Change isn't a bad thing....

....I keep telling myself that. I know with this change I'll miss my park by the house, my first bedroom, my favorite daycare lady Katie and my friends, but mom and dad keep saying change isn't a bad thing. Sometimes through change, comes great opportunity. I'm not to sure about it yet, but I'm along for the ride and being the best sport I can. It all started about a month ago.....

...mom was having conversations with some nice people at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. They approached her with an opportunity that she and dad said was too good to pass up. It involved selling a house in CO and relocating the entire family to the Minneapolis, MN area.

However, the "opportunity" that comes with this move is a great career opportunity for mom, dad gets to work for the same company remotely and start his own business (a dream of his) and the chance to be closer to family....when I say closer, I mean closer! Instead of a 14 or 26 hour drive to see Grandma and Grandpa, I will now only be 6 and 12 hours from family....that's a really big difference to a 2 year old. It also puts us 3 hours from a cabin on a lake which has been in dad's family for a long time. I got to go for a boat ride there last year and I plan on practicing my fishing and water skiing skills there next year.....okay, maybe I'll start with trying to catch minnows.

I got to fly on a plane last weekend to see our new "home" and it was a pretty good trip. We found a place to rent for the first year, visited the zoo, went for some runs around lakes and saw a few friends. I convinced mom and dad I am not a restaurant kind of kid....I prefer eating at home in my own chair. Let's just say, I'll need a bit of remedial training before any important dinners in restaurants. I really liked all the trees, heck I made it a point to tell mom and dad all about them when I spotted one....and let me tell you there are thousands up there. I also saw fish, they were great! I wonder if mom and dad would let me have one?!

In the past month we have been really busy. The house went on the market and we got an offer in 5 days. Mom and dad say that is blessing because that's a big stressor to have from 16 hours away. We sold the pop-up camper, but mom and dad promised another one within a year or two because we had lots of fun with it. Then over the weekend we sold my swingset. They said it would cost more to move it than to get one there. Mom says Grandpa and Dad might be putting one together when we get to MN. I'm a little excited at the thought of helping them put it together. (sorry Grandpa, just a forwarning what you're in for the first weekend)

I think mom and dad are too calm right now about everything. I'm guessing it's all happening so fast that they haven't had time to react or really process everything. Mom jokes and says, "they say the most stressful times of your life are when you get married, move, start new jobs and have children.....I wonder if the stress is minimized by doing 3 of the 4 at the same time?" She and dad agree they will miss the beautiful mountain views, peaceful morning runs and all there friends. When they came to Colorado each of them were single and living life. They now say it's time for a new chapter as they leave married to each other, with 3 dogs, 1 kid (me) and yea, one on the way.

I've been a good trooper through it all really. I like to help pack boxes. Over the weekend I packed my "special" cupboards in the kitchen that I claimed as mine.

What else is happening? Well, I like to talk non-stop now. I am obsessed with Elmo, Airplanes, Trucks (any kind), Slides/Swings, and building towers with my blocks! I turn 2 in 2 weeks...I wonder what kind of cupcakes mom will make this year? I'm hoping for strawberry flavored ones!

Sorry for a long update, but it's way overdue. I promise I will put pictures up later. We have some that don't include boxes.

I better run, the moving truck comes on Friday and I have a list of things to do before then.

Love - Madeline