Well, hello there!
It has been awhile. I noted that my last post was before Christmas-a bit of time has passed, yes?
Winter in Carlsbad was quite nice. A few flurries of snow, a couple of delay days, so nothing serious. I understand some years it can be quite bad. Bad being relative of course! It is now hot and heavy into spring and early summer weather. Forecast for today is 95 degrees and even hotter tomorrow! Later this week, it will cool off to the low 80's again. Bliss!
First, I have to say that I have NEVER seen so many trucks in all my life. It seems everyone here owns a truck, or several. High School kids drive 250 turbo diesel jack ups-and that's just the girls! The boys are worse ;-) Whatever happened to a nice sports car? Oh, yes! They have those too-Dodge Chargers are the sporty car of choice. So many of them, but they don't come close to rivaling the truck as God here.
Gophers are the biggest pain in the butt right now. They are trying to take over the buffalo grass yard we have. I love buffalo grass-takes very little water and grows nice and low. The gophers love its deep and thick root system. I have become somewhat expert and finding the tunnels and dropping a product called a gopher gasser into them. Think small flares that put out a lot of noxious smoke that is SUPPOSED to kill the rodent. I don't think any of mine have died from this. Evidence being the gasser evicted from said underground tunnel in the next dirt pile that shows up! (I'm stocking up on the colored smoke bombs at the firework stands this summer-they do the same thing and a lot cheaper!!) We've tried castor oil pellets spread about as well. The grass likes them and the underlying smell of fish certainly adds an ambience to a warm afternoon! At this point I'm wishing we had a half starved outdoor cat or our ferrets to turn loose in the tunnels for an afternoon romp! Perhaps a dachshund puppy? I hear gophers don't like dogs and these ones could go after them as well! I could pack their tunnels with poo-bet they wouldn't like that either!
We are going to do the next best thing-get a puppy! Her name is Amber and she comes home on Alex's birthday this month. We went up to Taos to meet her and her "family" and are getting so dang excited! She is 3/4 poodle and 1/4 golden retriever. Her coat is super wavy, not poodle curly. Color is described as apricot. I see it as blonde with overtones of strawberry! She will need haircuts periodically as she does not really shed-which is why we wanted her. Our everlasting thanks to Rick and Jill, or neighbors in Wenatchee, who let us have Happy, their soft coated wheaten terrier, when they were out of town. Well mannered, didn't shed, affectionate, everything you want in a family dog. While we didn't get a wheaten, we found a dog who looks a lot like him!
So, only 2 1/2 weeks of school left for us this year. I survived, the kids survived, so good all around. Ian is progressing well with his reading-yay! and looking for 2nd grade next, Alex is looking forward to the high school next year, and Annika, our almost 4th grader, is trying out for the talent show tomorrow with a friend. We have amazing kids!
I'll try and be better with blogging again-but with a full time schedule and these kids and their activities to keep up with-oy! Good thing Alex gets a driver license in about 2 years!
Monday, May 5, 2014
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Catching Up
Ok, so I just read the last blog, and it was posted nearly a month ago. Once you read this one, I think you will understand why it has been a bit!
I did accept the science job, and so far, so good. The kids had a teacher for the first month, but he resigned as he could not find a place for him and his family to live. The district lost 7 teachers because of housing shortage, both to buy and to rent, and high prices vs. salary as well. So, a month of a teacher, 8 weeks of subs (most lasted 2 weeks then bailed) then they get me. Life is going to be very different from here on out for them, for sure! Suffice it to say that order has been restored and learning has commenced! I have my work cut out for me. Wenatchee science really spoiled me-a team that knows each other and works well together, learning focused, and so dang organized! I miss the pre-sorted red tubs of gear that held everything we needed for our lessons, demonstrations, and labs. I have YET to do a lab with either my 6th or my 7th grade classes. One, because I still don't have that level of confidence that the kids will follow directions, and two, because the room is not conducive to holding labs. I have 2 working sinks and a room full of the awful desk/chair single student units. They really only work in rows, which does not do well for group work. I would have loved to do the lab to teach the kids how to use indicators for sugar and starch this week in 7th, and the 6th class to make pop bottle clouds. There is only so much you can do watching YouTube demonstrations! I can also do the demos, but have to have the equipment. Which we don't. Bet you I will be having a LONG talk with both my principal, secondary education assistant superintendent, and district science chair. A LONG talk. On the plus side, the kids are coming along, and I love my next door teacher. It is his first year, but he retired military. He got a chemistry education degree 30 years ago and wanted to do something after his service. He ran an analysis lab in Afghanistan looking at the composition of IED's to see if they could trace back suppliers. Delightful person with a wealth of life experience to share with us. The kids haven't chewed him up and spit him out yet, so he'll be fine!
