It's a sunny weekend here in Rochester!

And we're hoping to take advantage of it! It's been a while since we had temperatures in the 40s and the sun shining above. Jarrod's working today so Gavin and I hope to spend some time outside. I'm thinking after a nap we'll drive to the park to see if the playground is free from snow. Even if we just get to walk around I think it will be a fun day. Jarrod's bringing home steaks for dinner so we're planning to grill out. Tomorrow, since he's off, we really want to use the weather to our advantage and knock out the garage.

So, what is going on with us? Well, this move just seems to get more complicated everyday. We found out we only get a window for a delivery date, so we changed our pack up date so that we can hopefully get our stuff delivered sooner. We're down to about 18 days before the truck is supposed to pack up! Then, we're hoping to spend some time in Cincinnati with family and friends before heading down to Arkansas. I spent yesterday making tons of phone calls - getting new car insurance quotes, finding a pediatrician, talking with the property management company about our home....I'm sure our phone bill will be high this month. Oh well! I think we're all finally healthy. Gavin still sounds congested, but he's eating much better and is his active self, so I'll venture to say he is feeling good. We're just ready for spring! He knows how to say 'outside' now, so he's always grabbing shoes or pointing to his coat and saying outside. We're going to have so much fun in the yard at the new house! And since my posts aren't complete without a picture according to our families, here's the bug. Have a great weekend everyone!

Gavin in Arkansas

Just wanted to share some of the pics I took of Gavin while we were in Arkansas. Not too many, but some cute ones!

He's a really good traveler. On the way down, our first flight was delayed, and he still did pretty good. He watched some Thomas on the DVD player (Thanks Aunt Sandy and Uncle Dave!) and then fell asleep on me. When we flew from Chicago to Beonville, it wasn't a full flight so he got his own seat. He watched the DVD player and read books the whole time!

We spent so much time in the car over the 4 days we were there, so Gavin pretty much napped and snack in the car seat. He was getting quite tired on being in the car on Monday afternoon, so Jarrod decided to offer him a muffin. He just kept saying, "Mess!" over and over again.

Gavin loved the hotel bed! He laid there watching the TV and eating his breakfast every morning. Nothing better than breakfast in bed, right?

Where are we moving to?

Well, we got back from Arkansas late last night (since we volunteered to forfeit our seats in exchange for free plane tickets....brave with a toddler, huh?) It was a very long four days spent driving around in a tiny, compact rental car trying to learn more about our new region.

It was quite a culture shock. I don't know when I've ever seen so many cows. But, it is definitely not just farm land. There are a ton of shopping areas and restaurants, probably more than we have here in NY. There's a really nice outdoor area that reminded me of Ohio. It was like The Greene or Rookwood, and I can see myself walking around with Gavin when the weather's nice. I love that we'll have access to the Walton Life Family Center, which is the rec area. I'll be able to work out again while Gavin goes to the adorable child care area, and they have a ton of classes I can sign up for with Gavin, like swim lessons and a Moms and Tots class that sounds like a tumbling class.

There are definitely constant reminders that we're in the south. We passed restaurants called "Slim Chickens" and "Pig and Whistle." There was an advertisement for the 3rd Annual "Are You Smarter than a Hog" trivia contest on the radio. People refer to carts and shopping bags as buggies and sacks.

Even though there was a lot of traffic, neighborhoods everywhere, and shopping centers galore, it already felt like it was a slower pace of life. It's definitely different....but hopefully something we all adjust to and begin to enjoy. I remember that first drive up here to visit New York and how I kept thinking it was so different, and I grew to love it here. So, I'm hoping the same thing happens with Arkansas.

Our house-hunting didn't go quite like I planned. By the time we got there, all of our top choices were already rented. We also quickly learned that we needed a fenced yard. Most of the houses are built quite close together, so if we didn't have a fence, Shirley would definitely be spending a lot of time in our neighbors yards. After talking with the realtor we worked with, we decided to bump our rent limit up a bit to find what would truly make us happy. So, this is the house we decided on, for just $75 more than we pay here in New York for our 2 bedroom apartment! It's a 4 bedroom/2 bath home in Bentonville. If traffic isn't bad, it's only a short 8 minute drive or so for Jarrod to get to work. We love the kitchen and the fact that it came with a refrigerator. Most didn't, and we didn't really want to have to buy one. Jarrod loves that it's so close to 'civilization,' as he calls it, but also within distance from a farm. He walked Gavin down the street to say hi to the 'moos' (cows) when we were there visiting.

Here is the 4th bedroom, which has really cute french doors. We're probably going to use this as a playroom until we need the space for a guest room. For now, the 3rd bedroom will be the guest room.

