The drive

Driver

Driver

Passenger :)

Our move

Well our move went pretty smooth. We left DSM about a day and 5 hours later than we wanted due to one signature we had to give before we left. We drove 13 hours on Tues and 11 hours Wed. We had our walk thru Wed night and closed Thurs morning and had a couple movers come at 11 Thurs morning. We are pretty much unpacked now, but still have a few things to straighten out. We LOVE our house and it was even better than we remembered. Last night was our first stayng there and we all slept like rocks. It already feels like home!

We're home!

We got to our house at about 7:30 last night. We did the walk thru and will be moving in today. The house was even better than I remembered! I will post some pics when I unpack my camera cord.

We are...

...packed, loaded, tired, sore, sad, nervous, and scared. But also happy and very excited! We have one final paper to sign which we will hopefully get tomorrow and then 1500 miles later we will be to our new home! I will try to take some pics and update my blog. We should be settled by Friday or Saturday.

Ms. Gloria

This is the famous Ms. Gloria. Bode has been going to her house for daycare for the past 3 years. We love her and will miss her very much! She is wonderful!

It works

Given my emotional state, I may just be documenting the week with pictures.

Still celebrating!

Cousins

Recognize the shirt?

Ups and Downs

It comes in waves. Excitement for our move, house and job potential. Feeling awful about leaving our family. I just need to get through this week and get the good-byes over with because they are just getting harder and harder.

Could he be any cuter?

Grundy Center Class of 1989

Garage Sale

More birthday photos

We love to celebrate birthdays around here! On Bode actual birthday, Becky spent the night, we went to the zoo, a new fun pizza place, and had a few people over that nigth to celebrate. Notice the amazing cake! I'm sure you thought it was made by a professional, just little ol' me.

Making a dent

I started packng yesterday, I am making a dent and decided that since I am out of boxes, I can stop for the day.

That's it!

I think it is my fault. Since Bode has only been going to Gloria's 2 days a week and has been home with me more, he is becoming totally spoiled. He has my attention all the time, and we are doing a lot of special things before we move. I have put up with too much and now I feel like I am yelling at him every 5 minutes because he pouts every time he does not get his way. We kind of had it tonight at bedtime. After his 20th argument with me, Stew saw him throw a brand new toy across his room because he was upset. That was kind of the last straw. So after a lot of crying and lecturing, we took all of his birthday presents away and told him he could have them back when his behavior improves: stop pouting, be a better listener, follow directions, no time outs...all that stuff. Drastic? Not if you have to be the one telling him no all the time. So this week, we are not going swimming, not watching movies and not playing with birthday presents until his behavior shows some serious improvement. I feel so mean when we have to do stuff like this, definitely not the most fun part of being a parent!

Great news!

Stew got a call from a hospital on Friday, had a phone interview and has a face to face interview when we get down to Florida!

Weekend

We had a really busy weekend. I feel like I say that every Sunday night! We are just trying to get in everything before we leave for Florida in 2 weeks. This weekend we had a garage sale and a class reunion. I was very excited about making SO much money and getting rid of things and Stew was a little reluctant about going to his 20 year class reunion. Turned out that the garage sale was a bust (only making about $300 total) and we had a blast at his reunion. Because his family is in Muscatine, we never get to Grundy Center and I have never met any of his classmates, but the ones that are here in Des Moines. I was thrilled to meet Clark, one of his old roomates, great friends and the man that taught him to play the guitar and got him into the band thing. We also saw many of Larry and Candi's friends as well.

Happy Birthday Bode!

I say it every year, but I can not beleive you are another year older! You have changed and grown up so much this year. No longer a baby or even a toddler, but this...kid! You want to do everything yourself, you want so much to be a "big" kid. Sometimes you say the smartest funniest things and it still surprises me because it is hard to accept you growing up and getting bigger. But you are outgrowing your naps and starting pre-school this fall. Daddy and I are so proud of you and love you so much. Happy birthday Buddy!

Unbelievable

I have been getting ready for a garage sale this weekend and it is unbelievable how much stuff we have! I feel like I am not at all a pack rat, we just have so many "things". Well we are not moving all of it, so come on over this weekend and get a good deal!

Arnolds Park

Super Hero birthday

4th of July

We had a great 4th! This was the first year Bode stayed up for the fireworks and did some sparklers. We also celebrated Bode's birthday which is on the 9th. We also went to Arnolds Park and rode some rides. We were pretty busy and Bode fell asleep in the car on the way home at 6:30 and did not get up until 8:30 this morning!