A Trip to the Museum

Last weekend we took the kids to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. This museum is downtown Raleigh, about a 20 minute drive for us on Saturday morning. The best part of the whole excursion was that it was free. There were some interesting things for the kids, like live animals (just a few), but most of the things to see were large displays. One of the things Austin and Lindsey enjoyed the most were the many dinosaur skeletons.



Lindsey sticks her head inside the head of a T-rex.

Here are the kids in a bat cave--looking up at stuffed bats.

Lindsey-isms

As a four-year-old, Lindsey is at the place in life where she's starting to put things together. The byproduct of greater understanding must be broader assertions and questions. At least I hope that is the measuring stick of learning. If it is, she's doing really well. Here are some recent questions and sayings over the last couple of weeks that have made us laugh.

• We have a tradition of replacing a lost tooth under the pillow with a dollar. I use the term "tradition" lightly because only Austin of our three kids has lost any teeth yet. However, very recently when he lost another tooth, he woke up in the morning to find a dollar under his pillow. (I believe he really thinks there is a tooth fairy). We generally let him spend his dollar(s, over the last few months) at the dollar store. That is a place that is pretty easy to understand for a kid. We decided this time around to let Lindsey have a dollar from her bank too so she wouldn't feel left out. As we were pulling away from our townhouse in the van Lindsey shouts out, "Wait! Mommy, I forgot my ticket!" "Ticket?" "Yes, my ticket for the dollar store." "You mean your dollar?" "Yeah, my ticket."
• Recently I was explaining to Austin why it's important to brush your teeth in front down below and above the gum line. When he asked why it was important I said (hope I was right) that sometimes little pieces of food get down in between your teeth and gums and it's important to brush them out before bacteria begins to grow. Lindsey, with the most serious look on her face asked "You mean little pieces of food like sprinkles?"
• Janet was reading her a book one day and Lindsey had to go to the bathroom. She asked, "Mommy, could you pause it so I can go potty?"
• Last night as we had the Olympics on, she watched with interest as the long ski jumpers were doing their thing. "Daddy," she asked, "Do you think sometime I could try that?" "Sure," I said.
• One more-- and I don't know how I forgot this one, but I'm adding it now after my original post. One evening we were watching the evening news and the weather forecaster was giving his predictions. When the segment was over, Lindsey said to me, "Daddy, that man kinda looked like you!" "He did?" I asked. He was African-American. "Yeah," she said. "He has that little hair around his mouth like you do--except his skin is brown."
  

Here is Lindsey all dressed up for a princess birthday party. She was so excited she could hardly stand it. She talked about it all week. I'll put some more Lindsey dress pictures on Flickr.

Happy Birthday!

(Today is Janet's __st/th birthday!) (Any guesses?)

A day in the park

The locals tell us not to get too used to this. This has been an unusually mild January for this area and many people have been taking advantage of it! Just up the road from where we live is one of Raleigh's metro parks. It features a nice little playground area and a 2 or 3 mile walking trail around Lake Shelly. It was a Friday off from work (not that I've worked hard enough to have earned it yet!) and so we took the kids to explore this area.

There were geese, ducks, and sea gulls. Just like at the beach the gulls would swarm overhead and look for treats that might be thrown up for them to eat. We had been there the week before (also on a very warm day) and knew to bring a little bread. Reece and Lindsey liked dropping whole chunks of a loaf into the water and watch, in true survival-of-the-fittest fashion, the geese and ducks fight over a half a slice.

Austin and I like throwing the bread up in the air and hoped for the best. I tried to bean a bird with my piece. They usually ended up catching the bread anyway. The birds seemed to enjoy the game!

I the process of getting acclimated to the area, we've found the best route to the church, found this park, got our library card (and discovered a branch about a mile away) and signed up for a Y membership. Just today, in fact, Austin and Lindsey and daddy went to the Y to swim!

We Made It!

It's hard to believe that a week ago we were busily packing up our stuff in Hartville, taking things apart, and polishing details for our move. Now, a week later, we sit in our townhouse in North Carolina, completely unpacked and, with the exception of the three kids, mostly cleaned up. The following post chronicles our past week or so.


As I mentioned, there was a ton of stuff to pack. It wore us out! We were so grateful for the help we got. Several friends helped with the kids, and even Aunt Sharla flew up from Texas to help entertain the kids and help pack. We couldn't have done it without everyone's help!


