Being a "big" sister

Since we have moved we have been going non stop, which is probably the reason I am so tired and think I am getting sick but in my opinion it has all been worth it. As most of you know, I LOVE being a big sister to the boys and Lauren. They truly light up my life, but this weekend I had a small glimpse into motherhood and to be 100% honest I don't think I am ready for that at all.

I took 3 of the 4 kids to an apple/pumpkin farm near their house for their annual Fall Fest. We had all gone as a family several years ago but I wanted to just have a fun afternoon, with just me and them. I must mention that the day before we went it rained the entire day and I knew it was going to be a muddy mess, and it was. We climbed in the tree house, the boys went through the corn maze, Lauren and I roasted marshmallows and the 2 little ones jumped on a bouncy house, we ate some snacks and then after all of us almost getting stung by bees, I decided it was time to leave.

As a way to give my step mom some more quite time we went to the mall where Andrew picked out his birthday gift (a video game) and we played glow in the dark miniature golf. Lauren got tired half way through but we finished and went home.

Let me just say, being their big sister is the most rewarding experience in my life, but they are EXHAUSTING. I was so tired when we got home and they all just wanted to keep going and going. Not that it is important but it is also amazing how easy it is to spend money on kids without even realizing it. Not to mention how hard it is to keep track of them (don't worry I got them all home in 1 piece). But at 25 I was certain that I would have at least one child by now, and after seeing a car seat in my tiny little Jetta I don't think my life is even remotely close to being equipped for children.

All in all it was a successful but muddy day at the farm and mall. Regardless of any mishaps, I love being able to watch these kids grow up and become little people with opinions and interests. I am so truly blessed with the life that I have been given and the family that I love.

I also have some fun and exciting news that I will be posting about very soon...so stay tuned!

The Ins and outs of moving to a new city

Moving....yes it sucks. Moving everything down 3 flights of stairs, driving 6 hours and moving everything back up a flight of stairs. It was hot, it was stressful, but in my opinion it is not the hardest part of moving to a new place.

We have lived here for a little over six weeks and here is just a short run down of the good and not so good things I am getting used to.

1. Not knowing where anything is, or how to get there
Sort of an expected annoyance but thankfully Josh knows how to get a lot of places, we live right across from grocery stores and gas stations so at least that's easy, and I always have my GPS!

2. Toledo having terrible radio stations
This is probably an annoyance only applicable to me but with a 40 minute commute to work everyday I wish morning radio was LESS talking MORE music. Isn't that what a radio station is for???

3. Speaking of that 40 minute commute...it sucks an I'm dreading winter already

4. Not knowing any of the channels on the tv...
Not to sound like a huge tv junkie but I definitely have my shows but I still have no idea what channels they are on and I hate how our satellite goes out every time the wind blows or it rains

5. Finding really exciting places (This is a definite good thing)
I was out running some errands and saw that we have a "Onc*e U*pon A C*hild" here which is a consignment like children's store not that we have children but its so much fun to buy stuff for the other kids in our life and we have a C*lothes Ment*or which is a resale store for women's clothes, I will certainly be checking that out soon

6. Being Closer to home :)
One of the reasons I have not blogged pretty much at all. We have been constantly on the go visiting people and making up for lost time

7. Making new friends :0 )
As I am growing up I find this to be one of the most challenging things to overcome. After leaving grad school there is really never a time when you are surrounded by people doing the same thing you are. Now in the working world everyone is doing their own thing, getting married, having babes, etc. But I am super excited to be meeting a lot of new people and making some new friends.

8. BEING HAPPY : o)
I am starting to feel like this is where we belong right now in our lives and things will get better, things will work themselves out, and yes it is hard but its all worth it.

O-H-I-O

Although it doesn't feel like fall (it's been about 80 degrees here the past few days...and trust me I am NOT complaining) football season has begun in full force. I am not a big football fan but I am learning to love it.

Now that we live in Ohio and I date the world's biggest Ohio State fan I was determined to get us tickets to the Toledo game last weekend. And darn it I got them!

Even though it was a 38-0 blowout, and we sat in the direct sun sweating the whole game and getting sunburn I can honestly say I had fun at my first Ohio State game. It was so much fun to see so many people out having a good time.

But the true non football fan in me must admit the by far coolest part of the game was the BEST DAMN BAND IN THE LAND show at half time.

The Ohio State band making a Toledo Rocket with smoke and all!!!

The infamous script Ohio, they broke apart and did 2 mini ones on each side...so much fun!

