'That's Not My Monkey'

We're Back!

Almost two weeks sans internet/computer... wow. It was rough, we survived, but it was rough. What did people do before internet??

Two weeks ago we moved into our new apartment. We are in, not quite 'settled' yet, but little by little we are getting there. There are still boxes to unpack and things to sort through and put away but the new place is feeling more and more like our place. After three trips to Ikea (THREE) as well as trips to Target and Bed Bath & Beyond we have gotten most of the things we needed although we are still looking for some curtains. I may just buy some fabric and make them.
This is what our front room looked like about a week ago. There are still some boxes but it is much better now.

I think that if last week's weather had been like it was today we would have gotten a lot more done in the house but it was in the 70's here from Monday-Saturday so of course we spent time outside instead. Friday I went with my friend Sharon and another mom to the Prospect Park Zoo with our kiddos. So fun!

Charles has been spending a lot of time with his friend Hailey since we moved. Our very good friends Sharon and Ralphy's little girl will be one year old this week and she and Charles are becoming good friends. Hailey will look for Charles when she comes over and has even started to pull on him in an attempt to get him to play with her. For now he can only sit/lay on the floor or a lap but he wants to get up and move and play. 

She likes to give him hugs. 

Where did February go?

I can't believe it's March already! February sure went by fast and March is going to bring a lot of change right from the start. For one, March means SPRING! At least that's what the calendar says. We got so much snow here in New York during February. It broke records and caused for two snow days! I felt like I was back in Minnesota! 

Good thing the snow doesn't stay for very long here because New York doesn't know what to do when it gets snow like this. We don't have a fleet of snow plows like they do back home. No, instead they strap on a plow to the front of the garbage trucks and clear the roads that way. Hopefully we will see the end of the snow and the start of warmer weather. 

February also brought Chinese New Year which is a big deal where we live on 8th avenue. The avenue is closed off for a parade and everyone gathers in the streets to set off streamers,   follow the dragons from store to store as they ask for money, and spray each other with silly string. Ok, the kids spray each other with silly string but innocent bystanders beware! Here's a view of the crowds from our window. 

Of course February also means Valentine's Day. We kept it pretty low key this year. Chris brought home  tulips, (my favorite flower) made crab legs for dinner, and then we watched a movie at home. We did a lot more cooking/eating with friends during the month too. Our good friend Ashley is currently in Haiti with YWAM  helping with the relief efforts there and before she left we had her over for homemade pizza, prayer, and a game of NERTZ. FUN! Speaking of cooking with friends, the sixth and final season of LOST started at the beginning of February and since we don't get ABC anymore (sad story) a group of us get together on Wednesday nights at a friend's house (who has cable/Tvo) for dinner and LOST which is always followed by a headache and a discussion of what the heck just happened and our theories for what it all means. Any other LOST fans out there?? HOLLA!!

But the biggest thing that February brought us was... drum roll please... the closing date of the new parsonage!!! I mentioned a while ago that our church sold our building and that once the sale was finalized and the purchase of the new parsonage went through we would be moving. We have been playing the waiting game for a year and a half. We thought we would be moving back in October of 2008 and here we are, March of 2010 and we are finally moving... this weekend!!! What?! So this means that we need to get crazy packing. Thankfully, we already have quite a few boxes packed and a lot of people to help us move. There is even going to be a missions team here that have said they will come and help on moving day! I am praying that we will get it all done on Saturday and Sunday. I haven't been looking forward to the actual move but I am starting to get excited to paint, decorate and make the new place 'ours'. We have a really great apartment now with a lot of history and memories, even from before we lived in it, and it will be so sad to leave and even more sad to see it torn down but we will make the new place cool too and make fun memories there as well. 

So, goodbye February, goodbye snow (I hope!), goodbye apartment... and Hello March, hello spring, hello new diggs!