probably time for a post.

I figured I should write a post before life gets crazy and I have too many things to update you on.  Like Scot coming home (Monday).  Like Evan turning 5 (Tuesday).  Like 4th of July festivities and going to the zoo with friends (Weds-Friday).

Like I said.  Life is about to get crazy.

Life has been busy for us, though.  The boys and I are falling into a nice routine.  I'm still running random errands for random items every other day.  I've made 5 trips to The Home Depot in the last week and a half and at least that many to Target.  It's a good thing they're both close.  It's a fabulous fact that the market I like is only a half mile away, too.

The biggest news is that TODAY marks the last day of Scot's medical training.  Period.  No more residency.  It's been a long and hard road these last 7 years, but by God's grace we made it out alive.  At the beginning, people always talked about the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.  Well, we're standing in that glorious light right now and let me tell you what: it feels great!  I am so awed and proud and humbled and thankful and elated that the Lord has enabled and allowed us to get to this point.  I am beyond proud of Scot, who has always worked hard to keep learning, to never give up, to push on with little-to-no sleep.  He has always been a great husband and father amidst the demands residency put on him.  I am thankful for his faithfulness to the roles and responsibilities the Lord has given him.

The second biggest news is that our friends from Cleveland are here visiting and we were able to show them around Colorado Springs for 2 days, thanks to the graciousness of my folks letting 5 kids and 2 women just lodge at their beautiful house.  We had so much fun and we packed our 2 days full to the brim of fun things.  We stopped and saw Glen Eyrie, walked around Garden of the Gods, shopped at the Trading Post, enjoyed Josh & John's ice cream, got all dressed up and explored the Broadmoor Hotel, (they) drove up Pikes Peak,  atre world famous only-made-at-the-summit donuts, popped into Manitou Springs, headed to the splash fountain, and just enjoyed the out-doors (and indoors) at my folks.  Like I said, it was a packed 2 days.  Here are just a few pictures.

 The boys were so excited to show the girls The Garden.  It was hot, but they did great.

 Just some run-of-the-mill unprompted cuteness for these 4.

 We didn't account for Micah being so little (4 months) and not allowed to travel to the top of Pikes Peak.  Since I'd been before, I kept Micah and my boys at Crystal Lake while E and the girls went to the summit.  While the views were quite different, I was able to get a number of great pictures of the peak -- it was a gorgeous day!

The second day was just as hot as the first, so we headed to the park to cool off in the water and splash around.  It did the trick and everyone ate good dinners before we packed everyone up and headed home!

Father's Day 2013

Father's Day wasn't normal this year for 2 reasons.

1) Scot wasn't with us.

2) MY dad was with us most of the day.

We were sad about reason #1, but very excited about #2 (and hope it becomes the new norm).  It was sweet to be able to cook a special lunch for my dad to honor him, to watch him play ball with the boys in the back, and just have him around to give a good hug to.  And don't worry, I sent Scot to find a special bag I had hidden for him at the house where he's house-sitting with all sorts of Father's Day goodies/gifts.  Scot was also able to talk to the boys for a bit which made his day. Needless to say, both the dads in my life were happy men today.

Bonus for me: my dad fixed my front door.  It wasn't broken, per se, but I had to put everything down and pull on the knob with all my might just to be able to lock the dead bolt.  Not helpful when there are groceries involved.  So, thank you dad!

Just another 2 weeks til we're a full family again!  The last 2+ weeks have flown by, but I think these next 2 will feel a little longer.

A house update: I finished unpacking on Friday and except for getting a bed for us, the whole house is in order and done.  Pictures are hung, clothes are in drawers or closets, etc.  A load of laundry has been done, a meal plan has been written, and there are events on the calendar.  Life is here.  The boys are loving the big backyard and the rabbits they spot out there and on our walks.  We're living already -- going out and having fun.  In fact, my college roommate lives 2 miles away and has a son Drew's age and we got together on Saturday and went to this great little firetruck rally.  The boys had a great time.  Here are a few pictures of that.

we're here!

