Scenes from a move

Here are a few more pictures from our move last week... wait, has it already been one week?? I feel like we should be unpacked more than we are. 

In any case, our appliances arrive today!! As I type this while the kids nap, I keep peering out the window looking for the truck. I can hardly wait to do laundry later. Yep, that's right. I've got about 8 loads lined up waiting to go!

Driving up last thursday. 

Goodness does the outside of this house need some TLC.

 Everett, crawling out of the back of the car stuffed with, well, stuff. He is ready!

A driveway and grass!!

Our beds, Thursday night.

Friday morning, as the trucked arrived. Colin was there waiting, concerned about where his "sand tools" were.

Where to start??

Exhaustion

Cheers to kids playing in a driveway on a warm summer night. ;)

Something I'd NEVER have done when I had just one...

Today I let my kid run around barefoot at a bar. At a bar that proudly describes themselves as a, 'Dive Bar' on the front of their building.

Yup.

Just give me a gold star for the day right now. 

It's a long story.... 

First, we have no appliances yet, except for a mini fridge we brought and an old dishwasher that came with the house. No stove, no washer/drier. It's proving interesting. In a way, I feel like I'm in the peace corp again... except when I was in the peace corp I didn't have four children to feed and take care of. 

Our new refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher, washer and dryer arrive on Thursday. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

In truth, "moving in" has proved more difficult than I thought simply because caring for kids is also such a full time job. It's hard to find any time to unpack boxes and quite frankly, by the end of the day when the kids finally go to bed, we are too tired to do much. I know it will get done though, eventually!

So basically the kiddos are wearing whatever we can find to put on them and we're feeding them whatever can fit into the mini fridge- or we'll go out to eat. 

Which leads me to tonight and the, "I let my kid run around barefoot in a bar" decision.

There wasn't much food in the mini-fridge, even though I'd just gotten back from a Walmart run (nice job on my part, completely forgetting to buy more food). So I pulled into the driveway, picked up Chris and Colin and we headed down the street to a bar that serves amazing food. Only thing was I didn't have shoes for the trips. Another not so good move on our part because after sitting patiently in a grocery cart at Walmart for an hour and then in their car seats for a while, they wanted to move, especially Everett. Oh was he mad when we tried and tried to make him sit in his highchair. He wouldn't even let me hold him and walk him. He wanted and needed to walk around himself.

So- down he went.

You know what? He lived. Sure I got looks, but when his meal finally came he was happy to sit down and eat and in turn, we also got to eat. 

Chris and I were totally laughing about this on the drive home. How when we just had Colin and he was that age, we'd NEVER have allowed him to do something like that! We might even be horrified if we saw someone else doing this. 

Maybe with each kid you have, you relax even more. Maybe we've relaxed too much, who knows.

All I know is I can't wait until my our new appliances arrive and I can make family meals in my kitchen and unabashedly let my babies run around barefoot all around me. 

Tonight, the boys put on matching new Walmart p.js and we sang a made up song about this over and over.

Even though we now have four bedrooms, the boys all still share. I'm not sure how long this will last but for now it's what works for them, and us. 

The dawn of a new day

We are moved!

 (and now I have internet so I can blog about it :)

Thursday was a loooooong day. 

The trips and Colin... and us too, were kind of in the way of everything so,

Amelie and I took the boys to breakfast 'one last time' at Toast to get out of the movers way. Then Amelie and I drove the boys to our new home in Holland, MI while Chris stayed back to  wait for the movers to finish and then close up the house.

Before we left though, Colin and I walked through each of the rooms to say "Goodbye". It was my idea, but he was fully on board. I think he might be sentimental like me...

I was so moved. 

He literally said "goodbye" to each room, and even to items within each room (i.e. the bathtub) adding things like, "We'll always love you" and "We'll miss you". I felt like I was reading a version of 'Goodnight Moon'. I think it really helped him.... and me too.

I've lived in Chicago since I got out of the Peace Corps in 2002. Ten years! Chris has lived in Chicago even longer. We love the pulse of the city, the culture, the diversity, and of course, the food! Not to mention our amazing group of friends there! Right up until the end, it was hard to leave all that.

And yet, when we got here I knew.

  I knew.

This is where we're meant to be.

Around dusk, Colin and I were able to sneak away to the beach, which is literally right down the street. Just the two of us.

He'd been there before but I'd not yet seen it. 

I loved watching the excitement on Colin's face as he showed me around.

"This way Mommy!" he said as he ran through the tunnel.

