on moving...

My husband and I are no strangers to moving as we've done it four times in the five years that we've been married. First there was our 1st apt. in our current neighborhood. Then the unit below our friends opened up and it was in an old town house so we thought it'd be cozy to be "virtually" living in the same house. Those friends relocated months after we moved in (only across the neighborhood), and we quickly grew discontented with that place (really high cost utilities and leaking water and strange smells) and moved into a studio behind our former business. Then the studio got a bit cramped and Stephen needed space from work so we moved up the street to our current residence. We have actually been here for 2 years--a record for us! In retrospect, I would've been fine w/ our first place for all 5 years...but hindsight is always 20/20. Our current apt. has room for a nursery, a front porch, and laundry in the basement so I've been pretty content here. However, we are definitely "house hungry." I think that's expected since we've been married 5 years and been through so many changes; it's that desire to settle into something more long-term and to make it our own.

So we are embarking on our 5th move this month. It is unique for us in that we now have an (almost) 8 mo. old "crawling" around and we are moving in with family. We are trying to avoid a separate storage unit, but there's an obvious amount of sorting involved based on what things we will need immediate access to, and what can be tucked away in respective family basements.

Purging is good.
Sorting is healthy.
Trying to sort while Caitlin investigates the dangerous things in her room does not work so well.

I believe we will get there.
It helps to have deadlines.
We just really need to buckle down.

Wish us luck!

Father's Day

We recently spent 9 days in Detroit for a sort-of vacation. Our intention was to go to the cottage in Canada for some of that time, but that's hard to do w/ an expired passport ;(. So we just took our time with both families, a few friends, a grad party and some Father's Day celebrating. I was also lucky enough to get a last min. surprise interview. It may turn into something, it may not...the market is VERY competitive over there as there are so many teachers out of work and folks graduating from teacher's colleges in the area. The fact that I've had 4 interviews is encouraging in and of itself.

We got to spend time with Caitlin's new cousin, Hudson..I'll post more pics in the future. I can't believe I forgot how SMALL Caitlin was @ the nb stage! And she got to play with her cousin Lily who seemed to enjoy entertaining her. It makes me feel good to know that Caitlin is learning her family faces--all the grandparents and her cousins. I grew up seeing one set of grandparents and aunts and uncles pretty frequently and that is something that I want for my child.

We also got to go on a DATE! Our budget has been tight and we don't have as much free babysitting around here, so we've just been enjoying the post 7pm hours as "adult time" for conversation and renting movies. BUT...it was extremely nice to finally get out and spend the whole evening together. We went to a vegetarian restaurant in Ann Arbor, got coffee at Espresso Royale and sat in the park. We lucked out b/c it was 1/2 off wine night @ the restaurant...I look forward to more dating in the future! ;)

We also did a bit of preparation for moving into Stephen's family's house. I am so grateful that they're allowing us to land there temporarily while we begin the hunt for the right house, the right price, and the right neighborhood.

dreams

Since it is on my mind so often, I thought I should write about the house/space that I dream about as a way to process it/get it off my chest! ;)...in a good way, of course. A few years back my husband and I did a wee bit of house hunting in Pittsburgh. We came across one very cute 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath, finished basement, big backyard house just up the hill from where we live. It was in very good shape as an elderly couple were taking care of it for 40 years and when I say "taking care," I mean it. Sure I would rip down all of the wall paper, re-do the whole kitchen, rip up the carpet, etc. But it really seemed like it might have been worth our while. The one BIG plus to me, was the big, long, sturdy wash line out back. It turns out it just wasn't the right time, and we didn't want to rush if we weren't sure we were staying in Pittsburgh for years to come. I am glad that we waited.

Today I am fully aware of the fact that it may still be a few more years before the right house is ours for the owning. However, I am just taking a moment to dream...IF I could have the ideal house/setting, it would have:

1) 3 bedrooms
2) 1.5 bathrooms
3) connect living area and dining room
4) MUD ROOM (this served my family WELL as kids came tromping in with boots in the winter, etc.)
5) laundry hookup
6) room for a wash line!!!!!
7) room for lots of gardens
8) room for a bit of grass for caitlin to play in...and for steve to get the satisfaction of mowing
9) room for a sewing table & desk (3rd b.room?)
10) basement or attic storage
11) NATURAL LIGHT (I'd rather only use the lamps on overcast days or during the evening)
12) lots of counter space in the kitchen, a pantry, and a gas stove (I realize I may have to provide that appliance...)

