The Move

All packed up with everything moved down to the first floor

Getting the moving truck was not a smooth process, but if that was our only bump in the move--we'll take it!

We had a quality moving crew.  The kids even joined in and were a big help.  Steve and Jack flew in the night prior to be our truck drivers.

The drive was long, but after a week of packing and loading we were ready to sit, relax, and take in the view.  The new van came in handy with 2 DVD per day allowed.  We stopped in Erie, PA and Tomah, WI for overnight rest.  When we hit the MN border there was cheering in the van.  So good to be home.  Unloading went great.  My parents were there washing windows.  Our dear friends Michelle, Tara, and Laura had the house all clean.  Unloading and unpacking was long but worth the wait!  Thanks to Michelle, Ania, my parents, Jack, Steve, and Craig.  It's good to be home.

Good bye week..............

 We said good bye to our dear friends at EBC on Tuesday.  They were an incredible group of believers that we were blessed by time and time again.

 Heidi was part of our east coast family.  She came to our rescue countless times to visit and to help us out with our kids.  She allowed us to go out with our visitors to have uninterrupted adult conversation.  The kids named her: best babysitter EVER!  We will miss her dearly and wanted to pack her up with our things to take her home to MN.

Our final date night was out at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston.  It was awesome and overwhelming all at the same time.

Our neighbor friends will also be missed.  They are a great group girls, but Carter was always out numbered!

They spent endless hours out on the swing in the backyard and doing lawn gymnastics.

Good Bye Cabot School..................

Hailey said "good bye" to 4th grade today at Cabot school.  She leaves with some mixed emotions as she has had a fabulous year with much thanks to her teacher: Mr. Velluto.  He challenged Hailey in her reading and her composition this year, exposing her to great literature.  His approach in the classroom was somewhat non-traditional, but he was able to maintain high standards of learning and respect in combination with fun and game playing.

She was apprehensive attending a new school, but really came out of her shell making some great friends.

 Mrs. Henry was within the classroom as well this year as full time special needs teacher of one of Hailey's classmates.

 Cabot school was built in 1908 and we quickly learned that what the outside of the school did not match what was happening on the inside of the school.  Great learning was happening within this community and a high standard for excellence.

Ellie was a special friend of Hailey and they hope to keep in contact after the move.

Taylor completed 1st grade this year at Cabot school.  She was challenged and gained incredible confidence this year with reading, math, and social independence.  She was a leader within the classroom and received glowing reports from her teacher: Mr. Miller and his assistant Mrs. Feuer.

It was hard for me to keep up on Taylor's social engagements as she became good friends with several of her classmates and was continuously setting up play dates at school.

Mr. Miller, Taylor, and Mrs. Feuer

We were very blessed to become part of this community this year.  

Beckering Visit #2 + 4

 We welcomed Dan & Laura + the four kids to New England!!!

The Beckering family left Minnesota and stopped in at Niagara Falls, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire then finally settling in Boston at the Miedema Motel.   

 The kids were so very excited to see each other; Taylor and Kylie were side by side for 6 days straight.    

Harvard Natural History Museum

 The New England Aquarium and the Museum of Science

 Hiking the chasm & kayaking the Charles River

Hailey's 4th Grade Band Concert at Cabot Elementary

 Adult night out to Cafe Florentine in the North End (Thanks Heidi!)

Singing Beach, Manchester, MA

The Beckering family is our final set of visitors.  16 sets of family and friends have come to our home in Massachusetts to make this year an incredible experience.

So long preschool...........................

 Today we said "good-bye" to Little Red Wagon Playschool.  It is the first of many "good-byes" that are to come in the next two weeks.  Carter had a fabulous year at preschool.  On the left is a picture of today and on the right is a picture of him on the first day back in September.  He has certainly grown up!!!  He is so very proud to say that he is starting kindergarten soon.  I am trying not to make it about me, but WHAT ABOUT ME!!!  My heart longs to keep them little and under my protection. I am so very proud of Carter and the nice boy he is.

 Miss Diane was Carter's head teacher.  Carter's group in school was called, "The Flippy Dolphins".

 These are Carter's buddies at school: Colin, Matthew, Harry.

 Carter's other primary teacher, Miss Else, had some medical issues half way through the year, so Miss Meghan filled in for the remainder of the year.

 The class studied the ocean, dolphins, rainbows, and seeds for a big portion of the year.  They also each got to make on of these tornado cylinders to take home.

Carter is not a big fan of crafts, writing, or coloring, but the improvement of his name writing on the sign in sheet from the beginning of the year to the end was shocking.

He gained a ton of independence throughout the year as they were required to take care of their own lunch each day and get ready each day to go outside.

This beam is in the basement here in Newton.  We started measuring the kids last August after moving here and I just measured them again last evening.  WOW!  Each one grew at least two inches!

Vis Visit

The Vis family arrived from the wetlands of Iowa and were greeted by the heat of Massachusetts.  The kids immediately took in the Cabot School Fair and cooled down in the sprinkler in the front yard.

The kids had a big day of travel, so the adults took full advantage of having 16 year old, Cassie, in the house for the kids and went out to the North End.  We enjoyed the Union Street Oyster house and Little Italy.

 We had relief from the heat on Monday as week took on the Public Garden and the Freedom Trail in the rain.  They got a special surprise along State Street by a special armed force artillery parade with uniformed service men representing centuries of service.

On Tuesday we took our final trip to Ogunquit, ME.  This has been one of our most favorite spots in New England.  This trip the Marginal Way was in full bloom and the weather was fabulous.

Taylor found her own little crab friend while trying out the ocean water.

 The outdoor pool was so very much fun.  We wanted to stay for a week!

 After leaving Ogunquit, we hiked Mt. Kearsage in New Hampshire!!!!!!!!!!!

Carter stuck with Jacob like his shadow.

 We made it to the top!!!

 

 We decided to take on NYC with Brad, Pam, and the kids as one of our final big adventures.

Each time we become a bit wiser with Manhattan and we were able to show them the best of New York City in about 10 hours.

 The harbor tour around the Statue of Liberty was wonderful.  It gave us great views of the skyline and the New World Trade Center.

 This group was awesome!!!  10 of us in a Honda Odyssey!!!!!!!!

Time Square!!!!!!!!!!!!

 9/11 Memorial

 Subway Crazies..................

 Church at EBC