Many of you already know about my other blogs Mommy Creations and Mommy Creations Photography, but I just wanted you all to know that I am now back to up dating Mommy Creations (my crafty blog) you can find it be following the "button" on the side bar or going to mommycreations.blogspot.com.
Also I now have my own website for my photography buisness. There is also alink on the side to mommycreationsphotography.com. I am really excited to take off with my photography buisness. Thanks to all my friends in Iowa that allowed me to practice and build my portfolio. I have only done one photoshoot here in CT, but I have to more booked. If you know anyone that lives near CT let them know about Mommy Creations Photography.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Look who is walking
Addi Finally decided that she would try the walking thing. Last weekend was the first time that she really tried and she took 5 steps. We were so excited we started cheering and clapping. Addi thought the cheering was pretty cool so she started taking 2 steps falling to the ground and then clapping. Well within a week she was walking more than crawling. She still crawls sometimes but she chooses to walk more and more and she is very proud of herself and we are pretty proud parents. 
The first part of the video is from last weekend and the second half is from Sunday so you can see her progress.
The first part of the video is from last weekend and the second half is from Sunday so you can see her progress.
FHE in the Park
Last night we had Family Home Evening in the Park with our church group. It was fun. Addi had a blast we will definently be going back to this park Addi could have stayed there all night. We had a nice BBQ with lots of good food. Addi decided that meat wasn't that bad as long as mom doesn't cut it up into tiny pieces.
After dinner the kids went swimming in the little lake that was there. It was great. The water was shallow for along time so even the little kids could easily play in the water. I didn't think Addi would want to go in the water so I didn't put her swim suit on, but I was wrong she went straight into the water with her clothes on. Apparently the lake is a lot more fun then the swimming pool.
So after soaking her clothes we put her swim suit on and she had a blast. When it was time for the lesson she didn't want to get out.
Addi finally came out of the water and enjoyed watching the older kids play head shoulders, knees and toes.
I am sorry Spencer, but Addi may have moved on with an older boy. This little boy is Guy and I think he may be in love. At church on Sunday Addi and I went nd visited the nursery and Guy followed Addi around and pushed her in the doll stroller.
These two sat together throughout the lesson and Guy even snuck in a little kiss, wish I had got a picture of that.
Here is my sexy husband sporting it on the beach.
And what exactly is he sporting? His pager. Jared is on call for the first time this week. So far no calls, but it is only the second night.
Conneticut is starting to look up a little more.
After dinner the kids went swimming in the little lake that was there. It was great. The water was shallow for along time so even the little kids could easily play in the water. I didn't think Addi would want to go in the water so I didn't put her swim suit on, but I was wrong she went straight into the water with her clothes on. Apparently the lake is a lot more fun then the swimming pool.
So after soaking her clothes we put her swim suit on and she had a blast. When it was time for the lesson she didn't want to get out.
Addi finally came out of the water and enjoyed watching the older kids play head shoulders, knees and toes.
I am sorry Spencer, but Addi may have moved on with an older boy. This little boy is Guy and I think he may be in love. At church on Sunday Addi and I went nd visited the nursery and Guy followed Addi around and pushed her in the doll stroller.
These two sat together throughout the lesson and Guy even snuck in a little kiss, wish I had got a picture of that.
Here is my sexy husband sporting it on the beach.
And what exactly is he sporting? His pager. Jared is on call for the first time this week. So far no calls, but it is only the second night.
Conneticut is starting to look up a little more.
Monday, July 20, 2009
We are not in Iowa anymore
Good things about Connecticut
I will start with the good, because I think for now my bad list is a lot longer.
There are trees everywhere.
I love that the highways are lined with trees. Our complex is surrounded by trees. When we were flying into Hartford the ground looked lie it was covered with broccoli.
We like where we live.
I was able to find a place within our budget that wasn't a piece of crap and was in a nice area. We really like Bloomfield. Its a quiet little town and I feel safe here.
We live near lots of cool stuff.
