Not much to report...

So I thought it would be easier to come up with things to blog about, but no news is good news for us! Not much excitement around here lately, we've just been enjoying ourselves and relaxing a bit. I've actually forgotten the camera for most of our recent outings and didn't have many pictures to post, and really, who wants to just read the blabber, it's the pictures that are fun!
We're continuing to settle in here. This is the conversation every afternoon here...
Me: How was school today?
Caroline: Good.
Me: Did you do anything fun/exciting/new/adverb of choice?
Caroline: I forget.

You would think the girl who can talk nonstop, for hours on end, would report every detail of her day. But no. I ask more specific questions, but am usually ignored or brushed off. It's not really surprising considering I have the same conversation with Eric each night. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

We spent the weekend enjoying college football and the Taste of Falls Church. It was hot and muggy, so that was enough of the outdoors for us. We finally got to catch up with the Finkel's on Sunday night. They had us for an amazing dinner in their beautiful new home. They don't know it yet, but when the walls of this apartment start closing in on us in the winter, we'll be heading there a lot. They're just down the street!

Caroline has had two days of full day kindergarten and is handling it better than I thought she would. She and Molly started their dance classes yesterday and today. Caroline really enjoyed the freestyle parts and Molly was amazingly attentive. Molly's class isn't a mommy-and-me format, so I wasn't sure how she would do, but she loved it! And I loved sitting outside watching her!

Maty, Molly & Caroline snuggling up on the couch after running in from the rainy bus stop!

We spend most afternoons playing in the Fancy Nancy trunk and something like this is usually the result, princess dress & wand accompanied by some trendy elephant ears!

First Bus Ride and UAB Sorrows

Here is the ecstatic little kindergartner waiting at the bus stop on Thursday morning.

Well, our first two days of bus rides went very well. Caroline was really excited walking to the bus stop on Thursday, but became a little timid when the big yellow bus rolled up. However, by the time she got home that afternoon, she came bounding off with a new friend, The New Ava, not to be confused with the Old Ava. She was very excited and asked if she could sleep at kindergarten, she loves it that much!

Molly and Caden waiting for the bus to bring Caroline home.

Friday was just as exciting for her and while she was at school, our UAB shipment arrived. That was the 600 pounds we were allowed to ship here, however two clowns packed it up and it was not pretty when it arrived here. One of the boxes had fallen apart, so the two delivery guys so kindly "repacked it". Right. It was just depressing. This was the 600 pounds of our stuff that we deemed worthy to ship here, so it was the favorites. And these guys treated it like trash. Needless to say, I'm going to make it my mission that the State Dept. stops using the local Chicago company that originally packed it and these buttheads will know why.

The repacked box.

Caroline received some makeup kits for her birthday and I finally gave in to the begging and pleading to play with them. This is her work!

Sweet Molly has to do everything her big sister does, so I put a little "makeup" on her. I used a big glitter filled poof and she thought she was all that.

Big day after the Big Move!

I'm finally making this blog public and figured I'd start off with our big day yesterday. Both Eric and Caroline had their first day of school. Caroline started kindergarten and Eric started language training. Eric took a couple of tests and finished early, so there's not much to report for him. Caroline only had an hour of class yesterday and today, they're REALLY easing them into it. Tomorrow through next week, she has half days, BUT she'll ride the bus for the first time tomorrow! Then she'll start full time.
I was completely unaware of this strange new schedule and had her lunch packed, ready to drop her off for the day yesterday. Not so fast! It was more of a meet and greet the teacher, explore the classroom (find the potty) and practice the fire drill. Meanwhile, the PTA sponsored a coffee for those of us that didn't want to make the trek home, only to turn right back around and pick up the munchkins. It was the same drill today. Fortunately, both days, she left school very excited to return the next day, in fact, disappointed to be leaving so early.
She's admitted being a little nervous about the bus tomorrow, but she jumps up and down every time we bring it up. Molly and I are looking forward to a quiet morning, exploring the laundry process here and maybe some time in the activity center.
I'll try to post an update on the bus and Eric's schooling tomorrow!

Hello, My name is Jenn and I'm addicted to Guitar Hero

Molly finally enjoying some fresh air on a balmy 40 degree day!

Caroline and Grandma Pat on a scooter ride.

See! This is what they do while I play guitar hero! They wear diapers on their heads!
BAD MOMMY!!

And this is what I look like if you interrupt me playing guitar hero!

I am a neglectful mother. I can't seem to put down the fake guitar. I mastered the easy level weeks ago. Thankfully, I haven't dedicated as much time to it since moving on to the medium level, so it's taking a bit longer. However, the devil challenged me today. And beat me twice.

I realize that everyone needs hobbies or down time to relax. But my hobby has become an obsession. It wasn't until we were at our local grocery store this week and Pat Benatar was belting "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" over the store's speakers and C shouted "Hey Mommy, it's your guitar hero song!" that I realized my recreational toy was starting to warp her young, impressionable mind. Then tonight, she repeated "I wanna rock and roll, all night. And Party everyday!" at least 247 times in the tub, until my husband was whistling along with her.

I've corrupted the entire family! I must find a 12-step program to free me from this terrible habit. OR Lou must suffer the wrath of my whammy bar!

Eric's Night Out

Seeing as no one, besides me, reads this, I'm going to vent a little. Eric is out with my brother, Jeff and several guys from work and their wives tonight. They all went to Rockford for the John Cougar Melancamp concert. Eric and his colleagues worked with Elaine Melancamp when they were in Bloomington a few weeks ago. She offered them tickets and VIP passes for the show tonight.
Eric of course asked me to go, however there was no way we could get a sitter that would be able to stay late enough for us to watch a concert and return from Rockford. So, I'm at home with the girls...again. He's out with the boys and a former Victoria's Secret model and I'm home. He's watching the concert from the sound board, and I'm home.
He gets lots of perks with his job, some are even passed down to me. And he spreads the wealth whenever he can, so I can't be too upset. But this one is a little hard to swallow. I have essentially given up my career so I can raise our kids and follow him around the globe. A career in music and engineering. And now he gets to sit where I can only dream of. Ugh.
That's all, I just needed to vent a bit. Get it out there so I can get over it.

You have no idea how long it took to post this simple video! First, getting the girls dressed in something we all agreed on, then getting them to 'perform' - actually that wasn't that difficult-and of course figuring out how to get it from the camcorder to the computer and then online. Whew! It was actually kind of fun doing something somewhat 'techish' so I won't complain. However it did take almost three hours. Doesn't say much for my brain power these days. Anyway, I'm uploading it to see how it looks in a blog. There is really no other point to this post!

I haven't blogged in awhile, so I might as well now. I love the colors in this picture, they just make me happy. We finally took Mimi and Bob over to Brookfield Zoo and we did it all! The butterflies, the carousel, the monkeys, even the penquins! It was the last week the butterflies were on exhibit so we took full advantage and really appreciated their beauty.
We're now recovering from a virus Caroline had for three days. She's still a little funky, but starting to come around. I sent her to school more for me than her today. Now she's on the couch recooping. Eric is NYC for a couple of weeks, so I have to do whatever it takes to stay sane, even if that means infecting countless other children with an unknown illness.
Molly is doing well, walking like a pro and she'll tell you where your eyes are while she sticks her finger right into yours. It's pleasant.
Well, the sick one requires attention. She's just announced that she's going to take her clothes off.