it turned out cute. this was a lot of work for me. i think the kids had fun. i got the idea from here. this was posted as a link on the homeschool blog from streed's school. i really do love it. we wrote on our leaves some things we are thankful for. i forgot to take a pic of one step but it is on the other blog link.
i am going to use this same "tree" for my Jesse Advent Tree. :)
I found some great coloring printables today at Coloring Castle. You can choose alphabet, numbers, shapes etc. I am trying to spend some "school" time with Ella in the mornings because the afternoon while Nate is sleeping is Streed's time. She is feeling slightly left out and also needs the educational time. She did tell Chip she learned a verse yesterday so at least she is learning something of value!
We did carve a pumpkin this year. We have not made it a great family affair just yet. We started while dinner was cooking. Then the neighbor kids came home and our kids bolted. I think we finished it up after dinner.
later in the night. chip is loving having them all over him while he is trying to work. i cannot at all relate to his feelings!!!
Trying to get a picture of a two year old without a flash at dark was a joke. Not a funny joke, mind you!
And we found one of the libraries in our new county. Not the one in our town but the one just down the road a bit. The kids made silly spider hats. Again, I could not get Nate in the picture so here are the other two.
I did not want yall to think I was curled up in the fetal position! We are hanging in there! Today we bought winter hats and started a fall craft. It is going to be super cute. The wind is blowing too hard to finish it today so hopefully I can post some pictures tomorrow.
In case anyone felt sorry for Streed's team...a pizza party complete with trophies has been planned by the previously mentioned mom. Can't we all sleep better tonight!
So, it has been a weekend. We are tired. Partly from the weekend but also partly just from life. Really, it has been a year. This month last year we found out we would be transitioning from staff at the end of Dec. In Jan we found out we would be moving to AR. In Feb we came and found our apt and in Mar (7 months from today) we pulled out of Baton Rouge. The apt was great. We swam a lot, met some neat people and found a great church. In May, we found a spec house that was only at the stud stage. So for a few months we swam and checked out the progress on our house. In Aug we started homeschooling. In Sept we moved into our house. And now, on the last day of Oct 2010, Chip and I are tired. Emotionally, Physically, Spiritually, and Relationally. I am actually laughing right now because Chip just said the only thing that was keeping him going tonight to our church's Family Fest is that he wants to go. You see, our kids are total crank pots right now. They are tired too--emotionally, physically, spiritually and relationally. To some, we have had a fun weekend. Friday night we took the kids, along with one of our neighbors to a local church's festival complete with fair rides, pony rides, corn dogs and funnel cakes. Saturday morning we layed low until we went to Streed's last baseball game. We went straight from there to watch our old Southeastern Lions play football about 45 minutes from here. While there we saw a few old friends (a couple that used to support us while on staff as well as a football player that Chip discipled). Then we drove tired kids home so they could trick-or-treat with the kids in our neighborhood. When they woke up this morning an old friend was here. He had come in town late and stayed the night. He was just passing through. Then we left for church, ate lunch, and are supposedly napping so we can go to our church's festival tonight. So, even though it has been a busy weekend, it has been really sad. Now, I am about to cry. That is why I posted a picture of me in sunglasses. My sunglasses have saved me a lot of embarrassment on occasion here. Yesterday was one of those days. WARNING: I am feeling that this will be a long post. It's really for me. I need to journal and I just do not feel like picking up a pen and paper.
So, as Streed's game ended and Chip told all the kids how much he enjoyed being their coach and how much they improved over the season...(this was fall instructional league. they did not have real team names, they had 9 games, not a big deal right?) a mom (one of the assitant coaches wife's, who has lived here all her life and has family here and kids in school) comes up to me and asks if Chip and I have any plans for a party for the team. I start smiling and saying that we are really sorry at this coach/coaches wife thing. She cuts me off with a serious face and says, "So, you're not?" in an accusing tone of voice. So now mine turns from light hearted to a shaky almost crying voice. I tell her that we are maxed out with just having moved a few weeks ago and that Chip is out of town a lot. I then say in a calm kind voice, "I am not trying to be rude, but if you want to plan one that would be great but I just cannot." She smiles politely and says that's all she needed to know. AHHH! I am so glad of how I handled the situation. But, it has bothered Chip and I for 24 hours. I do not feel bad in one ounce of my being that we are not having a team party. I do however seriously loath being a disappointment. Chip and I are first born. 9 times out of 10 we are going to do what is expected of us because that is what we do. That is who we are. BUT, when Chip said he would be the coach (because they were short on coaches) there was no handbook saying that the wife is expected to plan a party. In no way were those kids deprived because they did not get pizza and a plastic piece of gold on a fake marble base.
