New Home

The movers came last Sunday, with the weather at 8 degrees, and my Dad, brother, and cousin, we were able to get all our stuff in a few hours. There were lots of stuff, and I have a few boxes I am filling up to give away now. In the last month and a half or so, the kids have outgrown a few toys, utensils, and no more sippy cup or pacifier for Noah. The kids run around the house everyday, and I think we are all getting used to the idea that this is our home, and we will be here for a while. Daniel has been loving the time with his cousin, and Rachel keeps talking about painting her room pink. The house came with a little cat, Leena, and it is so fun to watch the kids with their first pet.

Now I find myself needing to stop and smell the roses. We are in a place that we have been hoping for a while for now, and I can't keep looking to the next project, or realistically be where we fully want to be for a while. And I am ok with that. The boxes will get put away, the walls will get painted, the snow will leave eventually, and we will still be here. I was blessed with help getting my kitchen together, Beau has been helping with the kids a lot, and it is a comfort to know my family is close. We got plugged in right away with a homeschooling community, and the kids are signed up for a co-op in March. It will be fun to see how all this stuff settles out, and a huge praise to be at this point right now. Time to be very thankful!

A few more days

Snow...snow...snow...I am surrounded by it right now. Kevin and the kids love it, I am getting used to it again. Here they are enjoying the snow. Daniel loves it, and would be outside everyday...if it wasn't so much work to get three sets of children outside for a little bit with all their equipment, but that will get easier too.

Here is a picture of Noah, I remember as a child the snow being taller that I was.

That is the RV we are staying in, and my dad clearing things out.
Daniel has thrived in the extra space and his cousin around.
Here we are playing in the RV with some of the Christmas toys
So if you don't mind, I am going to use the rest of this post as a little bit of therapy. I posted on facebook that my grandmother isn't doing well, and that is still the case. We are talking about each day she could pass away. I went over and helped her today, and she was non-responsive. Previous to the last year, I have been blessed with life. With three beautiful children, with all that comes with a young family. The last year has been mostly death. I struggle that I wasn't here with my mom's passing, and watching my grandmother go through this has brought back much of that feeling. I believe the Bible, and know that my mom, is in a better place, and know that my grandmother will be as well, but it has been humbling to be apart of death this year. To realize life is so fragile, and everyday is a gift from God. To have little control of when God would bring any of the ones I love home to be with Him, and to have peace in God's Sovereignty. It is certainly another level of faith and trust.

That being said, we will be moving into our new place this weekend. Another chapter of life will soon be here, and I am so grateful for this journey to even bring us to this place. I can't wait to show pictures, but in the mean time, will you continue to lift my family up in prayers? Psalms 116 says that precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

Pictures from Christmas

Happy New Year! I feel negligent on my posts, but now that I think I have the internet figured out, we'll try to do better. We had a great time in New Bedford with Kevin's family for Christmas, although I think we brought the snow with us! The kids had a great time with their cousin, and all their second cousins, and it is amazing how big Kevin's family is getting. I feel like the "old one" in the group, just because we are almost fully though the young kid stage. The kids did great traveling, and here are some snapshots from the trip. I borrowed my father in law's camera, it was really nice, and I really enjoyed the quality of the photos:

Rachel and her cousin Lila, it was so fun to watch them interact!
Daniel wore that sweater just a few short years ago...
Rachel definitely lets us know what she is thinking...
Daniel and his grand Memere
All the kids Christmas morning, I did have better shot without Rachel's foot up, I just picked the wrong one.
Family photo...all the kids are licking lollipops, but at least they are all happy.
We had a great time at a Celtics game the Wednesday before Christmas, and it was just an easier trip overall. We had a very low key New Years, and now we are getting super excited about moving into our new home in just a few short weeks! I am starting to get used to us being here for the long term, and am starting to let myself get excited about putting down roots and really settling down. We have so many visions of planting a garden this spring, enjoying the outdoors, and painting walls. In the mean time, we are getting good snow gear and trying to enjoy the snow and outdoors, and just the quiet time before things really start to happen. My new favorite pass time is cross country skiing! I'll have to get some pictures of that up.

Transition

We have been moved for about a week and a half so far. The packing itself went well, well that it is over. We had twice as much as they anticipated, so it took all day on Saturday. It was too late to make the whole 5 hour drive that evening, so we took a break along the way. Kevin began work on the 6th, and I think the transition is going well. He is actually in DC this week for some training, but hopefully after that there will be minimal travel. We even made it to his company's Christmas party at the Museum of Science and Technology in Syracuse. It was fun, I was thankful to have some ready babysitters, and excited to take the kids there in the near future.

