A Christmas to Remember...or not.

Wow! We're home. It was a marathon weekend with presents, presents, and more presents... Vomit, vomit, and more vomit. Carson is dreadfully sick and has been since Christmas Eve. The poor baby missed every bit of fun, laid isolated in the corner of the room, and has reduced his body weight by 10% at least, which is a lot when you are as skinny as he already is. I have never felt so sorry for someone. Being 6 years old, there is nothing better than Christmas, and he missed it all.

Seeing Santa

We got to eat pizza with Santa last weekend. Maisy asked for a cupcake maker and Leapster. Carson didn't know what he wanted, so said he would write as soon as he decided. That sure doesn't help Santa. This was the first year that Maisy would stand by Santa without crying. She is very excited and curious about Christmas. She has asked tons of questions about Jesus, Santa and the Elves.

Poor Phelps, our Elf on the Shelf, has seen and heard a lot. Jeremy picked Phelps up the other night and Carson cried and cried yelling, "You killed him!" In the book it says touching the elf takes away his magic. Maisy cared a less and asked if she could touch him now. Luckily Phelps survived.

My Little Angels

I am a Lucky Lady!

We are Thankful

Knox is thankful for milk, his num-num, and bouncy seat.

Maisy is thankful for Santa and the Elves, Mommy, Florida, and the zoo.

Carson is thankful for America, his family, his house, electricity and Santa Claus.

I am thankful for my family (who I really miss today and everyday), friends (old and new alike, that make living here so much easier), technology (that allows us to at least see the people we miss and makes life better), our community (freedoms and safety, I can't imagine living without them), our health (Right now we are all strong and healthy.) and sleep (I really need more of it.).

Jeremy is thankful for family, life, and health.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lots going on this week!

A night of dinner and dancing for Maisy and Nolan. Since we have moved, Maisy has really missed her buddy Nolan from across the street. Last night he came over to play and eat dinner. He brought Maisy a flower, which she happily accepted. They had a candle lit dinner and then to my surprise, I caught them dancing to music from a Christmas decoration. So cute! We miss Nolan!

This is Maisy's best friend, Nakita. I met her at Special Person Day. I was told that Maisy and Nakita enjoy each other's company so much that they had to be moved away from each other at circle time, permanently. As a teacher, I know what that means. Trouble!

Maisy had Special Person Day at her school this week. I was her special person! Knox stayed with a neighbor friend while I went to spend time with her at school. It was great! It is so nice to have individual time with each child. In isolation they are all perfect. It is the combination of them that gets difficult to manage. I predict this division of attention to be the most difficult part of having three kids, aside from the constant clutter and noise, of course.

Knox is 6 weeks old! He is really struggling with tummy issues right now. The last 2 days have been better though. I think the expensive Pepcid is working. Hopefully he will regain his title as Best Smith Baby soon. He recently turned the title back over to Carson.

A Visit from the Tooth Fairy

Carson lost his first tooth this week! It was a traumatic event. He really did not enjoy it, but was somewhat obsessed at the same time. He was so afraid someone else was going to pull it. He walked around with a paper towel hanging out of his mouth when it bled. And when it finally did come out, he thought he swallowed it. Once we found it, he was surprised at how small it was.

I have decided the tooth fairy must also be using only credit these days. Either that or she was short on cash, because Carson got a movie from her. She probably had to dig into her Christmas stash to find a suitable item to leave him. Hopefully she will be better prepared for the next tooth. The first tooth is special, so a big gift is alright. However, a I think a dollar will do next time. She really needs to start carrying some cash! :)

Carson told me he heard the tooth fairy come into his room, but he closed his eyes so she wouldn't leave. When I asked him if he peeked at her, he said she was too fast. Whew! I am sure has to be fast to sneak under the pillow of a sleeping child. It probably made her really nervous. Maisy told me the tooth fairy had a long nose so she could smell the lost teeth and go find them.

Kids are so funny!

