changes

it's not the first time i've used this title for a post. i'm beginning to see a pattern emerge - i'm just not the kind of person that likes things rock steady. i thrive in change, whether it be a new environment, a new job, a new challenge. i guess that's why the universe threw me twins. i'd never have to worry about another dull moment. not that i'd let that happen anyway!

we're settling in nicely to our new digs. we L-O-V-E our new home. i'll write more about the love affair and i promise pictures. my camera finally emerged yesterday so now i have no excuse not to document this place we now call home. i met with a landscape architect today (laurie over at dig it gardens), and i'm totally jazzed about how we can make this place even more special.

i'm starting my part-time job on wednesday. whoa! i have been working on a contract basis for the THC (not what you think, people! more like the Texas Historical Commission), and starting mid-week will begin my permanent 20-hour a week gig with them. i'm excited! but also a little sad that my pretty flexible days will be fewer and farther between.

i started aerial dancing! jordan and i witnessed "Impermenance" a few weeks back and it was awe-inspiring. i'd been flirting with the idea of taking classes a few months ago, but witnessing this performance kicked my butt in high gear. i took a private lesson with Nicole over at Blue Lapis Light last thursday and have another scheduled for this thursday. it was unbelievably fun and so crazy hard and challenging. but there were a few moments when i felt like i was really flying.

i guess i should also mention some changes with the boys (but when are things NOT changing with those crazy men?!). they equally love their new house and have settled in comfortably. i thought moving would stall things like potty training, but i was so wrong. oz has taken an even keener interest and is now regularly using the potty for no. 1 AND 2! he even used the potty at nana's house this weekend. abel was going strong at the old place, and is taking his time now. but both are making great progress with the very relaxed approach we've been taking. we've been spending a lot of time at the pool and the nearby beach at the lake, as our daily highs are hitting 105. it's crazy!

lastly, my friends over at How Do You Do It have set up a beautiful new website that everyone should check out. i've updated the link to the left and also added the new logo. new writers, new perspectives, fresh content every day. what more could a girl who likes change want?!

new house...happy!

we did it! we officially live in the house in the woods. last week was total crazy chaos getting everything packed up, getting the new house ready, getting the old house ready for renters. at one point i actually thought, "how can i stop all of this?" but we made it and we all feel great.

it's safe to say that the boys are in love with their new house. we said goodbye to the old house friday morning and i took them to school. i expected the worst when we drove home from school and went to the new house. thoughts of clingy-ness, crying, demanding the old house, not going to bed, staying up all night, waking up a hundred times disoriented, not taking naps, etc, etc. there has been nothing but sunshine, happiness, playing and good sleep. in fact, they have been happier here in the new house for the first three days, then any random day at the old place. go figure! when we put them to bed the first night, abel looked up at me and said, "new house. new room. i happy!" other than ozzy getting stung by a wasp saturday morning, it has been totally uneventful (and he was fine a few minutes later, no reaction, thank god).

i have to give a huge shout out to nana who has been a lifesaver this past week. she helped us pack last week. she was here for bedtime the first night. she took the boys both days over the weekend in the mornings so j and i could unpack and get rooms set up. her help really made all the difference in the world. and the boys truly love spending time with her.

so there you have it! i can't wait to take some pics once we are more settled.

oh, and in case you're wondering, jordan and i think we are living the dream at this place. we pinch ourselves every time we look out the windows and see nothing but woods of live oaks and cedars and monarchs and hummingbirds. it really feels like paradise!

did i tell you we're moving on friday?

we've had quite the to-do list lately.

first up, go to chicago for my bf's wedding. it was awesome. even more awesome was the day jordan and i got to do anything we darn well pleased and had no responsibilities or plans. heaven! check.

second up, i had a work trip. i left for north texas three days after we got back to chicago and facilitated an eight hour planning session. i was gone for 24 hours, six of which was driving and six of which were sleeping. i was exhausted! check.

third up, finding free boxes. this was more daunting then i thought it would be, but i refused to stress out. every time we called on a craigslist post, we were five minutes too late. but friday night i scored big and hit the mother load at a house only five minutes away! check.

fourth up, pack up the house. oi vay. i'm the worst procrastinator when it comes to this. but as soon as i'm done with this post, i'm off to purge and pack. did i mention that our new house is 300 sq. feet smaller than the one we're in. purge i will! this week will be all about packing, craigslist and freecycle.

fifth up, move! friday is the day. and i couldn't be more excited. jordan and i visited the house yesterday with our contractor (just some minor things, like building a stair rail so our kids don't free fall off the open steps up to our room). i honestly didn't want to leave. it already feels like home.

sorry about the utter lack of posts, but i really have been busy! and so i don't just leave you with a bunch of words, here are some random pics from the past few weeks.