getting settled

I'm in an unpacking FOG.  Gary started work last Monday.  Hayden started school last Monday.  Layla started school last Tuesday.  I will start looking for a job, but first I must get the house all settled.  It seems every time I turn around there is another room to unpack or another bill address to change.  

Moving is not easy.  It takes forever and it builds character.  I've been cranky, but I know there is an end in sight.  I feel like I'm about 80 years old, but once I start working out again I'll feel so much better.  I'm planning to run like Forrest Gump.  Running with music always makes me feel better about life!

I make it all sound terrible and boring, but we have had some fun too.  

 Saturday we went out to see Auntie and Donny Ray at Lake Waco.  They were doing a little camping and so we went out to explore.

Hayden climbed all in this cedar tree.  He's allergic and his allergies all all jacked up today.

It was so pretty and peaceful.  Hayden had fun skipping rocks.

On St. Patrick's Day we went out on the town for an adult night with friends.

We had tons of fun.  It was nice to have a few drinks and unwind a bit.

I ran into my old boss from years and years and years ago.  I may have squealed out loud when I saw her.  Or it might have been a scream or holler.  Gosh I was just so happy to see her.  She's an amazing person and I can't wait to reconnect with her now that I'm LIVING IN WACO AGAIN. WHAT?  YES, I AM!  It is finally sinking in that I moved back!

We ended the night with some hibachi and sushi.  It was a perfect night out with fun buddies.

Our puppies are loving the backyard.  They are always laying in the sunshine and rolling in the grass.  We have a pet door and Daisy has it down!  Lily, not so much.  She's fit before, but for some reason she doesn't like to come in the pet door.  She will bolt out of it but not in.  It's only been a week, so we'll give her more time!

Well ....  there is our weekly update getting settled in our new but old house in our new, but old town of Waco. We are blessed!

We made it!

We are finally in Waco and waiting to unload our moving truck this afternoon.  It's been an eventful trip, but we are all good and ready to start our new adventure.  Let's do this!

Drive west Sipes fam

We are moving. We had a driveway party with our favorite neighbors.  The kids had their last day of school at Bascomb.   We ate at all our favorite Georgia eateries.  We played at our favorite park one last time and said goodbye to many friends we made the last year and a half.

We have had quite the adventure.  We are all packed up and our moving truck is heading to Texas, but we have been stuck in Louisiana in flood waters.  We stayed in a nasty hotel because that is all that was left due to all the other stranded travelers.  We are in separate cars so driving in the pouring rain has been quite the challenge for me.  I'm not a fan.  

Hayden barfed in the hotel bed and isn't feeling well.  We have two pups that are being awesome, but could not potty due to the horrible rain.  I feel bad for them.

Of all the moves this one has been the most challenging.  It is all for good reason.  We are moving home.   We are moving back to Waco where Gary and I met.  We will make it through anything to get back home!!  The kids are cheering for us!  They are ready to be back in Texas with family!

March is here!

I can't believe it's March!  March means SPRINGTIME!  Have you ever seen anything cuter that this girl with that giant Peep?  I will never get tired of her buying stuffed animals.  She can do it until she's 30 and I'll be just fine with it!

March has big things in store for the Sipes family. 

I can barely contain my excitement, but I'm so overwhelmed with packing that I can't see through the fog.  The packing and moving fog is the worst.  It's hard for me to live in chaos, but I know it is character building.  

What are we packing for?  Why the chaos?  

It will all be worth it when we are home again.  We just can't stay away from our home. 

  I think we are a crazy bunch of nomads. :-)  

about the move and the dogs

Moving is not a fun chore.  Moving while having a cold that your child passed to you and your husband is brutal.  Yuck.  I'm on the mend, but I was miserable!

Lily threw up in the middle of the night last night.  It was all watery foam. AND A ROCK.  Since moving a few days ago Lily eats everything in sight. Sticks, rocks, twigs.  You name it and she munches on it.  Sorry about talking about dog vomit, but I couldn't believe it.  She's a wild pooch.

