My Happy Place

This is me in my "Happy Place."

I love my Happy Place.  I try to remain here as much as humanly possible.

Unfortunately, there are some things that jolt me out of my happy place quicker than my kids open birthday presents.

That's pretty quick. While I'm interested in politics, there is something about this time of year that's really...how do I say it? Annoying. 

Rather than rant, rave and debate, do something.  I don't mean run for office, I mean return a shopping cart. Pay for the drive thru behind you. Hold a door open, or let someone with three items skip you in the grocery line.

It's funny how election season has everyone debating on television, Facebook and at the dinner table.  Yes, it's important.  But it's still politics.  There are many players and its a very complicated, sometimes corrupt, game.

Political posts and clips remind me of Jehovah Witnesses.  I always wonder if anyone ever really invites them in to discuss corruption.  Does anyone really listen to an ad or read a post and change their vote?  Most of us arrive at our decision based on the journey we're on, we vote because of roads life has driven us down.

Not because of a bumper sticker.

Just last week a pair of Jehovahs were at my door.  Again.  The gentlemen looked at me with this huge smile and says,

"Good morning!  We're wondering if you might like to take time to discuss the corruption in the world today?"

Hmmmm.  Let me think about that.  It does sound like a pleasant way to spend a Tuesday morning...but NO.

Although my real answer was, No thank you.  I have a wonderful church and we're very happy there.  I grinned, beared it and tried to stay in my happy place.  Regardless of my annoyance level, I was kind. 


When we strip away the nonsense, we're all more alike than we are different.  We may go about things in a different way, but most of us have good hearts.  Let's all stay in our happy place.  Be nice.  Be loving.  Be fair. 

And that will do more for this country than any president ever could.

To start my weekend, I'm going to think of my many "happy places"....

My Kids
My parents and siblings
Disney World
A Roulette Table
Watching a movie with Hubby
Watching a movie with Hubby and a bowl of ice cream
A Good Run
Starbucks
Sunshine on my face
And many, many more.....

Happy Friday...stay in your happy place! 

This is me in my "Happy Place."

I love my Happy Place.  I try to remain here as much as humanly possible.

Unfortunately, there are some things that jolt me out of my happy place quicker than my kids open birthday presents.

That's pretty quick. While I'm interested in politics, there is something about this time of year that's really...how do I say it? Annoying. 

Rather than rant, rave and debate, do something.  I don't mean run for office, I mean return a shopping cart. Pay for the drive thru behind you. Hold a door open, or let someone with three items skip you in the grocery line.

It's funny how election season has everyone debating on television, Facebook and at the dinner table.  Yes, it's important.  But it's still politics.  There are many players and its a very complicated, sometimes corrupt, game.

Political posts and clips remind me of Jehovah Witnesses.  I always wonder if anyone ever really invites them in to discuss corruption.  Does anyone really listen to an ad or read a post and change their vote?  Most of us arrive at our decision based on the journey we're on, we vote because of roads life has driven us down.

Not because of a bumper sticker.

Just last week a pair of Jehovahs were at my door.  Again.  The gentlemen looked at me with this huge smile and says,

"Good morning!  We're wondering if you might like to take time to discuss the corruption in the world today?"

Hmmmm.  Let me think about that.  It does sound like a pleasant way to spend a Tuesday morning...but NO.

Although my real answer was, No thank you.  I have a wonderful church and we're very happy there.  I grinned, beared it and tried to stay in my happy place.  Regardless of my annoyance level, I was kind. 


When we strip away the nonsense, we're all more alike than we are different.  We may go about things in a different way, but most of us have good hearts.  Let's all stay in our happy place.  Be nice.  Be loving.  Be fair. 

And that will do more for this country than any president ever could.

To start my weekend, I'm going to think of my many "happy places"....

My Kids
My parents and siblings
Disney World
A Roulette Table
Watching a movie with Hubby
Watching a movie with Hubby and a bowl of ice cream
A Good Run
Starbucks
Sunshine on my face
And many, many more.....

Happy Friday...stay in your happy place! 

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Nasi Lemak and Soto at Warung Kurniawan in Taman Suria, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Throughout Malaysia we can find warungs or street side food stalls which are popular places for a tasty and affordable meal with friends.

 

My friend Joe brought me to the famous Warung Kurniawan in Taman Suria.

 

Warung Kurniawan was typical of the thousands of warungs across Malaysia.

