Thanksgiving

For the past four days everything has seemed right in the world.  Our lives seemed whole again as the one piece missing returned.  The looks and sounds of happiness.  The now ever so special sounds of the friends voices, the laughter of so many children fills the house.  The sounds so familiar for the last eight years and so painfully absent the last two months.  For the past four days everything has had the comfortable peace and joy that comes from being with friends so close they are family.

Our friends the Parays arrived on Tuesday and returned to Florida today.  The words are hard to find to express how thankful we are for the time spent together. 

Mae and I had so many wonderful hours talking, picking up right where we left off, as if we had only been together the day before.  There is something so different about talking in person than over the phone.  We were even able to slip away and go to lunch as I showed her around our new corner of the world, hoping, not very secretly, that it might someday be her corner of the world too. 

Chris was blessed to be able to work from home.  This is how Mae and I got to get away but it had the added benefit for him of being around all the happy sounds of the children.  He too has so greatly missed our friends.  He took them for long walks, played soccer and football. 

The cold never stopped the children.  They played outside, shot the BB-gun, explored the woods, found crayfish, got muddy in the stream, and fully utilized the space in the house in active games of tag and hide-n-seek. 

We celebrated Sophia's Birthday early on Wednesday and made a yummy traditional Thanksgiving spread on Thursday, followed by the requested act of pumpkin carving. 

Now its time to figure out when our next meeting will be and I'm sure once it is decided we will all begin the countdown till we are whole and together again.

Historic Oak View Park

We've spent a lot of time with our new friends the Collins Family recently.  This past weekend we went hiking at Umstead State Park, about 45 min. north of our new home.  The kids ran ahead enjoying the freedom and the beauty of the fall colors.  Well most of the kids, as Miss Amber thought it was perfect setting for a nap on Daddy's back.  We adults enjoyed some adult conversation and getting to know each other more.

Then Amanda and I had signed up with a homeschool group we belong to for a field trip to go Pecan picking at Historic Oak Park.  Strangely, as the date approached we ended up being the only ones still going but that too worked out well.  It gave our kids more time to get acquainted and more freedom to explore the park at our own pace.

Our timing was perfect as we both arrived at the same time.

We had brought Sarge with us and I'm not sure who was more confused - Sarge or the rather large goats that greeted us upon entry.  Maybe someday we'll have goats like these ourselves someday.

We toured the historic buildings and even got a chance to pick a little cotton before heading to pick pecans.  Amber fearlessly trudged through the fields ahead of everyone.

After picking our bag of pecans, we decided to have a picnic lunch.

Revived with food, the children explored the "barn" and then the costume kitchen inside, while Amanda and I discussed school, books and life.  We had no idea what the day had in store but were very pleased with the fun and friendship it produced.

Thinking About the Box

As we packed up all the boy's toys to move, the boys had to get more creative in how to play.  Their solution was to use the floor tiles (which we thought we were leaving behind) in all kinds of new ways.

Since moving the floor tiles to our new home, they have continued to provide hours of creative fun.  Most recently the boys created two business for Chris and I to patronage this weekend.

They greeted us with a box of bugs to use as currency and told us the rules of exchange.  Apparently, Jared's store did not take Caterpillars and Lance's store would not take Spiders.

We first stopped for a bite to eat at Jared and Titus' restaurant "Go Eat" where we ordered out lunch.

While we waited for our meals, we went over to Lance's shop the "Armark" to get some new royal weaponry and have some old weaponry fixed.

Years back I thought I had only bought cushions to keep Amber safe from falling on our hard tile floors. I never knew I'd have them for years to come as a great creative toy.  I guess it proves the old adage, that kids would rather play with the box.

Update August 2014:  Boys are still building.  Here is Otto Castle!

Going to the Birds

One of the things I really like about this house is the picture bay window in the eat-in kitchen.  On one of the first weekends we were here I happened by chance to walk by a wildlife bird store when bringing returns to the UPS store.  Looking for a pick-me-up I ventured in.  When I saw this bird feeder I decided it was just what we needed for the picture window.  It's made of PVC decking, has nice drainage and suction cups to the window.

When we first installed it, the birds took a week or so to be willing to eat there much but now we have frequent visitors throughout the day.  I find it incredibly peaceful to sit at the table and watch the birds fly in and out.  We have not properly photographed all our visitors but we have named quite a few.

Carolina Chickadee (Zippy) and Tufted Titmouse (Suncraker)

Male Cardinal

Blue Jay and Female Cardinal

My favorite visitor is the Red Bellied Woodpecker below (I know his belly isn't red by I didn't give him his name), I named him "Cooper".  I named him Copper after the Copper Hawks in Florida that were nicknamed "young and dumb" by the Audubon folk because they would frequently fly into windows fighting their reflection.  Cooper sometimes flies, sometimes slides into the window and I know he's there because he frequently pecks at the window when my back it to him on the computer.

You see the squirrel stalking the feeder.  I thought it would be squirrel proof as well but it just took them a little longer to figure it out.

The squirrels have names too.  Pictured here is Jumpy Jr.  He is much smaller but fearless.  He was the first to make it in by climbing from underneath.

 
Big Fat Jumpy (pictured in the video, double click on pic to play), is not as fearless when it comes to people but clearly willing to take a leap of faith.  Now that the squirrels have found a way in we've been putting some food on the railing to try to keep the squirrels out of the feeder but I'll probably need to buy them their own feeder.  Those fat squirrels can go through a lot of food quick.  LOL

Corn Maze - NC Style

Our family tradition for the last few years has been to go to a corn maze the day after Thanksgiving.  However, here in NC all the corn mazes close the first week in November so we've had to change the tradition a bit.  We've decided to move it to around Chris and Amber's birthdays instead.

I'm not big into Halloween (understatement).  So the fact that corn mazes and Halloween seemed to be tightly connected was an issue at first.  Then I found the Naylor Family Farm & Corn Maze it appeared to be benign and as a bonus was designed by the same group as the one we attended in Florida  so this past weekend we packed up to check it out.

However, other than using the same company, things were extremely different.  One thing we liked was the lack of rules.  They seemed to depend on people to be honest and responsible.  When Chris and I got tired, we were able to just hand Lance & Jared my phone and take Titus and Amber out.  They didn't require the kids stay with a parent or that the kids not run.  The boys had a blast finishing the maze and finding all the clues by themselves.  Titus and Amber enjoyed playing in the kids area.

Rubber Duckie Water Pump Races

One thing that was really neat in the kids area was the sandbox made of dried corn.  Amber was so enamored that she had to take her shoes off to experience it fully.  She also liked the cows which she thought should come if she commanded them "Come Cow!", however the cows had apparently not gotten that memo.  LOL

The other activity she and Titus enjoyed was the tractor train.  All the boys rode it once, but little miss made multiple trips and thanks to the easy going driver sometimes all by herself.

The last thing we did was to take the hayride to the pumpkin patch.  Here they did have one silly ghost and a spider that dropped down toward the hay trailer but the boys found it funny not scary so it was no big deal.  I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the pumpkins as well, especially since they were included with the price of admission.

The weather was beautiful the atmosphere laid back and cheery.  All in all we had an absolutely marvelous day.

Piano Lessons

Miss Pam was one of those people that we saw so often, I guess we sort of took her for granted.  Well now that I've spent a month looking for a new piano teacher for the boys I really, really appreciate that she is a truly rare and awesome lady.

Miss Pam was not only the boys piano teacher but also our family friend.  She came to my house every Wednesday for what we joked were marathon piano lessons.  She would teach my boys before the Parays got out of school and then teach the Parays after.  So for over three straight hours we had piano of lessons every Wednesday.  For Mae and I it was our time to talk and connect.  For the kids it was mid-week play time too.  I say over three hours because often after the lessons Mae, Pam and I would talk for a while too.  It was nice....we miss Wednesdays.

When I started looking for a teacher here I had a really hard time.  I ran into piano snobs that wouldn't teach the boys because we didn't have an acoustic piano and then there were the Theory Marmes who seemed to care more about how the kids did in theory competitions than if they learned to love playing the piano.  I talked about my frustrations with Miss Pam and she suggested we get a real piano stand for the keyboard, boys were getting too tall to stand with proper arm alignment anyway and think about getting some theory books.  Then she offered to try to teach the boys over Skype.  It wasn't ideal but I wasn't having much luck finding a local teacher and I definitely wanted to boys to keep playing.

New set-up looks rather fancy if I do say so myself

I also voiced my frustration to our friend Dawn here and she gave me the name of a friend who she assured me wasn't a "snob" and liked kids.  Well do to illness we didn't get a chance to try out Skype before we had a chance to meet Dawn's friend Miss Kat.  The fact that she liked being called Miss Kat (instead of something more formal) was a good sign, but the fact that she taught theory as a part of the lessons instead of giving them books with homework was a major plus.  We had been so spoiled by Miss Pam teaching theory using all these fun games. Theory books really intimidated me because they did not come with an answer key and I had no idea how I was going to help the boys do the sheets during the week since I had no idea.  The final good sign was that Titus liked her (He had actually ran out of the room when asked if he was ready for his lesson with one of the teachers we met).  So we are going to give Miss Kathy a try on Mondays.   Wednesdays remain special time with the Parays when the kids spend a few hours talking and playing over Facetime.  I'm so thankful for today's technology.

