We are here!!!

What a crazy last few weeks it has been!!  We left Newport and flew to Chicago.  Dan left for about a week and then came back to Chicago.  We left Chicago for Hawaii after ten fun days of visiting with family and friends.  Yesterday was a very.very long day.  We woke up at 5:30am to return our rental car and get to the airport.  We then survived a 8 1/2 turned almost 10 hour flight from O'hare to Honolulu.  I told Dan after we landed that we deserved a medal!  The first 8 hours were really OK, but those last two the red headed babies were just besides themselves.  Mareea kept crying and could not stop.  However, everything considered, they did so well.  It was such a long time to sit and everyone kept telling me how well they behaved.  Stepping off that plane and walking outside was magnificent.  How I love the tropical breezes and sun!  We took mini van taxis to our hotel on the air force base.  It's actually a two bedroom, 1 bath apartment with a pull out couch in the living room.  There's a full kitchen with garbage disposal, fridge and dishwasher and a washer and dryer.  It's the best setup we've probably ever had.  We walked over to the food court and ate some overpriced fast food and then hit the commissary.  It's more expensive here than it was in Newport, but I was too tired to really pay attention.  By the we got home and put everything away I was about to collapse! 

This morning while Dan went to pick up our van from the place it was shipped to, we walked over to the park.  The kids had so much fun playing and then making sand castles in the sand that covers the floor of the park.  I just sat there in the sun and decided that I am NEVER leaving.  I can't imagine being back on the mainland in a big coat while it gets dark at 4:30!!  The sun stayed up until at least 6 (I cant' remember for sure, i was getting so tired) and came up at a normal hour, too!  We're doing OK with the jet lag I think.  The time change is 4 hours from Chicago so it's not too bad.  Last night the kids went to bed at 7 and I went to bed at 7:30.  I was up at 5:30, but I think that tomorrow I'll be more adjusted.  I'm sick which is not helping anything either.  I am praying to feel better soon because we are very busy with trying to get everything settled and I need my strength back! 

Today we went to housing in the morning.  They had one house for us.  It is over on Ford Island and is a four bedroom single family house.  It is a nice size and has a two car garage.  I'm not exactly sure where we'd home school, but I'm sure we could figure it out.  The best part is the HUGE kitchen.  Tons of cabinet space, an island with a bar and TWO big pantries...not to mention the side by side fridge/freezer and the biggest microwave I've ever seen.  The big drawback is the yard.  There is a (very) small fenced in section and then a lot of grass behind the house.  However, there are pretty much no trees and we're on the corner so right next to the road.  Ford Island can also get very hot.  The kids play outside so much that I'm worried what they would do without that ability.  There is a pool on the island (no kiddie pool though) and a park.  There are lots of neighbors which could be good or bad.  I also hate the idea of a second floor laundry.  I want the laundry to be on the main floor where I actually am, thus avoiding a huge interruption in my day every time I go to switch clothes over.  You don't think it would be a big deal??  I KNOW it would...been doing this too long.  Today we are going to look at 2 houses out in town to rent.  I have an appointment tomorrow morning to look at another house.  I have about 3 more people I'm trying to get ahold of to see their houses.  We have 48 hours to make a decision on the house they showed us so we'll look at some houses in town and then make our decision. 

Other than that, we're hoping to make it to the beach today.  Thea has been asking since she got up.  She is so thrilled to be here.  She told me she could go to the beach and surf because she was wearing shorts today!  She is so funny!  The boys keep saying how happy they are to be here and that makes me happy.  It sounds corny, but I feel like the breezes blow and tell me, "you're home, you're home" and I am just in love with this island. 

I forgot my camera and phone at my parents house and I'm so upset.  No pictures to document our first days here.  Oh well, I'm hoping to have an address here pretty soon so they can send them to me! 

That's about all.  More updates soon!

Advent

Because we're moving I did not want to invest in an advent calender that we would probably lose or not be able to fit!  I've seen lots of ideas for "activity advent calenders" and thought that might be a fun way to get ready for Christmas and create some memories.  Today was our first activity...making Christmas cards!  I have never, ever used glitter with my children before.  I've just been too scared!  But I figured that this would be a frugal way to make cute cards for our friends and family.  The girls got really, really into it.  Mareea was so good at carefully tapping the glitter tubes.  The boys did a couple and went to find something else to do, but I think the girls would have continued this all afternoon!