On the house front, we are closing on Dec 4, get the keys on Dec 8, and the container arrives Dec 10! It will be unpacked on Dec 11, and we are so ready to move in. The little bungalow is working, but we all want our things and our space. I am taking off the week so we can get settled in ASAP. Lyle is also taking a couple of days to help put it all together, and Dad and Ralph (hopefully!) are coming down on the 10th or 11th with the rest of our stuff that has been stashed in Idaho. They will get to see us in full move in mode-which Dad and Mom witnessed when we moved from NY to Wenatchee, but that was with just 2 kids! Looks like we will be getting some bonus things as well-another bedset, bought Meg's futon/couch for the den, my old formals (yikes!), boxes of games and toys from my old stuff. I'm just hoping sis can find my old yearbooks and elementary pictures! Watch out Facebook if they show up! Also, the teachers will appreciate this-the week I am taking off is MAPS testing week-all week, and being done in the SCIENCE classes, so I don't have to make lesson plans!!!! I'll leave some review work if they need something to do on the last day, but YAY in a BIG WAY!
We have also been in puppy research mode. I think we have settled on either a Labrador/poodle aka Labradoodle, or a golden retriever/poodle, Goldendoodle. They have a "non shed" coat, which I appreciate from my allergy standpoint, and it is a dog, which the kids can hardly wait for. Alex has been dreaming of puppies as she has been taking point on the research front and feeding me names and locations of breeders in the southwest and west Texas. We really, really, really looked hard at the Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and Airedale Terrier, but those breeds look to be above average for busy and destructive. Puppies are busy enough, and I don't want my shoes being eaten for years! Looking to bring the puppy into the family in the spring or summer! It's already named too-Bundy, after Bundaburg, Australia. Sydney was too obvious.
Thanksgiving break has been a godsend. We have the entire week off, and Lyle will just get Thursday off. Football and traditional dinner coming our way! I'm planning a lesson plan day so I can kick back the rest of the week and hit it after break.
Kids are doing really well. They want their own rooms again, but school is going well. Ian got a 100 on a spelling test. The words all had those darn "sneaky e's" in them. Word examples are like, make, take, etc. Those long vowel, consonant, silent e words are sneaky! His reading is really coming along, and he LOVES math. He really enjoys the math lessons with me as they are hands on with lots of games instead of papers. I love that he loves them and asks to do them. For some reason, he doesn't ask to do his reading, but he does like to earn his stickers so he can shop at the dollar store. Worth every sticker and every penny for the cheap stuff!
Most likely won't be writing until we are nearly all moved in. I know how time gets sucked away when there is so much going on around here. So glad to be back stateside-
Love,
Gayle
I did accept the science job, and so far, so good. The kids had a teacher for the first month, but he resigned as he could not find a place for him and his family to live. The district lost 7 teachers because of housing shortage, both to buy and to rent, and high prices vs. salary as well. So, a month of a teacher, 8 weeks of subs (most lasted 2 weeks then bailed) then they get me. Life is going to be very different from here on out for them, for sure! Suffice it to say that order has been restored and learning has commenced! I have my work cut out for me. Wenatchee science really spoiled me-a team that knows each other and works well together, learning focused, and so dang organized! I miss the pre-sorted red tubs of gear that held everything we needed for our lessons, demonstrations, and labs. I have YET to do a lab with either my 6th or my 7th grade classes. One, because I still don't have that level of confidence that the kids will follow directions, and two, because the room is not conducive to holding labs. I have 2 working sinks and a room full of the awful desk/chair single student units. They really only work in rows, which does not do well for group work. I would have loved to do the lab to teach the kids how to use indicators for sugar and starch this week in 7th, and the 6th class to make pop bottle clouds. There is only so much you can do watching YouTube demonstrations! I can also do the demos, but have to have the equipment. Which we don't. Bet you I will be having a LONG talk with both my principal, secondary education assistant superintendent, and district science chair. A LONG talk. On the plus side, the kids are coming along, and I love my next door teacher. It is his first year, but he retired military. He got a chemistry education degree 30 years ago and wanted to do something after his service. He ran an analysis lab in Afghanistan looking at the composition of IED's to see if they could trace back suppliers. Delightful person with a wealth of life experience to share with us. The kids haven't chewed him up and spit him out yet, so he'll be fine!
On the house front, we are closing on Dec 4, get the keys on Dec 8, and the container arrives Dec 10! It will be unpacked on Dec 11, and we are so ready to move in. The little bungalow is working, but we all want our things and our space. I am taking off the week so we can get settled in ASAP. Lyle is also taking a couple of days to help put it all together, and Dad and Ralph (hopefully!) are coming down on the 10th or 11th with the rest of our stuff that has been stashed in Idaho. They will get to see us in full move in mode-which Dad and Mom witnessed when we moved from NY to Wenatchee, but that was with just 2 kids! Looks like we will be getting some bonus things as well-another bedset, bought Meg's futon/couch for the den, my old formals (yikes!), boxes of games and toys from my old stuff. I'm just hoping sis can find my old yearbooks and elementary pictures! Watch out Facebook if they show up! Also, the teachers will appreciate this-the week I am taking off is MAPS testing week-all week, and being done in the SCIENCE classes, so I don't have to make lesson plans!!!! I'll leave some review work if they need something to do on the last day, but YAY in a BIG WAY!
