The kids got a box int he mail yesterday from Grandma Tuy and Grandpa Bob. They were SO excited-- they got some really cool little toys that they played with all night last night and woke up early to play with again today. I am so grateful that the kids have their Grandma Tuy!

I wanted to write this post last night but was thinking about I my mom and didn't feel like posting. I actually watched my moms tribute video for only the 2nd time since her funeral last night. (It is still on the website on the  "In Loving Memory" page if anyone wants to see it.)  

One of the things my mom said as she was close to death was that she felt okay leaving my kids and not being able to be the Grandma for them because the KNEW Tuy would be there. This brings tears to my eyes thinking about- which is why last night was a hard night. Tuy loves my kids so much- I know she would do anything for them- or me. We are very blessed to have her and I know I don't tell her enough or thank her enough for all that she does- So THANK YOU MA!! We LOVE YOU!

Thank you for being there for the kids and I. Thank you for calling me, sending us things in the mail, thank you for praying for us, and for visiting us and planning on flying out again next year. You have done so much over the years and I am truly grateful! The Children love all their Grandparents, and all of you have done so much. They may not relize how lucky they are right now to have you all but I KNOW and one day they will know too!

There just seems to not be enough hours in the day! So today I decided to get out of bed at 4:30am to add another hour onto the morning and hopefully get some things done!

Let me start with my Story on the Diva. I took the kids to Wal-Mart on Wednesday afternoon to get there pictures done. This was perhaps a mistake to go at 3pm- The Diva gets tired and this particular day she did not get her nap. Once at the photo studio I got a GREAT picture of all 3 kids together. Then I got a wonderful picture of Ms. Sophia! ( I didn't like her school pictures that much and wanted to get hers re-done.) Then I put the Diva on the chair - she looked amazing. New light blue dress to match her eyes... bouncy curls....a touch on pink lipstick to bring out her lips. The Diva was suddenly DONE with the whole picture things. She would NOT smile. She wouldn't even look at the camera! She stared off into the distance and scowled. I threatened her. I pleaded with her. "Please... just ONE tiny smile and then we can leave." I even tried BRIBING her. To no avail. Nothing worked. We left without a picture of the diva. This is nothing new to me. I would say 90% of the time I leave the picture studio without everything I want.  I will not give up on my quest for a portrait of the Diva. We are going back Friday at 11am! Maybe THIS time she will not be tired and she will smile!

At Walmart Joey was great- he smiled when I told him too- and even offered to show Vangie how to take a picture correctly (he is such a big helper!) He also was a little bummed because the girls got new dresses for the picture and he got nothing- but sorry Joey, boys just don't need as many clothes as girls! But, for his great attitude he got a new set of vampire teeth! Doesn't he look scary?! Joey took them to school and has been scaring everyone there.

And lastly- I got my sectional!!!! It looks AMAZING! Thanks for all the encouragement to make the bug purchase. I am 100% happy that I did. I did some rearranging of all the furniture in the house and the front room that I originally made an office I transformed into the "Den". Why do I need an office? I hate doing "officy" things! My computer is a laptop and I always sit on the couch and type anyway! The "Den" is where my old couch and chair are- also a TV so the kids and have that as there room to watch their shows, play their Games and go crazy without putting my new sectional in danger.

I have to admit that Halloween is not my favorite holiday.  I don't think the colors orange and black look very well together, I am not into blood and guts and ghosts and demons and all of that- I think it can bring out a lot of "crazies" and it just doesn't give me a warm fuzzy at all. However, I will never be one of those parents who bans Halloween and pretends it doesn't exist- because It does, and the kids like the costumes and the trick-or-treating. -- Although all of that candy is just silly in my opinion! I let them eat some that night and then I take it and put it up and they can have a couple pieces a day ---

A tradition that I really like about Halloween is the carving of the pumpkins! I remember as a child my Dad taking us to the pumpkin patch- to pick out whatever pumpkin we wanted- no matter how big -- he would load them up in his truck and take them back home where we would spread newspaper on the kitchen table and all of us would carve our own pumpkins--  Some years happy faced pumpkins, some years sad faced or scary- And this was before those child safe pumpkin carving knives- All four of us Perkins kids would be wielding real knives- How we didn't hurt ourselves I'll never know!  My mom was smart and always let my Dad be in charge of this tradition... she probably couldn't bear thinking about the mess- because it gets slimy and messy!