(at Tunnel Park you can either climb over a huge sand dune or go through a tunnel to reach the beach... as seen in the first picture)

When we reached the other side of the tunnel, it was so beautiful and peaceful!

As we played and climbed the sand dunes and ran around in the sand, I felt it again. 

We are where we are supposed to be.

Climbing up to the top of the sand dune

Running down the other side

Moving Day

Tomorrow (today) is moving day. It's the middle of the night really and we're still packing... almost done though.

The movers will come first thing in the morning.

Over the past four years this house and I have had a sort of love/ hate relationship. At times, the seemingly nonstop renovations took a toll and I'll admit it, I've done my share of complaining about this house.

And yet now a part of me doesn't want to leave. I realize how much I really do love this house.

Tonight we paused for a bit to sit out on the front steps and watch city life go by. It's one of my favorite things to do.

Colin turned on the bubble blower and ran around the yard trying to catch the bubbles. It reminded me of the days when I was home taking care of Colin as a baby. Almost every nice day, we'd sit out on the front steps, watching the city life go by and waiting for Chris to come home.

When the babies went to bed, just Colin and I were left out front and he caught me staring into space, thinking.

C: What you looking at mommy?

J: I'm just thinking, that's all.

C: What you thinking bout?

J: How when Daddy and I moved into this house, it was just us. Mommy, daddy and olive. And then we had you.... and then the babies.

I knew he wouldn't quite understand my answer but that was the truth. That was what I was thinking about.

I'll miss this house. Oh we've had good days here... and we've brought four beautiful babies home here.

But tomorrow I'll put on my brave mommy face and say goodbye. Colin will be sad, I know it. Chris and I will be too....

but also looking forward.

This is my Everett

The following pictures were taken over this past week, when I had my phone camera on me. Believe me, there are many more similar situations that this little turkey finds himself in and I don't have my camera. Everett keeps me on my toes, that's for sure!

1. I ran upstairs to brush my teeth (imagine that). No, actually, not even to brush my teeth. To grab my toothbrush and toothpaste and run back downstairs to brush my teeth in the kitchen sink (I know these little trouble makers too well). In that short window of time, Everett managed to push his booster seat over FROM THE OTHER ROOM, climbed on top of it and when I first saw him, he had his leg draped over the baby gate ready to launch himself. I swear I was gone no more than 20 seconds.

2. The boys were eating nicely in their booster seats together (on the floor because we'd had a house showing and therefor took them off of the kitchen chairs for a few days)

See how nicely they're eating together?

Anyway, I took Everett out of his seat first, took his tray over to the sink and then turned back when I heard laughing (you know, that kind of laughing that tells you something is going on).

There he was, laughing and jumping on top of Carter's tray with Carter also laughing hysterically.

3. This is classic and I should know better by now. I start unloading dishes, get momentarily interrupted, turn back around and there's Everett, ceasing the moment.

This is my Everett. So curious, so mischievous but in the most cheerful, gregarious way.

Your smile and laugh are so contagious, Everett.

And you still have that laid back vibe we noticed when you were just a newborn, talked about in this post.

Case in point, how you so often ride in the choo choo wagon.

Feet propped up and enjoying the ride!

Keep up that curiousity, big smile and laid back attitude. It will take you far little man.

Has it really been

almost a week since I posted anything?

This has been a week of goodbyes and right now I'm pretty convinced that goodbyes stink!

We've had goodbye play dates, a last physical therapy session for the trips, a last speech therapy session for Colin, a last music class, my last Mom's group at church.... all of these are activities and people that are so meaningful and important to us. And there are more goodbyes to come. Tonight after we pack and pack and pack, we're going out to dinner with my brother who I've loved living close to for the past five years, and dear friends. We'll go to one of our old stomping grounds.

Even places are hard to say goodbye to. I'll be sad saying goodbye to "the digging park" as Colin has always called our favorite city park because of it's big giant sandbox. I'll miss the city's Whole Foods store and the fact that I can get almost anything there. Oh how I love that place! I'll miss our favorite restaurants, the yoga place I go too, my Zumba class that lets me dance for an hour and forget everything else, our favorite coffee shop and brunch spot. I know we'll come back to visit, but I also know it won't be the same.

Everett at his last PT session, showing off!

Crusin' to our last kindermusic class with flower's for their teacher, Miss Jessica. Colin's been going to this class weekly since he was 6 months old! It has been such a positive experience for our family.

As hard as goodbyes are, I'm getting really excited for this next chapter. I really am! I can't wait to start renovating our new home. I'm excited for that first perfect summer evening when we load the boys up in their choo choo wagon, walk to the beach and watch a great Michigan sunset.

