I'm sad...we don't get mail here like I want to. I'd even take credit card junk or flyers from wal-mart but we get nothing. It's so upsetting to open the mailbox and have it empty. Part of the problem is that we are considered a "rural route". We actually had to call the local post office on two different occasions to ask them to deliver our mail. I guess typically this is not a normal service and people just come pick it up from the post office. When the post office finally got the message (or when we finally got some mail to deliver), we got a form in our box that we had to fill out to give permission for them to put our mail in our mailbox...so strange. The form also let us know that we can use our postal carrier as a post office, we can order stamps, get things insured, and pretty much do what a post office would do through our carrier. When I called the 2nd time to find out why we had no mail I found out our carrier's name is "Billy", of course it is.
But here's the other problem, we aren't even getting the forwarded mail from our old house. I just don't get it, I feel so helpless, like our mail is just out there somewhere and no one knows what to do with it. It's a strange disconnected feeling. Another thing that's irking me mail-wise is that it seems to take forever, we opened the box yesterday and had one lonely postcard from my mom that she sent last Wednesday...4 days for a post card? Doesn't that seem odd. I know I'm just spoiled by my suburban life but I feel like my postal carrier, you know, Billy, just randomly decides when he is going to hop in his UNMARKED truck and put what he pleases in my box. My final mail-related rant is that we ordered DSL last Wednesday and still have not received the equipment. I'm going crazy not having quick, accessible at a moment's notice, Internet access. I can live without a lot of things: cable, a grocery store that carries unsalted butter (What's up with that? Do people in the country HAVE to have salt in their butter?!), a garbage disposal, etc. but I've quickly learned how much I rely on the Internet for access to information. Maybe it's my library/information science background, but it keeps me connected with the world, especially now that our cell phone service isn't so great and our home phone is long distance. Anyway, I'm sorry if you read this whole post because it was really just a place for me to vent, now let's see if dial-up can handle uploading all these words...I promise I'll post pictures (as soon as I find that damn battery charger) and positive fun stuff about our new home soon. We really do love it and have had an "adventure" (as *A* calls it) everyday.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
A Quick Hello!
We're here! We have very slow dial-up access for the time being, so I'm not going to write a lot. I just wanted to give everyone a quick hello and say that we're loving it so far. Our house is even better than we thought, we have so much room (except for the closets) and the porch, view, and quiet are amazing. We've eaten most of our meals on the screened in porch and saw a deer or two in our backyard while eating. We're slowly unpacking, but most rooms are set-up and livable. We discovered the university library and it's small children's section but huge video collection, I don't think we'll be needing Netflix. We went hiking this morning and it was breath-taking. The kids loved it, (H) in the backpack and *A* was a champ going up and down the trail. She hiked out to this ledge of rock as my knees were knocking together and looked at the view proclaiming "Beauuuuutiful!". We discovered the school's fitness center: Olympic pool, indoor track, etc. *A* ran 3 laps around the track and thought she was an Olympic track star, ^J^ gets in free and I got a family membership for 5 bucks...nice. O.k., I really should keep this short since I'm not sure how long it's going to take to upload.
We are having a great time, but we really do miss everyone. It's hard to meet new people. *A*, the social butterfly that she is, has made some new friends and we went to a playdate this morning with other seminarian babies and preschoolers. But she had a hard time the first few days not having anyone to play with, and I think she still thinks we're on vacation. As for adult friends, I just want to get over the "hey, how are you?" phase and have a real conversation. I know it'll come. We met some really great people on move-in day. There were about 12 seminarians waiting for us when we pulled in and they had our huge truck unloaded in less than an hour. Some of the spouses and kids came by to meet us or help as well. There's a cookout every Friday night, so we'll be able to see everyone again then and get to know people a little better. Everyone knows each other so well and I know once school starts we'll all be together constantly, but for now we are sort of outsiders looking in and trying to figure out where we fit. It's a really strange feeling, kind of nice, yet kind of unnerving too.
We are having a great time, but we really do miss everyone. It's hard to meet new people. *A*, the social butterfly that she is, has made some new friends and we went to a playdate this morning with other seminarian babies and preschoolers. But she had a hard time the first few days not having anyone to play with, and I think she still thinks we're on vacation. As for adult friends, I just want to get over the "hey, how are you?" phase and have a real conversation. I know it'll come. We met some really great people on move-in day. There were about 12 seminarians waiting for us when we pulled in and they had our huge truck unloaded in less than an hour. Some of the spouses and kids came by to meet us or help as well. There's a cookout every Friday night, so we'll be able to see everyone again then and get to know people a little better. Everyone knows each other so well and I know once school starts we'll all be together constantly, but for now we are sort of outsiders looking in and trying to figure out where we fit. It's a really strange feeling, kind of nice, yet kind of unnerving too.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
"Bye, Bye, Bye!"
