Hi there. I was just doing a bit of research - and I found out that Rhode Island is small. No, its true! There are 1,045 square miles of land, but also 384 miles of shoreline. Hmmph.
You learned something today :)
Monday, March 31, 2008
A little exploring
Yesterday was our first "real" Sunday here in R.I. - I was physically here last week, but I think I pretty much slept all day. So yesterday we went to our new little church (we found it and were hardly even late!) and started a new tradition of going out exploring after naps. It was the nicest day we've seen since we've been here - sunny and less windy - so we packed up kid and camera and went looking for the ocean. Rhode Island is "the ocean state," so I figured there ought to be some sort of shore around, right? We went to Fort Adams State Park and walked around grass and beaches and up and down the pier (or is it a wharf? I don't know - someone needs to label these things for those of us whose experience with bodies of water includes mostly man-made reservoirs). Elijah loved every minute of it - "walk!" "wah-wah!" "sea sew!" ("We're going for a walk! Look at the water! I found a seashell!") He wanted to get in the water, but that will have to wait until it's warm enough to not wear your winter hat when you go to the beach. It was really pretty and actually smelled like the ocean (I've been waiting!) and we tried to take pictures, but the batteries in the camera were dead. (I know that you all are sad that there is no picture to go with this post, but believe me, I am even more sad that there are no pictures of E's first trip to the beach!) After walking around for a while we drove the rest of the way around Newport's Ocean Drive, which was beautiful. It was a good day. Next time, we'll take pictures.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Here we are!
Welcome to the new Shmuffin Baby, coming to you now from lovely (windy!!) Rhode Island! Yes, it's been a while since we posted. Packing up and moving across the country have kept us a little busy lately. Here is a quick update of our last few weeks.
We (that is, Patrick) got the old house all packed up and ready to go, and then we had some great help from family and friends as we packed the truck. Here are Elijah and Daddy - E thought the big yellow truck was the coolest thing ever, and is very sad that we had to give it back. "Dadda! Kruck! Yeh-yow!"
Elijah and I outside our old house. Bye-bye!
Patrick's dad came out to help him drive the moving truck and one of our cars (they towed the other one) from Colorado to Rhode Island. They made the trip in four days. Elijah and I stayed with my parents while Patrick drove out, and then unloaded the truck (with more help from friends). We had a good time with Nana and Grandpa, and I had a chance to see a few friends before we left.
On a random side note, Elijah had his first haircut the week that we were packing the house. I took the camera, but did not get any pictures because I was holding him the whole time. He did not enjoy the experience, and although his hair looks a lot better, he didn't let her finish cutting, so I'll still have to trim around his ears soon. Oh well!
Elijah had a tough few weeks while we packed up and then while Daddy was gone. He really relies on the consistency of his routine and this was a big disruption to his life! He enjoyed playing in the yard at Nana & Grandpa's house and playing with his cousins, but most days he was clingy, grumpy, fussing for several hours a night, and had major meltdowns with every little thing. We survived on graham crackers, Bob the Builder on demand, and unlimited pacifier time. Boy were we both tired!
On Saturday, Elijah, my mom and I flew out to Rhode Island with more luggage than we could carry (thanks, Dad and Stuart!). Elijah did amazingly well through two flights and three crazy airports - of course, it was spring break and the lines were nuts! We missed breakfast entirely and barely managed to grab lunch, but we got here - hooray! Thank goodness for packed snacks and fun new toys. Elijah and I were both so glad to see Patrick, and it was nice to sleep in our own beds again.
This week we have been trying to finish unpacking and getting to know our new home. Mom is staying all week and she's been a big help. There is a playground and green space half a block from our apartment here, and Elijah is obsessed with the slides. He's been at least once a day since we've been here, even if it's been windy and chilly.
Elijah enjoying his new playground
We (that is, Patrick) got the old house all packed up and ready to go, and then we had some great help from family and friends as we packed the truck. Here are Elijah and Daddy - E thought the big yellow truck was the coolest thing ever, and is very sad that we had to give it back. "Dadda! Kruck! Yeh-yow!"
Elijah and I outside our old house. Bye-bye!Patrick's dad came out to help him drive the moving truck and one of our cars (they towed the other one) from Colorado to Rhode Island. They made the trip in four days. Elijah and I stayed with my parents while Patrick drove out, and then unloaded the truck (with more help from friends). We had a good time with Nana and Grandpa, and I had a chance to see a few friends before we left.
On a random side note, Elijah had his first haircut the week that we were packing the house. I took the camera, but did not get any pictures because I was holding him the whole time. He did not enjoy the experience, and although his hair looks a lot better, he didn't let her finish cutting, so I'll still have to trim around his ears soon. Oh well!
Elijah had a tough few weeks while we packed up and then while Daddy was gone. He really relies on the consistency of his routine and this was a big disruption to his life! He enjoyed playing in the yard at Nana & Grandpa's house and playing with his cousins, but most days he was clingy, grumpy, fussing for several hours a night, and had major meltdowns with every little thing. We survived on graham crackers, Bob the Builder on demand, and unlimited pacifier time. Boy were we both tired!
On Saturday, Elijah, my mom and I flew out to Rhode Island with more luggage than we could carry (thanks, Dad and Stuart!). Elijah did amazingly well through two flights and three crazy airports - of course, it was spring break and the lines were nuts! We missed breakfast entirely and barely managed to grab lunch, but we got here - hooray! Thank goodness for packed snacks and fun new toys. Elijah and I were both so glad to see Patrick, and it was nice to sleep in our own beds again.
