Moving to Kansas

Life really isn't something you can plan for, at least when you are a Podany. Bob was contacted a few months back by a recruiter, which happens often. This one was in Kansas and didn't give up. They were looking for someone with Bob's experience/background willing to work in Topeka. That peaked our attention as we always have said we'd like to live in Lawrence, only 30 min away. Well long story short - after a long winter, a lot of work travel, and another baby on the way an exhausted manager at a job with a dim future called the recruiter back. The job is good, the commute is shorter and the grandparents are much closer. We are looking forward to going on vacation someplace other than Kansas in the future! Oh and don't forget the KU sports! 

We headed to Kansas quickly after the offer was final to look for a home. Right now we are under contract and hoping that inspections/appraisals go well! Closing is at the end of May, so as soon as school is out Cedric and I will be headed to Kansas! 

The company is covering the moving and packing so hopefully it will be a fairly easy move. Can't be harder than moving countries while pregnant! 

We will be sad to leave New England and the Boston area but it is time to move on. I sometimes wonder what our life would be like if we stayed. I think it could have been nice but much harder than it needed to be. Right now, the best thing for us and our family is to be in Kansas, so Kansas is where we are going! Will it be the best place forever? Maybe, only time will tell. For now Bob and I can satisfy our itchy feet with more travel :) It's our ten year wedding anniversary next summer after all :)

Side story: We flew in to KC and I gathered the bags while Bob went for the rental car. I explained to Cedric that we were borrowing a car for the weekend and daddy has gone to fetch it. 

When Bob pulled up Cedric threw a fit. He wanted to borrow the airport security car instead. We took some photos with it to remember it's awesomeness. You know a toddler likes something when he not only agrees to be photographed but smiles and stands still.

Museums

During the long and cold winter we escaped to many museums. While in Wichita we visited the Exploration Place. Cedric enjoyed it but I think he will really be into it this summer, he was just a little on the young side for some of the exhibits. 

For Christmas Cedric received a membership to the Boston Children's Museum and the New England Aquarium. Bob and Cedric went many times to the children's museum on the weekends. He loved running around on the light up floor, playing with the water tables and shopping in the community store. And playing with the train table. And the construction zone. And the golf ball room. Basically the entire place!

It had been about six months since we'd been to the aquarium and luckily Cedric was no longer apprehensive  I think it was all those visits to Petco, visiting the fish and mice while I bought dog food. 

He even had the courage to pet the starfish in the touch tank, which he now loves. One of our recent trips he finally touched a stingray, though he is still worried about touching a shark. He is getting better at putting his hand in the water, so that is something :)

Here is Cedric's FAVORITE part of the aquarium. It is a wall of moon jelly polyps. He likes moving the magnifier around but I think he likes to see the little jellies too. He will take a turn, get back in a line of 3-5 kids, take another turn and repeat. I've seen him take over 5 turns, waiting patiently each time. Goofy kid. 

Winter 2014-15

Winter was long and hard this year. Boston had record snowfall and we were stuck inside for almost 8 weeks. We found ways to pass the time though :)

Before the snow we celebrated Thanksgiving at Cedric's school, the Preschool Experience. I was very grateful to have Cedric in preschool twice a week, it was good for him to get out of the house!

For my birthday we went to the Top of the Hub for brunch. It was overcast so there was no view but the food was great and Cedric behaved well. 

Cedric loved celebrating Bob and my birthdays this year. Any excuse for a cupcake and fire!

And then came the snow. I can't remember the totals but it was basically three weeks in a row, starting the last week in January. Blizzard with 20+ inches and then two blizzard-like 15+ inches. 

 It was more snow than anyone knew what to do with. The roads became more narrow with each snowfall. Parking lots were filled with mounds of snow. The snow was well over the dogs back, making walks and potty breaks near impossible. 

At first we tried bringing the snow inside. The snow wasn't the only problem, the temps were staying at 20 degrees and below. It was too cold and too deep to play in. That doesn't mean Cedric wouldn't try to play as we went to and from the car. 

 Don't forget the best thing about winter, coming inside to a nice hot chocolate! Cedric really enjoyed it, he's a chocolate boy!

Overall, it was a very long and boring winter. Cedric became fond of going to the grocery store. The new Wegman's has a train over the dairy section. It's hard to leave sometimes :)

We also spent some quality time at pet stores. Any excuse to get out of the house. 

 We tried to make the most of it, going out at least once a day and playing with our Christmas presents. 

 

But most of the time we had to find ways to have fun at home. 

We are SOOOOO glad that this winter is over!

Christmas 2014

Well, my neighbors are finally taking down their Christmas lights so I figured I should probably get to blogging about our Christmas. Especially since little Cedric had three. 

Before we left for Kansas we tried to get in the Christmas spirit by putting up the Christmas tree. Cedric LOVED the Christmas tree. 

 We baked Christmas cookies for a cookie swap with our playgroup friends. Cedric really enjoyed baking. We've been doing more cooking together this winter and Cedric loves helping. 

At the Wellesley Library we were able to visit a Lego Christmas village with working train. He was engaged for near two hours!

We also visited a Christmas Tree forest and winter village at a local park. Cedric was really into Christmas tree's this year. 

 Christmas #1: Grandma and Grandpa's house in Leawood

Highlight gift: A very large crane truck

Christmas #2: Great Grandma's house in Kingman
Highlight gift: Tool box. He still loves "fixing" things around the house :)

Christmas #3: Grammy and Grandpa's house in Wichita
Highlight gift: iPad. Though we hide it from him most of the time he really loves that thing. It has made car and plane trips much easier!

Cedric also loved this cool racing car but it lives at Grammy's house so I couldn't count it as a "favorite".

We managed to squeeze in a little fun of our own too, an afternoon in Lawrence and a KU basketball game. 

It was a busy Christmas and Cedric loved every minute of it!