SO last night I took the kids to the store to get a pumpkin- I guess there is exactly one pumpkin patch on the island, but I am not sure where it is and I bet you anything that 1) it would be very crowded, 2) It would be HOT, dirty and not at all like a pumpkin patch should be. So, we went to the store where I paid $10!!! PER PUMPKIN! Is that even legal??? But whatever, the kids needed pumpkins so I paid the money-  On the way out of the store we were walking though the bedding section and Vangie flipped out over this Tinker Bell bed tent- you strap it to the mattress so its like a tent that you sleep in-- she got in it and just LOVED it! So, I did what any sneaky mom would do and I threw it in the cart when she wasn't looking- I am thinking Christmas present!! She DID see it at the checkout but I told her it wasn't for her, it was for a poor girl who didn't have anything-- which she believed because this year we are buying presents for poor children in another country--- I will fill you all in on that in a later post---- so she has no clue I have this bed tent for her....!

We came home and the pumpkin madness began. The kids always forget you need to GUT the pumpkin- they HATE that part- they can't even stick their hands in the goop-- Joey and Sophia were dry heaving! Vangie wouldn't touch it at all! Joey told me "I have sensitive skin, mommy, I can't touch it!" Who does THAT sound like? Lol!  So of course it was left to MOMMY to gut the pumpkins. Then I made each kid draw the face they wanted on a piece of paper- then I drew the face on the pumpkin and they tried to carve it out- I did Vangies for her--- Sophia is my most persistent child., She tried for a good 30 min to carve her pumpkin. Joey tried for about 2 min, realized how hard it was and wanted me to do it- I actually had to MAKE Sophia let me help her or she would STILL be trying to carve it!  SO we carved them and put candles in them and it was a fun evening.

Opinions, PLEASE!  Look at the sectional to the right---- Its the Edwin 3pc Sectional by Klaussner  Pretty awesome, huh? There is one JUST LIKE IT at the Marine Corps furniture store. The only difference is the one they have there is more yellow/gold in color - which I realllllyyyy like. I am debating on getting this sectional. It would fit our living room space perfectly. It is a 3 pc sectional- two sofas and a chaise lounge. It does  break apart into 3 separate pieces so if we move somewhere else and it won't fit it can be broken up. The kids also LOVE it and Joey keeps asking me if we are going to buy it and I keep telling him that I don't know!!! I just keep driving back to the furniture store to visit "my couch" and touch it and sit on it. The employees there are beginning to think I am a little nuts. But thats the truth so let 'em!

The reason I have not bought this sectional already is that we have a perfectly good couch- a green couch that we got from Lay-z-boy 4 years ago (wow, 4 years already, crazy) but the thing that drives me crazy with our green couch is the back cushions are not keeping there shape and flopping over- its beginning to look sloppy. Plus its not very big, and something bigger that our whole family could sit on plus visitors would be nice.  I've been comparing prices and the price for this sofa at the Marine furniture store is very good- plus no tax, which is a big bonus.  When I first saw this sectional in the store I seriously stopped and screamed "AHHH MY SOFA!" Other customers looked at me to see what was the matter as I sheepishly explained "oh, I just really like this sectional..."

So, should I just put my current sofa on Craigs list and if it sells then I just have to get a new Sofa?? Should I just wait for Chris to get home so he can talk me into getting it himself? (but that is not until Thanksgiving and I am planning on having another family over for Thanksgicing dinner so to have the sofa by then already would be nice....)  Should I be happy with what I have and forget the whole thing?  OPINIONS PLEASE!  How often should one get a new couch? We have been moving so much lately that I feel I deserve to the furniture I want to make this house very "homey" ! Am I being rediculous?

