Saturdays are for Unpacking.....

I did it. I unpacked the living room boxes. I didn't want to do it as I knew there was no where to put things....and I wasn't ready to face that fact.  However, I was tired of boxes!

We also finished unpacking our room. We need to do something about the funky closet. The only shelf is so high MICHAEL can't reach it. There are two bars in there, but no place for hanging long things....we may eventually have to just rip it out and build something new. Cory did that in their downstairs room.

Today would have been Mom G's 89th birthday. Stacia and I both woke up thinking about last year's party with her. Today is her first birthday in heaven. We took some time to share thoughts and we planned Stacia's birthday's party which is just 4 days after Mom G's was.

Maria went to the store. She made Puerto Rican rice and showed me how. I slow cooked a roast and we had salad and fruit......and JaRissa stopped by on their way through the valley back to Anchorage. They'd been up at Valley Christian for a youth leader/volunteer with their church. Jamin stopped by and Bre popped in for a bit too.

Josiah and Izaak were braving the rain in the hopes of finding Silvers. 

I love going out on the deck and watching Lazy Mountain. It's going to be fun to capture it in different seasons. Here are a few shots....

#WYFF - You Wouldn't Believe it

Michael has been scouring Craig's List for a wood stove and riding lawn mower. He has visited a few people and decided to pass. This morning he and I went to preview an estate auction happening tomorrow. We will pass. 

We decided to go to the local SEARS and just buy a riding lawn mower....but they were out of stock and not expecting more until the 20th. We called a salesman at the store in Anchorage. He assured us he had all we wanted in stock. Michael hooked up the trailer, the boys loaded it with boxes and paper and garbage, and off they went. They stopped at recycling, the landfill, and then headed to Anchorage to pick up a riding lawn mower, snow blade and grass catcher. 

Turns out they did NOT have it in stock and had to order it.  The only thing they did have was the snow blade. He went ahead and bought that and purchased the rest. We should have something soon. 

Back at home...things went horribly awry when I tried to unpack the mirror that goes behind the dresser in this photo. I couldn't lift it. I decide to get on the bed and pull it out of the box....but it landed on top of me...and it was HEAVY.  I decided I was in no danger and was comfortable, so I waited for someone to find me...calling wasn't generating assistance anyway. Michael found the situation merited a photo or two. 

Maria had gone in to the base earlier in the day. She remembered our talk about Krispy Kreme during dinner on Tuesday. She came home with two dozen. What a treat! And after the morning we'd had, we enjoyed a bit of a break in the  midst of the towers of paper.

Maria has been a God-send. I'm glad she came to visit while we were moving. We are making plans to get out and show her a few things too. 

#WYFF? Mine are trapped under a mirror, Maria's are sweeping up after two four-legged family members, Michael and the boys were at the landfill......

Just Another Day of Unpacking

Thursday.....It's time to re-establish old habits for health. I'm heavier than I've ever been - and I've carried nine babies to term. My doc was happy that my blood pressure was 122/70 in the midst of a move - I was shocked, to tell the truth!  I've set some health goals for the next six months before I see her again.

Yuuki and I enjoy morning walks. The days of our walks are numbered. Winter will arrive before we are ready for it. It was raining this morning - hard - but we laced up and went out anyway. I took special note of the fireweed. When it blooms to the top and begins to seed our countdown to winter begins.

Seem to be at the top 

I'm going with these plants....not starting the 6 week count yet

 We live near this trail and want to challenge ourselves.....it didn't take long until I felt uneasy about hiking the trail in the rain, alone, without bear spray....we headed back to paved roads - thinking bears don't hike paved roads??? ::snort:: 

It's always easier going down than up! "That'll preach!" 

Back at home another day of unpacking loomed....we are losing steam....I keep hoping, as we  unpack one box after another, that suddenly we'll look up and realize we're done.

The majority of boxes are in the house. There were quite a few boxes which  the boys didn't know how to classify. Maria is sleeping in what will be our office/school room so those are all still in the garage with pro-gear, most of what came in the trailer and RV is still in the garage.....I've started a list of odd things that haven't shown up.....two bar stools, mixing bowls, baking pans....

Today, the kids, Maria and I focused on all the dish packs labeled "Kitchen" and "Dining Room Glassware." We moved the hutch and began filling it. I have lots of cupboards in the kitchen (many drawers and cupboards still empty) and so we have a plethora  of options for storage.

We discovered I did not THROW  OUT my wok! I promptly made stir fry. As you can see we also found the tupperware box today. LOL

While Maria and I kept working in the kitchen/dining room, Michael moved furniture, set up our bedroom and began unpacking boxes in there, and the kids turned Stacia's bed around so she can  utilize the space under the loft.