We are near NYC and Boston and not to much further from other fun places to visit. I think people will be more likely to visit us here then they were in Iowa. We also live only about an hour and a half from Jared's Uncle and Aunt Randy and Ann and not to much further from his cousin and his family. It is so nice to know we have some family near by our closet family when we were in Iowa was 8 hours away.
I know there are more good things about living here and I am sure we will find more as we are here longer or at least I hope so.
Not so good things about Connecticut.
Everything is expensive.
Our rent is twice as much as we paid to live in own house in Iowa (that we are still trying to sell if anyone is interested). Our car insurance was twice as much thanks to the fact that Connecticut was among the states with the worst drivers. We have to pay for health insurance which I wasn't expecting, because when I worked for the University of Iowa health insurance was part of my benefits package and I didn't have to pay anything for it So when Jared was told he got a benefits package I didn't know that meant he gets health insurance but we have to pay $300 a month for it. That took a big chunk of money from our paychecks. Groceries are more expensive. And they tax you like crazy here. Jared bought an old car to get him back and forth from work. When we looked it up and didn't seem to bad to register we actually thought it was going to be cheaper then in Iowa, but that was because we didn't account for the fact that they make you have a CT drivers license and then charge you $150 for it and then they charge you hundreds of dollars in property taxes to register the car. So our $2000 dollar car ended up being a $3000 car. I we still own our house in Iowa when the registration is up on the van I am just going to renew the registration through Iowa.
Addi doesn't have any friends her age.
In our complex there is a lot of older people and although there are kids running around they all seem to be older. The same seems to be the case in our ward. Addi is the only one that is not old enough to go to nursery that isn't under 6 months old. She has made one friend Melia who is 9 months older than her, but it just isn't the same as having 10 kids all about the same age to play with in Iowa.
Crime is awful.
The first week we were here there was a fatal shooting every single day. (not where we live mostly in East Hartford). First there was a murder suicide of the Fox news lady, then some guy got shot through the window when he was in his bathroom, then there was just some random gang shooting or something. Then we skipped a day but then the next day there was a double homicide at the candle vigil for the guy we got shot a couple days before. It is crazy. In the last 6 months there has been 19 fatal shootings in Hartford alone and 4 of them in the month that we have been here. Now I know why everyone told us not to live in Hartford. Apparently one of the other dental residents didn't get the memo about Hartford and he said he ran for his life from a mugger the other night, but he signed a contract so he is stuck in Hartford for the rest of the school year.
Random things about Connecticut
In West Hartford Center there are these painted cows everywhere we don't know why, but I think the person who makes them lives around the corner from us because there is a house around the corner that has like 10 of them in their yard.
The For Sale signs are really tiny. The sign are about 10 in by 10 in and they hang from these big wooden post. It looks quite silly. The odd thing is that these tiny signs are only in Bloomfield, CT (the town we live in) so it must have something to do with city rules.
There is a Dunkin Donuts on every corner and I am not kidding. I have never seen so many Dunkin Donuts in my life. Within about 10 miles of our house we have 1 Taco Bell, 1 Wendy's, 1, Burger King, 5 McDonalds, 10 Boston, Markets, and 100 Dunkin Donuts. It is kind of annoying if we are out and about and need something fast and cheap to eat we don't have very many options. We can usually find a McDonald, but I would rather eat somewhere else unless it is breakfast. Most likely there is a boston Market but I need somewhere with a dollar menu and without fail there is a Dunkin DOnuts, but we can't have donuts for a meal. Addi and I have been known to stop a time or two and get some donut holes but we need some variety.
Overall we are adjusting pretty well. This is our house the one on the end. I don't have pictures of the inside yet I haven't finished decorating, but I will have them soon. We desperately miss our fenced in backyard and dog door, but our place is nice and although it only has 2 bedrooms compared to the 3 bedrooms we use to have it has more space and we do have a storage room down stairs and a 2 car garage.
Addi seems to like it and gets into everything. I left her boxes open in her room and she decided to unpack them herself so her room is a mess of clothes, toys and books everywhere.
