Moving On With the Moving

And the bed is down. The boys are officially on the floor for the next 2 weeks (except for next weekend when they get to stay the night at grandpa's house!)

Before

After.... (I wonder how long Rand will let me keep the quilts out??? :)

Packing and Stuff

We're well into our packing. We do a lot in spurts and then sort of get confused and don't even know what to do for a while. We are having a garage sale right now, which isn't going that great. I'm sitting in the dining room watching for cars to come by because it is too hot to sit outside. Rand finally caved and went to bed (he worked graveyard last night). I'm hoping we just make enough money to go out to dinner tonight! We just sold our barbecue for $10....no wait....I think it might have gone for $5. This is more like a give away, really. That's okay because there is nothing out there that we are going to be able to bring with. In fact, there should probably be a whole lot of other stuff out there. I seriously wonder if we are going to be able to fit our belongings into that truck. We are renting the same size truck we drove to get down here but we have a lot more stuff. But it isn't just stuff. We didn't have a couch, the kids didn't have beds or dressers, we didn't have patio furniture, the kids didn't have a school table, and that's just the big stuff. Now we have all that and I don't think getting rid of the barbecue is going to make nearly enough room in the Uhaul. We shall see. Rand swears he can pack the truck better this time. I am prepared to leave all the patio furniture behind. It is big and bulky and awkward, AND we didn't buy it (it was given to us) so I don't feel AS bad having to leave it behind. I keep looking around wondering "What can we get rid of?" My answer is, "If we can't afford to replace it, then we have to try and keep it, unless we totally don't need it or want it." I can't find anymore of those things so we are going to have to try and make it work.
That was a ridiculously long paragraph about packing. How boring.
The poor kids don't have a clue really. Brendan asks again and again how this is going to work. "How are we going to take our calendar? How are we going to take our beds? Are we going to take our toys? What about my bike?" Then he goes a little further... "Are we going to take our doors with us? What about these cupboards? How big is the truck going to be? Will it be that big? Will it be as big as that?" On and on. Wyatt, on the other hand, has only picked up on the fact that it is going to be a long, long car ride. He keeps suggesting that we take a plane because planes can go a lot faster than our car. I just tell them it is going to be a lot cooler where we are going and we will have all the same toys, beds and bikes! We are all excited for cooler weather. Riding our bikes in sweatshirts and hats! I'm so excited for a change in the weather! Enough of the eternal sunshine and unbearable heat!
So, here I sit, contemplating getting another box out and getting some stuff packed up. Part of me really wishes we could just pack it all, load it and drive off tomorrow. Dragging it out makes it so hard because I have no idea what order to do this in. Leave the kitchen for last or just keep out a couple things and pack the rest now? Pack up the school stuff except for the basics? How about the kids clothes? When do I pack those? What gets stored? What stays with us? What goes in a suitcase for the car ride? Ahhh! It's so overwhelming. I should just think like Rand, "Just bust it out! Pack it up! Just do it!"

Playing Anyway

Brendan is such a trooper. He loves to play....especially when the neighbor kids are out. It is SO hot in our cul-d-sac in the afternoon, but everyday, out he goes to throw rocks, ride his bike, and play all sorts of other games that they play out there. He comes in for a drink of water about every 10 mins, but back out he goes. Wyatt doesn't last nearly as long, but he hangs in out there pretty good himself. Most of the other kids in the neighborhood tell him they are going home because it is too hot to play. I hear Brendan saying, "No. Not yet. Just go get a drink of water. If you drink a lot of water, that will help you to cool off."

When we finally get to some cooler weather, I don't think he will ever want to come in!

Recess

What exactly is Wyatt doing here?

Road Trip Crafts

Neck Pillows and Lap Blankets

Lap Desks

Broken Camera Update

Turns out my camera breaking was a good thing. I was pretty bummed, even though it wasn't the best camera, it was the only one I had that worked....and having just recently lost my iPod (another story) I was really bummed to have 2 electronic devices to replace. With a long road trip coming up I was really wanting both my iPod AND my camera (I don't have a working CD player in my car, so the iPod thing really has me down).
Anyway, I was thinking and thinking about what to do. I can't buy a new iPod....unfortunately, but the camera had to be doable. I refused to believe that Best Buy couldn't help me get that battery charged in my good camera. So today I went back. This time, I didn't ask for help....I shopped on my own. Guess what I found? A travel charger that can charge my battery! They don't sell the cords that attach to the camera, but they have these travel chargers that plug into the wall and you stick the battery into it. I don't know how great it is for the battery, but it is plugged in and charging right now. I'm quite excited because this camera is sooo much better than the one I had been using for the last, ummmmm.... 6 years.
So although I am still terribly saddened that I still have no iPod, I am ecstatic that I have a WAY better camera to use to record our trip and all the other things I take pictures of. I mean what's more important? Capturing our precious moments or listening to good music while driving 2400 miles across the country?? (I guess it's still debatable, but I'll take what I can get!)
Be watching for some pictures! :)

Big Bummer

Today I destroyed my camera. It flew off the table and landed on the lens which completely jammed into the little machine. Fortunately, it was my crummy, old, -takes 2 minutes to snap the picture after you push the button- camera. UNfortunately, my good camera does not have a battery charger and BestBuy doesn't carry chargers for that particular battery. I have to order it from Sony and it will cost a pretty penny. So until then....no more pictures. :( This is sad, too because I have lots of new crafts to share. Guess you'll have to wait.

