Our New Home

We're slowly but surely settling in to the new place. Danelle and I have been focusing on calling it our 'new home' instead of a 'rental' since we're not sure how long it will be and we want the kids to feel like they are at home. Even though it's real cute to hear Kellen say 'wental howse'.

Kristin has been hitting wiffle balls in the back yard - she hit seven in a row with Danelle yesterday. Kellen like to play with his diggers at the sand table while Kristin is hitting balls.

We're looking forward to the weekend already. It'll be filled with fun stuff like kid's birthday parties, the last Portland Beavers homestand, and a BBQ. We'll still be tackling some unpacking vs storage issues, but it'll be a lot more relaxing weekend all the way around.

Kristin finishes up a session of swim lessons this week. She looks really comfortable in the water. I watched her do a good backstroke today. She also had her last daycare field trip of the summer. They went to Oaks Park, which is an amusement park really close to my work. I managed to stop in on her group and visit her during lunch. They hadn't gone on any rides yet, but she was pointing out all the ones she planned on going on. She must have had a blast because this evening she was all smiles recounting her adventures.

Off the Grid

We went off the grid yesterday. We have our cable, internet, and home phone through the same company. We called ahead to transfer our service. You'd think they would be kind and give us overlapping service. Instead, they gave us no service at either place! I think it was around 10pm last night that we finally had phone service. The best part is that they tried to charge a $30 'transfer' fee!

We did, however, have outstanding luck with the rest of our move. The movers showed up at nine, packed all the heavy stuff, and were unloaded at the new place by 1:30. It was a gorgeous day too. Low 70s, sun, and a pleasant breeze. We're still wrapping things up at the old house. Several more trips today. We hope to have everything cleaned up and be out of there by the end of the day on Sunday. But we have until 5pm on Tuesday if we need it.

The kids are taking the move pretty well. Kristin has said that she doesn't want to leave the old house, but she is also excited to be closer to her friends. She found out who her teacher for 2nd grade will be yesterday, so she's been calling (with Danelle's help) her friends to find out who else is in her class. Kellen has been pretty excited to explore the new house and seems to take everything in stride, though he did have a little trouble sleeping last night.

Kellen had his last swim lesson for this session this morning. They got coupons for free ice cream from DQ, so we went there this afternoon. Kristin also got to go to a birthday party today too. It was a 'rock-n-roll' theme. She wore a tie-dye bandana and brought a blow-up guitar. She painted her fingernails orange and black (for the OSU Beavers) at the party.

Another heat wave

We had a nice run of 70 degree weather and thought we might be past the real hot days of the summer... we were wrong. It got to the upper 90s at the house the last couple of days. It was a perfect opportunity for us to test out the central AC and the new house... it works! The heat is supposed to break sometime tonight. Should be nice weather for the rest of our move.

Kristin had soccer practice this evening. Danelle took her to that and Kellen and I stayed home. We played with an empty box. He would climb in and want me to tip it over. It's funny to hear the kids refer to the new place as the 'rental house'. I guess we should start calling it 'our house' so the kids can follow our lead. Kellen hasn't figured out the r sound at the begging words. He says 'wental'. :-)

3 More Sleeps

Only 3 more nights in this house... hard to believe really. The rental house is coming along. We get more and more stuff over there everyday. The For Sale sign was even removed from the yard today. Tonight I pulled apart the garden except for the one tomato plant. I didn't even plant any tomato plants! This was a volunteer from a seed from last year. :) At least I have gotten a handful of cherry tomatoes off of it. YUM!

Kids were at daycare today and will be there again tomorrow and Friday. Kristin got to go on a field trip today to a cinema and got to see Kung Fu Panda. She said it was fun. They even got to play at a park nearby too. I am glad she gets to do neat things with her friends. I had to peel her away from her friend Kennedy (she has known since they were babies) this afternoon, who was asking me to let Kristin stay for another half an hour. So cute! Kristin had swim lessons to get to though. But, Kennedy was excited to hear she will see her again tomorrow. :)

Moving moving moving

In addition to the soccer jamboree yesterday, Kristin had a play date this morning at the house and then attended a birthday party in the afternoon. Kellen also got to attend the birthday party - the birthday girl has a little brother too that Kellen has known from daycare, so it worked out great. And, oh yead, there was this whole moving thing that we started too. We probably took between 15 and 20 loads over to the new house this weekend. Got most of the garage taken care of - moved all four gorilla racks / shelve units, as well as their contents. Lots of boxes too from various parts of the house. The movers come Friday for the big stuff, and then we'll have the weekend to settle in and likely finish moving little odds and ends.

