First Week in Indy

So we have lived in Westfield, IN for 1 week now. We love love Centennial (our neighborhood). There's a pool, playground, walking track, basketball court, baseball field, & volley ball net here, not to mention a big hill for sledding in the winter time! All the houses have big front porches so you see the neighbors sitting out front rather than the back. Its a friendly community with lots of kids. Westfield itself is also very nice...lots of new shopping complexes. Madelyn & Ansley love our new house. It took Ansley about 3 days to adjust. I knew when she had adjusted when she was acting silly again & didn't need her pacifier except for nap & bedtime. Madelyn has loved this house from the start; maybe its b/c she has her own bedroom or that the playroom is on the 1st floor rather than the basement. We had a bird nest in the tree by our front porch. The baby birds have flown their nest but it was fun watching them & the mama bird while they were here. We went to the Indianapolis zoo over the weekend. We've been to the pool a couple of times. Madelyn & Ansley have found some play mates there. We have gotten together with the girl's cousins a couple of times & hope to see them a lot during the summer. We closed on our house in Louisville over the weekend. It was bittersweet...I replayed memories of Madelyn & Ansley in my mind as a walked through our empty house for the last time. I am so grateful that our house sold so quick for the price it did. I am really happy here in Westfield. Jon's 1st day of work is tomorrow...he is so excited! I am also so proud & thankful for him. He is such a good provider for us.

Holiday World

Jon & I took the girls to Holiday World last Thurs. My brother Brian, sister-in-law Lea Ann, & nephews Travis & Gavin went with us. Going on a weekday was a great idea b/c there were hardly any lines to wait in. If you've ever gone to an amusement park with kids, you know that waiting in lines can be awful (especially in the heat). Madelyn & Travis loved riding the kiddie rides. There are tons of rides for little ones. Ansley made it half way around the kiddie carousel before she panicked. We had to stop the ride for her to get off. She did get to ride the "Tin Lizzies" & another slow indoor ride b/c I was able to ride with her. All the kids loved playing in the huge playground with sprinklers. Jon, Brian, & Gavin rode the roller coasters. It was a fun day. We didn't go to Splashin' Safari but may go back this summer to hit up the water park.

Grandpa's House

Yesterday we visited my Dad at his house in Breckenridge County. His backyard backs up to Rough River. After you walk down 25 steps or so, you're on his dock. We made the drive after Madelyn's gymnastics class so Ansley could nap on the way down. Madelyn got to play with her friend Ally Jo & we rode on Grandpa's boat. It was a beautiful day! Madelyn liked throwing her snacks over board for the fish & Ansley enjoyed a nap!

Cashing In On My Mother's Day Gift

When Jon asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day, I suggested that my van get cleaned out by someone other than myself! I usually vacuum out the goldfish crumbs & shoe debris about every 3 months or so. I thought it would be nice for someone else to do it for a change! Jon checked some prices for detailing but decided to do it himself. This afternoon the weather was perfect. Madelyn helped vacuum with our hand vac. Ansley was napping & I read my book outside on our comfy lawn chair. I know this may not sound romantic but it was really nice...Thanks Jon & Madelyn!!

Yesterday morning, Jon & Corey went on a bike ride through Cherokee Park. Madelyn & Ansley wanted to get their bikes out too. Here some cute pics that I took...

Madelyn Goes to the Dentist

Madelyn & I both had our dental cleanings yesterday. Madelyn loves going to the dentist...she hasn't stopped talking about it since her last check up 6 months ago! Dr. Morris discovered 4 cavities in Madelyn's molars. I was so surprised b/c Madelyn brushes her teeth twice daily & doesn't eat a lot of candy nor drinks juice. Dr. Morris said Madelyn has deep grooves in her molars which is an easy target for cavities. I went with Madelyn this morning to get her 1st cavity filled. She did terrific! I held her hand while Dr. Morris was getting the "sugar bug" out b/c Madelyn was scared & uncomfortable. I was so proud of her for sitting through this so patiently. We went to Target after wards so Madelyn could pick out a new animal figurine...she chose a swan. She has to go back 2 more times. Tomorrow she'll get nitrous oxide b/c supposedly the bottom teeth are more sensitive than the top.

By the way, I found out that the worst foods for kids teeth are suckers & raisins. Ansley must eat at least a box/day of raisins (I was happy that I found a nutritious snack that she likes). Don't worry Ansley, I'm not going to take away your raisins (but do expect some longer brushing sessions)!

Uh-Oh...

were the first words out of Ansley's mouth yesterday evening as I walked in the door from my walk. She was pointing at her belly as she spoke. I yelled for Jon who was "watching" the girls. He ran down stairs & together we looked for the evidence of whatever the blue substance was all over Ansley. The culprit was yogurt. She had gotten in the refrigerator, opened the yogurt, & apparently got more of it on her self than she did in her mouth! I could not get mad at her b/c she was so cute. We found the empty yogurt cup in the living room, along with more yogurt mess on the couch & pillow.

Graduation

Jon graduated from Medical School on Saturday! After graduation, we celebrated at Morton's Steakhouse. The past 4 years have flown by. During those 4 years we have been so excited to get where we are now...now that we're here, I miss the years that have past us by. Being married to a medical student has its ups & downs. Living on student loans & living so cheaply has been most challenging part. Jon having lots of time to spend with us during some of his easier rotations & having long vacations has been nice. Graduation means turning over a new leaf in our lives. We have created so many great memories over the past 4 years: buying our first home, raising the girls, watching our marriage grow stronger each year. I am excited to move to Indy in less than 2 weeks but I am going to miss our house & the memories we made here. I will always remember bringing the girls home from the hospital, their first steps, & first words were spoken here. There's just so many memories. I am so grateful that we have video coverage of most of these milestones so I can relive them again! Anyway, Congratulations Jon! I am so proud of you for the hard work you accomplished in medical school, all the while balancing time with the girls & I. You sure made it look easy!

Beach House Trip

We got back from Destin, FL yesterday after a week's vacation at Barbara & Ordie's beach house. We were happy Maw Maw & Paw Paw could join us for this trip, the girls had so much fun with them. The weather was beautiful. We had 1 rainy day but it gave us an excuse to do some indoor things like paint pottery & shop!! We went to the beach every morning. Madelyn was like a little surfer girl & Ansley adjusted to the ocean on the 3rd day. She wasn't to sure about messy sand & cold water at first. One of the beach highlights is when the girls flew their new kite. Madelyn liked building sand castles while Ansley liked to knock them down.

We also had fun going to Baytowne where we would eat dinner, get a yummy dessert from the candy shop there, & on a couple of nights the girls got to sing with the band "Coconut Radio". Madelyn loves to sing & play instruments with them every time we go.