Move

Well, we moved four weeks ago now. Turns out we've been a bit busy since then, so I'm sticking with the "better late than never" sentiment here.

Moving day was chaos. Not that I expected anything different. Packing wasn't awful; we spread it out over a number of weeks so it was manageable. The Whitakers came up from Lexington and were a huge help with the kids - they took them to soccer and kept them generally busy while Kevin and I directed the movers around and took smaller loads to the new house in our vehicles. We also had help from the Kidmans, Browns, and Kroegers. What wonderful friends we have!

We got everything inside the new house by about 9:30pm after the movers took three (three!) trips back and forth. I had no idea we had that much stuff. With the help of Billy and Leslie, the beds were assembled and made so we were able to sleep that night after an excruciatingly long day.

Over the next week we unpacked and arranged things. I went to LA that Thursday to receive a Cancer Warriors Award on behalf of Meredith's Miracles. It was an amazing trip but the timing was off. I was so tired and wanted to be home to continue settling in. My parents came the next weekend and that's when my Dad completed our mudroom, along with a few other smaller projects. I am so happy with the mudroom I could cry. 

Here are some pictures of the new house:

I swear laundry is more manageable in this laundry/mudroom.

Kevin's birthday was the day we closed on both homes. Needless to say, we didn't properly celebrate his 39th birthday that evening. A few weeks later we had some cake and sang happy birthday.

We generally undress our children before they eat cake. I know it's weird but it's better than stained clothes in my opinion. I wonder how long we'll be able to do this?

 Here's to many years of happiness in our new home!

Good bye, Burlington

In a few days, we will say goodbye to our home on Spring Mill Place. It's hard to believe we have spent nine years in this house. This was our first home (outside of our condo in Minnesota) and the memories here will be hard to leave. We've gone through a lot inside these walls: new jobs, holidays, birthdays, home projects, a cancer diagnosis, baby #1, saying goodbye to Meredith, baby #2, first steps, no training wheels, first days of school, home from work, back to work ...

Packing has been weird. It's strange to box up all of your belongings. However, it has been a nice reminder that they are only belongings. It's weird to walk through a nearly empty home, hearing echoes when you speak because nothing's there to absorb the sound. Here are pictures from before the packing began.

 

 

 

This house that has held our family, our memories, our lives, is just that: a house. It's not us. So while it's a little sad to leave this place we've called home for the past nine years, we'll take our belongings and our memories and move into a new home. And make new memories there. I can't wait.

First day of Preschool

Now it's Maren's turn! She has been dying to go to Preschool ever since Warner started Kindergarten a few weeks ago. She was ready to hit the road this morning for her first day in Mrs. Laake's class.

She walked in like she owned the place. I guess this is her third year at Lakeside, so it's familiar. But really. Perhaps she's a bit too comfortable in some situations.

Maren will be going to Preschool five days a week this year. To be honest I'd rather have her home with me on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but we made a last-minute switch and this was the only class that had room for her. I keep telling myself it will be a great way to determine if she's ready for Kindergarten next year, or if we should wait and send her when she's six.

Regardless, I can't believe how big my baby has gotten! Happy first day of 4 year-old Preschool, Maren! (And good luck, Mrs. Laake!)

Boone County Fair

What is August without a trip to the fair? Well, actually the Boone County Fair. That's what the kids call it instead of just "the fair" and it's incredibly adorable.

 Maren "screamed for her life" (her words) on the dragon mini roller coaster.

Warner was frighteningly good at turning the hot air balloon ride. In fact, they started out with another little girl in their balloon but she wasn't a fan of all the spinning so they stopped the ride for her to get off. I think the kids were happy to be able to spin to their hearts' content without her. Better them than me. I would have lost my dinner with all of that turning.

 

 

We did pay the extra $4 a child for the pony rides. The fair only happens once a year, right?

 

 

 

The kids each got to choose a treat before we left. Warner being our indecisive child originally wanted a funnel cake but saw ice cream before we got to the funnel cakes and it looked awfully good. He decided on a banana split. He'd never had one before and had been wanting to try. I was happy because it was huge so we shared.

Maren knew when we walked in that night that she wanted cotton candy. She's our decisive one.

We went home tired, hot, and sticky, but happy we were able to spend another summer evening at the fair.

Four Year Stats

Maren's four year old well visit was this past week with Dr. Harmeling. She weighs 40 pounds (75th percentile) and is 40 1/2 inches tall (also 75th percentile). The doctor asked Maren a series of questions to determine if she is on track with certain things. After a dozen or so questions, the doctor turned to me and said "well, her speech is certainly developed!". Yes, she can talk. She really does have an excellent vocabulary ... and has yet to meet a stranger.

