the daddy monster.

Carly loves running from the daddy monster.

She gets so riled up, she can hardly stay standing.

And she really loves getting caught by the daddy monster.

Enjoy the part at the very end when she tries to run out the window and smacks her head on the glass. A lot of crying took place afterwards, but its hilarious.

{Oh, and enjoy our new kitchen floor, which used to be carpet and old white linoleum}

~

P.S.

Oooo . . . and a sneak peek at our bedroom.

Things are coming together.

It's starting to look like a home.

going green.

Since Chris had a break from his super-exciting orientation on Friday, Carly and I journeyed up to campus to check things out. MSU's campus is a lot bit beautiful, nestled in the middle of a forest with a river running through it. We walked the path along the river from Chris's building to the bookstore. It was a beautiful morning in a beautiful place.

I am loving Michigan. I can't really explain. Knoxville was a nice place. We made some wonderful lifelong friends there, and it was a great two years. But it always felt like a step along the way. Chris's Masters degree was a good one, but he probably could have gotten a similar degree at a few other locations. Why did the Lord take us to Tennessee? I think I know now. Chris's thesis advisor at UT was a MSU graduate. Shortly after our ultrasound with Carly, Chris felt strongly that he wanted to do research on the positive effects of exercise on pregnant women. He talked to his advisor about it, and the advisor's advisor at MSU (following me?) happened to be one of the leading researchers on exercise and pregnancy. And he happened to be coming to UT to give a guest lecture. Chris met him then, and then applied to MSU unsure whether or not he would get in to study with such a distinguished researcher. But he did. And we are here. Where I know we are supposed to be. In a place that I feel more at home in than I have in a long time. This is the place. Tennessee was our path to reach Michigan. We wouldn't have found it any other way.

I feel very blessed.

sideways stories.

We went to the nearby park the other day and, I kid you not, our Wild Thing climbed up the entire slide all on her own. She is wild. And strong. She didn't like going down, but she sure loved going up.

I just love this. Proof of the aforementioned old bib she likes to wear.

We call it her Superbib.

~

We went to a little get-together last night for Chris's program. We met a great deal of wonderful people, as well as some llamas, sheep, and bunnies. A nice thing about this program is it is a bit like an extended family. We are excited to be a part of it. And Carly was a huge hit. She always is. Even at Lowe's today the child walked up and down the isles knocking things off the shelves and smiling and waving at her adoring fans as they told her how pretty she was. Anyway, we're at this party last night and out of the blue this girl asks "So what ward are you guys in?". Ummmm, where am I again? At the Michigan State party, right? I'm a bit thrown off, but I awkwardly answer her question. Later the story comes together. She saw my CTR ring, had heard someone joking about Chris going to a bar, heard we went to BYU, I was from Idaho, and we are younger and married and have a kid. This girl is not dumb.

Anyway, turns out she is LDS as well, just returned from a mission, and is in two classes with Chris.

Its nice to have that connection, even if she is a Redwings fan.

~

Oh, and how about a girl from my graduating class is in our new Ward here?

I saw her in sacrament meeting and couldn't believe it.

Small world.

~

Our home is slowly but surely coming together.

There will be pictures when its all done in about a month.

~

Its 2 am.

What in the world.

~

Have I mentioned yet I'm pretty sure I'm a Minnesota Twins fan?

As an Idahoan I pretty much feel like I can pick any team I very well please to be a fan of, though I do avoid bandwagon teams at all cost (Yankees, Laker, you know.)

As for the Twins?

You see, we started getting to know each other a while before the All-Star break, and everything is going so well. Our relationship has been getting pretty serious and all the sudden I'm DVRing their games when on TV and watching the dots on ESPN.com when they're not. They are so fun. They have great stories. I like a team with great stories and nice boys. Thats how I fell for the Penguins.

A few final signs that showed our relationship was fate?

Their brand new field is Target Field, and Target happens to be my favorite store on earth.

Their All-Star catcher, Joe Mauer Power Hour, well I could write a whole blog on him, but most important, other than he only struck out once his entire high school career, is that his middle name is Patrick.

Joseph Patrick Mauer.

And my boy Sid?

Sidney Patrick Crosby.

And my eternal comp?

Christopher Patrick C.

Its fate, you see.

And it doesn't hurt that Mauer Power looks like this:

I'm just saying.

~

Did you know my husband is a super hero?

I always knew.

But he keeps reminding me.

Like how its now 2:15 am and I'm still blogging and he is doing the dishes.

I won quite the prize when I caught him in my snare.

I sure love him

~

I'm freezing.

It gets cold here in Michigan at night.

Quite the phenomenon.

~

Goodnight.

Or morning.

xoxox.

my toodler.

Stacey, remember when you said "toodler" in your Facebook status?

I always call Carly my toodler now.

Thank you.

~

Yesterday was fabulous.

Today was insane.

I'm tired, and the boxes won't go away.

Anyone want to babysit my hyperactive but beautiful toddler so I can get a few things done?

~

~

Carly is going through a clingy phase.

Its been going on since we began major packing in Kville.

She wants to be held all the time.

