh weighs more than that.

As you can tell, I am a bit put out about it. And if you miss a garbage pick up? What do you do? Two weeks of garbage definitely weighs more than 30lbs. We could just pay per bag, but then everything has to be in a bag. And I find that wasteful. I'd use more bags than necessary.

I think I am most upset, in that I don't really have any options. Both garbage haulers have the 30lb. limit. I personally think it should be 50lbs.

But no one thought to consult me on the matter.

Exciting recycling news

Today we ventured to the other nearby grocery store. [There are only two close by. Well technically three, but two are the same name.] It's the one with big recycling bins. And guess what! I am quite happy to report that I can put all but foam (foam is so environmentally UNFRIENDLY) items in these bins. I thought I wouldn't be able to recycle paperboard and #3-7 plastics. But I can! Glass, cardboard, paper, all plastics. And it is all co-mingled, I don't even need to sort.

I also joined the local, though local is relative up here, freecycle groups.

I am ready.

Deer . . . every day . . . very exciting?

The deer population here is quite bountiful. We have seen at least one everyday, usually 5 or more. We can usually always see them in a neighbor's yard. We think they put food out for them.

And you see in these photos one particular Bambi, that decided to take a break along the back wall of the screened in porch. I was minding my own business, when I walked in the porch and was startled. We both stared at each other, than I ran to get Ellie. He was still just laying there.


We disturbed him only enough for him to get up stretch, groom, and shift to the other side of the house, where he laid back down for a spell.

Ellie and Josh are beyond excited to see "Bambis." To me they are a dime a dozen, but to them they are like gold.




Author's husband's note: At the time of the last post, we had seen Rachael Ray more than twice.

Food Makers

Ellie has discovered the Food Network channel. She asks to watch it and gets upset when she can't. Her favorite is Rachael Ray. Here are two favorite recipes Rachael has cooked: Florentine Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken and Chicken Riggies and 'Scarole with Soul. Ellie wanted to start cooking when Rachael came on tonight, and she requested we look up the second recipe online. Rachael is a down to earth cook, and she actually goes searching for stuff in her own kitchen.

Ellie has her own cute name for the channel, but I can't remember it. I'll change the title of the post tomorrow after she is awake to tell me it.

Author's note: We have only seen Rachael cook twice.

Our second week here

This is our second week here. I am hardly missing Lansdale. I am enjoying the quite solitude of being in the woods. Except for when there is discontent between the siblings (Ellie and Josh have been at each other more with this move. After this weekend, we are staying up here for awhile) and at night.

Night time here is unsettling for me. While we are still up, I am usually fine. But when I am laying in bed, and not asleep yet or I wake in the middle of the night, I hear EVERY noise and creak and crack and who-knows-what outside. My heart starts beating a bit faster, as my mind starts it's illogical and/or irrational thinking. I plan to install motion sensor lights out back to go along with the one out front. I also looked up alarm systems.

Although we have two AC units in the windows, I don't like the idea of using AC up here. I can't hear the sounds of the woods with an AC humming and all the windows closed, and I want to hear those sounds. And with all the trees, it stays cooler in the cabin anyways. At least so far it has.

The sounds of the woods are quite pleasant to my ears in the day, but definitely not so much at night.

The first photo is the side yard and the second one is the back yard.

My blessing!

Ellie is six today. It's hard to believe it's been six years since my girl entered this world and colored my life in brilliant new colors.

She's creative, inquisitive, and could argue with a tree stump. I love her dearly. And I wouldn't have her any other way.

Merry Christmas - Adventure Aquarium

My parents gave us tickets to Adventure Aquarium for Christmas. We went on the 15th of July.



Really? Hippos at an aquarium?











Ellie and Josh in the jungle.











Eaten by a shark! Oh no!









Giving high-5s to a diver.











Feeding time in the big tank.

The cabin has internet

I have been trying to get the internet here since Friday. It was all messed up when Verizon decided to set up our internet with my grandmother's name. It was a mistake made because the phone is still in her name. Well, it isn't now, but it was last week. When she died, my dad asked to have it changed to his name, but Verizon wanted to charge my dad a fee to do so. He said no thank you and left it. We had a week mess up with internet, but it is now changed to our name with no fee.

So check back later for vacation photos.

Quick update

Not at the cabin this week.

Did download most of the photos. I will get to posting next week, when we are at the cabin.

But here are two photos.

Salad - straight from the garden

For dinner tonight I decided upon spaghetti, which turned into Wacky Mac, when opening the cupboard door did not reveal pasta of the long straight variety.

I also decided we should have a green vegetable, and thought I would venture into our jungle of a garden. Having been gone for a week and a half, it's gotten a little out of hand.