 

Warung Kurniawan is well known for its nasi lemak, sup tulang and its soto which can be eaten with bee hoon (rice vermicelli), yellow noodles, or rice cakes.

 

The soto soup at Warung Kurniawan was clear, not oily and mildly flavoured.

The yellow noodles were also somewhat bland.

Add a dab of their spicy sambal and the soup and noodles were instantly energized and perked up. As my friend said, the secret of Warung Kurniawan's soto was in their sambal. So, the flavour of Warung Kurniawan's soto was basically mild, and customers can adjust the spiciness to their liking by just adding their special spicy sambal. I also liked the crispy shallot crackles generously sprinkled on top of the noodles.

Warung Kurniawan's popular nasi lemak come tightly wrapped in these banana leaf and brown paper wraps.

 

For RM1.50 we get a fist sized lump of fragrant coconut flavoured rice and sambal, slice of cucumber, half an egg, and a couple of small salted fish to go with it.

My friends and I liked this nasi lemak very much. This small package was packed full of delicious kampung flavours.

Come again? Yes! I want to try those enticing sup kambing and sup tulang!


Restaurant name: Warung Kurniawan
Address: Along Jalan Kurniawan opposite Sekolah Agama Kebun Teh
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/bYc28
GPS: 1.498475,103.758637
Hours: 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Halal

Dates visited: 2 Oct 2012, 8 Oct 2012

Throughout Malaysia we can find warungs or street side food stalls which are popular places for a tasty and affordable meal with friends.

 

My friend Joe brought me to the famous Warung Kurniawan in Taman Suria.

 

Warung Kurniawan was typical of the thousands of warungs across Malaysia.

 

Warung Kurniawan is well known for its nasi lemak, sup tulang and its soto which can be eaten with bee hoon (rice vermicelli), yellow noodles, or rice cakes.

 

The soto soup at Warung Kurniawan was clear, not oily and mildly flavoured.

The yellow noodles were also somewhat bland.

Add a dab of their spicy sambal and the soup and noodles were instantly energized and perked up. As my friend said, the secret of Warung Kurniawan's soto was in their sambal. So, the flavour of Warung Kurniawan's soto was basically mild, and customers can adjust the spiciness to their liking by just adding their special spicy sambal. I also liked the crispy shallot crackles generously sprinkled on top of the noodles.

Warung Kurniawan's popular nasi lemak come tightly wrapped in these banana leaf and brown paper wraps.

 

For RM1.50 we get a fist sized lump of fragrant coconut flavoured rice and sambal, slice of cucumber, half an egg, and a couple of small salted fish to go with it.

My friends and I liked this nasi lemak very much. This small package was packed full of delicious kampung flavours.

Come again? Yes! I want to try those enticing sup kambing and sup tulang!


Restaurant name: Warung Kurniawan
Address: Along Jalan Kurniawan opposite Sekolah Agama Kebun Teh
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/bYc28
GPS: 1.498475,103.758637
Hours: 12:00pm to 7:00pm
Halal

Dates visited: 2 Oct 2012, 8 Oct 2012

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Curse you, Moon Sand

I just settled in to write a quick post but all of my energies have been completely zapped due to an early morning battle over Moon Sand.

Curse you Treasure Kingdom Moon Sand.

Last night my daughter received two bags of hand-me-down clothes at gymnastics.  This mom told me there was a bunch of boots, sweaters and pants.  Oh, and a box of unopened Moon Sand her now fourteen year old daughter will not use.

When we were sifting through all the goodies, there it was in the very bottom of one of the bags.  The Moon Sand.

At 8:30pm, there was no question that we were NOT opening anything requiring sand to play.

Naturally, my kids thought 7:45am was a better time.  I caught my daughter right before she had the sand out and all over my kitchen table.  The same table I'm about to serve waffles on.  Serenity now. 

As you can imagine, I'm completely unreasonable because they WILL NOT make a mess. It will be clean. They promise. Oh yes, and pigs are flying outside my window and hell has officially frozen over. I'm off to make it a better Thursday, since I've already had a battle of the stink eyes. 

I just settled in to write a quick post but all of my energies have been completely zapped due to an early morning battle over Moon Sand.

Curse you Treasure Kingdom Moon Sand.