There is so much to do, and not enough time.
Bills to be paid- thankfully mostly online...

I made us all dinner and now the place is a mess
I don't have the energy to clean it up yet

We have to leave for Bible study in an hour and a half
Don't even remind me that I need to give the kids a bath....

And what about HOMEWORK? it has to be done!
The kids will complain because homework is never fun...

The dog is staring at me again--- what in the world does she want?
She's lucky the kids love her or I may  have her shot.

There's another spot on the carpet- how'd it get there?
I ask the kids "Its not from me!" They all swear

Just another afternoon, about this time I find
to have my hubby home to help would keep me from losing my mind!

Today Vangie had her very first gymnastics class! She was very shy at first, and tired, she told me. She didn't want to do anything but I coaxed her into it and by the end she was running around like a maniac.  There were about 5 kids in the class. They spent some time stretching, jumping, hanging on the rings and bar, jumping some more, running some more. I can tell you that I  definitely got a good workout! Then we went to the NEX where I purchased my dry erase boards, and some pumkpin smelling candles to turn this house into the Thanksgiving season.  Then off to pick up the kids from school.

I told the kids when I picked them up that we were going to the water park! I heard from a friend it was open all year... and why not? Its in the 80's every day! And the kids were super excited. We came home and quickly put on our swimsuits and grabbed the towels. Into the car we piled. We set the GPS and off we drove! 25 MIN later we are there! We pull into the empty parking lot!  There is not another car in sight.... they are CLOSED!!  Oh NO! This was not sitting very well at all with the kids. They were MAD! They wanted to go to the WATER PARK! I was in fear of an mutiny....( all I could think of was the Griswalds pulling into Wallyworld!!) I promised them an exciting time nonetheless. I drove down the road a little bit more and found a beach... We were basically the only people there!  It was so beautiful and the water and waves were perfect. We played in the sand, collected shells and jumped around in the waves. A successful day!

This post is entitled "It Never Ends" because, well, it simply never does.  I don't know if it is because Chris is gone or we have a big house that I am moving into, but there is always so much to do! I need to VENT! I need to REST!

Today I woke up at 5am like I always do, to drink my coffee and do my devotions before the full force of the day is unleashed. Then I made the kids waffles (2 points for the super mom) got the kids up- brushed the girls teeth (Joey does his own!) Fed them breakfast CLEANED UP breakfast. Biked kids to school- home, Steam cleaned carpets --- already? You ask, Why, didn't you JUST move in? Why are you steam cleaning so soon? well, two spots of dog pee, a spilt cup of green grow juice and a spilt Pepsi on the carpet will motivate one to get out the steam cleaner!

Then while Vangie watched a movie I paid some bills, made some phone calls,  went over the budget, called Vangies future preschool to see when I can enroll her (January!)Then my beautiful sister, Diana called me to say "Happy Anniversary!!" And then I said "Wow, happy anniversary to me, I FORGOT! So I emailed Chris a lovey dovey "Thank-you-for-the-last-8-years-of-our-marriage-I-couldn't--live-without-you-email that he will get WHO KNOWS WHEN!  Then Vangie and I went to the Air-force Base to get her into a gymnastics class- She starts tomorrow! (2  more points for the super mom.) 

THEN I stopped at the NEX and bought some protein powder for ME- and dealt with Vangies melt-down because I would not buy her a princess movie, which forced me to abandon my dry erase boards that I was going to buy because it was just getting too difficult- I will go back and get them another time..... and then to the self help building to check out a weed whacker, which they did not have! So I borrowed my friend Jens weed whacker (Thanks, Jen!) Then came home.  Once home Vangie and I hopped in the Bike to go get the kids. Got kids, came home,gave kids snack. Weed Whacked back Yard. Swept off patio. 