On the 10th, the truck came. Somehow, the driver was able to back it in to our driveway and still allow for cars to get by on the road. There were three guys that came and did the packing and loading. We tried to have everything ready for them by labeling each piece of furniture as "apt" or "storage." They loaded all the storage stuff first (including our piano, couch, refrigerator, and a ton of boxes!). We were grateful too for decent weather. It didn't even sprinkle until later that night. It was in the 40s that day--not bad for a NE Ohio January!

The kids and Janet were with the Wachtel's in the morning and at Paul and Dena's the rest of the day, but it was important for me that they come and see what was happening to their things so they had an understanding of the move. The only question I got from them later was from Austin, who wondered (while we were somewhere in WV just where the truck was and why it wasn't following us.)
After staying over night at Dena and Paul's we left on Wednesday, the 11th. We drove as far as Wytheville, VA. Janet drove the car and I had the kids with me in the van. They travel really well, especially with the help of the TV/VCR, Monsters, Inc., Peter Pan, and a couple other long favorites! We left for Raleigh on the 12th, Thursday, and got in at 2:00 where we met the manager here and signed the lease for the townhouse. We then went to a different hotel and the kids napped while I reserved a 10X20 storage space close to where we now live.

The truck and the movers came on Friday morning the 12th with just two guys. They arrived at 8:30 and had unloaded the "Apt." portion of the load by 12:30pm. From there, they followed me to the storage facility and began to unload while I went to get Janet and the kids and took them back to the apt. The weather that day was perfect! It was nearly 70 degrees and sunny on both Friday and Saturday. Great days to unpack and unload.


The boxes never end! Now we began unpacking everything and setting up shop. It went well and here we are Sunday night with all the boxes unpacked, and we're ready to start our week with school for the kids and (hopefully) a YMCA trip or two, and of course, I have my first day on the job on Tuesday (17th).

We thank all of you so much for your prayers and for the help and encouragement so many of you have been as we endured (and continue to endure) the most stressful time of our family's life. So many of you helped in so many little ways (thanks, Julie for letting us borrow your vacuum cleaner!), and we appreciate it so much! Thanks, too for the phone calls from many of you just checking in! We love to hear from you!

Our biggest concern now is that our house will sell. Once it sells, we will feel released to really begin working on looking for a house in the Raleigh area. (Can't wait to move again!) Beyond that, we pray for great friends and connections for everyone in the family. We know they're here, we just have to meet them!

Communication has never been so easy or affordable! Please keep in touch with us! We miss you all already!

See ya in NC!

It's weird. The kids left today to go to be with their buddy Logan and were so excited to go where toys weren't taped up in boxes! It occurred to me only after they left that they were leaving the house for the last time. That was a sad realization for me. Even in the less-than-three years we've been here, we've had some history. Austin was only 4 when we moved in and Lindsey was 2. A few months after we moved in, Reece was born!

The house is completely packed up. Well--ok, not the computer. Not yet. But, the itinerary is set and the truck is due here tomorrow (10th) and we plan to leave on Wednesday (11th), stay over night in Wytheville, VA, should be in Raleigh by Thursday (12th) and moving in by Friday (13th).

We appreciate your prayers as we maneuver through this transition. Top on my list is quick acclimation to the church and the area for the kids, and friendships for Janet and me.

We will miss our Ohio friends dearly and we love you all!

Can't find my rollerblades

Yeah--I have rollerblades. I know, I never use them. The truth is, I can only find blades for one foot, which so far has been more distressing than not finding the complete pair. Janet keeps her blades in a nice rollerblade pouch. It's easy to keep those together. Mine, however, float around independently of each other. One of them has floated away. I'm upset because I'm leaving a box open until I find it. I've looked everywhere it might be and I'm running out of options as the house slowly but surely becomes packed up--there are fewer places for the single-foot blades to hide!

There are no pictures on the walls, the book cases are all empty and their contents either packed up or thrown out. Last week, we had a huge pile of trash. I wondered if the trash company would take everything, but they did. We set out some plastic yard toys that the kids don't play with any more out on the curb. We put them out on Christmas Eve day. By the evening, they were gone! Merry Christmas!

