Phew I feel better now...

So yesterday, I made a big batch of chocolate cookies with cream cheese frosting in the middle of them. Then I commenced eating half the batch. Now I feel better. Also, my inherent optimism overcame the dark cloud that had followed me from the border of my beloved Oregon.

Things I discovered that helped me feel better (besides cookies):

1. A clean, unpacked house is a fabulous thing and makes life lots easier!!
2. If I walk my children to school and avoid all the road raging parents, we are all happier and it only takes about ten extra minutes!!
3. One of the things I love about public school is it forces my children to work within situations that aren't always ideal... this school isn't ideal and particularly, Carolyn's teacher is nothing short of a battle ax, but she is going to meet battle axes many times in her life and learning to do ones best in the face of that variety of person, is a skill that will serve her well.
4. So, my kids are doing math that they did two years ago in Oregon. At least they get a 100% on everything! Luckily my kids are nerds and like to create more work for themselves in the form of homemade worksheets. They are at least pushing themselves. And quite honestly, that internal drive is most important in the long run, I think.
5. It is lovely to be near the temple.
6. It is fun to be near the city.
7. There are AMAZING homes for sale here.... it will be great to buy one!!
7. There are approximately a bazillion members of the church here. We have a home and a big family willing to wrap their arms around us. That alone makes me feel better.

So, Texas is hard. Oregon wasn't hard a day I lived there (except the days I had to hold up the drywall). My children were happy and thriving in school. We all had friends and life was easy. But easy doesn't teach us much does it?

Texas is hard.

The school is huge, the teachers are grouchy (seriously ornery cusses), the traffic is everywhere, the kids are rude and mean to my babies and recess is one ten minute break a day.

I have some adjusting to do. When I feel better, I'll post a real post!!

On the upside, Cyrus is the proud owner of this:



Not the actual building but the dental practice there-in. He likes it so far and thinks his staff is great. Working for himself suits Cyrus.

On the other upside, I have the cutest and sweetest kids EVER. Here's part of em. Grace won't cooperate with pictures anymore. She's a ninny who doesn't stop running!

The first day of school

My kids schools have big and fun stuff planned again this year... Carolyn will be going canoeing and learning to shoot a bow and arrow as well as restoring a wetland with the help of a local environmental group. She will also be hatching salmon eggs and releasing them into the river and studying elk in the local state parks. Also she will dissect owl pellets.

Hannah will be going to Ft Clatsop and learning about Lewis and Clark, studying coastal birds and tide pools as well as tides. She will learn about native Americans and visit some of the places where the local tribes once lived. She will help plant and care for native plants in the garden that will be transferred to the wetlands.

Katie will be learning to read and write even better and will get to go on a field trip to the river and to see the sea lions. She also gets to walk to and from school (right across the street) all by herself. The crossing guard already knows her name!!

Magic????

So, I have been reading Harry Potter again just for fun. I think Katie may be a wizard trying to be appear as a Muggle... her clothing choices certainly fit the description!

I'm on a diet

Things are not pretty here at the Javadi abode...

Cyrus is in Texas.

I am on a diet.

Neither of those things bode well for me. Cyrus is my friend and my entertainment as well as my sanity. Food is also my friend and entertainment and sanity. I love that stuff (Cyrus and food I mean).

But, Cyrus' job here was awful for him and the muffin top on the top of my jeans was awful for me so now I am off to a brave new world of managing five kiddos solo, watching John Stewart solo AND passing up peanut butter cookies and not pulling out the kitchenaid every time I am bored.

My resolve is set. I am not only going to do it all kids wise, I am going to be thin in the process... now if Pioneer Woman will stop posting things like this...



Now where is that kitchenaid.......

What we've been doing...

I never blog. Partly because of facebook, partly because we have been BUSY BUSY BUSY doing all the stuff we couldn't do when we were fixing this old house!!

We hiked out to the bar and there was this huge pile of the prettiest rocks you've ever seen!! As Sam would say, "It was wowser!" And beautiful!!! The beach was beautiful and full of treasures. Just the kind of place our kiddos LOVE.









Grace particularly loves the beach. Sand is her favorite.




She takes after Hannah...and Sam...and Katie...and Carolyn...







There was a little house built in the sand. All the kids got in it at once but Sam stuck his head in the way and we couldn't get a picture of everyone. That boy loves to have his picture taken!!!



Dad said not to get wet since we were headed to a parade right after the beach. Grace is not a good listener.



We also hiked out to the two lighthouses that are on the bar. It was beautiful!!! Plus it was a jolly good time!







One thing about Astoria (besides that it is cold and rains a lot) is that almost everywhere you go, there is a fabulous view. This is what it looked like from the trail!! FABULOUS.





Lighthouse #1=easy hike. Cyrus wears the baby carrier.





The kids climbed all over the lighthouse. And up any tree they could find. That's just what they do.




Sometimes when we hike Sam just sits on the path or sometimes he decides to hop like a frog. He always adds dimension to our activities. Grace just runs!!!!






Lighthouse #2=much harder hike. I wear the baby backpack.

So today was a day I have been dreading/anticipating for months. I took Cyrus to the airport to fly to his new job in Texas. Last night he gave each of the kids a father's blessing and we all cried. Now he is off.

But I am staying here with the kids.

See, people in our new little town don't rent unless they live in trailers. That wasn't for us, so we tried to buy a house... but there is the problem with getting a home loan--our credit is fixed but banks don't loan to people who are changing states and bosses and don't have solid income verification (pay stubs) anymore--good for the long term economy, bad for us. So by the time we can get approved for a loan, find a house, make an offer and close, it will be October or so. So the kids and I will be hanging here in Astoria a few more months. I love this place, but would rather say good bye to it than to Cyrus.

So that is that part we have been dreading. But I am so happy for Cyrus. His job here was so hard for him. Leaving that job was like a weight lifted off him. I am excited to see how it all comes out!!!

Tonight at dinner

Tonight we were all sitting around the dinner table when all of a sudden Sam started pointing at everyone..."you naughty, you naughty, you naughty, you naughty, you naughty, you naughty" then pointing to himself, "I'm the boss."

How we laughed. Maybe a little too true since we all played a rousing game of duck duck goose before bed at his behest. What a boy.