And as I type this there are boxes surrounding me and reminding me to get back to work. Sooo much packing still to do!!

This past week though, Colin and I did get to sneak away for mommy/ colin special time. We went to our favorite cupcake shop and made robot cupcakes. See:

Sweets and robots, two of Colin's current favorite things! We had the best time! Afterward, we learned from Amelie that the babies were still happily sleeping so we snuck into our favorite brunch spot for breakfast.

Just the two of us, juice and pancakes.

Colin also took these pictures at brunch:

Just so ya know.

Now, back to packing....

And we officially have three little walkers!

Everett and Carter

Everett has been walking for a little over a month (he basically runs everywhere now!), Carter started walking last week and yesterday Finn took his first steps!!

Watching Finn today was just so exciting! I'd seen him take a few steps the day before and today he seemed even a little more sure of himself.

I'm up!

Steady...

Movin'!

(meanwhile it looks as though Carter has taken a face plant in the background)

Still up! Woohoo!

(Carter still face planted....)

You boys are at such a fun stage!! I love it! On Saturday we got to spend the whole day together, just us, while Chris and Colin went to Holland to move some stuff in and do some work on the new house. We had such a wonderful day, complete with your first steps Finn!

Congrats!

My Mother's Day Wish

Hanging with Finn and Carter today

Chris asked what I wanted to do on Mother's Day.

Maybe spend time with the littles and do stuff as a family? Well.... maybe... but what I really wanted more than anything?

A break!

To sleep in, to watch a t.v. show in bed (I can't remember the last time I've done that), to exercise and/ or to write. I love when I can somehow carve out a block of time where it's just me, a cup of coffee and my computer waiting for me to type in my thoughts. However, this rarely happens these days. 

So Chris got up with the boys this morning and I slept in, really late. It felt so weird to sleep in... but good I guess. Then Colin told me he had a surprise for me out on the deck. When I walked out I saw breakfast sandwiches from our favorite neighborhood coffee shop and a card on the table. 

"Ta- DAAAAA!" he said while throwing his arms in the air. I'm not sure where he heard/ saw that done but it cracked me up. 

We ate our sandwiches in the warm sun and I opened the Winnie the Pooh card that he picked out and decorated for me on behalf of his brothers, "All by myself!" He was so proud.

It was lovely.

Then the babies got up and they needed diaper changes, then they were hungry, the Colin was hungry, then we realized we were out of some staples for the kids, including milk, so I ran to Target. By the time I got back, the babies needed diaper changes again and then they were tired and ready for bed. Colin also seemed exhausted and even asked to go up to bed! 

Chris left to pick up food for a picnic that we're planning later with the boys and suddenly the house was QUIET. Just me and a home full of napping children. 

I moved fast. This was my opportunity!

I opened the living room windows all the way to let the warm breeze blow in, re-heated my cup of coffee sat down here:

Doesn't it look inviting??

I opened up a blank screen and started to write. 

Just two words... before I heard,

Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump

and then,

"Mommy, Daddy! I'm UP! I can't sleep! Where are you MommyDaddy?? MommyDaddy?!?" (Sometimes Colin says both our names together almost like we are one person which makes me laugh)

He runs in to where I've literally JUST sat down to write and explains that he can't sleep and he's hungry and also "Will you wipe my butt?"


And 'Me time' is officially over.....

Happy Mother's Day! I hope that all you mother's out there were able to steal some time for yourselves, if only a few minutes!

Love and change

We are on our way up to bed but still in the kitchen when in a quiet voice and seemingly out of the blue, Colin declares,

"Mommy, I love this house. I love this light (points to our outdated, kitchen light/ fan), I love this dishwasher. I love everything."

and then his voice starts to shake.


"Mommy I don't want to move to a new house"

His eyes seem to plead with me.

We sit down on the kitchen floor, his head is in my lap and I stroke his hair, all curly from the humidity today.

This is such a full circle moment for me because I know just how he feels. Sure, I was a older when we moved but I can still remember the feeling of uncertainty, the worry about the unknown, the sadness of goodbye.

This house is all he's known.

"I love this house too buddy. Sometimes I feel sad about moving too."


He has questions.

Like, "Will a new family live in this house?" and the hardest one to answer, "Amelie will still come to our new house." Presented as a statement, really a question, and one that I think that he already knew the answer to. She's not coming. (although believe me I'd kidnap her if I could ;)

I choose every word as carefully as I can praying that he'll feel heard, understood and reassured. Because I love when he shares things with me.

