Egg Hunt

We did a little egg hunt in the yard for Adam on Easter. The eggs were filled with Teddy Grahams - one of his favorite treats.

I explained the idea to him (excuse my painting clothes).

And then he was on a mission.

He really enjoyed carrying around the basket and the eggs, but didn't really get the whole "putting the eggs in the basket" thing. Oh well, plenty of room for improvement next year.

For his Easter gift, he got a big sketch pad and some crayons. Look at him go! I know, he's gifted.

This was his reaction when we told him he couldn't eat the crayons.

Classic.

Happy Easter!

Awesome

There really was no other possible name for this post. This is awesome. My mom broke her foot a couple of months ago. I know...cripes, what was she thinking??? She is healing slowly, but it's been frustrating for her.
Mom was such a trooper while she was here helping us move in. In my opinion, she did way too much walking! BUT, when we went to KMart together, she...........wait for it..........she got one of the motorized carts to ride in!!! It was so flippin' funny! We were kind of afraid she would kill someone at first, but she got the hang of it.

Look out! She's on the move!

I gave her the all clear whenever she came to the end of an aisle so she wouldn't take anyone out.

Best photo-op ever. Period.
You rock, Mama!

New Stuff

We got some new stuff for the house. I think you know you're a home owner when the first place you learn how to drive to is Lowe's. I think Adam may be confused as to whether we are going to live at Lowe's or at our house. He's spent about the same amount of time at each, so far!

Phil mowing his lawn with his own mower for the first time! I'm sure the excitement of this will wear off, but for now we kind of dig it.

We also got a new little kitchen table and chairs. It is so nice to have a separate dining room to keep our actual dining room table in.
Here is Adam enjoying his first graham cracker at his new table. He still has his high chair, but gets excited about sitting at the new table.

Grandpa and Grandma L. and Aunt Grace were here helping us with the move on this end. Thank God for grandparents and Aunts! I think Grace walked about 10 miles with Adam while we unpacked and my parents were painting fools!

In Transit

Adam did great in the car, and more surprisingly, so did Pooser! We made our temporary home in a two bedroom suite until we closed on our house on March 31. Having the two bedroom was great - Adam could have his own room at night, and Pooser had plenty of room to roam.

Adam enjoyed himself in the kitchen. Who needs toys?

Not quite the same as the big screen, but at least he had his Elmo.

This photo is for you, Janice! My friend Janice knit this coffee cozy for me just before we left OH. I love it!

Last Days in the OH

Grandpa and Grandma Swenson stayed with us for a couple of days after Phil's graduation to help with the move. COULD NOT have done it without them! They brought us meals to pop in the oven after all our kitchen stuff was gone, which saved us from eating out for a week straight. They also took Adam for walks while the movers were at our house packing up and then cleaned up a storm! After a couple of days, though, we had to get creative. It was raining (perfect), so Peg and I took Adam to the mall to run around.

We started off in the kids' play area, but he was much more interested in the stores - go figure! So, we just let him run around where ever he felt like going.
Dick's was his first choice. He enjoyed watching the escalator for a bit. (Taking after his Grandpa L.)

"Come on, Guys. Try to keep up."

Adam wandered right into the Easter Bunny's park without even realizing it. And then...he noticed The Bunny. Whoa.

We chatted for just a bit, and then continued on our way.

The Easter Bunny gave Adam a little stuffed toy, which he carried around for the rest of the day. He is obsessed with doors, so he tried to close down every store in the mall.

We found some little coin operated rides. Fortunately, Adam was content to just climb in them, so we didn't have to spend the big bucks making them go.

This moving business isn't so bad...

Roughing it back at home.

Could we BE more white trash?

Thanks, Grandpa and Grandma for making this transition easier for all of us. We love you!

Saying our Goodbyes

As excited as I am to move on, the goodbyes are always tough. We have made so many wonderful friends in Ohio, and they are what we will miss. I didn't get as many photos as I was hoping to, so unfortunately I can't give a shout out to each wonderful friend.

Here is Adam's Friday Gang at our last meeting. It's been so fun to watch this group grow up together. Left to Right are Adam, Josiah, Brendan, Eliana, and Rachel.

The mamas of the Friday Gang. We got together for some fun at the Cheesecake Factory. I have treasured these girls - it is so wonderful to hang out with friends who all made the leap into motherhood within a month of me.

Our friends The Rowes are another bunch that we will miss terribly. Adam had such fun playing indoors, going for walks, and playing at the playground with his friends Ethan and Andy, and Phil and I always enjoyed our adult time with Ryan and Erin. The Rowes were so helpful while we were moving, providing a fun place for Adam to hang out after his toys went away. Such good friends.

God provided such great friends for us in Ohio. I don't have any photos, but The Hunts, my book club girls, and our small group Bible Study friends will all be missed as well! Thank you for blessing us during our short season in Ohio. You always have a place to stay in Virginia!

Phil: Master of Astronautical Engineering

Internet is up and running at our new place, so stay tuned for a bunch of posts regarding the end of our time in Ohio and our new home in Virginia!

Phil graduated from AFIT on March 25. His parents were able to come for the ceremony, and then stayed to help us with the move. The night of Phil's graduation was very memorable - there was a torrential downpour, which made parking interesting and last minute hair and make-up adjustments useless.
It was also a night I will never forget because of my Phil's great accomplishment. The ceremony was very nice. It is always a little overwhelming for me to attend these culminating events. I think I get caught up in the day-to-day process of these things, and then all of a sudden I am sitting in an auditorium with a bunch of other people reflecting on exactly what happened during the past eighteen months. My heart swelled when Phil's name was called - Captain Philip Swenson!

Susie and I sat together to watch our husbands' big moment. She took some pictures - the lighting at the Air Force Museum is awful, though.
There's Phil walking in!

Shaking the General's hand after receiving his diploma.

Here a "where's Waldo" shot for you. All the graduates turned around to applaud their support staff. Phil is in the first row toward the left. Can you find him???

My Graduate and Me!