November

This year from the end of October throughout November, we have been reminiscing quite a bit about our times from the previous year.  It was crazy, nerve wracking, joyous, and as far from a "normal" time that we could get.

Last year for Halloween, we were moving from our rental house to our temporary rental house.  All the while, it was cold and raining. And the boys HAD to go trick or treating... which we let them do until they were too cold and wet and wanted to come home.  But where is home?  Oh my goodness, all those feelings, emotions, and stresses STILL come rushing back.

Believe it or not, we have no record of anything going on other than our house being built at the end of October last year.

This year, we were able to have a nice, relaxing trick or treating outing.  It was cold, but perfect because there was no stress.  No moving.  No rushing around getting things done on the house until midnight or later because it had to be done before the next day.  Ahhh.

The first part of November last year was when Dave spent every waking minute at the house.  One of our wonderful helpers (we had MANY!) still says he can't believe how Dave pulled it off.  Some pictures for your viewing pleasure of some of the wonderful people who were kind enough to take time out of their schedule and from their families to rescue us from not getting things done...

The most nervous day of my life...
The stairs going into place

Half naked boys reaching hard to get to places!

The next biggest thing that happened last year in November was Eleanor's birth!  Here's a few then and now pictures.

Last picture of Hoots, family of 4

1 year picture

Enjoying new toys!

The other huge thing that happened last year that was traumatizing was the tornado that ripped through our area.  It was devastating enough to know and see the results of it.  We moved into our house the day before it happened.  This picture shows the path and where our house is (yellow dot). We still sometimes have nightmares about tornadoes.

There were some other things thrown in there last year... the flu, hiccups with house things, Eleanor not gaining weight, etc... More things that make us thankful to be in this year more than last!  And as we get more things done with the house, it's more exciting to think of where we'll be NEXT year this time!  Staring down another long winter's road, but there will be more exciting things have happened! We are looking forward to it!

One year later...

Wow, one year later... (a Little bit behind!)

* a nearly 1 year old girl getting into everything
* 2 kids in school
* lived in our house almost a year
* been SUPER busy with house projects (imagine!)
* most of the boxes unpacked
* still bare walls (painted, but nothing hung up yet)

Ah, I could go on for hours.  I'll spare you...

It's the little things that hit me at the most random moments that make me realize how lucky we are to be where we are, regardless of how crazy things were 10-12 months ago. I really don't know how we survived the months of October and November last year... I keep wondering why my gray hairs haven't sprouted yet because of those times!!

And it's those little things that make me realize how HAPPY I am to be settled and enjoying our house and family as much as we can.  Yes, we spend many of our free evenings and weekends doing projects that get us "that much" closer to being "done."  But we try to take as much time to do things together that don't involve projects... or if there's something we all can do to help, it makes it a little bit more fun to work together.

Dave got the deck as done as he can recently.  That means he didn't quite have enough boards to finish the last set of stairs down to the ground.  But it's REALLY nice what he did get done!  We have been enjoying it as much as we possible and can't wait to use it when we have people come visit.  I am picturing us next summer spending many evenings out there... and the evenings is what I love here.  We live just off a road that's busy only during the day.  After people get off work and get home, there's not much traffic.  It's so quiet and peaceful.  And the stars are SO bright here.  It almost feels like it's just us and the stars.  That is what I've loved about our lot ever since we started building and spending time out here after dark... It's good to be home.  And feel like this is where we are meant to be.

There is no path to happiness.  Happiness IS the path.