First solo weekend in our new home!

This weekend was the first weekend that we were in the house the entire weekend with just us as a family!

It was fantastic!

Friday night, we picked up daddy from work and headed for a fun dinner at Steak and Shake!

Saturday morning, we got up and around so that we could get groceries at Walmart before the crowds hit.  We made gumbo for Sunday, and Tim and I hooked up our new Blu Ray player so that we could watch Argo Saturday night.  It was a GREAT movie!

Sunday morning, we went to church and Sunday school for the first time in a month!  I was missing going so badly.  I've been to Bible study and AWANA, but I need that worship time on Sunday morning.

We sang "At Calvary" during service, and the words resonated with me so much. 

"Mercy there was great, and grace was free; 

Pardon there was multiplied to me; 

There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary!"

I get so emotional thinking about how grace was free.  It is impossible for someone to understand the good news and love of Christ without first understanding that we are sinners incapable of saving ourselves.  

"Oh, the love that drew salvation’s plan!

Oh, the grace that brought it down to man!

Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span

At Calvary!"

This time of year is always super emotional for me.  The Easter season has became a time of reflection for me.  Thinking upon what Christ did for us, sets me at awe.

The first part of this week is going to be busy for me, but I'm looking forward to slower, warmer days!  We are going to the park after school today to celebrate today's warm weather.  Come Spring!

Keepin' it real

I am finally feeling like I have clawed my way out of all the boxes.  There are a few here and there, and the garage, well that's another story.  But, for the most part, things are unpacked.

It's funny about moving into a new home- cabinets are different.  They are different sizes and things have to be changed up from how you were used to having it.  This really upsets me at first, but then I adapt.  

Also, things that looked good in your previous home, will undoubtedly not always look good in your new home.  Now a lot of things have made the transition, but definitely there will be some decor shopping.

****************************************************

I don't want to paint pretty roses around here all the time and let you assume I have no struggles going on in my life.  Lately, we have had some pretty intense discipline issues.  I know it comes with the territory, but it is most assuredly one of the hardest parts of parenting.

Most of the problem stems from them wanting to have their way or not do something that they do not want to do.  Epic battles ensue and I am left at the end of the night needing a hot bath and a Xanax. 

However, I feel like I have to do hard work now and set the standard for how we want to raise them from here on out.  I am not naive enough to believe that harder struggles are not coming.  My husband is a principal and I know all too well what is lurking in the ages to come.

I don't ever want to be lax or naive about what is going on in their lives.  This may not make me popular with my kids or with their friends or even their friends' parents, but I will not stop working hard to keep them in the best situation possible.

When we discipline them, even now, they get angry at us.  We instill over and over how much we love them, but how they are acting is not acceptable.  I pray every night for help in being a better mother and pleaseohLordamIdoinganythingright?! 

I'm just ready to see fruits from all of this work.  Heh.  They may be 30 before I see it.  It's so hard to persevere, but I know it's what needs to be done. 

******************************************************

This morning, I was going to head out to Walmart to get some groceries.

Things have not went according to my plans.

I'll spare most of the details, but cat vomit was involved.

So instead, I decided to blog and do my menu for next week and maybe clean the kitchen.

My other plans for the day include going an eating a Seussical lunch with both the kiddos and then finishing up with our PTO fundraiser by handing out prizes.  Hopefully these things go according to plan!

Hope your weekend is beautiful and not as cold as ours!

a little more realness for ya-
B's room before we moved looked like this:

Settling in

I have missed being here.  
Life has been nut-so lately.  
We moved.  And then family came to help us move our big things.  
School has been really busy.  I have a Bible study going on.  
We've had *chances* for winter weather a few times.  It actually snowed here today, but it was AFTER the decision to go to school had been made.  Bummer.  
But, my Bible study class was cancelled, so I have the day to unpack and organize!

The kids are doing great.

B Boy is excelling in kindergarten by leaps and bounds.  He is so very, very bright.  I hope not to sound braggish, I just want to document how things are going with him.
They are blogging in his class and doing online chats.  I love reading all of the things he writes.  He is very descriptive. Math seems to come very easily for him too.  Both kids are even doing some basic multiplication. Blows my mind.

First grade is going wonderful for C Girlie.  She is learning very exponentially as well.  They are both so bright, but she is more introverted with it.  She will talk sometimes about things, and we had no idea she knew those things!  She is reading very well.  They both love to read.  Her writing is gaining more stamina.  She is excelling in math.  
They both have good friends and love their teachers.

