It's The Holiday Season

Whew... We now OFFICIALLY have internet service.  Hopefully unfaltering and steadfast ready for nursing school, late night craigslist extravaganzas, and of course this.....  Like many obstacles that we have conquered on this journey... it's weird to have easiness at our fingertips.

Let me backtrack a little to catch up on where we are.  I successfully survived my first quarter of nursing school.  There is much I could write about this, but since survival seems to be the theme, we will leave it at that... and pray for repeat survival for the proceeding 6 quarters.

We spent our first nights in a real bed and bedroom after school was over.  So nice to have a real mattress!  The kids stayed a couple nights with my folks while Cam and I journeyed to the wine country of Walla Walla for a short stay in a gorgeous historical hotel.  We had such a good time, I would highly recommend visiting there (just ignore the high security prison on the way into town).  Good food, wine, scenery, and company...and a couple snowmobiles to call our own.

Back at home without kids was... well quiet.  We worked around the shop, ran errands, did some unsuccessful coyote hunting, and honestly didn't do all that much. Our hopes for big snows have been crushed by El Nino, and we have been left with more rain than expected and lots of challenging road conditions.  Still have my hopes up to get more snow though.

Cal and Dottie graciously returned our kiddos to us and spent a couple days here.  We journeyed out on the quads (in the snow) to find a Christmas tree.  I really wanted a pine tree to truly get a taste of

the local flavor, and we found a beauty not far from the shop.  Cam let me cut it down with the chainsaw and I have to say it looks grand in our "living room."

My folks and Cam and Michael were next on the party schedule and we enjoyed steaks, decorating Christmas cookies, and the Polar Express with them.  Everything was going as smooth as a sunburn
on Santa's belly UNTIL..... we had no water.  Apparently the electrical board for the pump in the well didn't like being submerged in 5 feet of runoff.  Being without water is really annoying, but also extremely frustrating for people who just acquired the ease of running water and flushing toilets (and now have 4 guests as well).  I told Cam it's not necessarily the fact it broke, but the fact we had already hurdled this obstacle, and going backwards is well, not quite as productive as going forwards.  After a good chunk of money the next day though, hooked back up and flushing away!

Here's the update on our living situation now: pretty much a full kitchen (fridge, stove sink, laminated wood countertops and open shelves--loving these), bathroom remains the same with currently flowing water to tub, toilet, washer/dryer, 1 bedroom for me and Cam with our bed, dresser, and a bit of shelving.  The kids are still sleeping in the trailer which will hopefully make it's exit soon.  I didn't love this arrangement, but Bear still comes and finds me to snuggle at his usual time, so I guess all is right with the world.  They've taken to falling asleep and sleeping together in the same bed, not sure if this will come back to bite me, but I love the closeness they share, and am glad they find safety and comfort when close.  Today Cam built a railing around the loft which will soon be a kids play area/storage/guest "bedroom."  It was a big chore, but looks great and will be so nice for them to have a space of their own.

As most of you are, we are preparing for Christmas.  Santa seems like a hot topic around here this year, which is so exciting! It is different being on our own of course, but it has it's own peace as well, and for a moment we can relax and reflect on the journey these last three months have been.

A Survival State of Mind

We have awoken from the dark ages... Yes, we now have DirectTV.  We live in a shop, cement floors, no furniture (well I'll come back to that), plywood countertops, some drywall siding, but we have like 500+ channels.  I'm still not sure how I feel about it, well I guess I know, but one has to compromise when one has made vows.... 

I somewhat enjoyed the quietness of no TV.  I have no clue what is new in the movie theatre or what celebrities have been acting foolishly; it was quite freeing.  But, when winter sets in and kids get restless, I'm not going to lie, sometimes a movie is a saving grace for a bit of peace, and let's not forget NFL Sunday ticket.  Nevertheless, we are hooked up and besides the game on Sunday and all the subsequent games, have not had enough energy to finish a show.  Cam is greatly enjoying his recliner though (that's the furniture I was mentioning). 

Enjoyed the weekend with my parents.  The kids were thrilled to have them and I was happy to have someone to cook a huge cream and butter laden breakfast for now that I have a regular sized stove (French toast casserole and biscuits and gravy--- woah).  We always wonder what people think coming over; leaving our beautiful home and the normalcy/comfort of regularity.  We really aren't freezing or hungry, but I'm sure our living situation would be strange for some! 