Tito has adjusted surprisingly well I thought I had traumatized him for life, but he has make this as his territory and barks at anyone that gets close to our door. He does not like the maintenance guy or the internet guy who come into our house. Tito is very protective of me and Addi. This is his tree. He spend most of his time outside trying to figure out how to get up the tree. This is the tree the squirrel scury up when Tito comes running out the door. Our neighbors put feed out for the animals so Tito has plenty of squirrels and birds to chase. I just wish he had a confined space to chase them in.
I will start with the good, because I think for now my bad list is a lot longer.
There are trees everywhere.
I love that the highways are lined with trees. Our complex is surrounded by trees. When we were flying into Hartford the ground looked lie it was covered with broccoli.
We like where we live.
I was able to find a place within our budget that wasn't a piece of crap and was in a nice area. We really like Bloomfield. Its a quiet little town and I feel safe here.
We live near lots of cool stuff.
We are near NYC and Boston and not to much further from other fun places to visit. I think people will be more likely to visit us here then they were in Iowa. We also live only about an hour and a half from Jared's Uncle and Aunt Randy and Ann and not to much further from his cousin and his family. It is so nice to know we have some family near by our closet family when we were in Iowa was 8 hours away.
I know there are more good things about living here and I am sure we will find more as we are here longer or at least I hope so.
Not so good things about Connecticut.
Everything is expensive.
Our rent is twice as much as we paid to live in own house in Iowa (that we are still trying to sell if anyone is interested). Our car insurance was twice as much thanks to the fact that Connecticut was among the states with the worst drivers. We have to pay for health insurance which I wasn't expecting, because when I worked for the University of Iowa health insurance was part of my benefits package and I didn't have to pay anything for it So when Jared was told he got a benefits package I didn't know that meant he gets health insurance but we have to pay $300 a month for it. That took a big chunk of money from our paychecks. Groceries are more expensive. And they tax you like crazy here. Jared bought an old car to get him back and forth from work. When we looked it up and didn't seem to bad to register we actually thought it was going to be cheaper then in Iowa, but that was because we didn't account for the fact that they make you have a CT drivers license and then charge you $150 for it and then they charge you hundreds of dollars in property taxes to register the car. So our $2000 dollar car ended up being a $3000 car. I we still own our house in Iowa when the registration is up on the van I am just going to renew the registration through Iowa.
Addi doesn't have any friends her age.
In our complex there is a lot of older people and although there are kids running around they all seem to be older. The same seems to be the case in our ward. Addi is the only one that is not old enough to go to nursery that isn't under 6 months old. She has made one friend Melia who is 9 months older than her, but it just isn't the same as having 10 kids all about the same age to play with in Iowa.
Crime is awful.
The first week we were here there was a fatal shooting every single day. (not where we live mostly in East Hartford). First there was a murder suicide of the Fox news lady, then some guy got shot through the window when he was in his bathroom, then there was just some random gang shooting or something. Then we skipped a day but then the next day there was a double homicide at the candle vigil for the guy we got shot a couple days before. It is crazy. In the last 6 months there has been 19 fatal shootings in Hartford alone and 4 of them in the month that we have been here. Now I know why everyone told us not to live in Hartford. Apparently one of the other dental residents didn't get the memo about Hartford and he said he ran for his life from a mugger the other night, but he signed a contract so he is stuck in Hartford for the rest of the school year.
Random things about Connecticut
In West Hartford Center there are these painted cows everywhere we don't know why, but I think the person who makes them lives around the corner from us because there is a house around the corner that has like 10 of them in their yard.
The For Sale signs are really tiny. The sign are about 10 in by 10 in and they hang from these big wooden post. It looks quite silly. The odd thing is that these tiny signs are only in Bloomfield, CT (the town we live in) so it must have something to do with city rules.
There is a Dunkin Donuts on every corner and I am not kidding. I have never seen so many Dunkin Donuts in my life. Within about 10 miles of our house we have 1 Taco Bell, 1 Wendy's, 1, Burger King, 5 McDonalds, 10 Boston, Markets, and 100 Dunkin Donuts. It is kind of annoying if we are out and about and need something fast and cheap to eat we don't have very many options. We can usually find a McDonald, but I would rather eat somewhere else unless it is breakfast. Most likely there is a boston Market but I need somewhere with a dollar menu and without fail there is a Dunkin DOnuts, but we can't have donuts for a meal. Addi and I have been known to stop a time or two and get some donut holes but we need some variety.