 Made Chocolate Chip cookies and LET THE KIDS HELP! (2 more points!)  Then ate some cookies, cleaned up the kitchen. Did some laundry. Put on swimsuits, off to pool... swam in pool. Came home, bathed the girls (Joey can now bathe himself, alleluia). Folded load of laundry. Made turkey sandwiches for dinner. Cleaned up dinner. Did homework with kids.  Joey got the mail and I got a Happy Anniversary Card from Nana and Grandpa which put a smile on my face!! Thanks Nana and Grandpa, I love you!! 

Put girls in bed (read story, said prayers. gave each 5 butterfly kisses.) Back downstairs. Folded another load of laundry. Ate MY dinner. Realised tomorrow is trash day. Collected all trash and rolled out trash can. Packed kids backpacks for tomorrow. Unloaded dishwasher. And I prepped the coffee pot for tomorrow so I can do it all again at 5am. Whew. I need a vacation. 

Another week has flown by! Today the kids and I are going to Bible Study at our church- well, they  don't go to bible study, they play in the child care but you know what I mean! Then I promised I would take them to McDonald's to pick out WHATEVER they wanted- they each received a $5 McDonald gift card in the mail from Diane and Merle (our bestest friends from Fremont, MI!) and are so, so , so excited about them. Last night after they opened up their mail and got the cards I tried to talk them into keeping them in the kitchen. I said we'll need them tomorrow... you don't want to lose them! Well, Joey and Sophia just HAD to take them up to their rooms and I am just hopeing we will be able to find them today to take with us. Vangie is unaware of her McDonald's card as of yet because she was a party pooper and fell asleep at 6pm last night before we got the mail!

Yesterday I was moving some furniturere around in the living room- I am still trying to find the best configuration for things- and I felt something SNAP in my right hand!!! Followed by pain....It is not excruciating when I don't move it, but my right hand cannot open and close without really hurting and is hard to moved.... this is a very perplexing situation! I need my right hand! I have a friend who is a doctor and I will ask her today. Hopefully this is something that will heal quickly on its own.  Have you ever tried to brush your teeth with your LEFT hand? It doesn't work very well.  Plus I have more furniture to move around so this hand better get its act together!

Congratulations to Chris's sister Sherry and her husband Brian on the birth of their fist child. Daughter Abigail Annwas born Oct. 14th at 12:01am in Orlando, FL. She was 12 days early and weighs 7lbs 8oz and is 19 inches long! Please pray for Sherry's recovery, she is a nurse and worked all the night prior,then  she was in labor all day and then ended up having a cesarean section.  She is exhausted and needs sleep to recover.  We are so excited to have a new niece to love and for our kids to grow up with! We love you guys and are so happy for you!

Yesterday I took the kids to the Dole Plantation- it was fun! We rode the train, walked through the maze--- thank God we managed to find our way out, for a while I thought we would be the newest  episode of "I shouldn't be Alive" , stranded for days in the Dole pineapple maze!  Then to recover from all that walking we ate lunch at the little cafe they have there. The kids inhaled a ham sandwich. I bought them some Pineapple ice-cream (the only kind they sell!) and the only one who liked it was Sophia! Vangie had a few bites but Joey refused to try it at all! (who does that sound like???) 

After Dole we stopped at the commissary for some groceries. How convenient that it is only a couple minutes away from our house?? Its so nice to live so close to everything! We got some supplies to make cookies because the Chicago is holding a bake sale as a fund-raiser. I made Chocolate No Bake and a new one I just unveiled- peanut butter snickers! The kids were my "tasters". All cookies were good according to them.  

Well, I need to go get the kids out of bed- this morning they are back to school! And we DO NOT have to drive , we can walk! No more traffic jams everyday! No more getting up super early for the 45 min commute! Yeah!

First I want to start this post by saying How excited we are for Sherry and Brian right now!!!  This is an exciting day you will never forget and please know you are in my thoughts and prayers! And I better be getting some pictures ASAP- or else!

