Office

Our major project last week was the office. I was tired of it looking like yet another storage room. I had tried to tackle it on my own but it was too big of a job for me alone. I just don't' have my usual energy these days and my lifting is very limited. Dave & Sweet Pea teamed up with me and we worked for hours to get it finished.

Some BEFORE shots:

Closet with boxes all around.

It actually had even more boxes in here than this. I took this photo mid-job. You could barely walk inside the door earlier.

Starting to stack the bookshelves

The AFTER shots:

A job well done.

At this angle you can see the computer chair for the big desk, the small computer desk Dave has set up for the kids schoolwork & games (it still needs to be hooked up), the main bookshelves full of resources and part of the craft/work table.

Here you can see we tucked the bench behind the craft/work table. I hadn't originally planned this but with no other space to put it I tried it out. I really like it! There are the 2 new small shelves Bugs & Dave put together. The crate is full of coloring books.


Here is the craft/work table again. I plan to place a chair or two in the front of it I have to dig them out of the garage first. Lol. A front view of the shelves Bugs & Dave put together. These hold binders, resource material and other little odds & ends for school. The rolling cart is to the left of the shelves and needs to be reorganized. I plan to have Dave install our big whiteboard above the shelves. It will be nice having it back in use again.

A shot of the big computer desk, main computer and little computer desk. We also managed to fit one of the filing cabinets underneath the big desk saving room. We plan to put a big bulletin board on the wall over one side of the large computer desk. We are toying with the idea of shelves on the other side. I think that will help keep the desk surface clear.

I didn't take a picture of the closet because its' not complete yet. For the most part we are keeping our extra school supplies, computer extras, the 2nd filing cabinet and office supplies in there. We may keep art supplies in there if I can squeeze them in. If not, we may have to rearrange the hall linen closet.
We're very pleased with the way the office turned out. The kids & I are really happy & thankful to have a school room of sorts again. And I love having the computer tucked away out of the main living area but still nearby.

Baby News!

I had my first appointment with my new OBGYN yesterday. What a relief to be seen again! It's been over 2 months and I was feeling uneasy not having medical care during that time. Of course if I had felt I absolutely needed to be seen I would have gone to the emergency room. Being back under a doctor's care is such a blessing.

My new doctor seems very nice & I felt comfortable with her. I especially liked the way she took time to speak to both Boo & Elvis asking them questions and really listening when they answered. (I had brought them with me & had Sweet Pea babysit Bugs at home.) She also made certain that I had an U/S (ultrasound) scheduled before I left the office. I guessed I missed my u/s that was supposed to happen in the 16th to 20th week and she wanted to make sure no more time was missed. Whew! I now have an appointment in Nashville for the end of the month. I am SUPER excited! I hope Baby will cooperate and we can find out boy or girl. Most of all I am anxious to see Baby for myself and hopefully hear that he/she is healthy and growing fine.

Last night I was looking through the journal the doctor's office gave me and could hardly believe we are in the 6th month already! Time is really flying by! Dave & I are eager to get working on the Baby's room soon. Lots of boxes to relocate!

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for Baby and joining in our excitement. It has meant the world to me to be able to share this miracle with you and our joy at his/her upcoming arrival. It's a little lonely some days having moved so far away from home & not really having anyone here yet. I'm thankful I have all of you to share with. And, Megan I'm especially thankful for you, Friend. You've been with me every step of the way matching my excitement with your own & encouraging me when I've felt so rotten I could barely get out of bed in the morning. I don't know what I would have done without you these past months. Thank you, Friend! {{{{{HUGS}}}}

Growing

Now that the kittens are growing older they are venturing away from mama & exploring. One of the things I love is the time I can spend with them. One evening Skywalker came up and cuddled up with me and fell asleep. I took this to be a sweet compliment. That he trusted me this way melted my heart.

I've included some more recent pics of the kittens too. They are growing fast!

Sassy amused me with her antics.

Auntie Tucker has decided she is their 2nd mommy.

Pixie samples her first taste of cat food.

They still love to nurse when mama allows.

The Four Amigos

Dancing Kitty

Little Painters

In June we had a big yard sale & sold many of our bookshelves. Since our books need to have a home new shelves were a priority. We looked around in stores but couldn't find any that suited our needs and style. Dave & I decided that he would make some shelves so we could get exactly what we wanted & what would fit the house. As you many remember he built quite a few sets of shelves in the old house too. Dave built 3 sets to fit under the eave upstairs in the Family Room. Then they needed to be painted. Elvis & Boo were eager to help with the painting. One beautiful Saturday Dave set them to work outdoors in the backyard. Here are the results.

Ack! He's a Mime!


Hamming it up

Boo Bear

Hanging Out

Decisions & Dilemmas

It's that time of year again........time to head back to school. But first I still need to finish the portfolios & school planning. I have a general idea of what the kids will be studying. That is a relief. Sweet Pea is going to be doing two of her main subjects on the computer which will help both she & I. when I told her this she was very excited. She loves being on the computer and doing her schoolwork a little different than sitting down with pencil & paper. I think I have Boo's curriculum selected but am still figuring out all of Elvis'.

Dave is home this weekend and yesterday he and the kids went down to the storage unit to organize it. I think they found all of Sweet Pea's schoolwork from last year. What a relief! Now I can finally put it all together & get that portfolio off my back. I did call the Deputy Super's office last week and explained things. They were understanding and I was relieved. I think they have bigger things on their plate with public school starting next week anyway. =)

I'm kind of at a loss of how to plan our schedule this year. I am still believing God will move us soon. Because of this I haven't signed the kids up for soccer or anything else. I feel badly about this b/c they missed it in the spring as well. But frankly I don't know how I'd do it all myself - all the practices, the games, the errands, the cleanings & then school too. Plus I'd hate for them to be signed up & then have to quit right after they started as the season starts later in Sept. & goes through Oct. But I still feel badly they are missing out for 2 seasons in a row. I had so hoped we would be settled in TN by now. BUT again I am hanging onto HOPE. The fact that we will move soon, (keep believing!), also makes me wonder how to plan our daily schedule. How do I balance it all? Plus on top of everything else I have not been feeling well. The thought of a full day of school all week long simply exhausts me. Ack!

Speaking of all of this makes me anxious to begin. I had better get busy on sorting Sweet Pea's work from last year. Boy will I be relieved when I can turn those portfolios in and check them off of my long list!

Thanks for listening! It's nice to have a place to go and write freely. =)