Since Elena is a veteran of so many moves, we have a library of moving books to help with the transition. There are the little critters moving, books of maps, books about the places we have been and then are going. By far, the most popular is The Berenstain Bears Moving Day.
The Berenstain Bears live up in a cave on Great Bear Mountain - and though there are many wonderful things, it's time to move. Everything goes in the truck, but the friends. When the Bears arrive at their new home, they have a new little tree house, that needs a bit of work, but momma and poppa bear have 'big plans' (sound familiar?). The truck is unloaded and the bears start to settle in. Then they are greeted by their neighbors, the local bird, squirrel, and bear families come rushing to meet them with gifts of honey and nuts and there are tons of cubs to play with.
Now it is usually here in the story that we explain to Elena that your moving van is not met by hoards to people bringing gifts, it is just a way of showing that with time you will make new friends. That is unless you happen to be moving to Kutztown. In the first week that we arrived Kurt (new colleague and chair of the search committee that hired us) brought over a 6 pack of homebrew and a loaf of fresh bread, Lara and Sierra (new geology faculty who lives down the street with her daughter) brought an apple pie, Richard (next door neighbor) loaded us his pick up truck for a dump run, Jon and Perma (across the street) brought a coffee cake, Donna and Jim (across the alley) a plate of cookies, and, my personal favorite because it was hot and he heard we were painting, Earl (across the ally) brought us a cold case of miller lite (and really cold beer in PA is no small feat, we have learned). What am I forgetting? Oh yes, the cubs...within three houses, there are two other kindergarteners, a 2nd and 5th grader who run around in the evenings together catching fire flies and playing hide and seek. Elena used all her courage and ran off with them - to be rewarded with arms around her shoulders and pats on her back from the bigger kids before the screaming games continued.
Who knew that page of the book could be true.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Austin Highlights
The kids and I had a great time in Austin. A few highlights were:
**Warning blogger is doing some weird crop of my photos, so you'll have to use your imagination on some of them**
Having morning coffee/hot cocoa with Gram on the front porch and reading the paper.
Catching up with the Dennington Family.
Aaron and I were buds back in junior high and high school and have stayed in touch over the years.
He and his wonderful wife Jessica have three great kids. We met up at the pool one evening and the kids all had a blast playing together.
Titus, Elena, and Aaris hit it off right away and spend most of the evening running around like crazy.
While Skylyn and Egan just focused on hanging out and chewing on their hands.
Making popcorn in the popcorn machine with gram
Wagon rides in the back yard
Father's day in the park with Uncle Seth and Aunt Shell. Especially the part where uncle Seth backed into the fountain and got all wet!
**Warning blogger is doing some weird crop of my photos, so you'll have to use your imagination on some of them**
Having morning coffee/hot cocoa with Gram on the front porch and reading the paper.
Catching up with the Dennington Family.
Aaron and I were buds back in junior high and high school and have stayed in touch over the years.
He and his wonderful wife Jessica have three great kids. We met up at the pool one evening and the kids all had a blast playing together.
Titus, Elena, and Aaris hit it off right away and spend most of the evening running around like crazy.
While Skylyn and Egan just focused on hanging out and chewing on their hands.
Making popcorn in the popcorn machine with gram
Wagon rides in the back yard
Father's day in the park with Uncle Seth and Aunt Shell. Especially the part where uncle Seth backed into the fountain and got all wet!
Ktown and Beantown
After our whirlwind tour of Austin, Jake drove to meet us as the Philly airport (love that direct Southwest flight!) We took the nice drive (just a bit over an hour) to the Kutztown area. The next morning we closed on our house (see previous post), then enjoyed some time exploring our new stomping grounds.
Kutztown University has a great fountain to play in. The kids loved it. It is right outside Jake and I's office building. Why do I think we'll need to keep a towel and dry clothes in our offices?
Then it was off for a drive to Boston...My first trip to Beantown!...So that we could attend a wedding for Jason Warburg. Jake and Jason were best friends in 1st grade, so there were a lot of funny stories to hear. It was a nice time and we enjoyed the city a great deal!
We stayed at the Colonnade - it was a lovely hotel. Their 'mascot' is Collette the rubber ducky. There were extra duckies everywhere once they learned we had kids. Three in Egan's pack-n-play, on the bed, in the bath. And extras from the waiters at every meal! Egan thinks ducks are tasty.
