After four kids, ten moves and nearly two decades, we are still blissfully in love (most of the time) and I found myself back in the state I was born and raised in. It has definitely been a journey. In fact, on our 18th anniversary we pulled the last of our stuff up over the pass and into Montana, leaving our surprise love, Idaho, behind. But Montana is a great place. The last best place according to some. And we fully intend to explore as much of it as we can! Join us on our continued adventure through life, love and other stuff that comes with it.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

In the last two and a half weeks

It's been nuts around here. Really.

We have:

*Spent the night in the hospital with a baby who had a fever that reached 104 and a white blood cell count of 30,000. Turns out it was only a nasty virus, but babywearing in hospital with a sick baby is the only way to do it. And the 3-year-old got it, too. But she didn't end up in the hospital. And she only threw up once at the hospital. And then she ate pizza and drank some Sprite. Believe it or not, she didn't throw up again.

*We have moved every one of our belongings and even some junk from point C to point D (because we've already moved them from A to B, and from B to C) and it actually went rather smoothly.

*Watched sadly as our oldest said good bye to the sweet neighbor girl who became her friend.

*Seen our oldest off to Kindergarten. So far, so good.

*Watched the baby make the transition from a crawler to a walker. And watched the baby toddle around the house so proud of herself and her new upright position in life.

*Listened to the middle child ask at least once a day when we were going to get a new house. And smiling and telling her hopefully not for a REALLY long time.

*Scoured two bathrooms from top (literally the ceiling) to bottom. I even ripped carpet out of one of them. And found pink tile. And under the carpet in the rest of the house?? Hard wood floor. We might have to come up with some plans for that.

*Organized a new kitchen, living room, bedroom, girls' room, laundry area, two bathrooms and a heap of toys. Still have a few more rooms to go through, but the pile of still-packed boxes is getting smaller.

*Discovered that old houses sometimes have lots of flies and earwigs. But I'm okay with that.

*Found a raspberry patch and rhubarb plants that with a little transplanting and some TLC promise to be a great part of summer for many years to come.

*Decided that when the time is right, the overgrown bushes and other plants around the house will have to go and be replaced with new plants and bushes. May take a few years to make that happen, but then I can get it done how I want it to get done.

*Realized that everyone in this tiny community know we're here and are talking about the new family that lives in "Ila's house."

*Been told that since we live here, I can join the local woman's club. But I will need to know how to play Pinochle. I might just do that.

*Vacuumed so much dust and dirt out of this old house that I am beginning to wonder if the people who lived here before believed in vacuuming. But the carpet is not grossing me out. It doesn't stink and it doesn't feel gross. It's just old. So for now, it stays. Until we come up with a new plan.

*Realized with glee that we live next to a potato field in Idaho.

*Fallen head over heels in love with a house that feels like every grandma's house I've been in. Plaster walls. Shag carpet. Knotty pine. Built in dressers and closets all over. Original fixtures. Modern appliances. Salmon counter tops in the kitchen. Mirror wall that is too cool to get rid of. A solid structure that could use some cosmetic work, but that stays cool in the heat and holds the heat when it's cold outside. They just don't make them like this any more.



I feel like I'm living in a dream. I've realized that since I was old enough to understand houses, I've wanted to live in an old farm house. And here I am. And it's mine. I feel so blessed to be here with my husband and my girls.

Life is just good sometimes. Really good.

2 comments:

katie suksdorf said...

Reading your blog makes me so happy. I always feel like Im reading a ray of sunshine. It feels good to see such joy and beauty!! Congrats on finally finding your perfect house to make your home.

Natalie said...

My house was built in 1946, and you're right, they just don't build them like they use to.

Sure, it's small, but as we're slowly clearing away the overgrown tree bushes, re-painting and re-flooring, we're making an already well-built house OUR home.

However, I'd much rather take an overgrown raspberry patch over the ginormous pines in our back. Honestly, WHAT were they thinking?! Sigh. Don't you just love old homes?