Memorial Day

Today we remembered our fallen heroes.

I spent some time on the Naval Academy's Memorial Hall website today (click here). 

I encourage you to scroll all the way to the bottom, where the most recently graduated officers are listed. Chet and I were both in the same company as Elizabeth Kealey (class of 2005) and Brian Kennedy (class of 2007). People who are in the same company live on the same hallway, eat at the same tables, and play on the same intramural sports teams.

It's difficult to fathom all of these losses; always remember that freedom isn't free.

Antique-ing

Happy Sunday!

This morning after Sunday school we swung through the McDonald's drive through and set off for the antique stores.

Antique-ing is not the children's favorite activity, but we informed them there was ice cream at home in the freezer. Those who complained would not get any after dinner.

That's our parenting strategy in a nutshell.

Ruthie needed to go to the bathroom twice while we were out. She told me, "I love you, Mom, because you take me to ALL the bathrooms!"

I would post pictures of what we bought...but we didn't buy anything. Chet and I just enjoy looking.

Ford's Bunkbed

Today I sold Ford's bunkbed to one of our neighbors:

We actually have two of these bunkbeds (which are not really bunkbeds, but that's not the point right now), and we really like them, but we only need one of them at our next house.

Now Ford's room looks like this:

A little barren (I secretly love it).

I also finished helping Lorelei pack the rest of her treasures today, and we all agree that this move is starting to feel very, very real.

Happy Saturday!

Fireplace and Packing

Chet built this adorable faux fireplace for our house in California, but we are not taking it with us to Florida.

I hope someone in our current neighborhood (where the houses are all the same) volunteers to take it off our hands and can enjoy it like we have.

Today Lorelei and I packed up most of her belongings in preparation for the move. Desk items, sentimental items, papers decorating the walls, etc. We are both glad to have gotten most of it done.

After dinner and baths we watched half a movie (we almost always break a movie into two viewings -- otherwise the kids get in bed way too late), and now I'm ready to change into pajamas myself. Chet was off work today (and will also be off Monday) for Memorial Day, and it was really nice having him around on a Friday.

TGIF!

Castless Lorelei

Did I mention Lorelei got her cast off?

She actually got it off the first week of May, and has been working on regaining her range of motion and strength.

We go back for one final check next week, and she will be officially healed!

Our bodies (especially kids' bodies) are amazing.

Wednesday

Without an official school schedule to keep me on track, I am terrible at knowing which day of the week it is.

Just FYI.

I also just realized I didn't go outside once today. My kids did, but I breathed air-conditioned air all the live long day. 

Our impending move to Jacksonville is starting to feel very real, and I am tackling some projects I've been putting off to help us purge and get organized.

Such as:

Books.

This white cubed bookshelf is in our main living area, but Chet and I had a good number of books on the built-in shelves in our master bedroom closet too. I thought it prudent to put all of the books in the same place, so that when the movers come to box everything up, I wouldn't find myself in Jacksonville opening a box with a few books, a pillow, and socks.

Chet doesn't think moving all the books to the same place is going to make much of a difference, but when I do such things I also take inventory and purge as much as possible in one fell swoop.

Anyway.

How was your Wednesday?!

Sydney

Sydney is spending the night at her friend Lucy's house tonight, and I intercepted her walking there when Ruthie and I were coming home from gymnastics.

Chet had told her to pack an overnight bag, but instead of choosing a backpack, she put her belongings in a pillowcase to sling over her shoulder.

Chet said he was tempted to find a large stick for the pillowcase to hang on.

It was the last day of school for the public schools here. All of the children in the neighborhood are thrilled.

Happy Tuesday!

Lowe's

Saturday Chet and I needed to go to 84 Lumber to check on something, and also went to Lowe's because it's right next door.

We left Sydney, Lorelei, and Ford at home watching a movie while we did that, but Ruthie accompanied us.

It was, of course, freezing in Lowe's, and since I ALWAYS have a sweatshirt with me, Ruthie was able to borrow it and stay warm.

She asked me to take her picture whilst lounging in the outdoor furniture section.

Happy Monday!

Mother's Day

The Thursday just before Mother's Day weekend, Chet, Ford, Ruthie, and I drove to Jacksonville, FL to check on our new house (have I mentioned Jacksonville OR our new house yet?).

We spent Friday and Saturday doing house business, and got to visit with Chet's parents who drove into town midday Saturday.

Sunday morning (Mother's Day) we drove back to Mississippi.

It was an odd-ish Mother's Day, but also great. Chet made sure to take some pictures of me with the kids that evening.

There's no such thing as a picture where everyone looks their best, so I chose the one that is most real.

Happy Wednesday (all day long I thought today was Thursday)!

Welcome, May

That is...welcome, SECOND HALF OF MAY.

Where has this month gone?!

I know part of the problem is that I was out of town two weekends in a row (Jacksonville, FL Mother's Day weekend and Gulf Shores, AL this past weekend).

I visited Gulf Shores with three of my friends I will soon say goodbye to (when we move to FL in a month...gulp). 

We stayed in a cute little beach house, surrounded by hundreds of other cute little beach houses, on this street:

That's all I have time to share at the moment. More on the trip(s) later (hopefully).