Yesterday was a very productive day for me here at the house.  I have had a couple days where nothing seemed to be getting done and frankly it was depressing! But yesterday a lot of things came together. On Sunday I went with my friend Jennifer who introduced me to a store called City Mill- its like a Home Depot but smaller and not so overwhelming- I bought a shoe organizer for my closet and was excited to get home and put it together and organize that darn shoe closet. Well, once home it was a lot smaller than I needed. SO, yesterday I un-assembled it (always a fun task) and returned it to City Mill and bought a much BIGGER shoe organizer- and now the shoe closet is oh so reorganized, which just leaves me feeling nice, warm and fuzzy! (see pic to right).  



We also went to the Cable store and got another cable box- and came home and INSTALLED IT! high five for me!! And it works! I also hooked up the VCR---- man, I was on a roll! The only thing is I cannot seem to program the living room remote controls to work the TV volume.... very perplexing. I will keep trying. Then I put my final coat of paint on the office desk- and it is looking great! I just need to touch up a couple spots and buy new handles for the drawers and then of course hook up the computer.

After that I went out into the garage- which looked like a bomb had exploded and thrown up all over the place- and started organizing. On Sunday at City Mill I also purchased a big (very heavy) garage shelf organizer.- Once I put it together (again, high five for me!) I had 5 shelves to put things on.  I went through everything. And the garage is now organized! - and once Chris gets home he can go out and organize it more to his liking, but right now it looks good enough for me. And once I hold my garage sale and throw all the empty boxes away there will be room to park a vehicle.  So as you can see I am slowly put surely knocking things off my TO-DO list.

I know everyone wants pictures of the house, so tonight I will do that. Today is the last day of Fall Break, so the kids and I are having a FUN DAY and going to the Dole Pineapple Plantation. I am told there is a train ride there, and one of the biggest mazes in the world. Also, they sell pineapple ice cream! Check back later for a full FUN DAY report.

Friday and Saturday were more days of organizing! It can be so overwhelming because you work and work and work and then it looks like you have done nothing! I DID however, get the kids rooms mostly done----- and I realize that Sophia is a HOARDER! Just LOOK at the pile of STUFF that I had to sort through-- she likes to keep EVERYTHING. Little toys that she sticks in her various purses or wraps up in paper and tape??? Why, I have no idea. This huge pile- pictured right- was what I had to sort through. I felt like I could have called in a television crew and sent her to rehab for her "condition". All is well now, I got rid of the junk and organized what was left.  Joey's room was easy to organize- he is a very organized person anyway. Vangie's room still needs a dresser- So it looks a little bare at the moment. 

The downstairs is almost done except the office- I have been perplexed on how to organize this room-- nothing seemed to fit well or "flow".  So, Joey and I are painting the desk! The desk originally has white legs- and all our other furniture has black accents- so the legs are going black! (don't worry Chris, everything is under control!) The desk has been primed and today will we will be applying the first coat of paint.  Also, I thankfully found the power cord to the TV that will go in the office- I will pick up the cable boxes on Monday- I DO have cable now in the living room and also Internet service. I got up yesterday morning to NO INTERNET! I almost had a panic attack because the unpleasant man from the cable company told me it would be a week or more before they could get out here! I quickly gathered myself and called again. THIS time I got a nice lady phone operator who realized all she had to do was transfer my service and so she did it over the phone. Phew. Disaster averted.  I just couldn't face the world without Internet- my connection to the world.