In Only One Month

Knox is one month old today. I can't believe it. In so many ways he seems he has been part of our family forever, but at the same time, the month has flown by. I have enjoyed my time with him so much. I don't even mind the late night feedings. I just enjoy the peaceful time with him, no one else, no noise, just my sweet baby and me. I do miss the sleep, but it is worth it. He continues to be a good baby. He is starting to express himself though. He can really scream when he's hungry. He loves to eat, be held, and look at lights. He also knows my voice. I love the way he stares into my eyes. He is really alert, I think.

My ten favorite things about Knox at one month.

10. I love how he quiets down when he hears my voice.

9. I love the affect he has on Carson and Maison. I can get them to do anything to hold him.

8. His hair is so soft.

7. You never have to guess about needing to change his diaper. His "movements" are incredibly loud. They make me laugh.

6. I love how he feels against my skin...so warm and soft.

5. He looks at me so intently. I wonder what I look like to him.

4. I love how he squeezes my finger and holds onto my shirt.

3. He has a beautiful smile, even if they aren't intentional yet.

2. He makes the sweetest sighing sound after he sneezes. I LOVE it!

1. He is my baby, and he completes our family. I feel so blessed and whole.

Moving...Again

It is the eve of the movers arrival. We are no where near ready. The new house is livable, but still requires some work. This house is a disaster. I can't imagine what tomorrow will bring.

Leaving this house is strange. While I am no where near attached (It never felt like home.), it is difficult leaving the little comfort zone we have created here. Even though the move is within the neighborhood, it still means new neighbors, new bus numbers...just more new. As I look back on the last year, the word new keeps repeating. I am so ready to create old and boring. In the last year, Jeremy has taken a new job, we moved to a new city, I took a new job, Carson and Maisy started new schools, we delivered a new baby, finished our new house, and are moving AGAIN. I am ready for 201o. I hope it brings a slow pace to our family. I am tired!

I will miss the great friends we have made on our street. I am hoping the blocks between us don't affect our friendship. They have become our family here. One set of neighbors are like old friends. We are the same age and feel like we have known each other for years. Another set is like an extra set of parents, always going out of their way to help and visit. The other family is busy, but constantly offering to help and checking in on us. I am so thankful to have met such wonderful people.

Off to bed! Tomorrow will be a long day and I know I will be up at least 3 times before then. Mr. Knox loves his late night snacks!

Rockin' Halloween!

Halloween was fun! It was the first year we could actually trick-or-treat in our own neighborhood. Although we missed friends at home, we made the best of things. We walked in a parade, trick-or-treated around the neighborhood, and went to a neighbor's party. It was a great night!

Maisy and our neighbor Nolan had a great time, racing from one house to the next ringing the doorbell and knocking a thousand times at each door. They even let themselves in a couple of houses. She doesn't know a stranger. Carson was much more cautious. He only approached the doors with a group and rarely spoke. I guess we know who needs the Stranger Danger talk. Knox stayed at home with Nan and Pa. It violates my germ policy to have him out. He and I both celebrated the buttoning of our first pair of jeans since delivery, much more of a conquest for me than him. :)

Sweet Mr. Knox

Day #2

He was an angel from birth. His lack of crying scared me after delivery, but his big, blue eyes assured me he was fine. Just like his brother, he was quietly alert from his first breath. He slept peacefully in the noisy hospital through hearing tests and even his circumcision. I waited for a beast to awaken, but we took home the best baby in the nursery.

Week #1

Now a week later, my boy is bigger, stronger, and even sweeter. He weighs over 8 pounds now, and is awake a little more each day. He continues to be peaceful, even when he is awake. Like right now, I am typing with one hand as he stares up at me from my other arm.

I am so thankful we decided to have one more baby. I am enjoying him so much, knowing it is the last time I will ever experience this myself. Granted there are some aspects of giving birth I am happy not to relive, but I cannot get enough of this sweet baby. His noises, grimaces, smell, and tiny features are being committed to memory forever. I said that with the other two, and the passage of time steals so much. I know they were just as perfect in my eyes. Love is truly blind.

