We're Home! I Feel it!

After a busy week of moving and being separated from the kids, we are all home!  Lots of exploring and trying to figure out the shortest distance between here to there.  As I write the kids are hard at work with their writing assignments.  This apartment has proven to be ideal for our schooling situation!  It gives us the ability to spread out and still be within ear shot of each other.
During the actual "lifting of items" part of the move Fiona and Ethan were with my parents.  For five days they played out in the yard, went to the beach, lit off fireworks, giggled, baked and shared a few of the overnights with their cousin Ellie.  Meanwhile, Scott and I were scrubbing down the apartment in Newton and stuffing our UHAUL.  (Which was relatively simple compared to past moves.)  When we were ready to unload in Portland the rains came!  Thankfully we had two guys for hire to help us.  Scott was able to put the kids beds together while two young kids lugged everything from the truck, to the elevator, and finally into our new digs.  In no time at all we had a place for everything, and everything in its place!  Mom and Dad drove the kids home on a Friday and we were able to visit and make dinner in our new home.
Since then my sister and Ellie have spent the night and Cathy and Cate came up for the day on my birthday!  We are looking forward to really digging in our heals here.  Kids have their first "climbing club" meeting Thursday at the rock gym down the street.  It meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6.  The following week they begin an art class which meets on Wednesdays from 12:30-2:00. (It's a homeschool class.)  I have attended one of my pottery classes that meets for three hours on Monday evenings...  Scott is enjoying riding his bike to work.  He has a beautiful commute through salt marshes and along the ocean.
This month we are looking forward to getting together with family, watching the leaves turn, exploring getting a dog and Fiona and Scott's birthdays.

Scott taking apart the couch, only to re-assemble in two days...

"Living" room in newton.

All our belongings...in one truck!

Nice little park right down from the new place.

There's a great picnic area at the apartment!

In the common room of the building.  Kids are playing a huge JENGA.

First of many birthday celebrations in September!

Here is part of the main room.  Kids room is through the white doors you see to the right.

We need to get some bar stools.

Master bedroom.

Master bath.

Kids bathroom.

Main hallway that our apartment is off of.  Really feels like you're going to school here!

"Living room" area.

This beach is a short bike ride away.

Fiona and I walked to the BEST farmers market together on my birthday.

Score!

Yummiest lunch ever.

Fiona made these earrings!

Birthday celebration with Cathy and Cate!

Oh Boy!  Fiona has selected her bird!  In about four weeks it should be weened and ready to take home!

He's a lovebird!

This is the island we spent Labor Day on.  Another bike ride from the house...

Fiona's shell doodle.

Her "Bird in Nest"

My mom took this of the kids and Ellie boogie boarding at Salisbury beach.  My parents got each of them their own boards and they are now obsessed!

Me on my birthday with my two best accomplishments.

The great Cate!

The kids exploring in mom and Dad's yard while Scott and I were enduring the horrors of moving.

Fiona bought this for me at the farmers market.  Love this vase!

Farewell to Newton!

 It has been a fabulous (at times), go of it here in Newton.  We arrived hopeful that Scott would easily find a job that suited him in nearby Boston.... Well, we all know how that turned out!  My hard-hat wearing, traveling, sales-headed, civil engineering loving husband found nothing of the sort in the tech-strong city of Boston.  His calling was up north in Maine.  And so we go.  Excited again to move.  Thrilled that Scott has a job he enjoys.  Having explored the city of Portland at length this past summer we are ready for the excitement of its "newness", and look forward to getting comfortable with a fresh routine.  That being said, we took this last week to really get the most out of our current location.  The kids and I explored two historic home locations here in town.  Each with excellent interactive displays, and period rich artifacts.  We also cashed in on a gift card from my sister from Christmas to rent kayaks.  With mom, Meagan and Ellie along for the ride we all took to the Charles River.  What a gorgeous afternoon we had.  The evening was perfectly capped off with a farewell meal at Cabot's.  YUMMY!  Diner food with ice cream sundaes as big as your head!
Cathy and Cate are back from their month long tour in Europe, and Fiona and Ethan were beyond thrilled to spend a night in Salem while I packed up their room.  Of course Cathy spoiled them to no end!  My next entry will be from our new Portland location!

Fiona took down the curtains in her room and sewed these wings for our neighbor Mei, who believes whole-heartedly that she is a fairy.

Here is Mei, taking off!

We said a fond farewell to Avery (lived in the other half of the house) who moved last week.  This was the boy's last breakfast together.

We had great fun tinkering with old fashioned toys in one of the historic houses.

Check out the add for hand soap.

This home was built in the early 1700's.

We had a picnic on the grounds.  I think we were near where the old slave "cabins" were located.

Kids on their way into the movies with Cathy.

Ethan and Cate in deep conversation.

The kids were naturals!

Go Gammy!

Go Auntie!

What a superb day!

Team Jason

Scott's Uncle Al challenged Scott and the kids to beat him in the 5 K at Yankee Homecoming earlier this summer.  If the kids finished before him, he would treat us all to ice cream.  Al registered "Team Jason" and in doing so probably got more than he planned for!  I thought it would be fun if they all had some matching shirts to solidify them as a team so we set to work tie-dying!  I also crafted a team flag so that they could easily find their biggest fan in the crowd of thousands!  After getting a tour of Al's spacious light-filled apartment located a walk from downtown Newburyport, and getting to know his adorable dog Sammie... they were ready!  Team Jason headed to the starting line.  The kids were plenty nervous due to the fact that this was the longest race they had ever run!  Alan and Scott seemed cool and collected.  I was in place to cheer them on at the start and on their final turn. Then scooted my way through the crowd to hand them their hard earned Gatorades!  I was so proud of the kids!  (And Scott and Al!)  The best part was having ice cream for dinner on Plum Island!  Thank you Uncle Al for inspiring Scott and the kids, and for following through on your promise of ice creams!

We had Avery get in on the action too!

So messy!

Kids and I took a little walk near Uncle Al's house before the race.

And of course Fiona ended up in a tree!

Scott assisting Al.  Gotta get that number just right!

Go Team!

How awesome are they?  Right?!

'

Here are the "after" shots!

"I did it!"

No one walked even a step!

Great spoon placement ETHAN!

These two nut-heads came downstairs the other day dressed as twins and completely shocked themselves!

An image from a walk Scott and I enjoy here in Newton.  This town will be missed.