Her Black Eye

Sweet Kate slipped in the bathroom at school because of a puddle close to the sink. She fell backwards and somehow in the process got a black eye and cut close to her eye. She was a trooper though, and got an ice pack from the office and then headed back to class. Later she came home and cried and said, "I was so brave. I didn't cry at all even though it really hurt." My sweet Kate is very guarded around people, but I am so blessed to know her true thoughts and feelings. Here is a picture of her war wound.

I happen to think that she is the prettiest little black eyed gal!

Are you from Texas?

I can't figure out why people think we are moving from Texas. We are clearly from San Diego!

Quality time with my Quality Gal

With Hannah at school full day, and Kate at school half day, Rahcel Lee and I have some great quality time (although not today because I am trying to catch up on the blog...we'll see how that goes!). I love my one-on-one time with her. I never had that time with Hannah because I took care of other kiddos (Frankie and Jos) and then we lived with another family (Frankie and Dexter) and then we had Kate and that was the any one one one time. Kate had some of this quality time when Hannah went to preschool and RL was sleeping, but it was not as regular and predictable as the time I get now with RL. We dance, paint, do science, bead, make playdough and of course play hide and seek A LOT! I am really enjoying my RL time. She is a blessing and a joy during the mundane tasks of laundry, dishes and housework. And as a benefit, I think she will make an excellent cup of coffee in the near future since she is my helper every morning when I brew my cup o' joe!

An Underwhelming Birthday for an Overwhelmingly Wonderful Guy

In the scheme of life, some birthdays just pass by as more of a flop than a big hoopla, and well, this is one of those years for Jeff. Having just moved, we don't have friends to call to hang out with, and without a babysitter we couldn't go out and celebrate just the two of us. So, we had a nice quiet family day spent enjoying being together, and taking a break from unpacking and organizing. But, he's such a great guy that if you ask him about his 35th birthday he will say, "It was great. I spent the day with the girls. We went hiking and I got a BBQ." I'm glad that he is content with the flop years. I married a good man, and am so blessed to be on this journey with such an overwhelmingly wonderful man. I love you Jeff, and hope that next year will be a hoopla year!

These are a few of my favorite things

While unpacking I came across many long lost items. I guess that goes with the territory of not packing all your stuff. So, as I unpacked I found myself looking at pictures that had been stored, reading parts of old journals, and of course laughing at some of the things the movers moved. Just look at the amount of cleaner left in the bottle...

Ridiculous, right? And check out the label on this box...

...Patio clothes. What are patio clothes? When the movers moved things off the truck they would ask, "Where do you want this?" So, when I was asked, "Where do you want your patio clothes?" I burst out laughing...what are patio clothes? All I could figure is that there might have been some clothes on the patio that they just packed up. The mover was waiting for an answer though, so I told him, "The patio I guess." It's good to laugh through this moving process, and I am so grateful for the movers work packing and carrying things around.

Moving in...slowly but surely...hopefully...

We are a "shoes off" kind of family. So, the day that the moving truck was scheduled to arrive Rachel Lee, out of habit, took off her shoes and lined them up by the front door. It made me tear up...we were home. After two crazy months of packing, living in temporary housing, and just getting by, we were about to begin the settling in process. Not that having our stuff would make us feel settled, but it would help us feel comfortable while we begin to settle.

The truck arrived a few hours later than originally scheduled, so Kate was done with school and able to be around while the movers moved all our stuff in. And although the moved the stuff in, it was still SUCH a mess. It seemed like each room was filled with boxes...

The downstairs family room...

...the upstairs living room...

 

...the master bedroom...

 

...the girl's bedroom...

 

...the study/guest room...

 

...and the dining room.

 

That's not even showing the kitchen, which I could not walk in to get a picture, or the deck, downstairs storage area or small garage that we have. I sure had my work cut out when the left, and I almost cried for a different reason...too much stuff! But, slowly and surely we have unpacked and are beginning to make this house our home. Praise God for a place to live!

Tumbling Time!!

