We are (off to grandma's) today!
We'll spend a few days at Jess's parents, and then a few at mine---the kids have not had enough grandparent time this summer and Jess and I need a babysitter for an anniversary date! Before we go, though, I'll show you (most of) the rest of the house.

This is the view from the front door, complete with dry cheerio eating, TV watching preschooler. For the record, she did have to eat her first bowl at the dining room table. The doorway to the left goes to the dining room and kitchen, the one to the right goes to the bedrooms. Ceilings in this part of the house are ONLY 10 feet.

to the right is the sun room. You've seen that.

This is the view from the hallway toward the front door (on the left). Memaw painted the picture on top of the shelves and it matched my room perfectly! Elmo is visiting a clown. Our antenna wouldn't pick up PBS in Georgia, so we've been excited for morning PBS shows here!

Looking down the long hall to the bedrooms. This is where the ceilings go to 12 feet!!!

the hall has a great spot for a bookcase. We keep some books and all Addie's cloth diapers here. The picture is a one of Forsyth Park in Savannah, and under it is an art clip for each child, lovingly made by the Barrett Girls.

across from the bookcase is my housewarming gift from Jess. I have actually enjoyed doing laundry this week!

The kids rooms and kids bathroom are to the right. First, the girls' room. We're going for a hot pink and aqua vintage theme. Mom found the iron bed in Papaw's cellar and beautifully refinished it. They have a comfy cushy rug which makes it a nice place to play.

The boys' room is HUGE! So it's becoming a playroom. Sam set his train up this morning. The train had been packed away in Georgia because there was just no room. The ever disputed way too tall bunk beds don't look so tall in here!

So far, everyone has adjusted to room sharing very well. (In Georgia the littles had their own rooms, and the big kids shared.) We think Adeline doesn't sleep quite as much, so we've reinstated a morning nap, but she enjoys having her big sis around.

The tiny kids/guest bathroom.

Here's our bedroom. I have a few small projects up my sleeve, but it's close to finished.

I love this part of the house. There is a small hallway between the master and the guest bedrooms-which is also my sewing room. (you haven't seen the guest bedroom because it's a mess from sewing stuff). Off this hall is our bigger bathroom and a huge linen closet.

not much to see in the master bath, but look at the doors!

so the only things missing are the dining room and the sewing room. We have some decorating work to do in those, so we'll show you soon!

I mentioned how we love the location. The kids and I spent a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the lake, feeding the ducks and chasing the geese. Here you can see the mini-golf, skate park, playground and behind those, our building.

The geese

the lake

Yesterday we walked over to the library and were happily surprised with a big children's section. Stocked up on books on CD and a couple of movies for the trip. Speaking of trip, I better go pack some bags. Enjoy your week! We know we will!

Back online in Kansas!!!

Thanks for your patience, everyone! We finally have Internet, although I barely have the energy left to use it. We are settling here at Fort Leavenworth, and I must say, it has exceeded our expectations in so many ways. I really do love it here. Although Target is a ways away. The kids and I, and our moving van, and my mother-in-law arrived exactly a week ago today. The last box was unpacked last night, and we have a few more pictures to hang on the walls. I'll give you the tour in installments.


But first, a few pics of packing up:

our last morning at IPC, and our last night at home

all boxed up!

And now, KANSAS!

This is the front of our house. Inside the door is a foyer for four apartments, 2 upstairs, 2 down. We are downstairs (hallelujah!)

This is the view from the street. These are massive historic buildings originally used as Infantry barracks.

One of the best things about living here is the location. We are in the middle of a beautiful historic post. The chapel is across the street on one side, as well as the pool, The movie theater, mini golf park, and playground are across the street on the other side, along with the softball fields. Just on the other side of the fields is the golf course and a park with a lake. We walked over there this evening to fish and enjoyed a jazz concert in the park. Jess will also be able to walk to class and the gym.

Now here's the "best of both worlds" part. We are in the middle of everything, and yet it is a quiet safe place for our children to play. We have a backyard we share with 3 neighbors, and the front yard is quite the gathering place for everyone! It's like a block party every night!

This is the back yard

Now, moving inside. I don't quite have the living room ready, so we'll skip that. This is looking from the living room, down a small hallway, through the dining room, ending in the kitchen.

Turn the other way from the living room and see the sunroom. I LOVE the sunroom.

The kitchen is at the back of the house. At first I thought it would be a tight squeeze, but I have more room than our old house, especially since I have a bigger pantry and a HUGE dining room closet for all those appliances that rarely get used.

Speaking of closets, I have great ones. So many, in fact, that we were able to use this massive one (off the hallway pictured above) as a playroom. The "big kid" toys go in here, as well as art supplies.

The picture doesn't do it justice. It really is more of a room than a closet.

That's it for now. Thanks for praying for us during this move! God has truly blessed us.

First things first. . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AUNT RACHEL!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!

As close to home as we've got!

I know that "Home is where the Army sends you," but lately I've been telling our friends in Savannah, "This is as close to home as we've ever known together." We lived here as newlyweds and had our first child here. After some years away, we came back and our first two children started school here. Tonight is our last night together in our Georgia home. I am sad that the beach will no longer be a morning activity, but will be a week's vacation. I will miss strolling downtown among live oaks and azaleas, driving over marshland, swatting away gnats (ok, won't miss that). But of course I will mostly miss our dear friends. And those dear friends have made us feel especially loved this week.

Like Jess's co-worker who gave our children chocolate every morning when they stopped by before school. As a going away present he gave them Aladdin 1, 2 and 3 on DVD AND gave me the entire Cosby series on DVD! Just because I mentioned they don't make shows like that anymore!

Like our wonderful church friends who threw a small going away party for us this week. It was so much fun! And my girlfriends swore that the maxi dress I wore looked good on me and I was not too old for it.

The teenage daughters of some friends babysat for that party, and even though they had a total of 8 kids at our house, my house has never been cleaner! I was speechless when I walked in the door. They had even folded the laundry from the dryer, ran and unloaded the dishwasher! To top it off, they wouldn't accept payment, saying that it was their going-away gift. They just don't make teenage girls like that anymore!

Our last Sunday at IPC was filled with hugs and well-wishes. We are so grateful that God brought us once again to Savannah. It does feel like home.

Now Jess is telling me it is past my bedtime and I'm about to get in trouble. Long drive tomorrow. Pictures coming some other time!

Engineer Day

We're having an extremely busy week! Monday was engineer day at Fort Pulaski. The fort has been a favorite place for us, but this week was HOT.

We spent our time on the blow-up slides, playing soccer in the field, and just laying on the blanket (ok that was just me). Adeline enjoying a bag of chips.

My view of Addie in her stroller.

She does not like hats. Even adorable strawberry ones.

The kids loved that they could drink as much soda as they liked, as long as they went over to the booth by themselves. Here's Ella returning with her fourth.

Yep, it was hot.

Ella's Early Birthday Party

It was just one of those days. I woke up Tuesday morning to make Ella's teapot cake and we were out of oil. The house was a mess. I still had to go to the store for party food. So, Ella got to pick out whatever "grocery store cake" she wanted. She picked the tie-dye one! Then Addie didn't take her nap. I was feeling sick. But by two oclock it all came together and the dress-up tea party was a sucess!
We set up tables in the living room and each girl got her own (39 cent from goodwill!!) teacup to take home. The dining room was used as the dress up area--we just put out all of our dress up clothes, some of my jewelry and shoes. It's funny what the girls picked. For example, Ella is wearing the mermaid head scarf, an arabian dress Jess got her from Iraq, and a ballet skirt.

They had a wonderful time!