We have been moving and organizing and un-packing for 4 days.  4 days and I still don't think I've put a dent in our stuff.  GAhhh!  Moving is not fun and when you are overwhelmed with 'stuff' you just wanna toss everything in sight.  Including your cheerleader pom poms from high school and all the pictures your parents passed down to you.  Unpacking even makes you want to throw away all the toys in the world.  Although I must say our kids don't have as many toys as we do "keepsakes."  But, what is it with me and blankets and comforters?  I moved to Ohio and felt like I would need lots of blankets.  I mean seriously....there are heaters here.  Yes, it is cold, but the heater works.  I'm saying goodbye to many many things over the next month or so.

Gary and I installed a PetSafe in-ground fence at our new house.  It rocks.  It took us several hours and about 12 bottles of beer, but together we did it.  He dug the small trench and I buried the wire.  I was on my hands and knees sticking that wire in the grass which explains about half of those beers.  I am sore, but it is soooo worth it.  Lily is loving the freedom.  Daisy doesn't like the collar at all.  She got a little close to the border one time and she didn't like the feeling of the collar, so she will barely get off the porch now.  I know she will be fine with time, but I wish she loved it as much as Lily.  We thought about getting the wireless system, but we are happy with the choice we made.  I'm hoping to devote an entire post to our PetSafe install!

This blog post is courtesy of At&t.  We haven't had access to internet since we moved until today.  I am so happy to be connected again.  I am sitting on my back porch watching the kids play.  I am so happy!  I'd be happier if I was all unpacked and this sinus mess was gone, but hey...that will all work itself out!!

How are we REALLY doing?

I've been posting about our daily coming and goings.  

I know pictures can look pretty and seem great. Especially this one....

 but I just wanted to post about how we are really doing....

How is Momma?

Momma is good.  Momma is thankful to be with Daddy full time again. 12 or so weeks of living apart was hard.   Daddy works at an office away from home now, so that is different.  I am CEO of the daily household agenda again. I am the cooker, cleaner and bather of children.  I am the homework helper.  I like to have dinner ready when Daddy gets home.  I usually help the kids with their baths so Daddy can just hang out with the kids before bedtime and not have to do chores.

Momma is glad the utilities are all set up.  I was stressed out at first getting everything turned on and set up.  I had to change our address and then doing that changes your credit card address and then your bills won't process until you change the card billing address and so on.  You get me here?  That is pretty much all updated.

I'm making friends easier than I thought I would.  It is awesome!  I'm so blessed and thankful.  Everyone so far is genuinely nice and friendly.  We had our first ever babysitter on Saturday night and that was wonderful for everyone involved.  It allowed Gary and I to have a date and it allowed the kids to hang out with someone other than us or family.  Layla loved having a teenager in the house.

I'm loving the small town feel.  I love the scenic town we live in.  It is so picture perfect.  I know all small towns come with their own issues.  I'm sure eventually I will hear of drama, but so far everyone is nice and very welcoming.  When I say small town I don't mean a town like my hometown of Clifton that had a population of 3,300.  I mean small town with a population of 15,000-ish.  Way smaller than Fort Worth, but large enough for a Walmart, Kroger and a few other grocery stores.  Right now the Super Walmart is my preferred shopping place.  Kroger is just mehhh and Giant Eagle is different.  It's close to my house, but different.  I'll let you know more about my grocery shopping adjustment later.

Momma is not a fan of this house.  The contractor that remodeled the house cut some serious corners.  Most things are probably fixable, but he did things cheaply and we'd have to redo what he has already redone.  It is a hot mess of a house. Most things are little details like missing trim around the cabinets in the kitchen.  The tile was laid in the kitchen crooked and uneven.  I think a kindergartner (why does that looks like it is spelled wrong) painted this house.  There is paint splatter all over the wood floors and windows.  It looks really nice in pictures, but I wouldn't dream of owning this house.  #1 there is not much of a backyard and #2 i want a bigger kitchen.  I'm thankful for this house though and the neighborhood is to die for.  I'd love to own a house around here.  But this house is a learning experience.  Thankfully we are renting and now we have time to find where we really want to live our new town!

