So, Here it is!

Well, you asked for it! Here are a few pictures of the house since the furniture arrived. We moved in on Tues. the 18th, but couldn't get a Christmas tree until Sat. the 22nd because there were still so many workers around. We usually go cut a tree at a farm, but there was no time for that this year. Instead, we headed to a nearby nursery. We were so late, they had marked down everything so that nothing was more than $20! We got this great 11ft. $170 tree for $20! Even funnier, if we had waited one more day, it would have been free! So here it is, the prettiest $20 tree you've ever seen:

We also started a new tradition this year, the boys wanted to get a "Charlie Brown" tree for upstairs. So we bought this $5 tree and some colored lights and gold tinsel and let them go to town. They loved it!

So, let me give you a tour. Remember, we are minus rugs and window treatments. Those will have to come later. Here's a picture of the keeping room. This is where the tree is. The furniture faces a big brick fireplace with a TV mounted over it:

Next is the kitchen. You can see that it is connected to the keeping room:

Here is the breakfast area, it is right by the keeping room as well:

Here is the living room. It is on the other side of the brick arch from the keeping room. You can see the dining room to the left. I have some leopard print fabric like the chairs you see to cover the seats of the dining room chairs:

OK, I'm out of time. Next time, I'll show you the rest.

Moving Day

Well, I have found the cord to the camera, and downloaded what pictures I have. I haven't done as good as I wished I had. I really wish I could show you what the house looked like on moving day. You wouldn't believe it. As the movers were moving all our stuff in, there were about 20 workers all over the place: painting, installing appliances, finishing up the trim work, etc. etc. Each day, we worked our tails off unpacking what we could and trying to get things in good enough shape to survive. Here are some pictures of the house a couple of days AFTER moving day:





In true "us" fashion, moving day was not only "moving day", but also the day of Braden's Christmas program at school. I went to the morning show and Richard caught the afternoon one. As stressed out as I was, the program totally changed my mood. It was the cutest thing I had seen. They did the "Cajun Night Before Christmas". If you've never read the book, you should. Santa comes with alligators instead of reindeer and in a pirogue instead of a sleigh. It is really cute, but you'll need someone from this part of the world to read it to you to get the full effect. Somehow, I think something would be lost with your yankee accents! Ha Ha! Here are a couple of pictures from the program:


Yes, they're in camoflauge, but that's how the cajuns do things!!
So, you would think that would be enough for one day, but, oh no, we weren't done yet. Bryce had his band concert at school the same evening. So, we changed out of our "moving" clothes, and into some "real" clothes and headed out to the concert. We left the builder and the workers there to keep working. Here is the handsome trumpet player (with the other boys):

And that was the end of moving day. Needless to say, we fell into bed, exhausted. But never fear, the next day was just as crazy.

I know you want to see pictures of the house. I am going to put that post together next.

We Made It!

I just wanted to check in really quick. We have had a crazy couple of weeks to say the least. I will get some pictures downloaded, but need to find the cords first. We still have workers in and out trying to finish the house that we now live in, but were able to have a wonderful Christmas with all of our family. I hope you did as well. I can't wait to be able to catch up with all of you and see how your Christmas was.

Taking A Break

I will be taking a break for a little while. My phone lines will be transferred tomorrow so I can have the security system hooked up at the new house. That means that I won't have internet for a whole week! I don't know if I can survive. I have been so incredibly busy, though, that it's probably a blessing. I will be packing up the house we're in (trying to make sure I'll be able to find Christmas presents), and making sure the new house is ready. Richard and I spent the whole weekend cleaning the new house. I don't think I have ever been so tired, but we are so determined to get it done. I will check in on everyone when we get moved. Have a great week!

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

So I thought I'd share a few updated pictures of the house. We are SO close. This week will be another busy week, but I think we're going to be able to do it! Here are what the pictures are of:
1. The beaded board above the kitchen table. It is reclaimed from an old building. When it came, it still had turquoise paint in the grooves. I LOVE it. The guys who put it up think I'm crazy, but that's ok.
2. The copper hood with the new backsplash. What you see is a shelf that is behind the range. It can hold pretty bottles or salt shakers.
3. My copper apron sink.
4. The kitchen granite. I love it because it looks like leopard print.
5. The wood floors (they still have to be sanded and sealed).
6. My outside ceiling fans. I bought these about 6 months ago, and have been dying to see them up. I love them.
7. Cade's built-in bunk beds. They still have to be painted and some details added.
8. The LSU shower. This shower is HUGE. You can't tell by the picture, but there are three corner seats and three shower heads. It looks like a true locker room. I'll do a post on this bathroom later.
9. My kitchen. The island still needs to be painted, but it is all coming together.

We have worked so hard this weekend getting it ready for the week. I was so tired last night that I could hardly stay up to put the boys to bed, and I am very sore today! I'll post more later, but I'm off to bring Braden to a birthday party.

6 Months Closer!

Well, today marks 6 months that we have been logged in in China. So, in honor of this day, I had to share two outfits I picked up the other day. They were half off, and I just couldn't pass them up.

Everything has been really crazy the past few weeks with the house and all. It looks like we won't make the party deadline, but we will be in for Christmas. Right now, it looks like we'll move on the 18th. This week has been so busy there. The landscaping is being put in. All the lighting is in. All the tile is in, and they are starting on the wood floor. Also, all the granite and countertops are in. I will have lots of pictures to share, but I haven't gotten myself together enough to get it done.

Rural Life Museum

Today we went to the Rural Life Museum here in town. Every year they have one Sunday where they open up and show us what it was like to spend Christmas in the 19th century. We learned how they made sugar from the sugar cane, we saw the old slave quarters, Cade made a grapevine wreath that quickly became a hula hoop. Most of all, I got to take lots of pictures of my cuties with all kinds of great backgrounds. The only problem? It was in the 80's here today. I tried to dress them as "Christmas" as I could, while trying to keep the sweat down to a minimum. That's Louisiana for you. This first picture is of Cade with an old time musket. He and Bryce actually got to shoot it.

This might be my favorite of the three of them together. This was an old church.

Here is the front of the same church. They sell these great live wreaths here. I wanted some so bad, but seeing as we don't even know where we will be spending Christmas, it's just another thing to move right now. I'm already planning for next year!

Here are my four guys. Don't you love the big oaks. That might be my favorite part of south Louisiana.

Here's cutie Cade. He looks so grown up I can't believe it. He has held onto his "baby" look much longer than the others, but now he's losing it. Kinda makes me sad.

Here's Braden. He is wanting his hair long again, so I guess I'll let it grow until the school makes us cut it. It is so cute on him.

And, of course, here is Bryce. He is getting big, as well. It won't be long, and he'll be taller than I am.
We had a great day. We are trying to do lots of Christmas activities since we're not decorating the house we're in unless we see that we won't be moving before the holidays. Now we just need the weather to help us out a little.