Moved IN

We are all moved into our new place. We'll be sending out notes with our new address on them as soon as we can. This past week has been one of less desire. We have been in the house for offically a week now and I think I have only half the kitchen unpacked, and not much more than that! Well, maybe our clothes in the dresser, but not the closets. We have gone out looking for new living room furniture, have bought most of the curtains and a lawn mower, and had the exterminators come to rid us of our termite problem!

How did the move go? GREAT! Matt kicked me and our friend Becca out of the apartment almost as soon as Becca got there. We came over to the new place to start preparing for the boxes...lining shelves mostly. When we got here, we were met by a few (like 50+) Sugar ants in the kitchen! First Termites on Friday then Ants on Saturday...no more bugs! Fortunately, our friend KP was in town and was able to run to the store for some ant spray and baits! The guys made their first load from the apartment and then stopped for lunch. After lunch, we all headed over to storage and within two hours were back unloading everything from storage. They were able to move everything within eight hours! In the morning there were about four guys but by the end of the day there were eight...plus Becca and I. What a blessing it is to have all of our friends who helped and to their understanding, supportive wives/families who lent us their men for the day! We couldn't have done it without any of them!

On Tuesday, My mom arrived for a short three day visit. She was a great help in not only unpacking all of my plastic storage/serving containers (which now takes up over half of our twelve seat dining room table) but also helping me shop for curtains (I hate making decisions like that!) and caring for the kids. A couple of mornings she would let me sleep even if the kids were up...giving them breakfast! Matt and I went to a Red Sox game last night with some friends. It was great to know that the kids were in great hands!

As far as the kids, they are adapting fairly well. Sammie has definitely had one of her rougher weeks. It feels like she's been testing the limits almost every minute. Thankfully, we were able to take a short break from each other this week when she went to gymnastics with her friend Sara. It's such a blessing to have friends like that! Sammie got her hair cut tonight and I'm not sure if I really like it...it's not very straight so I'll have to take her with me to get it fixed up but also it maybe just a little to short. Before I know it, it'll be long and need to be cut again. Daniel has been good although he's totally off schedule and has been struggling with all the pollen in the air. Poor boy has had such a boogery (?sp) nose this week. If he wasn't such a happy baby and Sam wasn't so gosh darn cute, I'd be insane and committed for treatment by now!

Well, Matt's probably waiting patiently for me to come help him unpack something so off I go...HiHoHiHo, it's to unpacking, I go...

Going Off Line

We'll be off line for the next few days. We'll be moving tomorrow and I don't know when Matt will be able to hook the computer back up next week. Please pray that everything goes smoothly tomorrow. Matt has handled all the Help available and I haven't been much help since I am with the two kids. Sammie is more willing to help so I have found a few things to allow her to help me with. This morning, She was so cute....She helped me mop the kitchen floor in the new place. She just took the mop out of the water and off she went. It amazes me how strong she is since the Mop was three times her height. What good stability!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! "Hook up" with you later!!! HeeHeeHee!

chaos in the brown family!!

Things are so crazy. Sometimes I feel like things could never get any worse...as far as busyness. Or when things are calm and we say we can take on something...then we end up taking on everything! Oh, my! The kids & Matt have been sick for the past week or so and are finally feeling better, just in time for our "big" move this weekend. Now we have to find time to pack so we can move...we have just a few boxes packed! Also, there are still some glitches with the house...We did our walk through last week and are still in waiting for the responses to the concerns we gave the landlord's realtor. Matt takes a lot of things in stride, but he is even concerned about it so that makes me more concerned.

Fortunately, we are so blessed to have a Lord that has everything under control even when I'm feel overloaded. And thanks to Him, we are blessed with friends and family around to help!!! We already have a few guys lined up to help Matt on Saturday and have a place for Sammie and Daniel to stay while all the chaos is going on! The LORD has, is, and always will provide!

Happy Easter!!

We had a great Easter! Our friend Julie brought her two kids over. We had a great time dying three dozen eggs while trying to keep the kids from dropping them and cracking the shells! I alternated the traditional Easter menu from ham to pork tenderloin. Neither Matt nor I like ham all that much...except deli ham. So I think we'll stick with pork tenderloin. It's also somthing that Sammie will eat as well. Just add applesauce and she'll eat (most of) it!!



