Settling In

Now that we're moved in, here's proof that we put up pictures within the first week (instead of waiting 2-3 years like we've been known to do in the past).

Guest Room/My office - Dereck and I decided with such small rooms, and because I sometimes drive him crazy if I'm doing work at home on my computer, that I would have my "office" in the guest room. Therefore, I'm paying tribute to my Seattle homage.

Next to my computer is my Bachelor's Degree and my new distinguished award: Teacher of the Year award

Up close on my award

In singing fashion to the popular song...."I Feel Happy"

In the hallway (Dereck didn't like where I had it at the Townhouse since it was the only spot left at the time this was received, above the Toilet. He wasn't keen on peeing and seeing a picture of us. Neither did our male friends. I don't blame them.) Thus, it takes center stage in the Hallway here.

Due to having no closet in our Master Bedroom, this is our wardrobe closet from IKEA

(Yes, it really is true. We don't make our bed and Whisper loves to sleep on my side of the bed. Probably because she doesn't get accidentally whacked on my side of the bed.)

My side

Our socks, underclothing and the like drawers

His side

Whisper is queen of the bed

Last week, it was back to work for me with Summer School. Our program partners up with Teach for America and I become sort of the "mentor teacher" to two "student teachers." I only had to lesson plan and teach the first two days until the student teachers took over for the remainder of the program. I sit in the corner, observing, taking notes, giving guidance, and have fun watching "fresh" ideas come into play into the classroom. Here is a prime example with a fun game called "Captain's Coming." This rendition reminds me of the Fruit Basket game we played growing up.

"Captain's Coming" game - Mermaid was the phrase called so each student has to wave and say "Howdy Sailors." Yes, it's hilarious watching the students but the fact that the male student teachers doing this is beyond hysterical. 

With that, we've started taking it easy at the house. Almost too easy since we're barely getting any projects done. We did create the shelves for our linen/bathroom closet but I was in no mood to prime and paint the shelves yet. That will come in time as well as putting up the door for the closet.

Tired is the name of the Game

It has been over a week since I have last posted...I'm still tired but we're getting super close to the finish line.

First off, it started with a trip to the car shop. Our car had been overheating when in idle so we've had to be extremely careful with it. Not only that, the A/C would stop working if you weren't moving. Traffic lights and slow drivers became my enemy until we could get our paycheck to take the car into the shop. While in the shop, the mechanic took me to the car and showed me what was going on and this is what I saw:

The Mechanic using a Fluke Meter (for those who don't know, before my dad passed away, he worked for Fluke for over 30 years helping design the software for these devices)

In addition to getting the car fixed, we had to get ourselves moved out of our Townhome. Here's to continuing our moving trek with amazing friends, Diego and Aaron helping us out.

In the house we've completed the following:

Textured and Painted the Guest Room

 The Guest Room shown above is the same location as the above photo taken before any clean up began. Quite a drastic change.

I'm tired and hot...keep in mind, we still don't have A/C installed yet at this point and it has reached 108-113 degrees outside. That meant it would be around 100 degrees inside the house.

 Insert photo here of how ugly my feet have become. Oh wait, I'm sure you don't want that mental image. I'm still trying to get my feet to recover from being so callused.

The guest room got the ceiling fan installed

Dereck working on the flooring in the hallway and Office

1 of 2 boxes of China we've had packed for the last 9 years with no place to put them except for the Garage.

Oh look, we finally have cupboard space in the Kitchen to put some of the China.

Dereck and I finally went out for an Anniversary dinner 3 days after our Anniversary to celebrate. This was also the Friday night after everything had been moved out of our Townhome. All that was left to do was the final cleaning and submit our keys. We were thoroughly excited and yes, this food was so delicious.

Whisper did NOT like being put into a moving box for the move at all. Yet, she blossomed amazingly well after an hour at our new pad. Here she is trying to stay cool despite being in a hot house with no A/C.

Here's Willy and Janie looking through the screen door. Although they want to follow us around the house, they LOVE the yard space.

Dereck continuing the hallway flooring and our temporary shoe space to avoid walking on the clean floor with filthy shoes.

Part of keeping the pets cool, I would give them a partial bath in the bathtub. None of them like baths but I knew it was needed to help keep their bodies from overheating. Here's Whisper with wet fur.

Whisper chilling in the window, loving the new pad too.

Willy plopping himself anywhere near where we were working

The flooring got completed in the Guest room too!

Another one of Whisper's favorite places: sitting at the back screen door (this was prior to A/C/ being installed)

Dereck laying out the Bamboo for the Living Room floor

We worked late until Tuesday night to get the flooring done in the Living Room. I was too tired to help with the Dining Room, plus I had to get up early the next morning to return to work for Summer School.

This is what I went to bed seeing in the Dining Room

This is what I woke up to Wednesday morning.
I felt like it was Christmas.

Setting up our entertainment area

With so many boxes from the Bamboo flooring and everything, we truly had a messy yard. Most of it got loaded into the truck and went down our alley emptying the truck contents into the trash cans through our alley.

Entertainment area still being organized

Living Room is starting to form

Here's a guessing game: Can you guess what is happening?

Finally, drum roll please......our A/C was installed yesterday. I slept AMAZINGLY well last night. I even needed a blanket after a week of sleeping in a room that was in the 90-95 degree temperature range. I don't care that the A/C is set to 80 degrees (previously our normal would have been around 75 degrees). It feels like Antarctica compared to what I had gotten used too. Plus, Whisper is much more active now that the house is cooler. She acts like she owns the place. Meanwhile, Willy and Janie are over at the in-laws house. They had been since Monday as they weren't doing so good with the heat. Today, we'll be bringing them to a "cool" house!