Maison and Carson love their brother so much too. When Knox was born, I gave them each their own disposable camera to take pictures of him. Maisy took 28 of the 39 on the way to the hospital of the back of the car. Carson took his photography very seriously, and created a scrapbook and presentation to share with his classmates today. So sweet. I am a bit over the top with germ patrol right now, which really irritates them. I am just so scared of Knox getting sick. I think they get really annoyed with me. It won't be the last time for that.

Waiting for Baby...

Here I sit, like a hen on her egg, waiting for my little chick. My belly is so big, hard, and low that I look like I swallowed a bowling ball. It is impossible to keep it covered because it pushes my pants down and my shirt up, not really an attractive look for someone of my proportions. Other than the list of physical discomforts, I am so ready to meet my new son.
He is currently nameless, but loved none-the-less. It is funny. I feel like I love him so much already and we haven't even met. I have no worries about having enough room in my heart for him. He already has his place. I just wonder what he will look and act like. I have both extremes now and wonder will he bring a third. What would that even be?
I don't ever want to forget the way it feels to have a baby resting below my heart. I read that line in a book and loved it. Jr. is positioned entirely on the right side of my belly, sunny-side-up. I have felt so many kicks and pushes this time around. At one point he was moving so much I wondered if something was wrong with him. He is really slowing down now that space is getting tight. I will always remember his little foot rubbing against my seat belt while I drove to work. It was just a little nub sticking out of my side. I can't wait to hold those little feet in my hands.
Hopefully I won't have to wait much longer.

Maisy LOVES to sing!

Musical genius does not run in our family, but Maisy seems to think she is the next super star. Here is a brief clip of her singing one of her personal hits! Listen closely to the words. They are hilarious!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Days sure fly by quickly when everyone is busy with different schedules. Maisy has soccer on Mondays. Carson has baseball on Tuesdays and games on random nights. Jeremy has frequent late meetings, and I have semi-monthly faculty meetings. You throw in dr appts which are really frequent right now with baby and flu shots. School activities for two kids and a teacher. It is hard to have a free evening. But, things are getting better. I haven't cried in a few weeks, which is a great sign. I guess I am adjusting to the constant state of chaos.

The kids seem to really like school. Surprisingly, both are doing really well. Carson got a very nice note sent home with him this week. His teacher wrote, "Carson is a continuous direction follower. I am so thankful for him." Maison had some testing done at her preschool this week, and I conferenced with her teacher today. I was very pleased with her results. She is such a different kind of kid than Carson, it is easy to overlook her intelligence at times. Probably because it is carefully crafted to manipulate me into doing exactly what she wants. In fact, on the very last activity of the test, the tester asked her to copy a design she had built with blocks. After the allotted time, she asked Maisy if she built the same design as her. Maisy said, "No, I wanted to build my own thing." I was just glad she waited until the last item to show her sass.

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks.

Back to School

It has been 2 weeks since the first day of school. Carson consistently reminds me of the actual day count, a big deal in kindergarten, so I know it is actually day #9.

Wow! What a transition for us all! I don't know who it has been harder on; me, Maisy or Jeremy. Surprisingly Carson is the one dealing with the changes the best, which usually isn't the case. Maisy cries almost every day I drop her off. What a heart breaker! It is better than the first day I took her, but it continues to be tearful each day, sometimes for both of us. I HATE it! Jeremy has been really helpful around the house, trying to ease the burden on me a bit. My patheticness is not even worth writing about, I am trying to pretend it doesn't exist, but everyone here knows how hard things have been for me lately. Very pregnant or not, I am in way over my head.

Some good laughs from the first few days:

Carson told Jeremy that everyone in his class was loud and didn't listen to the teacher. Jeremy asked, "What do you do?" Carson told him he sits quietly and waits for her directions. Jeremy's response to me was, "He's a dork!"

