Sunday, August 30, 2009

New love seat - Kelly


that I build from a pile of wood, foam, and fabric! (And maybe some instructions... :) )

Life is good - Kelly

Amy- that was our 100th post! Exciting. :)

I just spent a lovely weekend in LaPorte, but I have to say I was really excited to get back to the city. Seems that I'm pretty settled in already! Tuesday will be one month since I've been in my apartment, and I absolutely love it. Apart from a desk, which I've been putting off getting for a month, we're totally furnished and set up.

Lucy is still having a little trouble adjusting, but we're getting there. She loved seeing everyone in LP, especially Uncle Buck, but was pretty happy to get back today too. She had her first intermediate training class today and did pretty well. (On another note, she definitely did her thing on my new love seat when we got home, but that is another story...!)

Anyway, I hadn't posted in awhile but I just wanted to say that all is well in Chicago. My job is keeping me busy, but I love it, and life is good!

4th Grade Fun- Amy

HI GRANDPA! I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR ME ON THE BLOG! THIS IS JUST FOR YOU! :)

So it is official. I LOVE my job. LOVE LOVE LOVE. 4th graders are AWESOME, and so is the staff. I feel so at home, and I never worry about asking for help or support or asking questions, however stupid they might be (ex. Where are my kids supposed to hang their backpacks? What is my code for the copier again?).

I really love everything so far. My kids work really hard, and are really willing to earn fun things for behavior. I am sure I will have lots of funny stories to post on here, but for now, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am hitting my stride and LOVING it.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Is This Heaven? No, It's Chicago. - Brady

I. had. the. best. 24. hours. in. Chicago. Kevin and I arrived Friday night, set up our little room (which made both of us a lot more excited and relaxed about our commuting arrangement. We feel very sophisticated having our room in the city and our house in the "country."), ordered excellent Thai food with Kelly (has anyone else ever had lime tofu before?????), saw 500 Days of Summer (great movie) at the Landmark Century Cinema, and walked home through our beautiful, fun neighborhood . The next morning, we went to a free yoga class on the Great Lawn in Millennium Park at 8 a.m. The weather was perfect, and it was fantastic to look at the skyline while we worked out. They also played some great music. After that, we ate brunch at Mellow Yellow in Hyde Park and took a long walk through Jackson Park, a site all three of us have been interested in seeing since we read Devil in the White City.

It's hard for me to explain why I love Chicago so much. Describing days like this might be as close as I'll ever get.





Saturday, August 22, 2009

New and Unexpected Adventures! -Amy

After getting prepared all summer to teach Pre-school in La Porte, I called called last Friday to go in for an interview for a 4th grade position. Long story short, I found out on Monday that I got the job, and school started Wednesday! I am so pumped, because I did my student teaching in 4th grade and LOVED it, and also because this is a full time, certified postion! Also, I am teaching at the same school as my Aunt Judi, so I will have lots of support! I really am very,very excited and could not have created a better scenario for myself. I have been in a bit of a whirlwind for the past few days, getting my room ready and teaching on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I will definitely keep you all updated on the happenings of my 21 4th graders, but for now, here are some pics of the classroom! Keep in mind, this was COMPLETELY EMPTY when I got there on Monday, and these pictures were taken Tuesday night... 40 hours and about $300.00 later! Totally worth it though!













I'm so pumped!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Puppy Fever - Brady

I've had an awful case of puppy fever the last few days. I took this:

Breed Selector Quiz

and it came back that I should get a Newfoundland, a Saint Bernard, or a Landseer (never heard of that breed before). Obviously, I like huge dogs. I think of them as big, friendly bears that laze around your house. Love 'em.

Kevin and I have tried to get a dog twice already. The first time, we actually had a 4-year-old Great Pyrenees at our house for a few days and then gave her back (No worries - she came from a good home and went back to a good home. They just had one more dog than they really wanted and thought that if we could take her, that would help them out). Then, we tried to adopt a mixed breed puppy (part Newfoundland) through a rescue service here in Fort Wayne. We filled out the extensive application, met it, and turned it down (again, puppy was fine - adopted soon after we said no).

Both times, we had mini panic attacks at the thought of having a dog for the rest of its life. What is our problem, exactly? I LOVE dogs - almost nothing makes me happier than getting to spend time with one. But when it comes down to actually committing, I can't do it.

We talked for a long time yesterday about adopting. It would probably work well for us right now - our apartment is dog-friendly and has a fenced backyard, Kelly has Lucy to keep it company, and we'll probably be spending most of our time either in Chicago or at our house in Fort Wayne, both good places for a dog. But I just don't think we can do it yet.

Did anyone else feel like this before getting a dog? It seems like it's so easy for the rest of the world...

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Wild Kingdom AKA Our House - Brady

Cut my normal hour of yard work short today. Why? Pretty sure I both tore out poison oak and disturbed a brown recluse spider hiding in the ivy I was ripping off our house.

Which are worse - gross city things (cockroaches, grime, etc.) or gross country things (poison plants and spiders)? I'm voting country things - at least cockroaches can't do THIS to you. (No, you know what? I was going to link the word "THIS" to a picture of a brown recluse spider bite, but it's too gross. You can look it up yourself if you're really curious.)

Mos def going to buy myself some new, non-holey gardening gloves today. These just aren't cutting it anymore in the wild kingdom.


Read This When You're Feeling Sorry For Yourself - Brady

This was the main story on the Tribune's website today. This tough Chicago lady definitely reminds me that any "problems" I've been complaining about are nothing.

