Life Lately...

We are three days from the big move out...ahhh!  Honestly, at least in the packing aspect, we are more prepared than we have ever been at this point.  In almost every room, the only things not packed up are the things that we are still using.  Bech has most of his pottery packed up, which is the area we've always struggled with.  He, understandably, doesn't want me to pack it up, but he doesn't always have the time to get it packed in advance.

On Wednesday, we will load up a Penske, then drive to Brookhaven/Jackson for seven days.  We will get seven days to just relax and spend time with our families.  

Then, after having loaded my sisters stuff up, we will head up to DC and then Pennsylvania.

For some reason, this move seems harder to me than the rest (or maybe I'm not remembering the rest!).  Africa was so exciting.  Jackson was coming home.  Vermont was for my schooling.  Baton Rouge was bringing my child back near his family.  

And now Pennsylvania.  This is the first time I haven't known ahead of time what I am going to be doing when we get there.  I have applied for (literally) seventy something jobs through the Penn State website.  I have also applied for several others through the local newspaper.  I have a phone interview this week (yay!), so please pray that it turns into an actual job!

But, deep down, I also know that I am probably going to fall in love with Pennsylvania.  The little victorian town we are moving to has a victorian Christmas festival every year.  There are local wineries, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, farmers markets, etc.  Plus, I am going to be right smack in the middle of Amish country.

And I know that we will make friends.  It's just that, to be honest, I'm kind of tired of making new friends.  Not like it bores me.  It's just so emotionally exhausting to keep making new friends and then leaving them in a year or two!  I am still missing Malawi friends, for goodness sakes!

I am hoping that the seven days in between leaving Baton Rouge and heading up North will be an energizing time for me...I am definitely going to need it!

Okay enough of my Eyeore-ing!  I will finish up with some Jack pictures:

I hate that you can see our yucky apartment porch in this picture (so ready to be in our new place in Bellefonte and out of our soul-less place now).  But, those saddle oxfords on him...they completely melt me!

I love this outfit.  It's so vintage Southern toddler.  In fact, I bought it off ebay, so it probably really is.  I only have a few more years of dressing him this way, so I am enjoying every minute.

Sewing Project

...And I'm back!  This past month has been nothing short of crazy.  We had a 2 year old birthday, my sister's wedding, a quick trip to the Ozarks, a quick trip to Oxford and Memphis, an Evans family vacation at a lake house, and now it's pack pack pack, apply apply apply, and keep a 2 year old happy.

But Jack's grandparents (both sets) have spent the past 6 days spoiling Jack like crazy so that Bech and I could pack in peace.  I'd say we are about 90% of the way done.  All that's left is things that we are still currently using and some of Bech's pottery (and that is mostly because he needed some special packing materials that will get in today).

Yesterday, after I packed in the morning and translated some Vergil in the afternoon, I knew that it was time for a break.  I picked up some coordinating fabric last week at the Cotton Patch in Brookhaven (if you are local and don't know about this place, you have to go visit!  They have amazing prices on fabric!).

Jack needs some fall clothes.  He has SO many summer outfits, and that's great in the South.  He wore short jonjons until October here.  But that is not going to fly up in Pennsylvania.  And if you've read this blog for long, you've probably figure out that I am sort of very particular/vain about what Jack wears.  I hit up Remember Nguyen's memorial day sale so he's set on church clothes.  And I've got a bunch from Expectations after Christmas sale as well.  But I needed some just everyday clothes.  

I've always loved the look of Pipper's patterned boy pants, and I love me a cute applique top.  So I decided to make some!

I got these fabrics for $6 for 3/4 a yard (from the Cotton Patch).  I decided to do reversible so that I could cuff the pants and to add an extra layer for warmth.  I might make a pair or two of non-reversible (but still lined) pants as well.

The first pair--I am going to get a "J" appliqued in the polka dot fabric.

The second pair (and probably my favorite print)--I am going to get a green tree appliqued.

The third pair.  I saved this one for last because of the stripes.  I am going to get an owl (there's an owl in the print) appliqued in the stripe.  Also, I still have to the elastic in the waist.

I had a Simplicity pattern for the pants.  I added on 3 inches on the last two pairs (I forgot on the first!) so that I could cuff them.  I made them in 3T, because I do have a larger child.  And if they're a little big this year, then we'll get 2 years out of them!

I'm not a good sewer by any means.  All I've done before is a couple of sets of curtains.  But I found TONS of good resources online:

This girl explains things really well.  Her pants aren't meant to be worn in reverse, plus she uses seam bias, so I couldn't follow some of her instructions.  But I used a lot of her tips.

This one was definitely the most helpful, just because I was making the same style.  She doesn't explain the cuffs very well, but everything else was great.

This explains the cuffs a little more clearly.

If you want to add outside pockets.

A helpful video.

