Hey, Hey, Vacay!

I've been joyfully MIA the last few weeks. We just got back from a long and lovely time in Illinois. Eric, Hendo and I took a 28 hour train ride. Henry was a peach, and if it weren't for the woman who sat behind us calling every friend and family member squawking, "I'M ON A TRAIN!" What's that? I can't hear you, because I'M ON A TRAIN!" till 1 in the morning, I honestly think it would have been one of our favorite trips of all time.

us in the dining car

We arrived in Illinois greeted by my grandma, who worships Henry, and my Dad, who cried at the sight of us. We spent the first week with my grandparents, my Aunt Gloria and my entire family (including my long missed sister, who has been serving the past year in the Peace Corps of Moldova). We swam, ate great food, went to the museum, worshipped in church and mostly just hugged each other a whole lot. We finished up the week at the Markel farm, where one of my dearest friends, Lindsey Markel, married her best friend, Larry Gates. I was honored to stand up as a best lady and even got to officiate the ceremony. It was the most perfect day and weekend. We celebrated with a farm full of my favorite people till Henry started screaming for sleep. He past out before our car left the driveway. Eric and I held hands the entire way home, so thankful for our love. Good weddings will do that to ya.

photo taken by the beautiful james-y calder.

Eric flew home the next morning (work= BOOOO), and Henry and I went back home to set up for my little brother's graduation party. My Grandparents left earlier in the week and the next day, my Grandma Jane and Aunt Lori (who I share a birthday with) arrived. We spent most of Trey's party outside catching up with them. I am so honored to have so many strong and beautiful women in my life. I spent a lot of time just stepping back and being truly thankful for that.

grandma jane, hendrix blowing kisses and aunt lori

my grandpa, henry and grandma

Monday morning, after they left, Hendrix, Cora and I headed off to the park, where 15 of my former students showed up for a little reunion. Seeing some of them brought me to tears. I can't tell you how blessed I am to actually have LOVED my students so deeply. I am even more blessed that the love is reciprocated.

me and my kiddos.

The rest of the week was filled with visits and adventures. Notably, I got to hang out with my good friend, Laura and her amazing boys. I also was reunited with the beautiful and talented, Rebecca Smith, who you may know from Better Life Bags. I haven't seen her since I was 20! She's mama to two of the sweetest babes ON EARTH.

hartrich fam and smith fam

All in all, the trip was about Henry getting to really know his Northern relatives. Each morning, Henry woke up calling for one person or another, and they would all shake off the sleep from their face and scream with joy at his presence. I can't tell you how amazing it is to see the love I have for my son duplicated in my family. There aren't words for how much I'll miss that.

uncle trey and hendo

the whole fam.

On the flight(s) back, Henry was a perfect angel. We got off the plane, travelled down an escalator and ran straight into Dad and Ya-ya's arms. We are SO BLESSED.

we're movin' ya'll

three years ago, eric and i bought our first home. we moved to peoria for three great reasons: eric got a full ride to attend bradley university for his masters, i got a job at my old high school (where i always dreamed of teaching), and my parents live here! we were excited. we bought our house after one day of searching, and never looked back. this house has been pretty perfect for our first home. we made it ours. i've stocked up a thousand memories between these walls.

but, i always knew we'd leave. for whatever reason, peoria has never been it for us. i knew that. even moving boxes upon boxes into this house, i knew we'd be leaving. i knew we'd move on.

in november, they closed my school. woodruff high school has been my second home for many years. i've celebrated 7 birthdays there. i've had some of my proudest moments there. i became a real teacher there. if i think too long about what closing woodruff means to me, i cry. it gets to me at the weirdest moments: when i turn the lights on in an empty auditorium, when i sit alone in my classroom at the end of a day, when the first student says, "Seaaaaaman!" suddenly, i find myself choked up and nostalgic. i find myself helpless to stop something i wish i could. a school closing is like someone you love dying. next year, my students will be shipped off to different high schools and teachers who have taught at the same school, some for 20 years, will be teaching in classrooms across the city. it's a bum deal-- the whole thing.

i don't have tenure yet. i would be getting that next year. but, i always saw myself teaching at woodruff. i always wanted to be a part of the crew that inspired me to become a teacher. next year, that won't exist anymore. do i still love teaching, yes. of course i do. however, i can't explain it, i need something different. oh, and i was pinked slipped-- JERKS.

so, in june, we'll be moving to austin, texas. as of now, i am looking for a part-time job. that's right, PART-TIME. i will be a stay at home mama. there is nothing that makes me feel happier than writing that. i'm going to be a cowboy boot wearin', breast-feedin', liberal in a red state rockin' SAHM.

when we first move to austin, we'll be shackin' it up in eric's parent's awesome RV; we don't know where we'll be after that. we are now in the process of getting rid of roughly 80% of our belongings. i've already been researching play groups for henry and attachment parenting groups for me. when eric and i see pool floaties at target, we squeeze each other's hands and smile. this is right.