Jamboree

Kristin had her fall soccer jamboree today. It was an event at the Tualatin Hills Parks and Rec Centerto kick off the fall season where all of the teams in the Aloha Youth Soccer program had an hour a practice and then scrimmaged another team. Afterwarda, there was pizza. Kristin told me last night that she was going to score a goal for me and for the family and to help her team win. She also declared that she is a 'competitor'. I'll say.

Well, today she delivered on her promise. Her team won the scrimmage 5-1. They don't keep score, but Kristin told me. She got her goal. Afterward, when I congratulated her, she said 'yeah but it took me a long time to get it'. Wow, she has set the bar high for herself!

Kellen had fun too. He found a big pile of dirt to play in. And there were some other younger kids for him to play with. There was some older kids selling bottled water for a fundraiser. I got one for Kellen and he turned it into a fish bowl by shoving goldfish crackers inside. 'Why they not swimming Dad?'

Let the Moving Begin

Tomorrow we get the key to the rental house we will be in until we find our new house to buy. Time to start moving stuff. So, the next week will be a bit on the crazy side to say the least.

Kristin has been having fun at zoo camp and comes home telling us about what animals she saw for the day and what new games she has learned to play at camp. Kellen and I walked around the zoo yesterday and were able to see Kristin at lunch. She liked that! :) At least the heat broke around here so it has been nice to be outside. This afternoon Kellen and I played out in the yard for awhile. We even found a caterpillar which is now in the little bug house. Maybe we will have another moth like last year. We will have to wait and see.

Kristin also had swim lessons and soccer practice tonight, so she will sleep well. Soccer was fun for her and all the girls. Kristin also scored the only goal in the scrimmage game they played. She was beaming with that accomplishment.

Zoo Camp and Swimming

Kristin started zoo camp today. Sounds like she is having a good time. Today they learned about habitats, specifically lions and other cats I think. They spent the afternoon indoors because of the heat. Only one more day of this heat wave and then it's supposed to drop back into the 70s on Wednesday.

Danelle took Kellen to the YMCA swimming pool this morning. He had a blast and was able to use a noodle (a blue one!) to swim to Danelle. Go Kellen!

This evening was spent in the little backyard pool. The kids had a good time getting each other wet. After they were thoroughly soaked, they had a good time getting us wet.

Here's a few photos from the weekend.

Errand Day

Today was filled with errands... one way to stay out of the heat. Reached 104 here today! Yuk! Our toaster died after 11+ years of use today...bummer! Thanks for that wedding gift... it lasted a long time. So, we headed out as a family this morning to look for a new toaster and a 2-wheel hand truck for Aaron for the move(s). We also found Kristin a pair of tennis shoes to start school with. Later, after lunch, Kristin and I went to the mall. There we found a toaster and she got to go back to Build-A-Bear to spend a gift card she had gotten for her birthday. Then we stopped over to check out a Wii competition that was going on in the middle of the mall. Anyone could join in. We decided not to do the competition, but to play on the other side for fun. Get 5 stickers and you got a prize. Kristin picked out a little Mario key chain. She had fun and it was a nice way to spend some time out of the heat. While us girls were at the mall, Aaron and Kellen headed to Lowe's and Home Depot to find that hand truck and ultimately got one (at Home Depot). :)

Zoo Camp starts tomorrow for Kristin... she is super excited for that. What will Kellen and I do while Kristin is at camp? One needs to ponder that.

Soccer Tourny

Kristin's team wrapped up their summer program today with their last tournament game. The game results were much the same as last tournament (0-3), but her team showed tremendous improvement. They played one team 0-0 until the last 15 seconds... but then lost 1-0. Most of the girls on her team are 7 and 8, and they played in a U-10 tournament, meaning that most teams field 9 year olds.

It was quite warm yesterday and today for the games. Kristin suffered a bit of heat exhaustion and got sick on the way home today. We had planned to go downtown for a Beavers baseball game in the evening, but we scrapped that to be on the safe side. Kristin perked up in the evening after dinner but we didn't want to take any chances.

Kellen got to go to a birthday party today at Build-a-Bear. He picked another puppy and called it Freckles. He picked out a soccer outfit for it. That perked Kristin's interest. :-) While Kellen was at the party, Kristin and I went to Big Truck Day at the rec center where she has swim lessons. At this point, there are only a few trucks that she's interested in - the ones that give things away. :-) That and the SWAT truck for some reason. She like to climb up into the turret and look around. The humane society also had a van there today with two puppies, so she liked that of course. We also ran into a few friends. Unfortunately, Kellen didn't get to go this year because after the party he attended he and Danelle grabbed a quick lunch and met Kristin and I at the soccer tournament. Kristin was looking out for him though and brought home some of the free handouts for him.