We have also been in puppy research mode. I think we have settled on either a Labrador/poodle aka Labradoodle, or a golden retriever/poodle, Goldendoodle. They have a "non shed" coat, which I appreciate from my allergy standpoint, and it is a dog, which the kids can hardly wait for. Alex has been dreaming of puppies as she has been taking point on the research front and feeding me names and locations of breeders in the southwest and west Texas. We really, really, really looked hard at the Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers and Airedale Terrier, but those breeds look to be above average for busy and destructive. Puppies are busy enough, and I don't want my shoes being eaten for years! Looking to bring the puppy into the family in the spring or summer! It's already named too-Bundy, after Bundaburg, Australia. Sydney was too obvious.
Thanksgiving break has been a godsend. We have the entire week off, and Lyle will just get Thursday off. Football and traditional dinner coming our way! I'm planning a lesson plan day so I can kick back the rest of the week and hit it after break.
Kids are doing really well. They want their own rooms again, but school is going well. Ian got a 100 on a spelling test. The words all had those darn "sneaky e's" in them. Word examples are like, make, take, etc. Those long vowel, consonant, silent e words are sneaky! His reading is really coming along, and he LOVES math. He really enjoys the math lessons with me as they are hands on with lots of games instead of papers. I love that he loves them and asks to do them. For some reason, he doesn't ask to do his reading, but he does like to earn his stickers so he can shop at the dollar store. Worth every sticker and every penny for the cheap stuff!
Most likely won't be writing until we are nearly all moved in. I know how time gets sucked away when there is so much going on around here. So glad to be back stateside-
Love,
Gayle
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Settling In
Now that we are here, there is still so much to do! First, our trip South.
We decided to take the 20 hours of driving in 4 easier days. 2 10 hours days-I think someone would have been left by the roadside! Our first day we went to Salt Lake City. We stayed just a couple of of blocks from Squatters Brew Pub and LOVED the food and drink. We really wanted Polygamy Porter t-shirts, but they were out of our sizes. Bummer!
Day 2 was to Grand Junction, CO via Arches National Park. We had wanted to stay in Moab, but very few hotels there would let us put 5 people in one room. The kids loved it-the short walks and views in the park are great for smaller kiddos who complain about walking! We would love to do Canyon Lands in a couple of years with them! It was a beautiful drive to Grand Junction when we were done and guess what? Another brew pub for dinner!
Day 3 was a super short, but very scenic drive to Durango. Dad had spoke very highly of highway 550 through Ouray, so we said why not! He was right, it was one of the most beautiful drives we have done! Snow, trees, lots of cliffs and stunning views! Dad had done it on his motorcycle several years ago-there is a bit of perception difference when looking at a narrow 2 lane road that you can only drive 15 mph on and there is a 300 ft sheer drop down the side! I was white knuckling the drive, Annika forgot to tell us she needed to pee before we drove through Ouray, so the whole drive was a bit of a trial to us all. We didn't find a brew pub for dinner-bummer! This was our favorite day of all. We went to Mesa Verde National Park and were stunned. We only were able to see one of the cliff dwellings, but it was amazing. All of us are planning to go back next summer and see them all.
Day 4 to Albuquerque was a great day. We stopped early and just--stopped. I filled in all the registration papers for school for the kids-that took about 2 hours! I'm sure there is plenty to do in town, but we didn't want to do much of anything. Dinner was IHOP. Pancakes for dinner ROCK!
Day 5 to Carlsbad was a long, boring, drive. The roads are 2 lane each way highways, so easy driving. But it is pretty flat and not much to see. We got in early afternoon, unpacked the bags into the 3 bed 2 bath bungalow, and got ready to take on the town the next day. Work and School, here we come!
Everyone is off to a good start. Alex is working her way through her middle school and figuring out where she will fit in. She seems to have a nice group of girls around her. Annika has a whole class of best friends. Ian, I am still working on him. He is enrolled in the same school as Annika, but I am looking at a Montessori charter school just down from Alex's school. He learns differently-visual and hands on. Reading is a real struggle for him, but he is doing well with the program working with me. He struggles getting into the new routines and understanding what he needs to do, so has been really stressed. When I picked him up yesterday, he burst into tears! He had a headache, sore throat, and was exhausted. He slept over an hour after school, drank several glasses of water (dehydrated) and I dosed him with some kids advil. He's home with me today. I made him start his new math program with me-again, he learns things differently! He really amazed me with how much he has learned. So, we will see how that all turns out.
