Hiatus

I know it's been a while since I last posted, but my excuse is that we've just moved across country and I'm trying to catch up on multiple things:  sleep, organization, bills, relaxation (not really accomplishing much in this category).  But alas, I know you all miss me so very much, so here I am to bring you another tidbit from the Caldwell Family life. 

The move was stressful and crazy to say the least, but we've made it safe and sound to Colorado and are quickly adjusting to the area.  Yes, it is colder than Georgia, but I'm excited for the impending spring and summer (NO HUMIDITY!!!) 

Over the last few weeks in Georgia we were able to get all packed and the house ready for renters.  It seemed to take forever, but we found good renters and are excited that the Lord saw fit to bless us with them. 

We also spent as much time as possible with our best friends, the Recznik's.  They are such amazing people and blessed our lives so much over the last 2 1/2 years as well as extremely blessed us over the last 3 weeks.  RaKel was there for me every step of the way helping me with watching the kids, feeding us, housing us for 2 days, ect...  Such an amazing woman.  I surely do miss her wonderful face. :) 

Brian's and my dad's flew out the day before we moved to help us drive the 22 hours from Georgia to Denver.  It was so extremely helpful to have them along.  Brian was so super excited to get out west that he pushed us to do the trip in one straight run, so needless to say, it was a VERY long day.  But we made it with little to no casualties (except the dog and Kenya both puking and some very unhappy kids after about 8 hours, not that I blamed them).  My dad and I drove the van for most the trip with the kids and dog and spent 80% of the trip laughing and talking.  It made for one heck of a trip.

My dad is hilarious!!  For those of you who know him and think he's not funny, you're wrong.  :)  He makes me laugh to tears sometimes, and it's always fun to spend some good quality time with my papa!

By the time we pulled into Denver it was 4 am Saturday morning (we had left at 7 am on Friday) and most of us were seeing things because we were SOOO tired, but we were welcomed with open arms by Brian's cousins who are some AMAZING people.  They had beds ready and were so wonderful to us. 

The dad's headed home on Sunday and with them went our beloved dog, Comet.  It was a sad day as I helped him into my in-laws car and said goodbye.  He tried to jump out and follow me when he realized I wasn't getting into the car, and it broke my heart.  My dad and mom agreed to keep him for us while we are in apartment living  because our TINY 2 bed apartment is just not  big enough for us, our stuff and my little Comet.  That, and the place we are renting doesn't allow Chow's of any kind (like my dog could hurt a fly, come on).  My dad told be that when Comet got to their house he spent 3 days moping, not eating, laying in his kennel or by the door waiting for us.  It made me want to cry.  He's very much apart of our little family and the kids miss him terribly.  Kenya called out for him the first 4 days he was gone, never getting a reply and Ian kept asking when Comet was coming back.  So sad.  But thankfully Comet has adjusted to life with my family and is getting good attention.  My parents and siblings keep insisting that I may never get my dog back, I guess they love him that much! :)  Like I said, he's a good dog.  :)

We spent 5 days at Brian's cousins while we waited for our truck of stuff to arrive.  What an awesome family they are.  They took such good care of us and we are excited to be near them. 

When the truck finally arrived, it's amazing that all of it fit in our apartment.  Actually I take back, not all did.  Some is in Brian's cousin's storage shed just waiting for us to move back into a house, but until then it stays in storage.  Bummer.

We had to put the table leaf on the ground cause we didn't have it set up yet.  Kenya and Ian had refused to take a nap and Kenya couldn't keep her head up at dinner.  She almost fell over trying to stay awake and drifting off to sleep.  It was rather funny.  I tried uploading the video twice, but it's just not working.  She's a silly one, that Kenya.
 
So, now we are mostly situated in our apartment and back to what is kind of normal.  Brian is back into his classes, I'm trying to find new doctors, new parks, meet new people, ect... to help keep the kids and I sane while we are living in such tight quarters. 
 
I know this was long winded, but for those who made it to the end, BRAVO!!  Give yourselves a  pat on the back.  :) 

NO MORE STRIKE!!

It seems that I've finally broken strike.  You see, Brian and I decided 2 & 1/2 years ago that I didn't need a cell phone because we had a land line and it was just too expensive to have a cell.  We got a long just fine without a cell phone for me and I really didn't notice much.  But now, we're moving to Colorado and it's time to re-evaluate what our utilites will be.  So we looked over all our options and figured out that my having a Straight Talk cell phone and his Straight Talk cell phone would be a good idea and a fairly better deal than having a home phone too. 

You see, Straight Talk is AWESOME!!  we only pay $45 a month for unlimited talk, text and web for me (in place of a home phone) and $30 for him to have 1000 minutes, 1000 texts and some web use.  We don't even have to have a contract with them, and our new and nice phones were free!  It was a steal!!!  So, now I have a cell phone and let's just say I'm pretty stoked about it!  :) 

Comet

Comet had to go to the vet for shots and grooming.  He was in desperate need of a hair cut and I was in desperate need of less shedding.  So off he went for the day.  Apparently he gets way to nervous about being given shots or groomed, so they had to knock him out which meant he had to stay the night.  After being gone for 2 days, the kids were really missing him and when we went to pick him up Ian was ecstatic! 

Well, last night cracked me up.  Comet went into Ian's room to sleep and slept right at the end of Ian's feet.  He's never done this before.  He always sleeps in the master bedroom with Brian and I.  And in the middle of the night when Ian woke up and Comet had left he came to find him.  Ian couldn't sleep without Comet with him.  It was so adorable.  I wish I had gotten a picture!