Last week we travelled to the QC (Quad Cities) area of Illinois to visit our good friends the Karls! We had a great time! Our second day there, Heather and Scott hosted a couples party for a few of their friends. It was great to meet them! Throughtout the week, we visited the John Deere headquarters, pavilion, and store, and touched the Mighty Mississippi! It was great! We also visited the childhood home of Pres. Ronald W. Reagan in Dixon, IL. Matt also had the pleasure of helping Scott with a couple household tasks. We definitely had a great visit with all of them. Here are a couple photos from our trip! Once I can get Matt's help, I'll try to download some more! Or you can click onto the Karls' blog to see more!

Home Search

Yesterday we spent five to six hours searching at rental townhouses and single family homes for us to move into in the next six weeks (Lord willing, by April 21st so that we can have a week to transition over). We have plans to meet with our Realtor tomorrow am and hopefully look at ten listings. (We looked at over 25 homes yesterday!) Matt is able to take the am off for Daniel's 6 mos. check up but has enough time to go looking at homes as well!!! Matt will be stopping the resume/application process this week. If he doesn't hear anything from what he has out, we will definitely be around for another year. Therefore, keep an eye out for a letter in the mail with our new address coming soon!

Other news...Daniel started rolling over last week! It's happened a few times and from his back to his belly. It's a start! He really dislikes lying on his belly unless someone is there entertaining him. These days, that's not to difficult. Sammie has done a great job taking on the big sister role. She loves playing with him on the floor. Today, she was letting him play with her blue doggy which she takes to bed with her every nap and every bedtime. Must have Doggy!

This week we will be busy finding a new residence and packing for our trip to see the Karls!! I can't wait! I'm not looking forward to the travel with the kids...three hour flight + three hour drive. But I'm definitely looking forward to being with our friends again! You know it's been a long time when Sammie doesn't remember that Scott's nickname is LaLa and she calls baby Seth, Baby Kate. We'll have to work on that this week before we get there!

Gotta head to bed...it's late and gotta get up early to take Daniel to the Drs. by 8:30am...what was I thinking when agreed to that appt. time!!? Nigh-nite!

Just an update!

It's been a while since I last wrote, so I thought I'd give an update! Things haven't changed much! The kids & I are sick right now. Daniel & I are both suffering from mild cold symptoms and Sam's finally getting those last few baby teeth in, therefore, miserable and with cold symptoms as well. Matt's continuing to look for a job in New England. No positive results yet...we're still praying!

I'm now 10 lbs closer to my goal weight for next year! I'm really looking forward to the cruise! Weight Watcher's has been great! Now I just need to stay focused and motivated! Not feeling well this week has really put a damper on the motivation!

We've started looking into Preschools for Sammie and have found the one we'd like her to attend. Fortunately, one of her little friends will be with her. Also, it's close to the apartment, not that we'll be here at that time (we gave our two month notice). Hopefully, we will be able to find something within a few miles from where we are now.

Once I can find some time this weekend, I will plan to download some pics and get a few up on the blog for all to see. Dealing with photos has not been on a "to do" list for me because I just cannot find time to sit down and really work on them...with the two kids and Matt, when can I?

Never Mind...

...after two days of driving around and looking at a couple of townhouses, looking at what it would take to break our current lease at the apartment, and receiving some friendly advice from a helpful Realtor...Lori Krause (if you're looking for one)...we have decided to wait until April to start looking for another place to live. It was great to talk with Lori! Her family is an example of a family looking to stay in the NOVA area for a "short time," and 15+ years later, they're still here. She is one of a few that have shared a similar story with us. Is this God's way of telling us we're to stay here for a while...not sure, but we do know that He's not showing us any leads in New England. Therefore, we will continue to stay here for a while. If Matt doesn't find a job before May (which has been over a year of searching), then we will take a break from the job search and stay here for a year...reconsidering the job situation January, 2008. Sorry VA friends, but it looks like we're here for a while longer!!