So honestly except for a few small road blocks (no heat being a huge road block) Momma is good.  The heater is working and the guest bathroom sink is unclogged, so Momma is happy!



How is Layla?


Layla is doing good.  She has been in school for about 9 days total with the Thanksgiving break and a holiday for Veteran's Day.  She was really nervous going to school Monday after Thanksgiving break.  This morning it was rainy outside and usually the students play on the playground before school starts every morning.  This morning they went straight into the gym.  This little change in Layla's routine made her nervous.  She was so uncomfortable and unsure where to go.  She is doing so well with adjusting to a new curriculum, but some of the day to day things still make her nervous.

Layla loves her room.  She loves our house.  She has always wanted a two story house.  She loves the friends she has made so far.  She talks about 3 or 4 girls in her class.  I think things will be even better for her once we get into a more normal routine after the Christmas break.  We are planning to enroll her in dance or gymnastics.  I'm excited for her!!

All in all Layla is doing good and she loves her new winter wardrobe.  That poor girl showed up here in Ohio stocked full of skirts, shorts, capri pants and flip flops.  She is all set now with a warm snugly wardrobe!  She is ready for the first snow!


How is Hayden?


Hayden is great.  He is loving this house.  He loves having two staircases.  He loves running through the house hearing his loud footsteps echoing through the house.  Hayden was very excited and ready to start preschool.  After we visited his school asked every day for a week when he was starting school.

Hayden has always been a laid back boy and I think his young age has helped make this transition easy for him.  Oh and he is getting to wear all the coats he wanted to wear in Texas but it was usually too hot to wear them!


How is Daddy?


Daddy is good.  Daddy is busy.  Daddy is finally challenged in his career again.  Daddy is using the college education he worked so hard to get and I am so proud of him.  He enjoyed his job before, but it was just a job.  This new job is perfect for him and he is rocking it.

Daddy might be a little overwhelmed with this house.  I think he wants to fix things that really don't need to be fixed.  On the weekends we have both been working on making things better around here.  It's just our nature. We want things to be nicer than nice.  We cleaned out the disgusting garage and manicured the backyard. He tried to fix the heater.  He tried to unclog the bath sink that was filled with nasty remodeling materials.  He hung a new ceiling fan.  It seems like he works more on the weekends around the house on the weekends than he did back in Texas.  Well, our house in Texas didn't need work.  Anyway, once things are more settled around here I think he will be able to relax more.  I know that both of us are looking forward to exploring the area and finding a home we would love to buy.

I think Daddy is doing great and I think once our house in Texas is sold or leased he will see more of the money he is working so hard to make for our family.  He got a nice pay increase, but paying for two households, we aren't reaping the benefits just yet.  I know everything will work itself out in time.  Gary is the provider and knowing the house is Texas is taken care of will make him sleep so much better at night.  I'm thankful for my hard working husband.

Many of our friends have commented on how nice our town looks.  It really is quint and homey.  I like it here and think we will be very happy calling it our home town.  Moving to a new state comes with tons of new challenges and experiences for the whole family, but we are all taking it in stride. I am so proud of the kids. I am proud of my hard working husband.  I am proud of myself for staying strong on some days when things got hard. We are good.  We are blessed.  We are thankful.  

First day of school in Ohio ~ Wordless Wednesday

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Tuesday - Our travels begin

Today was Layla's last day of school in Texas! It's a bittersweet day.





We are leaving our house! We are all a little sad, but excited about our seeing our new house too!





