Chamblees on the Move

Remember that time about a year and a half ago when I said I was going to return to blogging? Remember how that lasted through about two postings? This attempt may end similarly, but one can always hope...

 

Big changes are on the horizon in the Chamblee household. In fact, I can't quite believe that we're embarking on this journey since I am generally a person who doesn't welcome change of any kind, especially when it's huge!

 

This year will mark a decade that Justin has spent working for The Coker Group, a healthcare consulting firm in Atlanta, Georgia.  On some level, we've known for ten years that his job could eventually require a move to the peach state, but it seemed a far-off possibility. So we've built a life here in Dallas, acquiring along the way the best friends we could have hoped for, and watching our babies grow like weeds. This was the first family picture we took after moving into our current home seven years ago.  Jake & Mal weren't even crawling yet!

In light of recent changes in Justin's role at work, we made the decision last month that we would be picking up our lives and moving to Atlanta this spring. Our house here will be listed within the next couple of weeks, and then we will be traveling east to search for a home there. We hope we'll be able to push closings out until May to allow the kids to finish up as much as possible of their activities & schooling here.

 

I have now learned the true meaning of the word bittersweet.

 

We are thankful for Justin's continued work with Coker, and we're thrilled to be moving within a few miles of his family. There are so many things about our move that excite me, and we have the spark of adventure in our eyes as we make plans. At the same time, leaving our home here, and particularly our family & friends in Texas, is beyond difficult. I will always, always, always be a Texas girl, and there's simply so much that I'll miss.

 

Even so, we greet this new chapter of our lives with joy & hope of what God has in store for us in Georgia! We sought His counsel first & foremost as we made this decision. All along, everything seemed to point toward this being the direction we should take. We're confident that He will bless us and use us in Atlanta, just as He has in Dallas.

The State Fair of Texas

Every year, the time comes around for the State Fair, and I think, "We should take the kids!  It's what people do who live in Dallas!" But then I remember that there's a lot they can't do, and it costs a small fortune, and circular motion makes me nauseous.  My thoughts morph into, "They won't know they're missing it.  Maybe next year."

But this year, the Powell family invited us to go with them, so I finally decided "why not?!"  As a lifelong Texan, I'm not sure why my kids' first State Fair experience was also my first time, but whatever.  We went on a Wednesday afternoon & evening, which made for manageable crowds and a short enough time period to let my babies have fun without completely wearing them out.

They all loved posing with Big Tex!

I was thankful for the air conditioning in the auto building because October 1st was HOT!  Jake at the wheel of any vehicle may be cause for concern.

Ever seen ostrich races? I now have! It was pretty funny to see jockeys actually riding them.

Cari tried valiantly to line up sweet Rose's face in that top left spot, but we didn't end up with that photo somehow.

All of the kids thoroughly enjoyed being farmers as they gathered pretend eggs & vegetables, milked a cow & delivered their goods.

Watching this longhorn use his horns to scratch his belly was pretty impressive.  He then proceeded to empty his bowels, which earned him a chorus of giggles from the kids.

Dinner was deep fried and delicious! My first Fletcher's corny dog lived up to its reputation. The kids chowed down and then had their own little dance party as a band began to play on a stage near us.

I'm not sure "coupon" is an appropriate term for the tickets required to buy everything from rides to food.  When I hear the word "coupon," I think discount.  I was floored by the price of the rides, games and concessions.  This is NOT the Red River Valley Fair of my teenage years!

We had fun people watching and perusing the Midway, then headed to the ferris wheel.

Mal and Emmie are such sweet friends!

Nice view of downtown!

Me and my silly baby boy

JTC squared

Andy & Logan

We ended the evening with a funnel cake and a Coke.  Nothing like sugar and caffeine at bed time.  We know how to live it up!

Thanks, Powell family, for inviting us! We had a great time with you! 

School is in Session

School is in full swing at the Chamblee house!  On August 25th, Jake and Mallory began their first year of full-time homeschool.  We have less than two weeks under our belts, but so far, so good!

I have always held that I was NOT cut out to be a teacher, but the prospect of teaching takes on a whole new light when it's your own kids who will be your students.  It also helps that there are not 20+ of them!  After much prayer and discussion, Justin and I decided that this route was best for our family right now.  As scared as I am that I'll screw it up, I'm also very excited about this adventure.  We have no idea whether we'll continue to homeschool throughout the kids' educational experience, but we're here for now.  We'll take it one day at a time.

My beautiful Mallory is usually excited about school time, though she definitely has a stubborn streak when it comes to skills in which she's not confident.  Give her a creative outlet, however, and she's on cloud nine!

Jake is my methodical man.  He absolutely inherited the Scobey mind for all things logical from Justin's mom's side of the family.  Worksheets are welcomed, as is reading, although he's always thinking through how quickly we can be done with school in a day.

I love that they have a buddy to share in this experience and encourage along.

Goobers.

I've been asked often what on earth I'm going to do with Beau while the big kids and I are having school time.  Little Man usually joins us for things like story time, devotionals and any kind of game.  He's also a big fan of math manipulatives! When we're doing something that doesn't interest him, he's quite content to play on his own in a nearby room.  It's always fun to play with your big brother's toys without interference or limitation!

Beau started school today and is already quite taken with his new teacher, Mrs. Alison.  Bonus: When your teacher shares a name with your mom and one of your babysitters, it's awfully easy to remember!

He's a ham, but he sure is cute! 

Me and my buddy before we dropped him off this morning! And for the record, that bow in the background belongs to Mallory.  :)

Walking in so confidantly!

It hadn't really occurred to me before today that the big kids would miss their little buddy while he was at preschool. Last year, they were either all at school or all at home.  Mal kept asking throughout the day what I thought Beau was doing right then.  Sweet sister.

Everyone is enjoying school so far, and when the task before me seems too large, I will remind myself that this is fleeting.  The days that drag sometimes will in fact all fly by too quickly.  I'm humbled to take on the task of educating our children and trust that God will make something beautiful from the perfect mess that I offer up to Him.

Family Fourth of July

In honor of Independence Day this year, we headed to my hometown of Paris, Texas for their fireworks display on the 3rd.  After a great meal with everyone at my parents' house, we headed to the football stadium to watch the show.  Beau didn't seem to mind at all that it was past his bedtime, & had a great time running all over the place.  Here he is with Uncle Kent during one of the few times he sat down.

The fireworks were beautiful, & the weather was perfect!  Mal was totally in awe.  It wasn't until the show was almost over that she turned to Justin & asked, "What's that sound?"  I guess she hadn't noticed the booming of each firework until then because she'd been caught up in watching them!

This was the first year that any of the kids have gotten to stay up for fireworks, & they all did so well!  No one was scared & since we had plenty of family around to entertain them, no one got cranky.  Success!

Mom & me in our matching flag shirts

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One of my parents' cats had new kittens, so we brought one inside for a little snuggling.  This picture may be funny to those who know me well & know that, as an adult, I am NOT a cat person!  We always had outdoor cats when I was a kid since we lived in the country, & I've decided that's the only way I like them.  No cat hair in the house, no litter boxes, no animals on my furniture - much nicer!  But who can resist one this tiny & sweet?

We're going to have to work on Beau's ability to be gentle when petting!

Jake & Nana lined up & waiting for the parade to start downtown

 

The kids loved the parade, & there was plenty of candy to be collected from the street.  They came home with quite the haul!

Jake took his candy gathering very seriously.

Enjoying the spoils

We headed back home after lunch & spent the rest of the holiday just hanging out together.  J put together the kiddie car wash, & fun was had by all!

Happy 4th!