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One Year Later!


We're celebrating our one-year anniversary since the big move from New Jersey to Illinois. We moved into this house on Dec. 16, 2011. Hooray!

A lot has happened since that exciting and exhausting day.

The girls have started school and made friends. Dave has made big contributions to his projects at work and I landed a full time job.

I learned that we function best when both parents are working full-time and the girls are in structured school settings. And that I'm a hopeless stay-at-home Mom. Maybe it’s just not in my DNA.

I painted six rooms, mostly by myself, learning tricks and making a few mistakes.

I've enjoyed planning and decorating. There's nothing better than the feeling of visualizing an idea (Flor carpet tiles! Homemade curtains! Raised beds gardens!) and following it through. 

It's great to have the space to make home improvements. To start projects, to stretch out and make a mess and to close the door of the office or leave it all on the dining room table, instead of clearing everything off the table for our next meal. 

It's an adventure to find local stores, meet neighbors, make friends, figure out what we need to function.  

It's not easy to get into the habit of public schools. The paperwork (mygodthepaperwork!) and days off and dealing with teachers who have so little time. 

That long commutes are not so bad when there's a library you can visit for audio books.

We got Leah in soccer (me as her coach), a ballet class, and a gymnastic program they both enjoy -- especially Alice. Though, fitting everything in during a busy week is not easy. 

Lastly, we learned that we made a great decision. We miss our NJ life but we've been able to do so much more, experience different things, try new things (ice skating!). 

Hello Illinois! 
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