A long-awaited day

One of my closest friends got married the day we moved from La Crosse. Thankfully she only had her sister stand up for her, otherwise it would have been an even crazier weekend. Just getting to a wedding by 4pm on Saturday was crazy enough. But I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Allison and I have been friends since high school when she moved to Madison and we instantly became best friends through youth group. We've been through a lot together and I am so happy for her and Mike.

I love weddings and it was great because our anniversary was the very next day, so it was a bit of a date for us to be out without the kids for an entire evening.

We also had a lot of fun with my parents. We rarely get to go to a wedding with them and we had such fun spending time with them.

It was such a beautiful night, a beautiful setting down at the union, and a beautiful couple.

I had so much fun taking pictures of them and are so happy for the two of them. They are such great people and I can't wait to hear from Alli after they return from Hawaii.

Leaving on a jet plane.....well, not quite.

So, after all our goodbyes, we actually did move. The kids loved playing on the moving truck and walking up and down the ramp. We are so thankful for our family that came and helped us load up the truck. Our last day was pretty crazy.......we spent from about 8am until noon loading up the truck......
...then we all got cleaned up and went to Matt's residency graduation over lunch........
...then back to packing all afternoon. We finally loaded up the truck and the moving truck and the kids went back to Madison with my parents while Matt and I went to the dinner and checked out of our housing the following morning. Wyatt was ecstatic to ride in the truck with Pops and he stayed awake the entire trip home.
Sadie, Mom, and Matt waving goodbye to Wyatt and Pops

Goodbyes--for real this time

We all procrastinated in saying goodbye to each other. For the last few weeks in La Crosse, we'd say, "This is out last....... together" but we'll still see each other tomorrow. But we finally reached our last day in La Crosse when there was no tomorrow. I wrote in a previous post about what wonderful blessings all my friends in La Crosse have been, but I just can't say it enough. We are now all scattered around the country, yet we'll always have our time in La Crosse in common. I spoke with an attending at the hospital who told me that 15 years after residency, she still is in touch with the other women who went through residency at the same time and I'm planning on being the same way!

Me (Ohio), Stephanie (Pennsylvania), Nicole (Oregon), and Sarah (Wisconsin)

Matt, Ben, Annette, and I--Ben and Annette were friends that we just met before leaving La Crosse but are so thankful to have done so. Ben's dad was actually my father-in-laws wrestling coach in college and Matt grew up hearing such great things about Ben's dad, so we had this instant connection when they moved to La Crosse. Plus, they did their residency in Columbus, OH, so they've been so helpful as we prepare to move there.

Side by Side 2008---Of course not everyone was here for this picture, but it was great to spend time with everyone the night before we had to move. This picture was taken at the residency graduation dinner. These women all mean so much to me and I have loved experiencing residency with them.

I love this picture because it just reminds me of what these women have meant to me--just looking at the excitement on each of their faces over a new baby, seeing each other, asking how things are going, etc. We all experienced life with each other---joys, sadness, excitement--it's one of the things I love about being around other women. These are the good friends that share your joys and sorrows and I will truly miss living in the same city with all of them.

Our first goodbyes...to the kids

We began our goodbyes in La Crosse by having all the kids say goodbye. We went to our friend Jess's house the week before we all moved out and had all the kids take a picture together. All of these kids lived in resident housing together and we have SO many memories together.

Leo, Wyatt, and Bella--one last time at the pool together

Sadie--enjoying the water fountains

Gotta keep her girlish figure!

Wyatt and Drew

Our last night in resident housing with all the kids together....still so sad to think about!

Gabe, Wyatt, and DrewWyatt is excited about moving to Ohio, but not about leaving all his friends. We were blessed to have so many kids Wyatt's age that we lived close to and were able to play with.

A Day in the Life of Sadie Joan

This is how I found her sleeping one day. She still has her shoes on because she fell asleep in the car and we forgot to take them off as we carried her to bed. Doesn't this look terribly uncomfortable with her little bottom sticking up in the air? Apparently she was comfortable because we had to wake her up to go to dinner at a friend's house.

I had to post this picture because I got so many emails/posted comments/questions as to why Sadie didn't have a helmet on in a previous post about us biking. Well, here it is. She didn't like to wear it in the past b/c it was a bit big, but apparently her head grew enough! She wants to wear it all the time now, because she wants to be like Wyatt, Mommy, and Daddy.

This picture was taken on Father's Day. We were sitting outside and she was doing what she loves to do....play with jewelry and touch peoples' faces. That smile just makes me smile!

Sadie got this outfit as a baby gift from one of Matt's attendings and it finally fits her. It's an authentic scandinavian outfit--thankfully she's mostly german, so she can pull it off. Not sure when she'll wear this again, especially since we are leaving Wisconsin. Maybe it'll still fit her for Halloween.

This is the face you'll see Sadie making whenever you show her grapes, yogurt, a starbucks cup (empty), or her blankie. And it's usually accompanied by a huge inhale!

Splash Park Fun

*********WARNING***************

I am a few weeks behind on my posts due to our move and I am trying to catch up before it becomes impossible to do so........SO, bear with me as I purge all my thoughts and photos!

Our last Side by Side of the year was at the Splash Park in La Crosse. And it was only about 70 degrees, but the kids didn't seem to care! They were in their swimsuits and splashing around. I have said it before, but I'll say it again, I am really going to miss all these women and their kids.

