Settling in

Wow, it's been a whirlwind of a month. So much has taken place in such a short amount of time. New house, new town, new schools, new ward, new friends, new pets, new everything. It's been exciting and it's also been hard. This place is all we hoped for and more, yet it is still hard to leave other stuff behind.

We just got internet installed yesterday-- yes, we've gone a month without internet, weird. The company that we were told to use couldn't make it out here until mid-November, and since it's satellite there aren't a whole lot of options. I was able to find another company that had no problem coming out sooner. So, I'm back in business. Hooray!

Gavin's new high school, Snohomish High, made national news this week when one student stabbed 2 other students. One of the girls almost died and remains in the hospital. The school was on lockdown for the morning. The girl who did the stabbing has had a history of mental problems and she just randomly picked two freshmen girls who were in the bathroom to stab. So scary. It had Gavin pretty upset, as well as everyone else.

The girls go to Dutch Hill elementary. They catch the bus which is new and exciting for them. I have to drive them to the bus stop which is a half mile down the private dirt road. After school they tell me all about the boys on the bus and in their classes that have crushes on them. One day Gavin and I rode the horses down to give them a ride back home after school. They are living out my childhood dreams. And so am I.

Gavin has set up a shooting range and taught the girls gun safety and taken them target shooting with his 22. They actually enjoy spending time together and I don't see them inside so much any more.

We are about exactly 30 minutes from our old house. Our house is on ten acres, fully fenced to keep dogs and horses in. There is a big barn with a hay loft. The kids have stall cleaning added to their chores, but somehow I end up doing it most days. They love to climb the rickety metal ladder to get to the hay. At night we all go out to put the horses away and they climb up on Breezy and Jay and just sit there while they eat in their stalls. Last night Gavin fell asleep while laying on Breezy. Chuck is being a bit crazy and I'm the only one that can ride him for now. He's still adjusting to his new place I guess.

Last Saturday night we had our friends over for a party. In our old house there wasn't enough room for people to park on the street to come over and our house wasn't very big so we never had anyone over.

I have been sick the past week with a nasty cough and stuffy head. Darren has been gone to Baltimore for the past few days so things have ground to a halt for a bit. Still a few boxes here and there but mostly moved in. And the greatest miracle of all-- our house sold within a month of listing it. We didn't get what we wanted but I guess nobody does these days. I still have some work to do on it before it closes next month. I thought that I would be more sad about leaving but our new circumstances are so nice that I'm getting over it pretty quickly. I do miss neighbors and friends and schools, etc... but I'm not that far away that I can't see them. That was our first house though and it is a great house. I will always have such great memories of that place. It is fun making new memories here too.

Drew riding Jay in our yard

Gavin, Roxy (in her new sweater), and Holly.