An announcement

Sometimes, when I run into people from the past, they'll say something to the effect of "I follow your blog and I know you live in Pennsylvania -- but what are you doing there?" And since I started this blog after we moved here and never really gave an explanation as to why we came, I figured now was as good as time as any to give the people what they wanted -- but the readers digest version.

One day, 6 or so years ago, Brad came home from his "great" job to our newly purchased home in SLC and mentioned that he was toying with the idea of going back to school. To get a PhD. As in a 5-year-long PhD. Given the said great job, the newly purchased home (2 miles from my parents), and our very new baby boy in the next room, I was quick to nix the idea. And for the next 8 months we fought. But when Brad started leaving for work before Nick got up in the morning and coming home after he was in bed (and with his bosses working more hours than this) and with Brad alluring me with the lifestyle of a finance professor, I gave in. Okay, there might have been A LOT of prayer and fasting going on as well. Needless to say, we applied to a dozen Financial Economic PhD programs, picked one, sold our house at just the right time, and when I was 16 weeks pregnant with Chase, we moved ourselves across the country. That was the beginning.

And today we came to an end, of sorts.

For those of you who might be wondering how a PhD program works (as I had no idea when we began), let me break it down for you:

Years 1 and 2: Brad took classes and worked on research in financial economics. He took and passed a candidacy exam and comps.

Years 3 and 4: Classes were over with and Brad worked on several different research projects, including his dissertation, which I don't completely understand but I know if has something to do with hedge funds.

Year 5 (which we're in right now): Brad has done nothing but apply and interview for jobs, perfecting his dissertation and a different paper in his "spare time."

So....

After applying to 60 schools (Brad is going to be a finance professor):
Having 30 first interviews:
10 second interviews
3 heart breaks (Brad came in second place at our top 3 choices):
and 4 job offers...

(not to mention 5 years and 2 additional children)

Let's just say I need to buy myself a pair of these:

Because we're moving to KANSAS.

Yes that's right, Kansas. Now, I know what you might be thinking. "Kansas? You really want to live in Kansas? Haven't you ever heard of tornado's? You really want to be a mid-westerner?" And I know that's what you're thinking because that's what I thought. And still sometimes think. Because I am deathly afraid of all natural disasters. And because it's, well, Kansas. And the only visual I have in my head of Kansas is from "The Wizard of Oz" which, yes, I realize was filmed on set. But in my head, Kansas is brown, flat, and has devastating tornado's. But in my research I have been pleasantly surprised to find pictures like these of my new town:

 Clinton Lake, right outside of Lawrence

 KU's campus

And there are many people here in my beloved central Pennsylvania town that are from there, or went to school there, or lived there from some reason or another, and I have heard nothing but great things about it.  So I'm starting to feel excited. We love college towns. And we love that we'll be 40 minutes from an airport and a temple (two things that we are currently 3 and 4 hours away from). Traveling to see my family will be much easier. And for those of you who belong to the same church I do, all of the mid-west church sites are within and hour or two (except for Nauvoo, which is about 5 hours away). So you have a free place to stay when you come to see those. We're prepared to love it!

And go KU!!

   

Well folks, it's official. My kids are adorable. And Katie does a great job at making them look that way. These are from the photo shoot she did while we were in UT in December. What started as "Will you take Cora's 1 year old photos?" turned in to "Will you take all the kids photos and go shopping with me and pick out 3 different outfits per child for them to wear in the photos and then design a Christmas card turned New Years card all in the space of 3 days?" And of course she said "yes" because, well, she's my sister...in-law.

 

In other news, we are 95% sure of where we will be living in less than five months. Stay tuned for the official announcement...

11 months...

Baby girl turned 11 months a few days ago. Lest I forget, I need to document some things:

-Cora makes me laugh every day. She's silly and random and already likes to play games. The other day I noticed that she had taken a few pieces of paper out of the garbage, left them on the floor, and crawled away. When I went to go pick them up a few minutes later, she was back and putting them back into the garbage can. She's in to everything and is busy and always makes a mess -- but at least she likes to clean up!
- She's not walking yet but is so close. She stands on her own for long peroids and walks along furniture.

- She still uses her feet to grab things, especially when she's laying on her back.

