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Sunday, March 31, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Finally a good day, update #2
The full moon might be bringing out some crazy behaviors in the kids, but it finally helped align some things for us today.
In chronological order:
1. The ASEE who pay Brian finally deposited his first stipend (8 days late, but better late than never).
2. I started my new job today, thankful I found a short-term position that will keep me busy and add a little to our down payment on our house.
3. We got our security deposit back on our apartment, all of it! After four and a half years with two kids and two pets there, I thought we would have to forfeit some of it but I guess everything was normal wear and tear.
4. Found out that our third (or was it fourth?) offer for a (town)house was finally accepted! Hopefully we will close by mid -May, if not before. As long as the inspection and assessment go well we should be in the clear.
5. Brian's grandpa came home from the hospital where he's been battling sickness lately.
So happy that we are finally getting some things to go in the right direction!
In chronological order:
1. The ASEE who pay Brian finally deposited his first stipend (8 days late, but better late than never).
2. I started my new job today, thankful I found a short-term position that will keep me busy and add a little to our down payment on our house.
3. We got our security deposit back on our apartment, all of it! After four and a half years with two kids and two pets there, I thought we would have to forfeit some of it but I guess everything was normal wear and tear.
4. Found out that our third (or was it fourth?) offer for a (town)house was finally accepted! Hopefully we will close by mid -May, if not before. As long as the inspection and assessment go well we should be in the clear.
5. Brian's grandpa came home from the hospital where he's been battling sickness lately.
So happy that we are finally getting some things to go in the right direction!
Monday, March 25, 2013
Muncie Children's Museum
Last week we visited the Muncie Children's Museum. Two of my sisters went to school at Ball State, so we are fairly familiar with the town. A friend recommended this place after taking her 1 1/2 year old there, and we thought we would give it a try.
We took a 6 month, 2 year, and 3 year old with three adults (1:1 ratio). We spent about 1.5 hours there and could have stayed longer if the adults weren't so tired. This place was great for this age group, and would probably be good up through kindergarten age, maybe a little further up.
The exhibits are set up very nicely so the kids can just go right from
one area to the next, and you can monitor them from a distance. It was a task keeping Maci and Theo together, but we managed and had a lot of fun there.
Below are some of the exhibits/sections we spent time in and more info about the museum.
There were also some musical areas, doll displays, a semi-cab they could get into and a tractor they both drove, an old auto they could pretend to work on, and an upstairs with three little pigs themed house construction play. We especially love the 3 little pigs when we get together... this time Eli was the one who made his house out of bricks.
If you live in the area, think about becoming a member. If you plan to take one child 5 or 6 times a year, you will fare better using a membership, if you have two children it will definitely be worth it after 3 or 4 visits. Membership is $70 per year/$120 per 2 years. Daily admission is $6. You can find a $1 off coupon on the website. Since this museum has reciprocity with over 250 other museums, you may even get free admission if you have a membership at a museum closer to your home.
*There are some half-price Sundays at the museum, and free Saturdays. I know when some museums offer discount days they are way too crowded... not sure if this is the case with this museum or not.*
We took a 6 month, 2 year, and 3 year old with three adults (1:1 ratio). We spent about 1.5 hours there and could have stayed longer if the adults weren't so tired. This place was great for this age group, and would probably be good up through kindergarten age, maybe a little further up.
Below are some of the exhibits/sections we spent time in and more info about the museum.
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| They both loved driving the large train, while we rode along as passengers. |
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| Theo has perfected his "Yee-Haw". |
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| Eli is still working on his. |
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| Maci put on a show! |
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| My favorite section is the grocery store, sponsored by Marsh. So much fun! |
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| It cracked me up that both of them knew how to run the credit card machines when they were pretending to check each other out. |
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| This section is friendly for crawlers. We'll have to come back in a few months to give it a better review once this little guy gets mobile. |
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| They have several animals throughout the museum. Maci was a smart girl and didn't want to touch the snake either. |
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| Digging for dinosaur fossils is always fun! |
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| Eli at the Ant hill with his Aunt Nae Nae! |
There were also some musical areas, doll displays, a semi-cab they could get into and a tractor they both drove, an old auto they could pretend to work on, and an upstairs with three little pigs themed house construction play. We especially love the 3 little pigs when we get together... this time Eli was the one who made his house out of bricks.
If you live in the area, think about becoming a member. If you plan to take one child 5 or 6 times a year, you will fare better using a membership, if you have two children it will definitely be worth it after 3 or 4 visits. Membership is $70 per year/$120 per 2 years. Daily admission is $6. You can find a $1 off coupon on the website. Since this museum has reciprocity with over 250 other museums, you may even get free admission if you have a membership at a museum closer to your home.
*There are some half-price Sundays at the museum, and free Saturdays. I know when some museums offer discount days they are way too crowded... not sure if this is the case with this museum or not.*
First Calf of the Season
As winter storm Virgil moved in with lots of winds Sunday, cow 134 gave birth to our first calf of the season. This sweet little girl was still shaky on her four legs when we got over to see her. Theo predicted an orange calf, but was still excited to see this "just black" one.
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| D.o.b. March 24, 2013 |
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| Helping with the hose, in his new Seed Consultant cap and barn boots. |
First Day of Spring?
