Thursday, August 27, 2009

In Memory of Grandma

My dad's mother passed away on Monday, August 24, 2009. She was 92 years young. The funeral is being held today, Thursday, August 27, 2009. Scott, the kids, and I were able to visit with her at the nursing home when we were in Ohio last month. She was having a really good day the day we were there.

Grandma S., the O's, and Papa Harry

Grandma always made the best honey cookies. I remember Grandma making them for me even after I went to college. This past summer I attempted, for the first time, to make her honey cookie recipe. After much trial and error I was able to make some cookies that were edible but I told grandma last month I was going to have to keep trying if I was ever going to be able to make them as well as hers.

Grandpa S. passed away on October 26, 2002 (Drew's 4th birthday). Grandma and Grandpa had 12 children, 52 grandchildren, 81 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great-grandchildren.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

What I Did This Summer by Lilymei

What a summer it's been. My mommy and daddy took me away from all that I remember. Mommy and I saw this double rainbow on our balcony at the PIC before we left Guam. I LOVE the beach!
Mommy and Daddy said we would be traveling far and wide. Boy, they weren't kidding!
I had to eat strange new foods in places Mommy and Daddy used to visit long, long ago.
I met cousins young.....
and old. Otay, not that old!
I did meet a pirate. He is nice and shared his toys with me.
That pirate suggested I get a tattoo. I got a ladybug. It hurt (not) but now I'm a pro. Right now I have a tattoo of flowers on my arm that I got at Macy's this weekend.
I tried to hold (and take home) some of my cousins' birthday presents. Mommy and Daddy wouldn't let me.
What kind of place is this that Daddy took me to? I had to wear a coat, in July! The air show in Dayton was really neat. When the fighter jets flew by I learned how to cover my ears.
I now know that I love to water flowers! Mommy, can you get me a watering can and some flowers, pease!
I didn't bore you with pictures of me getting in and out of my carseat but I did that ALOT! I don't like riding in the car but it helps when Drew or Nate put a movie in for me and I can wear my headphones and ride in style.

One of my favorite parts of summer was eating ice cream! I love it! In this picture I'm eating Graeter's ice cream in Columbus,OH.
Check back later Mommy says. She promised to take pictures of my new big girl bed and my princess sheets. I think she wants to take pictures of our new house too, once I help her put everything away. Maybe Daddy will put pictures on here of my first trip to the Atlantic Ocean when we visited Mike E. in Delaware last weekend.

Hope you all are having a nice summer like me!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Gettin' Settled

We've been in the house for just over a week and things are finally starting to fall into place. The upstairs level is almost finished. At least we have clothes in the drawers and hanging in the closets. The kitchen is unpacked but I'm sure I will be rearranging some cupboards later on. We still have boxes in the living and dining rooms and LOTS of boxes in the basement. Thank goodness school hasn't started yet or I would really be stressing.

Speaking of school, Nate will be in 8th grade this year. Scott and I have decided to sign him up for the A Beka Academy Home School Video Streaming program. The program looks to be a challenge for him but we know he can handle it. Drew will also be home schooled again this year. Drew will be entering 5th grade and we are going to hit the ground running. I have tentatively set the first day of school to be September 8 but if I can get myself psyched up we may start earlier.

We had our first house guest last night. Our good friend, Mike, who was stationed with us in Guam, was in the DC area last night buying a truck. Scott met up with him on his way home from work. Mike followed Scott to our home for dinner and a night on the futon before he left for Delaware to start his home search at his new base. It was so nice to see a familiar face ~ thanks for stopping by Mike!

Some of you may have noticed Scott is now on Facebook. Scott was the guinea pig for this experiment. If all goes well, I may get on too. I know so many of you out there are on Facebook. I'll admit I'm a little curious but it looks so much more involved than posting to a blog. You'll just have to wait and see if you see my face on Facebook in the next week or so...
Any helpful hints would be appreciated.


Sunday, August 9, 2009

Boxes, boxes, everywhere!

Whew! I think this is the first time in over a week that I have sat down for more than a quick bite to eat! As Scott posted earlier, we did not move into the home we had planned to buy in Woodbridge, VA. After the appraisal came back too low and the bank wouldn't accept it we spent 2 days frantically looking at rental homes until we found one in Clifton, VA we knew would work for us. Last Saturday we took the keys and started cleaning. We officially moved in last week Monday, thanks to our friends, Alan and Sharlene, and also to a co-worker of our realtor, who loaned us air mattresses and linens so we could end our hotel stay and sleep in our "new" home. Hurray!!!

Last week Tuesday we received our "express" pack, which contained some of our basic household items and to the happiness of the boys, the Wii. Luckily, the homeowner left a tv for us to use and the boys were quick to set up their game system.

Thursday we received the rest of our household items; at least what we had with us in Guam. According to the movers, nearly 250 boxes or odd shaped packages, give or take a few dozen were unloaded off the truck. At this point, I can't remember. I just know I signed off on all of them as arriving, intact or not. I have not opened anywhere near half of those said boxes yet but to my knowledge we have only had 2 items broken: a 4 foot tall bookshelf and an oversized, out of date computer monitor.

This week found Scott and the boys trimming trees, mowing the lawn, and pulling out an overgrown shrub. Scott is on a mission to whip this property back into shape. We have found pictures of the home in it's early years and Scott has plans to get the shrubs back to what they used to look like.

We have battled an infestation of bees, enough to scare the first "bee guy" into not coming back! (but the bees are gone now with the help of a more experienced bee guy) and we are currently having issues with our upstairs bedrooms not getting enough AC while we freeze on the main floor and basement. Of course, we expected that since it's been nearly 100 degrees this weekend. We will be seeing the AC repairman Monday morning to take care of that issue. Other than that, we are enjoying being in a house that we can call home (we hope longer than a year, but the owner mentioned that he may try to sell the house next year...) It is so cute to hear Lily say this is her house, and to repeat our address (just the street name at this point) over and over and laugh.

We are waiting for the last shipment of household goods that are currently in storage in Las Vegas. We are not feeling very patient since that shipment has our couches, our piano, a curio cabinet, and Nate's bed, along with a lot of other items I'm sure we have forgotten all about. Because we did not have anything soft to sit on, other than our beds, we purchased a futon today that will have to suffice until our comfy couches make their way to Virginia. Don't feel sorry for Nate, by the way. For the past 3 years he has been sleeping on Drew's bottom bunk bed and he will continue to bunk in Drew's room until his bed arrives and he can move into his own room.

It is time for me to call it a day. Scott and the kids have been asleep for hours and I should be too. We haven't had time to upload the newest photos in the camera so you'll have to enjoy these for now.

Lily and mommy at the beach in Hawaii. Lily asks nearly every day if she can go back to the beach.

Lily with Aunt Kimmy's dog, Izzy. Lily was terrified of Izzy all week until Izzy put a dress on. Lily must have thought she was a new dog the way she was holding her in this photo.

Lily meeting Great-Grandpa for the first time. He had a special doll just for Lily all ready for her.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Moving on up!

Well we got our new house by God's grace we are sure. Scott woke up at 6 am and drove to the realtor so that he was first in the office. While he was getting the lease signed, no fewer than 4 other people called on the property. We will be getting the keys today to a beautiful 5 bedroom, 3.5 bath home in Clifton, Virginia. Clifton is in Fairfax county near Washington Dulles Airport, so come on out. We are excited because the neighborhood has a great pool, tennis court, basketball court, and playground complex.
Thanks for all of the prayers, pictures out soon.
The O's have landed, finally!

Lilymei joined our family...

Lilymei was born...

Drew is...

Nate is...

Jean and Scott have been married....