Happy Halloween!

This year marked Forrest's first trick-or-treating experience.  We've been preparing for a few weeks. After campaigning for a costume of "Cuisinart ice cream maker with cat and rabbit spinning around," we finally settled on yellow m&m.  I just wasn't sure my creative skill could handle an operational appliance costume.

Despite the few raindrops, we had a very nice 15 minutes of trick-or-treating.  Forrest was ready to go home and enjoy his candy.  Yes, he did choose the one full-size bar that he was given.  Very exciting!

While we were busy trick-or-treating, Dad was working on installing a new swing in our garage.  It's called a Super Spinner (sort of a cross between a regular swing and a tire swing); it's a hit.  I haven't managed a good action shot yet, but we love it!  I'm looking forward to using it through the winter, given it's place in the garage rather than outside.  

We're a happy little family these days.  

A New View!

I'm so excited to be typing from our new home!  We've been here for about two weeks now, and it's lovely.  We bought a nice split level in a neighborhood not far from Forrest's school, just what I had in mind.  You'll remember that the last time we lived in Peoria, we had a split level.  What can I say?  The layout just works for me - a nice ranch on top with a family room and large garage below.  This time around, the house is mostly updated with just a few things I want to change.  I'm sure I'll be writing about that as time goes on.  For now, I'm enjoying the view out the front window onto many fall trees in the neighborhood and in the distance.  I'm feeling so peaceful about our spot!

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!