Well, technically this was the second day of spring.
I remember taking Theo out in a stroller on his first day ever of Spring and standing in line to get free Italian ice at Rita's on Main St in Delaware.
Eli's first day ended with a light snow blanketing the ground in Indiana. Not as fun.
I remember taking Theo out in a stroller on his first day ever of Spring and standing in line to get free Italian ice at Rita's on Main St in Delaware.
Eli's first day ended with a light snow blanketing the ground in Indiana. Not as fun.
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Not Probably
So, the last few busy bags I wanted to include in this series are going to have to wait since my laminater, paper cutter, and even zip lock bags are sitting in a storage locker in Southern Maryland. We decided to pack up our apartment, pull out of our lease, and head back to Indiana where we could wait (rent free) for Brian to start his post-doc.
After a very up-in-the-air last couple of months, I can finally start putting some dates and definitive verbs in my sentences. I noticed I used the word "probably" about 8 times in a recent email, and decided to just not give any updates until I could stop using that word. So, here are the long awaited updates:
Brian FINALLY heard back from his job about a start date. The biggest hang-up was that he will be on a fellowship and there were several reviews required of his application. Even though the estimated turn-around was 4-6 weeks (and the deadline for said reviewers was the middle of Feb), they got the last review in about 8 weeks after his application was completed (which was delayed by weeks: transcripts were lost, recommendation letters took time; faxes were misplaced). Anyway, after an initial interview almost exactly six months ago, he has now completed a week at the lab.
Meanwhile, while we've been waiting, we decided to buy a house rather than pay more than a mortgage to rent. We are waiting on the results of the third offer we have made, and we're hoping that we will finally get this one and be able to close by mid May. I will be waiting with the boys in Indiana, while Brian rents a room with some grads students in DC.
I have also found that the school where I completed kindergarten through eighth grade needs a maternity leave paraprofessional position filled until the end of the year, so I applied and have been offered that job, so I should be able to stay busy until the end of the school year and the beginning of life in the suburbs of DC.
Until then, expect my blog to be filled with our Hoosier adventures (and misadventures) and a little more rural flair than regularly.
After a very up-in-the-air last couple of months, I can finally start putting some dates and definitive verbs in my sentences. I noticed I used the word "probably" about 8 times in a recent email, and decided to just not give any updates until I could stop using that word. So, here are the long awaited updates:
Brian FINALLY heard back from his job about a start date. The biggest hang-up was that he will be on a fellowship and there were several reviews required of his application. Even though the estimated turn-around was 4-6 weeks (and the deadline for said reviewers was the middle of Feb), they got the last review in about 8 weeks after his application was completed (which was delayed by weeks: transcripts were lost, recommendation letters took time; faxes were misplaced). Anyway, after an initial interview almost exactly six months ago, he has now completed a week at the lab.
Meanwhile, while we've been waiting, we decided to buy a house rather than pay more than a mortgage to rent. We are waiting on the results of the third offer we have made, and we're hoping that we will finally get this one and be able to close by mid May. I will be waiting with the boys in Indiana, while Brian rents a room with some grads students in DC.
I have also found that the school where I completed kindergarten through eighth grade needs a maternity leave paraprofessional position filled until the end of the year, so I applied and have been offered that job, so I should be able to stay busy until the end of the school year and the beginning of life in the suburbs of DC.
Until then, expect my blog to be filled with our Hoosier adventures (and misadventures) and a little more rural flair than regularly.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Elijah: 6 months
This month has had quite a lot of changes for you, since we packed up your first home and started staying at your grandparents' farm for a while. You have had a lot of mama and dada time, but that's about to change when dada goes back to work next week. You have kept up with all the changes pretty well, you adjust to whatever situation we put you in quite well. Your favorite toys right now include books (the crinklier the better), the piano, and any teether that fits nicely in your moth.
Weight: about 24 pounds** (based on better scales at 7 months, I think this was a big over estimate)
Length: about 27 inches
Size: We're now getting size 3 diapers in the mail. 6 month clothes are straining at the snaps, 9 and 12 month clothes fit better.
Feeding: Nursing is about the same. You have started having rice cereal which you are fine with, but I've got a feeling you are really going to love the fruits and veggies you get to start trying.
Sleeping: You nap when you get a chance. You really like to sleep with mama now, which is okay since you're not rolling over on your own yet. But it is making staying down for naps difficult.
Likes: sitting beside brother (on your own) and watching him play, making a lot of noises and even sounds like da-da-da-da-da-da
Dislikes: having a cold (lots of wiping noses and coughing)
Weight: about 24 pounds** (based on better scales at 7 months, I think this was a big over estimate)
Length: about 27 inches
Size: We're now getting size 3 diapers in the mail. 6 month clothes are straining at the snaps, 9 and 12 month clothes fit better.
Feeding: Nursing is about the same. You have started having rice cereal which you are fine with, but I've got a feeling you are really going to love the fruits and veggies you get to start trying.
Likes: sitting beside brother (on your own) and watching him play, making a lot of noises and even sounds like da-da-da-da-da-da
Dislikes: having a cold (lots of wiping noses and coughing)
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