- She still eats baby food okay, but prefers real food. She loves our morning green smoothies and all fruits. She also loves noodles and yogurt. She's not too fond of veggies or bread or milk (which I know I'm not technically supposed to give her yet, but I cheat a little).

-Cora loves LOVES her brothers. She smothers them with hugs and kisses.

- We'll get her stats next month, but the girl is big for her age (in true Goldie fashion). She's already in 18-24 month clothes.

- She babbles and baby talks all day long -- I'm pretty sure she says "da-da" and "book" in their correct context., maybe, sometimes. ;)

-Her favorite game is to climb to the top of the stairs and yell for me to come and get her. She laughs and laughs and does it over and over. She also loves to play peek-a-boo and she loves books.

Now, some photos:

 In one of her many silly moods...

 Messes, messes...

 My garbage sacks have since found a new home...

 She loves to climb up onto the art table...

 Putting the wipies away...

 My big 11 month old!

...S...I...X....

 My biggest boy, my first born, my little helper, my dude with a 'tude had a birthday today.

Here's the 'tude I'm talking about--

 Wish this wasn't blurry -- anyone want to teach me how to use my camera? Pretty please?

 This is his first birthday where he's had to go to school. He didn't seem to mind but I was totally bummed. I like it when the whole day is dedicated to the birthday person. As it was, I made him pancakes for breakfast, ate lunch with him at school, took him to pick a book after school, watched him open presents, fed him his favorite dinner and dessert, took him to swimming lessons, and forced him to bed. I did let him have the day off of piano and chores, though. And we'll celebrate a bit more this weekend.

 Nick loves games. We have family game night every Sunday evening and he LOVES it!

 Sporting the birthday crown he got at school (and apparantly I let my kids sit on the table when it's their birthday)---

 The boy loves legos! But his favorite present was the huge crane my mom gave him. And of course I don't have a picture of it.

 Here are some random photos of him from the past year.

After much coaxing, he finally talked me into letting him get a buzz cut this summer. Nick loves to be outside, no matter the weather. I finally gave in after watching him sweat buckets in the heat over the summer. I didn't let him keep it but it might be a new summer tradition. I said might.

 Nick learned how to swim over the summer and now he's taking lessons to learn the strokes. He loves any physical activity.

 First jump off of a diving board (this was a huge deal for him. I may have mentioned a time or two or four hundred how he's scared of everything and everyone).

 A rare moment of happiness between the two boys. Someday I hope they like each other for more than 5 minutes a day.

 Nick has fallen in love with baseball over this past year. We went to a Bee's game while in Utah over the summer and he loved it.

 Nick's very into science right now and loves discovering new things.

He loves cotton candy but seems to be sensitive to sugar and gets a stomach ache if he has more than a few bites of something sweet. This is just fine with me and I'm glad he recognizes this and listens to his body.

 It's been a big year for Nick. Last night when I was decorating the house for his birthday I made a list of everything that's happened since he turned 5--

*Right after his 5th birthday he learned how to ride his bike sans training wheels. He LOVES to ride his bike and does so daily. I think it's given his a sense of freedom. The older and more independent Nick gets, the happier (and easier) he is (good for both of us!).
* Nick became a big brother again with the birth of Cora, and he's been such a sweet and attentive brother. Cora loves him and he adores her. He's such a great help to me!
* Nick started piano lessons and has progressed really well. I have to admit that I get so proud when I see him excel at this, but I'm trying not to be "psycho-music-mom". I'm really glad he likes it (most days).
* I also started teaching Nick to read using this book and he's doing great!
* Nick has lost 2 teeth and has 2 more that are loose!
* He's made some huge strides as far as his shyness is concerned. He really enjoys school and his swimming and piano lessons; he even sang and said his part in the primary program this year -- things that I had wondered in the past if I would ever be able to get him to participate in.
* Between the bike, the piano, and the teeth, I feel like we're really out of "little boy" phase and into
"kid" phase. Nick tries really hard to make good choices and do what's asked and expected of him. He has a very strong conscience and wants to please others (except for maybe at bedtime). He's still intense in every way and is learning how to deal with his very strong feelings. I love this boy and am so glad he's mine!

Happy 6th Birthday, Nick!! {photo, of course, by Katie}