Catch-Up

I'm getting so bad about posting what is going on, that I'm having to play catch-up. Of course, school started. It seems like we didn't even have a summer...although all of us getting ready in the mornings in a new house was different. Here are a couple of first-day pictures:

It was Kaylee's first day to drive to school, so I wanted to get a picture of her in the car. She wasn't cooperating...

Football also started. Guess who is on the 35-yard line during the pre-game (which just happens to be right in front of our seats)?

She was trying so hard NOT to look right at us!

We are also in the middle of the VW County fair. UGH! Why they start school before the fair is beyond me. School has already been canceled twice due to fog, so the kids are getting an extra-long fair break over Labor Day weekend. They love it.

Cassidy is adjusting to her new school. We moved her from St. Mary's this year. It was a hard decision, but we just felt it was in her best interest. She is in fourth, Whitney is in seventh, and Kaylee is a sophomore. Where does the time go?

I've been doing a little painting, and Jeff has been busy with some household repairs (washing machine leak....don't ask) and planning to build a shed. There is always some project taking our time (and money). Oh - and our van broke down at the mall last week, so that has only added to the adventure. Luckily, it was covered under our warranty, so that saved a few bucks.

I'm sure ther is more than that going on, but that is all my brain can process right now. Gotta go to bed. 'Night.

We're Here

Did I say we would be moving for the next two days? Make that two months. Or, as many people have told me - "don't expect to be completely settled in for at least a year." If I had only known....

Well, true to their word, we are in, but not 100% settled. We don't have much up on the walls yet, and there are still a few boxes around the house. (There are still A LOT of boxes in the garage, but that is Jeff's territory.) I've been busy doing some patching and painting. Remember that furniture shopping I wanted to do? We have furnished the family room, but not yet the living room. The TV is sitting on the floor in the family room. Eventually, it will go to the basement, but first we have to pick out a new one for upstairs. All in due time I guess.

The kids have been busy having friends over and enjoying the pool.

Whitney turned 13 in July! Oy - two teenagers in the house! Please keep us in your thoughts...

Oh, and Kaylee got her license yesterday. As I stated on Facebook - I think my life is about to get somewhat more simple, yet a lot more complicated. It is so great that she will be able to help out with some of the running - school, cheer practice, dance, etc. But....then again.....I guess it's a mom's job to worry.

Also - school starts next week. I can't believe how fast this summer went. Throw a move in to the summer, and there is absolutely no time for anything extra. We have done some school shopping, with more to come this week. I've had to squeeze it in at the last minute. Both Cassidy and Whitney want me to take pictures of their school shoes and post them - like I did last year. Apparently, that will be our tradition. No time for that tonight though. I have to prepare for the week ahead. I just wanted to get a quick update out here so my two readers wouldn't worry about us :).

Moving...

...for the next two days we will be moving to our new home. May be absent for awhile, until we settle in and get the computer hooked up again. Wish us luck!

Secret, secret...

...I've got a secret.

Okay, so it's not much of a secret anymore. Word is out, and it's true - we are MOVING!

Finally, after at least seven years (I'm not kidding) of looking, we have found a different house and are moving. None of us have really come to grips with it yet. We've been looking for so long, that it doesn't seem real. It is all going to sink in about two weeks from now, when we will be knee deep in boxes and trucks. (Not really looking forward to that part.)

We are totally PSYCHED! Finally, each kid gets their own room, and we will have a basement to "shove" the kids down to when they have friends over. I get to go furniture shopping, and TV shopping, and decor shopping! We are kind of in the process of packing, but that seems to be going slow. Could it be softball games every night? Hmmmmm.....

At the same time, we are a little (stress little) sad. There are a few things we will miss about our current home:

• My kitchen - Jeff and I designed our kitchen when we decided to completely remodel the dining/kitchen area. Jeff built the bar with glass blocks himself. Plus, I love my cabinets.


• Our porch - It is a really nice, old-fashioned porch for sitting and watching people.


• Neighbors - We actually felt a little guilty when we told our close neighbors about our upcoming move. I feel like we are abandoning them. :(


• Walking to the football games. Sure, now that I have double the games to go to, I have to wrestle with a parking spot.


• Walking to Rocky Top for ice cream, or the movie store for videos.


• Halloween - Our neighborhood totally rocks at Halloween. For some reason, people flock here. We may just have to come back for that occasion.

