Rewind

I'm going to back up about 3 weeks and catch up on some of the events that have been going on around here.  We'll start with March 24th, that is when we had a couple of Kate's girlfriends over for an early 5th birthday celebration (since moving day was her actual birthday weekend).  We started with some cake and ice cream at our house.

Then headed to Monkey Joes in Peoria.  The girls (and Ben) ran around like, well, monkeys for a couple of hours.  I especially loved the van ride there, which consisted mostly of shrill screams and giggles.  Still makes me smile just thinking about it.

 

The next week was filled with last goodbyes to teachers, classmates, close friends and neighbors.  We left behind an incredible group of friends.
Kate and her class at the her bowling field trip.

Kate and her teacher Mrs. Woolridge.

Ben and his speech teacher Isabel.

 Luke with one of the best neighbors we could have ever asked for...Alyson.

 And, Kate with Jacey and Adam

March 30th was Kate's 5th birthday.  It was also the day we started our move, and her last day of pre-school.  We celebrated at home with her.  We did candles and singing at every meal, but still there was a little sadness in the day...it was our last day in Eureka.

The next day we were off!  Headed on to our next adventure.  We couldn't have done it without the help of our incredible church friends.  And, I wouldn't have been able to get our new house cleaned and the kitchen organized without the help of Cara and Betsy, and of course Carol, too!.

Our new neighbors have made us feel very welcomed (unfortunately we are younger than all of them by about 50 years).  We've had lots of visitors, and plenty of baked goods. 

We took a short break from unpacking and painting on Easter Sunday for dinner and an Easter egg hunt in Shelbyville.   

All this chaos...unpacking, painting, trying to figure out where the light switches are...and Luke has no clue!  He's just along for the ride, and having a great time!

Yesterday we celebrated Ben's 3rd birthday.  He got the new bike and helmet he has been wanting.

 

Then today we celebrated his birthday with grandparents. I think he had a good day.

 

 

 Luke loved singing "Happy Birthday"...

Ben got some yard tools of his own for all the yard work he enjoys doing (I'm excited to attempt a garden with him this year).

He also got a pair of roller skates and a sleeping bag.  He had to try out his sleeping bag right away with a slumber party. 

Well, that about sums up our last 3 weeks!  So far we're doing OK.  We all love our new house!  The layout and the space is so nice.  Our days have been stressful with unpacking and painting but it is slowly starting to feel more like home.  It is nice to have Drew only 30 seconds away.  He's has even come home for lunch a couple of times.  Even so, we miss our friends back "home".  Luckily we have some visitors planned for this week, our old neighbors tomorrow,  Cara, Jacey, Betsy and Adam on Tuesday and then we are meeting Kate's pre-school class for their field trip on Wednesday!  Lots to look forward to.