Monday, July 29, 2013

Marriage: Chapter Dos

Hi all!

Well, I have been largely without internet for almost a week now.  Needless to say, we have A TON to catch up on!  Luckily, this time I have several snapshots to help fill in the blanks.

In case you were wondering how I passed the time while Jered was in Des Moines and little old me was still in Chicago: I continued my nannying, finished working at the gym, worked out, and did a couple projects.

I shortened and cuffed these jeans all by myself!


And, I got this little clutch at a thrift shop because Jered always hates when I have him hold my things at weddings and such events, during which I don't want to carry my big ole honkin' purse.  However, the inside looked gross, like someone's powder makeup had been smashed into it.  So, I took this great animal print fabric I had, and sewed in a liner.  Ta-daaa!


Then, to alleviate my boredom, I had visitors!  First, my seester came up on Friday night.  This is us at Union Station before an "adventure" to remember... 


Remember that ridiculously hot week before the really lovely week?  Well, I met Kate at Union Station at 9:30pm, when it was still 90 degrees outside...  We got back on the dear red line and halfway home, the conductor announced they were sending the trains back south... Away from our destination.  Looooong night into short story:  Katie and I ended up walking for TWO HOURS to get home.  Luckily- yes, there was an up side to this story- while we were on the train, it was pouring and the temperature dropped 15 degrees, and I actually knew where I was going.  (Remember- we were two hours of brisk walking away from home.)

Well, we made it safely home.  We were, however, completely exhausted and sore-footed.  We kept them elevated and applied ice packs as often as we could the rest of the weekend.  Yes- they were that sore.

Kate went to work with me and we enjoyed some time with three of my favorite little guys.  Jeremy and Kelly also joined us for a fun beach excursion one afternoon. 

Then, we did a family member swap, and Mom came to stay with me for the majority of the week.  Thankfully- no "adventures" were in our schedule.  Just nannying, and seeing the city for a little last-minute touristy day.




Thursday, Mom braved the bus on her own to get to Union Station and return home.  I was on my own again.  Cue "All by Myself."  Jered wasn't going to be back until late the next day... WRONG!  Husband surprised wife by coming home a day earlier than he says = happy wife.  We were able to spend all of Friday afternoon together, roaming around some of our current stomping grounds before leaving them.

Wondering about Friday morning?  Probably not, but I will tell you anyway: it was my last day of work.


You get all three of those because I love their little faces.  Boy- I am going to miss them so much!  I might be smiling in the pictures- but I was dying a little inside!

Well, on to MOVING DAY!

Thankfully, Jered and I have wonderful family.  Family that comes during the week before moving to help Aimee pack everything because she's never really moved before.  Family that wakes up incredibly early and brings a trailer to take Jered and Aimee to their new destination.  Family that wakes up incredibly early to help move boxes.  Family that wakes up incredibly early and showers us in donuts and coffee.

Saying goodbye to our first home together, was strange for me.  On one hand, I was so excited to get to our new home.  After all, this one was basically a married dorm room.  And it was in a city where it took us an extra long time to get anywhere.  And we had zero counter space.  And multiple disagreements over whose turn it was to do dishes.

But it was also wonderful.  It was a little sanctuary for us.  It was our cozy little home.  It's where our marriage started.  Goodbye was bittersweet.

 

Well, let me tell you about another adventure.  We hit the road around 8:45am- about an hour after Herb with the trailer.  Jeremy was squeezed into the backseat.  Literally-squeezed in there.  I'm not sure he could have had any less room.

Less than an hour later, we pass Herb on the side of the road.  Changing a tire.  Apparently, one of the trailer tires had blown out.  (I don't know if that's the proper way to phrase that, but for this girl who doesn't know a lot about car mechanics, it's going to be.)

Hop back on the road.  Jered looks in the rear view mirror.  Lots of smoke coming from that new tire.  We pull over again.  Turns out, the inside of the tire was rubbing on the trailer and that's what had caused the blow out.  Trouble is, same thing had just happened to the replacement.  So the three guys do some handy work to make the tire last us til we get to a store to replace it again.


Another long story short:  we doubled our trip time.  We spent as much time pulled off to the side of the road, replacing tires, going to stores for parts, and making pit stops, as we did driving.  Oh- one of the tires on the truck also had a blow out. 

Thankfully- we were blessed by having Herb, who can fix anything car-related, and by getting through the day with smiles in the end and no injuries.

That leaves us, HERE!  In Des Moines.  We spent the rest of the weekend being welcomed by friends and family, getting unpacked and settled, and feeling generally ecstatic about our new home.

Last night, we played some poker, and I think it's only fair to mention that I kicked some serious tail by beating all four of the guys playing.



I was texting with Dad earlier today, and he asked me how I felt about the new place.  I told him I loved it and couldn't wait for them to come see it.  He told me I sounded like a little kid with a new toy, and that's exactly how I feel.  I walk down the hall- we have a hall- and I just think to myself, "What can I do next?!" 

I did that earlier, and came to our room to arrange it.  I sat down to my computer in the corner of the room to turn on some music and found that we miraculously have an internet connection right now!  So, I have been feverishly typing away, hunched over on the floor, afraid that if I move the computer, I will lose this little gift of internet access. 

Whew!  I think I've covered all the bases of the last couple weeks.  Jered and I are feeling incredibly blessed right now and thank everyone who has helped make this move go smoothly and pleasantly.

That's about it for now!

Talk to you later,

Aim

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