IC Trip

Last Sunday we took a fun trip to Iowa City to visit friends Sarah and Orion, and meet their new (now 2-months-old) baby, Archer. Samantha, Ernie, and crew made it over to hang with us, as well, which was fun. It was a super short visit since we spent the first half of our visit at the Ono/Meyer household and the other half with my brother before heading back. And as always, not nearly enough catching up and chatting occurred since most time was spent entertaining all the kiddos. But it was great to meet Archer, see each other in person, and enjoy a beautiful day outdoors together.

Picnicking outside the lustron


Lovely Sarah and cutie Archer


Adam took us to the fossil gorge. This was a great place for the boys to explore and burn off energy







In other happy news, I finally (FINALLY) purchased tickets to visit my dear friend Bridget in CA, and meet her little Willa. How long have I been talking about visiting friends in CA? Sarah, sorry it didn't happen while you were in LA. Though I'm just as happy to see you more often now that you are in IC. Bridget, I'm coming and I can't wait!

Two weeks until Mike starts his new job. Only 2 more Wednesday evening shifts left! And aside from Easter (of course it's his turn to work a holiday), no more weekends! He already has his first work trip planned in early May. I think it will be really exciting for him to be traveling occasionally. I'm eager for him to get out and have that freedom; work-related or not. We are both excited for this shift in life. Good things coming, I can feel it.

Brandy's 34th Birthday

This was a very, very good birthday. I spent my last birthday at my grandmother's funeral. This one was far cheerier.

Dinner and drinks with Colleen



I planned a surprise weekend "away" (in a hotel in downtown Des Moines) for Mike over my birthday weekend. It was to celebrate his new job (!!!), and just to have a little downtime to reconnect as a couple. We went to see a friend try his hand at stand-up comedy for the very first time on Friday night, then stayed at the Hyatt Place downtown Friday and Saturday nights. We spent Saturday walking around downtown, visiting the sculpture gardens, reading at Ritual Cafe coffee shop, walking across the river to the East Village for sushi at Miyabi 9, walking around Gray's lake, and finally with a romantic dinner at Alba Restaurant. It was heavenly to have no schedule, no responsibilities, and plenty of sleep.

I bought some special shoes for the fun weekend


Dinner at Dos Rios Cantina before the comedy show



We were joined at dinner by Betsy and Scott, Leah and Nate (who were going to see Ben's comedy show at the Des Moines Social Club as well)



Saw many other friends at the DSM Social Club before the show (most of these women I knew through the Willowsong community)


Gray's lake



Alba


A really lame attempt at taking our own photo at the Temple for Performing Arts on Saturday night


On Sunday, my actual birthday, we went home to reclaim our children and to celebrate my birthday with my parents. My mom made a brunch for us, and then we enjoyed a Mochachino cake from Carefree Patisserie. Then we went to the zoo!








All in all, I am very blessed. And happy.

Spring has sprung. Again and again.

It feels that spring sprang about 2 months too early this year. But I am NOT complaining. Here are some recent happinesses that spring has brought us:

Our little tree is blooming!


The blue heron is back, and catching fish like mad:




Kite flying at Ewing Park (too bad the lilacs weren't in bloom yet...we thought maybe they would be a little early this year, but didn't luck out on that front):








We discovered a restored covered bridge:

Happy Anniversary, Home!

This Monday marked our 1-year anniversary of moving into our new home. It's amazing that it's been a whole year. In some ways it flew by, but when I reflect on how much change the kids have undergone...Mike has undergone...I have undergone, in the past year, it makes sense. I remember feeling like it was a big milestone the day we had been in the house longer than we had lived in the apartment. That was more important to me at the time--creating distance from the "apartment" genre of my life. Between mucking it through a winter in that small spot with three young, and one especially troubled, kids, finishing a dissertation, and really hitting an all-time low, it feels good to have moved beyond that year.

I found a blog post from a year ago, which puts things in perspective for me:
http://earthmamaspace.blogspot.com/2011/03/home-sweet-home-and-unpacking-not-so.html

I am SO VERY EAGER for tomorrow as Mike will quite possibly be signing on for a new job, one that makes him dance with delight, and then I am taking him on a surprise weekend "away" (to a hotel downtown) for an evening out with friends, then a whole day without kids, and then another evening where we can enjoy a special dinner to (hopefully) celebrate his new job and my birthday. We are both fighting off colds, but I will be damned if sinus drainage takes over this long-awaited weekend :)

2nd Annual Carl-Haub Day

Today we celebrated our 2nd annual Carl Haub day with our family friends, the Carlsons. We created this last year as a substitute for adding to the insanity of Christmas gift buying. Instead, we wait till February to hold a "friendship" day of our own, where the kids exchange gifts and we have a slower, more enjoyable way of sharing our time together.

I have been friends with Colleen longer than Mike. She lived across the hall from me my first year at Drake. She and Mike got to know each other through pharmacy school, and the three of us have remained friends ever since. Now Mike and Colleen work together at Hy-Vee, and our families remain close. We had our first children together, just 3 months apart, both boys. Here's to 12 years of friendship and counting!

Eating homemade pizza


Jack (5 and a half), Benj (3 and 3/4), Caleb (5 and 1/3), Maggie (20 months), and Gavin (2 1/2)








You know it's been a long day when the kids start stripping their clothes and running around crazy

Zombified

With Mike working today, I racked my brain for something to get out and do with the kiddos. I decided on the Botanical Center since we haven't been there in ages. We drove downtown and discovered parked cars up and down the street. I couldn't find one spot to park, much less did I want to brave the masses with my 3 on my own. Hmm, maybe there was a wedding or garden show? So I found myself downtown wondering what to do with them. No ice skating....did science center a couple days ago... well, it was lunch time, so how about...Zombie Burger? I'm crazy, yes. But I ONLY braved that joint because I drove by and saw several empty tables in the carry-out side. (For those who aren't from DSM, this is the newest hip spot, and 2 hour waits are standard). The boys did relatively well, until Gavin through his spoon across the room. Still, we made it work. In hindsight, though, the Botantical Center would've been better. Eating out with these 3 isn't ever a cinch, and with only 1 adult to manage the chaos, I will admit I left pretty frazzled. Still got to eat some super fattening yumminess, though!

winter visit to the zoo

We don't typically utilize our zoo membership in the winter, but I decided that there's really no reason not to when the weather is in the mid-40s. It was a nice little outing. Not as many animals out, of course, but was SO not busy. Very leisurely and fun as a family outing. We got to see the new and completed seal/sea lion area, which is going to be lots of fun in the summertime. We saw the sea lions do their daily tricks for fish, too, which is always fun. I was actually surprised at how many animals were still out in the cooler weather. We got to hear all four kookaburras do their witch cackle crow, which was totally zany. Good stuff!


This is an interesting way of using a trash can...









My favorite, favorite animal at the zoo is the red panda. Ooh, I just want to snuggle his little squishy face.


For three days in a row now, we have been out doing sidewalk chalk. Our driveway is very colorful. Our typical mid-afternoon "outing" this week starts with suiting up in snow boots and coats, tromping to get the mail down the street, and then stopping several times on the walk back to jump in puddles. Then we end up in the driveway doing sidewalk chalk. Finally, we move into the garage where they strip off their muddy, chalky, wet clothes and run up to the bath (at 4pm). Let's here it for routine!