Chitter Chatter

Well, we made it. Phew. It is crazy traveling alone with two kids. We got to the airport in just enough time to walk right on the place. We waited in line to go through security FOREVER. I had wanted to stop and get the kids some breakfast and drinks, but there was no time. I was glad I had made peanut butter sandwiches before I left! We had lots of snacks and candy too, so they didn't complain. This was the first time I had flown on "Spirit Air" and is was kind of lame. You have to pay for everything, including drinks on the plane...nothing is complimentary. So, I got each of the kids an apple juice and they drank that through the trip. They kept themselves pretty busy watching movies and playing on their "Leapsters" which are little educational, handheld video game machines. Really, they were really good for having to sit in a seat for three and a half hours and being my kids! Douglas and George met us at baggage claim and helped us out with all the gear we had. By the way, I was SO glad my mom took us out there. I don't know how I would have gotten everything in on my own!! We took George straight to his flight after we got loaded up. It was nice to see him for a minute before he went back to GA. The drive from the Detroit airport to Ann Arbor is only about 20 minutes. I was STARVING when we got to Ann Arbor. The kind of hungry where you don't want to eat or make a decision as to what to eat because you are so hungy. And I was thirsty because I was too cheap to buy another drink on the plane. Actually, it was principle...I think it is ridiculous to get charged $3.00 for a drink on a plane. I wasn't going to make the kids suffer for my "principles" though so they were okay. We came to the house which is PACKED with boxes and stuff. Yikes!! We went to the back patio to eat because there was no where in the house. The kids had no interest in eating though...they just wanted to run around and play on the jungle jim.We met our neighbors as well. The fence between the yards is low so you can see into each others yards. The woman is a little older and very thoughtful and nice. Her name is Mary and she has brought us veges, newspapers, bug spray, etc. She is the kind of neighbor you see in movies...always knows what is going on. Okay, I will call it what it is...she is a busybody...but a nice one, so I think she will be great to live by. There are some kids we heard playing in the yard behind us (can't see over that fence) and I am hopeful to find some friends for the kiddos. Our first goal was to get the kids a place to feel comfortable and at home. We unpacked their room fairly quickly. It was tricky trying to find the sheets and necessary stuff, but we did! We need to go buy P a simple bedframe. Here we got her a bunk bed and we won't even use it at this house. There is a built in loft bed that J is sleeping on and Paige will be on a bed underneath coming out in an L shape. I have most of their clothing hung up and put away and we filled the built in shelves with books. The kids have been happy and having fun which makes me happy. I try really hard to stay upbeat and positive for them. We need to add another hanging rod in their closet tomorrow (the closets are TINY) and I want to put a few rugs down so they can comfortable sit and play in their room. The whole main floor is hardwood so it needs a little warming up to make it feel homey. We are going to go to a carpet store and see about buying a remnant and having the edge bound to put in the family room. A lot of our things got banged up along the way. That was kind of discouraging. We thought we had packed everything really well, but I guess it needed more. Live and learn. I will just make the best of it. I went with Paige to Target last night to get some essentials that we needed...cleaning supplies, shampoo for the kids, some food. It is about a mile away which I will love!! Paige looked like a little orphan girl...I forgot her shoes and she was dirty from playing outside. I at least wiped her face before we went in :)! We have been unpacking a ton. We work so hard and it seems to take forever to see progress!! I worked hard on the kitchen and it is starting to take shape. The stairs to the basement are right of the kitchen and then the door to the storage room is right off the stairs so we got some shelve to make a pantry down there. The kitchen is too small to even attempt to keep the food in there. I think it will work out nicely. I got all the food I brought (yes, I was crazy enough to haul food across the country...but glad to have it and not have to buy it!) organized on the shelves. We also got a shelf to put my extra cooking supplies...pans I don't use all the time, china, etc. We have to get creative to make it all fit!! Once again, not an ideal set up, but I think it will work great for the two years we are here! There are also some cut out shelves in the kitchen that are meant for decor, I think, but I am going to make some cute curtains to cover them and put more kitchen stuff in them. I have a lot of kitchen stuff! I use all of it though so, we brought it. Good thing I love to cook! I can't wait to put the kitchen to use! I have eaten out so much in the last month and am ready to have a healthier diet!! I miss cooking too. Our ward meets at 9am. I am happy and sad about this...no more sleeping in on Sunday morning! It came early today though! I am still on Utah time so 7am is 5am to me...and considering that I slept only four hours the night before, I was tired.