Lets see-how about the house update next? We finally settled on a price with the owner, and the appraisal came in MUCH lower than we had settled on. So, at least in our favor. The seller isn't happy. He apparently based his price on appraisals he had done as part of a divorce settlement, and he got screwed to put it plainly. So, he is taking it out on us. Nit picky details in the amendments, closing 5 days before possession. He has now said he won't do the nail holes and paint touchups since he redid the master tub and the dryer vents that were broken. As of this writing, we still haven't finally got it done. Hope to tonight! I need to schedule the container delivery and get the house unpacked!
I also had a job interview Yesterday! It is for a grade 6-7 science job, and it is full time. They offered the job on the spot, so I have a lot of "homework" to do getting the paperwork in for yet another teaching license and the district job application. The good news is they will accept up to 12 years of my teaching experience! The bad news is that all the college credits I earned between my BS and MS won't count. Bummer! It will still make for a nice salary though.
Lyle is going to be doing the training programs at each of the different sites at the plant. He will basically be doing 10-13 hours, 5 days a week for the next 6-8 weeks as he is rotated through. This first bit will be a long haul, but it will be done. Then I bet he will be doing long days just because that is what the job will need until they can get more engineers on staff.
And, off I go. Ian and I have our reading
to do. As of the end of the lesson today, he has earned enough stickers
to get the Nerf guns for wars with daddy. Those two are too funny!
Looks like Ian won't be back with me tomorrow!
Love you all!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
We are here, we are here, we are here!
As you may guess from the title, we are HERE!
It has been a crazy several days. Travel back to Boise from Brisbane takes over 30 hours from start to finish. You would have laughed until you peed your pants to see us hauling our suitcases from the maxi taxi to the airport terminal! 10 checked bags and 2 wheeled carryons with a backpack for each person. When you have to live out of what you bring for up to three months, you pack it all with you.
We had a whirlwind time in Nampa. 2 cars and a mortgage dealt with (but more on that later!) in only 3 days and we are now in Carlsbad and have just put an offer down on a house we love. Have to see how that turns out! Now to wait until Thursday late afternoon to see if our offer is accepted or if we have much back and forth with it.
Lyle and I have the keys to our 3 bedroom, 2 bath bungalow. It is about the same square footage as the townhouse we lived in our first year in Australia, so this will work just fine! It's all on 1 floor, so no 3 flights of stairs to get into the house! The biggest drawback is that it is on the opposite side of town from where the kids will be going to school. Lots of driving in the meantime.
The cars have turned out to be a lot of "fun" to deal with. The dealer finance office seems to be having a problem with our not having a permanent address when we applied, but we have the cars in our possession. I feel kind of bad for the salesman as he is trying to get us to come in and re-sign our credit application with the New Mexico (temporary) address, but we are in New Mexico and can't just drop by to re-do the paperwork! We have some letters from the company regarding our living situation. It's hard for some to wrap their heads around! Heck, sometimes we just have to look at each other and laugh and laugh and laugh.
We still have a run to Oregon to do before we do the drive south and get going here. So, while we have done an incredible amount in the last week, we still have a lot to go!
Much love and hugs!!
It has been a crazy several days. Travel back to Boise from Brisbane takes over 30 hours from start to finish. You would have laughed until you peed your pants to see us hauling our suitcases from the maxi taxi to the airport terminal! 10 checked bags and 2 wheeled carryons with a backpack for each person. When you have to live out of what you bring for up to three months, you pack it all with you.
We had a whirlwind time in Nampa. 2 cars and a mortgage dealt with (but more on that later!) in only 3 days and we are now in Carlsbad and have just put an offer down on a house we love. Have to see how that turns out! Now to wait until Thursday late afternoon to see if our offer is accepted or if we have much back and forth with it.
Lyle and I have the keys to our 3 bedroom, 2 bath bungalow. It is about the same square footage as the townhouse we lived in our first year in Australia, so this will work just fine! It's all on 1 floor, so no 3 flights of stairs to get into the house! The biggest drawback is that it is on the opposite side of town from where the kids will be going to school. Lots of driving in the meantime.
The cars have turned out to be a lot of "fun" to deal with. The dealer finance office seems to be having a problem with our not having a permanent address when we applied, but we have the cars in our possession. I feel kind of bad for the salesman as he is trying to get us to come in and re-sign our credit application with the New Mexico (temporary) address, but we are in New Mexico and can't just drop by to re-do the paperwork! We have some letters from the company regarding our living situation. It's hard for some to wrap their heads around! Heck, sometimes we just have to look at each other and laugh and laugh and laugh.
We still have a run to Oregon to do before we do the drive south and get going here. So, while we have done an incredible amount in the last week, we still have a lot to go!
Much love and hugs!!
Sunday, September 29, 2013
1 Day, at least for us!
Finally, it is here! While we are sad to leave our friends in Australia, we are excited to go back to the USA and meet more new people in our new place, Carlsbad, New Mexico.
