740 Miles to Graceland

Here we are beginning a new year...at another new address.The last few months have been an absolute whirlwind. More than a month ago, Joel was offered a job at the CBS affiliate in Memphis, Tennessee. After soul searching, weighing the pros and cons and looking at every possible option before us, Joel accepted. Then, the monsterous task of packing up our lives and moving again. The actual task was put off until only a week before moving day...Joel was working non-stop preparing KPTM/KXVO for his departure...and I was at home with the boys...need I say more. Naptimes were a good time to get work done but those only last an hour or so. Trying to get things done while they "help" is pretty difficult, too. They're really good at unpacking though! Mainly with the goal of finding a good empty box to hide in.

Anyway...We were absolutely overwhelmed when a good friend of ours, Cathy Beeler arranged for a moving party to come over and get us started on the packing. It was a terrific way to say goodbye to some great friends and look ahead to our new life in Tennessee. (You never realize how much junk you have until it's all being shoved into boxes.) Then, our amazing moms arrived to help us get the rest of the apartment packed...WOW!!! What an unbelievable help they were. Thank you thank you thank you Lolly, Grandpa Dick and Nini!!!!! On Friday afternoon, 1/6/06 the caravan to Tennessee hit the road. Joel's mom and I with the little boys in our Hyundai, Joel in the tightly packed Honda and the other half of the Tennessee connection (grandpa Dick) in the Ford Escape following us. We were quite the group!!! It was a long 2 days filled with sore throats, a stomach virus, a lost cell phone, and a fever of 102.6 (Porter, as soon as we arrived at our new home.). But we made it. Safe and sound...our belongings are here with us. Joel is loving his job and this is the absolutely best part...he's home by 4 in the afternoon. We have dinner together, the boys play with daddy, we tuck them in and read a story ... together. This is what we've always wanted. All the pieces are falling into place.

Friends, I have been horrible about keeping in touch, especially recently. But I have made a New Year's resolution...no it's not to lose the baby weight...I promise to be better about keeping this blog updated and I will be better about keeping in touch.
This move has reminded us that we are blessed beyond imagination with wonderful friends and family. I truly want to keep tight the ties that have meant so much to us in our lives.
Much love to all of you. Please enjoy the updated blog!!!
Always,
Amy, Joel, Max and Porter Rosenberg

OOOOHHHH Our Eggy!!!!

Megan sweet Megan. How hard it is to say goodbye. I don't know that I've ever met such a capable, intelligent and compassionate 17-year-old. We have absolutely adored having Megan in our lives. Eggy started watching the boys when they were still in walkers and drinking from bottles. And it has been a pure joy watching her fall in love with them. I don't know what we'll do without you!!!! 

Leigh leigh and Jason say Goodbye

Leigh and Jason have been a part of our lives since before the boys were born I think. Leigh was the first person we interviewed and hired to be our nanny. Leigh has loved these boys like they were her own. I could never come up with the right words to express how important she has been. We've also been fortunate enough to get to know both of their families...such terrific people! We are so grateful to Leigh for always being available to watch our little men and always being such a considerate and gracious friend. 

Artists at work

The boys test out their new easel and paints from Santa. 

Our Christmas gifts.

Christmas was sort of a blur this year. But we did love it. Our original plans changed a bit. We had originally planned to spend the holiday with Joels parents in Tennessee. But considering we'd be moving there soon after, we thought we'd stay closer to home. So we decided to visit my mom, who would be spending Christmas with my Aunt Leigh in Milwaukee, about 8 hours. This option was especially appealing to me because my warmest memories of the holiday are from the brick dollhouse set in snowy Milwaukee where my Aunt Leigh and Uncle Tom have lived as long as I can remember. I was especially pleased when it turned out both of my mom's brothers would also be visiting. It just so happened that fate worked her magic and allowed us to all be together for the first time since my wedding which was even more of a blur...and have a beautiful and truly special Christmas that none of us will soon forget. Especially the part about Max "getting sick" at the dinner table. All in all...a terrific holiday. 

Max and Thomas

Our Max never leaves home without Thomas. We often travel with the entire carrying case filled to overflowing with the little engines from the magical Island of Sodor. Showing his deep devotion, he straps the case to his back to make sure he doesn't go for a bike ride without his friends. I've honestly never seen such a pure and complete love for a toy...or a collection of toys...actually any and all trains!!! He is so sweet. 

Porter's always ready with a smile.

 

Max and mommys mascara

 

And Porter takes flight.

Our little super heroes

Max in mid air. 

Halloween!

I am sooo behind in updating that I realized I neglected to show everyone what cuties we had on our hands at Halloween. This was the first time the boys really got the whole costume and trick or treating thing!!! So much fun! I however ventured out with them alone to try the door to door thing. Fun...sort of. They were really cute but I needed a few more arms to keep them out of the street, from blowing out the candles in peoples jack-o-lanterns and eating the candy in their bags before we got home. We hit about 8 houses and called it a night.