Moving Day

 After a final week of packing, and with *help* from the boys, we were ready for moving day!

 Sunday morning at about 9, the movers showed up.  {We needed to be out by Monday, the 9th, but we also we contracted to have the house professionally cleaned after we moved.  With Stephen working on Monday, we just decided it was easier to move and be out Sunday, have it cleaned on Monday, and let the new owners have some extra time to get in.}

The boys were pretty good during the loading.  They mostly stayed out of the way.  It was crazy when there was NOTHING to sit on to eat a snack, other than the fireplace!!!  

The movers were great, and the only real snag we ran into was unhooking the refrigerator.  The valve was REALLY tight.  At one point, we just figured we'd have to turn off the water and leave a note for the new owners.  Then, we worried about not having any water to  clean the house.  Finally, Stephen was able to get the valve turned and the fridge was out.  I thought we'd be done around lunch time.  1:30 is close, right?

After a quick lunch, we dropped the boys off with Julia and went to meet the movers at our new home.

It's a good thing we didn't have the boys running around while we were moving in.  There was so much activity, I'm sure they would've been in the way.  Also, I needed to be around telling the movers where everything needed to go, which would've slowed us down if I was constantly trying to keep up with the boys.  We found ourselves saying quite frequently that things needed to go into the garage.  {800 less square feet is SIGNIFICANTLY smaller!!!}

I think everything was in and beds were assembled by around 6 that night.  Not bad, and worth every penny having help. 

Next, the *fun* part: 


Unpacking, unpacking, and more unpacking.  After getting our bedrooms and bathrooms liveable, I tackled the gameroom.  The boys just have to have a place to play!  We also had company coming in to stay last weekend, so I focused on getting those areas ready.  I'm still at the unpacking, but reached a point this week that allowed me to cook/prepare all meals at home.  {That's quite a milestone, as we've been eating out A LOT lately, between selling the house, packing up the house, and moving in.}

Even though there's more work to be done, it's starting to look more like home.  Having Mr. Turtle and our barrel on the front porch helps, too. 

Now, if only we could get some decent internet and a phone out in "the country."  Can you believe the Verizon representative had the gall to tell me, "I've been with the company for 15 years and have never heard of College Station, Texas, so we don't have service there."? Really?  Just because you haven't heard of a place, it doesn't exist?  Hopefully, we will get hooked up in the next week or so and will be able to ditch this satellite internet.  It is definitely out-of-this-world. 

We are happy to be in our new home and are starting to feel settled! 

Bridgeland Pool

 For the past 2 summers, Kyle has been too short to ride the big slides at our neighborhood pool.  Last summer was especially hard, as he was about a cm too short and no one would let him through.  That rejection caused more than a few tears.  And, now that he's tall enough, we won't live there anymore!

I had to squeeze in one last visit to the pool before we moved, so Kyle could make it down the slides.  

He went down them again, and again, and again!  It was worth the trip! 

We also picked up a few friends for the boys to play with on the last swim at Bridgeland.

I'm going to miss this place! 

Tball Party

 After closing on our house, we went straight back to Cypress for Kyle's end-of-season party.  We met at the park/splashpad for pizza and cake.  Then, the boys each got TWO trophies and an official practice ball, if they promised to keep playing. 

Coach Jay said some great things about Kyle and named him as one of the most improved players over the season.  We just need to work on his throwing accuracy! 

I'm grateful Kyle had a fun team with so many friends and some great coaches this year! 

Sold!

We closed on our new home in College Station on June 6th.  Stephen was able to get off work early and make it to the closing.  There was a major chance that our closing wouldn't happen on time, since there had been so many heavy downpours in the last few weeks of construction.  Luckily, our builder was able to pull some strings and get it all done.  Thank goodness!  

We now own our 2nd home!

Pool Party

After Kyle's award ceremony on the last day, it was highly encouraged that we check the students out.  {I remember from being a teacher....oh, how lovely that was to have only a few, if any, students on that last day.}

To celebrate the start of summer, we got together with some friends for a pool party. 

 I loved getting to try out my new underwater camera, and Kyle LOVED helping me test it out!

 
We also enjoyed a Bahama Bucks party pack!  YUM! 

 I can't think of a much better way to celebrate school being out for summer: friends, chick-fil-a, swimming, and snow cones!  What a fun day! 

School's Out!

As we ended the school year, it was sad to think about this being that first and last year at Pope.  Kyle loved Mrs. Moon, and she will be missed.  Of course, to add to our emotional day, she send this email, which had the tears welling up in my eyes.  

Dear Parents,
I give you back your child. The same child you confidently entrusted to my care last fall. I give them back pounds heavier, inches taller, months wiser, more responsible, and more mature than they were back then.

Although they would have attained their growth in spite of me, it has been my pleasure and privilege to watch their personalities unfold day by day and marvel and this splendid miracle of development.

I give them back reluctantly, for having spent more than 9 months together in the narrow confines of a crowded classroom, we have grown close, have become a part of each other, and we shall always retain a little of each other.
We have lived, loved, laughed, played, studied, learned, and enriched our lives together this year. I wish I could go on indefinitely, but give them back I must.

Take care of them, for they are precious.

Remember that I shall always be interested in your child and their destiny, wherever they go, whatever they do, whoever they become. Their joys and sorrows I'll be happy to share. I shall always be their friend.

Love,
Kim Moon
(and now I'm sitting here crying!)

I am so grateful for this wonderful teacher for Kyle.  We needed a good start.  

I was CRAZY/busy packing this week, and Stephen had already started his job in College Station.  It actually worked out well, since I could stay up late and not worry because he wasn't there, anyway.  With all the packing, I was able to take a break and make it to the graduation celebration for our Young Women in our church's youth group.  I meant to get out and get them something, but had to whip something together.  Luckily, we had some root beers, and I came up with a cute saying.  Even though one broke and I had to improvise with a can, I think they turned out well. 

And, we were finally finished with local graduation events. 

Last Day of Kindergarten

 I looked back at my post of Kyle's first day of Kindergarten, and realized just how much he's grown in 9 months!  Not only has he grown inches taller, but in confidence, in his reading and writing abilities, and in responsibility.   I am so grateful for this year and for Mrs. Moon.  What a blessing it has been to know that Kyle is loved and well taught, especially with me being so sick for most of the school year.

Here is Kyle on his last day of Kindergarten.

Kyle's favorite color is orange, so I was going to do a gift that said, "Orange you glad it's Summer?", full of some of Mrs. Moon's favorite things, along with a bunch of orange things.  Then, I saw how many other people were posting pictures of that SAME IDEA--thanks, Pinterest---so I tweaked it.  Kyle wrote a note that said, "Dear Mrs. Moon, Thank you for helping me cross Kindergarten off my Bucket List.  Have a great summer.  Love, Kyle"  Then, he drew a picture of a monster, one of his favorite art subjects lately.  I hope she liked it! 

There is no Kindergarten "graduation" at Kyle's school, but they did have an awards ceremony.  First, the class sang a song they have been practicing. 



Then, each student got to walk the red carpet and receive their award.  Kyle got the "Crunch Award," for being someone to count on in a crunch.

I don't think Kyle had any idea what that award meant, but he was sure excited that he got a candy bar he liked.  {None of those yucky ones.  Although, someone else got a HUGE Symphony Bar for being someone who loves to sing.  Kyle was a little jealous, but I quickly reminded him that he hates music, remember?}

I'm so proud of this soon-to-be first grader!!

And, we are SOOOO going to miss Mrs. Moon and Pope Elementary.

On to new adventures!