Then Carson came home and said he was the first kid to get his hat in the boat. I guess it is a reward for good behavior. Jeremy can't handle it.

I always spy on Maisy before I get her. I overheard her in a play house saying to a little girl, "I said, you can play house with us, but you have to be the dad b/c we don't have any boys and we need a dad." I think she is a real boss!

At the park the other day she saw a cute, young mom with long blond hair and said to me that I wasn't as pretty as that mommy. Later I asked if it was because I had a big tummy. She said, "No, it is because that mommy had vanilla hair and yours is brown like chocolate." My response, "Yours is brown too." She should have seen my bleach locks back in the day!

Something cute...Carson drew a family picture for a little book. It had all of us in pink and blue and then I had a little person in my tummy with a blue shirt on. I thought that was so clever. It is going in the "Save Forever" box.

Today I am home from work, b/c Carson is running a fever. That is the only reason my head isn't in a school book. I just had to share our experiences from the first week. More to come...some time.

7 weeks till Junior's due date!

Ten Things I Will Miss Most About Being Home

10. The Desperate Housewives (the 3 neighbor wives that are home each day)

9. The comfortable clothes

8. Sleeping in because I felt like it

7. No make-up and pony tails

6. Seeing Carson streak down the hall in his baggy whitey-tighties. I didn't know elastic could gape.

5. All of Maisy's morning hugs and kisses. She is so loving in the morning and always the first one up.

4. Thinking that a trip to the post office, Wal-Mart, and gymnastics/ball field was a busy day

3. Late nights in the driveway with the neighbors and kids catching lightning bugs...any night. They used to be all the same.

2. Early morning walks before Jeremy goes to work

1. Lazy mornings cuddled with my kids on the couch, watching Toot and Puddle in our pjs.

Today I spoiled the kids as best I could. It makes me feel better and made them happy. We had a late breakfast with cartoons, went shopping for a toy, went to the candy store, out for lunch, and to the pool. I made a big pasta dinner and hugged them both a lot.

While being home is challenging, I will really miss the comfort of being with my kids all day everyday. They have kept me company day in and out for the last 8 months. I don't know that I could have transitioned this well without them. I have got to see them both learn and grow so much. I am very thankful for the time I have spent with them. I will miss them tremendously over the next few weeks as we all adjust to our new schedules.

I refused to fix my hair or wear make-up until I went back to work. An unfortunate necessity! At least the kids look cute.

Birthday Weekend!

It was a great weekend to celebrate my boys! Carson turned 6 on Thursday and we took some neighborhood friends to Monkey Joe's, had pizza, and ice-cream cake. He had a good time. Maisy did too. I think this party might have been as much fun as Smith Summer Games was for him years ago. He still talks about that party. He got everything he asked for this year. The big hit was an IPOD shuffle, which he loves. It doesn't seem right that a 6 year old would want an IPOD, or that his parents would let him have one. I promise he won't have a cell phone before he is 16!

Jeremy's birthday was on Sunday. We rode the Metro, which the kids loved, and went to the All Star Game Fan Fest that day. It was very cool, if you weren't pregnant. Jeremy, Lori, Carson and even Maisy got to try their hand at various baseball skills. They threw pitches, tried to hit in a computer simulated batting cage against an MLB pitcher, and they tried to steal home in a base running contest. Lori was the most impressive participant with a call back for the base running. She was in the top 3 and could have competed for a pair of Reebok's that evening. It was pretty funny listening to the "old school" athletes Lori and Jeremy talking about how this would all be different if it would have been a few years ago. As Lori mentioned, it reminded us of the song, As Good As I Once Was, which is my theme song for Jeremy anyway. At least he has Field Day 2009 coming up, maybe he can redeem himself in the manly events there, like the softball throw.