Last night my daughter received two bags of hand-me-down clothes at gymnastics.  This mom told me there was a bunch of boots, sweaters and pants.  Oh, and a box of unopened Moon Sand her now fourteen year old daughter will not use.

When we were sifting through all the goodies, there it was in the very bottom of one of the bags.  The Moon Sand.

At 8:30pm, there was no question that we were NOT opening anything requiring sand to play.

Naturally, my kids thought 7:45am was a better time.  I caught my daughter right before she had the sand out and all over my kitchen table.  The same table I'm about to serve waffles on.  Serenity now. 

As you can imagine, I'm completely unreasonable because they WILL NOT make a mess. It will be clean. They promise. Oh yes, and pigs are flying outside my window and hell has officially frozen over. I'm off to make it a better Thursday, since I've already had a battle of the stink eyes. 

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Fish Head Steamboat at Restoran Dragon Village 龍鄉 in Taman Universiti, Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

We were circling Taman Universiti for a light lunch and remembered we had wanted to try the old style steamboat at Dragon Village 龍鄉. It was already nearly 2:00pm when we arrived and there were still a few tables with customers.

 

What made us come back to look for Dragon Village, was the charcoal steamboat - the type with pieces of red hot charcoal in the throat or funnel of the steamboat. These charcoal embers lasts longer than our meal, so it keeps our soup and fish piping hot throughout. Dragon Village is the only such steamboat that I have seen in JB, so far.

 

We ordered a fish head steamboat because the I like the taste and texture of fish meat and cartilage attached to fish heads :)

The fish based soup was a tasty blend of slight tanginess from the preserved limes and tomatoes, sweetness from the fresh fish head, yam and vegetables, and savouriness from the bone and fish soup base.  

 

I love everything in this dish. From the chunks of red snapper meat, head bones, strips of yam, and lettuce to the cloudy soup.

 

We ate and drank everything, leaving only the still red hot embers.

It was just nice for a simple healthy, light meal for two persons. The bill came to RM22.

Restaurant name: Dragon Village 龍鄉
Address: 15, Jalan Kebudayaan 8, Taman Universiti, Skudai, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/cgomB
GPS: 1.541343,103.630895
Hours:12:00noon to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Non Hahal

Date visited: 12 Oct 2012

We were circling Taman Universiti for a light lunch and remembered we had wanted to try the old style steamboat at Dragon Village 龍鄉. It was already nearly 2:00pm when we arrived and there were still a few tables with customers.

 

What made us come back to look for Dragon Village, was the charcoal steamboat - the type with pieces of red hot charcoal in the throat or funnel of the steamboat. These charcoal embers lasts longer than our meal, so it keeps our soup and fish piping hot throughout. Dragon Village is the only such steamboat that I have seen in JB, so far.

 

We ordered a fish head steamboat because the I like the taste and texture of fish meat and cartilage attached to fish heads :)

The fish based soup was a tasty blend of slight tanginess from the preserved limes and tomatoes, sweetness from the fresh fish head, yam and vegetables, and savouriness from the bone and fish soup base.  

 

I love everything in this dish. From the chunks of red snapper meat, head bones, strips of yam, and lettuce to the cloudy soup.

 

We ate and drank everything, leaving only the still red hot embers.

It was just nice for a simple healthy, light meal for two persons. The bill came to RM22.

Restaurant name: Dragon Village 龍鄉
Address: 15, Jalan Kebudayaan 8, Taman Universiti, Skudai, Johor Bahru
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/cgomB
GPS: 1.541343,103.630895
Hours:12:00noon to 2:00pm and 5:00pm to 10:00pm
Non Hahal

Date visited: 12 Oct 2012

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Cupcakes with Marshmallow Buttercream

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Cupcakes 

with 

Marshmallow Buttercream

When I found the recipe for these on Pinterest, I knew I HAD to try them!!

I mean, who doesn't like rice krispy bars?!

Add cake batter?? Whoa Baby!!

I found the recipe on Baked from a Box

I added my Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting, and YUMM-O!!

What kid (or adult?) wouldn't want one?!

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Cupcakes with Marshmallow Buttercream

3/4 stick of butter

3/4 cup yellow cake mix

1/2 tsp vanilla

3 cups Rice Krispie Cereal

1/2 10 oz bag of mini marshmallows

1 Tbls  sprinkles

*note I DOUBLED the above and it made one dozen regular sized cupcakes.

