January/February

Well the last two months have brought lots of change in our family. I celebrated my 30th b-day! I had mixed emotions about it, but have decided that it doesn't feel any different than 29. Although sometimes I feel it in my knees when I am down on the floor with the kids!!!! We celebrated by going up north an hour and a half to Grand Casino Mille Lacs. We were able to get a free room through Joe's parents which was awesome. They came with us so they could watch the kids while we went out. We started off by going swimming with the kids, which they loved! Then we got ready to go out and had dinner at one of the restaurants there. It was really good food and nice to be able to talk and have an adult conversation! Then we went back to the room to help get the kids ready for bed. Then we headed out to see a movie. It was SO nice to be able to spend time together and get out without the kids for a few hours!!! When we got back about 11:30pm Kaelyn was asleep in between Grandma and Grandpa in their bed and Austin was wide awake with a fever. Needless to say it was a very long night. Then we went out for breakfast and then packed up to go. It was nice to get away for the night and enjoy some family time!!!
Our lease is coming up the end of April on our apartment and we have decided that we need more room and a yard for the kids. So we are going to be moving again and renting a house. We got approved for a home in Crystal. It has three bedrooms, two bathrooms, hardwood floors, fireplace, a living room up stairs and a family room downstairs. It has a fenced in back yard with a huge detached garage. We are really looking forward to having more room and a yard for the kids to run around in!!!! We will let you know more about that when it gets closer to moving!
I have also decided to enter back into the work force. Unemployment has been such a blessing for us over the past year and a half, but we will be needing more income to provide what we want for our family. I was offered two different positions and have decided to go back to Park Nicollet. I will be working at the Melrose Institute which is their eating disorders clinic. They recently moved into a brand new state of the art facility. They have in patient and out patient services. I will be a medical receptionist and that will include working the call center too. It's very similar to what I was doing before minus checking insurance. It will be 36 hours a week and I will be done by 3:30pm every day. Joe will be home with the kids on Tues and Wed so they will be in day care 3days a week.
The kids are doing great! Kaelyn is an outgoing, energetic little girl who isn't afraid to talk to anyone! She recently just got glasses because her left eye is crossing and she is a little farsighted. The glasses are supposed to help her left eye straighten out. We go back to the Dr in March to see if they are helping and will find out more then. She does a pretty good job with keeping them on, although we have had to go in and have them adjusted a few times already. She is talking in full paragraphs now and is so much fun to have a conversation with!!! She is so loving with her brother and takes such good care of him!
Austin is also talking a lot more! He is saying new words everyday and it is so much fun to see all of the connections he is making. He is 18 months now so he is finally able to go to nursery at church!!! So now Joe might actually be able to get something out of church! Kaelyn is in nursery with Austin and takes good care of him!
So we have a lot coming up in the next few months, but we are looking forward to all that is in store for us!!!

Jan/Feb 2011