It was a busy, but exciting weekend. The boys finished it off attending the Home Run Derby last night. I just can't believe my baby is 6. He is really a big boy now. No more denying it. When I look back at pictures, it seems like yesterday that it was just the three of us. Time flies. Even though he has grown up so much, he is still the sensitive, sweet, Momma's boy he was as an infant. He continues to shower me, and my growing belly with affection. I am a really lucky lady. As for Jeremy's birthday, I am thankful to have had another year with a great man. We continue to make each other crazy, but secretly love every minute of it. He is everything I had hoped he would be at 33. Just not quite as good around the house. We're still working on that.

"Do you want to be up to no good?"

Funny story to welcome you back...


Tonight Jeremy was putting Maison to bed, which is a rarity, but she was willing b/c he was going to play dollies first. As I kissed her good-night, I asked, "Are you up to no good?" Knowing some late night babies were secretly planned between her and Jerm. She shook her head yes and smiled real big. I left.


Jeremy told me after I left she said, "Do you want to be up to no good?" He said, "Yes." And asked her what she wanted to do. She said, "Do you want to eat candy and say bad words?" A lengthy conversation ensued about which type of candy and what bad words would be the "no-good". Too funny!
PS-I want to clarify "bad words". Maisy was thinking of butt and stupid. So, she still is very G Rated.

We have been busy...

October 2009

St. Louis has given us so much to keep busy. The news of our newest addition has been a real distraction lately, but we have done a lot around the city too. We have been to the Wild Bird Santuary, Lone Elk Park, The Transportation Museum, Science Center, the Zoo, Monkey Joes, The Magic House and a Cardinals Game. We have had visits from friends and family, which has been great. We can't get enough of that.

While missing home is still an issue for us, we are becoming increasingly more adapted to our new city. We have met some really nice people in our neighborhood, which has been a lot of fun for us and the kids. Carson has started machine pitch baseball and is doing GREAT! Maison just started swimming lessons today and was an AWESOME listener. She really tried hard. I just love watching the kids learn new things. They make me so proud...most of the time.

Now that I am coming out of my sleepy fog, I promise to do better with pictures. I do have a camera that works now. No more excuses from me!

It has been a month...

It has been a month since we moved. While it has gotten easier with each passing day to call this our home, I wonder how long it takes for it to really feel like home. The 3 things I love most in the world are here with me, Jeremy, Carson, and Maisy, but part of me longs for home.

I have loved being able to hang out with Sarah often and reconnecting with Ellie. It is amazing how time and space can pass between friends, but you pick right up where you left off. Their friendship has been a true source of comfort for me. I am so excited to experience all that the city has to offer. I made a list from the Visitor's Guide the other day of 42 things I want to do with the kids. It is amazing all the cool museums and activities in the area. I am hopeful that a job awaits me here and anxious to begin. In many ways moving offers you a chance to start over. By physically leaving your comfort zone, you can recreate yourself, leaving old routines behind. I hope to find a more confident, assertive version of myself here.

The one thing I miss the most about home, other than the countless family and friends we left behind, has to be the comfort I felt there. From knowing my way around town to knowing someone that loved us was less than 5 minutes away, I miss that comfort. I miss the comfort of knowing my expectations, as a mother, wife, and teacher. I am navigating unfamiliar water in all of those areas...stay at home mom, unemployed wife, and job seeking teacher. Even though I didn't always know it, I was comfortable with who I was and where I was.

I know we made the right decision. I can already tell our family is closer. While the kids are no angels, they are becoming good friends. Really playing together, because on cold days, that is all there is to play with. Jeremy is much more involved with the weekend routines, which is nice. I look forward to his arrival home from work more than ever. We are also becoming more dependent on each other, with no parents here to bail us out. I guess we are grown-ups after all.

A month into this adventure and I am thankful to have had it. We are together, healthy, and happy, which is all that truly matters. While we miss the comforts of home, family, and friends, we are figuring out who we really are, as individuals, parents, and a family.

So, if you are in need of a weekend trip, come check out how we do things on the other side of the state. We'd love to have you!

