I wanted to give you an update now that we’ve been in our Castle for two weeks. WOW, has this been a busy 14 days!
Settling into the Coppinger Castle: Phase 1
How many phases will there be? Who knows? At this point I feel like we will never completely be finished unpacking, simply because we have so many little ones with needs more important that me finding my jeans. Thus, while our bedroom looks a bit better than this, we still have bags of clothes we’re ignoring and will ignore for a while. Priorities, man.
Settling In, Day 1
The day we closed on our house and got the keys, we left our seven littles in York with sitters so that we could get as much done as possible without children underfoot. Elias and Malachi were with us and Justus, Kelsey, and Eva joined us as they could.
We knew the previous owner of our home would be leaving behind some beds, dressers, end tables, and linens. The house had been a Bed and Breakfast, after all. However, we ended up getting much more than we had agreed to. Our first-day-to-do-list quickly got overruled when we realized that almost every room in our huge house was full of stuff that we’d need to pack and find a home for.
DEEP BREATH.
We had seven hours before we needed to head back to be with our littles, so we all worked feverishly to clean out our new place. Kelsey and I started in the kitchen (of course), clearing out cabinets so we could get it set up the way we needed. Then Elias, Malachi, and I headed to the laundry room (which is going to be awesome, by the way). The linens we’d inherited filled no less than 18 enormous black bags. I stopped counting after that. :) I filled bags; the boys lugged them upstairs and out to Goodwill.
Then we continued through every room, gathering items we didn’t need for our family. We put them all in our entry way and slowly but surely, Elias and Malachi got those donated as well. (Two weeks later, this is still a work in progress.)
We left the house in a mess and headed back to York for our final night in our home there.
Settling In: Day 2
We got up that morning and loaded cribs and mattresses for the kids plus as many boxes as we could stuff into our van. I got no pictures of this as I was a bit emotional leaving our York house for the last time.
Once we got to the Castle, the kids ran around exploring and I felt incredibly nervous trying to keep track of everyone. ;) This home is 7712 square feet, which is amazing and wonderful! But it’s easy to get lost if you’re unfamiliar with the layout – or if you’re a two-year-old. Oy.
I had no idea Kelsey got this picture of me walking through the house with Acacia and Josie. :)
Then Eva sent me these. :)
Matt got the babies’ cribs set up while Elias and Malachi went to Wendy’s with a gift card and picked up lunch for all of us.
The kitchen looked something like this, and we somehow managed to get the final crib up the stairs.
We got the four littlest down for naps then Matt, Elias, Malachi, and Brayden drove back to York to pick up a UHaul and load it with lots of people from our community there helping.
Meanwhile, Kiya, Keith, and I unpacked and started to figure out an organizational system for our pantry.
Eva, Asa, Justus, and Kelsey came that evening to help while the other guys were in York loading our truck. We got the littles to bed but the other guys didn’t get back with the truck until after 10pm. What a day!
Settling In, Day 3
We kept everyone alive that morning and afternoon. That’s about all I remember. ;) Eva snapped this sweet photo of Josie in what was to become our Play Room.
We ordered pizza that night for our moving crew and they worked like crazy to unload our UHaul for us.
While the guys unloaded and I gave instructions to everyone as to where to put boxes, Eva, Kelsey, and their friend Chelsea took all seven littles on a long walk and then to explore the Sunken Gardens which is amazing and just a few blocks from our house! It was great to have the kids out from underfoot while we unloaded the truck.
That night we were all exhausted and sore. The living room, library, play room, and beyond were all filled with stuff and I went to bed grateful but overwhelmed.
Settling In, Day 4 and Beyond
Every day we keep getting more packed and taken out of the house (from the stuff that got left behind). And we get more and more of our items unpacked and put away.
One day we realized that BabyBoy#11 was wearing his shirt inside-out, evidence that his parents are very, very tired.
Our bedrooms are all on the second floor and the landing looked like this up until four days ago when I finally decided to work on finding its items a home.
Upon opening up the linen cabinet and drawers in that hallway, I discovered, guess what? MORE LINENS. Say it isn’t so.
Settling In, Day 14
So here we are. There are no pictures on the walls yet because that’s a lower priority right now. Plus I can’t find a hammer.
But look at this beautiful side of our living room! It’s coming together just they way I had envisioned with a “Coffee Hospitality Area” for people to gather and visit or play games.
The other side looks like this, with lots of cozy seating (and pillows for kids to throw on the floor 40 times a day).
The Play Room looked like this for 5 minutes after Eva got it organized. Then the kids played in it and made a sweet mess. But all is well – it’s a play room after all!
During the next few weeks, I’ll share more photos of our settling-in process. I’ll probably devote an entire post to our kitchen and pantry, sound good?
We are extremely thankful for God’s gift of this home, our “Castle.” It is everything we need and then some. He is faithful.
Tammani says
Beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing your life with us.
Katelyn says
How beautiful! We’ll be driving through Lincoln in September, thanks for the Sunken Garden suggestion!
Laura says
Holler when the time gets closer and we can try to meet you there!
Jennifer says
I so want to come and help because organizing is the only part of moving I like. :D
Amber says
Thanks for taking the time to share these pictures. So thankful for all the Lord has blessed your sweet family with!
Jennifer says
Love the popcorn machine!!!! We have a smaller version and it is a fantastic thing to have with 8. May the Father continue to bless, provide and watch over your beautiful family.
KB says
Thank you for sharing your wonderful life with us. I LOVE your new castle and am in awe of God’s faithfulness!!!
Charlotte Moore says
Thanks for sharing how things are going. Bless you with getting it all organized with lots of good help.
Laura says
I am a little overwhelmed with you. Moving is hard and I cannot imagine what it is like with all the littles. God is providing so generously and beautifully. Congratulations on your move!
Cheryl Whitfield says
Wow! Thank God for the energy, discernment, organization, and grace that He gives you all! So glad that you will enjoy a beautiful space as you continue to grow and glow as a family.
Romans 11:36. Amen.
Thanks for the low sugar ice cream recipe!
Korina says
I can’t wait to see more of the progress. So excited for you!