Into the School Groove!

 The school year is off to a successful start.  Caroline was pretty tired those first few weeks after being at school five full days.  She's in the groove now and loading up on after-school activities.  Ballet, gymnastics and Kindermusik round out her collection.  She's loving Kindermusik and learning about tempo and rhythms while playing the xylophone.  We listen to the CD plenty of times in the evenings.  In ballet, she was just cast in the Nutcracker.  She'll be a bon bon and butterfly in varying performances around the holidays.  She was hoping for a butterfly part, so I'm thrilled they made her performance dreams come true.  Now we are all about weekend rehearsals when we are in town!

Dad stopped by for a quick overnight visit last weekend and we managed a trip the public TV family event.  Caroline got to meet Princess Presto (from Super Why) and Audrey enjoyed "driving" the fire truck.  She isn't into the big scary characters, similar to her sister at that age.  Audrey is still loving school.  She dances and attends Kindermusik with myself as well.  She loves following the big girls around in dance class, and can actually pay better attention than some of the 4 year olds.  Caroline loves having a "ballet student" to teach when she's at home.  Audrey is speaking in more complete sentences and learning all kinds of fabulous phrases... including "Oh yea!" She's still non-stop entertainment and makes us laugh on a daily basis.

Ryan survived his week-long orientation at the VA in Marion, IL.  I managed to survive with the help of some neighbors in the evening - they were fabulous help at entertaining the girls while I managed to get dinner ready.  He's seeing patients now (only one per hour.... can't stress the new guy out too much) : )  twice a week and loading up on his Midwest ENT schedule.  More surgeries, more patients, and he still seems very happy.

We made it to the Mayse Pumpkin Patch last weekend and loaded our front step up with pumpkins.  The girls enjoyed the hay ride out to the pumpkin patch and we got to pick it right off of the vine!   We did vote that Erie has a better pumpkin patch in Port Farms... but this one will do!

I'm growing along nicely, made it to 25 weeks and can't be more ready for January.  This little person is non-stop action, so we will see what happens when it hits the planet.  Could be very interesting around here!  Guess that is the latest from September.  October is loaded with weddings and travel, we are all kinds of excited to be included in these celebrations!

Normal Life, Evansville Style

Life in Evansville, IN is fantastic.  We've settled in, met all kinds of friends and jumped into this new routine with school!  The girls enjoyed the final days of summer eating popsicles outside, swimming away and exploring the cMoe - Children's Museum of Evansville.  

We've been fortunate to have all kinds of visitors already!  Dad came into town for a super-fast weekend.  We got him to the pool, enjoyed a marvelous dinner with Sally at CKB and, of course, loaded up at the Donut Bank - an Evansville establishment.  Our Erie friends, the Garriotts, stopped by our home on their way home from visiting family in Washington DC.  They are master road-trippers!  We were just so thrilled to have an evening with them, and the kids loved a good slumber party.

Caroline is doing well in school.  She adores her teacher and is slowly talking about some friends in her class.  It makes us happy to hear about these new kiddos in her life, she still sincerely misses her Erie connections.  Audrey goes to Mother's Day Out one morning a week.  She wasn't thrilled being dropped off the first couple of times, but now seems excited to see her friend Luka when I drop her off on Tuesday mornings.

All in all, we can't complain.  Ryan's job is working out so well.  We have much more time together as a family, but have definitely realized how quickly the days/weeks fly by when the school year kicks into high gear.

Hard Goodbyes Heading to Hoosier-land!

We spent the last few weeks in Erie, PA saying good bye to all kinds of good friends and co-workers.  Ryan was celebrated on multiple occasions and couldn't have felt more love.  He was well trained during his time in Erie, and it shows that he was respected by so many.  It was incredible to experience the outpouring of love for our family as we left town.

Henry and Audrey have been good buddies for the past year.  They knew each other from the neighborhood and the YMCA.  She still asks about him when I take her to the YMCA here in Evansville, makes me sad we won't see them again.  Debbie took care of the girls while I worked at the ENT office.  I'm glad we were able to check on her one last time before we left town.

 At least HAVOC was able to pull off a solid victory for our final night of softball.  We managed to celebrate Ryan's birthday as well.  The next day we said our goodbyes at the ENT office which were much harder on all of us than we ever imagined.  Ryan connected it to the final episode of "Cheers".  The office was quiet, everyone was at lunch, and he just gave Bonnie one last hug.  They were definitely more than co-workers by the end; they had become family. We dearly miss them!

The neighborhood is a little quieter now that we have left.  Miss Denise was an incredible support from across the street, and now she'll get to know a new neighbor once our house closes August 30... a definite relief to not have two mortgages forever!

Dad requested a self-portrait before we walked into our home for the first time.  We saw it on Face Time, but didn't get to see it in person until we arrived on July 1.  It needs a little love, but it is a fantastic place to call home!

This is Ryan heading out his first day at his "real job" at Midwest ENT.  He is making the transition well, and seems to be enjoying it.  His patient load/surgery schedule is picking up which is a great sign; he wasn't used to so much free time!  Welcome home Palmer family to Indiana, I think we are "gonna like it here!"

We've Seen the "Magic"

 It was princesses, princesses, princesses for 5 days in Orlando, FL.  Ryan was at the national ENT conference taking his written boards, so we decided to tag along.  He did a great job on his exam - we will get the results at the end of June.  Best of all, we have time once again at night without him reading up on the latest in the ENT world!

 We spent two days at the Magic Kingdom.  As you can see, the girls were in heaven.  We met the Fairy Godmother, many of the princesses and the usual Mickey Mouse gang at dinner at the Contemporary Resort.  Some of our fellow residents joined us at Chef Mickey's for a kiddo feast - pizza, mac and cheese, hot dogs - they loaded up and had a few adult offerings to enjoy as well.

 Friday morning, we had breakfast at Cinderella's castle.  We walked in and got to meet/photo op with the fabulous princess herself.  Caroline did a great job and didn't let the characters scare her, which was a nice change from her usual behavior with dressed up characters!  Then we headed upstairs for breakfast, great menu - but the attendees were even better.  Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine and Ariel also stopped by our tables for more chatting and photos.  Caroline was in heaven!

Caroline and I managed to check out the Electric Light parade on Thursday night and she was completely transfixed.  I don't think we missed any important events, and can't wait for the ENT conference to take us back in two years for more magical moments.