Yesterday the kids and I went to Bible Study in the morning and then to  look at a couple furniture stores after lunch. We are just keeping our eyes oven in case we see the perfect peice for the blank wall in the living room and Vangies room-- They were tired of driving around so when we got home we made out first trip to the community pool! It is just 3 blocks away. It is very nice and even has a lifegaurd on duty- although no lifegaurd could ever perform water rescues as quickly as I can, I must say--- JOey and Sophia jumped right in and were having a blast. Vangie, however had a meltdown.  It tuns our her beloved tube- which she floats on all over the pool like a little speedboat--- was NOT allowed.  She cried and cried "My floaty!, My FLOOAATTIEEEEEE"...... I just had to let her cry it out. I kept asking if she wanted water wings.... (which arelegal) and she angrily said "NO... my FLOATIEEEEE...."  This went on for about 25 minutes. Finally I talked her into playing on the steps with no float and me sitting next to her. She then started having a good time. So, the next time we go I will leave the tube at home and take her life jacket.

Today is Sunday- I am working in the church nursery today at the 10am service. Afterwards the kids and I are going to IHOP for brunch! ( I have to admit the food selection here has been sparse, except for the awesome enchiladas my friend Jen brought over I have not been in the mood to cook much!) I know they will be excited.

It is amazing how much can get done in a couple days- this place is actually beginning to look like a home! I still have a long way to go for it to be "done", but everyday more gets put away and unpacked. Yesterday I finished organizing the kitchen and I emptied every box of clothes and toys for the kids rooms- now today we need to organize and put it all away. Since our things were in storage for 6 months a lot of clothes and shoes no longer fit the kids, so I need to go through and take a lot out to be donated.

I got home from Bible study yesterday morning around 12noon- and there was a note on the door that I had missed the cable guy. Apparently I had a cable appointment, but I don't know HOW I could have because 1) I wasn't scheduled to move into the house until TODAY originally, and 2) I never called to let them know I moved in EARLY and 3) Chris never told me or wrote down anywhere that I had a cable appointment!! So, I called them back and was told by a rather unpleasant fellow (please tell we WHY people work in costumer service who are unpleaseant???)  that I missed my appointment (he didn't seem to care that I actually didn't HAVE an appointment to begin with! And now they don't know WHEN they can get back out to me, they'll call me in a few days and try to set something up. Call in a few days to Set it up??? Only in Hawaii where there is obviously a cable monopoly can they treat costumers like this! Today I am looking into Dish Network. 

Last night the kids and I headed to TArget - right down the road from our new neiborhood! Bonus!
And got the kids a HALLOWEEN COSTUME! Usually I make they get the cheapest one because I think they are sort of a waste of money, but yesterday I let Joey and Sophia pick out whatever!I am blaming my spendiness on moving in and just not caring! Plus it was fun to see the kids so happy. Joey picked out Darth Vader and Sophia is Super Girl! Vangie is Tinkerbell, but she already had that costume so I didn't need to buy it for her last night. They came home, took there baths and tried on their costumes. Joeys is a little long in the legs, but that is an easy fix.

Today we have nothing planned except having my friend Jen over for dinner tonight- hopefully I can amaze her with how much has gotten done around here! My goals for the house are 1) finish the kids rooms, 2) call dish network! and 3) find the TV remote controls --- where or where could they be???

I am too busy and tired to write a seperate post, so here is a copy of the email I sent to Chris on his boat:

We are moved into our house- no more apartment! Yesterday "Two Men and a Truck" moved all of our stuff from our apartment- about 10 large boxes, several bags, toys, dishes..... enough that I couldn't do it myself.... plus our large day bed and our TV;  and moved it into the house for us. They set the bed upstairs for me and everything else they piled up in the dinning room and then I put in the correct room- it took me about 4 hours to put it all away. The mover men were GREAT! I would recommend this particular company to anyone who needs to move something in Hawaii! Richard, the owner actually called me later in the day to make sure everything went well. AND they drove Chris's car from the apartment to the house for me.