The Dirtiest Kid at the Park and Other Random Stuff

What a beautiful day! In February, 60 degrees is a true gift from above. It is finally melting the last of the 9 inches of snow that have lingered around for over a week. So, needless to say everything is a soupy mess. We did manage to make it to the park for a picnic this afternoon, along with the rest of the stay-at-home moms. It was very crowded, but fun. I did manage to have the dirtiest kid at the park though. It wasn't Carson. Maisy was covered and had to change her clothes. It wasn't even intentional, and sure didn't slow her down. My fancy little Princess loves to get dirty!

The "Mom Tooth"
Maison proudly announced to the family that she has a "Mom tooth". She showed us the Mom tooth and told us how she was getting more, now that she was three. Then she looked at Carson and said, "Do you wish you had a Mom tooth like me?" A huge argument ensued. But, Maisy still claims she has a Mom tooth.

Carson has been obsessed with the "Miracle on the Hudson". Today he was reenacting it in a mud puddle at the park. Shouting about the geese in the engine of the plane as it was landing on the water. People really thought he was odd. I prefer creative.

On a sweeter note, we went to a pet store the other day and my little animal lovers got to hold an 8 week old Boston Terrier. She was so sweet and tiny. Carson, who really doesn't like any animal, but Aspen, fell in love with her. He held her and had the sweetest look on his face as he watched her sleep on his lap. It was a really sweet experience for all of us. Maison held her too and really like it.

Maison Loves...

• Lip Gloss!!!!
• Gum
• Lucky Charms
• Dancing
• Jewelry
• Cinderella
• Logan Boenker
• Being fancy
• Coyotes
• Babies
• Nana and Pa
• Mimi and Poppa
• Shopping
• Water Horse
• Candy
• Popsicles
• Fixing hair
• High heels
• Playing house
• Over the Steamy Swamp
• "Everything that is girly"
• Easter
• Popcorn

Carson Loves...

• MU Tigers


• Pizza


• Jeremy Maclin


• Playing "rough"


• Spaghetti


• His newborn "Jacob"


• Trace Adkins CD


• Football


• Seashells


• Mac-n-cheese


• Legos


• Crusoe


• Indian Outlaw-Tim McGraw


• Greenwood


• Playing in the dirt


• Snow


• Spongebob Squarepants


• Airplanes


• Staying home


• McDonalds


• Wii


• All sports!


• His family


• Hide and Seek

For all our fans...

If you have noticed an increase in fuzzy photos or a decline in the amount of pictures on the blog, it is because my digital camera has broken. I have been taking pictures with our camcorder, that has no flash. Please contact my husband about the urgency of buying a new camera.

My pleas have not been enough.

I need your help.

Thank you!

Confidence by Mail

Today Maisy received the most beautiful birthday gift. It was a Princess Poof and crown. If self-confidence could be purchased, it was just bought for Maisy. She turns into a fancy Princess when she puts on the Poof, and it is full of poof! The poof came complete with Princess attitude, bossy and vain. She asked me, "Mom, do you wish you could be as fancy as me?" as she sadly looked at me in my sweats and t-shirt. In her eyes I am a lost cause, I am sure. I am hopeful the Poof can be purchased in a Queen size, just to reap the emotional benefits it seems to deliver. I don't think I will see her diving on the floor with her shirt off pretending to be "Logan Boenker" playing football. Tonight she is all girl!

Thank you Jeff, Nikki, George, and Ava for making Maisy's day! I know she would love to see you on her birthday, so you could admire her fanciness too. We miss you!

St. Louis Snow

We got some snow here last night. The kids could hardly go to sleep and refused to stay asleep waiting for it. It wasn't quite the 7 inches we were promised on the news, but enough to really play. The entire time we were out it was sleeting, HARD. It kept going down the back of our coats while we played. Brrrr... We built a great snow fort, tried to sled, and shovelled the drive. Carson even attempted to ski. He has been wearing Hot Wheel race tracks around on his feet in the house so he can ski on the carpet. Much to his disappointment, they didn't work in the snow. It was funny to watch though. It was a fun morning. They are upstairs sleeping off the snowy excitement right now.

