Here Not There or There Not Here...

This post is hard. So much has happened in the last 3 weeks. I was behind posting before we even left and now there are so many pictures and stories. I will post everything eventually. I also need to find a new name for the blog. I am open to any and all suggestions!!

We have moved into our new place, which is literally 2 blocks from Colleen's high school and a block away from the old "downtown" area of Crystal Lake. The location is great. To me, one of the major bummers about moving to small town USA has always been having to drive everywhere. We solved that by finding such a great location. There are some fun shops, restaurants, a farmer's market on the weekends, a beautiful cultural center that has a ton of kids productions in Oct, the train station, an ice-cream shop. It's actually pretty cool. Since my Seattle work day officially starts at 10 central time, I've been walking downtown every morning with the kids. I know winter is coming so I'm trying to get out as much as I can before I hibernate!! I just reread my post so far. Honestly everyone, I am not trying to turn this into a travel brocure to convince you all to keep your promises to come visit...honest!!

Colleen is still doing great in school. She loves all her classes, her teachers and her new friends. She's really thriving in this Midwestern small town. She's showing them a thing or two about fashion and city life but with a smile on her face. Lauren also loves her new school. She has already made a bunch of new friends and every time I pick her up she says she wishes she had school all day long, every day...I'm trying not to be offended...

Of course all of us still miss Seattle and our friends. Lauren vocalizes it the most but we all agree every time she says it. As much as we miss the PNW and our friends, this does feel right and I know that we will all be ok. You all better come visit...I'm banking on it.

Not to cliche our new home but here are some pics from the petting zoo...

I told her "honey, you WILL get used to the new neighbors..."

Turning 2 can cause a lot of time for reflection especially when your head is pushed through a hole in a painted cow board...

Sending out love to everyone. I promise to post more now that I have found the sheets, the knives and most of our clothing...and we've also unpacked the kitchen. That's the most important room in the house right???