new blog

Hey all,

I figured since we didn't live in Short Hills anymore, Sideways in Short Hills didn't really make sense as a blog title anymore. So I direct you to the new blog:

HERDS

thoughts/update/keeping everybody in the loop

Don't really have tons of time. I am not even remotely done unpacking. But thought I'd throw some words down.

We somehow made it through the packing/loading/cleaning/driving/cleaning/registering/immunizing/unloading/unpacking. We are still buried deep in boxes and packing material, but are slowly making headway.

The kids, with the exception of Rian, started school today. Rian was short a vaccination shot (every state has different rules) so they wouldn't let her start until she got that done. She will start tomorrow. Both Sammy and Hank were nervous, but are going to such fabulous schools that I know they will both have a great day and make tons of new friends (fingers crossed).

Went to church yesterday. That always sucks. I hate being the new family. Kept hoping to turn around and see the Reynolds, or the Leishmans or the O'Neils.

Rian was back in the seminary swing this morning. We aren't 5 minutes from the church anymore, so that will be an adjustment, and they start 15 minutes earlier here. That 5:30 alarm was a killer.

We are SLOWLY getting used to the trains going by the house 24 hours a day. Some are louder than others and I am trying to figure out what makes the difference. Not loving getting woken up in the middle of the night by thundering train sounds.

Can't wait to finish unpacking so that I can get out there and get to know our new town.

Moving

We found a rental house in Pittsburgh.



It's been all redone inside and is quite nice. What you can't see behind the house are train tracks that have fairly regular trains going by. What you can't see across the street and 4 doors down is an electrical power lines "hub" that we are fairly sure will give us all cancer if we have to stay longer than 6 months.

Wish us luck as we move next week, that our NJ house will sell and that we will find something we love in Pittsburgh so we can park it there for a while.

Sammy turned 12 (2 weeks ago)

It's a sad day when your 12 year old daughter has to remind you that you didn't document her birthday on the blog like all the other years. She pretty much got shafted this year, and this just adds to that feeling! Sorry Sammy!!!!!!!



We couldn't find the special birthday pin. So Hank made her a sign for her to wear.

We had an open house that day so we couldn't decorate until late and she couldn't have a special home made meal (we had to do that the next day).

We tried to make it special by driving into the city and having lunch at Roy's, one of our favorite places in our old 'hood. Hey did you know it's not even there anymore? Yea, we didn't either. That stunk. Plus we got stuck in crazy city traffic and ended up at a perfectly adequate chinese place for dinner. So, it just wasn't feeling too special for our favorite 12 year old!




BUT, we found a delicious cake at a bakery in the WFC, came home and quickly decorated and played some fun games.



And cash from grandparents is ALWAYS a hit!!!

We love you Sammy. We are sorry that your birthday was not as special as we usually try to make it.
You are a wonderful kid. I couldn't ask for a more helpful daughter, and your siblings couldn't ask for a better sister! You rock!!

not dead

Putting something up so that people know we aren't dead.

Life is kicking our collective butts.

The kids are trying to keep up with the game at school.

Ed is getting up to speed at Dicks. He is loving the new job and the new challenges. Plus, not having to talk about fair lending and credit cards is a joy. I got to see his office and it is quite nice.

We thought we had sold the house. But obviously we accepted an offer from a crazy person. So now we are back on the market. We get steady traffic but I'm not sure who is actually shopping for a house right before the holiday season, it seems like most people are just being curious. So my hopes of selling before Thanksgiving/Christmas are dwindling.

So we are looking at possibly finding a place to rent in Pittsburgh. Being apart is just getting harder and harder. Everyone feels a bit out of whack, which is never good. We will see if we can find something that works.

So, not dead. There's your proof.

fester

Once upon a time, there was a crazy uncle who lived in our basement (and no, it wasn't Kent).
He scared the kids and made funny noises all the time. And when he was really into it, he could really heat up the place.
We called him Uncle Fester.
"What's making those banging noises? " says the friend at our house for a slumber party.
"Oh, that's just Uncle Fester, nothing to be afraid of", says us.
"Who is Uncle Fester? I want to see him", says the brave friend.
"Ok, but don't say we didn't warn you"
That is when the curious are introduced to the 30+ year old boiler that we got to keep when we bought the house.



Big, huge, inefficient, pain in the rear.
So we have sent Uncle Fester off to the old boiler retirement home.
Now we have "The Incredible Hulk" (cause, ya know, he's green and awesome and quiet?)



Much less scary.

And hey, if you know anybody who is looking to move to Short Hills, NJ (home of the #1 schools in the state and the best deli this side of NYC), point them to our house. We are finally on the market!

pittsburgh part 1

*Only had my phone for pictures this trip.
This was taken at the top of the Incline.

We moved Ed to Pittsburgh this weekend.
He starts his new job today.
The last time we moved (3 years ago) we lived apart for 6 months.
Let's pray that it doesn't last that long this time.
We spent the weekend house shopping. Which you think is going to be fun, and it is when you find "the one". But when you don't it's really just a bit of a pain.
What we've learned...ward shop first. It helps you focus.



We tried to do some fun stuff this trip to Pittsburgh. We rode the Incline which is an old rail car type thing that used to transport people who lived on top of this hill outside Pittsburgh down to the city to get to work. It's basically a train car on tracks that are on an incline (duh) except the car stays level as you ride down the face of the hill. People still use it today, but it's also a bit of a touristy thing.
You can see Heinz field behind with all the yellow seats.
That place was PACKED full of people Sunday as we were driving home. They love the Steelers in that town!



Rian was pretty sick of her family at this point in the trip.



This is on a porch swing at one of the houses we were looking at. I thought it was a precious moment.