Melt butter in the microwave for about 45 seconds.  Mix in marshamallows and return to microwave for about 30 seconds.  Stir and continue melting until well combined.  Don't overcook!!

Mix in cake mix and vanilla until combined.  Add sprinkles and rice Krispies.

Stir until well combined.

Either line mini muffin tines with liners or grease well.

Press cereal mixture into liners and press down with a spoon.

Cool for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Make up a batch of my Marshamallow Buttercream (recipe found HERE)

Frost "cupcakes" and top with more sprinkles!!

Enjoy!!

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Cupcakes 

with 

Marshmallow Buttercream

When I found the recipe for these on Pinterest, I knew I HAD to try them!!

I mean, who doesn't like rice krispy bars?!

Add cake batter?? Whoa Baby!!

I found the recipe on Baked from a Box

I added my Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting, and YUMM-O!!

What kid (or adult?) wouldn't want one?!

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Cupcakes with Marshmallow Buttercream

3/4 stick of butter

3/4 cup yellow cake mix

1/2 tsp vanilla

3 cups Rice Krispie Cereal

1/2 10 oz bag of mini marshmallows

1 Tbls  sprinkles

*note I DOUBLED the above and it made one dozen regular sized cupcakes.

Melt butter in the microwave for about 45 seconds.  Mix in marshamallows and return to microwave for about 30 seconds.  Stir and continue melting until well combined.  Don't overcook!!

Mix in cake mix and vanilla until combined.  Add sprinkles and rice Krispies.

Stir until well combined.

Either line mini muffin tines with liners or grease well.

Press cereal mixture into liners and press down with a spoon.

Cool for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Make up a batch of my Marshamallow Buttercream (recipe found HERE)

Frost "cupcakes" and top with more sprinkles!!

Enjoy!!

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Loke Tien Yuen Restaurant 乐天园酒家 in Mersing, Johor, Malaysia

Our friend Bryan Anthony (of Food & Fun Johor) wanted to show us this special restaurant in Mersing called Loke Tien Yuen 乐天园酒家. So, six of us set off yesterday on the two hour drive from JB to the most famous restaurant in Mersing.

 

The first thing that struck me was the Sixties feel of Loke Tien Yuen. The floor and walls at Loke Tien Yuen were completely covered in old style mosaic tiles - the turquoise and emerald hued type fashionable in the good old Sixties. Those wonder years as I was growing up as a child and fascinated by the geometric patterns of mosaic.

Loke Tien Yuen was incredibly squeaky clean. This must be one of the cleanest kopitiams that I had seen anywhere. There was not a piece of dirt on the floor in the busy kopitiam and the wall was actually squeaky to the touch. This is definitely a very much loved and well kept place. The other very clean old coffee shop that I could remember was Ya Wang in downtown Johor Bahru.

There is no menu at Loke Tien Yuen. Customers telephone the owner Margaret Siew at +607-799-1639 to place orders. Bryan Anthony who had been a long time Loke Tien Yuen regular had earlier called Margaret to book our dishes.

We asked for permission to photograph, Margaret's brother Chief Chef Henry Siew in action, and it was graciously granted. Margaret said that this was the first time in Loke Tien Yuen's over 100 years history that anyone was allowed to enter their kitchen for photographs. Thank you again, Margaret and Henry :)

 

The first dish served was the steamed grouper. I was immediately struck by the old style aroma of the sauce, something that I had not encountered for a long, long time. The sauce was light and fragrant, and brought out the natural sweetness of the fish very well. The super fresh grouper flesh was snowy white, juicy, tender and sweet like pieces of fruit. This dish may looked very simple but it was really exquisite fine culinary art in a charming Nanyang styled coffee shop. This was my favourite dish at  Loke Tien Yuen.

 

Next up was the ko lou yok or sweet and sour pork. This was the favourite of the Gen X and Y folks that I was with. The batter was the crunchiest that I had tasted and the naturally sweet pork inside was fresh and tender. The savoury sauce was neither too sweet nor too sour.

 

We loved this ko lou yok so much that we ordered a second helping which flew off the plate faster than I could take this photo.

 

The third was the fried sotong (squid) in black bean paste. I had not had this dish which my mum used to cook at home for a long, long time.

 

The aroma of sotong slices and black bean paste tossed and seared in a super heated wok was a lovely fragrance that I had long forgotten.

