Louisville Slugger Factory and Museum

 

Today Kyle and I decided to finally take a break from unpacking and do something fun with the kids while Kyle was still off and Celeste doesn't have school. The kids are starting to go a little stir crazy as well, so it was nice to get out and go somewhere besides Walmart or Home Depot for things for the house!

We knew that we wanted to take the kids to the Louisville Slugger Museum, so we decided to do that today. They still have their Charlie Brown Christmas exibit, so we thought it would be fun to see. It really wasn't anything that we would have been sad to miss, but the comics were fun and the kids got to watch part of the Charlie Brown Christmas show. The prices were reasonable enough. Before the tour we went through the gift shop and ordered a family baseball bat that we had engraved.

Kyle also found a bat that he wanted to get from the mess up bin. After tax he got an official Louisville Slugger baseball bat for under $20. He was also lucky enough to find one that you can't actually tell has any problems. We're just guessing it may be the wrong weight or something like that, but he's happy!

During the tour we were asked not to take any pictures, so there aren't any. After the tour however, they give each person a mini bat to take home. They warned everyone on the tour that you can not take a bat of ANY size on a plane. Then the tour guide pointed to Eddie and Gordon in the front row and said he guessed it was probably because of someone their size swinging it and hurting people. I agreed with him on that as my son started swinging his new toy! They are really cute bats though. I haven't decided what we'll do with them yet. Maybe our names in vinyl and then a rack on the wall? Any suggestions?

We also got pictures of Celeste and Eddie in front of the HUGE baseball bat out front. Gordon loved staring at it, but refused to get his picture taken! What a funny boy!

 

So, we finished our trip to the museum and factory and decided to go to costco for lunch. We've found that everything is about 20 minutes away. The slugger museum? 20 minutes from home. Costco? 20 minutes from the museum! How far away is Walmart from home? Okay, not quite 20 minutes, but further than it was from our Troutdale home! Home depot, probably closer to 20 minutes. The bishop told me about a grocery store that is closer though, so I'm excited to get our truck sometime soon and be able to find stores. Kyle's mom always says that getting lost is the best thing ever. You always get out at the store that you find while lost because you may never find it again! I'm excited for some of those experiences!

Alright, back on track! We made our way to Costco to have lunch. We knew we wanted to buy a new mattress, but had originally planned on waiting until next week when the truck was here. We wanted a memory foam mattress, so it comes in a box. Kyle decided he couldn't wait any longer and was SURE it would fit in the trunk of our car. Let me show you a picture of our car. It's a stock picture, but this is the car, none the less!

Yes, you can see it and I can see it now, but we just didn't eyeball it well enough. A folded up mattress in a big box was NOT going in there. We took the mattress out of the box. It was definitely getting closer, but still not budging. So, we had to do the only other thing we could without having to come back to Costco again! The mattress sat in my lap on the way home! It is a BEAST! There is no way around it, it's heavy! I had to lay the seat back against Eddie's legs in the back seat and it laid across my body. I was sure that I was the safest person in the car if there was an accident though because I wasn't going anywhere! Kyle was just sure we were going to get pulled over, but we didn't. We made it home. I kept as flat as I could coming through the neighborhood so none of our new neighbors could see me and think we were the craziest people around! I could just imagine, "Those crazy Oregonians!"

Well, another full day has come and gone. Time for bed on our new mattress! I'm so excited!!

Our Move!

I didn't write about Christmas, but who wants to hear about that when there are much more exciting things happening in the Hunter household, right? We've made the move. (By the way, if anyone is looking to buy a house in the Troutdale area, we still have one for sale! We have some soft offers on it, but nothing with real financial backing, so any offer is gladly accepted!)

I'm not going to attempt to show pictures of the house with our stuff in it yet because we have stuff everywhere and most still in boxes, but I do have a few pictures of the house while it is mostly empty!

The living room is going to be so nice. I am determined to have a place for everything in the house, so we don't have piles of stuff in weird places because we don't have a place for it! We'll see if that happens!

