Benjamin's First Day at "Big Boy School" (Before and After)

Today was Benjamin's first day at the elementary school where he goes for Pre-K four days a week. He LOVED it--couldn't wait to get there, get in, and learn the computer! (Yes, they will be learning computers at this school...)

He got to eat his first school lunch (not packed by me) and meet new friends and teachers. He had a great day!!! No crying...not by him; not by me.

Michael, on the other hand, was NOT happy to leave his big brother at school! He cried and yelled for a good 30 minutes off and on! And then, when we pulled back up to school at the end of the school day, he was very excited!!!

Here are a few pics...enjoy!


Benjamin and Michael enjoying some tickle-bug!

Michael sat on Benjamin's lap...he missed his brother today!

Benjamin before school in front of the big tree in our yard (note that I did NOT take a picture of the HOUSE!!!). Next month, I'll take another one of him in front of our new house...

Such my big boy. I can't believe how big he has become!!!

Our New House in Iowa...

After several months of prayer, searching, anxiety, and faith testing, we have finally found a home in Iowa (again). The boys (my scouts) and I went to meet with the mold inspector today (a requirement when you have heavy mold allergies!), and Benjamin was excited to see "his" tree again (not the one in the front of the house--the one in the BACK!).

We weren't looking for this house--we were looking for a very different one, but apparently this house was looking for us. We went through this house no less than 6 times before we finally agreed that this was the house God had chosen for us.

Here are a few pictures...enjoy!

(Note how small Michael looks in comparison! Objects (house) are not as big as they appear in comparison to Michael!)

Benjamin's tree.

Family room (with Benjamin and Michael posing)

Happy, happy, happy kitchen! :)

Life in the Ashtray...

Our first post on the new blog is dedicated to our lives in the ashtray cleverly disguised as a rental house. Since we had such a whirlwind exodus from Georgia, we ran out of time to purchase another home in Iowa, so we are living in a rental house until we find a home that we feel is the best one to raise the boys.

We were blessed to have found this rental house, as it was so last minute, and the landlord has been incredibly flexible with us. Other than the never-ending smoke smell and damp basement where Steve and I sleep, we couldn't ask for more. Well, maybe a little less struggle with sinuses and breathing, but really not much more.

After several "blogworthy" days (to quote Steve), we believe we may have found our way out of the ashtray and back to the real world. We put a bid on a house today...not necessarily in the school district we wanted or the area of town we had hoped, but the house is a great house for our boys, and we know that as in the past, if it is to be ours, God will work out the details. We have stopped worrying about details. Those never matter, anyway...

Tomorrow is Benjamin's day to meet his new school teacher, visit his new school, and possibly meet some classmates. I am excited and anxious simultaneously as Benjamin has struggled so much with this move to Iowa. He keeps talking about wanting to go back to Georgia. How do you explain to a 4 1/2 year old that we won't be going back to Georgia other than for visits in a way that he will understand? My poor baby boy.

In a few days we celebrate Michael's 1 year homecoming anniversary. We look forward to sharing that with you!