The start of something new

I am currently sitting in probably the #1 "cool kid" spot in all of Scotsbluff. That's right, The Home Depot. Which is right next to the Walmart. So of course I am sure ALL the cool kids come here with their trucks on Friday night and just chill. Because I don't really think there is anything better to do...

In all honesty, the move was a lot worse than our new location. I never thought I would be happy to move back into an apartment again- but oh, it is actually kind if lame cleaning out a place that was brand new when you moved in. Expectations are HIGH. Plus, it's hard work cleaning a big place, all on your own, with a toddler and a baby. When we moved in we had just about nothing. A glider, a crib, a washing machine and a few boxs of clothes was about it. In 18 months we have more than tripled what we moved in with.

So our new place, being smaller AND older- while seems disappointing at first, holds a lot of appeal to me right now. Especially when we hope to not be here for too long.

Joe has been in our new residence for over a week now. He left last Thursday and made a slow trip (LOTS of wind) and made it late that night, and had members from our new church congregation help us move in Friday night.

I stayed and worked, and frantically cleaned and said goodbye Th-Sat andeft early Sat morning (ok, so like 8....).  I did have help cleaning- the missionaries at or church helped me clean for about 4 hours and friends watched the kids for another 6- SO extemely helpful. 

Friday night I had a "going away party" with some of my co-workers. It was a lot of fun and put both kids to sleep!

The drive out for us went fairly smooth- it only took about an hour longer to get here than it should have, but I count that as a success with two kids by myself!

Like I said- our new apartment is old. 5 different types of carpet, 3 types of tile, a tiny toilet, and stray cats everywhere...well in the town, not in the apartment. But I am oddly content with it. The village we live in has about 974 (978) people,has a cranky librarian, 3 places to eat (including a Subway), a gas station, a little grocery market, a post office, hardware store, a tavern and consignment store along with 2 parks and a pool. Our place is about a block from the train tracks that bring a train through about 10-12 times a day. Sariah loves it.

We really like our new ward (congregation) and feel welcomed and excited for the time we will spend here. Other than the horrible wind from Whyomming (we are about 15 miles from the border).

And that's that!

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October, feelin' fine.

Today I went back to work.

I worked a total of 3 hours. 

Next week I will work another 3.

Then the week after that starts to get heavy....SIX hours a week.

Eventually I may increase it. Or I may decrease and quit. Only time will tell. And eventually how I, and the kids feel.

Anyways, it wasn't too bad. Joe watched Seamus for the first two hours, then brought him to me before his class started. Seamus slept the whole time in his car seat undisturbed- until a co-worker wanted a glimpse of him and Sariah got to show him off.

And, like most things in my life lately- the hardest part about the whole thing was Sariah.

She moved chairs to the sink to try and do dishes like at home. Moved chairs to the tv to try and pick a movie to watch. Tried to take over and control the whole place basically. 

In other news, Scout is a life saver. At least once a day does she occupies (she is German after all) Sariah for me while I nurse little guy. It is really relaxing to hear giggles come from Sariah and Scout doe her bidding. 

Seamus is growing (as the doc says) like a gang buster. Last Friday he was well over 11 pounds. 11.5 to be exact. His jaundice is gone and he is looking mighty good. When he was first born I thought he looked like Sariah. But now he doesn't resemble her at all- and is starting to look more like Joe. 

And sadly, not so sadly- oddly, whatever you will- I am starting to feel a bit more like a local here in Lincoln. Our home is starting to feel more like a home (furniture does wonders!), and we are getting to like this place more every day. 

Although, we still most the West. Home. Especially when we hear that these Nebraskans can't navigate a round-a-bout, and they have to change it from 3 lanes to 2 lanes, and take away signs as not to confuse people going around the round-a-bout. Been too many accidents.

Sometimes, Nebraska still boggles me.  

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Summer so far

So I promise I have intentionally been taking pictures with the clear purpose of posting them on here to show everyone. 

But of course I then don't blog for like two weeks. 