 

Each piece of the sliced sotong had the unmistakable taste of wok hei (锅气 or literally wok breath, to borrow that picturesque Cantonese expression).

 

The pork ribs in fermented black bean paste didn't seemed to excite the Gen X and Y folks much but this too was a well executed Cantonese classic.

 

I love bitter gourd, fresh pork ribs and fermented black bean paste, and when these three were combined well... tender savoury pork ribs with soft sweet bitter gourd chunks in creamy fermented black bean sauce... one bite and vooom... heavenly.

 

Simple, no frills fresh green vegetable dish.

Our total bill for all these marvellous food including drinks came to RM140.

Loke Tien Yuen is definitely a Must Try.

 

Restaurant name: Loke Tien Yuen Restaurant 乐天园酒家
Address: 55, Jalan Abu Bakar, Mersing, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/fgHy5
GPS: 2.433029,103.838374
Hours: 12:30pm to 3:30pm and 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Non Halal

Date visited: 24 Oct 2012

Our friend Bryan Anthony (of Food & Fun Johor) wanted to show us this special restaurant in Mersing called Loke Tien Yuen 乐天园酒家. So, six of us set off yesterday on the two hour drive from JB to the most famous restaurant in Mersing.

 

The first thing that struck me was the Sixties feel of Loke Tien Yuen. The floor and walls at Loke Tien Yuen were completely covered in old style mosaic tiles - the turquoise and emerald hued type fashionable in the good old Sixties. Those wonder years as I was growing up as a child and fascinated by the geometric patterns of mosaic.

Loke Tien Yuen was incredibly squeaky clean. This must be one of the cleanest kopitiams that I had seen anywhere. There was not a piece of dirt on the floor in the busy kopitiam and the wall was actually squeaky to the touch. This is definitely a very much loved and well kept place. The other very clean old coffee shop that I could remember was Ya Wang in downtown Johor Bahru.

There is no menu at Loke Tien Yuen. Customers telephone the owner Margaret Siew at +607-799-1639 to place orders. Bryan Anthony who had been a long time Loke Tien Yuen regular had earlier called Margaret to book our dishes.

We asked for permission to photograph, Margaret's brother Chief Chef Henry Siew in action, and it was graciously granted. Margaret said that this was the first time in Loke Tien Yuen's over 100 years history that anyone was allowed to enter their kitchen for photographs. Thank you again, Margaret and Henry :)

 

The first dish served was the steamed grouper. I was immediately struck by the old style aroma of the sauce, something that I had not encountered for a long, long time. The sauce was light and fragrant, and brought out the natural sweetness of the fish very well. The super fresh grouper flesh was snowy white, juicy, tender and sweet like pieces of fruit. This dish may looked very simple but it was really exquisite fine culinary art in a charming Nanyang styled coffee shop. This was my favourite dish at  Loke Tien Yuen.

 

Next up was the ko lou yok or sweet and sour pork. This was the favourite of the Gen X and Y folks that I was with. The batter was the crunchiest that I had tasted and the naturally sweet pork inside was fresh and tender. The savoury sauce was neither too sweet nor too sour.

 

We loved this ko lou yok so much that we ordered a second helping which flew off the plate faster than I could take this photo.

 

The third was the fried sotong (squid) in black bean paste. I had not had this dish which my mum used to cook at home for a long, long time.

 

The aroma of sotong slices and black bean paste tossed and seared in a super heated wok was a lovely fragrance that I had long forgotten.

 

Each piece of the sliced sotong had the unmistakable taste of wok hei (锅气 or literally wok breath, to borrow that picturesque Cantonese expression).

 

The pork ribs in fermented black bean paste didn't seemed to excite the Gen X and Y folks much but this too was a well executed Cantonese classic.

 

I love bitter gourd, fresh pork ribs and fermented black bean paste, and when these three were combined well... tender savoury pork ribs with soft sweet bitter gourd chunks in creamy fermented black bean sauce... one bite and vooom... heavenly.

 

Simple, no frills fresh green vegetable dish.

Our total bill for all these marvellous food including drinks came to RM140.

Loke Tien Yuen is definitely a Must Try.

 

Restaurant name: Loke Tien Yuen Restaurant 乐天园酒家
Address: 55, Jalan Abu Bakar, Mersing, Johor
Map: http://goo.gl/maps/fgHy5
GPS: 2.433029,103.838374
Hours: 12:30pm to 3:30pm and 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Non Halal

Date visited: 24 Oct 2012

reade more... Résuméabuiyad

Relocation

These past few weeks have been quite the whirlwind.  Emotions have been running high, and to say it's very complicated in our house right now would be an understatement. 