Saying our goodbyes was the hardest part. I cried my eyes out while saying bye to one of my best friends. We also said bye to both Gary's mom and my mom. I didn't want to say any goodbyes. I much prefer 'see ya later!'






The carpet cleaner got a late start this morning and that put us behind schedule, but we are still hoping to get to Little Rock tonight.





Oh ... these are some sleepy kiddos! Daisy is sleeping too. She is the best traveling dog ever!



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Moving day Monday

The moving truck arrived today!  We are all packed up and ready to leave Texas for Ohio.

Hayden had his last day of school today.  Layla's last day will be tomorrow.

We will be hanging out camping here at the house until we head out of town!

Everything is gone and I have cleaned the entire house!  It's kinda fun for the kids.  They have been running around with a long lost beach ball.  Kick ball is super fun in an empty house!  We are making some fun memories this week! 

Silent Saturday ~ Packing the attic

boxes boxes and more boxes

A little cold front just came through our area and it feel amazing outside.  Earlier today it was around 75 degrees and humid.  Now it is a glorious 63 degrees and breezy.  

The kids are outside playing in the fall air.  They really don't have a choice because I have pretty much packed away almost all of their toys.  It's either watch TV or play Wii and thankfully they prefer the backyard.  I am sitting here in my polka dot chair with the windows open listening to their jibber jabber.  The only thing that would make this moment more perfect is if I had a cup of coffee, but all I have is regular coffee.  I'm finally getting good sleep again at night, so I don't wanna risk a caffeine high messing that up. 

This is pretty much what our house looks like right now.  The kids playroom has been overtaken with boxes.  Our home office is full of boxes.  My bedroom has lots of boxes in it too.  I'm seeing all my hard work paying off as the house gets more empty and the boxes are multiplying.  Every day is a day closer to our move!!  Eeeiikkkk!  It's all just so bittersweet!

Hayden has been such a good boy these last few days.  We haven't gotten out to do much like we usually do during the week.  He doesn't seem to mind and as you can see he is really good about creating his own fun.  I don't think jumping from boxes to bean bags is all that safe, but I have to give Spiderman points for creativity!  

trees and fall

I'm so excited to be able to move soon enough to see fall in Ohio!  

We don't have many trees in our neighborhood right now, so I've missed seeing fall over the years.  I grew up in a small town in Texas and we had tons of trees.  I'm excited about being surrounded by trees again!

I want to rake a huge pile of leaves and watch my kids jump in them!


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weekend fun

We enjoyed another fun weekend outside.  I am thankful for the weather we are having.  I'm not for sure exactly how cold it will be in Ohio and how soon it gets cold, so I'm thankful for outdoor playtime right now.

I packed lots of boxes this weekend.  I cleaned out my dresser and packed all my shoes into boxes. It's not too bad to pack the playroom and all bedrooms.  Knowing the movers are packing my entire kitchen makes packing other rooms a breeze.   I'm so thankful!

I enjoyed drinking out of my new cup today.  One of my sweet friends came by for happy hour on Saturday night.  We had a nice visit and I am loving this fun candy corn cup she gave me.  It definitely makes drinking water more fun!

The kiddos are getting so excited about our move.  I know I say that all the time, but we all are excited.  I looked in the fridge today and I realized we are finishing up our last gallon of milk here in this house.  We are eating all the food in our pantry and fridge so we don't have to pack it.  We are experiencing lots of 'first lasts'.  If that makes sense!

LK's thoughts on moving

Layla got to stay up a little later tonight since it's the weekend.  She is so sweet and I just love the little lady she is becoming.  

First I just want to say we have been very open and honest with our kids about our upcoming move.  We never sheltered them and we have always made them feel like they were part of the family when it comes to moving.  

