Settling In—In August

August 3rd we moved into our house.  Two months ago and we have been trying to get it put together ever since! 

We’ve realized with most moves, you simply pack up your stuff, move it, and unpack it somewhere else.  Well, this time for us, we were practically starting from scratch.  The landlord provided our furniture in Hong Kong and Taiwan, so we didn’t have much to our name.  Finding furniture and decorating and setting up an entire house has been a very time consuming project.  And wouldn’t you know, two months later, we still aren’t done.  Cody even observed that August was the first month ever I didn’t post on the blog since its inception.

The first few days looked like this.

Thank goodness for crockpots and a good ol’ pot roast since there was no room for cooking!

The poor children watched longingly at the kids playing outside while their mother busily unpacked boxes in her pajamas and greasy hair (too embarrassed to go out and meet the neighbors in that state). 

 

We had our ninth anniversary and celebrated with roses.  Admittedly, Cody was more thoughtful than I was. Definitely the most boring anniversary to date, but we were both too overwhelmed and tired to bother with it.  Don’t worry, we still love each other though.  I guess that’s all that really matters anyway.

I did try to make it a point to take a break from the house each week when our ward had playgroup.  We went to Lake Hopatcong a couple weeks in a row.  It was a nice escape from the house and shopping for furniture. 

  

We also tried to go play at a park once in awhile.  Ridge was stung by a bee one of the times.  This was my first time ever dealing with a bee sting.  I don’t think I’ve ever even been stung myself!  Luckily, my friend was prepared with Benadryl cream and bite ointment.  It must have worked, because Ridge cried for probably less than a minute and then was back to playing.  He didn’t seem bothered by the sting at all after that.  I was amazed.  I thought those stings were supposed to be super painful! 

I had to do the glucose test and really didn’t want to take the kids for that long of an appointment.  A friend suggested one of the young women in the ward and she worked out beautifully.  It felt blissful to be at the doctor sans children.

Jade liked the babysitter so much (as did I), we booked her again for that weekend.  Cody and I pretended to have a make-up date for our anniversary, but really it was just coincidence.  Regardless, being out alone with the husband was heavenly—and much needed.  Missing the sense of adventure we had in Hong Kong, we opted to try a Malaysian/Thai restaurant.  Though we both went in quite skeptical, it was actually pretty authentic and delicious! 

Jade loves to check the mail everyday.  We tend to get lots of junk mail, advertisements, coupons, the previous tenants’ mail, and the town newspaper.  She still likes to look through it.  Especially the ads and newspaper.  Well, one day she spotted an especially catchy ad with balloons on it.  It was for the neighboring town’s fire department parade and carnival.  I felt so guilty because of our constant work on the house, I sided with Jade and convinced Cody we should take a day off and go. 

 

The entire parade was fire trucks and firemen.  The entire thing.  Cool, but for only so long.  I think the boys liked it better than us girls though.   

After the parade, all the trucks parked in the high school parking lot where the carnival was held. 

 

We had some good ol’ fashioned American fun that day.  Carousel, rickety carnival rides, and sugar and fat loaded food! 

  

  

 

And just like that August was gone, summer was ending, and Jade was about to start kindergarten!