Brandon Family News
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Time Marches On
Just a short blog tonight, as I am getting tired and still have a few more boxes to pack before I can go to bed. (Just because the stuff that goes in them happens to be ON the bed!)
We had a small setback in the moving process when we realized that the trailer we were going to put the motorcycle on was rusted beyond repair. So we found a new trailer at the exchange, and after a minor hassle over getting the title to it to get it registered we now are back in business again.
Meanwhile, we have arrangements made for the dog and cats to be in a kennel here while we are in the hotel. The turtle found a new home with some really nice people who have 2 other turtles to keep her company. The hamster is still alive for now, so he may actually end up moving with us after all.
We are all doing well, just really busy with packing and getting ready to load the bus this weekend. I'll try to post some pictures of the bus loaded up and ready to go, but probably won't get them posted until after we get to Anchorage and borrow a computer to do so.
The kids are all doing well, and growing up on us. Kasi is now in a size 8 women's shoe, which means she wears the same size I do, so I am constantly having to steal my shoes back from her now. She is still as skinny as ever, and is in 14 Slim jeans, which she has to have a belt to hold up but they are barely long enough.
Kenny is starting to grow a bit taller too, so I'm not sure if he just hasn't hit his growth spurt yet, or if he will always be a little shorter. But he has to have slim jeans too or they are too big around for him. Chip now has 2 teeth and thinks he is really hot stuff.
Well, I guess I'll get back to the grind. Here's a picture of Chip that I thought was really cute.... He really wanted a drink of his Daddy's Pepsi, but then wasn't too sure that he liked it after all!
- posted by Rosanna @ 1:34 AM 0 comments
We had a small setback in the moving process when we realized that the trailer we were going to put the motorcycle on was rusted beyond repair. So we found a new trailer at the exchange, and after a minor hassle over getting the title to it to get it registered we now are back in business again.
Meanwhile, we have arrangements made for the dog and cats to be in a kennel here while we are in the hotel. The turtle found a new home with some really nice people who have 2 other turtles to keep her company. The hamster is still alive for now, so he may actually end up moving with us after all.
We are all doing well, just really busy with packing and getting ready to load the bus this weekend. I'll try to post some pictures of the bus loaded up and ready to go, but probably won't get them posted until after we get to Anchorage and borrow a computer to do so.
The kids are all doing well, and growing up on us. Kasi is now in a size 8 women's shoe, which means she wears the same size I do, so I am constantly having to steal my shoes back from her now. She is still as skinny as ever, and is in 14 Slim jeans, which she has to have a belt to hold up but they are barely long enough.
Kenny is starting to grow a bit taller too, so I'm not sure if he just hasn't hit his growth spurt yet, or if he will always be a little shorter. But he has to have slim jeans too or they are too big around for him. Chip now has 2 teeth and thinks he is really hot stuff.
Well, I guess I'll get back to the grind. Here's a picture of Chip that I thought was really cute.... He really wanted a drink of his Daddy's Pepsi, but then wasn't too sure that he liked it after all!
- posted by Rosanna @ 1:34 AM 0 comments
Monday, July 12, 2004
3 weeks left!
Well, we are still alive. Trying to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and hot weather, but still have a lot to do between now and leaving! I taught Kasi how to run the lawnmower so she has been designated as the official mower now. We took the rest of the stuff that we didn't get sold and hauled it to the thrift store, so the bus is now empty again. The ramp is finished and the benches bolted down with seat belts installed, so I think the bus is ready to go. Now we just need to get the trailer ready to haul the motorcycle with.
Meanwhile, the check engine light came on in the van. We changed the air filter and disconnected the battery for a while, and it seems to have reset at least for now. I think we pulled up too close to a diesel and with a dirty air filter sucked in some diesel fumes and the van didn't know what to do with itself.
We went to the beach with some friends and lit off fireworks on the 8th. Had a great time, but Brian said there were almost too many fireworks. He was getting tired of lighting them all by the time we got done. Good thing he wasn't the only one lighting!
Anyway, time marches on, and I have a lot of packing still to do! Will catch up to everybody later!
Kasi with her friends Allycia Long and Carolyn Craig. What a group!!
Kenny shows Cole how it's done.
A boy and his daddy.
And a boy with his Mommy.
Sasha having fun at the beach.
Part of the beauty that the Lord has allowed us to enjoy!
Another of the Lord's gifts.
- posted by Rosanna @ 11:41 AM 0 comments
Meanwhile, the check engine light came on in the van. We changed the air filter and disconnected the battery for a while, and it seems to have reset at least for now. I think we pulled up too close to a diesel and with a dirty air filter sucked in some diesel fumes and the van didn't know what to do with itself.
We went to the beach with some friends and lit off fireworks on the 8th. Had a great time, but Brian said there were almost too many fireworks. He was getting tired of lighting them all by the time we got done. Good thing he wasn't the only one lighting!
Anyway, time marches on, and I have a lot of packing still to do! Will catch up to everybody later!
Kasi with her friends Allycia Long and Carolyn Craig. What a group!!
Kenny shows Cole how it's done.
A boy and his daddy.
And a boy with his Mommy.
Sasha having fun at the beach.
Part of the beauty that the Lord has allowed us to enjoy!