The kids LOVE, LOVE , LOVE! The house. Joey was actually getting lost  upstairs! "Mommy, I can't find the stairs! "  Now that is awesome when you have so many rooms your 6 year old gets lost! They ran screaming, yelling, jumping all over last night. Did I care? NO!!!! I cannot tell you how good it feels to not worry about neighbors hearing us or being bothered by our "noise"- because when you have 3 kids under 6, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE LOTS OF NOISE!!!  So the kids picked out their rooms. Joey and Sophia both have a walk-in closet which they think is really cool. They cannot wait to get all their toys back today- remember, we haven't seen our household goods for 6 months! We did our pack out in APRIL! I am a little nervous to know if everything made it over in one piece. I guess the move to Hawaii is rough and a lot of times people have broken things.... I will update on all of that later. My friends Jen and Allison are going to come over today to help me- checking off boxes and wrangling kids- Thanks guys!!

After our picnic dinner on the finning room floor last night- see picture on right- we took Stella for a walk around our BEAUTIFUL neighborhood,  All the houses look so pretty, and the flowers and trees are beautiful--When we got home Stella got a flea bath- just to be safe. Then we watched a movie on the living room floor and all of us went to bed at 9pm- it was a LONG day. We have all been sleeping together on Vangies Day bed- which has a trundle and pulls out. I enjoy my kids, but I am looking forward to sleeping through the night without someones sweaty feet in my face!

We are sitting in our empty apartment - and our loaner furniture is gone- they came and picked it up this morning. Then the kids and I drove to base and signed the lease to our new house! (see pic on right!) Its 4 bedrooms, around 2300 square feet- it is going to feel like a mansion compared to where we have been living. We have a 2 car garage, laundry room, large kitchen with a dining area, living room and bonus room all downstairs- the bonus room is going to be a playroom, I am pretty sure.

Upstairs is four bedrooms- Joey and Sophie each have a walk in closet. Vangies room is the biggest of the kids rooms- with a large closet and lots of windows. Her room will be transformed into the guest room when we finally get some visitors! There is also a bathroom for the kids to use. A large Master with walk in closet and a master bath!!   I will post lots of pictures tomorrow when I pick up the keys and we officially move in.

Today I need to finish up packing our apartment- we need to be ready to go tomorrow at 7am.

Attention all family and friends. Sophia would liked to be called SOPHIA now... not "Sophie"! She told me this yesterday after she looked at one of her birthday cards. Mommy... she says to me.... why did they spell my name with an "E"??? My name ends in a "A"! I told her because that says Sophie. Well, she tells me. I am NOT Sophie... my name is SOPHIA! So... I guess there it is. Ever since her birth I have alternated calling her Sophie and Sophia... either one, not really thinking about it. When she started pre-school her teacher wanted to know what it was.. because I would write either/or on her backpack and her lunch-box. I have been wondering which way to go. When she started kindergarten I labeled everything the same- Sophia. And so that is who she is from now on! 

This mornig the kids and I got all ready for my womans bible study at my church... and my van was dead! somebody  left the lights on in the van! This is probably the same somebody  who leaves crumbs all over, forgets to flush the toilet, and never leaves toys all over the floor. Thankfully I saw one of my neighbors who helped me to jump start my van- whew! 

Yesterday was the one month anniversary of the death of my Mom. Please pray for my Dad, he is still dealing with immense grief and I know he will be for a while. Everything for the next year will be very hard- the first deer hunting season without Mom, the first Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthday, anniversary..... I know we will get through this, but its hard.

Today was a GREAT day! The other day I drove by our house - that we were scheduled to move into next THURSDAY; they were cleaning the carpets. I mentioned this to my friend Jen, and she made the comment "If I were you, I'd see if you could move in before Thursday...." At first I thought, well, yes, it would be great to move in before Thursday- waiting until Thursday is going to be a pain! The kids have all next week off and we will just be hanging around the apartment WAITING to move into our house. BUT; if I reschedule the move I have to reschedule so much other stuff that goes along with it....... Nope, too much work , I'll just wait until Thursday. However, this morning after I dropped the kids off at school (last time I do THAT commute, BOU-YAY!) I just thought to myself, "Well, I'll just go to housing and see if I can move in earlier, I probably can't anyway.... So Vangie and I walked in and guess what? I can move in on..... TUESDAY! So, I switched the move.