So I leave there upset. I really should take Nate home for a nap. But I really want to go to the football game. You see, at this point I am stewing over the previously mentioned scenerio. So, I go. The kids do really well at the game. As soon as we get to the visiting stands we see our friends. They were so great. They loved seeing the kids. They told me a sad story about some of our old church friends in Hammond. I got to my seat sad. Then I begin looking around--the stands are small (it feels just like Hammond and like Troy when I first got there in '96), there was green and gold all around us, we could see our buddy dressed out on the field in front of us and I just could not hold it in any longer. It's just sad. We did not ask to leave Hammond. We spent 8 1/2 GREAT years there. We know God took us to Baton Rouge, just like brought us to Arkansas. That does not mean it's not hard. All of our kids were born there. We still have dear dear friends there. So the memories were overwhelming: people's faces, ministry, our former life etc. I got it together, with the help of this monkey yelling in GO LIONS! Afterwards we went to the fence and saw our buddy. A few of the coaches came up and talked to Chip. Another player came over and hugged him. We hugged hi and bye and all (except Nate) walked off really really sad. Again, thank you sunglasses. I think this will do for now. I must take the monkeys to get more candy. If you are still reading you are really really awesome and I love you much.
breakfast nook We bought this table and chairs from a neighbor down the street. They just moved in too and had a sign on it saying "for sale". It fits perfectly. It is great for the kids and I for breakfast and lunch.
looking at foyer and chip's office doors from kitchen foyer, den, kitchen and breakfast are is "Ivoire" by Sherwin Williams.
dining room painted "Anitque White" by Sherwin Williams I was really feeling the need to go light. I originally wanted this color for the whole house but was vetoed. It is in the dining room, chip's office, and both bathrooms. We like it. All of this furniture was in our old house. I am using the "entertainment center" to house all of the homeschool supplies. That is working nicely!!!
Another view of the dining room. Looking in from the kitchen. Same china cabinet I have had for a few years, just painted. Below is a pic of it before. boo hoo. It is just paint. I can return it to its original glory one day I guess. The blue just did not work here. I could not go out and buy all new stuff just to match this. And my breakfast nook was too small to fit it there. Oh, well. Black is classy.
more pics to come later. right now i am swapping summer and winter clothes and potty training nate. so far, so good i guess. a lot of poo in the toilet and a little on the floor. baby steps.
the house is great. we are really starting to enjoy it. we are still figuring out which light switches go to which lights etc. i have been pretty busy trying to get it all organized in the midst of life. chip left town today for a short trip so i tackled his office for a bit. tonight we made a quick trip to lowes to get something to hang my mops and brooms in the garage. it is the little things getting done that are making it feel more homey! i have posted some pics on facebook. i do not have pictures yet of all the rooms. i am trying to get them picture ready before i snap a shot. not totally decorated or anything, just straight.
we are enjoying our neighborhood and our neighbors. i am not missing little rock like i thought i would. it is not like i shop often so i really do not need all it has to offer. i am there Sundays for church and sometimes Mondays when I drop streed at his co-op and then again on Tuesdays for a Moms group at church. So, the other days we are pretty much hanging at the house or running errands around here. i like to tell people that i can be at Target in 5 minutes or watching a mommy deer and two babies cross the road in two! that really has happened to me twice. craziness!!! i love it!
here is me enjoying a book (The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes) the night Chip and Streed camped. you can get a sense of my room. i had a blog post in my head as i was for some reason using my timer to take this picture. i cannot recall it at the moment. but here is my room nonetheless.
My friend Jenny is a photographer. She started her business recently and is really doing well. She and I love talking about pictures, cameras, lighting and other nerdy stuff. She was coming out to visit us at the new house and turned down a wrong street. She called me saying she was lost and I was of no help. I did not know where the street was that she was on. Turns out it was one street up from our neighborhood that I pass everday. Also turns out to have a really cool barn and some horses. Since she had her camera handy we all headed over for in impromptu photo shoot. I love love love some of these shots.
later in the night. chip is loving having them all over him while he is trying to work.
spider man
Afterwards we went to the fence and saw our buddy. A few of the coaches came up and talked to Chip. Another player came over and hugged him. We hugged hi and bye and all (except Nate) walked off really really sad. 
Again, thank you sunglasses. I think this will do for now. I must take the monkeys to get more candy. If you are still reading you are really really awesome and I love you much. 
breakfast nook
looking at foyer and chip's office doors from kitchen
dining room painted "Anitque White" by Sherwin Williams
Another view of the dining room. Looking in from the kitchen.
I took this of Ella the other day at our house and I cannot stop staring at it. I absolutely ADORE it.
