What's Up With the New House? ATTIC That's What!

Yeah, so someone around here has a Clark Griswold ball of Christmas lights to untangle, but for the most part the attic is done! I didn't take before pictures because . . . number 1 I forgot and number 2 you might cry. When the movers put the boxes in the attic they just shoved them in there all willy nilly, which was fine, but it had to be dealt with. Our old house had a teensy weensy attic and there was no way to even stand up tall in most of it. It was packed to the gills. This attic is pretty massive, thank goodness. Cause with 7 people in our family we got lots of junk to store. My trusty label maker was right by my side the whole time. I keep some of Conner's outgrown clothes for Ethan, most of Nicci's clothes for Carlie, and all of Carlie's clothes for Avery. Then there's the holiday stuff. And my husband's massive collection of wires, chords, cables, old keyboards, and old mice. Anytime we need a chord, cable, or wire we usually have it!

Now that this is done I can move on to the guest bedroom! YAY!

So, Why the Move?

I'll give you two reasons . . . .

Number 1

And, number 2

Yup, a pool and six bedrooms for this gargantuan family. Everybody has their own room, except the 'twins' who get to share, which means we have a guest room (come see us!) and everyone has their own bathroom. Life is a little more peaceful around here with everyone spread out and stretching their wings.

Now be patient with me as I paint every single room and closet in this house, cuz it ain't been touched since 1984. And we all know how the 80's were, right? Yeah, not good as far as decor and fashion.

More WITH Than Without!

So, we reached another milestone in the world of adoption. We adopted Avery Lan when she was 15 months old. She was very much loved and taken care of, but small, had a skin rash, and an upper respiratory infection. Just some of the possible affects of living in an orphanage. Believe me it could've been worse.

She adjusted to us amazingly well, like she had always been with us. She was a perfect fit in every way! English is her second language and she speaks it better than most people (and a lot, too)! She's grown by leaps and bounds - from a 12-24 months size to a 3T. Her hair is now long enough for two, yeah, two pig tails! She loves going to preschool and being with her teachers and friends. She adores her older siblings. And she has the BEST belly laugh! Her eyes practically disappear when she smiles!

Avery has now been WITH us a month longer than we were without her! Time sure flies when you're having as much fun as we are. I think about and pray for her birth parents a lot. I can only imagine how much it hurts her China mommy's arms and heart that she does not get to hold her baby girl. And I pray that God will let them know how very much she was prayed for and loved and wanted WAY before she was even born.

"For you created my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful,

I know that full well."

Psalm 139:13-14

"Do not be afraid, for I am with you;

I will bring your children from the east

and gather you from the west."

Isaiah 43:5

And We're Back!!

So, moving day came and went. This first picture makes me want to throw-up a little bit in my mouth because it was just a tad stressful and the thought of our stuff being in boxes and everything in total disarray makes me a little yucky. But I'm good now :). This is our old house.

We hired these movers to move us (duh). They started out at 8am and weren't done until 8pm that evening on a Thursday. Our goal was to have beds or mattresses down so we could at least all sleep someplace comfortable that first night and know where our clothes were so we could all make it where we needed to go the next day.

And then . . .

The GREAT snow of 2011 hit. We moved in on a Thursday and snow fell that next Monday. For two whole weeks the kids did not have school. We got record amounts of snow. The USPS didn't run and neither did the UPS. I've lived in Oklahoma my entire life and have never seen so much snow for such a long period of time. It was beautiful and incredible and after a while kind of boring. You would have thought I'd gotten a lot of packing and decorating done while we were cooped up in side, but I had seven mouths to feed, wash up after, entertain (we had no cable, but did have the Apple TV), and manage. So, not a lot of unpacking happened during those two weeks, but we did have fun and stayed cozy warm and had full bellies. The kids have to go to school until June 1 and their school days are extended 30 minutes until then because of all the snow days. I guess it could be worse, right?

More to come later about the new house and all that comes with it. Just thought I'd get started back into the blogging world!

Gods Heart: Adoption

This video is absolutely beautiful. It makes me want to adopt them all, but we can't do that. Our job now is to support others adopting, encourage those with questions, pray for the orphans, and listen.

I know you are waiting for pictures of the move and new house, but I can't find my card reader to down load the pictures off the camera! It's in a box somewhere. We'll find it eventually. You would think that with two weeks of being snowed in we would have had everything all unpacked and organized. But, you see, we have a few kids running around here. And, well, they require at least 'some' attention and feeding and cleaning and disciplining and loving on. So, not many boxes have gotten unpacked except the necessities! I did unpack the LAST of the kitchen boxes on Friday. What a great feeling that was!

