Getting Settled

Things have finally slowed down (a little) for me to update the blog. Two weeks ago, we successfully closed on our new house. I thought that the closing went pretty quickly and pain-free (except seeing that mortgage payment amount...) than the last time around. It sounded like things got pretty down to the wire for T.C., our mortgage guy. We are very thankful he was able to work his magic!

Moving weekend went off without a hitch....okay, so maybe not. There were some comical moments (all Joe's doing) that we can laugh at now. After we closed, we went to the old house to pack up my car and take a load down to the new house. We had to stop first at my parents' house to pick up a few items, mainly our bed. I arrived shortly before Joe, as he was pulling the trailer. When he arrived, he told me he left the keys to the trailer on the counter in St. Louis Park. So, off I went back up good old Highway 100 (which I won't miss driving anymore-felt like I lived on that road for the past ten years!). We were able to load things into the trailer while it was sprinkling. We were unable to put together our bed, because the hardware for it was MIA. The verdict is still out as to whose fault that was. Joe was able to go buy more pieces and put it together with Jake's help.

Saturday morning was when we had a big group of family and friends come over to help us load the trailer and move. I ran Jake down good old 100 again to my parents, where Joe's mom picked him up for the day. We were so thankful she was able to take him for the entire day. While I was at my parents' house, Joe called to see if I could stop by his work and grab a bolt cutter, because one of the locks on the trailer would not open...yes, the same lock I had already had to drive and get the keys for the previous night. Thankfully, my dad, had just the tool we needed and saved me the extra trek to Hopkins. We were able to get the locks cut off and get things loaded and brought down to the new house. We all worked very well unloading and unpacking boxes. My mom could not believe all the boxes labeled "kitchen" I had. I am not a cook, but apparently registered for quite the amount of kitchen items.

Joe and the guys all went up to the storage unit to clear it out. I knew when my phone rang after they left, it was Joe calling to tell me that he did not have his keys for the lock at the storage unit. I had them in my car...and I put them there. He should have realized he did not have his huge ring of keys with him, but I will take the blame. So...he had to use the bolt cutters once again! It reminded me of being at school and all the 6th graders who couldn't remember their combinations for their lockers! This time, it was the storage unit who provided Joe with what he needed. The guys were quick with loading and bringing the things back from the unit.

We spent the rest of the day on Saturday unpacking and organizing. The ladies were all busy in the kitchen and the guys were in the basement and garage. Pretty predictable, huh? Jake was so surprised when he came back to see all "mines stuff", as he put it. He has loved having more space to play with all his toys and run around.

We are slowly, but surely, getting ourselves settled. Boxes are still waiting to be unpacked in the basement once it gets finished. Some rooms have pictures on the walls. It has been about a year since we have been able to have our personal pictures on display and I love having them back! We hope to have some more time this weekend to get Jake's room decorated and some more pictures hung.

We are so thankful that we had friends and family to make this journey (both figuratively and literally) with us. It has been one long year!

Jordan Peter Knutson

Matt and Katie's little man is here! Jordan arrived at 6:58 on April 23rd. He is just as cute as can be. Mom and Dad are doing well, too. I was able to head up to St. Cloud after school on Friday and stay until Saturday afternoon. Joe and Jake came up to meet the newwest cousin, too. Hailey came into town to meet her new brother. She loves him to pieces. They are coming home from the hospital today. Can't wait to hear all the stories of the first few days home!

Let Me Explain

I heard from my parents and sister about the pictures of the new house I most recently posted. They thought I took better pictures of the basement than the main floor. They thought it was odd that I took so many pictures of the lights. I agree that it was quite odd. Let me explain myself. I currently live in a house that has lights that you turn on by pull chains. We have about seven lights in our house that you turn on with a regular light switch, but the main lights are turned on by pulling a chain. This is a huge pain. One thing I said I would be excited about when we moved were the light switches and real closet. Hence the pictures!

Here you go Dad

My dad made a comment tonight that I had not updated our blog. Well, I hope he is happy! I was so into getting Jake's slide show organized, that I did not even realize Jake and I were watching Pinocchio in French! This is not the first time we have watched a Disney movie in another language. I was wondering why "Give a Little Whistle" did not sound the same :)

Wee Will Miss You

A week ago, my Grandma Tootsie passed away. She is now in a much better place and is with my Grandpa Ernie. Yes, both of my grandparents went by names that were not their given names. My grandma's name is Evelyn and my grandpa's name is Aaron. I never thought it was odd when I was little, but I chuckle a little now.

Anyways...my grandma had been moved into a nursing home shortly after Christmas. She was in the same nursing home as her sister, which she enjoyed. She made a lot of friends while she was there. That was one thing about my grandma that will be missed, her ability to talk and make friends with everyone. My grandma had a heart attack in the beginning of March. She spent some time in the hospital before she went back to the nursing home. Her kidneys were failing and she did not want to go on dialysis. She had congestive heart failure. It was decided that she would begin hospice shortly after returning to the nursing home. We were hoping she could spend her last few days at her house, but that was not meant to be.

I was very fortunate to have spring break at the end of March and was able to go to the nursing home several times that week. I will remember the last few days I had with her. I was able to spend a few moments alone with her two days before she passed. It was the last day she was able to talk and recognize people. We both said our goodbyes and laughed and cried together. Actually, I was the one crying, and my grandma was consoling me. The true caretaker, always. She told me to take care of "my precious Jacob". Jake was so lucky to spend two years with his Grandma Grandma.

Wee Love You!