And in the spirit of a walkable community...I would like to be able to walk to many places (library, drug store, coffee shop, farmer's market)...and there a only a few places in Detroit-metro where this is possible...so we start praying...NOW! ;)

Ah...that's what dreams are made of...

summer is here

Caitlin has now been to two weddings this summer. There are two more to go and, unfortunately, we missed one of a Pittsburgh friend. I have always enjoyed weddings, but I have enjoyed them even more since I've been married and I truly understand the hard work and wonderful benefits of married life. I know I was naive about the commitment that I was making when I said, "I do" almost 5 years ago. But I felt that I knew Stephen well and I felt confidant that our families would love and support us through the growth process. I am glad that I waited a year out of college to get married because I did learn a lot about myself during that year. Hopefully I can pass that advice on to my daughter if she is making similar decisions in the future.

What I also love about wedding celebrations is I find myself listening to the words of the officiant (pastor, priest, etc.) and taking them to heart in whatever stage I find our marriage to be in. It's a nice chance to just hold each other's hand, listen to the sage advice, and be reminded of the blessings that we have in our love.

Stephen's cousin, Tom, is getting married in July. Again, I look forward to celebrating with and for them as they begin the journey that we began 5 years ago. Marriage and now parenthood can be stressful, but the ways our love has strengthened over the years humble me.

Managing

This may seem like stating the obvious, but I was just realizing how much more responsible parenting has made me. I am so much better at balancing my checkbook, and keeping track of finances. I am way better at being mindful to try and get the dinner dishes cleaned every night (I said "better"...not 100% successful ;)). I am more keenly aware of how many food groups are involved in the meals I'm eating (that started in the 1st Trimester). I am far more organized at work....I'm hoping this soon transfers over to the home office. I am also better at meal planning so that we don't waste fresh food.

I have great aspirations for heading into this task of moving with incredible organization. I am going to start a family binder to keep a family calendar, to organize bills to pay, and wedding invites ;) and other pertinent info. that I can just throw in my purse during the move. I also started a packing list for every room with two columns, one column for storage items and one for "take with"...as we'll be moving in with family and it's going to require major sorting! I admit that I stole the idea from a blogger...but the packing info. is my own twist as that section applies to our current situation.

Last day of work for the 2010 School Year! Wahoo!

Off to organize this great binder!

Family

These are the reasons that my husband and I want to head home. And it appears that this year will bring more significant changes for my family as my dad will be taking work that has him away from home. We will be more available to mom when she needs us; instead of being a 5 hr. drive away. We will be closer for visits with Caitlin's great grandma and grandpa. I am so much looking forward to coming home. I am challenged by the writings of Wendell Berry to plant roots and help grow community. I know it will take us months to discern which community is the best fit for us in the Detroit area, but I am confident that the answers will come in the right time. If there's anything I've learned in the near 5 years that I've been married and in the 7 months that I've had a child, it is that God's time is the best time. And if I commit my plans to Him; I will not fail. I really believe in the promise of an abundant life and I thank my husband for helping me to be mindful of that promise from time to time (esp. right after I birthed our daughter and i was so sore, tired and at my wits end that I allowed my anxiety to rob me of my joy).

Today I am thankful for the generations that have raised me and for the family that holds me near.

Freebies

Ah I love the end of the year as a public school employee! Free food galore! And maybe it's a sign of the times, but I really lucked out in that the school cook out included veggie burgers! So my head is now buzzing from my burger, chips, snickers and soda all provided by the school. Too much sugar! But it was nice to have to put my own lunch in back in the fridge--saves me some work tomorrow morning. The administration, it seems, is constantly trying to keep the teachers happy with free food: bagels and cream cheese after PSSA testing, cookies and punch on the occasional Friday, cookouts scattered throughout the year. I'm sure what would REALLY be appreciated would be a few more bucks in those paychecks for the shenanigans the teachers have to put up with in the classroom. Speaking of which, this morning I had to take a detour to get into my classroom b/c the senior boys had blockaded the hallway as their "prank." Not a very creative prank if you ask me, but hey that's better than pulling the fire alarm.

In other news, I will happily post some new pics of the family once I upload them onto the computer. She was playing in the laundry basket last night and it was truly a Kodak moment: will post. We should've had the video camera with us on Monday as she met a baby at our friend's barbecue who is very close in age. They were squealing and laughing at each other and squeezing one another's hands. Everyone in the room was laughing to the point of tears. I wonder if twins enjoy each other that much as babies?

I cannot believe it: only 4 more days w/ the students!