Our master bedroom....love the tray ceiling. Don't like the blinds.

Can't wait to rest in the jacuzzi tub!!!

Living room with a nice fireplace. :)

Funny how the living room has an accent wall, and the colors are pretty much identical to the wall colors in our home in Ohio.

The kitchen. Yay for more cabinets and counterspace!!!! I only wish it was more open to the living room.

This will probably be Gavin's room. We're negotiating with the owners now about repainting it since it's so dark, but if they don't give in, we'll make it work. I'm picturing that little nook between the closets with a bean bag chair and a basket of books for reading. :)

This is the major downside for me....the yard is tiny. But, it is bigger than we have now at the apartment, it's fenced, and the front yard is big enough to play in as well. The other contender (which we decided against because it was only 3 bedrooms and was on a busy street) had a much nicer yard.

This house doesn't have a separate dining room. It's an eat-in kitchen, so I hope our table fits ok in it. The bedrooms are on the small side, but we have 4 of them! :) I'm so excited to create a playroom for Gavin with a train table. And to know that I will be able to open the back door and let Shirley go out sounds like heaven to me!

Look for more pictures tomorrow from our trip! Now, we just have to wait patiently for moving day.

It's very surreal....

When you read this post, Gavin, Jarrod, and I will be on a plane heading to Arkansas to look for somewhere to live. It's still so surreal.... When I say 'Arkansas' or see it on a map, I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that we're moving there. Seriously???

I've had a lot of people asking me lately if I'm really ok with this move. Honestly, I am. I'm in a completely different place with this move than I was when the New York move happened. When Jarrod first brought up the chance to move to Arkansas, I thought he was crazy....didn't want anything to do with it. But, in true Jennifer-fashion, I tend to react quickly before weighing the options and thinking things through. The more we talked about it, the more I looked into it, the more I realized it was the best option for our family, even if it meant we'd be in Arkansas.

I'm not saying that I'm not sad that we're getting farther from home. I wish we were closer to our families all the time. When I have Tastefully Simple parties and see hosts there with their moms or sisters, I miss mom and Megan so much. When Dad texts me to tell me how good he's doing with this workout and diet, I wish I was there to hug him. I miss seeing Tyler and Briana grow and wish I could be there to help with their homework occasionally like Megan does. (Though something tells me she's probably better at it....I only taught first grade....they're 6th and 7th graders now - probably over my head! Isn't that what Bri told me once? Megan was smarter because she was in college and I only taught first grade!) When I hear stories about Shaw, I wish I could be there walking down the hall....spending lunch with Sara and Tori, doing recess duty with Lindsay. I wish I could be there for the baby get togethers when I hear that Lindsay, Jill and Megan got together. But, our life has taken us on a different journey, and I'm bound and determined to make the most of it!

My family and I have done a fabulous job keeping in touch. This blog is a great way for them to see what we're doing here in NY, and I plan to keep it going in AR. We talk on the phone almost daily, and thanks to Skype, they get to see Gavin quite often. I think we've even done a great job getting to see one another. I think the one of the hardest parts is that some of my friends and I aren't in touch as often as I thought we'd be. I imagined lots of emails, texts, and phone calls, and that hasn't exactly happened. But, again, I think that's a part of growing up and moving away....things change. I know, even if we aren't in touch as often as I'd like, that we'll always be friends no matter what. The distance just makes things a little more difficult.

So, now that this has gotten very long, I'm going to stop. I just wanted to let everyone know how I was feeling. Yes, I miss you all terribly. I think about you all EVERYDAY. In a perfect world, we'd all be closer together again. But, I am ok with Arkansas. I'm actually looking forward to it! I'm so excited to move into a house with a yard that Gavin and I can play in this summer while Shirley runs around. I'm looking forward to being in a neighborhood where we can take walks and get to know other families. I'm anxious to see a different part of the country that we'd otherwise never visit. I know if we hadn't moved here, I never would have experienced the great things Rochester and Upstate NY have to offer and met the great friends I've made here. I'm so excited to see where this move takes our family; it will bring us even closer and make us even stronger.

Another update....

We just found out the moving day won't be in the beginning of the month like we thought....looks like we're moving closer to the end of March. At least we're getting the info we need, but I guess we didn't need to do so much packing this weekend! :)

Just an update

Wow! I can't believe how much easier it is to pack when you're in an apartment and half of your stuff is still in boxes in the garage! :) Jarrod and I did a lot of packing yesterday (Happy Valentine's Day to us) and got so much done. I'm more worried about getting the garage organized than anything.