Just like *NSYNC, we're saying "Bye" a lot this week. Lots of visits to our house, other people's houses, school, the public library (^J^ is really torn up about this one), favorite eateries, etc...It's hard, but it's nice too. We've made some really wonderful relationships here and have loved living here; saying goodbye helps us remember all the fun things we did, people we met, and important life-changing events that happened in the 3.5 years we've lived here.
All these events means we're feeling kinda crunched for time with getting packed though (if you're having a meal with us in the next 3 days, don't worry, we really do want to see you). We're in pretty good shape, I packed away all the dishes tonight and we're living on paper and plastic, but there are always those last minute things you forget and those dreaded strange objects you just don't know how to pack so you throw them in a crate and put them in the truck right before you drive off. ^J^ hates those miscellaneous last minute boxes and I hate the last minute crunch so we've decided our best time to get things done this week is after the kids are in bed. We figure we've been staying up 'til midnight anyway, we should maybe start being productive instead of watching reruns of The Office. We actually kept *A* up through her nap today so she'd go to bed early. This is a big deal considering we were risking the behavior that comes with missing a nap, but she did great actually. She told me today (after playing independently for over an hour), "I'm a big girl now Mommy, I can play nice with (H)!" O.k., sounds good! Let's see if it lasts 'til tomorrow.
I'm off to pack some more while I've got a sugar high (we got a lot of cake from church Sunday), but, because I know you want hear it and because I know you've been singing it since you read this post title, here is the lovely Mr. Timberlake and his boys sayin' "Bye, Bye, Bye" from us.
All these events means we're feeling kinda crunched for time with getting packed though (if you're having a meal with us in the next 3 days, don't worry, we really do want to see you). We're in pretty good shape, I packed away all the dishes tonight and we're living on paper and plastic, but there are always those last minute things you forget and those dreaded strange objects you just don't know how to pack so you throw them in a crate and put them in the truck right before you drive off. ^J^ hates those miscellaneous last minute boxes and I hate the last minute crunch so we've decided our best time to get things done this week is after the kids are in bed. We figure we've been staying up 'til midnight anyway, we should maybe start being productive instead of watching reruns of The Office. We actually kept *A* up through her nap today so she'd go to bed early. This is a big deal considering we were risking the behavior that comes with missing a nap, but she did great actually. She told me today (after playing independently for over an hour), "I'm a big girl now Mommy, I can play nice with (H)!" O.k., sounds good! Let's see if it lasts 'til tomorrow.
I'm off to pack some more while I've got a sugar high (we got a lot of cake from church Sunday), but, because I know you want hear it and because I know you've been singing it since you read this post title, here is the lovely Mr. Timberlake and his boys sayin' "Bye, Bye, Bye" from us.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Dinnertime Laughs
We are always graced with fun conversations at the dinner table but somehow this video was the topic of discussion tonight.
We had watched it a few weeks ago and tonight *A* was talking about a speck of watermelon looking like blood and next thing I knew I was saying "bhluud!BHLUUUD!" Then *A* reminded us of the "not funneee" part and suddenly everyone was imitating this kid, complete with facial expressions(including the 17 month old). I was laughing so hard I was crying. Now it's your turn to laugh, watch this video and then watch it again and again. Happy weekend!
We had watched it a few weeks ago and tonight *A* was talking about a speck of watermelon looking like blood and next thing I knew I was saying "bhluud!BHLUUUD!" Then *A* reminded us of the "not funneee" part and suddenly everyone was imitating this kid, complete with facial expressions(including the 17 month old). I was laughing so hard I was crying. Now it's your turn to laugh, watch this video and then watch it again and again. Happy weekend!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Well, that was interesting...