The library in Castro Valley is fab-u-lous!! It is one of the best libraries I have ever seen. One thing that I love about the library are all the programs for kids to participate in for FREE!! This is a tumbling class that the girls really enjoyed. No one does a somersault like my girlies!

A Visit from the Folks

My parents are used to driving the 5 to see us. They drove the 5 when I lived in Davis, they drove the 5 when we lived in San Diego, and now that we are in San Fransisco they drive the 5...for a long, long time. And I'm so glad that distance has not kept them away. My mom and dad came to visit and were such troopers...putting up with our temporary house and very limited kitchen/bath/everything supplies. It was a great time and I am excited for our next visit this weekend!! YAY!!

Smartie Pants

The other day and I was preparing lunch for Kate and Rachel Lee (Hannah eats lunch at school) I began quizzing Kate on her sight words. She was spelling everything correctly, so I called her a smarty pants. She giggled and I said, "No really, are those your smarty pants your wore to school today because you are a smar-ty pants!" She thought I was hilarious and giggled a ton. It was fun. Well, next thing I know, I turn around and it's completely quiet...I call her name and Rachel Lee's name...nothing...then Kate rounds the corner without her pants on and says, "Mom, now ask me how to spell 'do' and you will see that it's not my pants that make me smart. I am smart without them!" I cracked up. It was sooo funny! My literal little girl proving that she was a smarty and that she doesn't have smarty pants. Well, next thing I know, Rachel Lee was not wearing pants and things got sillier and sillier.  I really love being home with my girls and I love how we laugh and enjoy one another. My girls are truly the best!

Welcome to Our New House!

Kateisms

The other evening at dinner
Kate: Today at school I was on the playground talking to Nathan when Carson came up and pulled my hair for NO reason...I then looked at him and said, 'Carson, you have no business pulling my hair.'"
Jeff and I burst into laughter
Kate: Guys, there is nothing funny about pulling hair!
Jeff (gaining compsure): What did Carson say to that?
Kate: Nothing. He just ran away.
Jeff: I would too.

Kate: What type of bug is exstink?
Sarah: A stink bug?
Kate: A dinosaur bug.
Jeff: Get it? Ex-stinct? Dinosaurs are extinct...
Sarah: Oh, now I get it...

I praise God that Kate's sense of humor has been ever present in the time of change in our family. She keeps us laughing and enjoying life. I truly love this little beauty that God has graciously place in our family!

Coronado 2013

After sending all our stuff on a moving truck and loading the car down, we set out for a week long fun filled trip to Coronado. We spent the first night at the Hotel del Coronado, enjoyed a lovely walk through downtown to a very tasty dinner.


We woke early (compliments of all the kiddos) the next morning and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast with a beautiful view of the ocean.


After we headed to our church for one...last...church service with Harbor Church, and then to the rental house at:

 

That's when the real fun began because all 6 of these little kiddos under the age of 6 were together and allowed to roam wild and free!


 

 Or at least roam with the assistance of some very loving hands...

And there was lots of love that week. The kids loved being together, and of course, they loved being read to...

...and pulled in the wagon...

The loved playing at the park...

...until they couldn't play anymore...


 ...and then we played some more!!



...or at least watching others play wiffle ball...

...

 It was great having Aunt's and Unlce's around to try to keep up the energy of this one...

And it is a blessing to celebrate the birthdays of this one...

and this lovely little lady...

 And somewhere in the there was beach time, but I hung back with Rachel Lee who had a cast on her foot and was not able to enjoy the sand or beach. She and I had a great week together resting and playing together after a very active packing/moving experience. I think her fractured foot was God' way of slowing her and I down because He knew we needed some relax time.  But we did make it for a sunset walk one evening and it was simply beautiful!!

Best of all, it was great having everyone together for a week just enjoying the gift that family is. God has given us family as a support in our life, and no one sees our highs and lows, our ins and out, our joys and pains more than family. It is a blessing to see the Murry crew, and I know that in the near future we will get to have another fun filled time together (especially since it is mid-October and Christmas is only around the corner!!)