We fly to Arkansas on Saturday to start the house hunting process (and will hopefully know for sure what home we'll be moving into by the time we fly back on Wednesday.) I'm so excited to go house hunting! I love looking at homes, and to know that we'll be in a HOUSE again is soooo appealing to me. I can't wait for campouts in our backyard with Gavin, nights by the fireplace (because it seems like every home we put on our list has one!) and having friends and family come stay with us. YAY!

I have my last Tastefully Simple party Friday, and then I'm taking a short break until the Spring/Summer line comes out in March so that we can get settled. But, of course...if there are any Fall/Winter items you have to have before they retire, call or email me before the end of the month. There are some amazing products going away...Sweet Bell Pepper Dip, Awesome Amaretto Cocoa... Mmmm!

Alright - have to take advantage of naptime and head out to the garage for a little while! Oh, and if I haven't talked to you in a while, CALL ME! I miss you, friends! :)

Wordy Wednesday

Sorry for the change to my routine post - today I have A LOT to say! :)

Bloom where you are planted....

If you know me well, you know that the thought of moving to New York scared me to death. I wasn't sure how I was going to adjust and being so far from my family saddened me. Heidi gave me such a beautiful, meaningful gift when we moved here. When she and I met in college when we were 18, she'd already lived in 5 states. She knows just how I was feeling. So, soon after we got here, we met for coffee as she and Anthony were driving through New York and she gave me this picture she'd taken. "Bloom where you are planted," it says. It means so much to me and I look at it everyday.

I think I've done a pretty good job at "blooming" here in New York. In all honesty, I like it a lot more than I ever thought I would. There is sooo much to do with Gavin and as a family. Coming here and not knowing anyone with no family around made Jarrod, Gavin, and I a closer, stronger family. We know now we can conquer anything....

And so, now it's time for us to "bloom" again. Our time in Rochester has been shorter than we expected. We're moving on. Jarrod has accepted a job working at Walmart/Sam's Club's Home Office so in the next month, we'll be packing up and heading to Bentonville, Arkansas. This is a HUGE move for us. It's bittersweet. We'll be moving a little farther away from our hometown than we are now and we'll be leaving all the people and places we've grown to love here. But we know in our hearts, it's the best decision. The position will mean that Jarrod will not be working in a club, which means he'll avoid all the stress and chaos of retail. This will be a Monday-Friday job with normal hours and holidays off. Imagine that! No more getting home at 11pm and working on Saturdays. That is exciting! Plus, the cost of living is so much more affordable, so we're excited to find a nice home with a lot more space for our family and a yard for Shirley to rent (for less rent than we're paying here I might add!)

I will track the journey here on our blog so that you all can keep informed. We love our families so much and we're so lucky to have so much support with this move. It means the world to us!

Flashback Friday

I know it's not much of a "flashback" but this week's pictures are from two weeks ago. These pictures show our final memories in Ohio.

Thursday night, our last night in our house, we ordered Ron's Pizza and ate on the futon (on the floor). Gavin loved the pizza...if you look closely, you can see he's sitting on the box!

Bad angle, thanks to a self-timer
Valinda took this family picture in front of our house. Sadly, I think it's the only time we took a picture in front of our hosue on Carolyn Drive. The greatest neighbor ever! What are we going to do in NY without Valinda???

Gavin's last day with Joyce. He looks so sad in this picture. Jarrod took him to the sitter, which got him all out of routine, and he cried so hard when Jarrod handed him to Miss Joyce. It took some doing, but Jarrod was able to get a picture with her like I asked him to. Now I have one from his first day and one from his last day for his baby book!

This is the moving truck Sam's provided! We could have lived in the truck :)

Before heading out, we had lunch with Jarrod's two bosses from Dayton. Eric and Mitch were always so wonderful to not only him, but to Gavin and me as well. We're going to miss those guys!

Great friends are hard to find

...but I always seem to find them! I remember leaving Toledo thinking, "I'll never meet friends as great as Angie, Heidi, and Lauren." I love those girls so much and I still look forward to any chance we can all get together. But I must say, I feel so lucky to have met so many more great friends here in Dayton, especially Lindsay, Sara, and Tori. They have been more than supportive since Jarrod's been gone, and I can't even imagine what it would have been like to be a single mom without them! Here are some pictures from the going away party that we had at Marion's for Tracy and me. Tracy is also leaving Shaw and moving to a new place with her family.

