Gloria in Excelsis Deo: {SQT} Settling In

1. God's Gifts

The amount of screen time we consume waxes and wanes, and I had been becoming disappointed with its frequency in the last couple of months. There were so many times I needed to work on preparing to move and it was easiest to turn on the TV to keep little children quiet . . . then older children wander over to it . . . .

So, I had planned that after the Big Move, I would work on cutting way back on television so it is less than a daily event. Would I have had the strength to do this? We can all doubt that, but God gave me the gift of our losing our TV remote about one day after moving in.

Therefore, I've been unpacking and doing a tremendous amount of work, all while unable to dump my children in front of the screen to be quiet, nicely behaved zombies. Instead, they have been loud, creative, messy, and active--which I have to remind myself are better adjectives (than passive, silent, and motionless) for healthy children anyway.

Toddler hiding in empty cabinets

6-year-old playing with Flexees

8-year-old reading in the library window seat

Backpacking

Toddler playing with magnets

The children found an old framed copy of Monopoly--Sacramento version and proceeded to hand create all the proper cards for it (with all the property values, etc.) and have been playing Monopoly--Sacramento all week. Yes, fights ensue, but a lot of fun is had along the way, too.

The children created a newspaper this week with regular assigned columns and journalists working the beat. The children are working feverishly writing columns, which I find all over the house (yes, mess . . . yes, so wonderful), including my favorite which was an advice piece on why praying the rosary as a family will bring us to salvation, as written by one of my favorite 8-year-old girls.

Another writing project stems from the Science Lab the kids created in one of the home's closets. One child wrote out a dozen experiments that little siblings could do. This led to so much more, including doing of many of the experiments on their own ("Mama, can we borrow your such-and-such?") and now they are planning a Scientific Convention and are all writing speeches for it. I, for one, hope I can obtain tickets to attend this illustrious event.

Writing feverishly

May God give me the strength to continue minimizing TV to purposeful use as a family instead of AS AN IMMORAL BABYSITTER FOR THE SOULS GOD GAVE ME CHARGE OF.

2. Learning How to Cook

Learning how to cook on a glass range (instead of gas) in the new home . . .

3. Deer

I was worried that our new home, 350 feet away from the old home, would be out of the well-trodden path of the deer we enjoy watching. It turns out that our cul-de-sac is even more a haven for deer, to the point that they are bold, fearless, walk around in herds in broad daylight, eat everything, and a less smitten person might call it a deer infestation.

Well, even I confess to buying deer repellent products for the first time.

Spotted fawn in our front lawn

4. Houseplants

John has been eagerly planning a succulent garden but I made him wait until we moved. So, five whole days later, I took him to the nursery where he had the most delightful conversation with the plant expert in charge of that department. (She is unaccustomed to young people who love plants and who converse with adults easily and while making eye contact.) He assembled a collection, which is now the centerpiece to our kitchen table in the sun room.

5. Pool Fun

6. Housework

Unpacking continued feverishly all week. These representative photos show the results from one day's unpacking . . .

At the old house, we took six car loads of detritis left behind, had the house painted inside, had the house pressure washed and windows washed outside, and Chris made various repairs around the home. Upcoming, a housecleaning team and I will clean the home, the carpets will be cleaned, and the house will be staged with furniture before it is ready for listing!