Pancakes with Santa

For the second year we went to Pancakes with Santa at Riverbend (my Grandpa's assisted living home). It was kind of sad this year, last year it was jam PACKED with families, this year it was only us and one other lady who was with her mother. Not sure why the change, but Madeline was the hit of the party. All of the ladies loved watching her run around and around the halls. She wasn't too impressed with Santa, wouldn't really go near him, but warmed up a bit with time.

 Madeline was not too happy about this...

 Grandma tried...

 But she would rather run around in the sun beams.

She was more open to the idea with Great-Grandpa.

Mom's Birthday

Someone helped me celebrate turning 28 this year!

Such a big help!

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago. We have a GREAT photographer "in house," meaning she is Hillary's sister-in-law and she takes wonderful pictures and has an amazing turn around time. I was bummed that the place I wanted to go had closed the weekend before for the winter, so we ended up at the Falls of the Ohio, it was fine too... we will just have to head out in the spring to get some more shots. Also, it was touch windy, but I think we did OK!

Here are some of my favs:

Hoo Hoo Hoosier!

It is Fall Break! (Thank goodness) I have been battling a sinus infection this week and I really need a break.

We had been planning for awhile to head up to Bloomington on the Thursday of my Fall Break just to walk around, visit some favorite places and just explore the campus with Madeline. Well wouldn't you know today was the first day in WEEKS that it decided to rain?! It ended up being on though, it rained on the way there but stopped while we were exploring, the sun even came out for a bit. It started raining again just as we were getting home, so we timed it just right.

First thing on the agenda, Lunch at Dagwood's. Yum! We then spent the rest of the afternoon walking around and stopping in favorite stores. We didn't actually buy anything this time (shocking), but it was nice to look around. We kept telling Maddie she better pay attention to her surroundings because she will need to know where everything is in a few years. She fell asleep at one point during our stroll, so I am not so sure how enthused she actually was...

One thing we learned, we are old. Sad, I know. Brad so wonderfully pointed out that this year's freshman class was NINE when we were freshman. He also said they all looked like kids when we were walking around. I noticed the new fashion trend... apparently it is the new thing to walk around in knee high boots and spandex pants, like you just left a riding lesson or something... not sure which look I prefer, the sweatpants and Ugg boots from our day or this new trend, how about neither?

Not too many pictures from the day, kinda wet, and I felt under the weather... but here are the required Sample Gate shots.

Of course Madeline was appropriately dressed in IU wear.

7 Days

7 Days
One Week
168 hours
10,080 minutes

That is hopefully how much longer of this INSANITY we have left. In one week it will all be over and we will hopefully be sitting in the new house ready to unpack and get back to normal.

Our final walk thru on the new home is scheduled for Monday at 4. Let's hope it stays that way and let's hope they have it completely ready by then. Almost everything is done, just some little things here and there and the sod in the front yard. Luckily the seed is starting to take in the back.

Also in that same amount of time I have to finish getting this house ready to move, we are mostly there. Lots of boxes sitting around already packed. Now I just have to do the less obvious things.

And did I mention getting ready for the party that is also in ONE WEEK?! I can't believe we are about to have her first birthday party. Where did the time go? How is she one?

I would also like to get her 12 month pictures taken, possibly Wednesday. I am operating under the "Everything is so crazy, what's one more thing?" theory.

Also, did I mention Brad is working his 3 24hour shifts between now and then as well? I mean really...

It will all get done, and I know this because of all of the wonderful friends and family that have offered to assist us in any way, shape, or form. And for that I will be eternally thankful.

First glance - The New House

 I finally took some pictures of the new house. I was holding off because I didn't want to *jinx* anything. Since we closed on our current house last week and are about 2 weeks from closing on the new one and moving in, I figured it was OK to officially document this move! Luckily Sabrina has kept track of things for me as they progressed, so I didn't miss out on early shots.

Warning: Picture Overload!

Kitchen and eat-in area... cabinets had just been installed... not complete.

 Kitchen and island area.

 Maddie's room.

 Another view of her room.

 Her view out of her window, the backyard and covered deck.

 Hallway bath.

 Front bedroom.

 Living room and stairs.

 Laundry room.

 Small hallway, laundry to the left, our room to the right.The kitchen, living room, and 2 other bedrooms are straight ahead.

 Our room.

Our tub and shower area.

 Vanity

 View from the door, the other door leads to the closet :-)

 View of the basement coming down the steps.

 Looking back up the stairs.

 Stairs and another portion of the basement.

 Basement bedroom.

 Basement bath.

 Unfinished portion 1.

 View from the back of the basement.

 Unfinished portion 2.