I left the house with my basket and Ellie scrambled to follow, with Josh not too far behind. They like going in the garden. Except right now the green beans I thought were bush green beans are growing up my gate, so I haven't tried wrestling it open. And the cucumbers are growing wildly all over the path right inside the gate. So I first just leaned over the fence and cut some lettuce. The kids wanted in, so I looked around for a good stop to enter and climbed over the fence. I helped direct Ellie in pulling some carrots. Out she went and in came Josh. He pulled a carrot. We pulled a few more. Then discovered two large cucumbers on all that vine and pulled them. Snipped a little basil, which I forgot to put in my sauce.

Here are our lovely finished salads. Josh and Ellie like theirs individualized. I make exceptions for that.

I wasn't as impressed with the salad as I hoped I'd be. I haven't met a homegrown carrot sweet enough for me. And the lettuce tasted a bit bitter too. The cucumbers tasted just fine, i just don't care that much for cucumbers, but since we grew them, I put them in the salad. I did however, mostly grow them for Gary to pickle. He much prefers cucumbers pickled.

Vacation

We had a blast. I love my family. Next week, I will be downloading all the photos. So check back for those posts.

Merry Christmas - Adventure Aquarium

My parents gave us tickets to Adventure Aquarium, and we finally went. Check back next week for photos. Some are on our new cell phone and I haven't, nor will I right now, figure out how to get them off before we get to the cabin.

Entrepreneurs

Ellie asked if she could go cut lavender from our front walk. Then she asked me to make a sign for her to sell it. Then she requested two more signs that said "Stop." These were needed because people weren't stopping.

Currently, both Josh and Ellie are sitting out front, shaking a cow bell, asking if people want to buy flowers.




They are quite ecstatic when they have a sale. People are being generous and paying more than 10 cents a bunch.

Being a good mother, I did move them into the shade and provided them with water.

A day without kids is not

My friend was going to watch my cherubs while I got much accomplished today. But since her own little cherub has not been sleeping that well, she has not either. And since she is 7 months pregnant, it's wearing her down. So she requested no more little ones about. Completely I understand. Two wear me out, and I'm not pregnant nor sleep deprived. My new plan is to have Myrtle "babysit" from Indian with Skype, and maybe she or a sibling of hers will read to my children. I just need to ask her first. Hint, hint Myrtle.

So the tasks before me this day: first and foremost take the dog to the kennel. He was suppose to go to a friend's house, but Hunter wasn't playing nicely with his dog, so Hunter goes to a kennel.

Then I have to clean out the car so I can pack it, vacuum up all the dog hair, mop the kitchen, straighten the whole house, go to the library for audio material for the car ride, drop off some bills, and any other last minute stuff I forgot right now.

It should only take me a few hours.

I've filled out the change of address form. I've called to set up trash service. Which by the way is seriously lacking in recycling services, as is there is none. We have to cart it all somewhere. I plan to get a whole bin system going when we get to the cabin.

And the biggest small change is we got a cell phone. It came today. And Gary is a happy camper, because we got to keep our home phone number. So you all don't need to memorize a new number, unless you want the cabin number. We are going from FiOS to DSL, but we will still have internet.

And even more tremendous about the phone is that the charger it came with a plug that has a USB port, so it can be charged using an outlet or a computer. Which means I can now charge my iPod using an outlet too! The little things that float my boat.

An open house?

It's been seven days since it was suggested to have an open house while we were on vacation. Our realtor (who's name is also Gary, so will be referred to as Gary C.) thought that it would be a splended idea. I have been going crazy thinking my house will never be Martha Stewart ready for an open house before we leave for vacation. I doubt it would ever be Martha Stewart ready any time.

Well, I came to my senses and I said enough. No way am I going to break my back scrubbing this house anymore, while trying to pack for vacation. If I have time to do an extra thorough cleaning, and hide all the extra stuff lying around in the attic, and the garage, and the basement, than fine, if not, then people will just see our dust and dirt and our stuff. And I am okay with that.

Today I did a little extra while vacuuming upstairs. I decided I would rid the ceilings of the stray spiderwebs and dust. I don't often look up at the ceilings since I mostly give 3 foot people my attention. Do people really look up at open houses, anyway? Martha Stewart probably would.

Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad shopping time

As I told Gary just a bit ago, if I say I'm going on errands in the next few weeks with both of my children please shoot me. Or less harmful, tie me up.

However stressful the morning may have been, I did get most things accomplished.

I also managed to get all my laundry washed and hung to dry before we left for our errands.

We're moving on

Gary and I signed the papers last night. The ones that disclose things about our house. The ones that allow our realtor to start selling our house.

We held each other and cried after the realtor left. I cried as he jammed the sign into the ground out front, that shouted to all who passed by, FOR SALE.

Here is the link to our listing. He took pictures. Although he took pictures, they aren't posted with the listing yet. I cringe to think what they look like, since our house isn't exactly cleaned up yet. We are leaving in four days for the beach for a week, and our house is lived in.



