Just in - trying to unpack - Oh yeah, and then there's Christmas too!

We are living like pack rats.

 There are boxes everywhere! 

Every time I empty one - there are 10 more right behind it. 

We just have too much stuff!

Luckily, I've had some neighbors come and take a few big things. Also, a  friend put me in touch with a refugee family that really needed some things. It is amazing how easy it is to let things go, when you can get them to someone who needs them.

Now - if I could only do that 100 more times, we might start to fit into this house!

Once the garage was full, I had my husband put a 20'x20' tent in the back yard. 

We moved the last loads into the tent - and we are going to have to start unloading it some day soon.

I don't think that is going to happen before Christmas.

The rooms are so full - I haven't even tried to take pictures yet. I will try to work on that this week. 

Here are the only updates that I have....

George leaving early. It is so nice that he does not have to wait for his siblings.

(Can you see him? He's on the right of the driveway - trumpet in hand)

Atha - watching her children head off to school. 

So far , the kids walking to school has been the greatest perk of the new house.

And...my daily treat...the sun rising over St. Chris.

 I am really enjoying the new view.

Update & Mail Slot

Well... we are in! 

Things have been quite hectic. I apologize for the lack of updates.

A buyer for our other house appeared, just as we were ready to take it off the market.

There was already a lot of "buzz" about the little house, so I had decided that selling it would be the practical thing to do.  (And - I thought- the only option, since the other house was not moving despite multiple price drops!)

We will not close until Dec. 13th, but that is right in the middle of exams for my children, so we decided to move over early.

Thank goodness we decided to start early!

After moving things for days - we still have a ton at the old house.

Downsizing was the goal. I just have to keep that in mind, and FOCUS.

Saying it, and doing it, are two very different things.

Although I am not a hoarder, I have somehow accumulated so much stuff that I don't even know where to start.

On that note...

If anyone would like the Queen set from my guest room, please let me know. Although we have had it for years, it has never been used daily - only occasional visitors.

Oh...and a see saw, and a climbing dome. (Both outdoor play equipment)

I am sure that there will be more - but, that's all that I can think of at the moment.

Here is the latest little house project...

The mail slot. I love it, but it was not as easy as I had hoped.

It took Marcus, a capable carpenter & John, my very handy husband, two hours to get it installed.

I love the the way it looks on the blue door!

While Marcus was here, I had him help with the blinds too. Living in a fishbowl was not fun. 

I met a neighbor yesterday that asked about my children. When I told him their names & grades, he said...

"Oh, is the 8th grader the one who plays guitar?"

Ewwww! 

He had seen Colin playing guitar in his room while he was walking his dog!

Now I know that he was not creepy - but, the idea of our lives being so visible was creepy.

So...now the blinds are up.

I had grand ideas of plantation shutters for each window, but they are a fortune, and just to get someone out to measure was going to take a week. Then another 5-6 weeks before they could be installed.

These work.

Thanks for your patience - I'll try to do a better job of updating the blog.

Sunrise over St. Christopher's

Kids walking out the door to school....