Just Call Me Elmer.. as in the glue

We had a great visit with my In laws over the weekend. It was nice to have some family here for a little while.We stayed busy shopping, visiting, and what my husbands family does best, EATING! My Mother in law is a great cook and I was happy to hand over my kitchen to her for a few meals. I'm still greedily eating leftovers.
I had a bit of a sad yesterday after they left. Having them here made me realize how much I miss my own family. I did get to facetime with my parents yesterday, skype with my sister last week. It's just not the same.
I knew it wouldn't be but I was hoping it would hold me over till I can get home this coming summer. I try not to think about all of the things I'm missing but sometimes it catches up with me. I even miss my parents dog LOL, that may sound silly but Ruth is a pretty awesome dog ^_^

Don't get me wrong, I'm in love with South Carolina! I don't think I would move back to Arkansas if we won the lottery and could go back! LOL I would just hop on a plane more often!

I'm holding it together pretty well out here. I'm proud of myself :)
I'm looking forward to the holidays, I know you would think that it's going to be really hard, and it may be, but I'm going to focus on my little family and make it the best holiday season we've ever had. I'm excited ^_^

Ok that's all I've got.. I just had to, not really vent, just put my feelings out there.

Love to all who read :)

Content With Life

Have I mentioned how much I love living here? My husband is home more... he's not as stressed. Our oldest is loving school, the youngest is just loving life. It's been grand.

We had some friends visit us last week, it was so much fun seeing them and catching up.

 We sill have a few boxes scattered around, nothing major, we're almost 100% unpacked.  I've found doctors and dentists for the kids, the settling in process is going well.

The fair is a few weeks away and I'm really looking forward to going!
We missed our fair back home last year, everyone was sick. The one here is huge! I can't wait to eat all sorts of fried things on sticks.
The Carolina Renaissance Faire starts in October too, we're planning on going but not dressing up. Kind of a bummer but it's easier with the kids if I don't have a costume wrestle with.

So many things to do out here! There's a local farmer's market every Tuesday afternoon. The kids and I went a few weeks ago and had a great time. Lots of great produce, snacks, and horrible entertainment.
  It really was hysterical. This poor guy had a keyboard and a karaoke machine. It was terrible and awesome all at the same time.

We've found a gaming group and I found a knitting guild. I plan to visit the library this week and see what programs they offer.
It's just so much fun living out here.

I do miss my family and friends back home. I really wish I could go home for just a weekend, watch my nephews play football and march in the band. I think that's what's getting to me most right now.
My oldest misses a few of his friends and teachers from home too.
   It was funny, when he told me that he missed his teacher from last year he assured me that he LOVES his new big boy school, he'd just like to see her. Such a sweetie.


Thanks to everyone for your emails, texts, and prayers. We love you  guys!
It's pretty awesome to know how many people care about us ^_^

It's time for me to go find some breakfast and get my day started , Thanks for reading!


 

Settling In

We passed this sign at about 1am when we FINALLY made it here

I fall a little more in love with our house each day.
It's still a sea of boxes, even though we have unpacked almost every room. We ordered an entertainment center and are at kind of a stand still till it's delivered.

So far, my first experience of living in a neighborhood is ok. I love being close to everything, school, grocery shopping, restaurants. My youngest is THRILLED that we live so close to a Michael's craft store, so funny!
Being close to the beach is my new favorite thing!   ^_^
I'm a very private person when it comes to being at home, I'm having to get used to having people so close. It's a bit socially awkward to me to be out in the back yard playing with the boys and see the neighbors out. I wave but in my head I'm thinking, should I go say hi? strike up a conversation? We've introduced ourselves, is that it?  Yea.. it weirds me out a little.

I think we are all adjusting well. I'm ready for things to come together and be rid of these boxes.
It's a holiday weekend this week so maybe we can sort out a bit more.
I plan to start visiting churches next Sunday. I made a list, there's one here in town, the rest are a little further toward Columbia. It will be nice to meet people and find a church home we all like.