Pregnant, with cancer: An agonizing decision -- chicagotribune.com

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Monday, August 17, 2009

Craft Week - Brady

I did some work last week to make Kevin and my somewhat dark, small room in our Chicago apartment brighter. I'm no artist, but here are my humble achievements:



Project #1:



A make-shift desk constructed and donated by Kevin's parents.



I stained the legs to make them match a little bit better.




Project #2:



Took an old block of wood...



put nails in it...



painted it, and have a place to hang my necklaces so they don't get tangled up.



Project #3:



Took these magnetic corkboards (how is that possible?)...



and this fabric...



and put them together. Hopefully this will make our very white room a little more colorful. We're going to hang them above the desk.



Project #4:



Took some ribbon...



And stuck my jewelry on it. Note: This is HANGING from Project #2. Can you believe it?


So, like I said, I'm not a great artist, but it was kind of fun to try this stuff for a few days. No more, though. I'm done with the craftiness for awhile.

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Quick Update - Kelly

1. I love living in Chicago.

2. Living in Chicago is growing on Lucy.

3. Lucy now sports a pink bandana. (Pictures coming!)

4. I'm too busy to post on ANY of my blogs.

5. I worked a 15 hour workday today... and it's Sunday!!!

Where you be? -Amy

Hey Brady, I can't believe you haven't posted since the last time I did! Where in the world are you? I mean, I know you have real things going on like moving and getting ready to start school, but I miss you blog post a day. I guess Kelly and I will have to pick up the slack finally!

I am getting really excited about the school year starting, although it is giving me a little bit of anxiety at the same time. I am trying to get my room set up and get all settled in, but there is still a lot of shuffling going on around the school corp which has caused my room to be moved. This is totally fine, I just need to know where I am going to be! Let's just say I know what I am going to be doing ALL DAY tomorrow! I think my room has finally be set for sure so I really need to start setting things up. I will post pictures soon.

I can't believe how fast this summer went, and it has been a constant reminder that things don't always turn out how they are planned. At the beginning of the summer I thought I would be living in Chicago, ready to start a teaching position. I am, however, very excited to be at home. I have always been a home body and I am really excited to be able to save so much money for the coming year (which I am determined to do!).

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

So cool! -Amy

I was on facebook, and I stumbled across a group that is supporting a documentary film that is being made about La Porte! I followed the link to the movie website, and it looks really cool. There are definitely people and things in the trailer that I am super familiar with, and I would love to see the whole thing finished! If you want to check out the trailer, here is the link to the website! Hope you enjoy it!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jasonbitner/laporte-indiana-our-independent-feature-doc-film

Monday, August 10, 2009

Candlelight Yoga - Brady

Here, at this studio, 6 blocks from our apartment.


Sign me up immediately. How nice would that be to go to in the winter?

"You Get a Strange Feeling" - Brady

"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, I told him, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again."

— Azar Nafisi (Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books)

This describes, I think, the anxiety I usually feel in the face of change. It's not so much that I'm afraid of what's ahead. In fact, most of the time I'm really excited about it. I just tend to like whatever life phase I'm in enough that I don't want to leave it.

And it's true. Even though Kevin and I are (kind of) moving back to Chicago, it won't be the same as it was when we were there before because we're different people than we were then.

Friday, August 7, 2009

In the First 5 Hours at Our Apartment I Have: - Brady

- had a typical Brady freak-out ("What am I doing? This is crazy! Every decision I've ever made is bad!")

- was told by the "gas lady" that we are unwittingly paying for the hot water used by everyone in our building for laundry.

- tore out ivy that was creeping into our apartment (and we're on the second floor, mind you, so the battle involved me hanging out the window)

- was guillotined while washing the outside of a window with a Swiffer

- met the biggest dog I've ever seen! His head's the size of a giant pumpkin! (Happy to know you, Otis.)

- found out a guy I graduated with and haven't seen since high school lives right across the street

- ruined a pair of pants by sitting in bleach

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

My Life is Average- Amy

Ok, so yes, my life is pleasantly average, but I just realized that my blog title sounds awfully depressing. Actually, what I am referring to is a website that Brady introduced me to: www.mylifeisaverage.com. People go on the site and write little stories that happened to them that day that are either really funny or painfully average. You should check it out if you need a good laugh. Here are some of my favorite from my first visit (MLIA is supposed to follow every post, short for, you guessed it, my life is avereage) :

Today, I fed my pet rabbit some trix. I feel like I beat the system. MLIA.

Today, I was at Walmart and I decided to shout "Avada Kadavra!". Someone on the next aisle shouted "Expelliarmus!" right after. It made my day. MLIA

Today, I was on Youtube and one of my friends had 666 subscribers. I unsubscribed her. I thought that I had done her a favor. MLIA

Today, I found out Grey's Anatomy premieres September 24th. That's the same day my baby is due. I'm torn. MLIA.

You should really check this website out... thanks, Brady!

Monday, August 3, 2009

Photo Album Link

A lot of pictures from this summer... apartment pictures are last!

Settling In - Kelly

I'm all moved in! My parents (who are the BEST!) spent all day Saturday unloading, unpacking, and driving around Chicago with me. Did I mention that they are the best?? I think that the next time I move I owe it to them to actually higher movers- they've done this WAY too many times for me. I can't wait til they come back so we can just hang out and enjoy the place!

Lucy is settling in pretty well. She's totally overstimulated which makes for some funny and annoying situations. The good news is she's ready to crash just about all the time- which is a nice change of pace. This morning I actually had to wake her up to go out instead of her waking me up at 5:00 am on the dot.

I'm going to post a few pictures of the new place here, but I'll also post the link to a facebook album that contains a lot more! (Just a warning- it contains pictures of EVERYTHING I've done this summer, so skip ahead to the 'Before' and 'After' pictures of the apartment!