Moving!

I mentioned in a previous post that Bob got a job offer, well we decided to accept it! Bob will be working for Genentech in San Francisco beginning Aug. 20. This means that we will be moving from MN to CA sometime around mid-August, which also means we have a lot of details to figure out between now and then. What we do know is that my summer semester will be over, we will have movers for the large majority of our items, and we will be in temporary housing for a little while as we try to find a more permanent neighborhood/rental house that suits us. Overall, we are excited. It is a little bittersweet as we will be moving away from family and away from a job that I really enjoy, but it is a great job at a great company for Bob and there are plenty of schools for me to find employment eventually. We are really looking forward to the area in California and hoping to make use of its mild climate for year-round outside activities and gardening :) We also hope to have lots of visitors, so if anyone wants to come visit, let us know!

In other July happenings, we have had nothing but hot weather here in MN (as are many others I hear). Our average temperature for the summer to date is almost 8 degrees above average. While part of me is loving the heat, I know i wouldn't be enjoying it half as much without an air-conditioned home to cool off in. My garden is also feeling the heat. I've harvested the first of the zucchini, broccoli, and tomatoes, we've harvested and consumed all of the lettuce, radishes, and peas (not many of these), and the swiss chard and collards are well on their way to being large enough to eat as well. I will also have brussel sprouts and corn eventually - though I'm not sure we'll get to harvest any of these before we leave.

We've been enjoying some time outside in the heat as well. We often go to the parks in the morning, and even made it to a local beach a few days ago. Nana and Papa came down to Woodbury to go with us to Carver Lake, then stayed to grill for dinner. It was a lot of fun. Colin didn't mind the lake water at all, and had a good time picking rocks out of the course sand and throwing the rocks into the water.

Rocks!

Are there more rocks over there?

Poor Colin is having a rough go at teething at the moment. He has 4 teeth all peeking through at the same time, 3 of which are molars and the 4th is an eye tooth (canine). It has made him a little bitey, he's been sleeping a little poorer than normal, and you can tell that eating (especially crunchy things) is hurting more than usual. Poor little guy. At least this too will pass with another week or two.

Colin has been very into peek-a-boo games and singing lately. His new favorite song is 'head, shoulders, knees and toes', even though he prefers to watch me do the motions, then usually only does his head and toes :) He is also communicating a little more, though still non-verbally. He now indicates when his diaper is wet and wants us to take it off. I'm hoping this can morph into the very beginnings of toilet training, which we may try after we move, at least trying to get us to tell him before he's wet. A girl can hope anyway.

I'll leave you with a few funny images from the past week. The other funny thing Colin has been doing this week is working on his fake laugh. He's experimenting with volume and types which is quite humorous, especially when he tries with random people in public places like the grocery store!

"Walking" the waffle maker

Sitting with Jasper on his chair (Jasper is less than pleased)