While watching the Disney channel tonight we started talking about moving because they were talking about moving.  She said almost exactly what I feel.  She said, "Mom, I'm not really sad about moving.  I'm sad when I think about leaving my friends, but I make friends so easily I know I'll be fine."  It's like she jumped into my brain and said what I feel.  I feel like I have done my job as a parent after hearing her say this.  I know moving is hard and can be scary, but I also know that having confidence is so important as a child.  I think she is going to be just fine.  I feel like Gary and I have done the right things so far to make her comfortable with the idea of moving.  Hayden is just so young, I know he will do great.

I know we haven't left yet and we have lots of goodbyes to say.  Hopefully she will continue to feel this way in the weeks to come.  I think we will all adjust just fine to our move.  The internet has made it so easy to keep up with our friends and family.  

I'm thankful for this blog so Layla and Hayden can look back someday on this move.  I know for sure that Layla will enjoy looking back though blog pictures and pictures on my Picasa account.  I have hundreds of pictures for years and years.  We love looking back and seeing our memories on a slide show.  Hopefully my addiction to taking pictures will help us through times when we are missing Texas and our friends and family,

thoughts on thursday

I'm excited to share a glance of our new house!  I can't wait to get to Ohio and get unpacked.

I am packing and cleaning and throwing away junk this week.  My plan is to just go ahead and pack everything in our house except the kitchen.  We will have the movers pack the kitchen and load the truck.  I have so many kitchen gadgets and several sets of dishes.  I'm thrilled to have my kitchen packed by someone other than me.

Hayden has been my little packing helper.  In this picture he helped me unload the load of laundry [from the dryer] while using his curtain rod crutches.  You know, unloading laundry made him injure his leg.  He had to use his crutches all day long.  As you all know, the imagination of a 4 year old is amazing!

Daisy Mae is my little puppy dog side kick.  She isn't really sure about what is going on with the move, but she is right in the middle of everything.  She has been sniffing boxes and chasing dust bunnies as I clean.  Every day for months she has been riding with Hayden and I to drop Layla off at school and pick her up too.  Every day she just gazes out the window as the kids leave the school yard.  I finally captured a sweet picture of her watching school dismissal.  Sweet pup!  I hope she will decide to like sweaters, otherwise she will freeze to death in Ohio.  I have some cute outfits for her, but she seems to hate them. When we dress her up she freezes as if she is paralyzed.  She isn't a fan of clothing. She is one silly pup, but I am so thankful for her.  

I am thankful for a feeling of peace in my life right now.  I know my house hasn't sold and that is wearing on me, but I'm at a place where I am good with it.  What will be will be.  The most important thing to me is moving and getting my people into a somewhat normal routine again once we are there.  We are normal now, but having a more present daddy will make life more whole again.  

Daisy Mae has no idea, but the school is a block from our house in Ohio.  She won't be riding with us to school for drop off anymore.  She will have to walk on a leash with me to drop Layla off.  See what I mean about the sweaters and puppy dog coats?  She will freeze her fanny off if she doesn't get over her dislike of puppy dog apparel.

a jumbled mess of emotions

This is one of those times where your fingers dance on the keyboard solely for emotional benefit. I am so conflicted tonight.  We had a wonderful weekend as a family.  We ate and drank and played and had the best time.  I loved every precious second.....BUT all the fun doesn't change our current situation.  Our situation is.... tough.

The kids and I are going from seeing Gary every single day, 24-7 to seeing him whenever we can.  He is back n forth between here and Ohio.  I know our situation could be much worse, but this is quite the adjustment for our little family.  Gary and I are best friends and Gary is a very active father.  He is an amazing dad and is always helping me with chores and parenting these babes of ours.  Going from him working from home to being gone is a shock.  The kids hadn't seen their dad in 3 weeks.  3 long weeks y'all.

Our house is on the market.  It has been listed on MLS for about 46 days.  We have had about 5 showings.  There are several other houses on our street for sale.  Not a lot is going on in the home selling department around here in my opinion.  So, do we wait it out?  I don't think I can.  I want to be with Gary.  The kids want to be with Gary.  It is so sad to see the kids faces when they see him leave again.  It breaks my heart.  I know this is temporary and I keep trying justify my feelings.  I'm weird like that.  But dang, my feelings are my feelings and right now I can't change how I feel.