Pictures to come tomorrow...just realized they're on ashton's camera up in his room!

The girls carefully working with glitter.  You can see Landon in the background moving Gideon away from the "happy birthday Jesus" sign he was trying to make. 

Some of the cards

One of my favorites.  Ashton made this picture of Mary and baby Jesus. 

Ashton caught these sweet faces on his camera...

Gideon's first trip to the park

We went to the park down the street today since the weather was so nice and mild.  When we got there I left Giddy in the stroller to watch everyone play.  After a couple of minutes I decided that maybe he would like to explore the park now that he's walking better and climbing stairs so well.  He loved it!  I did my very best to not help him with anything or make him go anywhere.  I just let him explore.  He figured out which steps to go up to get to the slide.  Then he figured out how fun it was to turn around and go down the slide on his belly...all by himself!!  My biggest challenge was keeping his well-meaning brothers and sisters from picking him up to set him places and pulling him where they wanted him to go.  Giddy loved the play "pirate's wheel" they had on one of the climbers and would always stop when he got to it to "steer".  Everyone would yell about how cute he was and how wonderful each thing he did was.  Baby number 6 sure has a lot of doters and gets a ton of attention!!  I had so much fun watching him walk back and forth to the different climbers and find new things to experience.  I have a feeling that there is no way I'm going to get away with having him sit in the stroller and watch anymore!!!  He also loved to sit on my lap while I was on the swings.  He would start laughing every time we swung forward.  I am so sad that I did not have my camera or phone with my to take pictures.  I'm sure we'll go again and I'll have to remember.

Just thinking...

Just thinking about a lot of things tonight.  We're about to move and end over eight months of being in transition.  My, it's been hard on our family!  I hate to admit that I have not handled it with nearly as much grace as I should have.  I feel like I had a chance to show my family how to "rejoice in all circumstances" and failed.  However, I am not going to dwell on that, but file it for future use.  It will be difficult to live in a hotel in Hawaii for at least a month and I'm sure I'll have lots of more chances to show my good attitude when things are less than perfect.  One thing that we did do right was stick together.  The navy life means so many separations.  We could have stayed in Cincinnati for these past eight months.  It was tempting!  I could have stayed in our nice, big, organized house, been close to our dear friends and church and avoided a lot of the stress we've come across.  But Dan and I vowed that we would stay together whenever possible and God has always paved the way for us...from our rental house in Colonial Beach to our house with a bridge view in Newport.  He has been so good.  I have not been thankful enough to Him. 
We "home churched" this morning.  The van has been shipped and we don't have enough seats in Dan's car to fit everyone and make it to church.  We read this...

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.  
Galatians 6:18

It reminded me so much of what is important.  How I tend to look short term at things and forget that I'm sowing for ETERNITY.  Lately I've been so frustrated with homeschooling and feeling like I can't keep things clean or get anything done and it all pales when I look at the big picture.  So what if we're moving around or don't have a perfect home set up right now...it does not give me an excuse to sow to please my sinful nature!  Instead I need to take this very opportunity to do good to all people (my family, too) and not become weary in doing good. 

And we read this:
Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 
Romans 12:9-12
I sure need some work in the zeal department!!  When Dan read "patient in affliction" it felt like a kick in the gut.  And it's even worse considering my "affliction" is having to walk up two flights of stairs to get my girls socks and not having a couch to sit on when I want to relax.  Talk about humbling!  I have not been thankful for the overwhelming flow of blessings God gives me each day.  He owes me nothing.  I do NOT deserve to anything.  Yet I've been so blessed.  I am continuing to pray that I will be devoted to my family and husband, be full of joy, be patient in our trials and be faithful in prayer.  And that I will do this all out of love for my Savior, my redeemer, Jesus Christ. 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was awesome.  The kids were thrilled with the food.  Well, mostly they were thrilled with the amount of food there was!  Quintin was going crazy the right before we ate and said, "I've been waiting for this meal all year and now it's down to the last hour...".  It cracked me up.  When I was in the kitchen getting the last dish ready I hear Ashton say, "this is the biggest lunch I've eaten in my life!"  I could not believe the amount of stuffing and sweet potatoes those boys ate!  Thea finished eating and leaned back in her chair with a comotose look on her face.  Later she said, "I'm going to die"  I tried not to be shocked at those words and asked her, "you're going to die?"  She said, "I'm going to die from all that food!" and pretended to fall over with her head on the table!  LOL  It was quite funny.  Sweet Landon asked me if we could have another "fiest" tomorrow.  It was quite a success.  I normally don't feel like I do many things right or very well, but this actually turned out right.  Everyone was happy (note to self: if you want something from your husband, feed him a lot of food he likes before asking) and it was a wonderful day.  Freezing peaches we picked this summer to use for cobbler today may have been one of the best things I've ever done in my life!  I'm so thankful we had some sun and were able to get to the park for a little while, too.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 
Now I'm tired and need some sleep!!