We spent these last few weeks coordinating our last weeks of school and move out. It has been a doosy too. I handed off uniforms and sold uniforms as Annika and Ian had worn theirs for the entire time we were here and they were a bit faded. Those were the had overs. Alex, having just worn hers for a few months, were sold to a friend whose daughter will be starting at Cav Rd in February. Good use all around by everyone. I also pulled out of my teaching contract a week early. I was supposed to do the last full week of the term as opposed to my usual 2 days per week as my partner teacher was going to cover the assistant principal job. I wanted to minimize the upheaval to my class kiddos, so asked to leave a bit early so 1 person could do the whole week, and they the first 4 of term 4. The office didn't notify payroll of this, so I was overpaid for 2 days and had to get it back to them. At least banking here is much easier as it is almost all online!
Sydney was beautiful as expected. We have the usual gorgeous shots from the harbor looking back at the opera house and bridge, close ups of the tiles of the Opera House, and we visited the Taronga Zoo across the harbor from the opera house. Our hotel was a bit of a walk from these scenic views however! We traversed several sets of historic steps that wound down through old neighborhoods and to the warf area. We then meandered through the botanic gardens, along with about 50,000 other people. Apparently it was a running festival day and thousands were doing their 5k, 10k, half and full marathons! Very crowded, but vibrant. We passed through the crowds and to Circular Quay (pronounced key) and then over to Darling Harbor and the Rocks area. I know we missed as much as we saw, and we didn't get to do the whole harbor cruise, but I was happy to have personally seen the highlights.
Once at home, we spent the rest of Tuesday packing our bags to live out of for the next 3 months of transition into winter weather. We had to bring more than we wanted as we needed jackets, jeans, sweatshirts, etc. Didn't need those coming over as it felt like summer no matter the calendar over here! In all of 3-4 hours, the bags were packed, the pack last items from the kitchen set aside, and the craziness could begin in the morning.
Knock on wood, but this has been a pretty smooth process so far. The packers were rock stars! I gave them the grand tour and turned them loose. They were happy to have an experienced mover on their hands who let them just get-r-done. They worked from 8-1 both days. In visiting with them I understand that many households have a last minute freak about packing and try to weed items out, delay packing because they want to have access to an entire room (kitchen) until the last possible minute, so their days can get insane long. Not us! But, I was the girl who was ready on time for the wedding pictures and was scolding the photographer for being late, when he had added 30 minutes because "brides never run on time." HA! I also convinced the loaders to come a bit early on Friday so my cleaners could start earlier and finish it all on Friday. I hired professional cleaners as I knew I would not have the energy or time to do the total clean lease end required. They washed every.square.centimeter of the entire house. Walls, counters, everything. Then I got a call from my carpet and pest guy (also an end of lease requirement) to see if he could get in and even get part of the job done Friday. The cleaners said to go for it, and he even got the whole job done by 6 Friday. The leasing agent was thrilled as they now have a day to get all their paperwork done instead of an hour on Monday before the new tenant moves in. I'm thrilled as I only have to pay 2 days penalty for unleased property since the new tenants come in so fast!
And to keep things real, Ian pulled his front tooth our next to last night in the house, and AFTER his elk hide tooth fairy pillow was packed! He really wanted his last tooth fairy Australia gold coin to spend on a treat before we left. Of Course!
We are currently in an apartment hotel in downtown Brisbane and enjoying the city festival. Friday night was the laser show at Southbank, last night was Riverfire-fireworks all up and down the river. We did this the first year as Rio Tinto had blocked off their river patio for employees and family members to enjoy the show. This year we hung out with the riff raff and enjoyed having a 10 minute walk over and back! I love that with our latitude the show started at 7 pm and done by 730! Annika and Ian had spent 2 hours in the hotel pool earlier and were passed out on the couch by 800. As much as I love the fireworks on the 4th of July, having them start at 1015 or 1030 makes for a loooong night for anyone with little kids! This is much nicer.
Today we are going to the science museum and natural history museum, hitting the pool again, washing and repacking, and organizing a maxi taxi to haul us to the airport in the morning! We are 24 hours from departing Brisbane. Love to all!
We spent these last few weeks coordinating our last weeks of school and move out. It has been a doosy too. I handed off uniforms and sold uniforms as Annika and Ian had worn theirs for the entire time we were here and they were a bit faded. Those were the had overs. Alex, having just worn hers for a few months, were sold to a friend whose daughter will be starting at Cav Rd in February. Good use all around by everyone. I also pulled out of my teaching contract a week early. I was supposed to do the last full week of the term as opposed to my usual 2 days per week as my partner teacher was going to cover the assistant principal job. I wanted to minimize the upheaval to my class kiddos, so asked to leave a bit early so 1 person could do the whole week, and they the first 4 of term 4. The office didn't notify payroll of this, so I was overpaid for 2 days and had to get it back to them. At least banking here is much easier as it is almost all online!