Church activities are going well for them too.  They are learning God's Word and asking many questions. It's just amazing to see the things they learn and hear the things they talk about.  

They are really enjoying the new house and love having a playroom.  C Girl loves that their bathroom connects to her bedroom.  We all enjoy having a fireplace that comes on with the flip of a switch!

As I said, some of our family came to help us move the rest of our big things this weekend.  It was also my brothers' birthdays!  I LOVE having family around.  I was so happy that my brother and his family were able to stay with us all weekend!  We love all of you and appreciate you so much for helping us move! AGAIN!  {they will all get this!}

 B Boy was a big helper!

 These girls had really missed each other!

 The guitars come out every time they are together.  Not joking. Every time.

 C Girl mixing the gravy for breakfast Sunday morning. Love her hand on her hip!

 Enjoying lunch!

B Boy and Uncle Keithy

 Sweet Parker boy playing with B's hot wheels.

 Girls!!!!

 I have missed you so much my friend!!!

 Keith and I.  I was kicking myself that I didn't get a picture of me and both the boys on Saturday.

 My love!

 They love their uncles!

 Oh goodness! I love this boy!

I do believe that she does too!

 Our snow this morning!

Milestones

I am so tired, but there are so many things going on right now that I want to remember.

Yesterday was, of course, Valentine's day.  It was a wonderful, wonderful day.  We all got wonderful gifts and felt very, very loved.  The kiddos' both had great class parties.  

It's so neat how life evolves with kids.  I heard C Girl call from her room on Vday morning, "are the surprises on the table like they normally are?" They know how our traditions work now and that cracks me up!

This morning marked a MAJOR milestone in our lives!  We closed on a new home!  It is so amazing this time around because we have worked hard saving money and the house is brand new and fully "ours."  It is a beautiful home, and I just feel SO blessed to call it our home.  May the Lord bless it and all of our times in it!

Another major milestone happened tonight.  C Girlie is at her very first sleepover!  I just could not believe it when she brought the invitation home. I did not think either of us were ready for it yet, but as always, she surprises us.  She is having a wonderful time. Her friend's mom sent me this picture-

We have been moving things over to our new house and will be continuing to do that throughout the next week!  I'm so ready to have everything settled again!

One day at a time

That is how I feel that life has been lately.

I had sick kiddos last weekend through the beginning of last week.  It completely threw me off to have kids home from school on Monday and Tuesday.  

The rest of the weeknights were busy, Wednesday night with church, Thursday night with Tim having ball game duty and Friday night, I went to a women's conference at my church (which was so very, very good, by the way).

Friday, I had the kickoff for our school fundraiser, and a meeting after school to discuss with a company the item that we are purchasing for the school that we are raising all of this money for!

Saturday morning we got up at the butt crack of dawn (no, I don't think I'll ever stop using that phrase) to have a moving sale. Despite it being February and a little cold, we had a very nice turnout.  The remaining items were loaded up Saturday afternoon and dropped off at Goodwill.

Yesterday, I had grand plans to go to church and then have a nice afternoon.  However, I woke up with a terrible headache, so we stayed home from church.  I always hate missing on Sunday mornings.  I look forward to that worship time and I look forward to learning and fellowship in our Sunday school class.

We did get out in the afternoon to shop a bit.  I desperately needed a new pair of jeans and I ALWAYS have such a hard time finding jeans for myself!  I did have luck and found a cute pair at Old Navy that will do for now.

I asked around on Twitter about where everyone buys their jeans.  Everyone had a different answer, but I got some great ideas about where to look in the future!

So here we are at Monday morning.  My days are full this week with the fundraiser and getting everything completely ready to move.  We close on Friday!!!!!
We are hoping to move enough stuff over Friday and Saturday that we can start sleeping there on Saturday night!

AND, it's also Valentine's Week.  Valentine's seems to be swallowed up in all of this madness, but we love this week!  I cannot wait to give the kiddos their little Valentine's goodies!!!

Hi, I'm still here

I've had a sick baby boy this weekend.  It started Friday night and lasted all night long.  We were pretty tired Saturday, but the boy seemed some better, so we set out to do some and antiquing and furniture shopping that we needed to do.

Saturday night, he was sick again :-(  But, it did not last all night long like the previous night.

Sunday morning, we stayed home from church as to not infect anyone else.  Tim emptied our storage building out in preparation for our moving sale.  We also did some work around here, and I filed our taxes.

And we are missing our Sunday school class Super Bowl party :-(  But we have Frito chili pie and chips & dip, so that makes me feel a little better :-)

B Boy still has fever, so he is gonna stay home with momma tomorrow.