I won't get in to the things I won't miss about the house, but there are a few. Obviously, or we wouldn't have started looking. It has been a nice "starter home" and we have made a lot of upgrades to it over the years. It is the house we brought two of our babies home to - the only home they have known up to this point. That makes me a little melancholy. It will be fun to see them adapt to the new house. Whitney is my sentimental one, and I have a feeling she will spend quite a bit of time "missing" the old house. I keep telling everyone - we are taking the memories with us - we will never leave those behind. All of the kids have friends in the new neighborhood, so I think the transition will go smoothly overall.

I've promised softball photos, so here are a few. We've been a little preoccupied, so there aren't as many as there have been in the past.

Whitney plays for Convoy. Occasionally, she gets to pitch, which she really likes.

Cassidy plays for Ohio City. Don't ask how I managed to have two kids play for two different towns. Long story. She is trying her hand at catching this year. (She has also started to pitch.)

Oh, Whitney also got to ride a float in the Peony Parade, for Flip Tuck Gymnastics.

Our summer is shaping up to be quite an adventure!

Dance Recital 2009

It has taken me awhile to get these on here. Dance recital was a few weeks ago - just haven't had time to update. Here are some action pictures of the girls.

I can't believe Whitney got her 10-year trophy this year. She was pretty excited...it's almost as big as she is! (hehe)

As usual, they all got flowers after their performance. They were being a little silly while we were trying to get them to pose with their bouquets.

Whitney tried out for 7th grade cheerleading and made it. So, that means even MORE football games next year. Boy, those stadium chairs I bought last year are sure going to come in handy.

In other news....school is finally out! Whew! That is always a relief, although our summer is action-packed. Cassidy had an awards day the last day of school.

I'll try to get softball pictures on here soon. It has either been chilly at the games, or I have just plain old forgotten to bring the camera.

More exciting news to come, so stay tuned. Although most people already know by now (I'm starting to realize just how small of a town Van Wert is), I want to form my thoughts about how to post about our latest announcement......

Sweet 16

Kaylee turned 16 last Sunday. It was a pretty low-key celebration here. I feel bad. I'm sure every girl would like to have a big Sweet 16 party, but it just wasn't in the cards. We don't have the house for entertaining a bunch of teenagers. Maybe we'll do something special later in the year. We did have a few relatives over for cake.

She couldn't give me any good birthday ideas, so she got money. I know - how boring. Nope - no car. Again - just not going to happen yet. We still need to get some driving hours in before she can get her license. It's just hard to find the time to even do that right now. Once she has that, she will "share" with her dad, and we'll see how that goes.



She tried out for cheerleading this week, and made it. Another year of football games for us! We are excited for her. It was a lot of fun to watch her last year. I just hope that there is no accompanying drama...you know how teenagers can be. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in high school.

This weekend is the dance recital, which will take most of our time. Pictures to come soon.

Whitney and Cassidy have each started their softball seasons. I'll post about that after dance. One thing at a time!

HAPPY 16th KAYLEE!

Mother's Day - A little late

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. Mine was....well, not too bad. Cassidy was very sweet, and made me breakfast. She actually had me place my "order" the night before. I took her and Whitney to see the Hannah Montanna movie - just to get out of the house awhile. Other than that, I was totally lazy.

Today - May 12 - is the day that my own mother passed away twelve years ago. I last saw her on that Mother's Day in 1997, and she died the next day. So, Mother's Day, and today in particular, are bitter-sweet. It makes me stop and reflect on my childhood, my mom, and my kids. She would be very proud of them. I can't believe it has been twelve years. I was 28, Kaylee was about to turn 4, and Whitney was less than 10 months old. My mom never even met Cassidy - but I know she would have gotten a kick out of her! My dad passed away less than two years later - I had just found out I was pregnant with Cassidy.

Sorry - don't mean to be a downer!

We had a garage sale this past weekend. A relatively successful one! Got rid of a lot of junk, and made a little money to boot. Who can complain? Cassidy had another great soccer game. We are winding down with dance - with the recital taking place next weekend. Plus, Kaylee turns 16 this coming Sunday (the 17th). (She has not been able to give me any ideas for her birthday. Weird teenagers.) Whitney just had a band concert tonight. No pictures....it's too tough to get good lighting.

I'm sure there is more going on around here that I could get in to. But, it's late and I'm tired. Good night....