Favorite color: pink and purple
Favorite food: turkey, cheese, and mayonnaise sandwiches
Best friend: Drew, Riley, Braeden, and Ainsley
Favorite book: Alice in Wonderland
Favorite movie: Aristacats
Where do you like to go: Subway for dinner (for mayonnaise sandwiches)
Favorite toy: Fairies, baby dolls, and Barbies
Favorite thing to wear: Dresses
Favorite thing to do outside: Ride bikes
Favorite game: Uno
What do you sleep with at night: Teddy and blankie
What do you want to be when you grow up: Cheerleader, singer, and Mom

First day of Kindergarten

Today is Warner's first day of Kindergarten. It's been a whirlwind these past few days as we signed a contract on a new home in Union, listed our home, and transferred Warner to his new school - New Haven Elementary. Thankfully Warner has adjusted well to being at a different school than we had planned, I think mostly because likes the tiger mascot better than the eagle. Hey, whatever works, right?

He is in Mrs. Anderson's A.M. class and drop off this morning went smoothly. I'm proud to report I didn't start crying until I got back in my car to drive home! I was fine until I read this poem Mrs. Anderson gave me as I left the classroom:

I gave you a little smile as you entered the room today

because I know how hard it is for you to leave

and know your child must stay

Just know that as you drive away

and tears down your cheeks may flow

I'll love him as I would my own

and help him learn and grow

So please put your mind at ease

and cry those tears no more

For I will love him and take him in

when you leave him at my door.

I'm so proud of the little man Warner is becoming. He is kind-hearted, eager to learn and please, polite, happy, and considerate. I can't wait to see what this first year of school brings for Warner. I know it will be great!

Bedtime show

This was bedtime a few nights ago. Maren and her bitty baby wore their matching pajamas.

So Warner wore his Scooby Doo pajamas and slept with his Scooby stuffed animal.

The kids realized a while ago that the tops of Maren's four poster bed come off. Since this was my bed growing up, I knew this all along but let them figure it out themselves. Meredith and I would always use the tops as microphones, naturally. A girl needs a microphone while singing, right?

I guess it's second nature because Maren does the same thing with them.

Warner decided he'd use his as pretend swords. Of course.

And then he used them as percussion to accompany Maren's (dramatic) singing.

Oh how I love these kids.

Happy birthday, Maren!

I'm not sure how it happened, but Maren turned four on Monday. This picture was taken that morning after I braided her hair "like Rapunzel". It's one of her favorite hair styles lately. Doesn't she look old? And beautiful?

We celebrated Saturday at the lake with Kevin's parents and my parents. Maren requested a Hello Kitty cake.

She also chose the birthday meal: grilled cheese, broccoli, and tater tots. We all laughed at the dinner choice but I think everyone was secretly thrilled with the menu. Who doesn't love a grilled cheese?

I feel a bit bad about the party only because Maren was expecting (or maybe just wished for) a big party that included her friends. For instance, she insisted on us needing two cakes instead of one because of all of the guests. I told her she can have her first friend party when she turns 5 and she seemed okay with it. Lord help us next year I'm afraid she'll invite everyone she knows to her big celebration!

You know why I stink as a mother? I forgot to bring my new, amazingly wonderful camera to the lake. So these pictures stink. Ugh.

That camera was worth every penny.

On Maren's actual birthday, she chose to visit the Zoo. The entire weekend was hilarious because Maren would say something like: "Mom, can I please have chocolate milk instead of white milk today? For the birthday girl?". I must have heard for the birthday girl a dozen times. Scary how easily she picked that up.

 I even paid $2 for the kids to feed the giraffes. You know, for the birthday girl.

 

At four, Maren knows all of her letters, can count past twenty, can write her name and a few other names as well. She still rides her bike with training wheels but has no fear. She will zoom down our driveway on her ez-roller without thinking twice. Maren can swim in the shallow end of the pool without floats. She thinks she's as old as her brother (perhaps even older?). Maren still throws fits when she doesn't get her way, but she's getting better at controlling her emotions.

Maren loves to read - she can spend an hour in her room alone, flipping through books. She loves playing Barbies and can dress them without much assistance. She loves her baby dolls and especially loves Teddy and blanket. She loves to snuggle and loves to pretend she's a mommy - wear a dress, put on her plastic high heel shoes, grab a pretend phone and say she is going to work. There are so many wonderful and unique things about Maren I can't begin to capture them all in a few paragraphs.

Maren, you bring so much joy to our family. We love you! Happy 4th birthday sweet girl.