P.S.-forgot to put these pictures in the last post...Blo

Blowing out the candle with Daddy

I love this picture.  This is all the kids working to wrap and decorate their presents for Gideon.  Notice Gideon in the midst of it all trying to steal the markers to eat.  There is so much excitement on birthdays here.  I love it.  It is truly a celebration. 

Gideon is one...part 2.

Happy Birthday to our little monkey.

Checking out what's going on.  The lights were off at the point and see saw the candle lit.

Smash cake!  I was going to give him a piece of the monkey cake, but they made it 1/8 sheet instead of 1/4 sheet and I wasn't sure we'd have enough for everyone so I ran to the grocery and got this one. 

"Oh, that's what this thing is for! Yum!"

Checking out the new books.  He loves these touch and feel books from DK!  We had planned to not get any presents since we are moving, but I ran to TJ Maxx at the last minute and got him some.  You only turn one once you  know!

Figuring out how to unwrap with Daddy.

Landon's wrapping paper decorating.  We wrapped all the presents in packing paper the movers had left and each of the kids got to decorate one.  I think it's way more fun that traditional wrapping paper.

Giving himself kisses in the mirror for the car!  LOL

Gideon's first birthday presents.  Happy Birthday, Gideon!  (Does not include the many toys we already had that his brothers and sisters wrapped up for him to open.They really like to have something just from them for each person's birthday)  :)

Weekend trip to Battleship Cove

Our wonderful piano teacher reminded us about this wonderful place.  We all had a great time learning about torpedo boats, going on a battleship and submarine and eating in the galley. 

Gideon is ONE!!!

My big boy birthday outfit.

Happy to look at mama for .2 seconds before darting off.

Darting off...

Pausing to carefully observe a truck.

These pictures were photographed by Elizabeth Bond photography.  Email me to book your totally free session :) 

Weekend fun

Dan rented a car so we could get out some this weekend!  I was so thankful he thought to do that for us.  It's really expensive to rent a car that will fit us all!! 

Sunday was the day before Gid's birthday and we wanted to do something for him.  The local Waldorf school was having their holiday fest and invited the public.  It was a big deal!  We got there and the entire parking lot was full and we had to drive down the street to overflow parking.  Once there, it wasn't too crowded thankfully.  I really enjoy reading about Waldorf schooling online and was very curious to go to an actual Waldorf school.  Well, because the fair was taking over all the classrooms I couldn't get a good idea of what went on inside the school, but the outside was amazing!  Their play space (it would be disrespectful to call it a playground) was amazing.  They had gardens, a chicken coop with chickens, rope swings, natural wood climbers, an old fashioned huge see saw, and those big swings on the long, long metal chains.  The little one's play space had a large hill of sand with rakes and other tools that the little ones really enjoyed.  They had made a trench of sorts with a couple of bridges over it.  Our kids were jumping it and little Gid crawled over the bridge  The best part was that all of the play area had beautiful tree cover!  They had cut off the bottom bows of the evergreen trees leaved the tops on for shade.  
I've never seen so many ergo's or wool sweaters in one place!  It was really fun.  We made a "family craft", a huge centerpiece for our table made from a hollowed out pumpkin filled with pine bows, berries, Spanish moss and wheat grasses.  The children got to crawl through the "fairy and gnome cave"...which they decided to do twice.  The girls came out so excited that they had seen baby Jesus inside.  I asked the lady at the front if there was a baby Jesus and she said no, but seemed really excited that the girls thought they had seen him.  She didn't discredit them...just answered me quietly when they weren't looking.  The boys were excited to find gnomes, but said there were more fairies.  Quintin had to carry Gid through the fairy/gnome cave because he just sat down and stared around at all the scenes set up for them to look at.  Outside we went into a "cuddle a bunny" activity and they all got to hold and pet bunnies.  Gideon tried to pick up one by the ear!!  He really seemed to like them. 
The pictures are on Dan's phone, but hopefully we can get them downloaded soon.  It was really a fun day!

