Sunday, June 28, 2009

While we waited

Lots has happened since my last post. We did get the townhouse in Kingstowne, which is an area of Alexandria, Virginia. It is a really nice community and we will have access to unlimited playgrounds or tot lots as they are called here, pools, fitness centers and jogging trails. Originally we had ruled out a townhouse because we thought they were too small, but they are surprisingly spacious on the inside. We will be losing some square footage from our house in Kansas, but I think we will be just fine. We may need to downsize a bit, but we probably needed to do that anyhow.

Tomorrow the movers will be here to deliver our stuff from Kansas. I am excited, but dreading the work ahead of me. Nick has to work all day, but thankfully my friend Angie from Kansas will be here helping me for awhile. She lives up in Maryland now, and is in town visiting another friend and offered to stop in and help. I jumped at the chance because moving can be a bit hectic. Every box has to be accounted for on the inventory, and you have to tell the movers where to put everything. It will be fabulous to have help!

Nick and I have been keeping really busy while we have been waiting for our things. Most recently we have been cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. The previous tenants apparently cooked with a lot of oil, because the kitchen was very gross and sticky. It took us hours and hours to clean it up, but it was by far the worst room in the house. The carpets had been cleaned before we moved in so we were thankful for that. It took me awhile to dust this place because it has lots of pretty decorative woodwork. It only took a few days to get it up to our standard of clean, and then we were able to enjoy our weekend.

Over the past two weeks, Nick and I have been trying to do things here in the DC area that would be harder to do with small children. We figured while the kids are with our parents would be the best time, because who knows how long it will take to find a good babysitter. We have visited downtown DC a few times. Our first trip was an adventurous one. Our car got towed!!!! You would think that as seasoned travelers, we would have know better to read the signs fully. We thought parking was free after 4pm. So we paid the meter up until 4. Apparently, after 4pm you get towed! There is so much traffic here that they open up some of the parking areas into traffic lanes during rush hour. It wasn't too difficult to retrieve our car. We also received a $100 dollar ticket. So we figured we paid about $33 dollars an hour to park in a prime location! We have learned our lesson-always read the parking signs completely!

One Saturday Nick and I visited Arlington National Cemetery. He had been there recently with his boss to see the Iraq/Afghanistan area to pay their respects to their fallen comrades from the 1st Infantry Division. But he didn't get to see much else on his trip. We visited the grave sites of the Kennedy's and also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The cemetery is definitely overwhelming.

The next Sunday we visited the Holocaust Memorial Museum. It was a very sobering experience. There isn't much to write except it is just very troubling how cruel humans can be to one another.

On a lighter note, we went in to Old Town Alexandria several times. There are lots of cute shops, restaurants and bars in this area of town. It is right along the river, and there is a festive air about the place. On Father's Day we enjoyed a nice meal at the Fish Market. Another night we had Thai food, something we couldn't do with Ben in tow (Sophie would probably love it!). We've also been for Indian food, one of my favorites. We hadn't had Indian food since Germany, and it did not disappoint. (We just couldn't seem to find an Indian restaurant in Kansas). Last night we decided to celebrate our anniversary a little early, and we dined at the Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant. It has been a place we have always wanted to go, but never had the chance. It was a bit pricey, but it was very, very delicious. Dessert was our favorite, and I probably would have licked my plate clean had I not been holding Addie.

This morning, we attended Mass in downtown DC at the National Basilica of the Shine to the Immaculate Conception. It was a beautiful cathedral and a beautiful service. We will definetly take our kids back, and visitors too!

We miss our kids terribly, and cannot wait until we see them on Friday. Life has just not been the same without them. I have never been away from either Ben or Sophie for more than one night. We are so thankful to our parents for taking such good care of them while we have been gone. We really couldn't have been able to house hunt and get set up with three kids in tow! We call them frequently, but they are usually too busy to talk to us. They have been having so much fun of their own. They have been swimming, to baseball games, to the zoo, to breakfast on the farm where they got to give a bottle to baby calfs. This weekend they went camping out at Nick's Aunt Amy and Uncle Kevin's house. I am glad that they are so well adjusted. I think Sophie has been giving everyone a run for their money though. She is currently infatuated with sticking things up her nose! Cheerios, corn, an onion and a piece of a hamburger to name a few. Don't worry, Grandma and Oma, we are on our way soon!

