Back to School

Despite the temperatures in the nineties this week, it seems that the end of summer has arrived.  I hate to say goodbye, but I am ready to settle in.  Change is not my best thing (yes, I did know that already.), but it's felt like a rough couple of months.  Our move from Monticello was bittersweet.  It's been hard living in a temporary place that I dislike.  I'm ready to for the fall and for transition to be done.

Forrest started school two weeks ago, our first time separating.  He seems to be adjusting pretty well, no tears from either of us.  I'm still adjusting to not knowing what he's doing all morning, but I'm getting there.  

We finally found a house that looks like it will work.  The inspection was just this morning, and it went well.  Hopefully in three weeks we will be moving into something to call our own.  I'm so ready!  It's time to put the bins and boxes away and find spots for everything.  There's also the job of getting ready for our next little baby to join us in early January.  Yes, indeed, it's time to get settled.  

Happy Birthday Forrest!

We've been celebrating Forrest's third birthday since last weekend, and what a fun time it's been!  Between a party in Monticello and Orion and a celebration at home, this little boy knows what a birthday is about.

So much growing and learning this past year!  Right now, Forrest still loves all kitchen gadgets.  (I keep waiting for this to pass...)  One of his favorite activities is going to Goodwill to shop with Gigi; he always comes home with a new appliance.  Between our house and Poppy and Gigi's, Forrest has five coffee makers, five ice cream makers, two blenders, two food processors, two mini choppers, four stand mixers, and I could go on.  It really is funny.  For his birthday, Grandpa Butch and Grandma Janet passed along a vintage play kitchen, which Forrest is very excited about.  He also still enjoys puzzles, Legos, and reading books.  Pinwheels are another fascination the past few months.  We enjoy going on walks with his balance bike and finding pinwheels in people's yards.  Our own collection of pinwheels has grown to five.  They are fun to look at...

Forrest is an intelligent and curious little boy who wants to know how things work.  He has many ideas that he enjoys sharing and is quite the conversationalist for those of us who understand him!  (We're planning to pursue a speech evaluation this fall through the school district.)  He is loving and enjoys snuggling up to read a book or watch a Youtube video on appliance use or repair.  I can't believe three years have passed, and Forrest's growing independence and sense of his own identity is such a source of pride and joy.  

We love you, Forrest!  Happy birthday!

Michigan 2015

Shaun has grown to love time spent on Lake Michigan, so she invited us to join her and Bill at a lake house this summer.  We packed the car and made the drive two weeks ago and were not disappointed.  We had lovely weather all week (important for a beach vacation) and enjoyed the sights that Muskegon area had to offer.

 The sand really is amazing.  Sand castles and digging were so much fun.  The disappointment in our sandbox sand when we get home was too bad.

Forgive the plaid shorts and orange striped shirt.  Sometimes Forrest has a sense of style all his own, and really, if you check out my hair in the first picture, I have no room to talk!

Forrest spent a lot of time on the tire swing.  Poppy is currently working on installing one in Orion. 

A dollar pool game lasts much longer than most other dollar items Forrest wants. 

And now vacation season is over, just like that.  August is here, and Forrest's school year begins in just two weeks.  I'm not ready...  Can we just slow down, at least until we find a house and settle in?  

Wisconsin 2015

Last week we made the drive up to Wisconsin for a little relaxation in the sun.  With the promise of a lovely day and driving made easier during sleep time, we left at two in the morning!  We were in our suits and enjoying the water by lunch.

This year proved to be an eventful trip.  Forrest wasn't very interested in the water due to a current dislike of wet swim trunks - he's a skinny-dipper at heart.  However, he had plenty of fun on the trampoline, playing with Grandma's appliances, and even on the boat for some short rides.  Joshua and I had plenty of time to soak up some sunshine.  It was such a wet June in Illinois, that we haven't been outside nearly as much as we would like.

Besides beach time, Joshua looked at a few lake houses both on his grandparents' lake and on the neighboring lake.  He's had a dream in his heart for decades of owning his very own place up there, and it seems that things are coming together for him.  A couple of months ago, during a moment of frustration over our Peoria house search, he changed his search to Wisconsin.  A new little house had just come on the market on Whitefish Lake, just down the road from his grandparents and his favorite lake in the area.  The house is small, two bedrooms and one bath, but completely remodeled and beautiful with lovely lake views.  If all goes smoothly, it will be ours at the beginning of September.  Yes, I'm still shaking my head that we're buying a vacation house before we buy a year-round house, but when opportunity knocks...  Joshua is thrilled.



So, we're buying a lake house and still looking for a home here in Peoria.  I'm trying to be patient, but failing most days.  We're struggling with wanting an older, established neighborhood with trees and a central location but not wanting to do much remodeling.  We're just not very handy people.  The search continues.

Professional Pics!

Photos from Kati and Ryan's lovely day are in, and I've finally chosen my favorites.  Blessings to Kati and Ryan as they begin their married life!

I've been away!

Since my last post following Kati's wedding, things have been busy!  Really busy!  We're not used to that...

The first weekend in May we moved to Peoria.  Joshua had been commuting to his new job for a month, so it was time to go.  Our Monticello house sold on May 5, and we currently live in a rental house in our old neighborhood with lots of shade trees and hills for coasting.  It's fine for now, but we are busy looking for something to call our own.  This seems to be a bit of a challenge.

Throughout May, Forrest and I did our best to be in Monticello during the week for school.  I hate not finishing things I start.  I say we did our best, because, unfortunately, we had many sick days.  I had a rough patch and Forrest had at least two.  We finally got him in to see an ENT, and he's scheduled to have his adenoids and tonsils out mid June.  I'm feeling nervous about this but am so hopeful that we can put behind the fevers, sinusitis, ear infections, snoring, constant drainage, and sleep apnea we've been dealing with since Christmas.

Our final day of school was last Thursday, with a family picnic on Saturday.  How we will miss all of our friends!  I've shed some tears.  It really was a lovely year.  Forrest's teacher, Heather, has made such a positive impact on our lives over the past two years.  What a lucky chance meeting we had on a walk so long ago.  This fall, Forrest will continue at Peoria Montessori School in a primary program five days a week.  Yikes!  How can my little boy be nearly three-years-old already?

During the month of June, we don't have too much planned.  Forrest and I will keep busy enjoying the ease of access of Peoria that I missed in Monticello.  Joshua is working a lot but really seems to like his new job.  Here's hoping for peace and joy in our household throughout the summer.

Kati and Ryan's Wedding

Last weekend was the much-anticipated wedding!  We flew out to Phoenix to celebrate and enjoy a long weekend with Kati and Ryan.  Here are a few pictures until we see the professional ones.

Now for the big move on Sunday.  The house is in mid-pack-up and a complete mess.  I'm feeling anxious and ready for this business to be over.  Here's hoping we love our rental house because moving is quite unpleasant.