This Old House

After 40 plus years, my parents are moving.

Sorry, shoulda had you sit down first.

We stopped in on our way home to see the new place for the first time but I didn't take any pictures as they still have boxes and plastic wrap over the carpet so it wouldn't have done the place justice. However, some of us then made a trip over to the old homestead.

Some of you have been to Ye Olde House on the Hill and may have fond memories of hanging out on the porch swing ("that is NOT a roller coaster. Be gentle. GENTLE!"), or sliding down the now lily covered hill (which my Dad used to have to mow) on the Twister tarp ("what are you DOING!?") or coloring with sidewalk chalk all over the corner lot ("Girls, we need rain. Can you go draw, please?").

This is the porch swing where my bestie and I used to snooker my little brother into being a "patient". Once we had his consent and he was prone, we'd tie him to the swing with a jump rope so he wouldn't fall off and then would proceed to "operate" on him with our Fisher Price doctors' kits. Being extremely ticklish, I was always surprised that he'd consented more than once...

This was the Storage of Christmas Stuff room in our attic. I never thought I'd see the day that it was empty. There are crayon scribbles on the ceiling behind the cameraman and Carrie asked me if I'd done it. "Seeing as it says 'Jack B wrote this', what do YOU think?"

My parents' eat-in kitchen. Looks forlorn without the full view of mom's baskets on the walls and fun things in the cubbies. Also looks naked without the fridge and stove, haha.

The living room, with PaPa's vacuuming triangles if you look close. I always loved the French doors.

This was my bedroom, my gorgeous floor. When I lived here, it was covered in hideous (not an exaggeration) wallpaper showing large avocado, sunset orange, and yellow flowers. When I was small, second grade maybe, my parents redid it for me in Holly Hobbie wallpaper with soft blue trim. That lasted until about my junior year of high school when I'd worn my parents down with my begging and pleading to paint it Bermuda blue. AND they let me do a mural featuring a dragon on the smallest wall. Once I moved out, my mom papered it and had a very restful seaside theme going, featuring shells from the ocean and adorable stuffed crabs we'd picked up in our travels. 

And that would be Carrie helping unwallpaper during one of her visits when she was small. The bed fit between those windows and she saw a peely part so she "helped."

So send your good vibes to my parents as they downsize and, most importantly, enjoy only one flight of stairs in their new home instead of four. 

I shudder to think what Shenanigans this old house would report if these walls could talk.

And then she got old

Because (ha! I just started a sentence with because!) May is traditionally a hectic, crazy month, Miss Care Bear had to have her karate birthday party at the end of April. I promise you that she didn't mind. 

They start off with introductions and a mini karate lesson, which the birthday child gets to help teach.

And they play some games, like Swords and Shields, which is pretty much exactly like you'd think it would work:

And there's food, including the double layer cake that attempted to slide apart from itself on the drive to the party:

Cake is traditionally cut by a sword at karate parties. Carrie had special permission to use her own sword, one bought several years ago by her friend Isaac, to cut her cake. Even though Isaac couldn't make it to her party, he was there in spirit. Even better, he's moving back here mid-summer!

Then it was time for presents and silly friends and fun.

Her friends all seemed to have a great time, and our sweet Care Bear is now officially a teenager.

Happy 13th, and many moooooore. We love you. 

Run for your lives.

Sunshine on my shoulders

These were taken a few days ago when the sun was out. I am always amazed how much difference sunshine makes. I am most definitely solar-powered. There is something that makes me catch my breath when sunlight hits freezy trees:

 

As always, if you click on a photo it can be viewed larger. This bottom picture will look familiar to those of you on Facebook as it's my cover photo. As much as I despise cold, freezy trees are pretty awesome.

 

***

 

The kids actually had some school days this week. Amen and hallelujah! They've finished their first semester and grades have been mailed out. You often hear how moving is such a huge stressor. I've been really impressed with how well the kids did overall with switching school districts and starting from scratch. Even in her parent/teacher conference, Carrie's group of teachers mentioned they'd have thought she was a student here from day one. Proud Mama!

 

It's supposed to be above freezing all weekend, in honor of my birthday, no doubt. Hehe! Today's been a pretty good last day of being *mumble mumble* and I'm looking forward to baking my brown sugar cake to celebrate!

 

Have a good weekend!