Today's the Day!

Today is a big day for the Folger family. Well, not so much for the entire family but definitely for Thomas. He's got his interview with TSA today for the job at the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport. I sent him off at the O'Dark Thirty with a kiss and a reminder that our entire future rested on his shoulders and that he'd better not fuck it up. Okay, okay....I didn't really say that. He did. And he's right. This is the opportunity we've been waiting for. Especially him. I know how unhappy he is at his current job and how badly he wants this one. And while I absolutely love living here in Colorado, moving back to MN would make me very happy as well. Life would just be easier.

Life would be easier because it means we could start using our meager savings to fund vacations to exotic locales (or a college fund for our kids I suppose) instead of funding unpaid snow days. It means a confirmed babysitter EVERY WEEKEND (right mom?!). It means not having to figure out how to get a family of four 800 miles to spend holidays with family and what to do with the furry woodland creatures we co-habitate with. It means trees and lakes. Both of which Denver is sorely lacking it seems. Then again, it means no mountains and that really sucks. And it also means leaving all of the wonderful friends we've made here. Which really, really sucks.

But I am getting ahead of myself.

So, today I am asking for your prayers, good thoughts, positive energy and whatever else you can send into the universe for us. I know Tom is nervous for the interview. It's not an easy one. He'll be expected to sit in front of a panel of people and answer situational questions for 2 hours and then "teach" a class on IED's and other bomb related stuff. And for a guys who has never had to do a job interview then this one is the MOTHERLODE of all job interviews. So he is, understandably, a little worried that it may not go smoothly. Though I have all the confidence in the world that he will do just fine. Because I'm his wife and that's what I am supposed to say. Right?

And can I just say that my husband looks damn fine in a suit.

The Great Pumpkin Patch

Last Saturday, Tom and I decided to take the kids to the Denver Botanic Gardens Pumpkin Festival. Apparently everyone else in Denver had the same idea because we spent a good part of the day waiting in lines. After a 15 min walk from the car to the front entrance (dragging a toddler in a wagon through a dusty, busy parking lot is so much fun let me assure you) we stood in line for another 20 minutes only to get stuck behind that family of 10 that waits until they are at the cashier to decide what kind of ticket they want. Do they want just the pumpkin festival, or do they want the corn maze and the pumpkin festival? Should they let their kids go into the maze by themselves or join them? Apparently it hadn't occurred to them to make this decision PRIOR to getting to the front of the line even though all these options were boldly displayed 15 feet back. So, there we stood, in 80 degree heat without shade with a toddler desperate to get to the pumpkin patch. At least the people watching was good. Does anyone else think it's a good idea to wear stilettos to a giant cornfield? I mean, really, who was she trying to impress?

So, once we got our tickets, it was another 15 walk to the festival. Once inside, we decided it was time to eat where we stood in line for another 15 minutes to get tater twisters (because who can't resist deep fried potatoes and processed cheese) and lemonade (what, no beer tent?!?!) Then it was off to the kettle corn stand because Declan can't not have popcorn. So, here we are $40 poorer and we still haven't paid for our pumpkin yet. Then of course we have to walk past the carnival rides to get to the pumpkin patch which require another long wait in a line to get tickets that probably cost a fortune. Fortunately, we were able to distract Declan and avoid that fiasco. In the end, we got our pumpkins and got out. Next year, I think we will head to the grocery store for our pumpkins.

Catching Up

Eva with her namesake. 4 generations!
Hailey, Abby and Eva!

Lake Dillon

This is the playset we purchased off of Craigslist before Tom assembled it!

Oktoberfest. Totally appropriate place for a newborn.
I just love this picture so much I had to include it.
Declan's 1st fish!

It's been awhile since I've updated my blog. Not that I get much time anymore to sit and write. To say that a new baby doubles the workload is an understatement! However, everyday gets a little easier. We have settled into a "routine" and Eva is allowing me enough sleep at night now to feel like an (almost) fully functioning human.

Eva turns 9 weeks old tomorrow. I can't believe how fast it goes. Some days I want to stop the clock and other days I can't wait till she's a little bit older. I am finally getting the hang of being a mother of two. Though that didn't really come until the past couple of weeks. Eva doesn't get nearly as much "one on one" attention as Declan did as an infant but I suppose that goes with the territory.

I am enjoying getting to know Eva and watching her grow and change every day. She is such a smiley little girl and she's got both Tom and I wrapped around her little finger. She's a challenge in that she can't NOT be held. Declan would sleep for hours in his swing but she wants no part of that. It has to be mommy's arms or her sling which is sweet but sometimes I really just need her to give me a break. She also refuses to sleep anywhere but in our bed. We've tried so many times to get her to sleep in her bassinet but she has no interest in that either. We are just hoping that it doesn't last too much longer.

We spent 10 days in MN a few weeks ago spending time, once again, at the Lady Slipper Lodge in Remer. We had excellent weather and spent the week relaxing, hiking, fishing and drinking. Happy hour always starts at noon when you're on vacation. Right? Declan caught his first fish which he was pretty excited about.

We also spent a few days back in Bloomington. I had a fabulous time seeing all my friends and meeting Stacy and Betsy's new babies Hailey and Abby. One of these days I might just get out those "Thank You" notes I have been meaning to write. If you got us a gift and haven't received a proper thank you from me all I can ask is.... please forgive? I am most appreciative but I just can't seem to make the time to get those done!

Being home and seeing all my friends makes me homesick for MN. WHich brings me to my next thought.

Lot's of great things have been starting to happen for Thomas and his career goals. As everyone probably already knows Tom applied for a Bomb Assessment Officer position with TSA to work at the Minneapolis airport and received a call to come in for an interview. This is huge for us in terms of the opportunity it presents. If he is offered the position it means we can move back to MN and I will be able to continue staying home with my kids. Not to mention a pay raise and federal bennies. On the other hand, it means leaving Colorado which fills me with so much sadness. I love living here! It also means trying to figure out what to do with a house we won't be able to sell for at least a few years which fills me with all kinds of anxiety. I am trying to not to spend any time worrying as Tom hasn't even been offered a position just yet, but I am a worrier so I can't help it. What will be will be.