I can't wait to have family come visit! That's the only thing that would make this place absolute heaven.
The people are amazingly nice and helpful. You can't call someone to ask about trash or phone service without getting their life story.. and that is no exaggeration. We now know all about the family of a lady who works at the local garbage service. It's pretty funny!

I think we're all going to like it  here.... it can be home :)

I'm Washing Plasticware...

This is just for you my dear Aunt ;)

Ahh hotel living... SUCKS! I love my family but I am so ready to have my own space. Everyone have a room, cook my own food, not pay $2 a load to do laundry (that's $2 to wash $2 to dry!) Ugh! I'm also looking forward to not fighting old ladies for the ONLY washer and dryer this 6 floor hotel has. It was rather comical when Hubby went down stairs for something and saw the washer was free. He busted into the room Washer's free! GO! GO!

I did go to walmart today and buy some lunch meat and good things to eat rather than going out for lunch and dinner today. Sooo tired of eating out..

As far as we know we are still closing on Wednesday. Our mortgage guy isn't telling us much other than " We're on time for closing!!" and a swift hang up. Not a friendly fellow but oh well, we won't have to deal with him again after we close.

The cats and kids seem to like hotel life pretty well. the oldest kiddo is tired of eating out all of the time, as am I. Baby boy is happy as a lark and LOVES the decorative bowls that have fruit in them sitting everywhere. He has to grab an apple or banana every time he passes one.

The kids and I did venture out on our own last night. Hubby reported to work last night and that left us to go after our own dinner. I was in the wrong lane and ended up on the freeway, I got off at the next exit where we found a cracker barrel. I had planned to eat at the mall but cracker barrel was there and the boys were thrilled. I did manage to find my way back to the street the hotel is on without getting back on the freeway! Go me! We also went to Books a Million before we headed back. I love how we are in the middle of everything.

Our final walk through was yesterday too. It was the first time the boys had been in the house. They LOVED it. They were running up and down the hall and in and out of each other's rooms. Gavin had to check out the bathroom. Shane had to use it but the water isn't on, SO he christened the back yard!

We drove my soon to be kindergartener by his new school while we were out there. He was pretty impressed. Open house and Meet the Teacher are next week!

Over all things are going well, We may need to go visit the Zoo or something in the next day or so to keep us from going stir crazy! Well... that and I just want to go to the zoo ;)

Love to all and I'll update again soon!

Greetings From South Carolina

I'm so glad that drive is over! I will never NEVER drive all of that in one day ever again. Everyone did great, we couldn't have asked for a better trip.
It was also the hardest trip I've ever had to make. I knew saying goodbye to my family and friends was going to be hard but I never dreamed it would have been as hard as it was. I don't know how many times between Texarkana and Shreveport that I wanted to turn around and go back to the only home I've ever known. I cried, I prayed, this is honestly the hardest thing I have ever done.
Once I made it out of Shreveport, and out of anything familiar to me, it got better. It was really need watching the landscape change from state to state. The kids thought the Mississippi river, and the bridge we crossed it on, was AMAZING! We passed farms in Alabama and my youngest told me how he is going to be a farmer when he's a grown up, he made sure to stress the fact that he didn't have time to be a farmer right now. Being 4 takes up so much time you know! I was pretty awesome driving past Olympic Village in Atlanta, GA. Driving in Atlanta isn't a pleasant experience, I feel almost invincible now! Driving in 6 lanes of traffic while it's raining off and on, lightening EVERYWHERE, yea like I said, INVINCIBLE!
By the time we crossed over into South Carolina we were running on fumes. I've never been so exhausted. The kids were fighting with each other, the cats were waking up, it was terrible!!
Everyone was happy to be in our hotel room. The cats were THRILLED to be out of their crates and have a space to terrorize. The kids wanted a soft bed about as much as we did.
So thankful to everyone for the prayers for safe travels, we couldn't have asked for a smoother trip. Now the count down begins till move in day!

