announcement

so....

 

We're moving to Portland!

 

 

We've studied out and weighed all our options, we've done research, we've planned and prepped and prayed about it. And we feel like this will be the best move for our family. We're moving May 24-25 and Justin will start the history graduate program at Portland State University in the fall.

 

We're really thankful for the opportunity that we have for Justin to go to graduate school. Most programs are pretty competitive to get in. Also, we're excited for a change of scenery and to continue along this path that we hope will bring security for our family's future in the long run.

 

So, right now there is a huge stack of empty boxes in our shed that keeps getting smaller and the pile of packed boxes in the corner of our living room keeps slowly getting bigger and bigger. I have exactly 11 lists that I'm constantly checking to make sure that I don't miss anything.

 

And....

 

Congratulations to Justin!

He's decided not to walk in his graduation ceremony because technically he graduated back in December (a semester early!) and then was accepted into the graduate program here at ISU and has been working hard already at the graduate level for a semester. He's slightly uncomfortable with the spot light sometimes. So, to commemorate I forced him to put on his cap and gown, his cords FOR GRADUATING WITH HIGH HONORS and his stole for being the PRESIDENT OF PHI ALPHA THETA and take some pictures. In case you couldn't tell, I'm so proud of him.

 

Also, thank you Justin, for the example that you're setting for our children. Although we both already had associates degrees, I love that you're continuing and getting your BA and masters degree. Education is so important and I love that Audrey and David will remember seeing their Dad work so hard for his and that they'll always have these pictures to look back on.

 

 

Easter 2013

 

 

 

 

 

the goings on

 

Oh my poor neglected blog. I look back at the blog posts I did when Audrey was little and they were so creative! And full of detail! And funny! Man, I was funny! Now I hop on once a month, upload 30 or so pictures, provide some commentary and am gone again. Well, it's something right?

 

 Right?

 

We're coming to the end of our days at ISU. Justin has finished his bachelors degree, received his diploma in the mail, and started his first semester of grad school. Last week he applied for graduation, received his cords for graduating with high honors (yay!) and ordered his cap and gown for the official ceremony in May.

 

 

 

He's applied to 5 graduate schools, mostly doctorate programs, and we should be getting replies back in the next few weeks. Which makes me nervous. All of a sudden moving on and making changes is coming really fast and I get both excited and scared when I think about it.

 

We're doing lots of praying.

 

Other than that, things are normal. I'm cleaning and showing apartments, dealing with tenants, Justin is writing papers and studying late into the night. Somewhere in there we try to fit in dinner together and family home evenings, and occasional trips to get frozen yogurt. The kids are great, Audrey is reading and Davy is starting to talk like crazy. He calls his sister "cha-chee Mae" and says it really fast and it always makes us laugh.

 

 

Valentines Day came and went, Audrey LOVED it.

 

so proud of her Valentines:

 

It keeps snowing which has us all grumbling a little bit and excited for spring.

(Audrey keeps BEGGING me to let her wear dresses to school and I keep telling her she must wear pants and boots as long as there's snow on the ground)

 

And spring means two birthdays, Justin's and Audrey's. Audrey has already requested a ballerina birthday party. We're working on it.

 

 

So, to summarize:

right now- waiting, working, cold

soon- spring, birthdays, wearing dresses, picking grad schools.

 

Yep, that's about it right now.

 

 

 

See you in a month!