Maria made a salad and fruit salad for dinner. Cory showed up to work his magic on a variety of salmon - reds and pinks. We steamed some broccoli and had dinner with BreZaak and CoRielle.

Nolan got his permanent license in the mail. 

Michael, Nolan, Izaak, Arielle, Cory, Maria, Stacia, Bre and Gideon 

Proof We Are Retired!

Here it is. Proof we have retired and are putting down roots. Michael ALWAYS saves boxes. This time he told me to throw out the boxes...."We have no plans to move again." 

There are some things which should not be packed together.....glass music boxes and metals springs of some sort. They DID mark the box "fragile." None of us can figure out what the metal parts go to or are from. 

"Why would you put these in the same box?"

 Stacia and Maria put together Stacia's bed

The boys continued to haul boxes in all day. Five days in, we are now at the place we would have been after the movers left. The walls are painted, furniture and boxes are in the right rooms and we're thinking about assembling beds. LOL

First REAL Meal

Today, BreZaak are working on setting up the RV for their use. CoRielle are setting up their room. The five of us are going to empty this garage - or at least part of it. 

These two actually loaded in most the furniture and boxes. My mind is fuzzy, not sure what Michael was doing, but he was busy. I know there have been some fix-it jobs (not warrantied type jobs).

I was determined to have the table up today! 

It's never too early for Bella to learn that if you make a face at Gemma when she has a camera, it may well go world wide. 

Maria arrived at 1 p.m. She drove all the way from TX.  She jumped right in to help. It's been a God-send to have an extra pair of hands. We were Maria's "Chaplains" at Beale AFB.

Jamin, JaRissa and Josiah came over for dinner. It is rare for all of them to have the same night off.  Here we had our first guests and our first real meal (White Chicken Enchiladas) on our TABLE, which fits great in the dining room. The table still reminds me of the D family and Hospitality House. I'm so happy it made it to Alaska.  It easily sits 10....and when all the kids are home for a meal there will be 14 - soon to be 15.....We are happy to have the small table back from Josiah. We'll pull it out as needed and have seating for all around the table.

Many of you know when we moved things into storage we were planning on going to Japan for 10 - 15 years. We thought ahead and kept what an empty nester couple may need.....and got rid of all my GHERKINSIZE  pans and bakeware.  We never imagined two years later, we'd settle in Alaska and most of the Gherkins would be here for meals on a fairly regular basis. LOL

The thought that this is Jamin's last month before he leaves for the Marines is always in the back of my mind. We're trying to settle in AND make the most of our time with him.

Michael and Jamin talk all things military

MONDAY

We divided forces today. All the guys, except Cory, headed to Whittier. Fishing is always fun, this trip was also a chance for everyone to "welax". Josiah had some very tough situations to deal with at work this week, and all wanted to spend a bit of time circling the wagons with him. And, yes, any day of fishing beats unpacking. 🐽

I met my new doc at 0900. I think I"m going to like here and the family practice. She is prior military and "understood" things, I have had to explain over and over at other places. 

Stacia and I unpacked the rest of the kitchen. This moment went wrong....I threw paper off the porch and the tape wrapped around me. 

We spent a bit of time cleaning the RV. Just when we thought we were done, we found more things stored under the seats. Arielle was amazed at how much we had in the RV.

CoRielle set up their room/kitchen downstairs. Bre and Babies cleaned the trailer they were living in.

Izaak caught his first Alaskan salmon 

This smile - signing for a home and fishing. Fishing is easier!
I don't care if he does it often. 

The water was roiling with Humpies - pinks. Up here folks say these are cat or dog food. However, we've not had a lot of salmon and everyone is eating them. These are caught in salt water and that seems to make a bit of a difference, we've been told. We do prefer the reds. 

Back at home, Stacia and I HAD to go buy groceries! Our fuel light came on as we attempted to drive to the next down over. We managed to slide into the local station on fumes, dropped the groceries in the entry way and went to collect Bre and Babies. We've not seen them the last few days, as Bre has tried to keep them settled and safe while the moving chaos swirled over here. It took two trips in the Jeep to get them moved....and then the M's arrived to pick up their trailer.

The guys got home  late.

Helpful Gingerbread Man

I began the day helping the BOYS (though I'm traveling with the GIRLS this year) with the storage unit. 

I turned up everywhere! 

Ah, a moment to relax! 

Hello, ladies, need a hand? 

Yes, two Instant Pots - and she says she'll use them both

Shew! A long, hard day. I'm sure they couldn't have unloaded this unit, or unpacked the boxes without my help. I'm glad to be of assistance.