Figure it out.

I am not embracing a change going on in our house. Thankfully, I have some time, well not much time before things begin to change, but time before I have to fully embrace all the changes.

So as we are just now, beginning to talk about this, I would like to present you with a puzzle. A riddle, a picture mystery.

We are moving.

*sigh*

That part I knew would be happening. Having already lived in the same house for more than 4.5 years is a record for my husband and I. Moving is always hard. This one, I'm really having a hard time accepting.

Of course a big part of that, is because we have lived here a long time (for us) and have fully established ourselves. We have our school, church, neighborhood, friends, friends who are now family, we have great winter weather that draws our family to us. We'll have had five incredible years here. Such a blessing!

The other part, is WHERE we're going. That is the part that I am really struggling with.  No better way to say it! Eric is excited, looking at career options and retirement opportunities that might present themselves. The kids are ready for a move. I have hesitations, and ones that no one else wants to hear.

I am trying to find the positives.

We'll see pyramids.

We might take a gondola ride.

Maybe we'll try our hand at pulling out the sword.

Or take our picture in front of the Eiffel Tower.

I'm sure at some point we'll take in the circus.

I hear the food buffets are everywhere and delicious.  Our family likes to eat! Maybe at a restaurant up high in the clouds!

Have you figured out where we're going yet?

For anyone thinking of, Egypt, Italy, France, England or any other fabulous country, sorry, not there.

We're staying good ol' state side.  But it does NOT have anything that looks like this:

This a gorgeous photo of Winnona, MN that my friend took. I would gladly move to anywhere that looked like this out my window, yesterday!

Okay, that might be a lie. I have never visited this place, so maybe there is a park somewhere that can resemble this lake picture.  Not holding my breath though.

Eric moves soon. Too soon. To do his cross training. Oh by the way, he is changing air frames and the new one, and their missions, also makes my heart heavy and worried, compounding my resistance to this move. His training is only a few hours from our house, so we'll keep the kids in school and current activities while he does training. We're hoping to get to see him a few weekends.

Hope you have figured out where we'll be headed after his training is done -which our move the family time frame is still to be determined, because I'm not ready to say it out loud yet. It might make it really happening.

I let them,

I let them go to school. I did. I was in denial about it starting today, and yet, I got them up and ready and made each a lunch and walked them to school. I did, I did!

 Showing off new socks from Grandma, that go very well with first day of school outfits!

 Third and First grade...here they come! Very excited!

 Upon arriving, I realized I had not filled out the paperwork we got from the teachers on Thursday, or even where it might be at this moment.

 See ya later girls, we've got some serious playing to do!

Once at school, CJ found her line and friends right away!

 Our brave Sweetness, became hesitant, with the swarm of students, staff and parents everywhere!

 But she settled right into her desk and looked happy when I left her.

An old pro at all of this!

Now, I guess it is time for me to stop being in denial about school starting, eh em, I mean has started and find that paperwork, fill it out, and get organized for this year of school.  Be still my heart!

Freshing up

Late this past spring we painted our house. The same colors, just a freshen up, maintaining of our home.  Since we changed the color of our front door, these chairs needed to be painted too.

 Thanks for your help!

Our fence gate also needed some serious attention, CJ played Tom Sawyor and did an outstanding job.

 Front and back

We didn't limit the painting to outside! Look at what a couple of coats of paint did for this tired cabinet.

 Pinterest idea...put a rubber band around can to remove excess paint from paint brush. It worked, but not sure any better than just the side of the can.

 Everything around here has little hands helping.

 Amazing! It used to have front doors. Between all the moves, they broke.  But for something we bought a dozen years ago at a big box store, it is looking pretty good.

Also sporting a new look is Doodle. He was having so much fun playing with his big sisters.

Celebrating!

 I truly hope that you had a wonderful day and continue to have a blessed weekend with lots of fun memories.

 We headed over to a small town for their local parade and festivities. We went in 2009, but hadn't been back. We really enjoy their day of fun!

Lots and lots of fire trucks, in part for the fun that follows the parade. Horses, and Oxen?

 This is an Oliver 550 tractor. You may not care. But this is a tractor I have driven a lot. Not recently, but growing up, it was our all around tractor.  So fun to see in the parade.

 AFTER the parade is the firefighter's water fight!  It is a soaking good time for all!

 We learned which departments have the best aim, so call those if your house is on fire. We also noticed which ones to call for the best eye candy.

Both boys were unable to stay awake for all the fun! Above, Doodle, 8 months, July 4th 2013, 
Below Kman 6 months, July 4th 2009.  That is a lot of excitement!

We headed back for the laser show. We were really excited to see just what a laser show is all about. However, a storm blew in and it was canceled right as it was supposed to start. Lots of disappointment, but we watched the fireworks on our drive home.

See ya next time!