The kids are doing well with the transition, they really enjoy being around family, and love the country. Daniel exclaimed in amazement that he loves seeing the stars, the moon, and the country. I am adjusting to country living again, with all the snow, and space, and slight culture shock. I also have been facing the fact my mom is not with us, not being around all the time has allowed me to push that fact aside, but now I am dealing with it. There is a lot around here to remind me of her, and how proud she would be to have us here finally. With that, and us getting all the paperwork for the home, getting Christmas preparations still, it has been full week and a half.

Noah is a trooper, taking a break whenever he needs to! He is also enjoying all the extra attention.

Here are the cousins...look at those smiles.
Beau has found some very fun, and reasonable, indoor playgrounds. We got a chance to venture out to some of them yesterday, although the snow this week will keep us indoors for a while.

My thoughts and hearts are with my New England friends, and I am thanful for Facebook, blogs, phone calls, and e-mails, to know what is going on in all your lives. I also know that this was the right decision, and am praying for guidance and direction as we are still in transition, looking for where God wants us as we are out here now. We are looking forward to the holidays with the Gagnier family in New Bedford, and for all the future special occasions in our new home too. Also, as a discaimer, I won't be sending out Christmas cards this year, but please keep me on your lists, and I am going to try to get a New Year card out sometime in the new year, and with our new address.

Moving right along

I am not liking this moving thing. Kevin is a pro. He is packing and getting things physically ready. I am working more on the emotional side. As we say bye to friends I have made over the past 7 or so years, I know each of them have been in my life for a reason, and I am so thankful for them.

Kayleen came over and celebrated an early Christmas with us and the kids. I got some flannel directly from Michigan, and am thankful for the friend who taught me some of the basics of motherhood just as I was getting started. I have loved watching her grow in her faith, and watching God move in her.

I met my friend Angela at the mall today, she is an amazing woman of God who looks to Him in every situation. I have enjoyed her friendship, her prayers, and it seemed as we shared our lives together our struggles were parallel, and we knew that God directed both of us.
Here Kevin and I are celebrating our anniversary at the Top of the Hub, we braved Boston one final time. It was amazing to look onto the city and spend time with Kevin as we reflected on our time here, and what is to come.
A little out of order, but Noah is so cute.
We all got dressed up, here is a good family photo from this past weekend.
This is Bill, the trash man. We have had an interesting friendship only seeing him on Mondays, but it was a blessing watching the kids say hi to him, the gifts that he gave, and as we first moved to Lowell, he was a precious constant. His family has had some health issues, and now I don't think I can pass a garbage truck without sending up a prayer for him.
It is going to be a whirlwind of a week, but here is a precious clip from church this past weekend. Rachel was a pro at the singing and hand motions, Daniel said he didn't really like all the people looking at him, but I have a feeling this is going to become a family classic.

Changes

It has been a longer while since updating this post, because lots is going on! Kevin got a job in NY, we are leaving in two weeks, and we got a house in NY. So pretty crazy. Kevin is doing a great job of packing, I am doing well trying to keep out of his way to do the things he needs to do.

We will really miss the church, and the kids have been enjoying Rainbows on Wednesday nights. We have been learning about spiritual gifts on Wednesdays for the adults, and it is funny that was the same teaching I received when we first moved here almost eight years ago.

We took some time to enjoy the zoo this week. I love watching the excitement with the kids as they see the animals and explore.
Kayleen went with us, she spoiled the kids with some delicious lollipops.
Noah totally sugar high-ed.
It's not a real wolf, but the kids really enjoyed it none the less.
This week is our anniversary and Thanksgiving. We are going to continue on the packing and saying good-bye theme, and go out on Friday night to the Top of the Hub for an anniversary dinner and a night on the town. I am Thankful for a husband who likes to organize and pack, a wonderful 8 year marriage, and for God leading us in this new way!

Trees and Pees

Howdy Partner...

Noah has been playing very well with Daniel's train set...so far he can only be Rosie, but I am thinking Noah may need to have train characters of his own. He makes the noises, and stays on the tracks and everything.
The rest of the blog will be devoted to the trees and pees. When Daniel was learning the potty training, it took a while for us to teach him to go outside. Now he does it everywhere, when I least expect it. Here he is with his little brother watching at the cemetery...any suggestions? To my credit, I was on the other side of the rock, and didn't know what he was doing until I came around the corner. Maybe it is another one of those things they just grow out of.
The kids are enjoying trees, and climbing them. Daniel has discovered the roots and looks for them too.

We are heading out to NY on Friday, quick trip, and will post pictures of Michael's birthday celebration when we return!