Sydney was beautiful as expected. We have the usual gorgeous shots from the harbor looking back at the opera house and bridge, close ups of the tiles of the Opera House, and we visited the Taronga Zoo across the harbor from the opera house. Our hotel was a bit of a walk from these scenic views however! We traversed several sets of historic steps that wound down through old neighborhoods and to the warf area. We then meandered through the botanic gardens, along with about 50,000 other people. Apparently it was a running festival day and thousands were doing their 5k, 10k, half and full marathons! Very crowded, but vibrant. We passed through the crowds and to Circular Quay (pronounced key) and then over to Darling Harbor and the Rocks area. I know we missed as much as we saw, and we didn't get to do the whole harbor cruise, but I was happy to have personally seen the highlights.
Once at home, we spent the rest of Tuesday packing our bags to live out of for the next 3 months of transition into winter weather. We had to bring more than we wanted as we needed jackets, jeans, sweatshirts, etc. Didn't need those coming over as it felt like summer no matter the calendar over here! In all of 3-4 hours, the bags were packed, the pack last items from the kitchen set aside, and the craziness could begin in the morning.
Knock on wood, but this has been a pretty smooth process so far. The packers were rock stars! I gave them the grand tour and turned them loose. They were happy to have an experienced mover on their hands who let them just get-r-done. They worked from 8-1 both days. In visiting with them I understand that many households have a last minute freak about packing and try to weed items out, delay packing because they want to have access to an entire room (kitchen) until the last possible minute, so their days can get insane long. Not us! But, I was the girl who was ready on time for the wedding pictures and was scolding the photographer for being late, when he had added 30 minutes because "brides never run on time." HA! I also convinced the loaders to come a bit early on Friday so my cleaners could start earlier and finish it all on Friday. I hired professional cleaners as I knew I would not have the energy or time to do the total clean lease end required. They washed every.square.centimeter of the entire house. Walls, counters, everything. Then I got a call from my carpet and pest guy (also an end of lease requirement) to see if he could get in and even get part of the job done Friday. The cleaners said to go for it, and he even got the whole job done by 6 Friday. The leasing agent was thrilled as they now have a day to get all their paperwork done instead of an hour on Monday before the new tenant moves in. I'm thrilled as I only have to pay 2 days penalty for unleased property since the new tenants come in so fast!
And to keep things real, Ian pulled his front tooth our next to last night in the house, and AFTER his elk hide tooth fairy pillow was packed! He really wanted his last tooth fairy Australia gold coin to spend on a treat before we left. Of Course!
We are currently in an apartment hotel in downtown Brisbane and enjoying the city festival. Friday night was the laser show at Southbank, last night was Riverfire-fireworks all up and down the river. We did this the first year as Rio Tinto had blocked off their river patio for employees and family members to enjoy the show. This year we hung out with the riff raff and enjoyed having a 10 minute walk over and back! I love that with our latitude the show started at 7 pm and done by 730! Annika and Ian had spent 2 hours in the hotel pool earlier and were passed out on the couch by 800. As much as I love the fireworks on the 4th of July, having them start at 1015 or 1030 makes for a loooong night for anyone with little kids! This is much nicer.
Today we are going to the science museum and natural history museum, hitting the pool again, washing and repacking, and organizing a maxi taxi to haul us to the airport in the morning! We are 24 hours from departing Brisbane. Love to all!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
This is easy, so far. . .
So, on the move front, moving right along! Tickets home, tickets to house hunt, temporary medical insurance sourced and paid for, looking online for cars, and outlining our strategy for getting all of it done in a few weeks before we need to BE in New Mexico! Lots of online paperwork for customs (most can be done once we get to Boise) and doing the detailed inventory for the insurance coverage for our big metal box containing nearly everything we own. Daunting, but having done before, no big whoop. I did laugh as the relocation company has me working with a new agent-we are her first move! She is being closely helped by another associate, but at this point, I know more than she does about the papers and where to find the answers. I really need to look at this line of work if I get tired of teaching! Bet they would let me work from wherever we live too. . .