Our house

Well, we are currently living with the bare necessities.  We kept our table and old TV so it's not too empty around here.  It sure makes for a loud house though.  Wood floors echo like crazy!  I am learning how sensitive I am to noise.  I really have some improvements to make in my patience and flexibility.  If I thought our house with ugly before ( I didn't take much time to decorate since we would only be here six months), it's atrocious now!  I have to force myself not to actually look around as it's so depressing looking with nothing but books and toys thrown around. 
The kids are doing pretty well.  One of them seems to get the most distressed about moving.  Not that he's upset about it, but it's just exciting him or something.  He'll talk more and be more obnoxious silly, and have some big regressions.  It seems to be evening out a little now thankfully. 

Today was beautiful.  I honestly could take weather like this everyday for the rest of my life.  Thea decided to celebrate the weather by climbing up 30 feet into an evergreen tree in our backyard.  It was crazy.  She got stuck and I went back and forth over whether to call the fire department or not.  Quintin and Ashton were able to climb up to her and pass her/carry her down.  This all happened while I was having the sweetest moment with Mareea.  We were picking up the helicopter seeds and dropping them off our front porch to watch them spin to the ground.  After awhile, Ashton started to frantically call me and when I got to the tree there they were waaaayyy up.  I got a picture of it on my phone and need to figure out how to get it on here.  Ashton climbed even higher than Mareea and I asked him if he could see far from up there.  He said, "Yes, I could see all the Fed Ex trucks...well, there was only one".  LOL   I think he was more worried about his sister being up there than the view, however. 

Mareea continues to crack us up.  This weekend she picked up a goat piece from our lacing and tracing set and said, "Look Daddy, it's a gooooooat", just like a goat sound LOL.  Her little voice is so adorable and she makes me laugh all the time. 

Gideon will be one in 6 days.  I am NOT OK with that.  Just wanted to put that out there.  The kid is as busy as Ashton was at that age.  Which means really, really busy.  I turn my back and he's speed crawled to the third floor and gotten into the bathroom!  He's already trying to climb over the gates and you should see the mess he can make of any room in one minute flat!  But he's so sweet.  He gives kisses and hugs and laughs so easily.  He loves books and his favorite is Peek A Who?.  His sisters are sleeping on a mattress on the floor and he climbs up on it, stands up and tries to bounce on it just like they do!  Where did my baby go? 

I am learning to knit.  I am almost done with a scarf for mareea.  It's only a garter stitch scarf, but I'm still excited that I'm actually going to complete something!  Tomorrow, one of the wives from Dan's command is coming to help me learn more.  I can't wait.  Hopefully the little girls will play while I learn. 

Dan is taking the boys to New Jersey in the morning to ship our van.  They're taking the Amtrak home.  I am praying that the 3am wake up call won't mean a bad day and frustration for Daddy.  He was only going to take the 2 big boys, but said he asked himself, "What would Jim Bob do?" and decided to take Landon, too.  Landon is so excited and I can't wait to hear how their trip is when they get home tomorrow night.  We'll be without a car for the most part.  Dan is renting one for this weekend.  I have a doctor's appointment in Providence that I will need it for and we'd like to do something as a family so a car will be helpful. 

I am tired and off to bed.  Please excuse any confusing wording as I can hardly keep my eyes open right now. 

Today...

Ashton made up a board game on a piece of paper about our family.  Bath time = go back 3 spaces.  Dinner = go forward 3 spaces.  Jurisdictions = go back 1 space 

Ashton also drew a picture that was not a bunch of guys with swords!  It was his house he'll have in the future.  It has a garden and chickens, a clock tower and a car that flies. 