And if you leave a room she cries like you're going to pack her in box.

I'm trying to involve her in the unpacking of her room so she sees this is home.

It mostly results in a major mess.

~

But she loves sitting at the table and working on her computer.

She loves to pull the space bar off and laugh while I snap it back on.

She loves yogurt.

She screams in joy when we give it to her.

She loves this old bib from when Chris was a baby.

She wears it like a sash.

She loves, and I mean loves, being outside.

She brings me my shoes and points to the door when she wants to go out.

And its often.

She likes hitting rocks together because apparently it makes a cool noise.

She loves, and I mean loves, doggies.

She points and says "Dah-eee!"

~

~

She is so independent.

Just walks away from us without a worry.

When we were still in Indiana she was out in the garage pushing her umbrella stroller around (another favorite hobby). I decided to use reverse psychology on her to get her to come inside so I said "Goodbye Carly!" and waved goodbye and started to walk inside. She waved goodbye to me, and continued pushing the stroller out toward the street.

Crazy girl.
She is so cool.

~

P.S. We got new flooring in our entryway, bathroom, and kitchen today.

I'm a big fan.

~

xoxo.

lady of the lake.

So, we live in Michigan.

Facts about the state of Michigan you are probably dying to know:

• 
  
  Michigan has the longest freshwater shoreline of any political subdivision in the world
• 
  
  A person in the state is never more than six miles from a natural water source or more than 87.2 miles from a Great Lakes shoreline.
• 
  
  Only state to consist entirely of two peninsulas
• 
  
  The lower peninsula is often called the "mitten", and one can show where they live by pointing to the corresponding location on their hand (we live just to the right of the middle of the palm).
• 
  
  The Upper Peninsula is called "The U.P" (which I learned in person today)
• 
  
  One can get flipped off for driving a foreign-made car (I happen to drive a Honda).

Facts about the C Family living in Michigan:

• 
  
  Chris has approximately 7 days of orientation ahead (seriously? how much orientating does one really need).
• 
  
  Erin has approximately 7 months (or it feels like it) of unpacking, organizing, and decorating to do.
• 
  
  Carly would eat approximately 7 rice krispy treats a day if she was allowed to.

Ways the C Family has upgraded since the move:

• 
  
  Borrowing an extra old car that Chris gets to drive to campus (he is lucky . . . its a Ford). Merci, Pat and Lisa!
• 
  
  Found a beautiful new desk for 50% off.
• 
  
  Found a beautiful new TV stand for 50% off.
• 
  
  Got DVR (wooohooooo!) and can rewind live TV (already 30 minutes behind in the Twins game).
• 
  
  Now have stairs, though with the laundry in the basement and the bedrooms upstairs I'm starting to wonder if thats really so great.

Things I love so far:

• 
  
  Our new place. Can't wait to decorate it. Too bad all the boxes have to be unpacked and stuffs put away before I can do that.
• 
  
  Our ward. We went to church today, and it looks like we have a seriously fabulous ward full of young student families. We enjoyed our first dinner with friends tonight, and look forward to another one next Sunday.
• 
  
  The weather. Its chilly in the morning (kindof). And you can go outside in the middle of the afternoon and not want to die. I do however, reserve the right to hate the weather in January.
• 
  
  The occasional Fargo accent. Very charming.
• 
  
  Michigan State University's campus. Seriously beautiful. 

Life is good. 

famous potatoes.

{At the risk of doing this way too late,

a few pictures from our most recent wonderful western escape.}

~

Relaxation.

Idaho Falls Temple.

La Petite Princess.

Big Splasher.

Summer band concerts in the park.

Unsuccessful attempt at family pictures.

Upon our arrival, we made a list of things we wanted to do while there.

Wouldn't you know it, we crossed every one of them off.

A non-comprehensive version of this list:

-Temple, Target, and Chuck-a-rama in Idaho Falls

-Thrift store shopping

-TJ Maxx

-Costco (its a tradition!)

-Swimming (Carly)

-Zoo

-Watch Avatar

~

See how busy we were?

It was a grand visit to the land of famous potatoes.

green-footed monster.

try to tell me she isn't the cutest thing you've ever seen.

i dare you.

~

We said goodbye to Knoxville on Friday. On Thursday we packed up the truck in the humid heat with the help of some friends from the Ward. Carly and I went to her final doctor's appointment, where her sweet doctor said how much she would miss us. I walked out wondering if there would be any other pediatrician I would ever enjoy more. During the entirety of our preparation to leave Knoxville I never cried. Until I drove away from that doctors office. Go figure.

~

Thursday night we cleaned. And cleaned. And cleaned. I officially decided we are growing old in this townhouse in Michigan, because I never want to move again. Ever.

~

Friday morning we said goodbye to our apartment. I sat on the floor and cried. But as we drove North out of Knoxville, I felt only excitement and peace. A good sign, I would say.

~

[Carly certainly loved the wide-open spaces]

~

For now we are in Indiana, as we can't get into our new place until Thursday night. It is nice to have these final days of nothingness before we start our new life, but I feel like we have been waiting, waiting, waiting so long. I can't wait to get home.

~

xoxo.