So, let me recap summer so far:

1st: if you are going to live in the Midwest, DON'T get a dog. The amount of ticks is disgusting (and apparently out here there is a certain type that especially LOVES dogs). Even with a top of the line tick repellent and various home remedies, out dogs come out covered. 

And as Joe so lovingly points out- as pretty as the scenery is, you don't want to go 10 feet near it due to all those ticks. 

Also- I swear Penny has experienced more thunderstorms in the last month then her whole 13 years of life. I LOVE those thunderstorms- but having to deal with a panicked dog every other night at 3 am? Ugh.

2nd- Nebraska is an odd place. We really like Lincoln. There is SO much to do for every kind of person (well, unless you moved from the #1 state with the most national forest land and want to go up in the mountains and get away). But anyways. They always have events going on. So if your into fishing, biking, pets, music, beer, food, gardening, family people, or whatever- there is something to do. 

But the weather is not cool. In any way. 

And some other major defaults follow Nebraska....BUT they do have a surprising good amount of fruit, and things to do.

#3- This pregnancy is so odd. I would still classify it as an "easy" pregnancy, but harder than Sariah by far. Maybe it's the added combination of work + a toddler? This baby is still a lot more (up to like yesterday)- and I have enjoyed it (up till yesterday).

#4- Having a job is getting better. Well, it has at least allowed Sariah to develop a lot. I now can see first hand how she will handle having a sibling- and I am pretty sure she is going to be over helping me a lot. She LOVES the babies at work and is constantly wanting/trying to read to them, cover them with a blanket, give them a pacifier to feed them. 

Although today she had her first experience with hair pulling- it was not to her liking.

So, anyways. That is pretty much our life. We are trying to stay active by doing lots of summer things- farmers market, parks, pools, etc. 

Gotta make the best out of this place :)

The flies here are huge and gross. So are the ants. Bugs are just gross out here.

See? So pretty! But I promise if you stop and stood right next to the grass, you would have ticks on you in a minute.

We love out farmer daddy and checking on his fields with him :)

Sariahs favorite foods: watermelon, apples (pictures above), broccoli, noodles, and chocolate milk.

We went and picked strawberries from a farm near by and Sariah LOVED it! She was so good at helping (even though she wasn't aware that your only supposed to pick ripe ones).

Picking fruit brings an odd sense of accomplishment. I loved when we were in Idaho and during the summer we would spend a few hours every week picking raspberries. 

This is at a spray park- it took us two trips to finally start enjoying it. Sariah would much rather explore.

Local baseball game for the SaltDogs! 

Playing duck-duck-goose at work. Sariah didn't quite understand and decided to just be the center of attention :)

These kids got it right- enjoying their juice boxes in the shade on a hot day.

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May??

I don't know if I am more shocked that Sariah will be 2 in 3 1/2 months, or that I will have another little munchkin in 3 months. 

Both astound me.

Also the fact that it is May (nearly June) and I have basically come to the point of not carrying about my blog.

Sorry to those of you that do.

May has brought:

Joes first year of Grad school to a close! Class wise, at least. Now he is researching and traveling lots. The boy is getting well accustomed to Nebraska.

Sariah and I are still working at the Y. Well, I work. She follows. We are enjoying the warmer weather- and so are the dogs. They get to go out more now that Sariah and I can stand it :).

Also, I failed my glucose test today. 

I am really rather bummed about it.

I have to go back in for the 3 hour glucose test, Sariah in tote. I am REALLY not looking forward to that.

Anyways, here is a picture of me at 26.5 weeks along! To end with some cheer. :)

(Also: when I first wrote "cheer" the phone thought I mean "beer" and it was funny.)

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YMCA

What's new with us?

Oh, I just got a job at the YMCA (yes, sing along time).

Now I get to feel all fit & healthy in my staff t-shirt.
Except I work in the child watch, and have nothing to do with exercise

But that's okay, because I have a job where I can take Sariah. It's pretty win.


And, last night I was reading to Sariah before bed time on our couch. I told her to get get another book. So she went into her room. Ten minutes later I walk in and find her fast asleep in her bed.
Joe described it as the best day ever.
Pretty accurate.

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