Moving Tales

As you all know, we finally moved into our new house!  After a somewhat frustrating process (I think all moving is similar these days) and many months of waiting, St. Joseph interceded on our behalf and everything seemed to fall in place.  We spent most of the day on May 13 closing on the old house, then the new one and finally by about 5:00 pm, the guys (Paul, Ken, neighbor Rob, and two high school boys) started loading the truck.    Joy and I took the girls to the new house where two girls from church met us to help clean before all our stuff arrived.  The guys packed up about about half our things Friday night and went back for the rest on Saturday morning.  By about 5:00 on Saturday everything was unloaded, the truck was returned, and we focused more on unpacking.  Since then, I have been enjoying finding a place for everything...which is not very hard to do...and Paul has been working on house repairs...inside and outside.

A picture of our packing process

We are absolutely loving the new house!  It's location is so convenient in getting just about anywhere, we have so much more space, and all of the neighbors seem great!  It is bittersweet to leave the 173 group in Polo Fields, but I think it will be a good transition for our family.

Front view of our new house

View of the back of the house

Our Polo Fields friends threw us a "Klinker Send-off" last weekend, which was very sweet of them.  (They are always looking for a reason to throw a party:)  It was a great way to say one last good -bye to all those families that we would often see every day.  The girls are really going to miss playing with all the kids they have grown up with...they often ask if we can go back to our old neighborhood to play with our friends:)

Unfortunately a 2 hour rainfall 'dampened' party spirits.  23 kids plus their parents were crammed into Ryan and Jenny's house until things dried up.  However, by then it was 10pm and everyone started to pack up and go home.  It was a little crazy, but I think everyone still had a good time.

The new neighbor kids have been very friendly and often come over to play, even the oldest ones who are 10-15!  Unfortunately, we didn't make a very good first impression with our new neighbors because only a week after we moved in, a neighbor girl fell off our swing and broke her arm!  Luckily her parents didn't blame us and were very understanding, however, it still doesn't look good on our part!

We are looking forward to the summer, getting to know the neighbors better, and spending time at the neighborhood pool. Visitors are welcome anytime!

Hugs!

Busy Little Toddlers Make for Very Busy Momma

I know most people would tell me "it is just the age," but I think Madeline's busyness is far from over because of her adventurous personality.  Her nickname as "Little Destroyer" holds truer today than it did a few months ago.  If I don't watch her 'like a hawk' (which every mom knows is nearly impossible to do if you want to get anything else done around the house) then she gets into some sort of trouble.  Trouble that often consists of playing in the toilet, eating toothpaste, drawing on Paul's desk or the couch, ripping books, 'playing' on the computer, or pushing a chair up to the counter and eating candy...but could easily be any number of things the mind could conjurer up.  She is definitely not one of those children you can tell once not to do something and they never try it again....I have never been blessed with such a child;)  Since she can't open doors yet (thank goodness), we try to keep bathrooms, offices, etc. closed, but if any of them are left open even for 2 seconds, she makes a b-line for the room and begins her destruction.  Our kitchen chairs are constantly left turned on their side to avoid her climbing on the table, but now she is learning to tip them back up and uses them to get things she wants that are normally too high for her.

Madeline sneaking candy on the counter

Maybe I am just getting lazy in my increasingly pregnant state, but that girl wears me out!  One day we were playing on the playground and Rose and Ava both wanted to try the monkey bars.  I helped them both across and turn around to find Madeline on the top rung of the ladder, barely holding on, wanting a turn next.  She does not realize that she is smaller than the other girls and physically just can't do everything they do.  And usually when we tell her 'no' or 'stop' she continues what she is doing more aggressively.  I guess that is most toddlers, though, right?!

Madeline putting on 'lipstick' with a permanent marker
(note: her sweet hair)

I think I might know where Madeline gets her mischievousness....her oldest sister.  Rose finds very creative ways to use her 'quiet time' in the afternoons.  Although she occupies herself very well, mom is not always so thrilled with the results.  The other day I went upstairs to tell her she could get up and this is what I found:

She managed to get every piece of clothing out of every drawer and scatter it around the room!  When asked what she was doing, she said she was just trying things on.  The not very fun part was 'clean-up' time, which of course at this age needs lots of parental supervision and direction.

I guess they say 'they're keeping me young' by keeping me on my feet, right?!  One thing is for certain...life with toddlers is never dull or boring:)  I truly wouldn't have it any other way!!!

Hugs!