Week #2-The Interview

1. What do you think of Saint Louis?

Maisy-Good!

Carson-Mmmm...The Magic House is fun.

2. What do you think of our new house?

Carson-I love it!

Maisy-I love it.

3. Why do you love it?

Maisy-Because, I'm glad we moved here.

Carson-My new room is fun. I get a break from my sister. I like to listen to music and shoot baskets.

4. What is the best part about all the changes?

Carson-The yellow slide at the park.

Maisy-Being home with Momma and going down the green slide.

5. What do you miss most about our old home?

Maisy-I miss Ha Ha and Lori and Nanny.

Carson-I miss riding my bike in the middle of nowhere.

6. If you could pick where we would live, here or there, where would you pick?

Maisy-Here

Carson-There

While my answers would have been a bit more dramatic and sentimental, but I feel like the kids are adjusting well. They love the park and their rooms. They love being home. I am so glad they are enjoying this adventure. In response to question #6, I would still say there. But I have completely enjoyed the time I have spent with old friends here. I am looking forward to all the city has to offer and I can't wait for friends and family to visit. We miss you!

Week #2 has brought only positive experiences. Week 3 brings another playdate, Maisy's birthday, and a visit from my parents. It will be a good one!

Around the House

Evidence that we are getting settled. Carson loves his room! He rocks out to country music and shoots hoops with the door shut, still. Maisy is just happy wherever she is. Happiness surrounds my soon-to-be 3 year old. I am in the process of planning her special day. Sarah suggested a fun kid's salon called the Hairy Elephant. I am going to make her an appointment tomorrow. I hope they can get her in on her birthday. She will love it! Maisy checked out a book in the library with all sorts of fancy princess foods and she picked out the cake and treats she wants to serve after her "fancy" dinner out at AppleBees, that is her favorite spot. She just loves that macaroni! You know, the kind by Kraft. :)

Week #1

Wow! The last few months have been a complete whirlwind. It seems we have barely had time to catch our breath, let alone blog. But, in a new city without many friends and no family nearby, I should have more time for my neglected duties. The list is long!

Tonight marks one week in the new house. The move was by no means fun, but we made it with only one broken item, which is good news. However, we have had our share of hang-ups.

Day #1-Refrigerator was too big for the cut-out in the kitchen. It is permanently sticking out, which is livable, but not ideal.
Day #2-The washer broke. It leaked water everywhere. At least I didn't have any laundry to do. HA!
Day #3-No Internet...in an unfamiliar place, this has proven the most difficult to live with. But, my handy husband corrected the problem today.
Day #6-The area school district isn't hiring substitutes at this point in the year. This really complicated my employment plans.

Needless to say I have been a bit frustrated!

The kids have adjusted well, though. They both like having their own space. It was time to separate them at the old house, but I held off due to Jeremy's travels and the upcoming move. Carson loves to shut his door and listen to music. Is he 5 or 15? I am hoping this new independence will soon wear off and he will be back to shadowing me throughout the house. Maisy has struggled at bedtime. She doesn't remember ever sleeping in a room by herself, since we moved to our previous house when she was so little. She keeps asking if we are going back to Greenwood tomorrow. I think she thinks this is a vacation. It is really hard to explain that we aren't going back to stay any time soon. It makes us both sad each time she tries to come to terms with it. Jeremy seems really happy to have us here. I know the hotel life was tiring. I am glad to see him each day, but am a little over the top when he gets home. By that time I am in serious need of some adult interaction. I love the time at home, but wish we could be outdoors more. The kids are so active and curious about the new neighborhood, I would love to get out and meet people. Maybe when the highs reach double digits we'll head out. Aspen is seeming to enjoy our daily runs, marking her territory at every turn, which I have to clean up now that we no longer live in the weeds. Gross!

That pretty much sums things up from here. I hope everyone back home is doing well. We talk about friends and family so much. It's not home yet...