Liam with friends

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A few more...

((Post was started a LONG time ago...need to update!))

Life here may look a little different,

and parts have been a bit tough to get used to

(Spanish moss?...yesterday I actually admired it!)

 but we are getting used to it...

Football here is intense!!!

We even walked the field with Owen on "homecoming" weekend

and he has to be at games 2 hours before.

The sun at these games is INTENSE, and people set up

canopies...in the bleachers!

For the month before we left, Liam screamed in the car...always.

Now? the "view" is a bit different...
Liam is my little buddy--
He even hangs out on the couch watching me
when I vacuum or fold laundry.
Sometimes he "helps"...we try to prevent that!

And each night Gabby asks what day is it going to be in the morning...

and each day she looks forward to riding the bus.

I laughed when I noticed her back pack is bigger than she.
Liam...he is a nut, a ham, a silly boy
and yet, he "studies"...

Learning

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The view from here...

The sun, the warmth--even when it storms,

made me forget that the leaves are changing

in other places of our lives.

I've been reminded and, for the first time,

did miss, for a brief moment, 

the changing of the leaves.

However...

80 Degrees at the bus stop this morning?

Still swimming every afternoon?

I truly believe there is more to our move

than warmer weather.

I don't know what that is, but I pray that I

"walk in a manner worth of the calling with which

 [I] have been called with all humility and gentleness, 

with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love..."

and yet I fail...or think I do...

My kids are forgiving and

and each day is new.

People...people are irreplaceable though.

I cannot replace what I have in MN...

I won't even try.

Yes, I've made friends here...

(we even found a babysitter and had a date the other night!)

But we will always have ties to where we began this little family of ours.

The view here is beautiful, but the view can be whatever you choose to see.

I almost always loved the view in Mn...

almost!  :-)

Home...

Florida is hot in August, but that's why we have

air conditioning, a pool, and a very happy little boy to 

entertain us!

And the sunset out our front window is not too shabby either!

Newness!

A new city,

A new home,

A new school,

New friends,

New experiences...

When I can, I will write more about what's going on.

But here's a few glimpses into our days this week...

Spending time with liam is fun...pure fun.

I usually struggle with contentment...

I've found myself quite content.

Sometimes I get a bit impatient,

but let's not go crazy and fix all inadequacies!

:-)

I'm not saying I'll never feel discontentment,

but this feels so right

And our everydays are the way they're meant to be for us.
Gabby loves riding the bus!

Moving has been a BIG job...
but I've had a great helper!

He's kept me moving and unpacking
and laughing and cleaning and smiling...

Boxes are slowly being emptied and moved out...

But this is definitely home!

First day of school!

Florida style!!

Yep, we did it.

Six months ago I wanted time to pass so this day could come!

Gabby started kindergarten, Owen's my big 3rd grader,

and Liam is home with Momma!...

In the Sunny South!

Kids so excited!

Gabby actually let me do her hair and she wore a dress!

My sweet baby doll!

Liam had no idea they were about to leave him for the day!

I love the palm trees!

Owen looks so big!

He told me this morning that Liam is his best friend-

sometimes I feel bad when Liam wants my attention rather than Big Brothers.

But, I guess, it will be different some day...

Roger was there to see us off...

I wasn't planning on walking the kids in, 

but, once I got there, I pulled over, parked...

and walked them up...

Owen knew his way, so he barely turned to say good-bye

and flash me a cute smile...

Gabby, on the other hand...

Let me go with her!

She was so excited and so brave!

She went right to her seat that she'd picked out!

Liam and I celebrated...with doughnut holes...

and a trip to the park!
We took a walk, he fell asleep, and so I had time to update my blog!

One day down and I can say I'm happy...
Counting blessings!

The after school report...

Owens favorite part is that he doesn't have very much homework. The playground was kind of small, and lunch was really loud. He likes his teacher and she's creative about telling kids to be quiet. :-) there's only six boys in his class and there's no troublemakers… Yet. He says he'll be able to keep his desk clean because the top doesn't open. He got to pet and hold the class guinea pig today, but don't worry, he washed his hands...that's all he told me.  :-)

I haven't heard a lot about Gabby's first day… She made a friend. Her friend has black curly hair. She said lunch was really loud and she got to go outside to play. She said she sat in her chair that she picked out at open house… And I think she likes it. She told me this morning on the way to school that her head was getting bigger but she still only five. She must be getting smarter already!

So far I am slightly surprised and unexpectedly pleased with the school. The communication home already is amazing. Both the kids brought home the communication folder and Gabby's teacher is going to have a daily chart where we can write notes back-and-forth.
Roger and I had lots to look over tonight!... After football practice, that is.
Busy, wonderful times!
Counting blessings!

From the Magic Bridge to new adventures!

One of our favorite adventures in MN was to get on our bikes and 

head to Nanny's.

Liam loves the bike ride!

We always would find something to do and 

were never bored or HUNGRYat Nanny's!

The kids would then beg and plead with her

to go to the magic bridge...

Liam just wanted to run around...

But he kept trying to head into the pond...

Crazy kid!

And now that we are in Florida, we don't head to Nanny's.  :-(

But,we try to make every outing an "Adventure"
because that's what it is...when you don't know where you are going--
it's an ADVENTURE!

All in all, the kids are adjusting as well as I could have hoped...

A few of those adventures so far:

Our longest bike ride yet!

Liam and my helmet is still in storage!  yikes!

boat ride around Lori's pond...in her backyard!

rainbow!

out to eat...way too much but so fun!

We even started a list of "kids eat free" for our nights out!

catching bugs and critters!

BEACH!!!

Even in the rain it is fun!  WARM rain!

and the sun always comes out sooner or later!

Way too many ice cream treats...

meeting "Elsa" and "Olaf"...I won't say what Lori said about Elsa...

Face painting!

Swimming! with buckets on our heads?

Children's Museum!!  We became members and have gone twice already!

Structure at Museum showing how rain water trickles down leaves!

Liam seeing how "BIG" he is!

Gabby and Owen playing "Dr."

"I like warm hugs!"

Chik fil a has a play structure!

Slides!

Finding toads in the "almost done" pool!

Rescues all 7 of them!

Got gas...and donuts!

Had a picnic near school and "almost home"

teaching Guinn all about banging pots and pans!

There's an awesome playground at the Children's museum!

cheese!

This is a merry go-round!

Gabby got so brave on the climbing wall!

And there are a few times my camera wouldn't work!

We are keeping busy trying to get to know our new "home."

Strange...it does feel like home.

The next post will make it official!...

The greatest adventure yet!

whew!