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It seems as if my life consists only of work. The weekend seems like its a distant memory. Yesterday seems like a blur though. I've been in off-site training all week. Its interesting mainly because of the types of people in the class.

I started the project of replacing my motor mounts on my truck. I had an hour and I spent the whole time just trying to figure out the best way of jacking the motor up. The entire bottom of my engine is an oil pan and I don't really want to damage it. So, I didn't replace anything last night. I did check to see if it needed to be replaced though. The one on the drivers side probably needs to be replaced. The one on the passenger side has separated and I don't know whether that means it needs to be replaced or not. I think I also need a Transmission mount though.

After I gave up because of darkness, Jenny and the girls and I went out to eat, in honor of Nevi getting a bath. Really it was just because she got a bath at PetSmart and we had to go get her. I think Jenny enjoyed it. I wasn't feeling very well for some reason.

Today is another day of training, another afternoon trying to stay awake after lunch, another evening of work on my truck. Hopefully, we can get to bed early tonight.

One last thing, I don't really like the coffee at work. The first good stuff that I tasted was deemed "old" by another engineer. Glad I got a cup before he dumped it out!!

Week two in Columbia. James has started working this week and has spent the week in a fast paced training seminar that has gone from 8am to 8pm (the feed him lunch and supper) everyday. Tomorrow is the last day and then next week he attends another training course, hopefully one that keeps more normal hours. These come complete with tests and at the end he will be certified as a Network Administrator of some sorts. He is enjoying it so far along with the joys of getting to sign up for affordable family health care. Imagine only 250 a month for the whole family... thats a quarter of what it would have cost on Hilton Head... We have found a house that we like, it even comes with a stocked pond in the backyard. We are working through the details of the contract now (who will fix what) and hope to close the end of April.

New things for the girls... Both Kate and Emma have learned to wave in the last week, Kate has also learned to clap and begun pointing at everything. She even talks while pointing and waving her finger around. Don't know where she learned that one... Kate has also begun standing on her own unsupported for about 10 seconds and everyday we are adding more and more seconds onto that. I fear that walking for her is around the corner. Emma is still taking her time and just has fun watching Kate stand though she does look like she feels a bit left out when Kate gets praise for standing.

Hello from Columbia SC. We are moved in though no where near unpacking. It has been a busy week since we last posted. We got internet today and so now we feel like we are back in touch with the world. The house went on the market last Monday and as of Saturday we had it under contract. I think 5 days is pretty good, though we do wonder could we have done it ourselves... This kicks into gear the search for a new home. So far we have found that we like the older homes in near downtown the most, however they are extremely pricey. Does anyone know any old ladies in columbia that we could inhert a house from? We will probably start actually looking in reasonable areas in the next few days but don't plan to make any decisions until the end of the month or into April.

We have also had some fun this week. Yesterday we got a family membership to the local zoo. So we stayed for a few hours and then went back today for another 2 hours. Its great to not have to make a long day of it and just stay as long as the girls are enjoying it. The seem to love it. They like to watch all the animals, Kate even got scared by sea lion when it came up and snorted. She started to cry but then got distracted by watching them swim. So far the best part is that they notice animals that are moving around so that means no snakes for now :) Skipping that whole exhibit is no problem by me. The favorite animals for now are James... sea lions Jenny... Gorillas Emma... Giraffes Kate...Bears (the girls favorites are based on how long they stay interested). James took lots of pictures but you'll have to wait until he sets up the main computer.

Yesterday the realtors sign went in the front yard. It seems so final, much more so than selling it yourself where you can just pull the sign out of the yard if you decide to stay. No changing our minds now. We have the house spotless and are attempting to keep it that way. It is silly to have your house look better right before you leave than it ever did while you were living there. We will have a massive packing day on Friday (of whats left in the house-- not that much really) and load up trailers on Saturday. Come Saturday night we will be residents of Columbia SC.

Kate has enjoyed moving very much since Rachel set up a "tunnel" last night!!

Emma got a spoon this morning. For those of you who aren't spoon connoisseurs, spoons are very good things.

A lot was accomplished last night. Rachel came and sat with the girls while Jenny packed the kitchen. Most of the kitchen is packed. Our kitchen has been divided in two: things we use regularly and will need, and things that we use once in a while and will only need once it has been put in storage. I installed the trailer hitch on the van. Ended up being easier than I had thought originally. Then, all those kitchen boxes and the boxes that I packed Tuesday night went to storage last night. I got all the way there only to realize that I had left my key in my truck. Had to turn around. So, even though I made two trips, only one accomplished anything. Today, I have a lunch date with the ladies at the park. I enjoy seeing my family during the day!!

Well, the boxes are piling up. Amazingly enough, I didn't make it home until 7:45 last night, we watched NCIS and then I got one whole closet packed. Okay, maybe that doesn't seem like much BUT the closet that I packed held all of my computer parts, all of Jenny's books from her mom's house, and an incredible amount of my junk. That whole room is almost packed. Tonight, I get to install a trailer hitch on the van, which in all seriousness should be fun. I also must get those boxes I packed last night to the storage building.