Moving Day 1

The movers came today and packed the downstairs. Tomorrow they do the upstairs, and also the unaccompanied baggage. Packing is boring. I just sit there and watch them. I had my friend pick up a tray of subs from subway, and she stayed to hang out until she had to pick up the girls from school. It was nice to chat and hang out and not just sit. 

Lots o boxes

We didn’t know they weren’t packing everything today, so we got the whole house ready. It would have been nice to know so I didn’t have to pack everything and remake the bed. Oh well. 

Pretending to be Rapunzel climbing her tower with her hair. What else do you do when your toys are in boxes?

Getting ready for the movers

We have been working our tails off to get ready for the movers. Steven has arranged everything we  need from Korea: movers, TLFs, legal documents so I can sign out of everything, and our tickets. I have been doing a lot of work at home while Emma is at school. We have sorted and labeled things for a household goods shipment (our big one to Japan), unaccompanied baggage (500 lb quick shipment to Japan), storage, stuff we are packing in suitcases, and random stuff we will need before we leave. We tried to do a lot this weekend, but it was hard to do too much...she is a good helper, but she also like to play...which is normally fine, but I had to sort every into piles and we can’t touch them. Today she went to Riley’s house after school so I could finish packing. I think we are ready for the movers to come tomorrow. I am glad today is over, and I will be even more glad when all of our stuff is gone. Then it will be on to the next item on the list: selling the van.

She made herself a snack on Saturday.

We took down the curtains and the curtain rods on Saturday. 

We went mini golfing with Riley and Liam on Sunday. thankfully the last few days were very nice out. The next few weeks are going to be cold and rainy.

In front of the ‘Ninjago’ house. 

The tape measures were very exciting. As was the ladder, which is green, Daddy’s favorite color!

This kid. How many times have I told her not to bring rocks home from school? I have taken lots back already, this is just what I found while cleaning and packing. She fills her pockets.

We made lots of muffins this morning...trying to use up pantry ingredients...and have some food after they take all our stuff. Emma enjoying ‘having’ to eat hot lunch and I may have even bought some breakfast cereal...not that we will need it after all these muffins! 

Packing cubes are great! You can’t see them here, but under all the stuff I piled on top, are very organized suitcases. I’m just glad we got everything in and we don’t need any extra luggage. And it is much easier to get stuff out when we need it...instead of making a mess trying to find something or having to pull everything out for one thing. 

Reni Rally

Today was Emma’s last Reni Rally...their awards assembly. It’s very loud. A few kids get recognized for certain things, then all the kids run around and give the parents high fives while they play loud music. 

They were supposed to wear their blue Dr. Seuss shirts, but apparently Emma’s was dirty. I thought it was clean, or I would have washed it. She wore last years shirt. 

Pretty Beale sunset.

Last month at Beale

It seems strange to think we have less than a month left at Beale. This is the only place Emma remembers. I have said for years that wherever you live, there will always be things you like and things you don’t. As I was putting the trash out this evening I stopped to look at the view. This is definitely something we loved here, and will miss when we move. 

Busy days and nights

The ball is rolling! The movers are scheduled for next week. Our tickets have been arranged. We leave April 2. Steven will get there April 26. I have been busy getting everything ready at home while Emma is at school. During the evenings we have been working on a school project: the leprechaun trap. It was fun. A nice break from everything else. LOTS of glitter. And a happy girl. Some friends stopped by in the evening to pick something up, but the little visits from friends seem to make our evenings go much smoother. I’m not saying we are lonely, but i have definitely noticed how even a few minutes of Emma having someone else to play with, read to her, or talk with her have made such a difference in her behavior. Pray for her a lot in the next few weeks. I’m going to be very busy with moving stuff, and I can tell it is already upsetting her in ways she doesn’t even know. Moving is hard. Moving overseas is a different animal. Moving overseas without Daddy means we walk by faith that God will provide everything we need for each day: sleep, friends, food, help, patience, distractions....and we don’t worry about tomorrow. His mercies are new every morning.

We went for a bike ride Sunday afternoon. We didn’t stop to see anyone because I was afraid they were napping. But Ms. Holly stopped by on her bike ride later! Emma was very glad she did.

So I made the mistake of telling Emma there won’t be chick fil a in Japan. Gasp! She was very upset. So last night I took her to Chili’s. They have one on base in Japan. Not sure if it helped her, but it was nice to not have to cook. 

My dinner buddy. 

I paid $5 for this puzzle at JBF. I assumed it had all the pieces. Obviously it doesn’t. But we finished it anyway. Ms. Holly stopped by yesterday on her bike ride and helped us with a few parts.

She got an otter book and baby otter from the book order. Did you know baby otters are so fluffy they can’t sink or swim under water!?

Making a leprechaun trap. Girl loves to paint. I have never really let her. But it was fun, so maybe we will do it more. 

All done!

We painter her name in glitter. There is a ladder. And a gold road, leading to our trap hole.

She wanted a rainbow kitty. We did it in glitter. Pretty sure no one else will have one of those!

Emma’s scrapbook

I have finally finished Emma’s scrapbook! I am finishing up our Idaho scrapbook next. And I’m realizing I thing I had plans for another scrapbook...we will see if I do it now or wait. I’m considering keeping my scrapbooking stuff in storage, so I can work on the last one later...I’ve already bought stuff for it, but I haven’t started on it yet. I haven enjoyed working on it, but I don’t like to do it all the time. It taking up my whole dining room and table. 

But for now...here are the pages of Emma’s scrapbook! 

I realize now that the word ‘baby’ is on there 3 times. Oh well.

She was not 19 inches long...but she was wiggly, so that’s what they put. She was 18ish.

These are from my baby shower in Kansas.

The picture above is from our baby shower inTexas at the Fishers. It was great fun, as are all parties that Jennifer does. Steven had to wear an apron with a watermelon under it...while hanging baby clothes on a clothes line, putting on makeup and separating an egg. He was pretty good at all 3, much to their surprise. But it was still hilarious.

Steven switched from teaching the basic fire course to teaching Rescue about the time we got pregnant. We told people about the time he was teaching his first class. They were so generous...went in to get us a gift card, a family figurine,  and all wrote in this card! Seriously, we were so blessed by everyone! 

Just realized I put some of these pictures in there twice. Oops.

This party was actually not on her birthday. This was her second 1st birthday party...once again thrown by Jennifer. She threw her this party literally the day after Steven got home from Afghanistan. Jennifer did a much better job than me at the first birthday thing, glad we have these memories as I have no pictures from the party I threw.

So as I was finishing her scrapbook this week, I came across some pictures that I just couldn’t resist putting in here! You see Guen holding Emma right before they moved to Alaska...Emma has never met her since, and I long for the day they do! And Daddy holding Emma at Guen’s second birthday.

These were pictures taken by our worship leader’s wife when Emma was 9 days old. 

This is not in her first year, technically, but I had to put it in!