After 3 legs to our journey, we finally arrived at our house on Tuesday and were closely followed by the moving truck.  In 4 short hours all our house-hold goods (I hope!) were unloaded and mostly all put into the house.  My mom was wonderful and helped watch the boys while I directed "traffic" and marked off numbers to keep tally of our things.  In the end, mom left after I put the boys down for a nap and I tried to get as much done as I could before collapsing into bed much later than I should have.  I also woke much earlier than I planned.

After 2 days of non-stop unpacking and organizing this is where we stand (and I couldn't have done it with out my mom's help and encouragement).  The kitchen, dining room, living room, pantry, main bath, laundry, boys room, and rec/play room are all unpacked and organized.  I'm halfway done with the guest room but I ran out of energy (or was it the computer calling my name after 4 days of no internet?).  I have 17 boxes left to unpack and they're all in my room which I'm not even using until Scot gets here since we're getting a new mattress and I can't quite pick that by myself. :D  So I think that's ok.

So far we've taken walks in our lovely neighborhood and met really nice people.  I went to the nearest market (grocery store) and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was.  Apparently it's the place to shop for good deals -- and it was!  I'm going to love shopping there!  The house is on a quiet street and we're loving the 1/4 acre fenced-in back yard.  The boys have taken to watching the numerous rabbits, robins and squirrels in our yard and on walks.

I'm loving the house, by the way.  I've (and my mom!) have had to clean more than I anticipated, but at least when it's clean it looks clean.  There is plenty of storage (I even converted the coat closet to a pantry and I love it!) and we're enjoying the floor plan.  The windows are a little tricky to open/close, but that's the only complaint I have.  And it's just for a year or two so I'm ok with it.  We're close to church and parks and friends and great places to eat.  All we need is Scot here with us (he'll get here July 1st).

As I was walking with the boys tonight after dinner to run some steam out of them before baths and bed, I got to thinking how much I had forgotten.  I'd forgotten what eating out on the deck for most meals felt like.  I'd forgotten how wonderful walking into a bright kitchen with sunlight streaming in is.  I'd forgotten how few bugs are here.  I'd forgotten how bearable 95 degrees is when you don't have humidity.

Also, I'd forgotten how much hurt there is leaving a place and friends you love.  No matter how wonderful it is here, and it is wonderful and I'm so excited at where the Lord has us right now, it hurts, too, to be away from all that had become so familiar.

Tomorrow we start life here.  We'll run errands.  We'll meet up with friends.  I'll make dinner in the kitchen for the first time.  We'll begin to form a routine that will become second nature to us here.  It's exciting and daunting all at the same time.

For pictures of our trip out here and the house, go here. 

We're alive!

Just a quick note to let you know we're all alive and very well.

We are now in Colorado, but in the springs with my folks since our goods won't be delivered until Tuesday (about 4 days later than anticipated).   I'm so thankful for my folks and their generosity to just let us stay with them longer than we planned.  Not that they're complaining, though -- they have the boys here to spoil with their love and time and we're all loving it.

Some high points from the last 10 days.

• 3 days of driving.  a 7 hr/400mi trip to Chicago where we stayed for 1.5 days.  a 5 hr/300mi trip into Iowa where we stayed for 3.5 days.  a 12 hr/800mi trip into Colorado Springs.  
• The boys did FABULOUSLY on all 3 legs on the trip, but especially well on the long one.  We started before daybreak and we're to my folks right after naps.  Going early is the way to go!  
• PRASIE THE LORD for keeping us safe and granting us energy and good attitudes!
• Our time in both Chicago and Iowa with friends and family was delightful.  Chicago was a neat experience as we stayed with my second cousin, visited with my great Aunt, and the boys got to re-meet and play with their third cousins (5 of them) who are very close in age to them.  I had 3.5 days with one of my dearest friends and it was a wonderful time of fellowship and catching up and having the boys all play together.
• We miss our Ohio friends something awful, and I'm hating this 2 hour time difference thing.  Once things are a little more settled, I hope to set up a better system of staying in contact.

Otherwise, in the present, we're having a blast.  It's a little odd -- it feels like a mini-vacation in the middle of such a big move, but it's a wonderful respite after a couple stressful weeks and before the next few weeks of setting the house up (something I'm really excited about).  

I'll have pictures to post at some point, I'm sure, but for now, I just figured I'd give a short update.