I'll go with mucho, uber complicated.

We're relocating.  It's a mixed emotion scenario that has some of us crying, some of us jumping for joy and some of us afraid of the uncertain.  My children, for the most part, have grown up here.  In this money pit of a house I've cursed many times.  This is the house my munchkins come home to after school, the house that Santa brings the presents Christmas Eve.  They don't know about bills, taxes or how much money is in the bank account.

They know this house.

Hubby has landed a job that will advance his career, a job that will benefit the family in the long run.  The short run will be difficult, but the long run will reap the rewards.  This opportunity was one he couldn't pass up, and the miracle of the whole scenario is that the job is where our dearest friends live.

What are the chances?

He found a new job, in this crap of a job market, right where we spend long weekends.  It's a town we've long loved and even considered moving to after we had our first baby.  These friends have been family; family we've chosen because we love them so much.  They'll be there to welcome us with open arms, and to lead the way through school registration, to the grocery store and through the cow pastures.

Sorry, I had to go there.

While the kids cry and digest the thought of new friends, new football teams and new gymnastics trainers, we look ahead.  We stay positive and keep strong.  We do all this with a heavy heart, sad for the town and friends that have sustained us through many shenanigans.  Our faces have been in our gymnastics gym and on the football field for years.  We've been a staple at school assemblies and orientations.  There have been 4th of July picnics, Halloween parties and playdates with wonderful friends.

I haven't even mentioned my parents.  My mother has been my rock these past few years, babysitting so I could work at night and Hubby could still coach football.  She's been at every football game and picked up my daughter from gymnastics many times.  She's come to school parades and basketball games.  To know we won't be able to see her as much as we like is pure heartache.

We'll miss this place very, very much.  I never realized how much I loved it until I knew we were leaving.  Money pit and all.  I know in a few months I'll be wiping tears from munchkin eyes as they fall asleep in their new beds. I'll be wiping them too. 

But Pennsylvania, here we come.  I hope you're ready, because Mommyhood is movin' in.

These past few weeks have been quite the whirlwind.  Emotions have been running high, and to say it's very complicated in our house right now would be an understatement. 

I'll go with mucho, uber complicated.

We're relocating.  It's a mixed emotion scenario that has some of us crying, some of us jumping for joy and some of us afraid of the uncertain.  My children, for the most part, have grown up here.  In this money pit of a house I've cursed many times.  This is the house my munchkins come home to after school, the house that Santa brings the presents Christmas Eve.  They don't know about bills, taxes or how much money is in the bank account.

They know this house.

Hubby has landed a job that will advance his career, a job that will benefit the family in the long run.  The short run will be difficult, but the long run will reap the rewards.  This opportunity was one he couldn't pass up, and the miracle of the whole scenario is that the job is where our dearest friends live.

What are the chances?

He found a new job, in this crap of a job market, right where we spend long weekends.  It's a town we've long loved and even considered moving to after we had our first baby.  These friends have been family; family we've chosen because we love them so much.  They'll be there to welcome us with open arms, and to lead the way through school registration, to the grocery store and through the cow pastures.

Sorry, I had to go there.

While the kids cry and digest the thought of new friends, new football teams and new gymnastics trainers, we look ahead.  We stay positive and keep strong.  We do all this with a heavy heart, sad for the town and friends that have sustained us through many shenanigans.  Our faces have been in our gymnastics gym and on the football field for years.  We've been a staple at school assemblies and orientations.  There have been 4th of July picnics, Halloween parties and playdates with wonderful friends.

I haven't even mentioned my parents.  My mother has been my rock these past few years, babysitting so I could work at night and Hubby could still coach football.  She's been at every football game and picked up my daughter from gymnastics many times.  She's come to school parades and basketball games.  To know we won't be able to see her as much as we like is pure heartache.

We'll miss this place very, very much.  I never realized how much I loved it until I knew we were leaving.  Money pit and all.  I know in a few months I'll be wiping tears from munchkin eyes as they fall asleep in their new beds. I'll be wiping them too. 

But Pennsylvania, here we come.  I hope you're ready, because Mommyhood is movin' in.

reade more... Résuméabuiyad