Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Where I've Been

I never really intended for the blog to go dormant and neglected over the last few weeks but day after day I got busier and busier and before I knew it, it had been over a month since I'd published anything.  I haven't had that long of a dry spell since I started really blogging almost a year ago.  The days (and weeks) of silence are hopefully behind me now as J and I get into the swing of things in our new home in South Bend, IN.

Here are a few things we've been up to this month when I obviously wasn't blogging:

I left my job of two years in preparation for our move to South Bend and packed up all of our belongings while J studied for the bar exam.

J took the bar exam in Des Moines, IA.  24 hours later, we packed up our apartment in a Penske truck and cleaned the apartment within an inch of its life.  Thanks to my dad and J's parents for helping load us up and move us!

Less than 12 hours after that, we drove the six and a half hours from St. Louis to South Bend with J's parents, sister, my dad and Woods in tow.  We arrrived in South Bend around four pm and promptly unloaded the truck.

We then left South Bend for a week to vacation with our families at Feirin De--including Woods.

A big beach bonfire we had one night thanks to lots of driftwood washed ashore by heavy rains
 Returned a week later much more relaxed and refreshed to an apartment so full of furniture and boxes we could hardly move.

A view from our bedroom window taken our first night in the apartment!
Spent the next week and a half unpacking, organizing rooms, purchasing some new furniture and hanging art work.  A full house tour will be posted later this week!

I finally recovered our dining room chairs.  I love the pattern so much I wish I would have done it sooner!
Took another mini-vacation slash post-bar trip to Chicago to visit some friends last weekend.   We had a blast and I will be sharing pictures and full details later this week!

Doing our best Ferris Bueller impersonations at the Art Museum in Chicago
Cooked some delicious meals.  Recipes for Hot German Wax Beans, French-Style Perch with Vegetables and Zucchini Bread will be forthcoming in the next few days.

Oktoberfest in August--Hot German Wax Beans, homemade spaetzle and kielbasa.  Yum!
Registered for classes and spent way too much on books.  That's right, I am going back to school!  Eventually I will be obtaining a Masters in Education and a certification in secondary education (in Social Science to be more specific), but for now I am taking a few classes (three this fall and four in the spring) so that when we move back to Omaha I can hopefully complete the program there in one calendar year.  Classes start on Monday and I am nervous/excited to be back in school!

Tried to start catching up on blog posts in my Google Reader.  Right now I have over 1000 unread posts and I am hoping to get all caught up before classes start Monday!


And on the horizon for this week are the following items:
  • Get satellite TV set up and DVR up and running--I've missed out on weeks of my favorite shows! 
  • Take the Indiana driving test (new residents must take the written driving test...again...)
  • Obtain new insurance
  • Title my car in Indiana and obtain new license plates
  • Visit the Farmer's Market and local co-op here on Saturday
  • Have some new friends (J's soon-to-be associate at work, his wife and 2 kids) over for a pool party and dinner
  • Make a kid-friendly dinner for six!
  • Catch up on my Google Reader
While I am catching up and reading lots of blog posts, would you mind telling me one thing you've done or blogged about since I've been gone?!?  My last blog post was July 13th if that helps jog your memory!  

I can't wait to catch up with all of you and a big thank you for sticking around during this busy and hectic time in our lives!

17 comments:

  1. Wow you have been one BUSY gal! What great reasons you have for not posting :) I can't wait to read the forthcoming recipes and see a tour of your gorgeous new place!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm glad to hear the move went well and you're getting settled in your new place. Sounds like you've had lots to keep you busy - I can't believe summer is coming to an end already. Welcome back!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. welcome back to blogging! it looks like you guys have been crazy busy. and it sounds like you'll continue to be busy with school starting! :)

    gorgeous view of that water our your window - that's a plus of your new place!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yay, you're back! I think I started following you RIGHT before you went on your unexpected hiatus :) My husband & I ALSO drove a Penske moving truck away from St. Louis (two weeks ago)...to an island off Washington state. Can't wait to see more pics of the house - and I ADORE that new fabric on your dining room chairs!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Glad to hear your move went ok!!! Ok, one thing I've blogged about...I ran my first half marathon this past Sunday. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYY you're back you're back. *happy dancing*

    Congrats for J to have completed the BAR and for you to have registered for classes for your Master's Degree. Impressive!

    I am super excited for your moving to a new place. and of course can't wait to see pics of the re-decoration :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. welcome back! glad the move went well. same old stuff around here! :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. We are glad to have you "back"! I am happy to hear that you and J and settling into South Bend. I hope he is enjoying his clerkship.

    Enjoy the last few weekends of summer!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have that piece of art as my desktop on my computer. HA

    Glad you back!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hey! There you are ;) We have missed you but so glad things are going great for ya'll. A smooth move, very nice. And love the Ferris Beuller shout out.

    ReplyDelete
  11. You have been super busy! Welcome back to blogland!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Whew! There you be! Sounds super hectic but rewarding, also. Love the Chicago museum picture. Looking forward to the new posts you'll be writing from the new digs. Bring it on, Midwest Hospitality Maven!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hey! I just wanted to let you know that I am passing on the Versatile Blogger award to you :) go here to get it: http://ashareyes.blogspot.com/

    Happy Thursday!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Welcome back! I'm so glad you got some time to relax before all the hectic-ness that is moving in and unpacking! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Welcome back! I am glad you had a good move and some much needed time off! I can't wait to hear all about your adventures and to see your recipes!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Welcome back! That sounds like a crazy but wonderful time! I hope you enjoy going back to school. I'm starting tomorrow and I'm a bit on the nervous side but definitely glad to be doing it. Your new apartment looks really nice, especially for a spot in a complex--usually you don't get that much of a kitchen!

    Have a lovely first week!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Busy, busy! Welcome back! Congrats to your hubby on finishing the bar exam - phew! He must be a million times less stressed. And congrats on a successful move, AND going back to school! Wow!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for finding my blog and taking the time to leave a comment!

I try to respond to everyone's comments either below your comment itself or through email. Please be sure to link your email address to your account so we can chat!