What We've Been Up To

We're Back!! The "hook up the internet worker man" just left the house about 6 minutes ago and I have never been happier to have technology! We haven't had TV or internet for almost a month! I didn't miss TV (other than Ruby's daily Sesame Street hour, which is something wonderful for everyone) but I certainly missed my internet and connecting with all my facebook and blog friends! Hi! Hi! Hiiii! Big hugs for everyone!

I'll be posting soon about our move to Columbus, Living among the Buckeyes, How I'm Doing as a Mom of 2, and of course giving you updates on Ruby and Clara. Until then, here's a video and some pictures to show you what we've been up to for the last week!

Ryan had a week off before starting Fellowship, so we spent it as a family at Cox Cottage.

And here's a video for you to enjoy...

We Live in Columbus!

We're all moved into our new place in Columbus!

While Ryan, Clara and I drove down to unpack and organize, Ruby hung out with her Nana and Papa all week in Grand Rapids having fun and spending time at the Children's Museum. We missed her constant commentary about everything that is and is not going on - but it would have been a lot harder to get everything done with a 2-year old underfoot.

For three days and three nights we worked non-stop to get our house as much in order as was humanly possible. Clara was pretty good about 1/4th of the time - the rest of the time she was a typical 6-week old, angry tyrannosaurus rex.

Ryan is an unpacking fool! He was like a machine accomplishing task after task until late last night when we called it "good", put Clara in the car and drove up to Cox Cottage to meet up with Ruby and Ryan's parents for a relaxing weekend of fun and sun before Ryan starts his fellowship. Here are Ruby and Clara's rooms so far:

Here's Ryan, leaving for his first job at Nationwide Children's Hospital - a meeting with the HR dept to get his ID badge. Very exciting.

I can't believe we're all moved in. It's doesn't seem real yet. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers for us during this transition. We are doing great and we're all excited  to embark on our new adventure.

Moving Day

We're half-way there folks! No longer residing in Grand Rapids and not yet residents of Columbus.

Yesterday we finished packing all of our boxes. Today all of our earthly possessions were loaded onto a truck and we returned our keys and garage door openers to our landlords. Tomorrow we drive to Columbus and early Wednesday morning we'll unload and start the unpacking process.

Don't worry, we didn't forget to load the grill.

Goodbye little house. You've been perfect for our family for this season.

I'll save you the details, but so far, moving with small children has been absolute insanity. Lucky for us, Ryan's family lives in town to help with the process on this end. One of the most helpful things they did today was let us go out on the pontoon with them.

This is what freedom from possessions looks like.

Ruby feeding the fish, and Uncle Kyle cheerios.

We capped off the night with a glorious pontoon ride into the sunset. The perfect way to relax after the insanity of moving out day.

El Jefe

Friday was Ryan's last day as Chief Resident. I can't believe how fast these years of Residency have flown by. When we first got married and Ryan was about to start his 2nd year of med school, the completion of residency seemed a million years away - but now, we're on our way to Columbus for Fellowship
    ...in a minivan
    ...with 2 kids in the back.

The graduation dinner was a blast. Ryan and his co-chief Ajay presented "most likely to..." awards to all of the graduates. The graduates surprised Ryan and Ajay with a "Chief Roast" that included many funny things about both of them.

Ajay (co-chief), Alicia (program coordinator), Ryan (handsome prince) and Hilary (program coordinator)

These pictures of the guys with Jeri (she's the Program Director) make me happy. They had a great year working together.

I couldn't be more proud of my hubby. He's such a great man.

A lovely Saturday

 Uncle Chris getting in some hugs before spending a semester in New Zealand.

 After packing boxes all day, it was nice to sit down for a minute!

 The Clara Chronicles... featuring her many faces.

 Nana and her granddaughters.

Ruby sat in this chair and said, "IT'S SO BRIGHT!" but just kept sitting there with her face toward the sunbeams.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY GIRL!

Our Ruby Dawn turns 2 today! She has blessed our family and filled our days with so much joy. I couldn't be more thankful that I get to be her mom. I love her life in my life.

Here are some pictures my dad took from the family birthday party we had for her last weekend.

Eyes on the prize

Bubbles with Uncle Kyle and Aunt Sarah

Relaxing in the comfy chair Uncle Chris gave her

Happy 2nd Birthday Ruby!!

87% Prepared for Monday's Move

In recent days I have become a master at ripping packing tape. Between feeding Clara every time I turn around and chasing Ruby around, we're about 87% finished packing our house and preparing for our move to Columbus in 6 days.

I just re-read my blog about our move from Chicago to Grand Rapids, as well as our move from downtown GR to Alger Heights before Ruby was born, so I am feeling motivated that we can do it again. WHEW!

This morning I ate my cereal out of a red Solo cup. Somehow I neglected to leave a cereal bowl out for myself while we were packing the kitchen despite the fact that cereal is my main food group.

We had a break from packing on Sunday night so we took a little pontoon ride on Reed's Lake with Ryan's parents. Chris took this picture of Ruby as the sun was setting.

Things I'm thinking about:

• What needs to go in our van instead of the moving van.
• Why doesn't the U-Haul store sell packing tape in bulk? Most people who are moving need more than one roll.
• I want to be able to focus more on being a wife and a mom and less on moving.
• Need to find a church, a MOPS group and immediately get involved in some play groups to meet new friends once we get there.
• Unpacking our boxes and finding a place for everything. I need to restore order to our life ASAP!
• Getting Clara's crib and nursery set up so I can stop using our living room couch as her changing table in the middle of the night.
• Figuring out how to have the girls bedrooms on the 2nd floor and ours on the 1st... running stairs will be part of my fitness regimen.
• Adjusting to Ryan's new work schedule.
• Spicy Tuna Sushi (I am usually thinking about this)

On that note, I'd better start thinking about feeding Clara again and getting dinner ready. Ruby is knocking on the door from inside her room to let me know that she is awake from her nap and Ryan should be home from work pretty soon.

More later!

Supper Club Friends

Ryan, Michael, Scott, and Ryan with their cornhole bags

We had our last Supper Club get-together on Saturday night. Supper Club has been one of our favorite things over the last couple of years. Pretty much, we try to get together at least once a season and everyone contributes something to the dinner. We laugh and tell stories and have a great time whenever we're all together. It was a

Heidi, Bree (holding Parker), me (holding Clara) and Kim (holding Langley)

These friends are some of my best. I truly do not know what I will do without them in my life every week for the net 3 years. I held it together really well during the party, then broke down crying in the car on the way home... I guess that's all part of the moving process.

Memorial Day Weekend

We spent Memorial Day weekend at Cox Cottage with the family and had a great time! The weather was crazy for the first couple of days, but Monday we had glorious sunshine all day!

On the dock watching the storm roll in.

Clara with her pretty Aunt Sarah

Ryan sporting an awesome UofM jacket from the early 90's

Clara with her Nana and Papa

The brothers preparing for a ride around the lake

Great Grandma Fisher, Nana and Ruby

Clara's first time meeting Great Grandpa and Grandma Fisher 

Clara and Uncle Kyle 

She's such a peanut

This pic makes my heart explode. Probably my favorite picture of all time. 

Uncle Chris and his nieces

Ruby didn't open her eyes for the whole boat ride - she said it was "too light out!"

First swim of the summer. Ruby kept saying "Ow ow ow!" when Ryan dipped her in the water... but we knew she just thought it was cold - which is was!

Clara's first boat ride.

Ruby sitting on a little decorative candle holder that looks like a bench. This gives me hope that potty training might go okay since she enjoys sitting like this.