So I felt really yucky last night, like I was coming down with something, but today I'm much better. My energy is back and I'm functioning normally and it's a good thing too. We had unexpected dinner guests tonight which isn't easy when you're living on a tight budget and are basically trying to eat everything in your house so you don't have to move it (i.e. Who wants frozen peas, cottage cheese and couscous for dinner?). Here's a little background:
Our AC has been on the fritz lately; it's been leaking, through the ceiling (our bedroom ceiling) dripping (on to our bed) sometimes on ^J^'s head (in the middle of the night). We've sort of figured out a system that if we turn it off at night and then back on again before the heat of the morning we won't sweat too bad, but then we need to go check it during the afternoon and take towels and sop up some of the water that has puddled. ^J^ has done many little things up there over the past couple of weeks; from cleaning out the filter (we have a filter up there?), to patching a spot where cold air was leaking, to deciding the best use of our attic is as a sweat lodge. Finally he called a former student's dad who is an HVAC person and was given advice on how to fix it over the phone (which I found highly skeptical since he didn't even know what our AC unit looked like). So ^J^ trudged on down to the Depot to buy pvc pipe and $25 worth of other stuff and went to fix it again. Needless so say, a large wet spot was growing on our duvet this afternoon. So Mr. HVAC himself came to our house (with his 4 year old in tow) and headed to the sweat lodge in person. While I was entertaining children (mine and his) and trying to keep them out of the neighbor's water-filled ditch, they discovered that the previous owner had drilled a hole in the safety pan which is designed to catch any water that accumulates. This hole apparently was drilled through the plywood floor as well...the plywood leads to insulation which leads to drywall, otherwise known as our bedroom ceiling. So they hot glued it (I know, crafty right?) and if that doesn't work we're supposed to go get that foam spray stuff. Anyway, all this to say because ^J^, the includer that he is, decided that as payment we would feed Mr. HVAC and his son dinner. Um, o.k. we don't really have enough peas and couscous. So we broke down and ordered pizza and made a big salad and had watermelon for dessert. It was fun really, once I found out that we were also feeding MRS. HVAC and her 12 year old son as well (I made a bigger salad). But really it was a small price to pay for figuring out exactly what was wrong with our AC and hopefully being able to fix it for about two bucks. It just reminds me of what our future life will most likely be like. ^J^ has always and will continue to invite people along and share what he has. He used all his high school graduation money to take his friends out to dinner...it's just the kind of guy he is and why he is going to be a great priest. Now for me, I'll just have to be more prepared or have lots of pizza coupons on hand.
Our AC has been on the fritz lately; it's been leaking, through the ceiling (our bedroom ceiling) dripping (on to our bed) sometimes on ^J^'s head (in the middle of the night). We've sort of figured out a system that if we turn it off at night and then back on again before the heat of the morning we won't sweat too bad, but then we need to go check it during the afternoon and take towels and sop up some of the water that has puddled. ^J^ has done many little things up there over the past couple of weeks; from cleaning out the filter (we have a filter up there?), to patching a spot where cold air was leaking, to deciding the best use of our attic is as a sweat lodge. Finally he called a former student's dad who is an HVAC person and was given advice on how to fix it over the phone (which I found highly skeptical since he didn't even know what our AC unit looked like). So ^J^ trudged on down to the Depot to buy pvc pipe and $25 worth of other stuff and went to fix it again. Needless so say, a large wet spot was growing on our duvet this afternoon. So Mr. HVAC himself came to our house (with his 4 year old in tow) and headed to the sweat lodge in person. While I was entertaining children (mine and his) and trying to keep them out of the neighbor's water-filled ditch, they discovered that the previous owner had drilled a hole in the safety pan which is designed to catch any water that accumulates. This hole apparently was drilled through the plywood floor as well...the plywood leads to insulation which leads to drywall, otherwise known as our bedroom ceiling. So they hot glued it (I know, crafty right?) and if that doesn't work we're supposed to go get that foam spray stuff. Anyway, all this to say because ^J^, the includer that he is, decided that as payment we would feed Mr. HVAC and his son dinner. Um, o.k. we don't really have enough peas and couscous. So we broke down and ordered pizza and made a big salad and had watermelon for dessert. It was fun really, once I found out that we were also feeding MRS. HVAC and her 12 year old son as well (I made a bigger salad). But really it was a small price to pay for figuring out exactly what was wrong with our AC and hopefully being able to fix it for about two bucks. It just reminds me of what our future life will most likely be like. ^J^ has always and will continue to invite people along and share what he has. He used all his high school graduation money to take his friends out to dinner...it's just the kind of guy he is and why he is going to be a great priest. Now for me, I'll just have to be more prepared or have lots of pizza coupons on hand.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Wow, I'm beat...
