Back in "The Lou"

We unloaded our truck about a week and a half ago, and I have to say we're doing pretty well.  The move couldn't have gone smoother - the wonderful people of Fishers of Men in Sugar Land were absolutely amazing in their help both physically and financially.  God has blessed us through them well beyond any expectations we had a year ago.  Leaving them was just about as hard as leaving California.  I never thought we would be so loved for who we are, and how we live our lives.  I wish I had the words to express how amazing that feeling is ... but I'm just not sure I can explain it.  You'll just have to take my word for it!
Now we're back in St Louis, living on campus.  We are right next door to our very good friends the Schmidts and we've shared enough meals to joke about living in our own little commune.  Kaitlyn and Ethan (5) are figuring out how to get along, but boy are they demonstrating forgiveness!  They'll figure it out soon enough, and in the mean time they are giving us adults plenty of practice mediating.  Daniel (3) is excited to be around all the kids playing and is so much fun now and Katy (19mo) and Christine are getting along really well.  Christine has now added her to the very short list of people she will hug and kiss without being asked.  Kaitlyn is the only other one on that list.  Mommy and Daddy didn't even make the cut!  We're excited to spend lots of time with them this year.  Our other friends are scheduled to move in during the next two weeks which will provide several more little girls running around here.  It's an odd feeling - kind of going backwards - but we're going to make it a special year that we can remember as a time spent with lifelong friends who are really more like family.
I start work in one week and have two weeks of before school meetings before the students return.  I'm excited that the commute is only 5 miles, and my new boss sounds nice.  I've been so blessed with wonderful administrators, I hope the trend continues.
Christine is in a time of transition, which is exciting.  A couple days ago she decided to remove her diaper during naptime which resulted in a soaked pack n play mattress.  Unfortunately, I forgot to put a waterproof pad under the sheet although I'm not sure that would have helped much.  Since the mattress didn't dry in time for bed (I had to use the hose)  I had to put the crib mattress on the floor barricaded with Kaitlyn's bed.  The girls decided they like this arrangement.  What a blessing to have sisters that love each other so much!  So right now we're seeing how it goes to have her sleep uncontained.  I have the pack n play set up just in case Christine decides to play instead of sleep, but that's only happened once so far.  Soon we'll have to figure out a more functional set up for their room.
Well, I think that's enough rambling for now.  I'll save how brilliant I think they are for the next post :-)