New School...

The kids are starting a new school today, I am very nervous for them.  But they are more resilient than I am, I think they will be okay.

Unpacking... or Not

  The guys from the moving company made a few comments about how much "stuff" we had... One even said that he had to go into the second roll of stickers to number the boxes, and he rarely did that.  How could we have so much in such a small house. 

   I don't need to tell you how much fun unpacking has been.  We actually did fairly well getting things unpacked.  In two weeks, time the only rooms I have left are the sewing room and Hayes's room.  Not bad... I think!

The kitchen is straight!

And the Girl's bathroom...

I might would be furthur along if the help wasn't fishing!

New Year... New Beginnings

  We arrived in Charleston, January 2nd at 12:30 am.  What a long day we had finishing up at the old house and saying our goodbyes...

Monday was spent cleaning and preparing the house for the moving company.  Because they were to arrive Tuesday morning early, but you will never believe it, the truck broke down again!

Thank goodness we didn't find any furniture for our living room, despite the fact we didn't have any chairs to sit or relax on, but we survived...

 And had fun:)

STAIR SLIDING>>> with the blow up mattress.

The fun ended when the truck finally arrived late Tuesday, but nothing was moved in until Wednesday. But as you can see by early afternoon, the truck was emptied...

..into the living room

   Actually, they put the boxes and furniture where I asked them too, this was just the overflow.

The real fun didn't begin until...

we began unpacking

After a shower, and some cheerios... some of us were worn out!

...unpacking is very tiring!

The Move....

What's the old adage...if it could go wrong it will go wrong.  To start off we have a beautiful Brittany that loves the outdoors and loves to run and run and run. Needless to say moving to a subdivision is not the most appropriate environment for her.  We found a wonderful home for her but found out a a few weeks prior to moving that Maddie was expecting... So now she and the puppies will be making the move with us. (She had 9 puppies Christmas night!)

The week of the move is here and the moving company is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. (2 days after Christmas!)  I am feeling like a truck ran over me and at 10:30 am when no one has arrived, I begin to worry.  After a call, to the moving company, I find out that their truck instrument panel has stopped working.  Oh my, is this a sign of what is to come... Of course it is, when 2 hours later another company, I didn't know was coming, arrive to box up our TVs and the washer and dryer.  You have got to be kidding me.  No television noise for 5 days and no laundry, this can't be happening.



The moving truck arrives on Wednesday, and we pack and pack and pack.   I have never heard so many comments about how much "stuff" we have.  Well we do...The packing takes a full three days and finally at 10 pm on Friday night the truck is packed.  However as I walk through the house, I realize that I told them oh we will take that, equated to a u-haul trailer worth... what on earth was I thinking!

That whole bad boy was full!!!

I had to go rent a u-haul trailer to take the few things, that wouldn't fit in my husbands truck or my van... and don't forget I am hauling a mama dog, her 9 puppies, and my three kids!  Lot's of fun!

Our last family picture in front of the house that it all began in!

New Beginnings~ We have a house!

   Well we have closed on a new house.  I mentioned earlier that we found one, well we have closed the deal.  Oh my what a wonderful experience it was with our realtor, she was AWESOME!  I wish I could say the same for the house back home. 
   The new house has plenty of rooms, but does it have plenty of room?  This will be a new adventure for us because we are moving to a subdivision... Probably no riding through the yard with the four wheelers...good thing because we sold them.  Probably no burn barrels either.  Wonder if I have to worry about people hearing me fuss at my kids....
The biggest adjustment will be that we are going to be 5 hours from our families not 5 seconds or 15 minutes. And I am sure that will bring us challenges all on its own.  Uugh... moving day will be emotional. 

  On the brighter side, I am looking forward to decorating and setting up the new house.  I told Lee I wanted a showcase home and we need to get rid of a bunch of stuff.  I really don't want a showcase home, but I want things to have a place and there not be piles of stuff.. because it won't fit anywhere... Look at these homes:

and yes that's my little monkey hanging from the table. I can't remember which model house this was taken from, but they were all so beautiful...

Don't you love the pillows!

   This was the house we fell in love with the butler pantry, but the yard was non existent!

This house didn't have enough bedrooms.

     A couple of times, Lee just wanted to buy the house we were looking at, so that we could stop looking.   It was driving him craZy...

But the wait is over, we have purchased a house and its time to pack and get ready to DeCoRaTe!!!!

House Hunting

  The aches and pains of selling a house and buying a new one.  All the things that you suddenly find the time or the money to fix, because you know that you want the most money you can get out of the house you are selling. What an emotional journey!

Well we have found a house in Charleston!  Wow... it is beautiful and larger than the house we are in now.  But I do believe good things come in small packages.  I hope I am not creating  more work for myself.  Well I guess I am!  Here is the house:

   The totally new aspect of this house is that we are in a subdivision.  Including an HOA and neighbors within yard stick distance.... well not exactly!  Luckily we do have a swimming pool and all three schools are close to the house. We even have  a really nice grocery store at the entrance of the subdivision.    We are about 30 minutes away from the beach.  But hey, that is good during hurricane season.

It's Official

The Pope's are moving!  We found out that Lee has an awesome job opportunity in Charleston, S.C.    Lee and I are so excited, but believe me, there is a lot of stress to this decision.  We are leaving the town that he grew up in, which is next to the town that I grew up in.  Not to mention our families.  But we know that this decision was a leap of faith and an opportunity we couldn't let pass.  For once in our married lives, we will be on the same schedule and Lee won't have to work swing shift.  Yippy! 

Now there are soooooo many decisions to be made.  Like where are we going to live...