We are busy dividing up our worldly possessions into two categories: going to the townhouse, going to storage. The garage has no longer been a place to house our vehicles, instead, it is a cardboard box warehouse. Going to the townhouse on the left, where the van used to be parked, going to storage on the right, where the Mazda used to be parked.

I sent out our new info (snail mail address, phone, and e-mail) in a large group e-mail recently. If for some reason I overlooked you, please e-mail me and I'll forward you the info. Of course, leaving comments here is a great way to keep in touch!

Merry Christmas!!

Individual poses were met with varying success!!

Packing up!

Our house is in a bit of disarray, but at least we have decided to take the kids.

House for Sale

For Sale: Four bedrooms, large lot, 2 car attached garage, great neighbors, great town, 10 minutes from I-77, shed, swingset, private back yard, fireplace, firewood(!) central air, blah, blah, blah, tell your friends.

Home Remodeling

We recently had some work done to our downstairs bathroom. Turns out there was a bad gasket or bad seal in the tub in the upstairs bathroom that was allowing water to come down behind the drain stopper switch. Actually, I have no idea what the "technical name for it is, but it doesn't matter. The bottom line is, we had all sorts of nice water damage downstairs. The ceiling, and the drywall on both sides of the shower showed signs of water "yuckiness."



We hired a guy to come and fix it. He replaced the ceiling, replastered and textured it and replaced the drywall. I did the sanding, priming,
and painting. Here are some pictures that show the process. I'm pretty excited to have it done--especially since I could never have done it myself--at least not without someone who really knew what they were doing, plus I just simply haven't had the time recently.

Love the Snow

Almost since we got back from our Thanksgiving trip to Iowa, we have had snow on the ground. Lindsey in particular can't get enough of it. Reece enjoys it too and every time we walk outside along a parking lot side walk, for example, the kids HAVE to trudge through the snow in the grass off the sidewalk. I guess they should enjoy it while they can!

Thanksgiving Week

Our Thanksgiving week was a busy one. We left Monday for Iowa. As is our tradition with three little kids, we went as far as Joliet, IL, just on the other side of Chicago off I-80 and stayed over night. Tuesday we drove the rest of the way and spent the 2nd half of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the Waterloo area visiting Janet's family.

Friday, we departed for home, getting as far as Elkhart, IN, where we stay overnight in a hotel. Saturday, we got up and went the rest of the way home. After unpacking at home, we got out the Christmas decorations and set them all up! Four out of seven days on the road!

What a week! You can see some pictures of our adventures here.

Swimming in November

Austin and Lindsey have been enjoying swimming lessons over the last couple of years. They've both gotten better and better. Here are some pictures of our little fish. We're fortunate to have a YMCA in Green with a couple of heated pools. Otherwise, swimming in November in NE Ohio would not be likely! Lindsey hasn't quite gotten the hang of swimming by herself--without holding onto something or being held up by a flotation device, but she's getting there. Austin is doing a great job at the back stroke with one little problem--he has been swimming crooked into the lane ropes. I told him once to use the beams in the ceiling overhead as a reference to help keep him straight. He said "oh--I never really opened my eyes while doing the back crawl!"

Playing in the Leaves

A few weeks ago--when it was actually still WARM, I undertook a little project related to a big Maple tree in our front yard. The kids were eager to help as well, as you can see below. What happened to the warm days? Winter is coming--soon instead of moving leaves around, we'll be moving snow!



I have memories of this time of year as a kid strongly associated with the smell of burning leaves. It was the only time I was really allowed to play with fire. Maybe if we lived a little further out of town we'd be allowed to burn the leaves. We're in a spot where we're too far out of town for the city to come by and pick them up as well, so we have to bag them or fill up trash cans and take them ourselves to a yard waste site about 3 or 4 miles away. Kind of a drag!

Walk in the park?

Here are some pictures of a little hike we took on a trail about 1.5 miles long. It's actually not in a park, though there are many in our area. This hike is at The Chapel's Green Campus. (It's called the "Green" campus because the community in which it's located in known as "Green.") This is where I go to work everyday. We walked around the 80 acre campus on a newly completed trail. Even Reece walked the whole way!

It has never been easy to get the kids to pose for a picture--especially Reece. But at least here you can see the newly constructed bridge that completed the trail.

