So Long September...

Friday, September 27, 2013

It inconceivable to me that it's Monday evening already...the last of September. We left Benson, AZ Friday morning and soon saw the scene below.

At noon we arrived in Apache Junction and went directly to our house. On the road pictured below we drive east toward my beloved Superstition Mountains. Rich was unhooking the car while I took this photo.

After turning north from there and heading toward our house, I could see the Man in the Mountain. See his face in the rock formation at the top left? I wake up to him watching over me every morning.

The girls were so excited to be going into a house...a house! We can run! (Although Bella still knows to take it easy" We can nap on the couch! We can hide in the closet!

While Rich and I unloaded the car and motorhome, the girls were watching out the front door.

We unloaded and unpacked for nearly five hours, even though we knew the whole family was coming out to help. There were still things for them to do but we just wanted to relax and visit with them while we all ate the dinner they brought. Shelby brought two suitcases full of stuff she will need since she is staying with us for a week. Their fall break began today.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

The first thing Rich did this morning was hang the gorgeous wreath that two of my childhood friends had sent after Mom died. We are so thrilled with the painting that was completed while we were gone. The house is so much brighter that it looks cleaner and more spacious. The wreath is perfect in the living room!

Shelby and I were still shopping for a huge cart load of groceries and supplies when Sandee and the boys got here. Sandee did some cleaning in the kitchen and unpacked/put away all the boxes of stuff that belonged in the cabinets. You cannot imagine how grateful and thrilled I was to come home to that! Jackson stayed the night; with 7 a.m. football practice every day except Sundays during break, he can only spend the night on Saturdays. Shelby and I swam in our chilly pool; actually, I swam but Shelby made it almost all the way in! Jackson declined.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

I started the day very early to have Monkey Bread baked for Jackson before I had to leave.

After I fixed breakfast for Rich, Jackson, & Shelby I left to go to Dylan's 9:20 a.m. hockey game. Their new jerseys are not in yet so he was wearing a borrowed #16 for this game.

Twice he spent time in the penalty box! We were so proud! Seriously. I have never seen Dylan play like he did on Sunday. He has a great coach and the hard work they are doing is really improving his game.

After the game, I came home to get Rich, Jackson, & Shelby then we met Sandee, Shawn, and Dylan at a great restaurant, BJs.

The guys switched gear between our cars; Jackson went home with his folks and Dylan came home with us for a couple of nights.

Monday, September 30, 2013

We went shopping today at what must be the greatest furniture store ever! I wish I had five houses to furnish instead of just two more bedrooms! Shelby loved all the kids' beds, and there were a lot of different styles.

Dylan rode around in my cart for much of the time.He was cool and had fun trying out all the motorized beds with his sister but shopping just isn't his thing.

I did buy a night stand, for me! Rich got one in the spring and now I'm glad I waited. It reminds me of the buffet in our living room back home.

Not only were there four of us plus this night stand and all the emergency gear we always keep in the back of the car but then we stopped at WalMart and picked up another ton of supplies. You should have seen the way stuff was packed around the kids!

While we put everything away, Shelby sat with the girls for a while.

Later this afternoon we went swimming. Rich and the kids had put the solar cover on the pool yesterday morning while I was at hockey and by this afternoon the water temp had risen a noticeable six or seven degrees.

After Shelby got out of the pool, Dylan was spraying me with water by blowing it through a pool noodle!

After dinner we played the Monopoly game that we bought at WalMart today. It is so cool because it is a really fast game. There are so many different versions now; I'm glad we picked this one though. I'll close by assuring you that Kunu has returned home. They brought him back when they came out Friday evening and Rich has placed the solar lights around him that we got from Ted & Johanna for Christmas a couple years ago. We brought all kinds of stuff with us this year!

Lovin' Life ~~ Getting Settled