Summer Skies

When the summer starts to stretch into August, blue skies start to become cluttered with sunflowers. Reaching up and out, tall and proud, flexing their fingers these golden sun worshipers, declaring their love of light. When a breeze blows through off the plains, they shake and sway, entranced in dance.

I look up, they look away.

 Summer skies in Kansas.

Summer Shuffle

It's been awhile. A lot longer than I thought it would take before I would blog again. It was a priority that got lost in the shuffle, but I am here. Here making a regular appearance once again.

We've finally settled into a somewhat normal, although temporary, routine for the summer. I started my new job working as a librarian two days after the move. It was easier than I thought to make the transition from being a stay-at-home mom to going back to work. Just because I thought it was easier, doesn't mean it wasn't hard. Because it was. Especially in the beginning.

But we've adjusted. And in the meanwhile I've grown to love my job.

This picture above was taken the morning of my first day of going off to work. I felt like a kid on my first day at school.

We are living at my friend's parent's house for the next couple of months. Their house is about about an hour commute from work. Audiobooks occupy the drive. It's been a great way to sneak in some summer reading among all the hustle and bustle. Actually, now that I think about it, everyone has been reading quite fervently this summer. I suppose it's hard not to be inspired when surrounded by books day in and day out.

After the day is done, there is no feeling in the world like the feeling of seeing LBD toddling over to me when I walk into the door. Arms stretched out. Falling into me with a laugh. There is nothing like being home again. Even if it's a temporary home. Eternally thankful for the kindness and hospitality of having a place to live in transit, in anticipation of the weeks to come where we are able to start planting roots, making a home of our own in August.



For the time being, everyone has settled in quite nicely...

Even the traveling garden has made a place of it's own on the back deck.

This picture was from a couple weeks ago. You should see them now.

Although, we did have a cucumber plant casualty. Only a few remain.

LBD's baby pool also lives on the back deck. She is in it almost everyday.

Baby girl loves the water. Just like momma.

She's also been growing up lately. The changes have been very distinct since we moved to Kansas. I blink and she is an inch taller.  She's walking and "talking" and climbing and playing and laughing. Always laughing. Just the other day my mother commented on the fact that she's a kid now, a baby no more.

She'll always be my baby.

What else, what else?

We started using cloth diapers. A change we wish we made earlier in the game.

And Will is no longer a vegetarian. Guess he couldn't resist the aroma of BBQ that seems to linger around town...

Oh, and I had a birthday. On June 10th.

28 years old. Hard to believe another year has gone by.

Other than that, each day flies by. Most mornings we rise at dawn. The days are warm, ephemeral, and then dark with night once again.

House & Home

Sorry for the lull around here. The last few days have been busy ones with all the traveling and the after-travel settling that takes place after being gone for almost a week.  Needless to say, the baby traveled *extremely* well and slept like a champ the entire trip. This was improvement by leaps and bounds compared to when we were in Texas.

Finding a place to live in Kansas made the move very real.  And I love our new house. It's a little over one hundred years old with the quirks of an older home, but all the charm. It's the perfect for the three of us. Will also had his new student orientation at the college. Afterward, he told me, "Honey, I'm so excited about this. Not just because of school, but because of our life here. It feels so right."

I'm excited too.

A few noteables...

Ever since my husband decided on Kansas for where he wants to go back to school, the whirlwind of preparations commenced. While we are busy making plans, life continues on. A few notable details over the past few days....

We found a place to live in Kansas. I cannot tell you how much of a relief this is.

LBD is standing all by herself. She'll be walking any day now.

The cat got into my plants. Again. I'll be lucky if they make it another week. He obviously doesn't take any of my threats seriously.

Yesterday, I took the baby for a walk. We didn't wear coats. First time all year. Spring is here. Today, I had to put a coat on. That's just how it goes.

I've been getting prepared for our trip this week to Kansas. We'll be there making arrangements for our move while there visiting a few familiar faces in the interim.

Feeling a little overwhelmed, but also full of energy.

Lots of new.

Lots to do.

Ad Astra Per Aspera

"Ad Astra Per Aspera"... "Through Hardships To The Stars".... "To The Stars Through Difficulty"... the Kansas motto.

After much debate and deliberation, a decision has been made, Will has accepted admission to the University of Kansas for Fall 2011.

We're moving to Kansas!

When? We don't know. However, we do have to be out of the house we currently rent by May 15th. Which means the ball is rolling. FAST.  In the upcoming weeks, we have to find a new place to live, pack up, move out of our house, move into our new place of residence, and possibly couch (and crib) hop for the weeks in between.

Needless to say, I'm so very proud of my husband. Going back to school at 28 to become a Secondary Math Educator isn't the easiest path to take, especially with a young family, but in his heart (and in mine) it's where he needs to be. Who said it's easy to get to where you want to be?

Ad Astra Per Aspera.

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