Friday, 12 September 2008

• Summer Days & A New Home

  There are days when I lament the loss of our grand old place back in Meadville, PA. Our neighbors were friends, everything was familiar and it was HOME. In moments of exasperation, I find my mind harkening back to those good ol' days. . .

  Our neighborhood 4th of July BBQ. We set up the food tables in our garage. This is Atlee making homemade ice cream.

  

  Here is Glenn, our neighbor across the street, grilling the hamburgers and hot dogs on Del's grill, the next door neighbor.

  

  My sweet next door neighbor, Donna, and her little girl Delaine. (I hope I spelled that correctly) Our daughters are about a month apart.

  

  Atlee and I provided sparklers for the children.

  

  Enjoying life and being cheesy with Grandma.

  

  And the time came. . .for us to say goodbye.

  Atlee saying goodbye to his dad.

  

  And his mom

  

  On the road. Nathaniel got to ride with Daddy in the big truck while we 3 women were in mom's van. Atlee's younger brother, Weston, also came along to help us.

  

  Some of us were unfazed. . .

  

  Our move was crazy. I never got a picture of us loading the truck or unloading. I guess I was too busy! HA! Understatement of the year!

  Once we got to our "new home" we had LOTS of cleaning to do. As a matter of fact, that is all we did for the first week. Cleaning, and unpacking, and setting things up. . .

  

  Weston trying to get the handles to stay on our cabinets.

  

  Cleaning

  

  We did so much that even the children to help.

  

  Look what we found in a box!

  

  Just call us "hillbilly central!" Yes, the blinds needed to be cleaned so one hot & sunny day, Atlee and Weston tackled this job. They got ALL the blinds washed, dried and rehung. We just had to endure a day of looking like really hicks in the sticks!!

  

  Leslie, another one of Atlee brothers, came out a week after we got here. He is living with us and teaching at the same school as Atlee as well. He has been a tremendous blessing to our family. The children just adore him and Nathaniel loves reading with his Uncle.

  

  I call this one: the wild and colorful on the stairs!

  

  She is never more wild as when she's in the bath tub!

  

  In our new little kitchen - cluttered with dishes and STUFF!

  

  And with the unpacking of the house came the decorating to classrooms!

  

  Lots of late hours in Atlee's classroom.

  

  This is one of my favorites.

  Atlee in his classroom, standing under his motto for the year.

  

  And after all is said and done: These women are exhausted!!!

  

  We are enjoying the gorgeous sunsets!

  

  And little Elaina is growing up fast. (9 months old)

  

  She's standing and attempting to walk now. She also chatters on and says a few words.

  

  Daddy spending some quality time with his "little girlie" by dancing with her.

  

  The few moments of quietness in this household are when Nathaniel is reading.

  

  This girl has learned how to get into mischief. She likes to take everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, out of my kitchen drawers!

  

  And I will leave you with one of my recent favorites:

   We live about a half mile from the train tracks. Elaina & Nathaniel are looking at the train that is passing by.

  

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