However.... now I needed to reschedule everything else and just pray that it all workes  out. I walked over to the HHG department (they are delivering our house hold goods, all 9,000lbs of it on Friday...) I asked to move it to Wednesday.....and I could! SCORE! So now over to the Aloha Furniture people- This is the furniture we have been living on the last 3 months, given to us for free by the Navy because we had not had our Household good delivered... They were origionally going to pick it up on Wednesday, but that wouldn't work anymore because I wouldn't be in the apartment on Wednesday.... So I asked to move it to MONDAY.

The woman at the desk was a little rude and told me that yes, I could move it to Monday, but it could be at anytime from 7am-6pm and there was NO WAY to tell when so I would have to be available ALL DAY for them. I was like, Well, I HAVE to move it so okay, I'll be there. But THEN I got a call later today and it was a much nicer man from the Aloha furniture and he said they'd be here Monday between 7-9am. YES! So now I will be able to go on MONDAY to look over the house and sign the lease! (And I will bring my power-at-attorney because Chris is MIA, as you know!) So, SCORE again! But WAIT!
 
Before I can be officially done with this apartment I need to have it cleaned and the carpets cleaned--- this was all scheduled for WEDNESDAY..... and I need it done on TUESDAY.... so I called the carpet guy, and No problem, I got it moved, then I called the cleaning woman.... she actually laughed when I asked if I could move it sooner! -but in a a nice way--- however, once she checked her schedule she realized that Tuesday was free so she will be here on Tuesday!!

So everything is rearranged for us to move into our new house on TUESDAY. Two whole days early! I am so excited that I can hardly contain myself!! So now we are home from school and the kids are on Fall Break until Oct. 14th! They can help with the Move-in! I will put them to work, don't worry!

Tonight is Friday, MOVIE NITE! We stopped at Blockbuster and got a couple movies, went to the grocery store and got a pizza, soda and popcorn! The pizza is in the oven, once it's done we will take it to the pool and have pizza and soda and swim to cool off and then come back home and watch a movie before bed- a great end to a great day!!! But still pray for me please, this next week is going to be a circus!

I just realized that I have not posted since MONDAY! Where has the time gone? With Chris gone the kids and I have been staying busy, busy, busy! Today Joey had a field trip to the Rain Forest! He had a lot of fun. He told me he had to climb a long trail and it was muddy. He said he saw a "furry flower" and  a "chocolate tree". I am assuming he saw a cocoa bean tree? (or bush.... or is it a tree?) Anyway, he had a good time. Only after I dropped him off and drove all the way home did I read on his paper that he was supposed to take a poncho or rain-jacket with him- I guess it rains a lot in the rain-forest.... So, I felt the guilt of an incompetent mother all morning- I thought I was on top of everything making sure he was dressed properly with a lunch! Actually I thought I was ahead of the curve by spraying him down with bug-spray! Nevertheless he survived without the poncho.
 
I have been fighting traffic taking the kids to school every morning and had to fill up the gas tank AGAIN today. Tomorrow is my LAST day driving them to school across the island. Next week the kids are on FALL BREAK. They go back on Oct. 14th. Also, next week we move into our HOUSE! We can hardly contain our excitement!

Sophie now insists that she can walk to her class by herself. Normally I park the van and walk her to her class- its a good ways, down several sidewalks and by several buildings that all look alike- but she was adamant that I NOT go with her yesterday- so, I let her go. .. and I followed sneakily behind to make sure she got there. She wasSO CUTE! Walking to class by herself, her and her backpack that looks so huge on her tiny body. Joey and Sophie walked most of the way together and then they reach a sidewalk where Joey goes left and Sophie goes right.... So they wave at each other and go their own separate ways. My heart melted when I saw that! (From a distance, hiding! I didn't want Sophie to see me there- she would have been very angry!) So this morning she wanted to walk by herself again so I let her- She is so independent! I am just glad that she is liking school and having a good time.