So my first official Buckeyes game was a success!!

Look forward to more posts about all our crazy adventures we have been on lately. We just love being closer to our friends and family.

Happy Thursday!

I was doing some digging through my old grad school files at work today and found this and thought I would share:

24 Things to to Always Remember and 1 Thing to Never Forget

Your presence is a present to the world

You're unique and one of a kind

Your Life can be what you want it to be

Take the days just one at a time

Count your blessings, not your troubles

You'll make it through whatever comes along

Within you are so many answers

Understand, have courage, be strong

Don't put limits on yourself

so many dreams are waiting to be realized

Decisions are too important to leave to chance

reach for your peak, your goal, your prize

Nothing wastes more energy that worrying

The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets

Don't take things too seriously

Live a life of serenity not a life of regrets

Remember that a little love goes a long way

Remember a lot..goes forever

Remember that friendship is a wise investment

Life's treasures are people...together

Realize that it's never too late

do ordinary things in an extraordinary way

Have health, hope and happiness

Take time to wish upon a star

And Don't forget...for even a day..how Special you are

~Collin McCarty

Have a great weekend!!

Life Happens

I have been terrible at posting the past month. I will rationalize and blame moving and starting a new job, but I am vowing to get better if for no other reason so that I can remember this "interesting" time in my/our life. Things have been ok. I like my job... Josh transferred jobs out here but is not enjoying his at all, so he has begun another job search, no fun! He is also definitely planning to go to school come spring, so we are trying to save up for that as well. I make a little bit more money at my new job, but the cost of living here is much higher than before so I have been really stressed about making ends meet. Yet there are so many more fun things to do I have a hard time staying at home. Its a tough situation.

I have never really talked about any of our relationship problems on here, but I think it is important for me to write them so that I can look back and realize that our relationship is strong and we can survive anything. Josh and I are just in a funk. I use that word cause I don't know what other word to use. It just seems like we are not meshing well lately. I think he truth is I just need to find something to do for me. Josh loves football and obviously its football season so he is happy. I just need to find a fun, inexpensive hobby that I love..easier said than done.

This post is becoming long and pointless but nonetheless we are ok, we are still settling into our "new"life which I know will be full of ups and downs but I know we will be ok.

Happy Birthday to me...

Well in true JessBay style I always seem to do a homage to whomever birthday is approaching. Well, luck for you it's MY birthday tomorrow. A birthday that I have been dreading for quite some time...25. I know, I know, that is not that old, I am still young blah, blah blah. I just feel weird about it for some reason.

If you would have told me at 18 that at 25 I would be starting my 2nd "big girl job" after having one of the worst years of my life, that I would be living in Northwest Ohio with my boyfriend, and just feeling like my life is a blender on high power I would have looked at you like you were crazy! At 25 I was supposed to be married with maybe one child by now, damn those life plans me and my friends made.

I guess in the end all that matters is that I am happy, which I am. I have a wonderful boyfriend who has stuck by me when I know anyone else would have picked up and left, I have a huge, crazy, exhausting family that I love more than anything and friends that I would be lost without. Although I have always wanted to leave Ohio and live somewhere warm, there is always vacation.

Life just doesn't always go the way you planned. Mine sure hasn't, but I think I like this unplanned chaotic life instead. We don't know what we are doing, where we are going, or where we will be in the next few years, but that's ok!

So my plan for tomorrow is to embrace this new "stage" of my life. Spend more time with my family, make more of an effort to connect with my friends (near and far) and just live my life the best way I can.

So here's to another really crazy, really unpredictable, really fun 25 (let's hope more) years!

Have a great weekend!

Where did August go?

I just looked on my blog and saw that I have only done 2 posts this month. Wow that is terrible. But I guess that is what happens when you go on vacation and move and now have no Internet at home til the end of next week. UGH!

So far the move has been good. I love our new apartment and will post pics soon and I am already really liking my new job. As with any new adjustments there are lots of challenges to overcome and things are perfect but we are happy and taking it "one step at a time" lol...sorry I couldn't resist.

It's so strange to feel like we can actually have weekend plans and people to go see, I don't even know what to do with myself. Next weekend is my birthday, the big 2-5 that I have secretly been dreading for quite sometime but I got confirmation last night that my Dad, step mom and all the kids are going to come up and spend the day with us. This would have never been possible if we lived in PA still so at least I will have lots of fun on my birthday swimming and playing with the kiddos.

Well, hopefully there will be new posts soon once we get Internet or I sneak out and blog at a Panera.

Have a great weekend!