Packing Day 1

Wanna know what I hate more than house hunting? Packing a Uhaul!!
Thank God for great friends and family for help! My parents watched the boys for us while we started the painful process of loading the truck. This is going to be an interesting process!
We were able to get TONS done today. We are currently on a late night run to Walmart for more tape and tie downs for the appliances.
I'm really happy with our progress today. We are sweaty, exhausted and stinky! I can't wait for a hot shower, some icy hot on my back and a soft bed!

Catch Up Time

The kids have hijacked my computer so I haven't been able to post anything. I do have the app on my phone but when you have a lot to type.. that screen is just too little!!

So 2 weeks ago I was able to accompany my husband to SC to go house hunting. I thought it would be fun... yea so not!! There were a few houses out realtor took us through where I wanted to ask her.. umm really? We're not the fixer upper type of people. Anyway, we looked at several, the one I had my heart almost set on was TERRIBLE. It was beautiful on the outside but the inside layout made no sense what so ever. Living space was so small, kitchen was minuscule, and the Washer/Dryer hookups were in the guest bathroom! Like I said... pretty bad. I was so upset by the time we took a break for lunch that I was about in tears.
Our realtor was able to make a new list of houses to look at when we were done and we set off with renewed hope. The first house we looked at that afternoon was IT. The outside was pretty, inside was perfect, we LOVED it. And within 4 hours the process to make it ours was underway.
We will find out Friday if we will be able to close early, please pray that we can. My husband and I both have had dreams that we were able to close on the 10th. It would be really awesome if that were to happen!
Once I got home the packing frenzy began. We had gotten quiet a bit done before I left for SC so that was a great help. My Aunt came out a few times to help pack and just for company. I feel really blessed to have had that opportunity and those fun memories, she passed away of a sudden heart attack last week. We spent the day together on Monday, she passed on Tuesday. Totally unreal, it's still hard to wrap my head around it. Other than the packing we did on Monday, I did nothing last week. I don't think I could have packed if I had tried. The hubs was able to come home, he was working in SC, I'm still so very thankful for that. It would have been hard without him.
SO this brings us to the present. I'm so tired of packing that I'm just throwing everything in sight into a box and labeling a random room to put it in. It's going to make unpacking interesting but at least it's in a box! We leave one week from today. I can't wait to have the moving process behind us!

Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for our journey. Also pray that we will have a safe trip!!
Thank you to everyone who has offered to help. Please don't take my declining your offer personal, our family and my husband's employer have been taking wonderful care of us! We love you all and thank you so much for offering your time.

Sad news

The house we wanted sold  :(
We have made a list of others we want to look at while we are there .. Please PLEASE PRAY that none of them sell before we get a chance to look at them! Our options are limited as is our time. If you don't pray please send NO SELL vibes LOL anything!
There is one both of us really like that is in a beautiful neighborhood. It's the first one on our list that we want to see. *fingers crossed*

On another note a group of family and friends were a HUGE HUGE help yesterday.
Not only are we packing our house up but we have a good size storage building out in wake village we had to go through! We sorted and trashed and gave away tons of stuff. I know I didn't do near as much as the rest of you stayed and did, the kids got cranky in the car. That's what they get for refusing to put clothes and shoes on.. they had to stay in the car (running with the AC blasting, I'm not a cruel mom!)
Anyways, a BIG thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who helped and took things!

Eric and I have gotten tons boxed up and his friend came over yesterday to help get our old couch and broken down recliner out of the house. He even found some treasures he wanted from our back yard! ^_^

Have I mentioned that moving is a pain??  It's great because it's forcing us to throw out or donate all of this stuff, but it's a pain non the less.

Back to packing I guess.....

Packing causes me to speak Klingon...

                                                                                                                         6/27/2012
...and tape guns require a masters in mechanical engineering to operate.
I swear if Eric insults my intelligence because of my lack of box taping skills I'm going to throw something at him!
The packing process is in full swing and over all tonight's packing, sorting, and trashing has been pretty entertaining.
 Eric has gone through his clothes and modeled the things that he still had that are 3 sizes too small, he still had clothes from HIGH SCHOOL!!
I think I had shoes and scarves from at least 3 different fashion eras.
I'm surprised that I only have 5 boxes of books. Eric says that doesn't count the ones in storage, I refuse to think about that at this point! ^_^ Shelves are cleared, closets are being emptied, and it's still a bit surreal. 

