And so it begins...

The planning of our upcoming move, that is.

The first thing on our list can now be checked off! We had a HUGE sale this weekend and sold a big chunk of our stuff. We spent the past week going through our things, deciding what we could do without for the next 5-6 months, pricing it, and somewhat organizing it. Then this past weekend we opened our house to a bunch of strangers and let them rummage through all the "things" we have collected over the years. Most of them proceeded to offer us half what we asked (even when I had priced it at about half what it was worth), to which I usually replied "we're not discounting." We're not leaving for at least 5 months, I don't HAVE to sell anything now. The one really big item that sold (totally unexpected) was our huge leather sectional. I mean who goes to a garage sale and comes away with a $1500 sofa! I'm glad though, it's one less thing to worry about selling later and an extra $1500 in my pocket is okay by me! The other bigger items I will list on craigslist within the next month or so.

People keep asking why we're selling stuff so early and I've come up with a few reasons:
1) It's one less thing to do later (when we're really busy).
2) Once our house is on the market, less stuff means less for me to keep clean on a daily basis for potential buyers.
3) We're excited about this move and right now, this is really the only thing we can do to get ready for it.
4) We're ready for a more simplified lifestyle when we move and simplifying all our "junk" now is the first step.
5) It proves to me that I won't really miss all of it when it's gone...and if I do then this gives me 5 months to get over it!

I'm so glad that we told them we'd leave in January because there really is a lot to do before a move this big. Next on the list: get the kids passpports so Chris's company can get started on the visas.

Guess where we're going?

That's right! Australia! Melbourne to be exact.

And guess what? This ain't no vacation!

You heard me right- I know this is the first some of you have heard about this, for a select few, it's old news. Chris was offered a transfer with his company to the Melbourne office and we've decided to go! We'll leave in January next year (2010) and stay for...as long as we want- we're kind of planning on 3-5 years. I'm totally excited and a little nervous. We're going to miss our family and friends like crazy! But what an awesome opportunity!

Now although we will be based out of Melbourne, he may end up working with any of the Asia Pacific clients, so we could end up living somewhere like Singapore, Malaysia or even China or Japan for a while. Chris and I are typically home-bodies who like to put down roots, so this will be a real challange, but also a really exciting adenture.

Don't worry I plan on keeping up with my blog (hopefully better than I have for the last few months!) and employing all the technology to keep in touch with everybody on this side of the world- email, IM, Skype are going to be my new best friends! Can't wait to fill you all in on our adventures! For now we are just thinking about how to deal with all our stuff here. We're planning on selling most of it, storing a bit of it and of course taking some with us. I'm just glad we have 6 months to get ready!

Graduations!

Being the end of the school year, we of course have to celebrate the fact that our kids (and us) made it through the year! Pre-K graduation, the end of their year as the "babies." Ellie's graduation was so adorable, thanks in large part to Ms. Patty, their chapel/music teacher. I just have to post this one video of one of the songs they did, it was so cute! Check out Ellie's moves! and that poor girl next to her was obviously not really into it!

A couple more of that little munchkin at graduation:

Ellie and her awesome teacher, Ms. Karri

Then onto kindergarten graduation, graduating from what I'm not sure, really just celebrating their first year of real school. They had us come and have a parent/student conference, where they showed us their notebook from the year- Caleb's reoccurring theme, by the way, was "I love my Nintendo DS." Here are a few pics of the little BIG kids!

Finally Ellie "graduated" from her year of gymnastics, they did a little mini-Olympics to celebrate the end of the year.

Ellie and her good friend Anika

Yeah! The end of one year of andventures, now on to the summer adventure. My plan is to just keep them so busy that they can't complain, I'll let you know how it goes!

Heaven

enough said

Easter Cuties

I think I'll ease back in to blogging with a nice easy posting of my cute kids on Easter.

Yummy Easter cake

Cruise

It's cold and foggy here today, so I was missing the sun and had to settle for browsing pictures from our recent trip. We went on a quick little cruise (4 days) and stopped in Cozumel, Mexico. It was the first cruise for both Chris and I. We had a great time, it was certainly very relaxing and nice to spend so much don time together. Although we decided that if we went on another cruise we'd probably take friends with us (not that we were tired of each other or anything!)

Relaxin in the sun- I was totally born with the wrong skin! I LOVE laying in the sun, it's so nice and warm, but I have to slather on the sunscreen like a little kid!

The beach in Cozumel

4-wheeling through the jungle

At the port in Cozumel

Fancy night on the boat

Christmas

We were at my parents house in Missouri for Christmas. It was different and a lot of fun, especially having the Kerr cousins there! 6 little kids on Christmas morning was crazy, but so much fun!

Making gingerbread houses with the cousins

Walking around on the frozen lake. I opted out of most outdoor activities, it was just too cold to be fun!

Mary, Joseph and the wise men

My little angel

Christmas morning

Check out what Santa brought me!

More stuffed animals, my favorite!

Nathaniel didn't seem like he was that into it

Check it out! The worlds biggest candy cane (they made some yummy peppermint chocolate shakes the other night!)

Watch out! Grandma's got her own gun now! Nice job Santa!

Yummy! Christmas morning breakfast of champions!

Loving on Ash (Ellie would love on a bear if we let her!)