On the not move front, life continues to march onward. We have taken a few farewell visits to our favorite places around Brisbane. Headed back to Australia Zoo a couple of weeks ago. Those were our beginning of the plague weeks apparently. Alex told me she had a headache and felt blech. We went anyway and she was ok-ish. She begged off the next day when we went to a friend's house for a BBQ, but was ok to go to school on Monday. I then began to feel a sore throat and headache-ugh. Meds and tough it out. I've done this before, right? Then Annika got it really good and stayed home with daddy Friday and me Monday. Then she started to complain of her chest hurting too-into the doc first thing Tuesday and yep, lung infection. Then Ian starts in with it-chesty cough and lethargic. He is not a lethargic kid! Slept on the couch and a sick day with daddy. He also got antibiotics to fight the lung infection. Middle of last week Lyle crashed with it too. Except he was in Newcastle and wearing a work respirator, which really made it hard to breathe! He got home Thursday and crashed out. Fever all weekend, and about the time he started to feel a bit better, the lungs got in on it too. Into the Doc for him first thing Monday (I now have the office on my favorite list in my phone) and antibiotics. I pick Annika and Ian up Monday and she is in tears! Her ear has gone nuts. Call up the favorites list while waiting in traffic on the speaker phone, the receptionist is laughing at me, and-miracle! One of the office doctors had a cancellation and can I have her there in 15 minutes? Oh, yes! More antibiotics. Lyle went in today to get his computer and came right home. He is still fuzzy in the head, but improving well. The kids are all sniffling, but back to their normal selves. Goodness, I hope we are done with being sick for awhile!
We are also going to Sydney for a few days before we go! Hooray! I will get to see the Opera House, cruise the bay, wander the downtown and the gardens, and we will try very hard to RELAX before it all hits the fan the following week.
I'm also tentatively planning on a friends get together while we are in Nampa as well. Seeing as we missed all of you on our whirl of a trip a couple of months ago and would love to catch up! Look to your email inboxes or Facebook invites in a few weeks. It will be a Saturday in early October! Maybe we can cheer on the Vandals while we visit!
Love you all!
On the not move front, life continues to march onward. We have taken a few farewell visits to our favorite places around Brisbane. Headed back to Australia Zoo a couple of weeks ago. Those were our beginning of the plague weeks apparently. Alex told me she had a headache and felt blech. We went anyway and she was ok-ish. She begged off the next day when we went to a friend's house for a BBQ, but was ok to go to school on Monday. I then began to feel a sore throat and headache-ugh. Meds and tough it out. I've done this before, right? Then Annika got it really good and stayed home with daddy Friday and me Monday. Then she started to complain of her chest hurting too-into the doc first thing Tuesday and yep, lung infection. Then Ian starts in with it-chesty cough and lethargic. He is not a lethargic kid! Slept on the couch and a sick day with daddy. He also got antibiotics to fight the lung infection. Middle of last week Lyle crashed with it too. Except he was in Newcastle and wearing a work respirator, which really made it hard to breathe! He got home Thursday and crashed out. Fever all weekend, and about the time he started to feel a bit better, the lungs got in on it too. Into the Doc for him first thing Monday (I now have the office on my favorite list in my phone) and antibiotics. I pick Annika and Ian up Monday and she is in tears! Her ear has gone nuts. Call up the favorites list while waiting in traffic on the speaker phone, the receptionist is laughing at me, and-miracle! One of the office doctors had a cancellation and can I have her there in 15 minutes? Oh, yes! More antibiotics. Lyle went in today to get his computer and came right home. He is still fuzzy in the head, but improving well. The kids are all sniffling, but back to their normal selves. Goodness, I hope we are done with being sick for awhile!
We are also going to Sydney for a few days before we go! Hooray! I will get to see the Opera House, cruise the bay, wander the downtown and the gardens, and we will try very hard to RELAX before it all hits the fan the following week.
I'm also tentatively planning on a friends get together while we are in Nampa as well. Seeing as we missed all of you on our whirl of a trip a couple of months ago and would love to catch up! Look to your email inboxes or Facebook invites in a few weeks. It will be a Saturday in early October! Maybe we can cheer on the Vandals while we visit!
Love you all!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Coming together. . .
We now have pack and load dates and plane tickets home! We were able to get flexible fare tickets which meant Lyle was able to use a crapload of airline points and upgraded us all to Premium Economy seats. This means 6-8 more inches of legroom-hooray! So instead of sardines, we get to stretch a bit. These compare to the First Class domestic seats where you have a console between seats. Also means the kids can't sleep across my lap (scarcastic font -DARN) and will have to stay in their own space. The fold down Business Class seats are a thing of beauty, but not happening for this many tickets!
Things are doing just what the blog title says, coming together. There is plenty to be done, but now that we KNOW dates, everything can start to line up. I compare it to a tsunami-the tide just keeps rolling back until it starts to come in. Nothing can stop it at that point, you just have to ride it out! Lyle thinks of it as falling dominoes. Once they are all lined up you just hold your breath until the first one goes down and you just hope they all go in order with no surprises. Of course, I prefer the tsunami!
Life continues to move despite big things happening. We have all had the crud these last few weeks. Ian home Thursday and Friday last week, Alex sick all weekend, Annika home Monday and Tuesday with a doctor visit on Tuesday. Lung infection and antibiotics for her. The rest of us just have a nagging cough and sore throat. I do hope we all get rid of this soon!