Celeste's bedroom is at the top of the stairs. She has the smaller room because she gets her own room, although I bet she could fill up the bigger bedroom all by herself if I let her! That is the bathroom door in the background.

I wish I could say this was Celeste's closet, but it's not, it's her brothers' closet. She gets to have her own room, but without the walk in closet. She doesn't understand what she is missing, but I do for her! I don't talk about it because I don't want her to know what she is missing, but I think in another few years, she will know exactly what she is missing!

This is the playroom and guest room until we get the basement finished with a bedroom and bathroom. This is the amazing closet in the playroom as well. It will be really nice for storage, that's for sure. Celeste wanted to use it as a library, but we think the little alcove by the window will be much nicer for books and comfy chairs for a library!

While we were bringing stuff in the house after we got off the plane, Eddie fell asleep and wouldn't wake up. He ended up in the livingroom on the floor!

I realize you can't see what this is. They aren't the greatest pictures, but I will show the finished product when I have gotten all of the clothes hung up. This is our walk in closet! I LOVE IT! There is actually a very nice system that you can't actually see from these pictures, but the closet is so nice. It's perfect for us!

This is our basement. I know, you've seen pictures before, but it's ours now! We have fabulous plans for this basement. They will probably have to go in a little at a time, since we haven't sold our house in Troutdale yet, but soon there will be another bedroom and bathroom down here. There is actually our big tv down there already and we will put one of our couches down there in the movie room. Where Celeste is standing in the picture, there will be a treadmill and other workout equipment. On the back wall behind Celeste, is where the office is going to be. We will have a craft table and vinyl stuff down there. I was a little worried when we were making plans for everything that we may not have enough room, but then I went down there! We will have plenty of room!

So, with that, I will close. We are unpacking like crazy and getting settled. We've met our neighbors across the street. (They loaned us a light the first night we were here and brought us a pie yesterday.) We also met our next door neighbors. They were kind enough to let us use their WiFi so we could sign up for our own internet and cable. (We found out that the husband used to be RLDS. Kyle told him we were LDS and he seemed fine with it. He didn't keep his son from coming to meet us later on either, so I'm excited for the new friendship!) Kyle also got to meet the neighbors behind us. We've had to write down their names and put it on the fridge, so we don't forget! They have been so friendly, even the kids across the street have been great. There are also some great kids that may be perfect babysitting age. We'll find out soon enough! We also found out that there is an LDS family just down the street from us. Their kids are all grown, so our kids won't be playing with their kids, but they are really close. We also found out that hopefully Celeste will be going to the same school as the Bishop's son, so I'll keep you informed once I find out for sure which school Celeste gets to go to!

Oh the STRESS!

When Kyle and I decided that we should really make this move and try something new, we felt so good about it that we started packing what we knew we could. Now the time has come to pack it all. After boxes and boxes of stuff, I look at my living room and it doesn't look like we've packed anything! Where did all this stuff come from? I don't get it. I've ben tossing stuff and donating and packing, but more just keeps showing up.

I must say, there is something to be said about people who move every few years. It's the perfect time to get rid of stuff. I'm really hoping that after all the stuff I have gotten rid of, it will be easier to find places for everything in the new house!

I would really love any tips on the best way to pack or organize to make moving easier. I only have until Saturday to get this all done, so the sooner the advice comes the better!

A Christmas Carol Part 2

As I promised, I am posting a few more pictures of the play that Celeste was in. They did such a good job. It's a small youth community theatre that do a fabulous job. If you are ever in the Portland area when they are performing, I recommend you go see them. They have some very talented youth and a great director. The name of the group is Black Swan Youth Theatre.

The young man who played Jacob Marley also had several other roles, including the younger Scrooge. He is a very talented young man who we happen to be good friends with. I'm sure going to miss him when we leave! 

My Celeste as Lotte (Belle's daughter)

This is Celeste's other dramatic moment. She is Want. If you have only ever seen a movie, you may not know about Want and Ignorance. Want got to wail on the ground during the play. Many people were impressed with how well she did her part on stage, but I know for a fact she has been practicing that part at home for years!