Besides all of that, we've had birthday parties, doctor's appointments, dentist appointments, church directory pictures, church activities, signing up for spring baseball, cleaning, cooking, Bible study, meetings, a HUGE PTO fundraiser starting soon, lists, school stuff, oh and a little thing called PACKING!!!

T minus 12 days to closing!

Moving stories

***This is my 700th post!  crazy!  So glad it is about such a happy topic!***
***************************************************************************************

I'm sorry if you thought these stories would be "moving" to your heart.  

These stories are actually about well, moving.

I want to talk about our upcoming move and other moves I have made in the past.

I moved a lot while I was growing up.

My dad was in construction and specifically, building bridges.  So, we had to move to go to where each job was located.

I was born in Arkansas and I spent my early years here, in Texas, and in Oklahoma. 

My kindergarten-part of 2nd grade were spent in Choctaw, OK.  We then moved back to Arkansas to stay.

Once we moved back to Arkansas, we lived near dad's family.  We lived there for a few years and then moved to another house.  I do remember living in both places.  After moving back to Arkansas, dad started working another job that was not in construction anymore.

In 1992, I was 11, and my parents bought the house that they still live in today.

My next move was when I moved to Arkansas Tech for college.  I lived in the dorm the first year.  

After the first year, I moved into an apartment with a friend.  I stayed with her for the summer, and then I moved into another apartment with another friend.

I lived with that friend for a couple of years, and then finally moved into an apartment by myself for the remainder of college.  I did have a couple of roommates during that time, but not the entire time.

Those moves didn't seem like a big deal at the time.  They most certainly were easier since I was only moving one person!

I moved in with Tim at the very end of college (we were married the week after I graduated).  Again, that move wasn't too bad, I will still just moving me.

We lived in his house from 2003 until he got a new job in the summer/fall of 2007.  That move was cuh-ray-zee.  I had a not-quite 1 year old and a not-quite 2 year old.  AND we were closing on the house we were selling and the house we were buying within a day of each other.  I STILL remember how stressed out all of that had me.  I was so close to a breakdown. So close. 

So, it was to my immense relief when we moved into the house at Paris finally.  I really thought at the time, that it might have been the house where the kids would grow up all the way up in.  We were in my hometown, Tim had a great job right up the road, and we were very close to family.

We were there for two years when Tim received a dream job in the part of the state that he had always wanted to be.  I will admit that I was not nearly as excited as he was about the job.

I was even more not excited when we had to live apart that entire school year because our house would.not.sell.  It was awful.  I still remember how the kids cried for Tim every night at bedtime.

We finally bit the bullet the next school year and found a house to rent here in Bentonville.  We moved and were paying our mortgage on the house in Paris and the rent on the house here.  It was a very tight time for us.  We also lost Tim's mom that fall.  I truly do not have the best memories of the time we lived in that house.

That spring, we received a notice that the house we were renting was going up for auction. APPARENTLY, the owner had stopped paying on the house a long time ago.  So, 7 months after moving to Bentonville, we had to move AGAIN.  

Not a happy Lenette.

Praise be, our Realtor had a home in our price range that we LOVED.  We have spent two wonderful years in this house.  I will really miss some aspects of it.  It's been a great little home for us. And we sold our other house not long after we moved in!

I say all of this to preface our upcoming move.

We have been looking for homes to buy for 2-3 years.  We have always been conflicted on what part of town to live in, what do we want in the house, and just a million other things when you finally go look at a house and it doesn't measure up to what you read online.

We finally found a house that both of us were cautiously optimistic about.

When we went to look at it, we found out that it was still under construction! What's that you say?  A brand, spanking new house?!

I loved so much about this house and it was fun to pick out paint colors and carpet.  Tim is extremely happy because we will have a 3 car garage!  That's been hard to find in our price range.  I'm happy because it has 4 bedrooms, a lovely kitchen and a gas stove!  We also will never have anyone behind us.  That was a big selling point for us.  To be in town and not have someone up your rear is a big deal here!

I can truly say that this may be the happiest move that I have ever made.  I'm excited and I can't wait to be in the home that my kiddos will finish growing up in.

Without further ado, here is the outside of our new home...

The painters were here that day, hence the random car in the driveway.

And the front door is now brown and not the tan color like in the first two pictures.

It's a wonderful neighborhood with sidewalks to walk and let the kids ride their bikes.
It's very close to the school we will probably be attending.
It's in town!
It's so funny the things that matter when buying a house when you are a parent! ha!