Juggling Our Way Through Life

The other day we took a family walk down to the custard station and to watch trains.  We saw a few freight trains, got some frozen custard, and hung out for a few hours.  It was some great down time as a family.  We are enjoying walking around and exploring Kirkwood.

This kid might love ice cream as much as his momma!

Waving to the engineer

Look at the joy in his eyes when watching trains!

 My parents built a new house at Carlyle Lake this year so we haven't had a chance to go over there much this year.  We were so excited to go there for Labor Day.  The kiddos had a great time.  Cale fished, we got to jet ski, and we just hung out and relaxed.  Here are some pics from the weekend.
 

Aiden hanging on the golf cart

Fishing with Paa Paa

Hanging at the lakehouse

We bought our house 7 years ago in May of 2005.  It was right after we got engaged.  We were so excited about this house.  A sweet little starter home-2 bed, 1 bath.  We thought we would be in it for a few short years and then the housing market crashed.  We ended up being there for a little over 7 years.  And now it's on the market.  We are now living in my parent's condo in Kirkwood.  It's a cute 3 bed 2 1/2 bath condo and we are absolutely loving it.  It's near some of the train tracks in Kirkwood, so of course Cale is in heaven.  It's actually been really great for our family.  We have been taking walks almost every night by the train tracks looking for trains.  It's been great.  Cale actually gets excited every night to go on a family walk.  It's great.

Living in the condo, means leaving a great house and wonderful neighbors behind. We have loved the last 7 years in our house for the most part-it was just time-running out of space and the kiddos were not doing well sleeping together in the same room. There are so many memories here though-first house we bought together, first place we came home to after being married, the house we brought both of our kids home to, the house where we made lots of important life decisions in together, where we struggled and triumphed in our early years of marriage, where we had warm fires in the fireplace, where we played catch in the backyard with our puppies when we brought them home for the first time.  So many great memories here. 

After we settled in to the condo, I went by the house and picked up the last final few boxes.  It was the first time I was alone there, the first time we weren't rushing around cleaning or trying to get stuff out of the house to get it on the market.  It was sad.  So many memories-great memories there.

And yet, it's time to move on, that door has closed and we are so excited about living in the condo in Kirkwood.  Excited about living close to downtown, being by the train tracks, being closer to friends, and just living more in community.

Now if we can just get our house sold.  Here's to hoping in this crazy housing market that it goes quickly!

Mal moved to Seattle recently.  We miss our Aunt and sister and buddy, but she is really liking Seattle and having a good time.  We are trying to facetime often and stay caught up in each others lives.  Here's a picture of her with the kiddos before she left.

Cale started preschool on August 21.  He is going 2 full days at a school here in town.  It was so bittersweet.  I can't believe he's old enough to go to school and yet we were so excited for him.  Cale thrives being around other kids.  He is also eager and ready to learn!  We are so proud of him.  So far he is learning his letters, which letters are in his name, learning more about Jesus everyday, and just meeting new friends!  Here are some picutres from his first day.

His cubby hole

Painting at school

Aiden took his first 7 steps on his own on August 17th and now he pretty much runs or walks everywhere.  He is getting good at climbing up stairs and loves his new found freedom in walking everywhere!  Go little man go!

We went to Big Cedar Lodge with Jeff's parents at the beginning of August this year.  We spent a lot of time at the pool, a lot of time hanging out and even went to Dogwood Canyon one day.  Here are some pictures from the trip.

Petting the horses

Brothers hanging out

Dogwood Canyon

Poolside