Cliff notes version....

Yes, I know I haven't blogged for months.  This has been a crazy, busy summer and honestly, I have just been too tired and busy to blog!  Here's a cliff note's version, though, to catch up.

Lets see, this summer we moved ourselves back to Ohio from PA in four separate U-Haul trips.  One of those trips the trailer detached from the truck and went flying down an exit ramp.  Thankfully no one was hurt, and it's kind of funny now, but at the time, not.  We moved into my parents house (which is empty since they live in FL), while we looked for our new home.

We traveled this summer.  We went to Cancun, and to visit my parents in Florida.  I did post pics from Cancun, but nothing from Florida.  Why, you ask?  Because the hard drive on my Mac crashed.  It can't be fixed, I had to buy a new computer, and ... um, I never saved anything to an external hard-drive.  I lost every picture I stored since Nicholas was 4 years old, I lost hundreds of songs on I-tunes, etc.  I am just sick about it.  If you're like me and keep thinking some day you'll get around to backing up all the important stuff on your computer- make that day today!  I did have these couple photo's of Florida left on my camera disc that I hadn't deleted.

In case you can't tell, the kids aren't happy in this photo.  It was hot, the sun was in their eyes, and they wanted to get to the beach!

Lunch at R.C. Otters- an annual tradition:

The kids started school the week before Labor Day at St. Paul.   This year, they are in 4th grade, 2nd grade and 1st grade.  I was worried about how they would do moving to a new school again, but they absolutely love it.  There's something to be learned from children in their agility to new circumstances and making friends.  I used to be the same way.  Change didn't bother me so much.  Now, even when the change is for the better, and it's something good, it throws me for a loop.  I guess I'm just getting old, LOL.  Side note- I love that the kids wear uniforms to school, but Anna wants to know why the kids who go to "republic" schools get to wear whatever they want?  LOL.

Now that the school year has begun, so has the many activities they are all involved in.  Nick is doing Scouts, soccer and piano lessons this Fall.  Anna is doing gymnastics and Girl Scouts, and Noah is doing flag football and Scouts.

We bought a house and closed on it last week.  We really wanted something that we didn't have to renovate this time and could basically just move in.  We looked all summer.  Every time we found a house we liked, it went into contract before we could put an offer in.  We finally found a house in the area we liked.  It needs a little cosmetic work (painting, new carpet, and re-finishing some of the floors), but otherwise, it's got the space we need and a neighborhood full of kids.  Here is a pic of the outside:

Once the painting and floors are done this week, I'll post some more pictures.  We moved the garage, basement and yard items over the Labor Day weekend, and our furniture goes next Wednesday.  Moving is never really fun, especially when you do it on your own, but moving twice in three months?  Not fun.   We'll miss living out here in the country next to my brother and his wife, but...we won't miss the 40 minute commute to the kids school twice a day we are currently driving.  

Hope you all had a great summer.  I'll try to do a better job of keeping up with blogging!