Went for a late night (7 or so.. late now that we're parents), quad ride in the snow one night.  A little tricky navigating the ice.  Cam told me to go against natural instinct, let off the brake and give it some gas.... if that is not a metaphor for our life right now I don't know what is.  It's crazy at times, and yes I at least feel a little like I'm sliding around trying to gain some traction, but sometimes the best thing to do is just to let go, and press on, the ice has to melt at some point. 

I finished my first of 3 finals this morning.  I saw a sign the other day that said "I'm a nursing student... now I understand the reason for the nursing shortage".... HA! So True!  Sometimes I want to just be a farmer (well all the time if it paid near as well).   Stress relief on a homestead (yes with DirectTV) consists of chopping wood, then a quad ride to check the game cams and explore the area.  Not too shabby of a way to spend an afternoon with the family. 

Work continues in the shop.  Cam's working on a bedroom for us, we now have lights in the bathroom, and our kitchen sink seems to have stopped leaking.  Small Success everyday.  I have two more nights of hitting the books hard and then I'm sure will have some good stories from our time off.... A sneak peak: Christmas tree cutting in the wilderness, toddlers and quads in the wilderness, may be purchasing some snowmobiles, and possibly some husband-wife coyote hunting while the kiddies are away at Grandma's.... 

Problem Solving 101

Ok my few faithful followers.  I am back, somewhat.  Back to struggling with internet service.  I really have enjoyed hearing everyone’s feedback on our stories… I gotta say, the outhouse is a big topic of conversation surprisingly (who knew it would be such a hit)!  I’m glad we can keep in touch and give everyone a sense of what like has been like for us.  How has it been…hmmmmm…. Cam calls it problem solving 101 around here.  I feel like we’ve climbed so many metaphorical mountains that we should probably be in a lot better shape.

Let me rewind a few weeks to our first snow on November 21^st.  I had come home from my last day of clinicals to a wonderful winter wonderland, and two happy kiddos.  What a feeling it was to have our first snow, somewhat magical I’m not going to lie!  We made it through 9 degree weather, I made it through another milestone at school, and nature’s beauty rewarded us.  Even as a kid I always felt the snow just blanketed the world… muffling noise  
 
 
and bringing this calm peace and happy excitement.  That held true… for a couple more hours at least until our visitors, who were trying to drag themselves and a travel trailer to our property got a dose of Problem Solving 101.  Let’s just say it took a FEW trucks to get them up our driveway where we immediately threw them into slave labor so we could get the insulating machine back in the morning….  Through their stay their water heater broke, quads broke down, quads broke the tailgate, and departing wasn’t much easier than arriving!  Talk about fun J Great visitors though and much appreciated for their cooking for us and company. 

We did manage to move the trailer into the shop on Day 2 of Snow.  WHEW…..  Words cannot express the feat that Cam accomplished by doing this.  Tasks that consumed Cam’s day (thawing hoses, fixing hoses, patching hoses….and repeat) are now much easier or avoided altogether.  Our good friend Mr. Sands, once again came to our rescue over Thanksgiving and blessed my life with the joys of modern day convenience: TOILET….. SHOWER… AND….. WASHER/DRYER.  I continually think that if I can ever repay this man for half of the generosity he has shown us, I will be moving in the right direction.  HONESTLY>>> my life has significantly changed.  I may have become a born again housewife.  Laundry is so enjoyable I practically throw food on the kids myself!  And flushing a toilet… walking indoors to do so…. Pretty fantastic in negative 1 degree weather.  So now, thanks to the hard work of many men we have an insulated shop, equipped with a woodstove (awesomeness), a bathroom with washer/dryer, a cook stove and fridge.  Sleeping is still done in the trailer but we no longer battle the cold and have freely running water and electricity.  SO MODERN! 

I made our first voyage back to the homeland over Thanksgiving.  The kids traveled wonderful and driving conditions were great.  Being home…it was so fabulous to see everyone, catch up, share and give thanks with those we love!  It went by so fast, and I missed about a half of my list of people to see.  I did miss this land though.  It’s becoming ours… We are making a life here, and it feels good!  Exploring the area, establishing relationships with neighbors, working for every ounce of what we have on this property.  There is definitely a part of me that feels I have brought my family history full circle.  I’ll be proud to raise our kids here because those are the stories I love the most… country folk, animals, hard times, struggle, and FAMILY.  Cam and I are lucky that we share that goal.  Nothing is really ideal right now honestly, but there are only two options when faced with Problem Solving 101… roll over or start climbing..