It is hard to sell our house.



But this little group of people is really our home.










Or maybe it's this group of people.

The garden

Thought I'd throw in this photo of our garden. I think it's looking quite green and not from too many weeds.

A car and what to do with the house

First: Gary's mom has offered to loan us money to buy a second car. She has been able to save up a bit for when she replaces her car. She knows we can't pay her back until our house sells. So we've been looking for a Subaru Outback wagon. We've been looking on line, and yesterday and today we went to look at some. Nothing yesterday, but today we found the one. We made a down payment, and Friday we'll go make the final payment and drive it home.

Second: Gary rides the bus to and from work. Today a neighbor that Gary sees now and then was on the bus today. Gary told her he took another job out of the area and would be moving. She inquired about what we would be doing with our house.

Gary thinks now is not the best time to sell. Our realtor suggested renting in case the job doesn't work out. I say sell. We can't save money and clear out some debt if we rent. But if we did rent our house, we would make it a year lease. So should we sell or rent?

Our neighbor has a friend who needs a place for a year. We met with him tonight and he wants to rent our house. Now all we need to decide is if we actually want to rent it. I think we should just sell it. Then we can save for year and have nice down payment.

The problem with renting is that the amount we can charge is less than the mortgage. So we would still have a monthly house payment. That's not saving. We are meeting with our realtor next week to discuss our options in more detail, so we'll see.

Great Dads!

My husband, my father and my brother. These men love their kids and their wives. Sometimes they are goofy beyond words. They are hard working. They are loved.

Happy Father's Day!

Camping again

Camp Swatara is where we were this weekend. We go every Father's Day weekend with our church. We went swimming, boating, played on the playground, had a fire, made s'mores. Josh and Ellie spent some of their money and bought candy. The kids got dirty - on several occasions. It was a great, family weekend.

And on our way out, we stop at the camp store for our going home ice cream treat.

There are no photos of this trip. Which for me is odd. I forgot the camera I ususally use on trips and just decided not to pull out the other one.

Hand of God

Gary didn't go looking for a job and Kiley Engineering didn't go looking for an employee. But Gary has a new job and Kiley has a new employee.

Here's how: God.

Upon returning home (Monday, Memorial Day) from our weekend away, Gary promptly emailed an engineering firm we saw on our drive. He received emails the next morning (Tuesday) asking for his resume. On Friday he had a phone interview. The next Monday he had an in-person interview. On Tuesday he had an offer of employment. Friday he accepted. All this transpired in two weeks.

And here's my take on their side of it. The Friday before Memorial Day, we're sad to see you go employee, but good luck. Memorial Day - what kind of advertisement should we do for an engineer? Tuesday - what's this? and email from someone looking for a job? Let's get his resume. Wow, look at this impressive resume. Gary has many years experience, he has a lot of experience in different areas too. We have to interview this guy. Friday - This guy has great work ethic, he sounds honest. He's easy to talk to. He knows what he's talking about. Let's meet him. The next Monday - Wow, he looks sharp. He is just as impressive in person. He would fit right in. He is honest. He is experienced. He needs to wear jeans, suits are too formal. Let's offer him the job. Tuesday - Here's what we can offer. What do you say? During that week - Well, what do you think he'll say? Friday - Woo hoo, he's coming to work for us!

Did I mention the job is in Lakeville, PA? If you consult a map you will find it to be two hours from our current location in Lansdale. We will be moving.

Then and Now

Here I am with Ellie, presumably soon after we had haircuts last May. I know I have a photo of us the evening we got the cuts, but sorting through thousands of photos is not on my list today.








Here you see me tonight. Over a year from my last major hair cut. I think my hair grows slowly. I am going to see how long it will be in two years.

Volunteer

I helped Myrtle this weekend. She needed someone to help her make it through the impossible day her boss is making her work through. I took pictures, did tasks, drove, swiped cookies. I even got my own volunteer lanyard. I felt important.

I rented a car so Gary could still have ours. It was cheaper than taking the train. I got to drive a Nissan Cube. They are odd cars. Very open in the front, so if you're claustrophobic, check one out. It also has no pick up. While on the highway, I actually had the petal to the metal and could barely feel the car increase speed.

Through Skype I met Papa Dore and his family, now her new family. I was able to pray Compline with them two nights, and ask some questions and receive some encouragement. We even Skyped with some of the siblings and prayed many Psalms, including Psalm 119, the longest one.

Thanks be to God.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to Myrtle,
Happy Birthday to you!

Our tenth trip

The cabin. (Note the leafless driveway and weedless side yard, we could leave the ferns.)



















Earning our keep weedwacking and leaf blowing.












A factory and foot bridge and City Hall in Honesdale, PA.




















Trying my hand at an up do. I asked my friend to show me how to put my hair up, so I could impress Gary on our trip. I thought it was a good first attempt.