With Laura

Sara, Tori and me
Me and Sara

Lynne, Kristen and me

Lindsay, Tori and me with the babies

Gavin, Carson, and Zoe

These are pictures from my last day as a Shaw School employee. Our teacher work day was Monday, and I took lots of pictures of the girls and me, and the phenomenal people I work with. I'm going to miss them all, but I am so excited to start the new chapter in my life with my family back together again!

Tori, Sara, me and Lindsay with the Sebastian the Shaw Tiger :)
My new favorite picture...Love you girls!

With Theresa - where would I be without her wisdom and words of encouragement? I appreciate everything you've said and done, Theresa. Thank you!!!

The Jens ~ looking much skinnier than the last time we had a picture taken together. I'll always remember our pregnant walks, Jen. Thanks for being a great friend and for being such a support during our pregnancies and motherhood. Give Andrew a hug for me!

Lynne - where would I be without this woman??? She saved me so many times, through maternity leave to my stint as a single mom. What a wonderful friend and teacher! You need to hire her, Beavercreek City Schools! You don't know what you're missing out on! :)

Of course, the Shaw family and I are going to stay in touch! I'll be sending them updates and links to the blog frequently, and I'm sure I'll be by to visit on trips home. It was quite strange turning in my key Monday and leaving for the very last time as a Shaw 1st grade teacher...but guess what? I'm a STAY AT HOME MOM! I get to enjoy every last minute with my little bug! I can't wait!!!

Bittersweet

School is out. I'm so glad the make-up days are finally complete. The year seemed to last forever. But, no matter how excited I am to stay at home with Gavin and be back with Jarrod again, I'm going to miss Shaw. I'm going to miss my fellow teachers and fabulous friends. I'm going to miss the kids. My morning Jesse-hugs. The funny things they say... "You don't even know what the Jitterbug is!" "Yes I do...it's a cell phone!" (Think about it... jitterbug... jitterbug...) Deciphering their stories, especially when their version of a word makes the story take a whole new meaning! Having second graders come back to give me hugs and ask how Gavin is. Oh...there are so many more memories. I could go on forever. Jeffrey crying his eyes out on the very first day of my first year of teaching because they didn't have pizza for lunch. Giuseppe's vocabulary. Edward's jokes and his collection of 'nuts.' Hayden coming into the room, announcing for everyone to hear, "I'm going to stink today!" Jayashree wishing me a "Happy ______ Day" ... she had something for nearly everyday. Surviving Praxis with Sara. Pregnant walks with Jen. Baby stories with Martha, Lindsay, Tori, Jen, Kelly, Brian, Nick, Megan, Jill...crazy, huh? Sharing tears with Pat. Listening to Susan sing in the hallways. Recher's hats. P.E. with my kids and Mrs. Knopp. Telling Pat I was engaged and watching her nearly fall down. Pies in the face with Nick. Mentoring Tori. Barb playing games at the staff party :) It was such an emotional day. And we still have our teacher work day! I'm looking forward to my future, but I'll always remember my past. I love you, Shaw. Thanks for 5 amazing years!

Wordless Wednesday and Flashback Friday

...are taking a hiatus! :) There is so much going on right now, and as much as I love sharing pictures with you all, it's just going to have to wait. Friday is the last day of school. Jarrod flies home Wednesday (a week from today) and the movers come a week from Friday. Once we get to NY, we'll probably be without internet for a couple weeks. Once we're all settled and the internet gets rolling, I promise lots of pictures and lots of updates. I will be a stay at home mom, afterall! :) Tons of time on my hands, right??? :) But...one cute picture to hold you over! Gavin's favorite thing right now is to take everything out of any basket or container he can find and climb into...and that includes Shirley's water bowl! Didn't get a picture of that one because it didn't seem too safe to leave him balancing in the water bowl (which are on a stand at least a foot high) on the tile floor of the bathroom.)

Helping out

Mom and Rosi came up with the kids for the weekend. We were planning to get some things done with packing and getting the spare room painted, and we were having a garage sale to try and sell all the stuff I didn't want to move.
Friday night we went out for pizza, and when we left the restaurant, we could see smoke in the air south of us. As we got closer to home, we realized that apartments in West Carrollton were on fire, just about 5 minutes from our home. We could see flames shooting into the sky. From what we heard on the news, 6 families lost everything.
Saturday was a gorgeous day and our sale went really well. We sold all of the big items I wanted to get rid of except for the mattress. It really was a relief to know I had that checked off my list. But, it felt even better when we boxed up all the extra clothes and took them to the Centerville Park Apartments for the fire victims. Between my clothes and mom's things she'd brought up for the sale, we donated 6 boxes and 3 garbage bags full of clothes. They're out of our garage, and into the homes of people who lost everything!