Multi-Tasking

The last few months seem like a whirlwind! We have been going full-steam since we got back from Alaska at the beginning of July. First, the push to get everything packed, then the move, and then of course settling into our new home. Maybe that settled feeling will be here someday. Last weekend was the 1st weekend we didn't do manual labor all weekend...thanks Hurricane Ike! We needed a break. Ike did remind us how badly we need gutters, so there's our next project!

But, back to multi-tasking....Since Ike visited last weekend, I couldn't mow the yard and yesterday was the first day it had dried out enough to mow, so I mowed the yard....while vaccuming the house! :) Yep, you read right! I mowed and vaccumed at the same time.

While visiting Jenn and Tim before we moved, they showed us their newest gadget for cleaning. And, when Jenn talks about cleaning, we listen. A few years ago she introduced us to the Swiffer which we loved and used all the time. But in July, she showed us the Roomba! Now, that's a cleaner. I was a little skeptical, so I made them show us how it worked and made Tim show me what it had picked up because I didn't see anything on their floor....Well, it had found the dirt and animal hair and I was convinced. That was my housewarming gift to myself as soon as we landed in Louisiana and we could get to a Bed, Bath and Beyond! So, last night I put it in the center of the living room and went outside to mow. When I came in, the Roomba was finishing up the living room and docking itself back in its charger! That's what I call multi-tasking!

Those of you starting your Christmas list in September should definitely check the Roomba out and add it to your list!

Hurricanes and Lovebugs: Did We Really Leave Florida?

Thanks for all of your concern for us during our first hurricane in Louisiana. You can see our damage from the picture above. One of our new trees couldn't stand up to the strong winds and all of that water, but we've replanted and restaked. We have decided it was definitely the best hurricane we've ever been through (if you want to classify any hurricane as best!). We lost power about 10:3o Monday night, while watching the Tenessee game, and were without for a little less than 24 hours. There was also a nice cool breeze the whole time, so even though we were without AC, the breeze blowing through the house, made it feel quite nice. We were both out of school through Wednesday, it was a nice short week at school! :)

Now, for the lovebugs! What are lovebugs doing in Louisiana? They were beginning to make themselves known last week, but we were pretty much covered with them today. We really don't feel so lonely for Florida that you guys had to send them our way!

Our task for tomorrow is to get our shed put together and our garage cleared out a little. Wade is enjoying playing Dukes of Hazard everyday when he gets in and out of his truck, but I think he will be happier when he can more easily get in and out! :)

Oh, Gustav!

Wade has successfully completed his first week of work. A month ago today we were starting on that geat adventure, moving to Louisiana. Has it really only been a month!? We decided we would mark the month anniversary by not driving today! :)

We did go to Shreveport yesterday, after watching the Gators win handedly over Hawaii...GO GATORS, and the traffic going north was thick. It was even thicker going north on our return trip last night. Guess people have learned from Katrina. It seems Gustav will hit New Orleans and then the eye will pass over Natchitoches. We looked for generators when we were in Shreveport, but there were none to be found at the places we looked. Since we've lost electricity 3 times since we've been here including the first night we were here, we feel like we will lose it again with the high winds. Our neighbor said they were without electricity for awhile after Katrina. I thought we were leaving Florida to get away from hurricanes! We had 13 trees planted last weekend, so Wade spent some time yesterday tieing some of them down.

The governor ordered several parishes to close schools through Wednesday, and ours is one. Glad for that longer weekend, but not looking forward to seeing where they decide to take our days from. The worst thing about sitting through this hurricane with the potential of no electricity is it won't be like those times in Gville. Jenn and Tim always hosted us when hurricanes came through since we didn't trust our mobile home and it was alwyas fun to be roughing it with friends!

Will try to post at the end of the week and let you know how our hurricane experience was. We miss you all and hope to see you soon!

We made it!

We drove straight through Thursday, July 31. We left Orlando about 11 am and had so much trouble with the kayaks as soon as we got on the interstate we thought we were going to have to leave them with friends in Gainesville. We figured it out and after taking 3 hours to get to Gainesville, the rest of our trip we made much better time. We arrived at our home about 3 AM Friday morning. Quite a wakeup call for Wade's folks at their hotel where they had the key, but they were happy to see us. It's great! Wade did GOOD! :) Wade's folks had already been here Thursday cleaning and lining drawers. They brought breakfast Friday morning and we got to work unpacking the truck when it arrived around noon. Thanks to Peggy (Wade's mom) who was unpacking boxes as we were bringing them in, the dining room hutch and kitchen were set up very quickly. Otherwise, I'm sure there'd still be boxes everywhere. My parents came this past weekend and my dad helpd us get a chain link fence around our backyard. We are so thankful for all of our parental help...don't know where we'd be without all of their help getting our house together!

I got a call Saturday, August 2 to set up an interview for that Monday morning. I interviewed and got a 4th grade position. I'll be teaching Reading/LA to my kids and another teacher's kids, and science to my kids. I had inservice and orientation stuff all last week. One more day of meetings today and kids come tomorrow! Again, thanks to Wade and his folks we got everything put into my room and unpacked last Monday afternoon and kinda set up so I didn't have to worry about that last week.

Rural Louisiana dial up is SLOW! :) I wanted to get a post out, and will try later to post a picture or 2. Wade might have to be in charge of picture posts once he gets into his office at school!

It's Gone!

Our stuff was loaded on the ABF truck Thursday afternoon, July 24, by 3 burly boys. I'd definitely recommend paying loaders, our marriage is definitely better for it..a LOT less stress to watch someone else put your stuff on the truck and get it in the amount of space you rented. It took all of the 21 feet we had estimated. Can't imagine how much space it would have been if we would have tried to pack it ourselves.

Thursday was also important because we closed on our new home that day. If you haven't seen the pictures here's the website http://www.collinsandstamey.com/requestinfo.asp?id=873. I still haven't seen it but look forward to getting there Friday.

This weekend we went to Gville. We had lunch with friends Saturday at La Fiesta. We even got comped dessert from the owner's son who said he hadn't seen us in a while. This was our weekly Friday night dinner while we were in Gainesville.

We also went to the stadium aka Gator Mecca...a must everytime you go to Gville. Wade had fun with the newest Gator statue there...

Will post again when we figure out how to get internet service in rural Louisiana...

Bloggging, it's not so hard, right?

After Lesley and Robert's recent trip to Paris and Spain and their great posts along the way AND Jenn's continually funny blogs, I thought I'd try my hand. Actually, I'm just trying to do something besides packing! :)

But speaking of packing, I thought this would be a great way to keep up with all of our friends and family as we move west and thought we could put pictures of us and the house as we make it our own.

So, I thought I'd start by posting a picture of our guest bedroom. Sorry, guys! As you can see, we are no longer taking visitors!