Settling In

 

Our first baby is settling into her new home.  She still hasn't figured out how to stop very well on the wood floors when she gets to going too fast.  And 80 pounds of sliding lab can take out any toddler and sometimes even an adult.

 

We were settling in for movie night one night when Daddy was working late.

Then Clare wanted to cuddle with her brother.

In the zone watching Cars 2.

As a side note, the hair represents the ornery mood she happened to be in that night.

Finally everyone got comfortable.

We figured out that we could slide easily on our bellies.  So playing like we are a snake now on the wood floors comes a lot more easily.

Looking out our favorite big windows and surveying the backyard for activity, be in dogs, birds, rain, or the prospect of new playmates.

She was making little kisses in this picture, that is why she's a little puckered up.

Reading about David and Goliath.  She knows that David is a giant and does her best attempt and Fe-Fi-Fo-Fum everytime we talk about him.

  Here our little family is trying to set our new normal.  We are trying to make it feel like home and meet new people.  Reconnect with those from our former existence here.  Let the kids see their grandparents and great grandparents as much as possible.  Trying to find our new activities.  And my least favorite, deal with the last 20 or so boxes in the basement (yes, that's where you hide all your only used-once-in-awhile things and where you hide when there are tornadoes).  Which on a side note, there have been some since we've moved back.  I kind of forgot about them and now my 3 year old has a slight obsession with them.  He keeps telling me he wants to see one.  I wisely say no you don't my dear.  And the cyclical debate ensues.  We love our new play room that is just for the kids.  It explodes daily with toy shrapnel coming out the door into the foyer but at least its not exploding in my living room.  Plus all the toys are available these days too and don't have to be rotated out into the garage.  We are loving most aspects of the space.  I am trying to figure out how to clean this home without spending half my life doing it.  I may actually own all forms of the Swiffer before its all done.  I feel like I should have received some sort of cleaning guidance on this.  Wood floor are not my specialty and have already made some rookie mistakes.  But am seeking guidance from more seasoned wood floored friends.
  I'd like to say that it has been really perfect, however, its still hard.  Its not just the where are my coffee cups feeling at 6 in the morning.  Its the seeing pictures of our old home with my kiddos in it and getting waves of homesick.  I love it here, don't get me wrong.  And in almost 2 months of living here I think that I have encountered two rude people.  You'd think they were being filmed here all of the time as a promo for our city as nice and considerate as I've found everyone to be.  I don't worry about crime like I used to and rarely even hear a siren.  I never have to wait longer than 2 minutes in the line at Walmart and never have I met more friendly, well dressed cashiers there.  Its been a great temperate winter and was good for us to ease back into the climate differences here.  I just hurt for the little man who desperately misses his best buddy in New Mexico and asks frequently for him.  I hurt that when he plays with his toy plane he's always flying back home to his house in New Mexico.  It has really been hard for him.  In many ways other than that.  So much so, that I am not sure how to help him other than getting him busy with activities.   I pray we will find him that friendship and camaraderie that he so desires.  We are getting there though.  We'll be starting soccer and gymnastics soon.  Followed by swimming lessons in the summer and preschool in the fall.  I don't want to wish him through all of that time to get him through the hurt because he's only my all day, everyday for so long.  I just hope the hurt goes away quickly for him.  I want to see my little guy again.  Well, I don't want to say that it has been awful.  Just a big adjustment.  One I knew would happen.  Its hard to believe we are going on almost 6 months since we made the decision.  We wouldn't change it.  But I'm not going to be anything but transparent, life's not all butterflies and rainbows.  We've have our share of rough days but there are many aspects of our life that we have found much more peace already.  Thank you for your prayers or continued prayers through our move and transition.  We will post pictures of our house very soon...pending a furniture delivery and a little organizing.