what we've been doing

I haven't been able to keep up with pictures and posts, but I found these on my camera.  Owen came over last Monday and they had a great time playing at the park and following it up with some Mario Cart!

Kaylea has been taking swim lessons at the YMCA.  We are only going to be able to attend 6 classes, but I had a credit at the Y and decided to use it.  I'm glad I did because she is having a blast and never wants to leave.  It is 2 days a week for 40 minutes and I just get to watch, which is fabulous.  I guess we'll have to find a swim class in Southern Indiana.

I didn't get any pictures, but we have been packing and trying to get ready for the big move.  It's going to be interesting, trying to coordinate everything.  I know we'll figure it out, but it is stressful in the meantime.  I have yet to find a daycare that I really want to send Kaylea to, so for now she is going back to Wee Care and I am putting her on the wait list at Graceland.  I have only heard about the program (I still need to visit), but it seems like a great fit for what our family needs.  I hope they have an opening soon.

We also found a place to live.  It isn't what we were hoping for, but we'll all be together and my mom will be next door, so we'll make it work while we have to.  We haven't sold our house yet.  It hasn't been listed long, but we haven't gotten any negative feedback at this point and we have had several families keep it on their "short" list.  We even had a second showing this week, but they ultimately decided on another home.    I'm still hopeful that we get this house sold.

we're moving

You read that right - we are heading back to Southern Indiana.  I have accepted a job in Louisville and in 3 short weeks, we will be back (with or without a place to live).  Don't worry - Mimi will be moving back with us.

Our experience in Lafayette has been amazing and it was just what our family needed and what my career needed.  However, Jordy has not found the perfect job and the job in Louisville was hard to turn down.  Jordy may be able to get in a classroom when we move back, too.

I've been keeping this secret for nearly 3 weeks, so it is great to finally share the news.  Our house has been on the market for about a week, so please pray it sells quickly.  In just a week on the market we just booked our third showing.  Everyone seems to think it won't last long and my fingers are crossed.  At this point, we are are homeless in Southern Indiana, but hoping to find somewhere to live this weekend. 

There are so many people/things we are going to miss in Lafayette.  It will always have many great memories for us and we've made some lifetime friends.  While we are happy to move back "home," my heart is heavy about the people I will miss.  I have also LOVED having my mom next door.  I think we are all going to miss that more than we realize.

See ya soon!

happy valentine's day

Valentine's Day is pretty low key around here.  Jordy and I agreed that we would not get anything for each other.  We had reservations at White Castle for dinner.  However, Kaylea ended up being sick.  She puked in bed the night before, but when she woke up she seemed to be fine.  She didn't want to miss the party at school so we let her go, only to be called to come and get her.  Apparently, there was a 24 hour bug going around.  The teacher had it the day before.

We cancelled our reservations at White Castle, Mimi came over to pay with Kaylea, and mommy & daddy went to the Olive Garden.  And now, mommy & mimi got the bug!

Jordy broke the rules and bought me some flowers and cookies.  I did not break the rule, so he didn't get anything.  I had wanted to get him a singing Valentine from Purdue, but I didn't.  When we came home from dinner, Kaylea was up for some playtime so we got out her gift and played.  She got a ball glove for t-ball, a shaving kit for the bathtub, a toiletry bag for when we travel, and some heart shaped scoopers to play in our colored rice.  Some of this stuff I had just gotten and threw in and said it was for V-Day.

I hope you had a great day!

And these were the Valentine's we made - we attached them to a box of crayons.  I forgot to take a picture. I really thought Kaylea would enjoy making these with me because she likes to cut and tape, but no, not so much.

girl scout cookie season

Kaylea is loving Girl Scout cookie season.  Her cookie of choice are the thin mints, which happen to be her daddy's favorite as well.  This cookie eating is ok with me because I am dieting and training for the triple crown/mini-marathon and must have forgotten when I ordered 9 boxes of cookies!

arrrrgh, matey! happy birthday charlie

Tonight we went to a really fun birthday party at Buccaneer Bay.  It is a small indoor water park in Lafayette. I actually didn't meet the birthday boy until tonight, but I play Bunco with his mom.  Kaylea was happy to meet him and had a blast at the party.  It was a really good place to party.  Charlie seemed to have a great time and also had an awesome birthday cake.  The water was shallow, so Kaylea was able to easily maneuver around on her own.  She must have gone down those slides 50 times.  We came home and took a bath and after a little bit of playtime with Mimi, Kaylea was out like a light!  What an awesomem weekend.

chillaxin

We spent a lot of quality time playing together this weekend.  I don't know why my pictures aren't in order, but after work Friday, Kaylea got to go over to Owen's house and play while we went out with Jen & Matt. They hadn't gotten to play together in a couple of weeks, so they had a blast. 

