More Japanese Garden pictures....

Margaret with the kids.
Mom and the kids.

Dad

Sisters

Carlie meditating, again......

Mom, Carlie and Dad - good shot Alex! In tea house

Alex and Matt in tea house

Carlie

Alex took this shot

Meditating....

Carlie t'd off that Rita isn't meditating right.... Just kidding!!!

Very Zen!

Carlie and the Koi

Cool path

Another Alex pic

Alex

Alex

Cool path

Bamboo everywhere!

Alex

There were several stone things like this

Fun!

Meditation in the Tea house

Tea house

Japanese Gardens

Alex on the water walkway
Koi!!!

The Koi splashed Carlie!

Gardens

Carlie checking out the Koi

The water really is that color!

Meditating garden

Koi feeding station

Alex...

Alex and Carlie

Beautiful!

Waterfall...

Pathways everywhere.

We have the most beautiful Japanese meditating / walking garden here. I really love it! Here are a few pictures from the gardens. The highlight for the kids is the Koi pond, the fish flock to you and they have feeding stations.

Kids...

Carlie on Cheer night with dad.
Carlie with her cheer buddy...

Cheering...

Old pic of Alex that I like
Carlie in her Cheer outfit, above and below...

Carlie getting off the school bus.... WOW! She's so big!

Alex at home on a sick day....

Carlie and Alex are having a good time. Alex is on the pep squad at school and has made lots of friends. Carlie went to a cheerleading bootcamp and got to cheer at the big highschool rival homecoming game with her cheer buddy. There is so much for the kids to do out here. This whole town is really kid oriented. The bus driver for Carlie's school knows every kids name and says "hello Carlie" every morning. One afternoon Carlie thought I was going to pick her up instead of her riding the bus home, she told her teacher she shouldn't get on the bus. The bus driver held the bus while the teacher tried to call me to verify. Turns out I was already at the bus stop waiting for her so I missed the call. They then called Matt. He said put her on the bus to go home. The bus was about 15 min late that day, but what a great bus driver to wait and be sure Carlie got home. Another time a little boy missed getting off at his stop. The driver went back 3 stops to drop him off rather than make him walk. (he's just in kindergarten). This town is really nice!

Catching up.....

Beautiful flowers...
Front of new house...

Shells and crystals in the yard

Part of the backyard, and below more of the backyard...

I'm going to be posting a lot of pictures, I'll try to catch everyone up! We're here in Missouri, we really like it so far. The kids have made friends, and are doing lots of activities. Above are a few pictures of the house we are renting. It's pretty good sized, and has an art room, music room (with a piano!) and a library! The people we are renting from are really nice, he is an artist, she works with their church. Whenever they would travel he would bring back a cool shell or rock or crystal. They put them in a garden in the front yard. How cool is that?! We have a hottub and a pond in the back yard. I used to think that would be neat, now I know I'll be filling in the pool in our next house we buy. What a hassle, good thing we rented first!

I hope everyone is well, I'll keep posting!

We made it!

We are finally here in Springfield, whew! I'll have to post pictures soon of the house etc. Carlie has started kindergarten and Alex is in Junior High. Both are adjusting pretty well. Carlie misses her Ga a bit, and Alex misses her Dad. They are making friends though, and Alex is on the Pep-Squad at school. Matt works a lot, but seems to like it and is doing well. I'm still unpacking and adjusting to not working. I love being home for the kids, but don't like not having my own source of income. It'll just take some adjustments. There is NO Whole Foods here, or Lifetime Fitness!!!!!!!!!!!! Those are the two things I miss the most. Maybe that's an opportunity? EVERYONE needs a Whole Foods, right?
I'll fill in the blanks soon!
Miss you all!