Another of the Lord's gifts.
- posted by Rosanna @ 11:41 AM 0 comments
Saturday, July 03, 2004
Countdown continues
I'm not sure I'm ever going to have everything packed and ready to go! We may very well end up shoving the rest of it into the bus and calling it good!! I just hope it will all fit!
Not too much else going on right now--just working to get the house packed and ready to start the move-out cleaning. Brian got the ramp built and has been working hard to get the seats finished so he can start on the utility trailer for the motorcycle. If we could fit the bike into the back door of the bus, it would likely end up riding there and we would sell the trailer. But alas! The bike is too wide. Besides, I think we are going to be full enough in the bus as it is! Brian keeps telling me if the piano was smaller or if we got rid of it, we wouldn't have to worry about everything fitting. I counter that by telling him that if we got rid of some guns and tools it would save just as much space as the piano. Then he comes back and tells me that if we have to mail a few boxes to ourselves, that's ok too!
Meanwhile we have our hotel reservations made on both ends, the ferry reservations made, all the preliminary paperwork done with the Coast Guard, and have already gotten a Post Office box in Valdez. We are hoping to be moving into a house shortly after arriving in Valdez. The housing officer told us that they will likely have one ready for us, barring any unforseen troubles. I also have had the kids school records sent to the school there, and have the registration forms done for them so we should be able to get them into school smoothly. I still have to gather all of our medical records and get the baby's next set of shots done before we leave here, but will have that done by the time we are ready to pack stuff out of the house. We'll be moving into the hotel here as of July 23 to give us time to get the house cleaned and yard work done for our final inspection on the 28th.
Anyway, that's about it for here. We have been enjoying beautiful sunny weather until the last couple of days, and are hoping it clears up again soon. We had a bit of a scare earlier in that the cats have been really upset about all the hubbub going on around here, and Dusty disappeared. She refused to come back into the house for almost 3 days. But then she finally got hungry enough to come in and eat, so I guess she hasn't run away and totally disowned us yet! I was beginning to wonder if we were going to have one less kitty to move with though! The hamster has developed another tumor, and is looking almost completely white, so I suspect his days are numbered. Just hope we don't have to deal with a dying hamster in the middle of the move!! I think perhaps if he is still alive we may give him to a friend to live out his remaining days instead of trying to move him.
Well, here are updated pictures of the kids to leave you with for now.... I'll try to post again soon..
Kenny is his normal state... notice the remote controls for the TV surrounding him..... I don't think he even realized I took his picture!
Our newest Couch Potato in training!!
Hmmm... Kasi seems to bear some resemblance to her saggy baggy grandpa!! I had to shrink her pictures down though because she's so doggone tall!!
Look Mom! No Butt!!
- posted by Rosanna @ 12:49 AM 0 comments
Not too much else going on right now--just working to get the house packed and ready to start the move-out cleaning. Brian got the ramp built and has been working hard to get the seats finished so he can start on the utility trailer for the motorcycle. If we could fit the bike into the back door of the bus, it would likely end up riding there and we would sell the trailer. But alas! The bike is too wide. Besides, I think we are going to be full enough in the bus as it is! Brian keeps telling me if the piano was smaller or if we got rid of it, we wouldn't have to worry about everything fitting. I counter that by telling him that if we got rid of some guns and tools it would save just as much space as the piano. Then he comes back and tells me that if we have to mail a few boxes to ourselves, that's ok too!
Meanwhile we have our hotel reservations made on both ends, the ferry reservations made, all the preliminary paperwork done with the Coast Guard, and have already gotten a Post Office box in Valdez. We are hoping to be moving into a house shortly after arriving in Valdez. The housing officer told us that they will likely have one ready for us, barring any unforseen troubles. I also have had the kids school records sent to the school there, and have the registration forms done for them so we should be able to get them into school smoothly. I still have to gather all of our medical records and get the baby's next set of shots done before we leave here, but will have that done by the time we are ready to pack stuff out of the house. We'll be moving into the hotel here as of July 23 to give us time to get the house cleaned and yard work done for our final inspection on the 28th.
Anyway, that's about it for here. We have been enjoying beautiful sunny weather until the last couple of days, and are hoping it clears up again soon. We had a bit of a scare earlier in that the cats have been really upset about all the hubbub going on around here, and Dusty disappeared. She refused to come back into the house for almost 3 days. But then she finally got hungry enough to come in and eat, so I guess she hasn't run away and totally disowned us yet! I was beginning to wonder if we were going to have one less kitty to move with though! The hamster has developed another tumor, and is looking almost completely white, so I suspect his days are numbered. Just hope we don't have to deal with a dying hamster in the middle of the move!! I think perhaps if he is still alive we may give him to a friend to live out his remaining days instead of trying to move him.
Well, here are updated pictures of the kids to leave you with for now.... I'll try to post again soon..
Kenny is his normal state... notice the remote controls for the TV surrounding him..... I don't think he even realized I took his picture!
Our newest Couch Potato in training!!
Hmmm... Kasi seems to bear some resemblance to her saggy baggy grandpa!! I had to shrink her pictures down though because she's so doggone tall!!
Look Mom! No Butt!!
- posted by Rosanna @ 12:49 AM 0 comments