One Month Later

We have now been in North Carolina for a month.  I still have a hard time calling it home but that will change over time.  Lance said the other day that he feels like we are just on a very long vacation and I totally understand.  Part of that could be that I've not unpacked anything personal yet (i.e. trinkets, treasures, pictures/paintings, etc.).  Its taken a month just to get the house functioning.  This weekend we finally finished the boys closet so that we can spend this week transitioning their clothes out of boxes.  The linen/laundry closet was completed last weekend, which went a long way to unloading a lot of boxes.  After taking four weeks to get two closets up and running I'm a little over closets so I think I'll make due with mine for a while.  There is clear evidence of nicotine on the walls but because it has a window at least there's no smell.  Plus if I return one more mis-purchased closet item to Home Depot I think they'll cut me off  LOL.  We've made changes due to moisture, structure, and plain old mistakes that have resulted in way too many trips to THD, there were a lot more challenges than normal closets.

We have made more headway though than just two closets.  We've gotten the Home School Room up and running.  Set up the piano and finally found a way to get the boys beds upstairs (narrow stairway challenges).  Outside the boys have embraced their new "chore" responsibilities as Lance calls they with a smile.  We got a bunch of rakes and a modern twist on a reel lawn mower so that the boys can safely help us mow.  Mowing is Lance's favorite.  Blowing off the back porch is Titus' and I think Jared likes raking and filling the bird feeder best (more about the feeder later).  

I'm happy they are enjoying all the new space.  They realized this past week they can climb up the Red Maple up front and have been playing the part of monkeys ever since.

Chris' favorite part is destruction he says ie. gutting the closets and removing all the nasty blinds.  He also likes to dream about his plans for the yard, boys like to help him start to make head-way.  He plans to clear all the under growth between the current yard edge and the creek.  We plan on leaving the area past the creek wild for now.  My goal is to be done mucking with the house by spring so that I too can focus on garden plans for the yard.

Beside the house we have made headway on getting connected in the community too.  

The first thing we did was sign the boys up for the home school Swim Team.  This is a much bigger affair than what we did at home but the boys are enjoying swimming and more importantly meeting new people.  Through one family we've befriended we have also joined a homeschool field trip group that we hope to start attending different events on Friday next month.  

In our neighborhood, our neighbors have been very friendly.  Coming to introduce themselves and bring baked goods (Yum!).  One of our neighbors invited the boys to attend AWANA at a church literally across the street from our community on Wednesday nights.  I went the first night and though I have some doctrinal issues with the program Chris and I decided nothing is perfect.  They do bible memory work and at least 30 minutes of gym games (dodge ball, relays, red-light-green-light, etc.) which the boys really like.  When Amber gets old enough, if the boys still like it we'll actually have a few hours alone each week, now there's a novel idea.

We also ventured out last week and got our new library card.  Boys were very excited.  We chose the Holly Springs location first because it was closest and were very pleased.  It also meets my current criteria of being off one of two roads I'm comfortable traveling.  Thankfully those two roads are all I need so far because everything is off them; swimming, Whole Foods, Harris Teeter and now the library.  My little world is coming together.  Tight and compact just like I like it.

Kitty Kitty Turns Two

I'm thinking about putting this quote up in her bedroom; that is when she sleeps in her own room, for it describes her so well....for now.

Though she is still a little girl, she will not be a little woman.  At the two year mark she measured in at 35.5 inches and 30 lbs.  According to the old wives that means she'll be 5'9" tall as an adult. 

I'd like to say our Amber is a polite young lady but adorable bully would be more appropriate.  She is the master of all she beholds, especially her obliging brothers. 

She can thrust her hip, bat her eyes to get her way and everything else "girl", which is proof they come pre-wired since she certainly wouldn't learn those things in this house.  She adores her brothers and they her. 

She has a special bond with each of them; she and Titus are two peas in a pod.

She is loving and compassionate.  Taking the time to kiss each brother good night, give them a hug when they are sad and hover over them like a good mother hen when they are hurt. She always wants to help; be it cleaning or walking the dog.

 
She started really talking at 22 months.  With things like "That hurt Sarge" when he bumps into her, random "Shnop the car!" when I'm driving and her adorable quick emphatic "Yep"s and excited "eeeYaaa!".   I could do without all the "No tanks" though, especially when no isn't an option (like getting dressed).  I dare not wish for her talk more but a little explanation of the reason for her defiance from time to time might be helpful.

For now, she gets what she wants with the words she uses and likes to test drive new ones everyday; even if they don't find it into her regular repertoire.  She prefers to work on her acting talents as the house cat and sometimes house dog.  She crawls around, makes noises and eats accordingly, which means we need to keep Kitty Kitty's nails trimmed.  Which goes along with her being fearless of animals.

Happy Birthday Amber!  May you life be blessed with an abundance of happiness that your beautiful smile need be seldom from your precious face.  We love you Amber!