Gideon walked six steps.  He's been doing this for the past week-ish. 

I worked out for the second day in a row.  I am on a mission to lose 10 pounds before we go to Hawaii next month. 

The girls and I made brownies which did not help the above goal.

The boys put together and painted wooden models I got at Michael's for $1.  Landon rubbed red paint all over his pants for some reason. 

Quintin copied Proverbs chapter 2 for copywork.  He was excited that it was much shorter than yesterday's Proverbs 1. 

We had cabbage, sausage and potatoes for dinner.  Q made it up and it was so good. 

Dan and I watched the original Hawaii 5-0. 

Quintin, Thea, Mareea and I colored in new coloring books Daddy got the girls on their special outing. 

My sweet Thea...

I really like my new camera.  Yesterday I was trying hard to capture the Thea we see day to day.  Most times I feel like her pictures make her look so different than I see her.  Here's what I got.  This is exactly how I see her most of the time.  I think she's concentrating on doing a puzzle while sitting on the table.  She's such a blessing to me and I am so thankful I have her. 

I always did want twins...

Quintin's workout clothes were all packed so Dan lend him some of his so they could go running together yesterday. 

Halloween!

We dressed up this year.  After a couple years of not "doing" Halloween we revisited the subject and decided to make it a fun time to wear a costume (not scary or evil) and go see our neighbors for candy.  It was lots of fun.  We have had a family rule for awhile that there is no dressing up after age 10.  Quintin was a super helper and held Gideon/Tigger and helped him trick or treat at each door. 

Daddy and the reluctant Tigger.

I was trying to get a picture of the girls in their matching pumpkin shirts. 

Primate pals

Superman.  About an hour earlier his was spiderman, but I think he looked cuter in this. 

My soldier.

Everyone except Tigger.  No way I could have gotten him in this picture!

I just noticed that Thea is making strange faces in all these pictures.  She really did look cute!!

Ashton at 8...

Ashton loves army "guys" and anything army.  GI Joe, camouflage, etc.

Ashton did soccer, piano, swim lessons and pottery this year.

At swimming, A can swim across the pool on his front and back now. 

He's very excited to go to Hawaii and snorkel. 

Ashton's favorite sport is soccer.  He's played several seasons before, but this is the first season where he really got into it and loved it.  He was the best on his team and scored several goals this season.  At home I'll find him playing soccer with stuffed animals on the wood floors and of course outside he loves to play, too. 

Ashton was a solider for Halloween. 

Ashton will pick a variety of books from the library.  He likes to get book for kids on how to manage and "grow" money LOL, spies, special forces, survival and star wars. 

Ashton wants to be a Navy SEAL or a "farmer with Daddy" when he grows up. 

Ashton has a quiet voice and will be a peace maker with his siblings.

In school this year Ashton's handwriting has improved tremendously. 

Ashton loves board games.

His favorite night of the week is Friday because of pizza and movie night.  He also loved Saturdays during soccer season. 

Ashton's birthday pictures

Army themed cards his brother Landon worked so hard to make for him.  Landon had such a sincere heart about making these and it really made me so happy. 

Ashton drew this picture on his 8th birthday.

Thea made him a birthday sign.

Ashton picked out this cake from the grocery store and it was so good!

My handsome boy on his birthday.

Very excited about the lego figures sticker book we got him.

Comix with Content about the Revolutionary War and the constitution.

Thrilled to realize he got a Swiss Army Knife like he'd asked for.  Dan had his name engraved on the side, too.

He was so kind to let Thea use his new binoculars from Grandma to look out at the bay.

Using the scissors in his knife to open Grandma and Grandpa's present. 

What a fun day.  I loved celebrating this young man's birthday.  We had Pops for breakfast.  Lunch was macaroni and cheese with hot dogs (a lunch only made on birthdays), salad with croutons and bacon bits and canned peaches (i never buy canned fruit so this is a treat).  For dinner he asked for my crock pot chicken noodle soup and it was a healthy way to finish off the day...that is until the cake came out!  Our lighter had been tossed in the move so Daddy had to get creative and light some paper on fire to get the candle lit!  I would have just let Ashton pretend to blow it out (and Ashton said that would be fine), but Dan was determined and he had his 8 candle lit.  Super great day for a super great kid.