Furniture shopping

My glider that I had had for about 14 years died right before we moved.  We were also running low on seating space in the living room.  A new rocker/recliner as well as a sectional were on our list of purchases to be made in the near future.  Driving by the LaZ Boy store we noticed they were having a sale, so we thought we would check it out.  We were not expecting to have a bunch of fun though.  I should have known that furniture shopping with 8 kids would be an adventure.

The little kids discovered the power recliners in the back of the store right away.  Even Mr. K was making himself comfortable.  They all had opinions on which one they wanted.  I knew what I wanted though, a leather (not too squishy) rocker/recliner.  I found a great one.  Comfy, and the look I wanted.

This is the one I wanted.

Miss C found the chair that not only massages, but also helps a person stand up from the chair.  She could be heard hollering "This is crazy awesome!" through the store.  Thankfully we were the only customers in the store that night. ;)

Miss C kept asking me to come sit in the "cuddle chair."  I didn't like the looks of that one so much, but who can resist their child asking for some cuddles?  I sat.  We cuddled.  She left.  Miss A needed to eat.  Miss A and I both fell asleep in the chair. :/ It was pretty obvious I'd be giving up the "look" I wanted for a lot of extra comfort (and cuddling).  I picked a fabric I liked, making the chair style work a bit better for me. Sorry, no picture of that chair.

Mr. M was trying to talk me into the camo chair.  Sorry bud, I love you....but not that much. ;)

The purchases are made.  Now we wait....6-8 weeks!  I'm thankful for an awesome hubby and a great sales guy.  They figured out a way to get a loaner rocker/recliner into the house for me.  This is a huge blessing with a baby that is having a hard time adjusting to her new home.

After delivery of HHG

Our HouseHold Goods (HHG) were delivered on Monday.  I had the movers unpack most of our boxes for me.  That sounds great doesn't it?  You are thinking that my house was nearly all moved into by the time my movers left, aren't you?  Think again.  The movers just empty boxes.  They do not organize and arrange.  My house looked like it belonged on an episode of hoarders that day (and the next, which is why we did NOT sleep there right away).

Miss E worked wonders in the girls' room and it was nearly set by Tuesday evening.  I'll just need to get in there to help them hand pictures and perfect it a bit.  Thanks Miss E!

We had a bunch of errands to run as well, once we got all of our stuff into the house and knew exactly what we needed.

Stay tuned for a post on one of our favorite errands....

Before delivery of HHG

We arrived in Colorado on a Wednesday night knowing our HouseHold Goods (HHG) would not be arriving until Monday.  Since the house was freshly painted and Rob and Mr. M had already been up to do some projects we didn't have too much to do.  We did drop off all of the food I had brought with us.

We had some time to just hang out in the trailer and around the camp ground.  It was nice to be able to relax a bit.

Our last tenants had left these great shelves behind.  They looked wonderful, but we already had a great shelving/storage system on its way.  Rob decided to turn them in to quadruple bunks (more pictures in another post).  He managed to complete this project in just a few hours!

We even had time to go see a movie (at the $1 theater on a stormy Sunday afternoon).

Before our HHG arrived on Monday I gave all of the kids some gifts to keep them occupied.  Legos/Duplos for everyone!  Nana had sent The Lego Movie which had arrived at the house the day we did.  Everything is Awesome! ;)

Off we go!

We hit the road on Monday morning.  We went from Tucson to NewMexico that day.  We planned a resting day on Tuesday.  The kids had been wanting to check out the Nuclear Museum in Albequerque; but every time we had passed through we arrived too late at night and had to leave to early.  This was our chance.  The kids had a good time there.

They had a whole exhibit on Military Families.  We put a pin on the map for each of our assignments.  There was also a PCS (moving) display; complete with broken household goods. 

We enjoyed a nice family dinner at Olive Garden.  Rob asked if we could buy the big table.  It's not for sale.

Packing up!

The day before our packers arrived we said good-bye to another cat.  This was a harder one, he had been with us for 2 years.  Miss J took it especially hard, she had named him and he was "hers."  This guy has been a great cat for us here with so much space and pests to catch.  He was not going to be happy in our new arrangement; we had friends with even more space and plenty of pests that were happy to give him a home.

Packing up was a four day process.  We moved out (to our trailer) before the movers came to make the process a bit easier on everyone.

I had activities for the kids; including some new playdoh sets.

I'll be a bit nervous until I see this come off the truck ok (it's a set of my Dad's Hammers).

The kids had fun with anything left out after a while.

Now we're out of the house and enjoying some down time while tying up a few loose ends.  Then we get to hit the road!

Napping at the mall play area early in the morning

This boy was happy with our stop at Frost.  They had dairy free options!

Starting to say "good-bye"

This week-end we started in on our "good-byes" to some very dear friends here.  Moves are very exciting, but not this part.  It is amazing how quickly we can come to know and love the wonderful friends God brings into our lives at each assignment.  Leaving them is so hard.  I got to go out with a few ladies the other night.  For sushi.  It was a much needed relaxing evening out.

*We ended our evening with a sweet time of prayer over a dear friend who was not able to be with us.  What a joy and privilege it was to lift her up in prayer together.

The next day a dear friend had arranged for a "good-bye" party at a local park.  The kids ran and played.  The ladies chatted.  The men talked.  It was a great last get-together with these dear friends. 

*This young woman has some special "baby magic" She had just handed Miss A to me after putting her to sleep!

A BIG thank you to all of you who came!  We have been so blessed by your friendships!  We will miss you, and expect you to show up for visits in our new home!

Stinker baby strikes again...

You may remember that I purchased a cute little play center for cute little Miss A who quickly demonstrated some new skills with it.  We rigged it up so that she could not crawl out the door OR escape out the slide.  She was happy and content.

This week she learned to crawl out the window.

Just look at how proud she is.  Oh dear!  We are in trouble.

Thankfully she likes this spot and happily climbs back in as well.