Our new place

Amidst a lighting storm, David unpacked our 16 foot Penske truck into our new home here on Key Biscayne--the first key off of the Miami shoreline. After a "not so bad" 12 hour drive from Columbia, the kids were wild. Ella Joy slipped outside and split open her chin while chasing Noah around the garden. David rushed to the CVS to buy some supplies. We taped her chin and then continued to unpack. The first few days were insane but now order has been restored and we are completely in love with our new little home.

Thanks to my dad for driving my mom down and my mom for staying the first week. She helped tons by watching the kids so David and I could go do car registration, licensing, and other stuff that would have been miserable with the kids. We took a trip to IKEA which was great. Noah loved the childcare center so much he asked if we could "come back tomorrow." We went to the beach which is perfect for kids because it has very calm, clear water, the pool that is just about 50 yards from our house, and the park that is amazing with climbing toys I've never seen before and a water play area so when we get hot we can get wet. My mom made her awesome coconut key lime pie that I just can't stop thinking about and many super delicious meals. David wishes she would just move in. So do I. Thanks mom for everything!

So far we have met some wonderful people. In the first 30 minutes of arrival we met Terry, Mauricio and their children. They are a wonderful family from Italy. They lived here 2 years ago then moved to Madrid and then moved back to the island because they loved it so much. I am so grateful for them. They live 2 doors from us. Noah and Ricardo get along great. Their favorite thing to do--rummaging through the junkyard to find treasures. (Its not really a junkyard just where everyone in our complex puts there trash however people throw away all kinds of nice things. They had a blast breaking open an old computer and finding the mother board that is now beautifully displayed in our family room.) Ella Joy and Virginia play well together too. Its really great having a friend so close. We have swapped babysitting so we can run errands alone and we are planning on swapping date nights as well. Mauricio travels during the week so at night when David is studying and the kids are in bed Terry and I hang out on our back patios and chat.

Nona and Peter, who are also from Italy, live right next door. They are wonderful! Our first day here they made homemade pizza for us. So good! And then on Ella Joy's birtday, Nona brought over a homemade lemon cake for her. I was a little worried about who we would share a wall with having 3 wild children running, screaming, crying throughout the day but they have told me that they can't hear us. Thank goodness for concrete walls.

So far we are loving it! We feel so grateful we found such a small safe family friendly community to live in. Everyone walks or bikes to the stores, beach, and park. People are friendly, polite, and from all over the world. Singing from my all time favorite movie (picture red curly hair):

I think I'm gonna like it heeeeeeeeeeeeeeere!

Cousins

So sweet

So silly

1 day apart

2 months apart

It was so much fun spending the month of June at Papa Dean's house. Noah had a blast with Josh and Krista--they spent most of their time in their forts, clubhouse, and swimming. Ella Joy and Smith loved chasing each other around the house. Stillwell and Julia were so cute together.

Forever friends

Rachel and Maria traveled to SC for a spend the night farewell celebration at Papa Dean's. We had a great time hanging out by the pool and letting the kids play. Here are the 11 children that the 3 of us created. Pretty amazing! We love these guys so much and although it is hard to say goodbye we know we will always stay in touch.

Noah, Chrisopther, Matthew, Taylor, Talmadge, Tiergan, Lauren, Ella Joy, Julia, Ethan, Jackson


We were trying out the Ergo on Julia but Ella Joy insisted on hopping in

David is Graduating, again

We celebrated yet another graduation. So far I have seen David graduate highschool, undergrad, med school, and now residency. He has worked, studied, and prayed to get where he is and I am so proud of him. We are so grateful for our time at Wake Forest. We were surrounded by wonderful people who made life fun and we will miss everyone so much.

I just realized I am starting to sound like Ella Joy. Everyday since we left Winston-Salem she tell me several times a day in her very high voice, "I miss my house soooo much." It breaks my heart.

Truly our 4 years in NC were amazing. We made wonderful memories and lifetime friends.



Ophthalmology girls with our basil plants compliments of the eye center.
We take what we can get.



David graduating. Sorry the pictures are blurry but at least we kind of captured the moment

Proud dad

Proud wife

11 year enagagement day commemoration kiss
June 16,1998 was the day David asked me to marry him.
We like to celebrate each year.
So this was our moment since we are living in different states.
Short but worth the 6 hour trip.

May Happenings

View from the tip of Key Biscayne

Driving from downtown Miami to Key Biscayne

David's new workplace

Our back patio and garden
This is what I fell in love with

We found the cutest, little town home on the most beautiful island outside of Miami. It is a 10 minute walk to the beach, 4 blocks from Noah's school, 3 blocks to the Winn-Dixie. David will be about 20 minutes from work. David and I fell in love with this place as we saw moms biking to the grocery store pulling their children behind, children walking home from school, beautiful beaches, community pools, and Sir Pizza. We are looking forward to our 2 year island adventure.

Julia started sitting up last week
Here just smiling and looking cute

Ella Joy has struggled with all the change in her 2 year world--new baby, sick baby, weeks at Grandma Christie's, selling the house, moving out of the house, potty training, paci departures. She is a little off and we are all just waiting for life to be normal and maybe she'll come back. Until then we will take pictures of her sleeping so we can remember how much we love her.

Sweet Noah. Yes, sweet. He has really grown up this past year. He no longer is my most difficult child, Ella Joy has filled the vacancy quite well. For the most part he listens and is helpful with the girls and so much fun to hang out with. He has a great sense of humor. This month he won 3rd place in the Chess tournament at his school. I have to say I was so proud of him.

Anyways this is our farewell to our sweet little house, we love you!

I Need A Madsen

I saw this ad while browsing on one of my favorite blogs and got so excited!

As most of you know we are moving to Miami in July. We found a townhome on a beautiful little island called Key Biscayne. Everything is super close. Noah's school is 4 blocks away, the grocery store just around the corner, and the beach just a 10 minute walk. I just imagined strapping Ella Joy and Julia in the bucket, Noah speeding along side me on his rollerblades as we take a quick trip over to Winn-Dixie for some dinner neccesities. So check them out! Maybe you'll get just as excited! I just love this sky blue one. Its beautiful!!!!

Click on the icon to see more.

P.S. To my few but oh so faithful friends: I promise to update soon. May has been a mayhem of Miami, moving, future marriages, napping anywhere, chess club victories, and sitting up for the first time. Lots of fun pics to come. Right now I'm going to sleep on my air matress thankfully to gracious friends, not the floor. As soon as I get a night to myself I will update...hopefully this week.

Happy Easter

Evidently the Easter Bunny took a detour through Ella Joy's room looking for some candy.