Saturday morning I took Kaylea to Chuck E Cheese while Jordy worked on a few things around the house.  While I got a little relaxation (pedicure), Jordy and Kaylea went to the park and played ball.  We just hung around the house the rest of the day.  After Kaylea went to bed, Jordy and I watched the Louisville vs. Notre Dame game that went into 5 overtimes!  We also finished her school Valentine's.  This year we are giving boxes of crayons that say, "you color my life with happiness."

Sunday, after a trip to the grocery store, Kaylea and I made colored rice.  I have been meaning to make it for sometime, but never actually started the project.  Kaylea was a big helper for this one.  Kaylea washed some dishes and made food for her animals.  She really likes to pretend she is baking, but she likes using real ingredients.  Jordy woke up not feeling great, so I tried to let him rest.  Being the sweet guy that he is, he let me take a nap today, even while he wasn't feeling great.

sweet jude

My friend, Karla, lost her 6 year old earlier this week.  My heart has been breaking for her and her family.  No parent should have to experience such a thing.  Tomorrow, I will attend my first visitation for a child.  Below is an article that was posted about her son in the local newpaper.


Six-year-old Jude Cotter died Tuesday at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, but his death was not linked to the flu.
The Lafayette boy developed a rare and sudden condition that doctors believe was linked to the Epstein-Barr virus — one of the most common human viruses and one that often develops into mononucleosis. In Jude’s case, the illness spread to his brain and caused viral encephalitis — severe swelling — that ultimately killed him.
“It’s something you don’t ever imagine happening to a 6-year-old little boy,” Karla Cotter, his mother, said Friday.
Cotter said whenever her son became sick it would pass within 24 hours or so. He was healthy and happy most of his life.
And while Cotter said there’s little, if anything, the family or doctors could have done differently in Jude’s case, she wants other parents to know he was not contagious and did not present any public health threat.
“I don’t think parents need to worry it’s going to happen to their kids,” Cotter said.

TSC reassurance

Jude was a kindergartner at Hershey Elementary School. Tippecanoe School Corp. Superintendent Scott Hanback said a schoolwide communication was sent by Principal Linda Fields following Jude’s death.
Counselors were available to meet with parents, staff and students, and an administrator from another TSC school has been assuming some administrative tasks to free up Fields to meet with families.
“In case there were any rumors or speculation about the cause of death, the school did issue a statement that basically said we do have a state law that mandates if there’s any type of reportable disease we’re required to report that to the county health department,” Hanback said.
“Should that need have prompted itself, we wanted to assure our parents that they would have been notified by TSC or the school if there was cause for concern.”
Despite what’s happened, Cotter said she doesn't plan to live in fear of germs or public settings with her other two children — Kane and Tessa.
“We’ll still send them to public school. We’re not going to live in a bubble,” Cotter said.
Her advice for parents: “Just love your kids. Cherish them. You don’t know when within a week they could just die.”

go cards!

We had a great weekend.  Friday wasn't too exciting, but went went out to eat at Chili's.  When we came home, we took a picture of our "excited" face.  Kaylea taught us this look ;)

 

 

I worked Saturday morning and then we headed to Southern Indiana for the rest of the weekend.  Kaylea and I started off visiting Jennifer & Jewell out in Greenville.  Kaylea wasn't sure what to think of Jewell.  She was bigger than a baby and Kaylea finally warmed up to her.

 

Saturday night we ended up meeting up with Amy & Art at Longhorn for dinner.  Kaylea played with Nana & Pop.  After dinner we headed to Louisville to look for some new Cardinal gear.  We went to Cheddar's to watch the first half of the IU vs. Michigan game.

 

Sunday morning we went for breakfast at Toast.  We generally LOVE that place, but the food wasn't great and the service was even worse.  We drove around looking at houses and went back to Nana's for a little more playtime. 

 

Kaylea then went to Trina's while we went with my Mom to the UL vs. Marquette game.  My mom got awesome seats from Horseshoe.  Not only was it a great game, but she won an autographed Rick Pitino ball!

 

 

 

After the game, we picked up Kaylea and quickly hit the road so we could make it back in time for the Super Bowl.  Kaylea fell asleep on the way home (for a too late in the afternoon nap).  She played while we watched part of the game and then went to play with Mimi. 

 

It may not sound too exciting, but it was an awesome weekend!