This week we have been trying to finish unpacking and getting to know our new home. Mom is staying all week and she's been a big help. There is a playground and green space half a block from our apartment here, and Elijah is obsessed with the slides. He's been at least once a day since we've been here, even if it's been windy and chilly.
Elijah enjoying his new playground
Monday, March 10, 2008
Kristi's wedding
My dear friend Kristi got married on Saturday. It was a beautiful wedding, and so fun to get to spend time with her. My parents were kind enough to keep Elijah for the weekend so that Patrick and I could go to rehearsal and I could stay with Kristi and the girls for the night. Everything went very well, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Most importantly, Kristi and Jorge are married!Congratulations, babe! We're so happy for you guys.
Elijah was very good at the wedding. I was nervous that he would start yelling and having a fit when he saw me come walking in, but Patrick was smart enough not to tell him that I was there, and to distract him when I came in. E didn't realize I was around until the reception, and he sat quietly through the whole ceremony. (He never makes it through church yet, but it was a good day to make an exception.) What a good kid!
None of our pictures came out well enough to really show off how pretty Kristi was, but here are a few anyway.
Me, with the bride and groom
The girls - me, Kristi, Johanna and JenTuesday, March 4, 2008
Getting ready
Yes, all this moving stuff is pretty crazy. But we are excited, too! It is going to be nice to be closer to all of you all who are out east, especially Patrick's family - it'll only be a 6-7 hour drive now, so we are hoping to see a lot more of the fam than we have been able to for the past 5 1/2 years.
So, one day down, one week to go! Now I remember what a huge pain packing is, especially now that we have Elijah running around and trying to investigate everything that is happening. Today E and I spent as much time as possible out of the house, running various errands so that Patrick could get as much done as possible. It was a long day for everyone. Tonight we are busy planning tomorrow's work and making take it or leave it decisions. Our new home will be just a bit smaller (plus have one more person living in it soon), so we can't take everything, and some things are just not reasonable to move across the country. Any of you local friends want to adopt a plant?
So, one day down, one week to go! Now I remember what a huge pain packing is, especially now that we have Elijah running around and trying to investigate everything that is happening. Today E and I spent as much time as possible out of the house, running various errands so that Patrick could get as much done as possible. It was a long day for everyone. Tonight we are busy planning tomorrow's work and making take it or leave it decisions. Our new home will be just a bit smaller (plus have one more person living in it soon), so we can't take everything, and some things are just not reasonable to move across the country. Any of you local friends want to adopt a plant?
Monday, March 3, 2008
A new adventure
Well, we got the official word today - we are moving to Rhode Island! Patrick has a new job there that sounds like it will be challenging, fun and great career-building experience, which he starts in three weeks. He will be the Assistant Director of Residence Life at Roger Williams University. He will be doing a great many things there including working with the hall directors and the Living/Learning Communities.
We will be packing up in a bit of a hurry so that he has plenty of time to drive out there and get us moved in before he starts. We are so thankful for his dad, who is coming to help drive out, and for my mom who is flying out with Elijah and I to help us unpack and get settled. I am not terribly excited about flying with Elijah right now - he has a hard time sitting for more than a few minutes at a time! But it will be so much better (for both of us) than driving all day for four or five days straight. We have mixed emotions about moving, of course. We will really miss all of our Colorado family and friends! We'll miss the mountains, and 300+ days of sunshine a year, and I'm not sure if I will be able to put some strange license plate on my car. (Even when I was away at college I've always had my Colorful Colorado plates - what can I say? I'm a Colorado girl.) Patrick and I went to Rhode Island a couple of years ago to visit my brother Cameron when he was in school there, and I remember it being pretty. We also have the advantage of being only a couple of hours from Luke & Jackie and the kids, so we're excited to get to see them more often. It's going to be a big change for me - I've never lived so close to the water before! I'm sure moving and living in a new place will be quite an adventure for all of us.
We will be packing up in a bit of a hurry so that he has plenty of time to drive out there and get us moved in before he starts. We are so thankful for his dad, who is coming to help drive out, and for my mom who is flying out with Elijah and I to help us unpack and get settled. I am not terribly excited about flying with Elijah right now - he has a hard time sitting for more than a few minutes at a time! But it will be so much better (for both of us) than driving all day for four or five days straight. We have mixed emotions about moving, of course. We will really miss all of our Colorado family and friends! We'll miss the mountains, and 300+ days of sunshine a year, and I'm not sure if I will be able to put some strange license plate on my car. (Even when I was away at college I've always had my Colorful Colorado plates - what can I say? I'm a Colorado girl.) Patrick and I went to Rhode Island a couple of years ago to visit my brother Cameron when he was in school there, and I remember it being pretty. We also have the advantage of being only a couple of hours from Luke & Jackie and the kids, so we're excited to get to see them more often. It's going to be a big change for me - I've never lived so close to the water before! I'm sure moving and living in a new place will be quite an adventure for all of us.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
A visit from Piper
John, Linde and Piper stopped in for a visit while they were over on our side of the mountains today . Here's some video of the cousins playing - nothing too exciting, but I had to put it up because they're always cute. (Never mind the random adults talking in the background - they are neither cute nor exciting.)
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