Busy Days

Well, we hit the ground running when we arrived home on June 9th and we haven't stopped since. Hence the reason for a lack of the blogging these days. :) We have bounced around between Kansas, Arkansas, and Illinois for the past two weeks and won't stop moving until we relocate our family the beginning of July to our new home in Peoria, Illinois. The kids have readjusted really well, and I think Marc and I have just been so busy that we really haven't had much time to process all that is different about our lives these days. I have moments where it hits me hard and the tears come out of no where. Sometime they are tears of gratitude for the many blessings we have that we previously overlooked, and sometimes they are tears of sadness when I think of all the despair we left behind. Maybe when the pace slows a bit I will write out some more about all that I have learned.

We certainly have found some new appreciations in our day to day life here. The best part by far has been soaking in the beauty of the green landscape everywhere we go. We have spent so much time outside these past few weeks. We have gone for walks, frequently visited parks, and let the cool grass rub between our toes. Everyone around us seems to think it is too hot to sit outside for very long in the heat of the day, but we are simply loving it.

Here are some recent pics since we have been home...

Marc was working on Father's Day so we celebrated a few days early with a dinner to Abuelo's. With all the eating out we have done in the past two weeks we shouldn't have any problem regaining the weight that we lost. Between eating out and visiting family, I haven't cooked a meal yet since we have been home. :)

 Pool time in Arkansas!

Papa D protecting Eli from Uncle Brandon :)

Nana made snow cones

 Feeling grass beneath their toes was so exciting to them

 Some fun in the sprinkler

 Enjoying some time with the cousins in Illinois

Eli is a good big brother on most days ;)

 Where did Eli go???

 Hailey found him!

Oh, these two keep life fun. Never a dull moment.

So, tomorrow we leave Illinois to briefly head back to Arkansas to meet our new niece. Then, we head to Wichita for Marc's graduation and to pack up our apartment. After that, we are driving back to Arkansas to see family for a few days before we head up to Illinois for Marc's sister's wedding. Then, a few days after the wedding we are moving to Peoria which will become our new home. Marc starts the second week of July with his new job. Whew! It is going to be a whirlwind. I will post a few updates when I'm not napping. ;)