Saturday, May 15, 2010

Goodbye, Ontario Street Apartment

It's moving day! We're all packed and ready to go. This is just a quick note so that I can say I wrote one last blog entry from the Minneapolis apartment. We'll miss this place. I took a little drive this morning around the neighborhood. Being the first Saturday morning after finals week, everything is very, very quiet. I dropped Ella off with Grandma & Grandpa Olsen at their hotel and then swung in to a nearby coffee shop to grab a frozen coffee for me and a cinnamon-sugar donut for Pete. Now we're loading the moving truck and will be heading up Interstate 35 in just a couple hours. We're thrilled to get into our new, blue house on the quiet, dead-end street and be away from the busyness of city life, but not without a fond farewell.

You were good to us, Ontario Street Apartment. Ella was only 6 days old when we first got to you. Late night feedings, first smiles, learning to crawl, and endless laughter. We'll visit you in the years ahead. Look for us as we slowly drive by, pointing out the window, reminding Ella of the memories she has here that she won't quite be able to remember on her own. We've got plenty of pictures. You're a part of us, Ontario Street Apartment. We will surely miss you.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Four Generations

This picture was taken on Mother's Day this week. A perfect way to capture the day, isn't it? It includes four generations beginning with my Grandma Johnson, my mom, Becky & I (sisters), and our girls, Ella & Malena.

And here's Grandma Scott (my mom) as happy as can be.


Thanks to Grandpa Scott for sending the pictures.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

A Week In Review

I admit, I'm still a bit exhausted after the week that has passed. Even the thought of writing about everything we've done in the seven days seems daunting. It was all very exciting, though, so it's still fun to share it. Besides, it's good to think through everything that happened. I'll try to create a summary of the week's excitement.

Let's begin one week ago. We spent last Wednesday packing, packing & packing. It is our dream that this will be a more organized move than any we've done before. I have no question we'll beat our last move, since Ella was only 6 days old. (Thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Olsen, we did actually move!) We've already sorted through just about everything and have taken multiple boxes to Good Will. (I've tried not to go in during the drop-offs to avoid adding more to our packing.) Now we're just putting everything in boxes. The only trick is that we're going on our first family trip a week from today, so we're trying to keep things separate that we want to have on the trip. Oi. It's a lot to think about.

Thursday we got ready for Pete's graduation before catching a taxi with Mike & Jen and heading downtown to Kieran's Pub. The 4th year med class from Duluth was gathering for one last time as medical students. Ella got to spend the evening with Grandma & Grandpa Olsen, her aunts Kristin & Kathryn, and Pete's aunt Pat. Ella always loves getting to play with everyone. And it definitely wears her out!

Friday morning at 7am we headed to Northrop Auditorium on the U of MN campus (just a few blocks from our apartment, actually). We got our seats at 8 and were on our feet when the graduates entered at 9am. I admit that I was quite emotional during the ceremony. I just can't believe that we've made it to the end of 4 years already. So much has happened through that time. I do want to spend more time reflecting on all that it means to reach this point, but now is not the time. I wouldn't be summarizing! Therefore, in continuing on my summary path, the ceremony concluded at 11:15am, we took a few pictures, passed Ella around, and headed back to the apartment for Famous Dave's and cake. It was a day to celebrate DR. OLSEN! I'm so proud of you, Love.

Saturday morning, after a quick trip to St Paul for a hair trim (a relaxing intermission in the non-stop weekend) we headed north to Pequot Lakes for my 10 year high school reunion. Pete, Ella & I met up with my high school friends at a park to start the festivities. I was a little nervous about seeing everyone again, although Facebook has completely changed the whole concept of a reunion. After our time at the park (and yes, I used Ella as an ice-breaker when talking to other moms), we drove to Grandma & Grandpa Scott's where Ella spent the evening playing with her cousin, Malena, and helping Grandma celebrate her birthday. Pete & I headed to a pizza place/bar for the rest of the reunion. It was a lot of fun to reconnect with people and to introduce them to Pete.

To celebrate Mother's Day on Sunday, we went to Wadena to visit my grandma. We got to tour her new townhouse, which just happens to be right across the street from the playground we often played when visiting my grandparents when I was little. It was the perfect time to let Ella try out her very first ride on a swing. She loved it! She spent a long time swinging next to Malena before going down the slide a few times. It was a very fun way to spend my first Mother's Day.

On Monday we were supposed to close on our new house in Duluth, but something popped up, pushing the closing back a day. Instead we had another day to pack.

Tuesday we closed! We are thrilled to be the owners of an adorable colonial-style home in East Duluth. We will be moving on Saturday, giving us just two more days of packing. I have an idea that it will be a push to be ready, but I think we'll be just fine in the end.

So that's the summary! I'll try to post pictures over the next few days, so stay tuned...

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Goodbye Med School

This is my last day as the wife of a med student. Tomorrow at 9am Pete will walk across the stage of the Northrop Auditorium and graduate. I am incredibly happy for him. He has worked so hard through the last four years and for many years before that. It's amazing to see him continue on the journey that he knows God has set before him.

A couple years ago, my friend Ky found this shirt for me at a thrift store. How appropriate. I've always wondered who else would wear such a shirt. I mean, they were sold at Abercrombie. Did high school girls seriously wear them? I'm just glad I had it to pull out at random times through the past few years.

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...