(The kitchen is clean, and the children are occupied with a newly found box of toys.)

Although we do have some in the front yard – roses. But the rainy season appears to be over, so prolly no more rainbows for awhile.

Life here is hardly “idyllic.” When Julia was in skating camp, Cailin and I checked out the library – and of course, silly me lost my wallet. So that was a crazy 24 hours, calling the library and the rink seeing if anyone had turned it in.

Replacement card arrived finally arrived last night. Grocery shopping yesterday with both girls was a challenge as I had to keep tabs on the running total and make sure the girls didn’t destroy the store or my nerves. However, they were much better behaved in the store this last time, so they ARE getting better behaved.

Allergies have definitely surfaced. Wild flowers abound, prairie grass, and this house seems dusty.

And last weekend my check engine light came on. It went off the next time I got gas, but still, that was another coupla nerve-wracking days without the credit card.

The basement is pretty much finished, and Steve has started placing his electronics (60 inch flatscreen, 400 disc blu ray player, speakers out the wazzoo). So once that’s done, the Entertainment Center will be done, and I can tell the girls to go bug Dad as long as he’s not working.

Girls still whine when I ask them to do chores. We haven’t been nearly as social as the girls need (my fault) so they haven’t been on any “playdates” (I hate that word), but they do make friends when they’re at the pool. I don’t enjoy the pool. I’m nowhere near ready to swim myself, and I burn easily, so between the allergies and hugging the shade, I don’t enjoy the pool. But I’m reading a lot when we’re there.

Speaking of reading, they’re doing more of that, since we don’t have regular TV in the family room, and when I don’t let them watch shows, they are doing more reading.

For the most part, though, it’s turning into an okay life. I miss programming, but that will have to wait until they go back to school, other than the odd thing I do once a week or so.

We’ve been here about two and a half weeks. The first week was recovering from the trip out and getting the furniture truck, then we had skating camp. This has been the first week of figuring out how to live here.

Life definitely is slower. I don’t know if it’s the slower pace of things or the fact that I’m not working and don’t have to rush anything.

I have a clean kitchen this morning. Girls clothes are clean and put away (they did that, so I don’t know if they’re folded, and frankly, until they care, I certainly don’t). Living room and family room are straightened as well as can be expected with the piles of boxes still all round.

The basement final inspection is today, then we can start moving at least half the boxes downstairs, and working on the rest of the boxes.

My office is once again the catchall for things, but I hope to work on that next week.

We’ve been doing chores and watching a movie (at least the girls) in the morning, then if weather permits, going to the pool in the afternoons. I have done some walking, but the allergies are definitely hitting me here (all this prairie grass is new to me), so I haven’t been pushing it.

With me cooking, we’re definitely eating healthier. Cailin has lost seven pounds, but her bathing suit is now hanging off her, so she’s lost inches as well. We need to get her a new bathing suit this weekend. Julia’s lost a bit, but since she’s the skinniest, I’m not really concerned about her.

I’ve lost my trip weight gain, and maybe one more pound. I tend to make the home made healthy sweets, then over indulge, since they’re healthy.

I will post pictures, as soon as I remember to start taking them.

Also, my mother is continuing to spin in her grave, since I’ve willingly cooked and eaten yellow squash casserole, and eggplant parmesan. And last night I made an onion casserole, of which Steve had 3rds. I’ve knitted two dish cloths, and of course, there’s laundry. We have a septic tank, so I can only usually do one load a day. Today is my day. So at noon I will start the load.

We have 8 weeks until school starts. I need to find a doctor and schedule physicals before then.

So things get done, but slowly. My method is to work some, then rest/relax some. Heavy on the relaxing. I hope to make it a habit to update this place every day, so hopefully, you’ll see me here tomorrow.

We're two weeks out from putting the house on the market. Carpet installers come on Monday. Somehow, I'll be ready for them. I do plan to put pictures here, so maybe I can get to that this weekend.

It's a step up, and a chance to clear out 10 (plus) years of clutter.

4 bedrooms upstairs, a study on the main floor, and a room that they were sorta counting as a bedroom in the mostly unfinished basement. Main floor family room, kitchen, dining, living rooms and a half bath. There's also a bathroom rough-in in the basement, so the first major thing the husband will do besides paint is get at least the bathroom and one bedroom done in the basement.

I will be posting pics as soon as I get the camera and special cable back from the husband.

Next up - the lengthy task list, in order to get this house on the market in April, and plan the move 1670 miles west.

You may have heard, but it’s semi-official. We’re moving to Northern Colorado in the summer of 2011. I will be writing about our move west, as well as how we’re dealing with the  changes ahead.

Steve’s job has shifted to working at the Airport in Denver, as much as half time. The other half, he’s working on building up new business for his company. Since he makes most of the family’s income, this is our primary reason for moving.

Other reasons (not in any order):

• cheaper cost of living
• I won’t have to work
• less pollutants in the air
• slower pace of life
• I won’t have to work
• the potential of getting a horse
• I won’t have to work
• the potential for a second dog

Notice the theme?

The schools are not quite the level they are here in northern VA, but they are consistently in the upper half of the national rankings. And I’m confident I can do any supplemental education as needed. And the girls will benefit from the out of doors experience that 300 + days of sunshine a year will provide.

Next up: The house we’re trying to purchase (We’ve put a contract on it, and we’re in the midst of paperwork).