You can see what we had to work with--a sunny day and a perfectly picturesque setting. That little "dot" on the trial is Lindsey.

Janet's sister Lynette was here visiting for the weekend (also helped us celebrate Austin's birthday).

Reece didn't want to stop. He didn't want to hurry, but he didn't want to be carried or to stop. He did the whole thing on his own!

Near the highway (I-77) you can see the church in the background and the newly completed ballfields and back stop in the foreground.

Austin's Birthday and Party

Thanks to so many of you who regularly check out our family updates. Our biggest regret is that we can't keep it updated as often as we'd like!

Here are some pictures of Austin's birthday with our family...

The day starts with the traditional "wake-up-to-find-balloons- in-my-room" birthday event.

The "Spiderman Cake." I don't even know where he's heard of Spiderman, but for some reason he's into him. I think he saw the
DVD cover of the Spiderman movie I rented once and that was it!

Later in the week we had a little birthday party with some of Austin's friends from church. Since his birth date is so close to Halloween, Janet made it into a little costume party. Here, the kids are waiting for the pizza.

Janet wisely planned all sorts of activities so that we could keep everyone occupied. Here, the girls are decorating their own pencil box. (All the kids happen to be home schooled, so it's at least something practical). Janet's sister, Lynette (aka "Aunt Nar") visited for the weekend and helped out a lot with the party.

The evening ended with the smashing of the pinata. Emma won the prize, crushing the side of the Spiderman candy-holder. As you can see, the goodies scattered, and the kids dove for them.

We have a seven-year old

Austin turned 7 on Tuesday (25th). That's wild. We did a little family celebration with cake and presents, but the real fun will be today when we have a small party with some of his friends. Aunt Nar is hear from Iowa for the weekend and we'll be having all sorts of activities and games tonight, plus pizza, and decorating one's own cupcake, and "pin-the-nose-on-the-clown."

Pictures will follow.

Boo at the Zoo

What is it about Paul, Dena, and Logan, zoo pictures, and this blog? Well, here we find ourselves again at a zoo. This time, it's the Akron zoo, where all the little kids come dressed up and collect candy at various stations around the zoo. Oh, and sometimes see the animals. Commnetary provided for free.

Every time I tried to take a picture of Reece, he'd look into the camera, make a face, then by the time the camera "fired," Reece would turn away and I'd miss the shot. Paul suggested I try the "action mode" which takes pictures much quicker. Here is the result, though without a flash. Reece rode in the stroller tonight. Didn't seem to mind. He went as a lion.

Lindsey went as a M.D. this year. Who knows what her future holds! You can see her holding the little plastic bag they hand out to all the kids so that they can collect their candy. It's quite a racket. Our family has a zoo pass, yet we had to pay for the kids to get in. $8 each. The candy they received didn't amount to THAT much!

I didn't get a great picture of Austin by himself. Here he is with Lindsey and Logan (the other Spiderman) while we were waiting to get in. Austin took his role as Spiderman very seriously and insisted on remaining in character as long as he had his mask on. I don't know where he's learned all that he knows about Spiderman. If he could, I think he would be spiderman when he grows up!

We were led around by this dynamic duo tonight. Here, Dena tries to recreate her pose made famous at our previous zoo outing in Toledo. She just loves it when I do that to her.

Paul, who was there at least physically, clearly had his mind on other things. As you can see here, he was busy accomplishing a complicated business transaction while we waited in line. Something about chickens and wings and a guy named Dennis. Hmmm...

Go Fly a Kite!

The last time I remember flying a kite was when we lived in Berne. I couldn't have been more that 12 years old. If I was 12 when I last made an attempt, then here we are 21 years later and I'm flying one again!

I'm sure that if we didn't have kids this never would have happened. How can watching a piece of nylon attached to a string float in the breeze be so enjoyable? Well, something about it was a lot of fun and the kids enjoyed it too. Both Austin and Lindsey got a turn at flying the kite.

There's a nice big parking lot not far from our house where we take the kids to let them practice riding their bikes, and now it has become a place of kite flying. No cars in the evenings, no power lines, (just a few parking lot lights here and there!)

Once the sun set, the breeze energy dissipated and the kite started to fall to earth. I hope we can enjoy another nice evening like tonight to try it again sometime.