 Utility garage.

 Back patio and deck.

 Utility garage.

 The fire pit and backyard.

And last, but not least... the FRONT!

I ran out there today after work. They had put stone on the column on the front porch, installed the door handles, toilets, and sink fixtures. It is coming together!

And did I mention we are moving AND having a birthday party all on the same weekend?! Yeah... I am about to lose my mind. Thank goodness for grandparents' houses! :-)

A Surprise for Daddy!

On Saturday, July 30th I decided to have a surprise party for Brad honoring his accomplishment of making the Jeffersonville Fire Department. Luckily it was a success! He was surprised. I arranged with the guys he usually goes golfing with for an afternoon of golf and an arrival time back at our house sometime around 6:15. I alerted out family and friends and had everyone here around 6. Around 6:30 the boys arrived back and his words to me were "You did something." Yes, he was right, I sure did! We had about 50+ people stuffed into our house and backyard, it was packed! My Dad cooked out on the grill and we enjoyed cake and corn hole to round out the evening.

 Maddie has a special outfit just for the day!

 Cake table (the cake had an edible picture of a true Jeffersonville Fire Truck on it)!

 Surprise!

Good luck Daddy!

Daddy's New Job

Yup, you read that right!

Brad is FINALLY starting his new job Monday morning. He will officially me a member of the...

After about a year and a half it is official. He has taken a written test, done an interview, been placed on a waiting list (#6 out of 30), finally been called up (in April), done more tests (eye, physical, and psych), and finally been approved by the merit board. He begins work at 8am on Monday morning. It feels so unreal because it seems like it has taken forever for this to actually happen. This is also the reason he had to leave vacation early. He needed to train someone at Humana and finish up some things there while doing orientations for the fire department. We were glad that he did get to spend a few days with us at the beach, but sad he had to come home early. He is glad to begin this new phase of his life.

He will be starting out on 40 hour normal work weeks. Once he reads a lot, studies, and passes some tests he will be placed into a crew and start the normal schedule. It goes something like this: 24 hours on, 24 hours off, 24 hours on, 24 hours off, 24 hours on, 4 days off. So that will be QUITE the adjustment.

There have been many changes going on around here lately. I HOPE that I will be able to share more of them soon!

Back from Vacation!

We are back!

We spent a FABULOUS week on the beach. We had a great house, perfect weather, and best of all... Madeline LOVED every aspect of the beach. She tore through the sand, splashed in the waves, and destroyed every sand structure we built for her. I am working on getting all of the pictures organized, we took a ton. But I wanted to share a few of the collages I have made of the trip so far.

Last Saturday we hit the road at 6am in a caravan with my Mom, Dad, and Grandpa. Madeline did wonderful in the car. She slept, we stopped for breakfast, she played and slept some more, we stopped for lunch, she played and slept again, and then we arrived on the Isle of Palms. We hit the beach FIRST thing to get her reaction.

The next morning, we hit the beach again until lunch/nap time. Loved, Loved, Loved it!

That night we had a great dinner and then took a walk along the beach.

 

Monday morning we got up and headed into Charleston to go exploring for the day. Madeline stayed with us for most of it, but did take her nap along the way. The heat and the walking was a lot for my Grandpa so he and my mom sat some of it out. So Madeline, Mom, Dad, and Grandpa Jeff toured the city and saw many sights!

That night Brad and I headed over into Mt. Pleasant to have a date with a putt-putt course. We BOTH got hole-in-one's.

Tuesday morning was Brad's last morning with us (more details on that later). So we got up early to go see the beach when the dogs could roam without being on a leash. Maddie just laughed at all of the silly puppies.

After breakfast we came back for more beach time. Madeline was tired from waking up early and took a nap on the beach while Grandma and Grandpa built her a sand castle entitle "Fort Maddie." When she was finally all rested, she got up and played in her fort and became a sand monster once again.

Wednesday morning was another day at the beach. She had fun in the water and building sand castles with Grandpa, or should I say destroying them... Maddie played and played until she was just worn out. She took a TWO hour nap on the sand and skipped right over lunch. I was shocked but she was having so much fun I can't blame her. We missed Daddy though!

Wednesday night we headed out to eat and stopped at a park on Sullivan's Island to let Madeline play some more. She loved the swings and the slide.

I didn't take any pictures on my camera on Thursday, so I will have to grab them from my Mom's camera.

We decided to leave on Friday, my Grandpa was done, and we missed Brad. So, we got up early Friday morning and headed home. Maddie was once again a rock star in the car. I think she liked having me and Grandma as an audience in the backseat.

When we got home she did this...

I think she is ready to go back!