Other Home

It gets to be really hard being away from my family all week. Sunday is always hard to drive away and this Monday was a really hard day for some reason. I got a call from St Luke's stating that for the time being, they have put a hold on all of the jobs. So that means, I really don't have a chance to transfer up for a while. Probably until COVID slows down, and there isn't really a time table for that either. My manager talked to me and told me she is trying and putting feelers out for me in Boise, and maybe we can move my hours around so I can work 3 days and go home a day sooner. The more time here the better. 

While it isn't ideal right now with work, I am thankful I have a job, which is not something everyone can say. I thankful for the time I have with my parents. We eat dinner together every night and talk. I will miss living so close to them,  and these times together I really do love. 

 

 They are painting the downstairs and changing the decorations. Mom and I started the wall on the stairs. I think it's turning out nice. 

 I love when the kids text me, although ones like this are hard to get. I think it's hardest from Jackson because in his mind, you just get a job. He doesn't get why I don't have a job here and why I'm not just with them. When I leave him and Emery hold on for a long time hugging me. I do know that this move was the right one, and I do know that there is a plan that I may not understand. I will be here soon (well maybe not super soon) and it will all be worth it. Until then, I'll have to tell Jacks to send these text not when I'm eating lunch with coworkers and I have to hold back tears. 

At Home

Thing in Meridian are going well. The kids are in a routine with school and doing well with that. The at home school is going to make summer seem really long. Jackson's teacher asked for pictures of the kids and made a little video for them. The worst part of this has to be the kids not getting to see their friends and interact with other kids. They do miss it.  

 Emery bakes a lot now. She loved to make cupcakes, cookies and cake. The other day she made a cake and forgot to sprat the pan. Thankfully I caught it before she baked it. When it was done she put the cake on the counter instead of a plate. The cake was good though. Jayson's family cake over and they all ate it up. 

 It's the time of year for yard work. The yard here has a lot of work, but it's good just being outside. Beckham was trimming the tree because he kept running into the branches as he mowed. 

 This is how Camden picks weeds. 

 Emery had a cousin over for a sleepover. She had a lot of fun having someone over. 

 We put up more pops. I like how the square shelf turned out, it's probably my favorite set up. 

 For drama Cam had to do makeup. He tried making bruises. They turned out pretty well. 

The boys sold some of their more expensive pops and both made a good amount. They thought it was worth the money to buy a game day. They gave us money and we gave them 24 hours of games. Beckham took full advantage of that and stayed up the whole time. Camden made it to 6 or 7 and crashed. I told them they can not be crabby the next day, which neither really were. 

By 6 on Sunday, Beckham was really tired and had a hard time staying awake. 

By 8 he was out for the night and slept till 9:30 the next day. He isn't sure he would ever do that again. It was fun, but not worth it. 

More House

Going home... to the new home is  the best part of the week. We still have a few things to put away, but it's also night to just be lazy as a family and play games, watch movies and talk. This shows that all of the kids are Barnes. It could be 90 degrees outside and the kids will put a blanket on. I usually am the only one who doesn't have one on. 

We put a picture wall up in Emery's room. Her last room had something like this. She had fun looking through all of her pictures and picking some out. 

We also put up a few pops. Emery doesn't have a ton she loves up, but she picked a few. She had to have KFC. Her favorite food is fired chicken. 

Jackson had too many he wanted up. We put a few in his closet as well. He plays with his pops a lot, so this is the best it will ever look. 

Beckham put up the most shelves. 

Camden's put up the least on a shelf. He could fit more, but didn't want to. 

We have to have some up as well. The two sides are Disney pops along with Disneyland pictures. 

 Then some Freddy pops. 

We still have a lot of pops we could put up but I don't think we'll add that many shelves in this house. 

COVID Happening

When I came back to work last Tuesday I found out that now we have to wear masks all day. It's for safety reasons, which is good. But we don't have really any patients in the office right now, so it's just a way to have hot breath and tender ears all day right now. Rather be safe than sorry though. 

With all hair salons closed the boys had to allow Brad to cut their hair again. Beckham has a mop on his head, so we had fun with him. He wont see anyone for a while, so he did a mow-hawk. 

This is how he smiles when I ask him to.

Camden's wasn't as long, so Brad just did lightning bolts in his hair. 

One side we shaved and the other we used Nair. 

