Pictures

These are the pictures I couldn't post the other day.

Moving

We had a lot of cleaning to do before leaving to our new house. Even with both kids pitching in it took forever. Part of that may be that when they weren't helping they were actually making a mess. I think I vacuumed one of the bedrooms three times. Eventually we did make it out. I left a little ahead of Buddy with the kids. He caught up to us in Charleston WV at a hotel. The drive that day had been pretty easy since both kids took a long nap. I guess it was easy for them. I was sick and tired. Buddy and I were more ready to stop than they were. The next day they were a little cranky toward the end but we eventually made it. When we arrived we didn't have the key. The realtor had hid it somewhere and we looked all over. Under rocks, by the light, in the planters. We were all grumpy that we had driven so far and couldn't get in. After what seemed like forever Buddy tried a window and was able to get in easily. The realtor called back soon after and told us the key was under the front mat. Why hadn't we thought of the most obvious spot?





It took less than five hours for Bohdin and Nyla to get the bedroom to the level of messiness they prefer. What's funner than throwing clothes out of a suitcase, right?


We have everything unloaded now and are in the long process of unpacking. Most of the toys are out and that's about it. We've made headway in the kitchen. We're mostly just getting used to our new house. It's so big and that has been the biggest adjustment for me. We all used to be steps away from each other. Now we can be on entirely different floors. I can't hear what's going on at all times anymore. Bohdin will be able to get away with a lot more now. He never realized that I knew so much because I could hear everything. One of the best parts so far is the deep whirlpool tub. That has seen some extensive use. I think the playroom will be nice also. We have room to unpack toys that have been packed for months. The kids were excited to play with so many "new" toys today.

We have spotty free internet service right now because we haven't called for installation yet. We're having trouble deciding if we want cable tv. I've been on the internet for about 30 minutes now and I only lost the connection once and it was when I was trying to upload the blog pictures. I've failed twice on the pictures so no pictures today.

Loaded up

We hired some men to help us load up the box truck that was dropped off on Friday. Unfortunately due to the size of the box it had to parked about 40-50 yards from the front door. It was definitly a good idea to hire that out. They stayed for about 3.5 hours on Saturday and came back again on Sunday after we had boxed up a few more things. We also had help in the form of an old friend. She, her husband, and daughters came to visit and help. Bohdin had so much fun playing with the girls who are 6 and 8. He laughed and laughed and laughed. Nyla on the other hand was uncharacteristically shy. It was wonderful to see them and their help was invaluable. Thank you.

Buddy's original goal was to leave Tuesday morning but it is now Tuesday morning and we are not ready. There is still a few hours of cleaning left to be done. We'll probably all leave tomorrow morning since snow/rain is forecasted to the west for this afternoon. It's 10:30 in the morning and we have yet to really get out of bed. Bohdin woke up this morning and brought us breakfast while Nyla showered us with hugs and kisses. We have a little time to take it easy today and we're taking advantage.

The kids have had a fun time in an almost empty house but by the end of the day they are bored. Yesterday they played bus, orange delivery man, and ran in circles but without many toys or a tv they ran out of ideas by night. Somebody moved in below us Sunday so loud games are generally out in the evening. The computer has been comandeered by the kids at times.

Way behind

I forgot to mention our visit to the thrift store last week. We went in looking for cheap blankets for the move. Since Buddy dropped us off while he ran some errands on post we had a lot of time to kill. We looked at the toys. They didn't have the big car that Nyla had liked on a previous visit but there was a doll stroller. She grabbed a doll and was pushing the thing around. I had her bring it with her when I looked at the blankets. That wasn't an easy thing to do since the store is very small and very very cramped. We finally went back to the toys and an older lady approached me asking if I was going to buy the stroller. It was $3 and pretty banged up so I said no she was welcome to take it. She didn't take it though. She wanted to buy it for Nyla. She gave me $5 just in case Nyla wanted the doll also. It was very odd and I just tried to graciously accept it. If she hadn't been a stranger I would definitely have said no. So Nyla came home with the stroller that both she and Bohdin have been enjoying. It's apparently not so rickety that it won't hold Bohdin although we always tell both him and Nyla that it is not for them.

Wednesday we went to N-'s house for probably the last time. We met him soon after we moved here. Neither Bohdin nor N- really made any other friends here. I think both will be a little sad. Bohdin cried in the car a bit on the way home. He knew it was the last time and was a little frustrated that N- wanted to watch tv instead of play at the end.

Nyla has been singing and dancing quite a bit lately. She normally doesn't let me record or sometimes even watch but recently she did.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-mAYqUf21o

She's a boy

Nyla complained twice last week that her penis was huring. So the other day I asked her if she was a boy or a girl. She said boy. She also thought I was a boy. When Bohdin heard he told her that she was a girl since she didn't have a penis. He then dropped his pants and underwear to his knees to show Nyla what a penis looks like. He covered up again quickly and told Nyla "Come into my room and you can see it longer".

It snowed all day Saturday but the accumulation came to less than an inch. Bohdin and Nyla went out Sunday morning to play in the slushy snow. They became too cold to last outside long. Crocs are not good snow shoes. I'll have to get shoes for them both this week.





Nyla likes to play sleep and she convinced Bohdin to come to bed with her on the floor.

Five

The first thing Bohdin wanted to do yesterday morning was open his birthday presents. He opened two right away then one a few hours later and another that evening. He had already opened some prior to his birthday. He was really excited by them and played all day. He wanted a castle birthday cake so we made a scene with his last present, knights and an attack tower. While he didn't enjoy the wait he did like that he could play with it right away. I may put together his toys for Christmas beforehand also. Bohdin requested pink and orange icing for the second year in a row. The design of the cake pan doesn't really allow much icing but Buddy did the best he could. Most of the cake is already gone.




I forgot to mention that Nyla did well without diapers on the trip. I put on her at the airport once but she was able to hold the pee long enough to find a bathroom. She has had some pooping accidents the past few days when we don't make it to the bathroom in time. Overall she has done wonderful.

Thanksgiving

We made it back from Texas yesterday in our first uneventful time at Dulles. Everything actually went as well as it could. Our plane landed 30 minutes early. The mobile lounge left just after we stepped on. The shuttle bus was waiting outside and we were the first ones off. Traffic moved quickly and we were home within 2 hours of landing. It was late when we arrived but Bohdin wasn't ready for bed. When I mentioned it he said "But I haven't even had a chance to play!". He did have a few minutes with his toys prior to sleeping.



Group shot


Bohdin talking his cousin's ear off. He had so much seeing them both.


Saturday we went to a game/pizza place to celebrate Bohdin's birthday early. This is his excited face for the new Playmobil cannon he received from uncle and family. He also received a webkinz llama which he was uncertain about until Buddy made it talk in the car. We'll set up the account after the move.