The Big Move

We're all settled into our temporary digs and we love it. The city is great--I had forgotten just how friendly Iowans were. We absolutely feel like we made the right decision in moving here as our kids will grow up in a friendly environment with lots of good schools and cultural amenities, and all just 30 minutes from grandparents. We're excited to start shopping for a house now that our home in Green Bay is sold (we closed last Monday). The kids have adjusted well, and despite all of us falling ill over the last week and a half (Fisher and I both currently have ear infections), we enjoyed our short time of freedom before Derek started his new job.

Fisher loves to entertain Phoenix, and most of the time she loves it back, though not always.
Took the kids to the St. Patty's parade downtown. Would have been great if I didn't have a fever at the time! It was so long that we left early.

Derek on his first day of work! So far, he really likes it. Already he's working on projects that he's excited about.

Our loft is a short walk to the downtown sculpture garden, which is really nice.

Fisher loves checking out all the art.

Here we are (Phoenix lying in the bottom of the stroller) enjoying upper 60 degree weather, sun, and a new skyline. Fisher keeps talking about all of the big hills in Iowa (none in this picture, but plenty throughout DSM). He claims he's going to roll down all of them.

Such a happy baby most of the time. This is how she is just up from a nap--bright eyed and smiling.

A view of our loft. It's pretty tight for a family of 4, but we're making do just fine.

We had several visitors our first week, including Mandy and her kids (cousins Drew and Paige pictured here).

This is Phoenix's first time in the big bath with her brother.

Here we are saying good-bye to our house on the morning we left Green Bay. Fisher and I walked through every room saying "good-bye (room), thank you for all the memories." He got so into it he was saying good-bye to the door knobs, countertops, and windows. Brought tears to my eyes as we did have some great memories here in our first home.

Phoenix likes to practice sitting up, though she can't do it on her own yet.

We spent a lot of time out frequenting the places we frequented most often in our years in GB. Here's Fisher playing foosball with Kevin at Titletown Brewery.

Derek and his 4:30 club (Andy, Tony, Kevin, and Kail). They left work every Friday at 4:30 and met up for a beer and a shot of Jameson at a dive bar near city hall to kick off the weekend. It was the only day of the week he'd leave work on time!

Fisher had his cast taken off (quite a tramatic ordeal). He didn't walk normally for 2 weeks, but he's finally getting the hang of it again. He walks with a slight limp, but the doctors say it'll work itself out eventually.

Andy and Crystal took us out for dinner before our big move.

Allison, Tony, Andy, Crystal, Kail, and Kevin threw us a going away party at Titletown Brewery a week before we moved. There were over 100 people there so we were busy talking and didn't bust out the camera until things died down. We had a lovely time. Derek gave a nice speech and we all enjoyed watching a video montage that Andy put together (titled Lord Family: The Green Bay Years).

Fisher was literally attached to the hip of Allison all night long. He stayed up until the party ended at nearly midnight.

Lots of our neighbors stopped by, including Joe and Maria. (Our neighbors had another gathering for us (a wine and chilli party) a few nights before we left). We are truly blessed to have been surrounded by such great people.

More party action.

Me with my closest GB girlfriends--Sue and Crystal.

One of the advantages of working for the city: connections! We received many thoughtful gifts from our friends, including this real-deal street sign (Hubbard is the block on which we lived). Super cool.

Phoenix is starting to show more interest in toys now. And she has started crying when her brother swipes one of her toys away!

Enjoying some gourmet pizza at Hinterland with friends. We hope to see all of them visit us in Des Moines!