Again, I am not a sewer...these were so easy!  And I got a lot faster.  The first pair took about 2 hours, the second 1 1/2, and the third about an hour.  I am definitely going to make more.  Plus with the price for the fabric, each pair was about $12.75...I could not have bought similar pants for that price!

On Jack's Second Birthday

My sweet Jack,

Today you turned two years old!

I really can't believe it.  My sweet little baby is already two years old...you are so big!

This year has been so fun for all of us.  Every day I have gotten to see more and more of your little personality.

Jack, you are so funny.  This year you have shown us more and more of your goofy side.  You love to laugh and make little jokes.  You love being tickled.   You are a total goofball.

You are also so intense.  When you want to focus on something, you ignore everything else around you.  You can play with your trains for hours on end.  You remind me of your dad in that way.

Speaking of trains, you absolutely love Thomas the Train.  We have spent countless hours watching episodes of that show or playing with your train set.  Your daddy and I know the name to every train.  You also love Mickey Mouse and Goofy.  You have never cared for stuffed animals, but in the past couple of months, you have taken to carrying your Mickey and Goofy dolls around with you everywhere.  Lately you've also gotten into The Lorax (which you for some reason refer to as "Gogie") and Toy Story (you carry your Buzz figurine everywhere!).

You are pure boy.  You are constantly making a mess out of everything.  And you never stop making noise.  You run around and wrestle everything to the ground.  You jump and climb and splash in puddles.  You are my little "hot mess."

You can do so much on your own now!  A year ago you were just barely walking.  Now you love to climb up steps alone (with me right behind you!), feed yourself, brush your own teeth.  

But you still have so many baby-ish qualities too.  Amazingly, you are still sleeping in your crib.  You still bring your lovey everywhere, but we were able to drop your pacifier a few weeks ago.

And you are still a little cuddle bug.  You get in moods where you just want to snuggle with us, and I love it!  You also love to be carried around, running up to us and saying "Show me, Mommy" (Hold me).  

You talk SO much!  After your first birthday, you started saying more and more words.  But it wasn't until February or March that you started putting two words together.  Your first sentence was "Bye bye, bulldozer."

Now you make lots of sentences!  If we teach you a word, you learn it immediately.  Your favorite verb is "want" (Oh, boy, are we in trouble!).  You often put "Uh huh" at the beginning of a sentence: "Uh huh donies.  Uh huh eat donies."

You know all of your colors and usually get them all right.  You like to count to ten, but you usually skip a few numbers!  We're still working on that.

We've also been working on your catechism.  You know the first three answers!  I know that they are still just words for you, but I hope that those answers will become truths growing in your little heart.

You still love music so much!  Your favorite song is "Blessings" by Laura Story.  I have it on a burnt CD and you always ask for it in the car.  Lately we've been keeping you in church through the music, which you love.  You love any type of music and you love to sing and dance.  

You have started to become a somewhat picky eater.  Gone are the days when you ate any and everything!  Your favorite foods are pizza, spaghetti, ice cream, "donies," and anything sweet.  You also love Nana's homemade jelly.

You are obsessed with slides, which you call "Whee's."  A good day for you is trip to get ice cream or a "cone" (snow cone) and a visit to a "whee."  We call these treats, and you love ask for a treat.

We've travelled a bunch to family this year, and you've done great!  You really continue to be so adaptable.  We even flew to San Diego a couple of weeks ago and you were amazing on the plane.  I worry about you during and after the move to Pennsylvania, but I know that you will do wonderful as always.

But this year has been hard in many ways.  I can already tell that you are stubborn (your Dad and I are both stubborn, so I'm not surprised!).  We have already had a couple of mid Target tantrums.  At first I tried to rush you out of the store, but last week I just gave you a time out in the middle of the ladies underwear section.  

You have spent a good amount of time in time out lately.  As hard as that is, I love getting your hugs, kisses, and "Sowwy" when you leave.  I know that we are going to have lots more corrections in the future, but I pray that God is beginning to work in your heart to really make you repentant.

Jack, you delight us.  Each and every day that we get to spend with you is a gift.  You drive me crazy, you make me laugh, you melt my heart.  This past year with you has been absolutely wonderful.  You are my sweet little boy.  I know that my days of Baby Jack are done, but I cannot wait to see what toddler Jack is going to be like.

I want to end with what I said on your first birthday.

One of my favorite Andrew Peterson songs says, “Now we’re counting stars and counting sand, little feet and little hands; we’re counting joys.  We pray You’ll know them as you knew us when you wove us.  As you hold us, hold them, please hold them.”  That is my constant prayer for you.  I pray that you will know God, that you will love Him, that you will be a man after His own heart. 

And it is still my prayer, that you will know God and be a man after his heart.  

And as we wait for that day, we will continue to count all of the many joys that you have brought to our lives.