Speaking of ducks...there's a family of ducks! We visited the much anticipated Make way for ducklings statues in the Boston Common and Elena took a swan boat ride with Big Opa.
Kutztown University has a great fountain to play in. The kids loved it. It is right outside Jake and I's office building. Why do I think we'll need to keep a towel and dry clothes in our offices?
Then it was off for a drive to Boston...My first trip to Beantown!...So that we could attend a wedding for Jason Warburg. Jake and Jason were best friends in 1st grade, so there were a lot of funny stories to hear. It was a nice time and we enjoyed the city a great deal!
We stayed at the Colonnade - it was a lovely hotel. Their 'mascot' is Collette the rubber ducky. There were extra duckies everywhere once they learned we had kids. Three in Egan's pack-n-play, on the bed, in the bath. And extras from the waiters at every meal! Egan thinks ducks are tasty.
Speaking of ducks...there's a family of ducks! We visited the much anticipated Make way for ducklings statues in the Boston Common and Elena took a swan boat ride with Big Opa.
Our House
is a very very very fine house.
With two [kids] in the yard.
It was not easy, there ended up being real estate lawyers involved, but on June 24th we closed on our first home! (and hopefully last--we aren't keen on repeating this process soon.)
It's a three bedroom 'oversized' cape (that's oversized for the 50's). One and half bath. The house has original plaster walls and arched doors. Wood floors in every room but the kitchen and bathrooms. Basement has been partially renovated (future playroom). Detached garage. It sits on a half acre, exactly between the Kutztown schools (elementary, middle, and high school) and our office building on campus. A five minute walk to each. Eventually (in the next two years) we will need to add on a larger kitchen, mudroom, make the full bath a half bath, and a 4th bedroom - but for now, we are just excited to get moved in! August 1st, here we come!
With two [kids] in the yard.
It was not easy, there ended up being real estate lawyers involved, but on June 24th we closed on our first home! (and hopefully last--we aren't keen on repeating this process soon.)
It's a three bedroom 'oversized' cape (that's oversized for the 50's). One and half bath. The house has original plaster walls and arched doors. Wood floors in every room but the kitchen and bathrooms. Basement has been partially renovated (future playroom). Detached garage. It sits on a half acre, exactly between the Kutztown schools (elementary, middle, and high school) and our office building on campus. A five minute walk to each. Eventually (in the next two years) we will need to add on a larger kitchen, mudroom, make the full bath a half bath, and a 4th bedroom - but for now, we are just excited to get moved in! August 1st, here we come!
Friday, June 19, 2009
On Earth as it is in Austin....
If this is not a slice of brisket heavan with a mug of joy, I don't know what is.
I love it that my parents live in Austin, it is a fabulous place to visit. The kids and I have been having a wonderful time hanging out at the pool, eating at all my favorite spots (Artz, Maria's Taco Express, Amy's...just to name a few!), and getting spoiled by Gram and Opa. We've been able to hang out with friends and family. Yes, it is hot. Damn hot. Africa hot. I am reminded why I was glad to not spend my first summer here, but that is what cold Shiner is for, right?
A few select photos of our trip so far:
The kids dig in to their Artz Ribs at dinner with Uncle Seth and Aunt Shell. Egan liked the chopped beef and wonder bread. Elena liked the 'pig' and rootbeer.
Elena and Opa checking out the Austin Zoo (a rescue zoo). Up close and personal with the lions.
Egan goes to town in the Austin Children's Museum (very cool place!)
Elena takes in her first live music show at Maria's Taco Express while we wait for our order...it was Gospel Sunday with the Hippie Church playing.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Blacksburg Top 10
Top Ten Things We Will Miss From Blacksburg:
10. Eats Natural Food Store
9. Living behind the church so we can walk on Sunday's
8. Our work friends and grad students
7. Brown's Farm
6. Mia and Xander
5. Shadowchase, Weathertop, Crows Nest, 5Penny
4. Floyd
3. Summer Concerts on the Lawn
2. Child development learning center (Elena's School and wonderful teachers and friends)
1. KBXM
10. Eats Natural Food Store
9. Living behind the church so we can walk on Sunday's
8. Our work friends and grad students
7. Brown's Farm
6. Mia and Xander
5. Shadowchase, Weathertop, Crows Nest, 5Penny
4. Floyd
3. Summer Concerts on the Lawn
2. Child development learning center (Elena's School and wonderful teachers and friends)
1. KBXM
Monday, June 8, 2009
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