I just woke up from a 3 hour nap. It's weird, I guess I've been taking advantage of this summer thing too much, we haven't been to bed before midnight in ages and Little Miss Sunshine *A* is consistently up before you want her to be. This morning it was 5:45 and I hear "Mama, the sun's outside, time to get up." Um, no baby the sun is actually still asleep, the light you see is a street lamp. So I told her to sleep in our bed which never works, she's restless, she kicks, and 4 people in a Queen-sized bed just isn't comfortable. Then she tries again: "Mama, I had a great nap, get up and play with me." No *A*, mommy's tired, go read some books and then I'll get up. Moments later, (I don't know, it could have been 5 minutes, it could have been a half-an-hour, I was asleep) she's in there again, "Mom, time to get up, I wanna watch a movie." No, mommy needs more sleep. Go potty and then I'll get up. And 2 minutes later. "O.k., mommy get up, see the sun is out really now." And it is, and it's almost 7:30, I actually slept in a little but I was not awake. I made coffee, it got cold. I tried, really tried to clean the kitchen. Breakfast, which has been beautifully homemade all summer, was prepackaged yogurts, feed-yourself style. ^J^ left to take a friend to the airport and go tutor so I was on my own with these full-of-energy kids. Finally I decided we needed to get out of the house, and I desperately needed a shower. So Sesame Street came to the rescue for *A*, and I'm actually not really sure what (H) was doing while I showered but I kept calling out to him every so often to make him come in the bathroom and stay out of trouble. We all got ready and with wet hair went to the library for storytime. Then back home for lunch and Daddy came to the rescue while I laid down, I was so sleepy I couldn't even feel guilty for leaving him with the lunch mess and two kids to put down for a nap. Three hours later here we are and I'm still not motivated to do anything, hence the long irrelevant post. I guess all this packing and constant business has caught up with me. I guess I just needed a day off. Well, two actually. We went to the aquarium yesterday with our friends and ate Indian food and had a wonderful day with very little accomplished but it was so nice to have a day to play. We went to this fabulous playground at Centennial Park, and the kids played and ran to their heart's content. O.k, I'm feeling motivated suddenly, our across the street neighbors have someone showing their house...enough play, back to work!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Goodbye Coffee Goodness
Ah Starbucks, how I love you, let me count the ways! We got a coupon in the mail for a free drink and ^J^ just returned with a gigantic mocha frappachino. Sadly this will probably be my last Starbucks fix for a while. According to their website, the closest one to us once we move is in Manchester which is almost 30 miles away.*sigh*.
Mucho coffee is needed this morning after a productive weekend and a sick baby not sleeping much. ^J^'s parents came and helped clean, pack, paint, and kid-wrangle. *A* was with my parents all weekend, they were supposed to have (H) too but he got sick on the 4th and was out of sorts for a few days. I thought *A* might have caught it last night because when we left Taco Mac after dinner she was running around and then threw up in the Taco Mac grassy area, ewww. She did it again after we got home but seems to be doing much better this morning so hopefully it was just a fluke.
Our 4th was fun, the parade was great and as promised we came home with a basket full of candy. Then we had a yummy brunch at our friends' house. We were sad to leave but had more plans at my parents house. They invited us to a pig roast in their neighborhood and then to see fireworks. (H) was a little better by the fireworks show and kept saying "Boom" and "Wow". *A* loved it and sat on top of my stepdad's truck "like the big kids". 
O.k., I'm in a purging mood so I'm off to tackle our closet while the kids are napping. Oh, we had 3 showings this weekend. One e-mailed our realtor and said they were still thinking about it so let's hope they really are.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Mmmmmmuffins!
We had a surplus of blueberries and had our priest over for breakfast today so I made these muffins. I found this recipe in a Wondertime magazine. They are delicious! The oats gives them a more wholesome feel and makes them not as sweet as regular blueberry muffins. They are fairly time-consuming but well worth it. The recipe makes a lot (24) and you need to have paper muffin cups.
I'm taking some over to our friends' house tomorrow for a 4th of July brunch after the annual 4th of July parade in Peachtree City. For those of you who don't know, Peachtree City is known for it's golf carts as a means of transportation and everyone decorates theirs in red, white, and blue for the 4th and then parks it along the parade route. Local businesses, churches, etc. have floats and throw candy and other goodies. It's small-town fun at it's best. Apparently the 4th is a big deal ("the social event of the season") in Sewanee. They have real small-town fun like a cake contest and bicycle parade. So again, we're leaving things we love but have new excitement to look forward to.
P.S. If you want the recipe, let me know and I'll e-mail it to you, I don't feel like typing it up right now to add to this post. Perhaps I'll come back and add it later.
7/7 Update: here is a link for the muffin recipe, how exciting I didn't have to type it in! I used light sour cream and it worked fine, this is anything but healthy but quite delicious! Enjoy!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Kid-less = clean house
We sent the offspring off with Gram so we could work on the house. Or realtor came today to take pictures and we filled out some paperwork, so now our house is clean and slightly more organized. The study/3rd bedroom looks amazing, too bad it took us moving to get it this way! Now we just have to keep it this way, it's amazing what can be done with uninterrupted time. I always feel like I'm forgetting something though when the kids aren't with me. It's strange and liberating at the same time. Our realtor says she has a client who is a school teacher who is interested in our house and they'll probably come look at it towards the end of the week. Wouldn't that be nice! O.k., not much else to report right now. I'm sleepy and the kids will be back soon so I think it's naptime, clean sheets and the rediscovered duvet are calling my name...
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