This house was not left very clean at all. So, I've also spent a great deal of time scrubbing everything. I've even had to take down light fixtures to get the TON of spiders out of them - ew! Not pretty (the light fixtures AND the spiders).

I promise there will be pictures soon. Lots going on here!

Teresa Needs a Miracle

There's this little girl that I have had the privilege of praying for and following for a couple of years now. She used to be known as Lucy, but when she was adopted by her forever family they named her Teresa. Teresa has a heart that is needing a miracle. Her parents have left no stone unturned for her and the doctors are saying that she might not make it through this year. But we know a God that can perform miracles and has a heart for orphans. Please pray for this precious child.

Hey!

We went out to eat last night and while we were waiting another adoptive family walked in (we did not know them, we do not know ALL the adoptive families:). Avery noticed the little Asian girl and said, "Hey! She looks like me!" I was stunned that at the young age of 2 she realized that she looked a little unlike most people. One of the first things the orphanage director told us, in the few English words she knew, was, "She is very clever." When we see or hear of things Avery does that indicate how stinkin' smart she is, we both look at each other and say, "She is very clever."

Beyond Grateful

It's a blessing really. We get to make this house our own, AND we got a REALLY good price on it for our family that is not getting smaller, only bigger (not by number just by physical growth, at least for now - I like to tease my mother in law ;). However (which is just a fancy way to say 'but' if you ask Dr. Phil, and I agree), there is some major updating that needs to take place in this new house. Unless saloon doors are back in style, no? What? Isn't the style of 1984 coming back around now? No?

Didn't we just get rid of an entry way chandelier like this one? Huh? (Yeah, that's Carlie up there!)

Yeah, that's a saloon door on the 'throne room' in the master bathroom. So for a while we'll just be able to look and see if we see any feet under the door instead of politely knocking. Maybe we'll keep it.

Pack It Up!

The McSmurfy's are moving. Not too far away mind you. We were just stumbling over each other in the other house not to mention that our backyard was a little small for 5 growing kids. This is the new house:

Have we sold our current house? Nope. Some might say we are putting the cart before the horse. I like to say that we are stepping out in faith.

Wanna buy a house?

Master Bath Finished Product!

Before. Blecchhkk. Ugly outdated wallpaper, gross carpet.

So, here is the finished product. Quite a change, right? MUCH better and simpler and beautiful, right?

Makes you want a bathroom like this doesn't it?

Ringing In The New Year

Party at our house!! WOO HOO!

The day was spent in our jammies ALL DAY making some of our most favorite desserts and party foods. No body did any sampling or bowl licking!

Especially not me if I were to be totally dishonest.

Ethan was in charge of the pigs in a blanket.

Avery was in charge of barking orders from the couch, and demanding a sippy cup of juice.

Then smooches for all at midnight. Well, it was close to midnight if you think 9pm is close to midnight. I was yawning uncontrollably at 8pm. I think I lasted until 10:30. We are light weights around here!

Waking Up a Little Grouchy

Carlie woke up this morning. She was still getting the puckers out. Avery comes over (who had already gotten her puckers out - the worst one to wake up with puckers EVER) to say, "Good morning Carlie!"

Carlie isn't talking to her or anyone else. Barely makes eye contact with anyone.

Avery (who just came home from CHINA a year ago, who's SECOND language is English) says, "Carlie doesn't speak English."

Master Bath Redo - Day 7

You see that??? HUH????

It's the beautiful TILE!!!

AND the freshly painted base boards! So pretty! Almost done in here :).

Master Bath Redo - Day 6

Well . . . not too much to report today on the 'ole redo, but I swear the handyman guy was working ALL day.

He spent the whole day prepping the floor and making marks on it so that he could do THIS tomorrow. Lay tile.

This is the tile that Lori bought. It will go in tomorrow, or at least some of it will go in tomorrow because this looks like a two day project to me. But what do I know, I just take care of these kids.

Master Bath Redo - Day 5

It's getting a little more exciting!!

I'm combining two days into one. The other day he painted the walls and the cabinets.

Today he hung the lights/towel rings/hooks/tp holder, and ripped up the carpet. YAY!! And YES, to those of you who are thinking it, I DO use the hot pink exercise ball that we store in the tub. SO THERE!