This summer we have traveled around like crazy people. Since coming to Central City in late April, we have driven to and from Louisville 5 times, usually to stay for the weekend. It's like we never left! We drove to Florida in June, and then really started trippin' in July. Yes, trippin.
On July 1st, we took a trip to Columbus where we spent 3 days cleaning and painting our new condo. With a lot of help from some wonderful family members, we were able to paint the kitchen, dining and living areas, basement, upstairs bathroom, all three bedrooms, STAIRCASE and TRIM (those were big, big jobs), leaving only the downstairs bathroom to complete. It was a lot of work, but when we were done, it felt so good! Sometimes I think our cushy lives cheat us of satisfaction and character building by not offering enough hard work...but that's neither here nor there. Our new place looks so much better and we can't wait to live there. Pictures to come.
A few days later, we drove to Louisville from whence I departed for Oklahoma with my sister Susanna who was moving there. We rented a van, loaded all her things and started out on the 12-hour drive. We left Thursday morning and I returned Saturday night, so I spent Friday seeing my mother, grandparents, aunt and uncle. We celebrated my birthday in Enid, then I took a trip (trip within a trip, Inception style) to my grandparent's farm in Omega.
Pulling into their driveway and looking out into the pasture where we always played as kids brought back a flood of memories. That's the special thing about a grandparent's house - they change so little, the sights and smells can snap you right back to childhood as if you'd never left. At any rate, I had a hard time saying goodbye that night, but needed to get home to my own little family in Kentucky.
Another 12-hour drive and I was back to Louisville Saturday night. SO good to see my guys! The three of us drove home to Central City Sunday evening, where we started the unpack, do laundry, re-pack routine. Thursday morning we set off for Atlanta with Andrew's entire family. We had planned this trip months prior in order to attend the temple there (where Andrew's family was sealed), see some sights, shop and spend time together. It was a lot of fun!
The women and children ended up at the mall a couple times while the men went to eat HUGE meals at the Vortex (as seen on Man vs. Food) and a really good Brazilian Churascaria ($20 for an all-you-can-eat lunch of meat, meat, and more meat). Being on my own with crazy Asher made me resort to gimmicks like 75-cent mechanical toy rides and renting a stroller shaped like a car.
Asher and Aubrey riding the ice cream truck
What a little stinker
Fun at the pool
Spl-Asher
We were home Sunday night, and while performing the unpack, laundry, re-pack routine, had a few days to simmer in a bubbling pot of anxiety before our big move to Columbus last weekend. Yes, we (and by we, I really mean me; Andrew acted like a total pro) were nervous about how everything would work out, but in the end, the weekend went very smoothly. This, of course, was thanks to the help of others and the grace of God. We had so many wonderful men turn out on very hot days to help us load and unload, and my in-laws came and worked like dogs to help unpack and set up. In the end, it was unbelievable how much progress we made on the place! Here are a few before and after pics from our main floor:
Before:
After:
The tiny kitchen before:
And after:
We'll post more when we have time. Right now, I need to go start packing for our next excursion: the 3rd Annual Steele Family Campout. Tomorrow we'll be meeting Andrew's extended family up in the Ft. Knox area for a weekend of rugged outdoor fun. Just kidding, this year there's a pool and an indoor sleeping option, so it won't be as hardcore. At any rate, we're really looking forward to seeing everyone!
I'll level with you, though. As much fun as this summer has been, we're getting tired of trippin. Being settled will feel like heaven! We'll be living and working in Kentucky until Andrew starts school in September, and when we finally get to Columbus for good, by golly, we're not going anywhere.
:)