I've always wanted the chance to move across the country. I don't know how many nights Eric and I have laid in bed and asked each other, ' If we could pick up and move anywhere in the US where would you want to go?'  We've said, Dallas or Houston, or maybe someplace between both of our parents.
This is a little farther from my family but closer to his. The Putman's live in Pennsylvania, they will be about 8 to our north.

Eric and I fly out in a week and a half to go house hunting, should be fun. I really hope the one we want is as great on the inside as the pictures show it to be.
So much to do and such little time. I refuse to stress, things are going well thus far, I hope and pray the smooth sailing continues!

Time to go to bed and try not to dream of boxes and sharpie markers like I did last night.

SO much STUFF

                                                                                                                                       6-22-2012
The process has started. We had a dumpster delivered to help with purging, boxes have been ordered, the clean out has begun.

We moved the boys into the same room. I'm using my youngest son's room for sorting and storing what we are already packing.
At first the oldest wasn't too thrilled with the idea of having a room mate, he likes his quiet time. I have assured him that once we are moved he will have his own room again, that seems to help. Their first night together was last night and it went very well! They have been inseparable today! It's been fabulous! I have been able to get more sorting and clearing out done because they are playing so well together. Maybe we should have done this a long time ago!

One funny thing about moving is you find all of those things you didn't think you still had. I found boxes of the boys baby clothes. I have found homes for it all thank goodness. It's been fun sorting through it and seeing all of the tiny things. NO, it has not given me baby fever in the least, it's just been a nice trip down memory lane.

The kids are not happy to have me going through their toys. I have picked out the preschool toys and found a home for them. Now to find time for a delivery day!

I'm so not looking forward to going though my closet ... it's kind of a catch all. Ugh. I'm very thankful to have that dumpster outside!! LOL I have a feeling lots more than my hubby thinks is going to find it's way in there!

News.. and no I'm not pregnant!!

                                                                                                                 6-20-2012
I forget to blog.. but I will be documenting this moment in our lives to the best of my ability!!
I can't tell anyone yet SO I'm writing about it now and will post it when I get the ok.

Monday, June 18th, Eric and I were hanging out in Shreveport, LA. We had gone to the movies with a friend and on our way out Eric had a voice mail from his boss. These calls ALWAYS mean he's going to have to travel. I wasn't upset, I'm used to his sudden departures, it's just hard on the kids.
He hangs up and I'm like when do you have to go... he looks and says, they wants us to relocate to South Carolina. The choice was.. you can move now and be guaranteed a job OR wait till December and see if you're the one who gets fired.

 Lets back track a little bit... Eric's last trip to SC we discussed this. They were getting ready to fire someone, Eric was flying out there every time we turned around so if it came up he was going to say yes if the company would help with moving costs. I was already looking at houses and schools.

Back to the present, we talk about it on the way home. His pay would stay the same, they are negotiating a moving incentive. The plant there works more hours so technically he will make more money there than staying here. The plant there is WAY more of a stable work environment than the plant here. They want us there by September. I want to be there before school starts. South Carolina's home school laws are very demanding, I really don't want to deal with that.
SO, we have found a house we love on 3 acres in the best school district they have and it's at the lower end of our price range. We have already been talking to the bank and are in the process of getting a qualification letter so Eric can go look at it.

 Oh.. have I mentioned I'm EXCITED!! We've told our immediate family. It's bitter sweet in that regard. It was a bit of a shock but they can visit any time they want! I have never lived anywhere but here in Texarkana. I'm so excited about the drive and getting the chance to move across the country. 866 miles away to be exact. 14 hours and 15 minuets!
Just imagine.. driving a car with 2 kids, 3 cats, Eric driving the Uhaul... for 14 hours. LOL yea it's going to be interesting to say the least!
We have friends that live in the surrounding area that are willing to get a one way flight here to help us drive to SC. That would be a huge help!

That's our news!! Let the packing BEGIN!