I hope to post some pictures of our new place soon! I will probably add some pictures to this post soon also, Blogger is giving me a bit of trouble right now.....

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Waiting.....

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update. Nick, Addie and I are still staying at Fort Belvoir temporary housing while we find a place to live. Actually, we have found a place, but it is taking forever to get the lease drawn up and to get the final stamp of approval from the owner of the townhouse we will be renting. Hopefully it will go through today or tomorrow, otherwise we may have to start the whole search over again. Needless to say, we are frustrated. I think it was easier and faster to buy our house in Kansas, that it has been to lease a place in the DC area.



Last Wednesday we started looking on our own at houses that we had found on the Internet. We were sure that we were going to find a nice house with a nice yard with an easy commute for Nick. Ha ha! How wrong we were! The first house was very nicely done, had a great Turkish owner (who talked to us forever) and was in a great location. But, it was tiny, tiny. We kept wishing it would have just one more room because there was no way we could cram ourselves into it. We left that house hopeful of finding something similar but bigger. No luck. In fact, all that we could find were 'Moldy oldies' (just as you advised Marie). I actually cried after we went into the last house. It was so awful inside, I don't think I would have let my dog stay there! That night we called our friends Marie and John, who we knew in Germany, and are now living here. Marie had lots of great advice, which helped us a lot on Thursday. On Thursday we switched gears and started looking at townhouses. There are everywhere here, are usually well maintained and close to the commuter lines, and are surprisingly spacious on the inside. We had originally ruled out a townhouse because of the size of the yards, but after Wednesday's tours of the moldy oldies, we decided a newer townhouse was the way to go. There was actually a great unit for rent just across the street from Marie, but by the time we called on it, it had already been leased. We were disappointed, but continued our search with the help of a realtor this time. To shorten things up, we looked at 5 units, and the one we chose was a clear winner. This unit has three bedrooms all on the same floor (sometimes a rarity in townhouses), three and a half baths, a finished walkout basement, a separate dining room, family room, eat in kitchen and a garage. It even has a small fenced backyard for Smokey. It is not as newly updated as Marie and John's place, but it really is a nice space and should suit us well. Now, if only the realtor will call us with some good news.

We'll keep you all updated as we have more news to share. With any luck we will have a roof over our heads soon and have our things from Kansas delivered before we go get the kids in Michigan next week!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

We're not in Kansas anymore......

That's right, the Cook Family is on the move! Things have been a little busy lately, and we haven't been able to post. The movers came last Monday and Tuesday, and miraculously packed and loaded our house in just two days. We spent the remainder of the week sleeping at a hotel and working on the house during the day. We were sad to say goodbye to 517 Tallgrass, but bigger and better things await us.

We are currently in Illinois, and will be to Michigan this afternoon. We've split our trip into two travel days since we have three kids now and our 100 pound dog! 14 hours is just out of reach for a one day trip. As usual, Sophie is not happy to be trapped in her car seat for hours on end. Benny is doing a great job entertaining himself in the far back with movies and coloring books. Little Addie slept the entire trip yesterday which made us very happy! And finally, Smokey is great but nervous, especially since he was boarded at the vet all week and has no idea what is going on. We're hoping today's trip goes smoothly......

Our plan is to spend a few days with our parents, and then Nick, Addie and I will head to the DC area to search for a house to rent. Hopefully we will find one quickly, get our things delivered and be back to Michigan by the 4th of July to retrieve our children and visit with family and friends. Our plans are all up in the air until we know more about Nick's schedule. He starts orientation for his fellowship on the 22nd and starts grad school at George Washington on the 7th of July.

We can't wait to see some of you in the next few weeks!