Patty and Sadie---I love this picture because Patty is one of my dearest friends and she is always willing to help with kids--despite the fact that it's been years since hers were this young. But she never minds getting spit up on, dirty, etc. ---as noted by the fact that she is wearing a white shirt and holding Sadie, with chocolate cookie in hand, so closely!! She just enjoys helping others and being able to spend time with our kids---and those of you who are moms know how much it means when someone truly cares for your kids and isn't bothered by all the "stuff" that comes with having kids. I hope I can be like this someday!

Wyatt and Brogan----they weren't too sure about the water at this point!

Wyatt and Bella--I love this picture because you could just add about 13 years to their lives and this picture would still be the same.....

Wyatt, Bella, and Leo all trying to get a drink

Sadie loved the water and was surprised by it just a few times! This picture isn't at a great angle, but if you look closely, you can see the excitement on her face as her mouth was wide open!

Wedding and Weather

This past weekend I went to a friend's wedding in Michigan. Katie was the last of the six of us to get married and, although we are happy for her, we are all sad because there are no more weddings for us to go to and get together at. We're going to have to make our reunions a top priority! Everyone but our friend Laura was able to make it--nothing short of a miracle since we live in Maryland, New Jersey, Chicago, Wisconsin, and California. It was great to be back in the city where we all went to college and to catch up on what's going on in each person's life. (L to R--Me, Annie, Andra, and Kari--6 mos. prego)

not the greatest pic, but I had to show the beautiful bride--Katie

The four of us again as we were saying goodbye again for probably another year :(

I drove home from the wedding on sunday afternoon and this was what I saw as I pulled up to my parents house in Madison......

These clouds were pretty freaky......it was light blue sky immediately contrasted by low, swirling clouds and then really dark sky.(Matt out on the deck with Sadie--Jen, I know you are dying just looking at this picture knowing Matt was outside watching it all, but I did bring Sadie inside with me as the clouds got closer)

We ended up staying in Madison until about 8pm and waited for much of the storm to pass, although we still drove through some downpours. There's been lots of flooding, as I'm sure many of you have seen on the news, and some of our friends in Des Moines have a flooded home. It's pretty scary to know what damage rain can do! Thankfully we are all safe and dry here! It was a great weekend......now on to packing, packing, and more packing!!!

Torture Lessons Over!!!

I found this picture online of a "dry swim trainer"--this really would be torture!! But in all seriousness, Wyatt did great in his last two swimming lessons! He didn't cry at all and to top it all off, he passed to the next level!!!! I was over the top proud of him and all he had achieved....not just in his swimming skills but also overcoming his own fears. Hopefully we won't start over with all this as we move to Ohio and begin with new teachers, new YMCA, etc.

My little girl

Sadie has such a great little personality and I wanted to take a moment to write down all the little things that make her Sadie!

She stays very focused on something and works at it until she gets it.

She is obsessed with shoes and tries on any pair she can find--around our house, in a store, in other peoples' homes.

She loves trying on sunglasses and tries to keep them on by looking up since she has this tiny little nose that can't hold them on! My mom came up this week to help me start packing our house and bought Wyatt and Sadie these cute little sunglasses at Walmart--and Sadie loved them...as you can tell. She was so proud to have her own!

She is so proud of herself when she figures something out on her own. I took this picture this afternoon--she was sitting down on the step and then getting up without using her hands and was so excited. She did this for several minutes---up and down, up and down.
She loves to show off her "pretty toes". One of the things I have enjoyed about having a little girl--painting her toenails! And if you ask her where her pretty toes are, she'll gladly show you and then look to see yours!

She is a little ragamuffin. She seems to get into any form of dirt that she can find and gets food in her hair at every meal--something her brother never did! She'll often walk around with one shoe on, her hat crooked (see pic), dirt in hand, etc. But it never bothers her!

She loves babies and especially loves to point out all their features---she'll say "eye" and then poke the poor little ones right in the eye! She loves to walk her little stroller and found this one from our neighbor outside and decided to go for a walk.

She has no fear! She'll wander as far away from me as I'll let her, climb as high as I'll let her, etc. She is one I have to worry about--where is she, what's she doing, etc. When my mom and I were packing, I had a pile of flattened boxes in our family room and she just climbed on top of it, stood up, and smiled at us, thinking, "What are you going to do about it?"

Her little smile just melts our hearts---especially Matt's. What a blessing she is to us! I can't wait to see what she'll be like in a few years, but right now, we're just enjoying her adventurous spirit and joyful smile.

My bumblebee

Wyatt made this adorable bee costume at his "Mini My-Y Club" class this week. It's just a 4 week class at the Y on Thursday mornings for an hour and a half and he's been loving it! He was so proud that he painted this himself and that he got to eat some honey that the bees made! (I obviously don't do many crafts with my kids!)
I took this picture of Wyatt after he got up from his nap that day. He doesn't always wake up in a great mood, but if Sadie is already awake and downstairs with me, he's instantly happy when he sees her. And in this picture, he was looking at her and just couldn't contain his joy! And this outfit is so fitting of a story I have been meaning to put on here. He is such an 'urban' kid--I'll tell you what I mean. We were at Farm and Fleet a few weeks ago looking for the cheap knock-off crocs for Sadie and Wyatt wanted to sit on all the tractors. Of course, we had to sit on every single one of them and Sadie had to follow suit. Wyatt was wearing this outfit and sitting on all the tractors, when one of the workers from the store walking by said, "You are such a big boy, driving the tractor. Where are you going on your tractor?" His answer? "I'm going to Starbucks." Oh boy! What have I done? Thankfully the worker was a female and just looked at me and smiled, but I'm sure his grandpas and great-grandpas would be mortified!