The kids still have homework to do. It's going pretty well. The older three sometimes do chats as well. Looks like a comfy way to do school. 

Luna is worn out from the boys "PE" class. They have to take the dogs for walks. One day they took them for 1 small walk and one big walk. 

New Adventure

About 18 months ago we were still trying to close on our last house. It just didn't seem to work. We'd get close and something else would just go wrong. One day Brad half joked that maybe we need to move to Boise. I was not prepared for that, and really did not want to heard it. I shut it down and we moved forward with building. Maybe a month or so later we still were in the same spot. We looked at Boise once more, me with a slightly better attitude, and decided that it was what was best for us. It's more opportunity for Brad with his job and the best way for him to grow. The 'lets do it came' and the house closed. 

That was about a year ago, and this weekend we moved. Boise has been something we've just talked about for a while, and now it's here. It still doesn't seem real, but man it is. 

It has been a roller coaster of emotions the past couple of weeks as we prepare everything. I have cried a few times, but held together okay. When we got the truck and Grandpa back it into the driveway, I lost it. It was too real. We are leaving the town I have called home for almost 34 years. I love this area, and while I know moving is what is best and I truly am excited for it, it is bitter sweet for me. Especially if you take into consideration for the past almost 2 years I have been a flight of stairs away from my parents and talking with them. 

The kids have been so excited and could not wait to help move.

We moved a few things out of the house then everyone (but me) went to the storage unit. I had a phone job interview. 

There is it, our whole life, in a 26 foot moving van and 3 other cars. We have a lot of stuff.

We took off the next morning for our new place. The kids all woke up early and were ready to go. Emery and Jacks were so excited to ride in the truck. The dogs were given calming medication and didn't do too bad. They have been running around all weekends smelling everything. 

Thanks to family, we were able to unload pretty quick. Uncle Paul even brought pizza for lunch. Now it was mess time, and we all know I can not do mess. 

The kids were all ready for their own rooms. They were a mess for a while, but enjoyed putting things away. 

Jackson asked all day where all of his toys were. He somehow remembered everything and knew some were missing. About 6 that night I found the last box.

Camden is taking over the loft. His room was the last to be put together, so he just hung out on the beanbag all day. 

Front room end of night one. We got a lot done. 

Emery's room. Its pretty well done. This will be the cleanest it will ever be again. 

We added a mirror. Now she can do make-up tutorials. She loved the set up. I want to changes the chairs a little by adding padding and fabric, once those stores open back up. 

Jackson's room is a big mix. TMNT, horror and Star Wars. He loved his own space and has been sleeping just fine alone. We were worried he would hate it. 

Downstairs, or Beck's bathroom. He's happy to have his own. 

Brad had a fun time getting the washer set up, but finally its all together. 

The front room looks much better than the first day. It's a nice sitting area for now. We may make a few changes to it later, and add pictures. 

Our table that was very very heavy. It fits perfectly in its spot. 

Beck's room. I think he was the most ready and excited for his own space. He is the only room on the main floor, but he likes it that way. 

Kids bathroom. 

The start of Cam's room. He is excited for us to finish the divider wall. 

One of the few boxed that have yet to be put away. 

Master closet. It's huge and we don't have enough clothes to fit in it, but I like it so far. 

The bathroom space is huge too. Brad love that he has a big tub again. I always thought raised sinks were stupid, but I have to say I love it. 

Our room. The boxes are Brad's or pictures to hang up. 

Front room. The furniture was very heavy to move. Because of COVID the delivery men could not come in the house. I am not strong at all, and it took a long time to get them in. 

The mess of boxes in the garage. There are so many and we don't have recycling for a while. 

But the garage isn't too bad. That dresser is broken and waiting for us to be able to toss it. That may take a while. 

Cam has been itching to climb on the planter shelf and he finally got to. He loved it... too much. 

Boys relaxing while they do school, which is now done for the year. 

Luna has loved looking out the window and sitting at the window. The dogs love the yard and running around.

One night we got a knock and when we went to the door we found this. Our neighbors welcoming us to the neighborhood. 

I am back in Twin Falls. I left Monday night, which was hard to do. I will be here until I can transfer jobs to Boise. I want to be in Boise but also want to be here. It's an interesting state of mind. 

So far we love the place we are living. It would be nice if more places were open, but that will come with time. Even though we are all unpacked, it still doesn't seem real, and probably won't until I have a job there.