We went to a friend's house on Sunday for BBQ dinner. They have the most precious little girl who is just now 3 months old! I claimed her for most of the evening. She is so much like Alex was at that age-wants to look OUT, not over the shoulder. Might miss something! She fed and took a really little nap, and was up and watching the rest of the time. Finally passed out on her mommy during dinner and reported to have slept past 8 am! Doubt it was through the night, but if she only did 1-2 feeds during the night, that was great for her mommy! I now understand WHY all the ladies wanted to hold my babies. They are wonderful, and a few diapers are no big deal either. But it is so nice to have my sleep and my big snugglers! Annika had bad dreams and was in bed with us at 4 am. Cuddles!
Lyle is doing the Bridge to Brisbane run on Sunday morning this weekend. Sunday is Father's Day here and what better way to celebrate it than by being healthy! One of his work mates is a runner too and we invite him and his family to come stay the night with us so he doesn't have to leave the house at 3 am to get to the race start. They have a 4 year old boy and an 8 month old girl. Ian is excited to have friends sleep over because the boys get the air mattress in the upstairs lounge! Alex goes to Ian's room (but may be at a friend's house this year) so the grown ups have a bed and room for the baby crib. Dinner together, Di stays with the kids when I take the boys to the start drop off point, and breakfast done twice. Once for the kids and when the boys get back about 930 or so we do second breakfast. Dinner will be homemade pizzas, salad, fruit and breakfast will be pancakes/scones, bacon, eggs and fruit. Simple and yummy.
We are going through the fun of sorting out the house prior to packing it all up again. Closet cleaning, clothes that have been outgrown, school uniforms to pass on or sell, taking the BBQ apart and throwing it away-what a mess it is! While we are coming back with less, we still won't make the 20 foot container. Have to be 2/3 of a 40 footer. The patio chairs don't stack or come apart and take up a cubic meter EACH!
Will be posting the car for sale this weekend. Wish us luck on that one! Hope we can find a private buyer, otherwise we have to sell to a dealer and will take a bath on it. Also selling the moving boxes we had to get here as the movers will repack in their own cardboard. Will get those listed as well-oh the fun!
Miss you all but see you again SOON!
Things are doing just what the blog title says, coming together. There is plenty to be done, but now that we KNOW dates, everything can start to line up. I compare it to a tsunami-the tide just keeps rolling back until it starts to come in. Nothing can stop it at that point, you just have to ride it out! Lyle thinks of it as falling dominoes. Once they are all lined up you just hold your breath until the first one goes down and you just hope they all go in order with no surprises. Of course, I prefer the tsunami!
Life continues to move despite big things happening. We have all had the crud these last few weeks. Ian home Thursday and Friday last week, Alex sick all weekend, Annika home Monday and Tuesday with a doctor visit on Tuesday. Lung infection and antibiotics for her. The rest of us just have a nagging cough and sore throat. I do hope we all get rid of this soon!
We went to a friend's house on Sunday for BBQ dinner. They have the most precious little girl who is just now 3 months old! I claimed her for most of the evening. She is so much like Alex was at that age-wants to look OUT, not over the shoulder. Might miss something! She fed and took a really little nap, and was up and watching the rest of the time. Finally passed out on her mommy during dinner and reported to have slept past 8 am! Doubt it was through the night, but if she only did 1-2 feeds during the night, that was great for her mommy! I now understand WHY all the ladies wanted to hold my babies. They are wonderful, and a few diapers are no big deal either. But it is so nice to have my sleep and my big snugglers! Annika had bad dreams and was in bed with us at 4 am. Cuddles!
Lyle is doing the Bridge to Brisbane run on Sunday morning this weekend. Sunday is Father's Day here and what better way to celebrate it than by being healthy! One of his work mates is a runner too and we invite him and his family to come stay the night with us so he doesn't have to leave the house at 3 am to get to the race start. They have a 4 year old boy and an 8 month old girl. Ian is excited to have friends sleep over because the boys get the air mattress in the upstairs lounge! Alex goes to Ian's room (but may be at a friend's house this year) so the grown ups have a bed and room for the baby crib. Dinner together, Di stays with the kids when I take the boys to the start drop off point, and breakfast done twice. Once for the kids and when the boys get back about 930 or so we do second breakfast. Dinner will be homemade pizzas, salad, fruit and breakfast will be pancakes/scones, bacon, eggs and fruit. Simple and yummy.
We are going through the fun of sorting out the house prior to packing it all up again. Closet cleaning, clothes that have been outgrown, school uniforms to pass on or sell, taking the BBQ apart and throwing it away-what a mess it is! While we are coming back with less, we still won't make the 20 foot container. Have to be 2/3 of a 40 footer. The patio chairs don't stack or come apart and take up a cubic meter EACH!
Will be posting the car for sale this weekend. Wish us luck on that one! Hope we can find a private buyer, otherwise we have to sell to a dealer and will take a bath on it. Also selling the moving boxes we had to get here as the movers will repack in their own cardboard. Will get those listed as well-oh the fun!
Miss you all but see you again SOON!
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