Austen's First Day of First Grade...in Suburbs!

Just because Austen started his first day of first grade in the suburbs last Thursday does not mean that we are all moved in to our new house. In fact, we're still in the city shuttling Austen to and from his new school each day. We're hoping to be in the new house so Austen won't have to commute every day by the end of September, but more on that in a future post.

So Austen started officially last Thursday. We dropped Peyton off at school a little earlier so both Tom and I could take him to his first day. Unfortunately, it was raining that morning so that made the commute that much more brutal. I think it took us 50 minutes. But we made it. Austen was excited despite telling me the day before that he was nervous. I tried to allay his worries with positive stories of how many friends he has in the city and how excited I was to go to a new school every time I had to move (okay, not entirely the truth for the last time I moved, but I did not want him to be nervous). Being a new kid at school so many times, I really felt for him. But Thursday when he woke up, it seemed his nerves were gone and they were replaced with just pure excitement. I actually think I was more nervous than him and thought about him the entire day until I could get back to pick him up. He was all smiles when he came out the door. And, there's nothing better than the feeling of knowing your kid is going to be okay.

Today, was day three of school and he's just as excited to go and come home from school so I know he really likes it and I'm glad and relieved.

Next up, Peyton. She's done fine to adjusting to her old school without Austen, but this week and next will be the test to see how she does at her new school. After all these transitions, my work as a mom will be done:) Well, sort of. I took the last two weeks off of work to make sure they were okay and to transition them into their new schools. I'm hoping that made it a bit easier for them and I know it made it a lot less crazy for Tom and me!

End of Summer

The end of summer is fast approaching although you wouldn't know it by the latest heat wave we are experiencing.  I'm not complaining, it was perfect for our long weekend at the beach.

My dad decided to rent a beach house in New Buffalo, Mich., for the entire family this past weekend and we had a lot of fun! Bonfires, food, beach, hot tub, sand castle building, ice cream and incredible sunsets - who could ask for a more enjoyable way to wind down the summer?!

Even Adler got to enjoy the vacation despite being afraid of the flies and cowering in the bathroom most of the time. She still had fun though with all of the attention she received.  Here are a few photos from our trip (Above: Papa with his five grandchildren)!

Incredible sunset from our deck. It made you forget about work for awhile and enjoy life in this moment.

Austen roasting a marshmallow for S'mores. Peyton eating one!

Adler enjoying some fresh air when she came out of the bathroom. I think she's looking for more flies here.

Board game playing with the cousins.

The kids loved the "hot pool" as Peyton called it. 

 Having fun with daddy.

Thanks for a great, long weekend Papa!

Number Three

I'm officially just about eight weeks out from my scheduled due date of Oct. 11. This pregnancy seems like it has gone so fast compared to the other two. Probably because I have two other kids to take care of, a full time job and have been busy building a new house.

I am definitely more tired than I was with the other two but I will chalk that up to age, two kids and working. This time around, I'm also a lot less neurotic about getting the room set up and making sure we have everything. I say that's mostly because I can't. We don't have a move in date yet for the new house and there's not much I can do at this stage of the game. 

As for names - we have them. Not telling this time. You all will find out when the baby is born.  

Sex  - you all will also find out when the room in the new house is ready. We'll post a video here of us opening the door to the room to reveal a boy's room or a girl's room. 

As for what his/her siblings want - Austen wants a girl so he gets the bigger room and en suite bath.  Peyton wants a boy so she doesn't have to share her toys.  Either way one of them will be disappointed!

As for us, we're happy with either since we already have one of each and all of the clothes for both:) 

Check back often, for the big reveal! 

House Progress

So how is the house coming most people ask me almost daily now.  My common response is not as fast as I would like.  The school year is fast approaching. In fact, Austen starts in 18 days to be exact and he won't be starting from our new home.  He'll be commuting with his dad for almost a month, we think.

I don't love it, but I can stomach that one. I'll be taking off his first week and a half of school so I will be picking him up most days and doing orientation with Peyton for her new school, which starts after Labor Day.  We're not sure how we are going to handle her commute either since she doesn't start until 11:30 a.m.! Yikes! I'm hoping it will all just work itself out.

But the house is definitely showing signs of progress. It's becoming more familiar and Tom and I have chosen/selected almost everything we need to choose at this point so we're ahead of the game in that regard.  Can't wait for the brick to go on and the dry wall to go up and then the paint! I think then it will start to feel like a home. Our home.

Here are some recent pictures.

The front with all dormers and roof on. Brick is hopefully coming soon! Windows are in.

View of our big deck for all of our future happening parties and then the rest of the backyard that Austen can't wait to play in. 

The back has had more progress than this as you can tell by the first photo but this is a nice photo of my dad and I with my big belly at the back of our house.