hello from the heinz family

We made it full circle this afternoon.  We stopped by Blake’s campus to take a few photos of the kids and just to say goodbye to Blake’s school…one last time.  It seems like just yesterday that we were standing in front of Weaver Auditorium, taking photos for Blake’s White Coat ceremony, and now, four years later, we are doing the same thing.  This time we have two kids!  It is exciting to be moving on with a new chapter in our lives, but so bittersweet to be leaving such amazing friends here in KC.  We couldn’t have made it throughout this journey without constant support from our parents.  Saying that we are lucky is definitely an understatement.

Thursday was also my last day of school.  Wow.  Welcome to stay-at-homedom!  I will save our sad goodbyes for another post!  Here are a few pictures of us enjoying campus at a time where Blake doesn’t have to be stressed about studying, finals, or listening to lectures!

It’s going to be a long process and we don’t close for a few weeks, but this is what life has been like.  Thank goodness for help from my inlaws.  We are going to spend the next few weeks spending times with relatives and relaxing.  This will be interesting for a change!  I am excited to see family and friends, but even more so, I am looking forward to a settled, scheduled life for my children.

I promise to make a few rather large posts soon on my best friend’s wedding and my husband’s graduation from medical school, but for now, here are a few pictures to tide you over.  Isn’t Kayla the most beautiful bride and isn’t my little guy the most handsome date?  It was an amazing weekend spent with wonderful friends, tons of fun, and a few tears!

This is my husband, a man that I admire.  Throughout medical school he has been my best friend, my husband, and the father of my children.  He has devoted his time not only to his family, but to his patients, and also to his peers.  Tonight, Blake was surprised with an award recognizing his achievement over these past four years of medical school in the field of Bioethics by receiving the Sir William Osler Outstanding Student of Bioethics Award.  This is a special award because it isn’t one that his professors select, it is one that is earned through nomination of your peers.  Well done, Blake.  You are SO deserving of this award and we are all so proud of you!

Here’s to you and your dual degree classmates on a successful run.  Even though your paths may divide you, your spirit and passion for the care of others will always unite you.

Today marks a milestone.  Blake hopped in the car this morning with Miss Willow and together they drove to SD to meet Grandpa Mel.  Willow will spend the next week playing with her grandparents and cousins in Aberdeen.  This is the first time that I will be away from her for more than one day.  Yup, I cried a few times this morning and haven’t stopped asking for updates and pictures.  Thank goodness for 21st century technology and picture messaging.  The last thing I saw was Willow in her aunt’s sandals blowing bubbles in the driveway with her cousins.  Fun….Wow….  I am a little lost without her, but needless to say, have accomplished a ton around the house.  Noah and I are getting all packed up not only for our big move, but also for my best friend’s wedding this weekend.  We took a break from packing to take a two mile walk around the neighborhood and posed for a pic beforehand. (He is smiling, but instead of looking at the camera, he thinks my camera strap is so much cooler!)

I got to be princess for the day today!  It was not only an amazing day, but an amazing and low-key weekend.  We grilled out and played…a lot!  Today we spent the morning at the arboretum.  It was such a stress free day and felt so good to just be in the moment.

And my little supermodel.  Hard to believe she is almost 3!

There are signs of it all over the house:  we are moving.  Things are a little chaotic in this once serene home. *I say that with sarcasm.

Even Willow is getting involved.

I think that hearing her sing, “We’re going to Minnie-ap-olis” is totally worth it.

Things have been nuts lately, and we continue to receive not-so-positive news on the purchasing of our new home.  I didn’t think this was going to be so stressful, but little by little, we are jumping through the loop-holes and making this thing happen.  This afternoon, we saw Willow jumping up and down on the mound of dirt that was once our backyard (remember this post) and she was dancing while singing, “I’m King of the Castle.”  Blake and I just looked at each other and smiled.  We need to remember that our family is safe, we are healthy, we are happy.  We can’t let this house “thing” run our lives.  We have so much to be thankful for and to live in the present for….we need to constantly remember to BE Here NOW!  Noah is growing like a weed and Willow is starting to become such an independent, creative, wild child.  Someday I will regret wishing time away so that we could have been in our new house sooner and be thankful for the times we have in the here and now.  They are only young once.

I digress.  Let’s switch gears: now that Blake is home with the kids during the day for the month of May, they have created all sorts of creative ways to play and enjoy the outdoors.  Willow wanted to play hockey….and considering there is no ice and we don’t have skates or hockey sticks, Blake created a yard version instead.

Noah is still a little too young to play, but he enjoys hanging in his exersaucer anyway.

And our “other kids” hung out and enjoyed the game as well.  Tucker was performing his “cat/dog” duties and chasing after all missed goals.

Lately, Willow has taken to yelling really, REALLY loud near Noah.  I think she thinks that because he can’t talk, he can’t hear.  Well, it doesn’t make him very happy.  In fact, he really doesn’t like it at all.  Poor guy  He is going to have to get used to a little “feminine chatter!”

Blake is addicted, I mean Blake really enjoys playing with apps on his phone.  His recent obsession is instagram, which is awesome because I am not stuck behind the camera any longer.  He loves to photograph the kids and use some of the unique settings to make his pictures unique.  Here are some of his most recent masterpieces: