Lot NEW

I cannot believe how long it has been since I posted on this blog! I will try as best as I can to update a little at a time for the time in between. It's almost been a year!

So I should start at the beginning. We moved. A huge move. Across the country. We have wanted to move pretty much since Elijah has been a baby. I wasn't necessarily on the same page as far as where to go because snow is not super enticing, but there were a lot of contributing factors to the move, including being near to my parents, helped drive me back home. My Uncle Bob, whom I was very close with growing up, passed away around Thanksgiving time. It was very hard to not be by family during that time. My Grandpa passed away a few years prior, and it was the same thing. When living in AZ it is pretty hard to get 6 people back home without time to drive there and back or a lot of money. Pretty much our entire family lives within an 18hr drive when we are home. The only exception is Jake's parents and sister/nieces/nephew, whom obviously, we miss terribly. But hopefully we will still be able to see them more frequently. All of the extended family seems to come "home" so it's a lot easier to see family when we live here.

Anyway. The move was a difficult one, filled with many trials. Jake, Oliver, Molly and I drove his car to Michigan where I stayed for 6 weeks at our cousin, Angela's house and my parents house. Both watched Oliver while I started my new job. Jake flew back home and had the 3 older boys while our house was on the market and while they finished school. We were finally reunited Memorial Day. During that time, we sold our very first home that we shared together. That was so hard. I never got a picture of all of us in front of it. It was just so hard packing everything, finishing work up, saying goodbye to everyone...something I really don't want to have to repeat.

After feeling like we would never find a house here in Michigan, we found what we were looking for. It was a flip, and now we are discovering the joys of that, but over all it's perfect for us right now. Ideally, we will get the basement finished for more room because it's actually smaller than our old house, but it will do.

This is home sweet home. It is a mid-century modern home and we can't wait to do more updates on it. We want to make it a comfortable living space.

The kids started school. They had an extra few weeks vacation as the kids here didn't get out until mid-June. Look at the sweatshirts. You don't see that in AZ on the first day of school. They also get to ride the bus, which so far, they really like.

So many things to update. So little time. I guess that is a little blurb for now.

Elijah's Field Trip

Elijah's class had a feed trip to the Museum of Natural History so Oliver and I decided we would stop in and say "Hi!"

Awe, Oliver is wearing one of my favorite shirts that was Elijah's. It even has a dinosaur on it.

Halloween

Oliver's First Birthday

It's amazing how a year can fly by. It seems like just yesterday I was cradling my little 8lb 12oz bundle of joy. Now I have a crawling all around, busy, busy 20lb bundle of energy.

Isn't he cute?

I went with a Cookie Monster theme. Easier to decorate, ha ha.

He likes cookies!

Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Jonah and Noah Turn 6

My little twinnies are SIX! Wowza!

I was going for a lego head...didn't quite turn out.

Noah wanted Paw Patrol...I did the best I could. I am not a good decorator...but the cake was delicious!

He was getting ready for his upcoming birthday.

Michigan Trip

Jake and I took Oliver to Michigan to visit our family and go to my friend Connie's wedding. 

The first full day that we had, we went with my parents to Frankenmuth. It's one of our favorite places to go as it was the location of our very first date.

Another day we went to visit Jake's Great Aunt Charlene. I think she got a kick out of Oliver.

Of course we had to visit Nanna and Nannu. We always get fed so well when we go. Nanna's soup is amazing. Oliver couldn't get enough. She sent us home with some of Nannu's last cookies that he's made. Nom, nom. So good. 

My Mom and Dad's backyard.

One of the days we went with my sister, Heather, to Ann Arbor. We went to Zimmerman's and walked around downtown. We also went to University of Michigan's stadium. 

One of the reason's we went to Michigan was to go to Connie and Mike's wedding. I've been friends with Connie for 23 years. I was so excited to see her get married.

Before we went to the wedding, we went to see see the Stanley Cup. I think this is one of Jake's highlights.

Connie held her wedding at Henry Ford Museum. It was so beautiful.

We were able to take one the bouquets home. So pretty.

Oliver was not sure of the grass. His body was not super fond. He broke out in a bad rash. But Jake did get some great pictures before we noticed.

We had so much fun with Grammy and Grampy.

'

This was one of our many trips to Tim Horton's. It was the first one that we gave Oliver a doughnut. I think he liked it.

We love going to Lucky's Restaurant when we are in Fenton. We had to get some steak and crab. So good.

We also like to go to the French Laundry (now The Laundry) and get a real cream soda. 

I think they were worn out.

We went to Cook's with my parents and got some yummy ice cream.