Getting to our new home

**I had a productive nap time today and got caught up to Sunday evening ~ scroll down for two more new posts below!**

We left Charlotte much earlier than we had intended. That was due to an email that Ian got Saturday afternoon when he went to my mom's office to check on what was going on at his work. There was an "all hands meeting" for the project he's been working on at 1:30 on A SUNDAY AFTERNOON! As much as he wanted to pretend he didn't get the email we knew that he had to be there ~ after all, he was hired specifically for this project. So we rolled out of my mom's just before 11. The kids fell asleep pretty quickly and Ian and I were both lost in our thoughts for a while. Basically both of us were extremely bummed to have been "visitors" at the church we love so much and were also bummed at how much Ian is going to be working until Saturday when he leaves for Texas for five days to present his project at SC '08.

When I dropped him off at his office the kids both woke up with the shutting of car doors and began to cry. I too had a hard time keeping tears from flowing as I thought about getting our stuff out of the car and then taking both kids to the grocery by myself so that we'd at least have some milk, bread, and a few other basics in the house. My spirits were at least lightened when Kylie recognized our neighborhood and started looking for our house (which she knew was going to be on Caleb's side of the car). As we started up our hill, I noticed that there were cars in the driveway, and I caught Shannon and Glenda in the act...
Not only had they brought the sign, but they had gone to the grocery and picked up the basic things that I thought of and more! Wow, how blessed are we to have such wonderful people in our new location! Then Shannon sent Battle and their boys over to rake leaves and cut the grass. That meant that I had three sets of manly arms to bring in all of our luggage while I watched Caleb explore his new home. After a little while Battle sent Noah in to tell us to come outside because he had made a big leaf pile for the kids to jump in. At first Kylie and Caleb weren't too sure, but Noah and Graham showed them how to royally enjoy themselves out on a fall day!

Graham, Kylie, Caleb, and Noah. I must say here that outside of family, Noah and Graham are two of Kylie's favorite people! She sang her little "Noah and Graham" song all the time in China! She was so happy to see them, and Caleb even immediately gave a wave when he saw them!

Kicking leaves ~ oh, she decided to wear the hat on her own. LaoLao bought it for Caleb, but she saw it and fell in love...

Caleb getting into jumping!
Never too early to start teaching them how to do yard work! Thanks Battle for being so patient when I know you just wanted to get finished.
Contemplating life over a pile of leaves ~ she's still asking for "Mih and Grams leafs!"
Because I can't get enough of this smile!
Noah giving Caleb a few tackling pointers.
Graham taught Kylie how to roll down the hill.

It was a glorious afternoon and did my heart wonders to see how much we are loved here already! I was tired but happy when I piled the kids back into the car to go pick Ian up and grab dinner on the way home. Cindy, you'll be glad to know that Caleb and Kylie both LOVED Taco Bell...