My feelings say forget this.  We live in a house.  It is just a house.  My thoughts are flowing like gasoline into an overflowing tank.  One minute I want to change realtors.  Maybe get someone with a little more fire....someone who wants to sell this house.  My next thought is to drop the price.  My next thought is to rent this bad boy.  What is the world?  I know that going through life's challenges makes you stronger, but right now I'm just grasping for clarity.  What in the world do we do??  And I'm not expecting you guys to answer these questions.  You just get to see the mess that my emotional fingers are typing.

I'm not one for usually putting all this out there.  It's not that I mind having my feelings all over the WWW, but I do.  I clearly just needed to vent and type and hope that soon I will have a clearer mind.  I have prayed for a sign from God.  I don't have a clear sign yet.   I know all this is happening for a reason.  He isn't done with me yet and I have to deal with the not knowing what to do, or feel or blah blah confused blah.

So there is that.

I'm a hot mess covered in confusion and emotional vomit and know you all know about it.

how will I ever choose just one?

Anyone watch the Bachelorette back when it was on?  Anyone care to admit they watched it?  It's the only thing I can compare my feelings with right now.  

Pathetic huh?  Let me explain...

I love Texas, obviously.  I was born and raised here.  Most of my friends and family live here.  We love our house and our schools.  We are getting closer to finding a church home that fits us perfectly.  It seems like everything was going along great.  We were/are living the good life here in our home state.

But you know what?  

When you get in that comfortable groove...  When you are happy and think life can't possibly get better....  

In walks change.  

You know what I have realized?  

The only thing constant in life is change.

{Side note} 

We tried other states.  

When I was a career woman and we were a freshly engaged couple I worked in Minneapolis for a few months and Gary and I considered moving there.  When we were newly married and Gary was really exploring and starting his career we moved to Michigan for less than a year.  We moved back to Texas because we needed to be with our families and our families needed us.  Once we tried other places and they didn't work I assumed we'd live in Texas our whole lives.  It just seemed like the right fit for us.

Five months ago the thoughts of home changed for me.  The minute Gary got that first phone call from Ohio with a job offer I knew this was different.  I have had 5 long months to think and process this new chapter of our lives.

Ohio will be our new home state.  I visited this past weekend and I loved it.  I know it's hard to decide if you like something after only being there for 2 days, but I did love it.  It is going to be such a fun adventure.  I am beyond excited to get there and get the kids moved.  I know they will love it too.

I saw the best quote the other day.  It said, "Wherever we are together, that is home!"  My immediate family is my number one priority.  I want the kids to be happy and healthy and I think if we are all together we are "home."  

Why does this remind me of The Bachelorette?  

At the end of that completely dramatic show when the person choosing their mate is interviewed they always say, 

"I love them both and I don't know how I am going to let one go."  

[silly, I know and really it's not even on the same wavelength as a silly reality TV show, but now you get the idea.]

I feel that way about my Texas.  There are so many people I love here.  Every morning when I drop Layla off at school I get teary eyed.  I love her current school.  I love when she gets out of the Jeep in the carpool line the teachers and coaches call her by name.  There are tons of kids in her school and I think it's amazing that they know her name.  I'm gonna miss that, but her new school will have a total of 150 students.  In the WHOLE elementary SCHOOL.  

We have friends I love so much and I can't imagine leaving them.  Tears are streaming down my face just typing this post, but I know we will make more friends.  I was only in Ohio for a weekend and I already have friends there.  I also know the friends I am crying about here in Texas will always be my friends.

Now you know why I feel like I can't let one go, but I will end up letting one go.  

In the same way Emily picked Jef with one F... we are picking Ohio and still loving Texas.  I wonder if Emily still has thoughts about Arie?