Overall we are adjusting pretty well. This is our house the one on the end. I don't have pictures of the inside yet I haven't finished decorating, but I will have them soon. We desperately miss our fenced in backyard and dog door, but our place is nice and although it only has 2 bedrooms compared to the 3 bedrooms we use to have it has more space and we do have a storage room down stairs and a 2 car garage.
Addi seems to like it and gets into everything. I left her boxes open in her room and she decided to unpack them herself so her room is a mess of clothes, toys and books everywhere.
Tito has adjusted surprisingly well I thought I had traumatized him for life, but he has make this as his territory and barks at anyone that gets close to our door. He does not like the maintenance guy or the internet guy who come into our house. Tito is very protective of me and Addi. This is his tree. He spend most of his time outside trying to figure out how to get up the tree. This is the tree the squirrel scury up when Tito comes running out the door. Our neighbors put feed out for the animals so Tito has plenty of squirrels and birds to chase. I just wish he had a confined space to chase them in.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Still missing you
Today makes the one year anniversary of my sister Alissa's death and we are all still missing her. It almost seems harder now then it did then. I think it was all so sudden and hadn't quite sunken in. I was use to not seeing her everyday since I lived in Iowa, but now after not seeing her for a year it is more real. I still believe the same things I did then, but it is still hard knowing that you will not see someone for a long time and that we won't be able to see them grow up. Maybe it is a good thing, Alissa will forever be the sweet innocent little girl that she was when she died. I miss you Alissa and will always love and miss you.
Happy 4th of July
Our apartment complex had a 4th of July BBQ so we decided to go and meet some of our neighbors. I made cupcakes to take.
Addi liked the decorations.
We ate lots of food and meet lots of people.
I know there are younger people who live here because I see kids all the time, but most of the people at the BBQ were older but Addi didn't mind it was like she had a whole bunch of grandmas and grandpas.
Later we went swimming in our pool. It is nice having a pool right out our backdoor.
Later that night we put Addi to bed and Jared and I watched some fireworks from our deck. We hope you all had a super 4th of July too.
Addi liked the decorations.
We ate lots of food and meet lots of people.
I know there are younger people who live here because I see kids all the time, but most of the people at the BBQ were older but Addi didn't mind it was like she had a whole bunch of grandmas and grandpas.
Later we went swimming in our pool. It is nice having a pool right out our backdoor.
Later that night we put Addi to bed and Jared and I watched some fireworks from our deck. We hope you all had a super 4th of July too.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Papa's House
We got to spend Father's Day with papa Keep. Addi really enjoyed the chocolate chip cookies and pap's dog Markus.
Uncle Mark was there too. Isn't he so cute!
At pap's house it didn't matter if Addi made a mess because Markus (the dog) made a mess before we got there.
Although Addi was smaller than papa's dog she was still the boss.
The next day on our way back down to Vegas we stopped at papa Sorensen's house and had fun seeing all of his animals. Papa has his own little petting zoo in his backyard.
We had a fun couple of weeks seeing all of our family. OVer all Addi saw 3 grandmas, 4 great grandmas, 2 great great grandmas, 4 grandpas, and 3 great grandpas. Addi learned to say grandpa or bampa while we were gone and after meeting so many grandpas she calls all older men bampa.
Uncle Mark was there too. Isn't he so cute!
At pap's house it didn't matter if Addi made a mess because Markus (the dog) made a mess before we got there.
Although Addi was smaller than papa's dog she was still the boss.
The next day on our way back down to Vegas we stopped at papa Sorensen's house and had fun seeing all of his animals. Papa has his own little petting zoo in his backyard.
We had a fun couple of weeks seeing all of our family. OVer all Addi saw 3 grandmas, 4 great grandmas, 2 great great grandmas, 4 grandpas, and 3 great grandpas. Addi learned to say grandpa or bampa while we were gone and after meeting so many grandpas she calls all older men bampa.
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