Will try to post pictures soon.

Kellen the Builder

Kellen has gotten in to Bob the Builder of late. Even more so that when we were vacationing in Iowa. He has decided that he likes coming to Kristin's soccer practices because there is sand to play in from the long jump box, and dirt to play in at the baseball and softball fields. He brings along a digger and a shovel and builds roads. He has a blast. Tonight I had a late day at the office and as I was walking in the door, Kristin and Danelle were headed to practice. While I was eating my dinner, Kellen kept asking me if I was finished so we could go to 'soccer camp' as he calls it.

So Kristin had her first practice with her new fall team tonight. There are several girls on it from her summer program, as well as a few more from her 1st grade classroom. She even has one of the same coaches. Sounds like she will have a blast. Just one more practice for her summer team, and then the tournament this weekend. After that it'll 'just' be the fall team. Yikes! Life is accelerating again...

We heard about all the flooding back east - hope everyone is safe and dry!

Soccer Mania

Last week was busy with soccer camp and normal soccer practice. This week Kristin has soccer practice for her summer league and now her fall league. She also has a tournament on Friday and Saturday. So, from tomorrow to Saturday she has soccer at least once a day. :)

This morning the kids and I headed to the doctor's office for Kristin's 7 year old check up. All is well and she is 48 pounds. This afternoon we ran some errands to get ready for the move and for 3 upcoming birthday parties.

Golden

HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY KRISTIN!!!

We sure had a fun day celebrating Kristin's birthday. Kristin opened gifts at home after lunch today, and then we headed over to Build-a-Bear for her party. A good time was had by all. Kristin enjoyed being the center of attention on her big day, Danelle played hostess, and I chased Kellen. :-)

Kristin got a puppy stuffy and named it Bailey. Kellen also got a puppy and named it Bow Wow Wow. After all of the festivities at Build-a-Bear, we went around the corner at the mall to Maggie Moo's for ice cream cake and presents. There was even a special appearance by Maggie Moo herself - a big cow. Maggie gave Kristin a little stuffed version of herself. So that made 3 new stuffies on the day for Kristin - forgot to mention that she got a stuffed bear at Build-a-Bear that was signed by all of her friends in attendence. It's even gold in color.

Movin'

As Aaron has mentioned we are on the move this month in many ways. Got the rental house, and now have the movers and utilities lined up. Now to get the mail changed and pack, pack and pack. :)

The kids are busy with soccer, swim lessons, play dates, doctor appointments, etc. It never ends, but we are having a fun summer. Today they were giving their stuffed animals rides in laundry baskets. At times they were wagons and then Kristin connected the two baskets and it became a train.

Kristin's soccer camp this week is called the British Challenger camp. She has 4 coaches from England and she loves it. She practices for awhile with kids around her age, then they get to playing "World Cup" games. She is on the team from Wales. They have had different things to do all week to get World Cup points for her team. One was even clean her room... she had to bring a note from mom saying she actually cleaned her room. I like these coaches!!! Today she took a flag for the Wales team. That was fun for her to learn about another country's soccer team. We even made a red t-shirt for her with iron-ons. She is sad that tomorrow is the last day.

On the Move

We sure hit the ground running on our return from vacation. Danelle found us a nice rental house to move to while we continue our search for a new house to buy. We take posession on the 20th and will have 11 days to get moved. That seems pretty doable.

We're continuing to look for houses to buy. Yesterday evening we looked at two houses. One was pretty nasty inside and the other was actually pretty decent, but had some deffered maintenance. Both short sales.

Kristin is a busy girl too this week. She has soccer camp every morning. Today, she also had swim lessons, and from there we went directly to her regular soccer practice. I don't know where she finds the energy.

Weekend

We had a relatively quite weekend at the Isenhart house. We looked at a few rentals late in the week and landed on one that will work. Our application will go in Monday, so as long as no one beat us to it, we should have our temporary living quarters arranged.



We're looking forward to celebrating Kristin's 'golden' birthday on Saturday. We'll do a party at Build-a-Bear and then have an ice cream cake at a shop at the mall called Maggie Moo's. Kristin also has soccer camp in the mornings this week and also starts swim lessons on Tuesday/Thursday afternoons. She'll then go right from there to her summer soccer program that meets on Tuesday/Thursday evenings.

Kellen has swim lessons on Saturday mornings this month too. It's going to be a busy month!


As you can tell, I've sprinkled ina few photos from our time in Dubuque.