I hold him and we talk and then he gets up, apparently satisfied and ready for bed.

"Okay mommy" he says simply and our conversation is over.

Not for me though... his worries, his questions, those eyes, will swim around in my head for much longer tonight.

Let's just say,

It needs a little work....

Hello, dated kitchen with no stove

Previous to this trip, I'd spent a total of about 5 minutes in this house when our realtor took us through. During that one and only showing of the house, we walked in, looked around and thought, "Nope, this house isn't for us!" I'd thought it was too small and required too much work!

Actually, Chris saw potential and therefor was intrigued from the start but I worried about the amount of updating that it needed and that we might outgrow it too fast. Long story short, we decided to go for it, bought the house and in turn, signed up for another renovation project. Every single room is extremely outdated and the outside isn't much better at this point. Sound like a gem??

To us, it's a diamond in the rough. Just needs lots of TLC.

We have a lot of ideas but will be working on a tight budget, not to mention surrounded by curious little men who keep us very busy! So I'm hoping that we can find a good handy man and hire much of this work out. And I know I have to be patient because it can't all get done at once!

Although I've rarely talked much about the renovations we did to our current home here on this blog, I think that this time around I'll document progress here and post some pictures along the way as we slowly try and transform this home.

I will admit, I had a small freak out moment when we first walked through the home. The thought of "What have we done?!" crossed my mind when I realized just how outdated the home really is. I was trying to stay all positive for Colin's sake but inside I was FREAKING OUT. Chris could tell and in an effort to try and focus this energy, suggested that I walk around the house and make a 'to do' list. Although the list ended up being two pages, I realized that the changes this time around are really all cosmetic... no walls need to be moved for example (although two need to come down asap). This made me feel much better. It's all doable.

 This is one of the walls that needs to come down asap, in my opinion. Not digging the cut out wall.

Slowly, we'll tackle it all.

Also, this house is .7 miles from the beach via an adorable tree lined bike path.

I'm officially excited... but also left feeling like we have a mountain to climb to get there. The movers come in just over two weeks.

Lots to do!

Lots of goodbyes to be said.

Oh how I hate that part.

New adventures

Dear boys,

We bought a new house today in Holland, MI. The decision to leave this city that we LOVE (in large part because friends and family we love live here!) was not easy..... and yet it was. I know we're making the right decision. Your dad and I have spent many hours talking about where to raise you and we believe that this house in Holland, near the beach, down the street from a great school, and along endless miles of biking paths, fits our hopes and dreams for you all pretty closely.

However, somehow we couldn't resist buying another fixer upper! What is it with fixer uppers that we just can't resist?? Seriously. Anyway, this house needs work. But this time around we'll hire out most of the work (I hope!) instead of doing it all ourselves.

We know that raising you all in Chicago would also be wonderful and surely have it's advantages. But having you all so close in age (like, three of you 10 minutes apart!) has caused us to run out of space and think about our needs differently. Our dream of simplicity, space and a home that functions well with four small children just could not happen here, at least within our budget.

We're excited boys! One of the things I'm most excited about is watching you all chase each other and play for hours in the big ole' backyard, something we don't have here in chicago.

But leaving our friends, this amazing city, this house... it won't be easy. When we bought this house, I was pregnant with you, Colin. We brought each one of you home through this front door and got to know each of you inside these walls. I've loved sitting by the front window with each of you, watching the the red leaves on our japanese maple tree swaying in the wind and the people passing by. Wonderful days.... and wonderful wonderful memories to take with us. That's the only silver lining with goodbyes.

We can't take this house, we'll probably never live here again, but we can take the memories with us. They're all coming, boxed up to share with you later.

Colin is tired and Madeline has a new shop!

4:30 p.m.

Cousin "Mimi" had just left after another great two day whirlwind visit and apparently Colin was tired.

Because I was talking with him while feeding the babies, looked over and he was fast asleep, sprawled out on the floor surrounded by toys. I think he literally just passed out mid play.

This should ensure that he'll never fall asleep tonight ;-)

.............................

In other news, my sister in law Madeline (also known as "mimi's mommy") finally has an Etsy shop! I'm really happy for her but also for everybody else because until now, her stuff hasn't been available to everyone. She's way talented and up until now has been quietly, creatively painting and refurbishing vintage pieces out of her home for people lucky enough to hear about her work. I'm so excited that her creations are now on Etsy and I'm also so excited for the incredible response she's gotten already! Her pieces are one of a kind and shipping is surprisingly easy and reasonable, just ask her about it!

These are my current favorites from her shop:

Wanna see the rest of her items? Check them out here!