We have arrived....

We are officially Coloradans!! Let's just say that the last week is something that I never want to experience again in this lifetime. Not only was it physically exhausting, but so overwhemlingly draining emotionally. I can handle the physical stuff, that passes, but the emotional pain just lingers on and on and on....Even though I feel like I should go get my heart examined due to all the strain of the physical labor.
This place we call home now is beautiful. Definetely God's country (although isn't it ALL God's country??). My favorite part are the sunsets over the rockies. It's just breathtaking--sometimes causing me to slow waaaaayyyyy down on the interstate. We have also had the EXTREME pleasure of watching the evening herd of elk that occupy our backyard to bed down for the night. Chuck woke yesterday morning to see 12 or so sleeping not 10 feet from our back door. There were 5 or so babies with them. People say that we will get immune to them, that we won't even notice them after a while; but I can't imagine. They are so amazing to watch--and their calls are so unique. We all thought it was birds, then we realized it's the elk! Along with the elk we have seen fox and deer, and also a very strange bird that looks more purple than blue. It wasn't a blue-jay, either. I'll have to investigate that.
After we unloaded our u-haul trucks (yes, I said TRUCKS) by ourselves, we then had to go to Chuck's apartment and pack him up and move him also. That was on Friday. Saturday came along and I told Chuck that I just couldn't imagine unpacking one more box, so we headed downtown for a parade. It was our town's Rodeo Days--everything focused on the rodeo. It was fun, but, like the kids said, it will be a lot more fun next year when we have friends.
So, the next day, on Father's Day we packed a lunch and headed to a park where we ate and went on a 4-5 mile hike along Bear Creek. It was beautiful. No offense to my kids, but my favorite part was when I drifted behind them and was able to really take in the beauty and peacefullness of the mountains, and to watch them explore everything on the path.
When Monday rolled around I think everyone was a little sad, including myself. I think reality is sinking in, that we're not just here on vacation. Chuck headed back to work and the kids and I are left to explore this new state, and all it has to offer, on our own. Not that I haven't done that before, and I find myself getting more brave by the day. We got info. on all the sports camps today and will be deciding what sports to start this summer.
Allison got a job yesterday at Walmart. I'm so excited and proud of her. She is making some awesome change for a first job. I'm hoping this will help her meet some friends, too. All she can talk about is getting that first paycheck and buying a plane ticket back home. She had to take a drug test, too, yesterday. That was very interesting.
We went and picked up paint samples yesterday, too. Ashley, again, has a dramatic paint color in mind.....extremely dark purple. Her vision sounds beautiful, but I'm afraid that her room is too small for all that she wants to do. I'm going to try my darndest to make it something that she loves. Allison picked a blue again, which I love. The boys want a snow-boarding mural on their wall, so I'm painting their room tan. I have been looking at colors for my kitchen/eating area. I think I've found two colors I really like, and I've decided I'm going to paint my kitchen cabinets too. They are in horrible shape, but I think a coat or two of paint will really help them out--and my eyes as well. I can't decide between white or a cream color (which I would put a chocolate glaze over). Our appliances are white, so I'm not sure if cream would look right. Any suggestions anyone??
Otherwise, the house will take some getting used to. It is a fixer-upper, that is for sure. We don't quite fit, and are having some storage issues at the moment. I open up a box and have no idea where to put the stuff inside. I need to get my creative juices flowing. I wish we had an Ikea close by.
Every day that passes will make this feel more like home. I have excitement over all this beauty around me, and the great shopping close by, and all the fantastic resteraunts just calling my name. But I also long for the familiarity of home, the bbq's with friends, the boating on the lake, the hugs from my family.

I do have to say....I haven't been bitten by one mosquito!