Umstead run

There is a nice forest preserve in Raleigh. Aaron and I took a run through there for the first time today while Kyle and Emily were at school. This was the first of what will probably be many runs in Umstead. 

No bare feet

Outside our temporary apartment, there is a little park that Aaron likes to play at. There is a sign that says "no pets allowed" and another one that says how you have to wear shoes and such. Aaron enjoys 'reading' the sign as well. It ranges from no bare feet to no bare butts! 

Pullen Park

Raleigh has a great park called Pullen Park with all kinds of fun activities for kids to do. There are several (many) playgrounds to climb around on, a train ride around the park, a little kiddie boat ride , a carousel, and paddle boats. This post is likely a combination of two trips there, but who's gonna tell?! 

Friends and a Duke game

Moving to a new city is difficult. Not knowing anyone is difficult. Kari helped change that for us. She had some friends who had just moved from Illinois to Raleigh with kids similar in age and connected us. Long story short, they are awesome and we have all become fast friends. 

Being so close to Duke, Jeff's alma matter, we took in a Duke football game together. Jeff had taken Kyle & Emily the previous weekend (Aaron desperately needed a nap) and raved about how much fun it was so we all went this weekend. 

Afterwards, the kids cooled off at the apartment complex swimming pool. 

The kids climbing trees at their house. 

They also let Aaron borrow some train tracks as he took a huge interest in them at their house. Aaron is just loving trains these days now!!

Aaron on rings

Today, Aaron and I went over to Marbles to play. He loves the sports play area and got up on the rings like Emily. He did a flip and was so happy to be just like his big sister doing gymnastics. 

Raleigh...

So our start in Raleigh was rocky to say the least. Nothing like going from paradise and routine and familiarity to sweltering heat and not knowing anything. And living in a hotel for 2 weeks. With kids. And an impossible school situation. And no good vegetarian options. And macaroni and cheese as a vegetable. Now don't get me wrong, I love mac and cheese, but I also need vegetables and there is just no way that it is truly a vegetable as it is considered here. I digress. But my point is that the adjustment was (and is) very difficult. Less difficult now that we have moved into our house, but still hard starting over from scratch. So we made sure to have some fun for our sake and the kids' sakes. 

Trip to Marbles Kid's Museum

A little amusement park on a crazy hot day while our car got cleaned out. That morning we went to drive Jeff to work (our van hadn't arrived yet despite promises to the contrary) and it was filled with ants. Two hours, an Uber for Jeff, and a bottle of lysol later, I had cleaned out enough of the ants to get it to a car wash place to do the rest. Mercifully, there was a little amusement park type place for the kids across the parking lot. This was right after moving into our temporary apartment. We took this apartment because (1) it was the only one available on short (1 day) notice, (2) it was fully furnished, (3) they allowed 30 day rental and (4) it fed into a good school for the kids. Yea, nothing says welcome to your new (temporary) place like a million ants crawling through your car. 

Emily decorated her bedside stand with her sweet picture from best friend Haiden. 

Bear passed out in a huge bed. 

Goodbye San Diego

Today was the day we bid farewell to San Diego. Talk about emotional. We have loved San Diego and were so happy to call it home. We miss it so. 

Our last night in San Diego, we stayed with our friends a few doors down. Simon just loves Aaron and Aaron loves Simon. I love this sweet picture of these two. 

Betsy's kids and my kids all before we left. Emily, Eric, Ian, Aaron, Kyle, AJ & Alice. What a fun crew! Great memories with this bunch and more still to be made! 

Goodbye hugs and kisses at the airport

Farewell San Diego, Point Loma & Coronado. We will (and do) miss you! For when I can't remember, this is obviously a view from the plane, but you can see Point Loma. You can also see Coronado Beach, where we spent a lot of our summer. 

Hello Raleigh

After too many hours of flying, we arrived in Raleigh. 

Why in the world is there a picture of a McDonald's ice cream cone do you ask? Well, growing up, whenever we would travel to a new city with my dad, he would always have to sample the ice cream. Even if it was a McDonald's cone. We were going to a new city and I was super emotional so I decided to get some ice cream - even if it was McDonald's and even if it was in Chicago O'Hare which we've been to a million times. It was comforting. And bloating. But the emotional soothing made it worth it. :-) I had one. And then brought one over to the kids and Jeff. 

Hello Raleigh

We arrived in Raleigh late in the evening if I remember correctly. Aaron was in good humor and got a huge kick out of rolling his backpack over the bumps after the escalators. He said something like, "backpack farting". Great comic relief kid at just the right time!

Last park day

On our last day in San Diego, we went over to the park so the kids could burn off climb, play and burn off some energy. 

So I have a bunch of video of the kids swinging and hope to someday make it into a video of them swinging through time as they grow-up. I haven't put the footage that I have thus far together yet, but am putting their latest and farewell San Diego swing here. By the way, if anyone is great with iMovie and wants to splice this together for me, please tell me as I need the expertise!

Kyle & Emily swinging

Kyle swinging

Aaron swinging

Emily swinging

Zoo finale, San Diego finale

Today the packers arrived. That meant we had to get out of the house. I needed to get out of the house for my own sanity and emotional well-being. Nothing like a bunch of strangers putting everything into boxes and clearing out your house to make a move get very real. 

So we went to the zoo. A place I have always loved. And it was on my San Diego bucket list to visit before we left. So we hit our favorite spots - the Skyfari (Kyle used to be terrified of this), the meerkats and the spider monkeys. 

Aaron had been asking to ride the train outside the zoo for some time. Today seemed like a perfect day for that. :-) So we rode the train. And Aaron loved it. Check one off Aaron's San Diego bucket list. 

Aaron had also been asking to ride the carousel near the zoo. Again, what better time to check one off his San Diego bucket list than 2 days before we left. 

Yea, then there's the move... it's still emotional seeing these pictures nearly 3 months later. I know this is just stuff, but the "here's your life in boxes and a home that holds so many memories" part is what gets me. 

That evening, Emily's best friend Haiden invited us over for dinner. They made a delicious meal for us all to eat together and the kids got to swim together for a long time. It was a welcome distraction to the move (on our last night sleeping at our house) and a wonderful time with wonderful people. 

Beach finale

Our San Diego summer at Coronado Beach had a fantastic grand finale over the weekend with Betsy and her family. We both had the whole family, husbands included since it was the weekend. What a great way to send off San Diego. Though sad thinking about it now as I post this 3 months later, missing San Diego, the beach, surfing and Betsy and her family. 

Emily & Ian 

Me and Betsy - this defines our summer: fun at the beach with our kids

That evening, we went over to Betsy's house for a great dinner together. Aaron and Alice had a nice private table to themselves. These two are just so cute! 

Beach again :-)

Did I mention ours was the summer of the beach? Back at Coronado again with Betsy and her family. We sure miss them! And the beach (as I post this in November from Raleigh in 40 degree weather).

Aaron was in heaven!!!! So close to the digger!!

Just enjoying the view

Emily & Ian

Ian surfing!!

Emily surfing!