A New Normal

We've been waiting and waiting, and it's finally here...our new normal. Last week, the kids and I, along with my brave mom, made the trek from Pennsylvania to Illinois. Fourteen hours, seven hundred miles, two sick children, and about half a dozen potty stops later, we pulled into the parking lot of the Holiday Inn Express...only to find that Stephen was off getting our dinner at Steak 'n Shake. He came back soon bearing tasty treats, but the real treat was being in his arms again.

We signed our life away the next morning and got keys to our new place. I had only seen it in pictures until the night before when we did a final walk-through. It did not disappoint! The house is beautiful, and the space is private - both major pluses in my book. Now, the mosquitoes, on the other hand...they can go! It's been very wet and rainy here for the last month, so I'm hoping that with drier weather, the mosquitoes will leave.

We moved in on Thursday and have been unpacking ever since. Wow - having movers is amazing. Very little heavy lifting to be done on our part, and they even did whatever unpacking we wanted them to do. There are still plenty of boxes to be unpacked - mostly decor items and toys - but having movers is like getting a running start on everything. Stephen had a few days off to help, but it was back to work for him yesterday. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my delight when Stephen walked in the door at 5:30pm last evening. What a blessing to have him here (both physically and mentally) for dinner and all evening! No work emails to think about. No long hours. The kids even see him in the morning before he leaves for work. And that, folks, is why we made this move. 

Well, pictures have been requested, so here's the tour of our new place. But if you really want to get a feel for it, you'll have to find a reason to swing by central Illinois. 

Yeah, it's back there. Just keep driving...

Welcome!

Our own personal chain-saw-carved squirrel along the driveway

Lots of hydrangeas along the driveway and around the house

More hydrangeas

Path around to the sideyard

Walk-out basement door

Stone walkway from backyard down to the sideyard

The backyard

The fire pit that the boys are so excited about

Tons of flowering plants as well as herbs and veggies

More hydrangeas (lacetops or something like that?)

The garden! We already ate green beans from it, and they were so good! Luke
is excited about the jalapenos.

More flowers. Now come on in!

The den

Master bedroom - on the main level. So far I love it!

Master bath and closet

Jetted tub! Can't wait to try it out.

Three kid rooms upstairs - full of beds and Legos.

Great room

Great room - I love the fireplace and the view.

We've used it already. Yes, I know it's still June. :-)

Kitchen and Dining area as well as Sunroom (which we'll use for school)

Opposite view

Sunroom view from kitchen

Laundry to the left of the kitchen (still deciding if I like the newer
washer and dryer that came with the house)

Now the basement. Room for a guest bed...

...a kitchenette...

...toys and books...

...and a pool table! We're already having fun with it.

Well, that's the end of the tour. As I said, if you want the real tour, just come on over. We'd love to see you!

What to do

When you're living in a home that's not your own (though it once was), and you don't have all your books or toys at your disposal, it's hard to know what to do with four children who are tired of checkers, chess, and The Uncle Wiggily Game. (Video games are off limits at the moment, and they've been watching way too much tv.)

But after feeling a bit inspired by a Charlotte Mason-ish blog I read yesterday, I asked the kids to bring their sketchbooks outside and draw. And they did. The idea was to draw the killdeer and her eggs that are nesting along the driveway. But they opted for drawing the neighbor's barns, Grandpa's house, and each other. That was fine with me because we were out of the house, and they were drawing.

Mama Killdeer protecting her eggs

the neighbor's barns

The wind kept blowing her pages around.

And when presented with the opportunity to get out of the house and go for a ride, you go. Especially if it means that there is an Al's Pizza & Subs at the other end of the car ride and it happens to be dinner-time.

Mmmm. A tuna grinder just like I
remember. So good!

Back Where I Come From

Yep, that should make you think of Kenny Chesney if you've got an ounce of country in you. But I'm really talking about Perry County. 

I'm back where I come from. For three and a half glorious weeks, I'm soaking in the fresh air, well water (seriously!), green mountain views, and - best of all - family. 

For years I've said that when I get here, I feel like I can breathe again. There SPACE. Space between towns. Space between houses. Space to just be. 

AH.

Admittedly, the kids have been a bit bored with no school and few toys. But we've been able to see family and get together with old friends, and that's been a lot of fun.

Last Saturday we went to a Corvette car show. Luke and Cade enjoyed the Corvettes only slightly less than Grandpa. 

The boys were rather impressed with the Camaro too.

Ya like that CAT hat? Yeah. Aunt Kelli wore her Deere hat, so we snapped a picture of the rivals.

We spent a day at DelGrossos' amusement park with cousins earlier this week. It was our kids' first trip to an amusement park, believe it or not. They had a fun day, but there were definitely some rides we would not ride again! 

She wanted to ride the teacups but had to ride with an adult. So I rode.
Whew. Not going to make that mistake again anytime soon!

A fun day! Thanks, Aunt Janelle!

Another day we hung out on the beach at Colonel Denning State Park lake with my best friend from my younger days and her kiddos. The kids splashed around in the water and even caught 151 snails. Bleh. The mommies just soaked up the sun. 

the snails

Yesterday we visited with another old friend. The kids loved the creek that runs behind her house and got on well with her boys...but alas, no pictures. Ok, I did get a few pictures of popsicle faces, but if I post her popsicle face, Tiff might decide to dig up some lovely old pictures of me, and we just don't want that. 

So how about just a few pics of the kids' popsicle faces? Here you go...

Drawing has also been keeping the kids busy at Grammie and Grandpa's house. Last night two of them were drawing CAT creations. Here they are...

We are at T minus 10 now. Ten more days till we see Daddy!!! And our new house, too. 

I'm thinking life in Washington, Illinois, will be a bit different from life in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Of course, that was the idea from the start. Slower, quieter. Yes, please! 

We are ready and waiting!