I am so glad Celeste could be a part of it. She needed it so badly and now knows where she belongs and what she is good at. I will be looking for a community theatre for her when we get to Kentucky, so she can continue learning how to channel her drama. I can't wait to see how she grows!

Eddie's Birthday

This week we celebrated Eddie's 5th Birthday! I can't believe I'll have two kids in school this next school year. Eddie asked for his name on his cake, so Kyle said I should make his name out of cake. Eddie also wanted Spiderman on his cake. I know that he meant that he wanted me to use frosting and decorate, but a plastic toy had to do this year because of everything that has been going on! He was fine when I told him he could keep the toy though.

He got new cars from Auntie Erin and Uncle Spencer. They light up, which makes them even more cool!

Walkie talkies. They aren't great, so we may have to go shopping for something else!

Mom and Dad got him a toy city. They were at a garage sale this summer and he absolutely had to have them. He took it so well when we told him he couldn't have them. Later we went back and bought them. They've been sitting in storage since June!

Happy Birthday My Eddie Boy! He's such a sweet, loving little boy. I don't think my mom minds at all that she has to share her birthday with this special little boy! I'm so grateful for my Eddie and his love for everyone around him and his adorable personality!

A Christmas Carol

So, as the proud mama, I get to show the pictures. Kyle didn't take lots of pictures of Celeste last night. He did a few videos, but not pictures, so tonight I will take some more pictures of Celeste during her parts. I'm hoping that with us not sitting in the front row, she'll forget the audience more and it in to her part better, but she did such a good job for her first real play performance. I'm so proud of her hard work. We will definitely have to find a community play for her when we get to Kentucky because she needs it!

The Concessions! Yum!

The cutest idea for serving candy!

What is in the cone? Caramels, English Toffee and Truffles. YUM!

She's ready to begin!

Last minute prep before the play begins.

They even sold apples and pears. Kyle didn't take a picture of the edible gold painted pears, but they were so cool!

Eddie wanted it ALL!

Plum pudding, Brown cakes and roasted nuts.

Celeste was peaking out to see us before the play began.

Celeste had three roles. They were all small, but it was fun for her to have to do costume changes and all of that because of her different parts. She is a townsperson, one of Belle's daughters (Lotte) and Want. You don't hear about Lotte or Want when you watch The Muppets or Disney's Christmas Carol, but if you're in the Portland area, you can learn all about them at the play! (yes, why not try and sell tickets and make every night a full house!?)

I haven't given you nearly enough pictures of the play to make the excuse to not see it. They did such a good job. I know several of the youth in the play and I was so excited for all of them. I'm so impressed with all of their hard work. I know that sleep and homework has probably suffered for some of them, I know sleep is suffering for Celeste, but she loves acting and I love that she has something to be passionate about. I was never one to get on a stage and do that sort of thing, but I am so glad that Celeste wants to be a part of this and find her niche in the world! I'll post more pictures of Celeste on stage when I get them, so check back for new pictures!

Our New House

A lot of people have asked about our new house and I thought I would post some pictures that we have. Most of them are from the listing on the house before we saw them, but we were able to take a picture of the garage and basement while we were there as well. We're nervous and excited about this move all at the same time. We're all a little bit sad as well about leaving all of our friends and family. That is going to be the hardest part of all of this, but the adventure brings so much excitement that I know it won't hit me until after we get there that I'm missing everyone I love like crazy!

Living room front door

Living room into the dining room

looking down from upstairs

Kid's bedroom upstairs (Jack and Jill bathroom)

Kids bathroom

Bonus room over the garage. (Perfect toy room, don't you think?)

Bonus Room - it has a huge closet as well

Master Bedroom

Master/hall bath

Over 1,000sf of basement available. I can't wait to turn this part into an excercise room and tv room!

This part of the basement is plummed for a bathroom and we will put in a bedroom as well so there is always an extra bedroom for people to come visit!

So, it's definitely going to be an adjustment, but we're so excited about our new adventure. Please know there is always room for anyone who wants to visit any time! I know Kentucky is pretty far for some of you, but we'll be coming back to Oregon frequently, so we'll see you around!