We have been moving now for a week. The good thing about moving slowly is we have unpacked the boxes as we have brought them over. Therefore it doesn't feel like we just moved in. Chip and I really love this house so far. It honestly felt like home from the moment we started to set up our room. Streed seems to have adjusted just fine. It is smaller than our other house but has some good features that make it worth it. I just like to refer to it as "cozy". We are set to close tomorrow, Fri, at 1:30pm. So, hopefully tomorrow afternoon we'll have a big fat check and in a few days our "fill in the blank" loans will have a zero balance.

Strep

Yes, I returned from our annual New Year's Conference with strep throat. I think I left for the conference with a sore throat and it became progressively worse over those 5 days. I am not surprised though. This was my 10th conference and I think I have gotten sick there about 7 of those 10 years. It is painful and I feel really sick due to the fever that accompanies it. The worst part is that I am so fearful of the kids getting it. Thankfully school hasn't started yet and Chip can help me. We are starting to move today! You just gotta go as a mom, sick or not!

Merrill's Blog

Please read my friend Merrill's post entitled "What Child is This?". She is a very talented writer. (Her link is to the left.)

Christmas Eve 2006

These go with the previous blog.

Lions and Trains and Balls, Oh My!

There seemed to be a theme this Christmas for Streedums. We got Streed a stuffed lion in honor of the SLU Lions and Nana and Papa Crooms got him a lion chair. A friend from church even got Ella a precious little Leap Frog Lion. Aunt Jodi, Nana & Papa Crooms and Chip & I bought Thomas the Tank Engine paraphanalia. Both sides of the family bought him balls! The Crooms got Streed and Ella and AU ball, mine got him an AL one, Gran got him a basketball, soccer and football, Chip and I got him a 3' soccer goal that says "GOOOAAALLL" when you hit the net. Needless to say after he went to bed last night we cleaned out his toys and put some away for Ella.

In case you're wondering if Ella got anything...over the course of two weekends she racked up--she was just asleep during much of the opening process. She got Baby Einstein toys, books, a doll, stocking, ornament and blanket, a new play mat and diaper bag, clothes, an exersaucer and movie. Basically we decided that parents don't need to buy their young kids any gifts because they make out like bandits from the grandparents and aunts & uncles. We are very appreciative. We enjoyed spending time with all of you!

A Very Crooms Christmas

I am not real sure what the title means. It just flowed. Chip's parents, Nana & Papa, were here this weekend. As you can see, Streed needed a nap. The crying picture was right before we left for church on Christmas Eve.
The other was before they left on Christmas morning.

Christmas 2006

We celebrated in Mobile last weekend. Chip's family will be here this weekend. More pics to come.

Pleasantly Surprised

We looked at the house yesterday that I thought was going to be REALLY small. It was much better than we had imagined. There is even room for Chip to have an office. (I may sneak my new sewing machine in there as well.) We signed the lease today! So, we are no longer wandering aimlessly for the next few weeks. This house is really close to our good friends, babysitters, campus and church. I cannot imagine how different it will be living on this side of town. I am really excited. The only down side is its a rental and the owner is really strict about giving back the deposits. So, I wil be living with bare white walls for at least a year. It sounds petty and shallow to even complain about that. We are so thankful for this opportunity.

Dec 12

Not only was yesterday my dad's birthday, but it was also the day we were supposed to look at the rental house I have mentioned previously. We have been waiting and waiting for Dec 12 to get here so we could finalize where we are moving on or before Jan 12. Apparently the people in there now have until the 15th to get out. So, we will either see it Friday or Monday. We're still not certain this is the house we would prefer. We are hoping maybe this stall in OUR plan was to free up the house on Elm. We'll know soon enough.

Blogworthy Barn Bath

Why is the barn in the tub you ask? A few moments before this picture was taken I noticed a foul smell as Streed breezed past me on his Thomas the Tank Engine ride-on toy. I asked him if he had poo-poo in his diaper. He then held up both hands. Yes, they were covered with poo. I quickly scooped him up and dropped him in the tub. I then began to wonder what all he had touched prior to my noticing the smell. So, I go to the den and look to his barn. It is covered...animals, stalls etc. So, I figured the easiest thing to do was to bathe it as well. Hence, the barn is in the tub. Yes, I wiped down the tank engine too. As you can see, he thoroughly enjoyed the new tub toy!