A Little Trip Planning

Check out our upcoming Road Trip!

Starting Point: Phoenix Departure Date: 09/14/08
Destination: Phoenixville Arrival Date: 09/19/08
Total Driving Distance: 2340 miles
Total Driving Time: 36 hours, 45 minutes
(click on the maps to see them bigger)

From Phoenix, AZ to Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Driving Time: 7 hours, 55 minutes
Driving Distance: 564 miles

From Santa Rosa, NM to Wichita, Kansas
(Short stop to visit Rachel, Royal and Jayden AND pick up my travel buddy, Joanna)
Hooray for sisters! Rachel just recently moved to Wichita so it will make a perfect road trip break. Joanna will be flying in from Seattle to help me drive the rest of the way.

Driving Time: 7 hours, 45 minutes
Driving Distance: 476 miles

From Wichita, KS to Vandalia, Illinois

Driving Time: 8 hours
Driving Distance: 501 miles

From Vandalia, IL to Cambridge, Ohio

Driving Time: 6 hours, 45 minutes
Driving Distance: 427 miles

From Cambridge, OH to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania! "You have arrived"

Driving Time: 6 hours, 20 minutes
Driving Distance: 370 miles

Is anyone else thinking, "Oh my gosh. That is really far!"? I know I am. :)

First Day

2 little boys, up at 6:15 because they were so excited to start school today!








Our friend, Brock, is joining us three days a week.....hence the 3 lions!

Box Day!

It came. We're excited. School starts Monday.

Crafting Instead of Packing :)

When there are chores to be done, I can really find a lot of better things to do.

Hmmmm, I think I'll make 25+ invitations for my sisters baby shower. Good idea.

AND I managed to get them done in a day and a half. Not bad. I'm going to have to find another project to ensure Rand has plenty of packing to keep him busy. :)

It's Official...

...we're moving to Phoenixville! Another unanimous vote, this time by the elders, to hire Rand as the new Outreach Pastor of Grace Valley Fellowship. So, it's official now. You can tell people. :) I have a trip to WA for my sister's baby shower in September and we will probably head out shortly after I get back. We're thinking maybe the 17th of September. (Rach, we'll need to have a little birthday party for Wyatt when we get to your house!)
So I was thinking I'm going to need a new name for my blog. Any suggestions??
I was thinking something like..... A Day in the Life of a Pacific-South-Philly girl.....:) I'd love to hear your ideas. Maybe we should make it a contest.
Anyway, we're real excited to be moving on to our next "thing". We're really ready and excited that the opportunity is such a good one! I am excited for an east coast fall and a chilly winter. Back to 4 seasons! How many time can I say excited?? Well, we are, and it's good. It's far and the move is work, for sure, but it's real good. You guys are going to love visiting Phoenixville. :)

The Un-First Day of School.....

...for lack of a better term.
I've been struggling a bit with doubt about our decision to homeschool (I do this occasionally). I'd probably be having doubts no matter what we decided. Is it the right thing? Maybe something else is better? I especially have doubts when Brendan says, "I want to go to "real" school." Ugh! How do I explain to my eager kindergartner why we are choosing to not put him in a regular school setting? How do I deny him the fun that I know he would have???
My reasons for homeschooling are many, but I occasionally feel sad that he might be missing out on that beginning of the year fun of going to school. New kids, new supplies, new backpacks, lunchboxes and school clothes. New teacher, new classroom, new books, first day of school breakfast and pictures. So fun! I still remember what my elementary school smells like. Kind of a mix between hot lunch and Elmer's glue paste (remember that stuff?!). Totally nostalgic.
Every "con" that I come up with for homeschooling, I have been easily able to discover a solution for, that will allow us to homeschool while still giving the kiddos (or me) experiences I think we should have.
So, back to the beginning of the year, first day of school, excitement. Most of the neighborhood kids and Brendan's friends went back to school today. (They start so early here in AZ!). I read a fantastic idea on the Sonlight forum (for homeschoolers using the Sonlight curriculum) about how families celebrate the "un-first" day of school. Apparently lots of families make an effort every year to do something special on the day that every one else goes back to school. I read about families who picnic all day at the lake that day, or go to the zoo (because there aren't many field trips on the first day of school. You get the whole zoo to yourself!), or they take their kids out to breakfast...as a way to say, "hey! look what we can do because we homeschool!" I thought it was a fantastic idea. So today, as a way to celebrate the un-first day of school, we went to Starbucks for chocolate milk and playing games and then to Pump It Up! and had the place to ourselves there for a while. We had lots of fun.
We will be officially starting school next Monday (if our school stuff gets here) and are anxiously waiting for "Box Day" when all of our new books arrive courtesy UPS. That will be another fun day! I hope my kids will have fond memories of these kinds of things and realize they didn't miss out on a thing. Maybe when they are old (like me) they will fondly remember the smell of opening those boxes full of exciting new books and the possibilities of a brand new school year at home!

Playing Go Fish (Disney "Cars" style)

Lovely 92 degrees at 9:30 am....A little hot for hot coffee outside!



........................................................................................................Oops. Time-out!



Loving Kindergarten already!

Happy Birthday, Brendan!

Thrilled to be 5!

Having Fun in Phoenixville