Happy Birthday, Toddler Jack!

Randoms...

Isn't summer supposed to be relaxing?

Just kidding, life late has been a lot more calm than the school year.

But we do have a lot on our plate right now.  Bech is working on having a pottery sale at the end of July here in Baton Rouge.  I am packing and planning our move.

Plus, I am job hunting.  Oh the job hunting.  There are NO Latin teaching job openings in or around State College, PA.  Actually there really aren't many towns around State College, so that makes the pickings very slim.  

And, according to Craigslist, unless I want to drive trucks, act in adult movies, or watch movies with a rich shy man, there really isn't much out there.

(Actual Craigslist ad)

That's not totally true.  There is the University, so I am literally applying for every possible job there.  I am praying that one of those will work out!  I know that I can't do what I really want to (teach Latin) so I am open to really any job within the University.  That way I will get great benefits, a good amount of vacation time, and can take an upper level Latin or Greek class (to keep my reading up) for a majorly discounted amount.

Jack and I have been spending a lot of time at home the past couple of weeks, while I pack and work on applications.  But we do get cabin fever.  Our complex has a pool, which has been great.  We've hit up the splash pad a couple of times.

But one of my new favorite "treats" is going to Burger King for a 50¢ cone.  There is one about 2 minutes from us with an inside play place.  Plus they have one of those new drink machines which lets me make cherry vanilla diet dr. pepper.  

(I have a major weakness for fountain drinks.  MAJOR.  It's why I love Sonic so much.)

Yup, we're big fans.

I'm also planning a small (mostly) family party for Jack on Saturday afternoon.  His two year old birthday is Friday (seriously?  How is this possible?), but we're going to celebrate with family the next day.

He wants a Mickey Party and I am happy to oblige.  I am keeping it simple: BBQ brisket, coleslaw, potato casserole, and Mickey Mouse cupcakes.  He will just be so happy to see all of his grandparents and aunts and uncles.

Here's my little (almost) two year old.  I was pulling things out of his closet and packing them, and he freaked out when I tried to pack his bumbo and laugh and learn table.  Nevermind that I put that table up at Christmas time and he's never noticed it's gone, or that he never liked his bumbo as a baby and probably sat in it 5 times.  I managed to eventually pack the activity table, but the chair is still sitting in his room.  

I better get back to work.  There are rich shy men out there just waiting for my resume!

San Diego

Finally, my post on our trip to San Diego!

First of all, we went to San Diego to visit our friends, Josh and Emily Ketchum.  Emily and I actually met first via email.  They were going to be living and teaching at ABC in Malawi while we were there, so we got in touch.  And then, because of lack of housing on campus, both the Ketchums and we were bumped off campus to an apartment complex (which was a scary thought!).

But it ended up being the best thing.  We got so close to Josh and Emily.  We ate with them probably twice a week, even when we both were moved on campus half year.

Em and I did all of our shopping together.  We went on a safari with my sister.  We got a pedicure once a month.  

They were our best friends there and we have missed them!

We have been planning to take this trip for a while, but someone was always pregnant.  Then we were in grad school.  Finally, we got to be reunited!

We had an absolutely amazing time.  We ate and laughed and saw TONS of cool San Diego sites.

Here are some pictures:

Jack did amazing on the plane rides.  I was super nervous, but he either played with his toys, napped, or watched movies and played games on his Kindle Fire. This picture is actually from the way back, but all four plane rides were great!

Job and Jack in their matching pj's.  Jack LOVED "Jobey."  He still asks for him at least once a day.  

Emily and I at Yogurt Mill, an El Cajone spot.  We used to always go to Mamma Mia's and get gelatto (while we were out shopping), so this was our American version.

The boys with Josh.  Jack thought he was so big sitting on this "truck."

Bech and Josh.  I love this picture, because it shows how different they are.  Josh is a surfer, so Californian.  And here Bech has on his JCrew and Gap with his masters hat.  But they get along so well.

I think this was from Ocean Beach.

I only had two things I really wanted to do:  Old Town and In N' Out Burger.  Here we are getting some yummy burgers.  In N' Out totally lived up to the hype!

Typical picture with kids!  We took the ferry from Coronado to Seaport Village.  

Jack was so excited to be on a boat!

Job and Zoe...Um, I love them.  Seriously, these are two of the sweetest, funniest kids.  We had the best time getting to know them.

At the Mission.

Job was OBSESSED with his "tick."  He wanted to take it everywhere.

Jack chowing down on some chips in Old Town.  This restaurant was so yummy!

Josh and Emily gave Jack a Mexican poncho.  Here he is thanking Emily.

And Josh.  Jack absolutely loved Emily and Josh.  He thought Josh was so cool (which he is!).

We loved being with the Ketchums again and we loved getting so see where they lived.  Now it's time for a trip down South!!!