Easy Catchup

I am very behind in my blogging! Since my last blog, we have moved into our new home, sent Mackensey off to Georgetown, and are in the unpacking process. We feel so grateful for our home and grateful to be settled. We have visited a new church in our community that we like and will be visiting again. We have been welcomed into our new neighborhood by a couple next door, Janet and Ray. We feel very fortunate to have found a home where we can still see the city skyline and where people know each other by name as we walk down the street. I will be posting pictures as soon as I get out of boxes!

Chicago!!!!!!

We have been in Oak Park, Il. for about a month however, Oak Park is no Chicago! We got to spend the day with Heath and Thais and our nephew Sterling who came to visit. Clyde, Mackensey and I met them in downtown Chicago for a city tour and dinner. Enjoy some pictures of our day.

Catch Up!

Life in the fast lane....not only a song but, a good description of our lives the last few weeks. Since our last posting we have been following the Georgetown Softball team on the road every weekend. The Hoyas have had some great moments and some not so great moments but, what a pleasure it has been for us to be involved in Mackensey's college softball experience!

I have joined Clyde in Chicago! We are in a small apartment in Oak Park, an urban-like suburb of Chicago. We are within walking distance of some cute shops, restaurants, post office, bank, small-town movie theater, a park, and a beautiful historic neighborhood. I wake up every morning and take Marty and Sweetie, our two wheaten terriers out for a 45 minute walk. All three of us are in much better shape than 3 or 4 weeks ago. Clyde is up early as well and off to Downers Grove, about 45-60 minutes from our home, for a busy day at the office. His job has been very challenging and he looks forward to implementing more of his management style at the corporate office. He is an amazing man with the ability to thrive in a new environment, even with a high amount of stress involved. I am very proud of him. I have also spent several hours in Brighton Park, which is the location of Heath and Thais' new home. We have had lunch together, dinner in their home, spent the day chilling, and planned and prepared a meal for the GU softball team. It is so nice to be 30 minutes from each other after living in different states for so long. We look forward to sharing our lives with them and enjoying our new city....we have own personal guides to Chicago!

I will be returning to Massachusetts next week to wrap up the final steps of our move to Chicago. Mackensey and I will be returning to Chicago permanently the second week of June. I will post some pictures very soon of our temporary home in Oak Park.

Chattanooga and the bitter cold!

Last weekend was spent watching Georgetown Softball play in the Frost Classic Tournament in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After braving the bitterly cold first day and enjoying the mild, sunny second day Clyde and I headed back to Nashville on Sunday to fly back to Boston. The Hoyas ended the weekend with a 2-3 record. They played hard but, faced a few tough teams. Hoyas are still working through the beginning-of-the-season nerves and we are so proud of them. Mackensey had an injured foot from the weekend before and didn't get to pitch much as a result. Hopefully we will see her on the mound more in Raleigh, North Carolina this weekend!

Georgetown Softball "Let the games begin!"

Yes, the Georgetown Softball season began this past weekend in North Carolina. The sun was shining, a cool breeze blowing, and Clyde and I were in the stands watching the Hoyas play their opening games. They split the weekend 2-2. The first day was a little shaky but, day two the girls were a little more relaxed and playing their game.
Mackensey was able to pitch, hit and play a little first base. We are diehard fans and will be as faithful as possible to keep our blog updated on the progress of our team. This weekend we will be enjoying more of the southern state's weather in Tennessee. Go Hoyas!!!!

Chicago Carters x 2!

I have no pictures to share this post however, big news to share! The Massachusetts Carter's will now be the Chicago Carter's! Yes, Clyde, Mackensey and I will be joining Heath and Thais in the windy city. We have no details at this point as to when but, couldn't be too soon for us. This latest development happened amidst us trying to find a home to buy in Massachusetts. The timing couldn't be more perfect! Clyde lost his boss Chris Haller to a promotion in the corporate office in Chicago last December. At the same time a position for a Senior Director in marketing opened up. Clyde applied for it and had a 30 minute interview with someone. Since then we were just praying and waiting. After a few weeks of hearing absolutely nothing about it and seeing on Chris' calendar the many interviews he had had with other more experienced people, Clyde resigned himself that this was not going to happen. After spending last weekend looking for houses, Clyde found "our house" in Mass.! On Sunday, the 24th he received an email from Chris asking him to call him the next morning first thing. He got the job! We cannot do anything but, give thanksgiving and praise to our Lord for this opportunity. The timing is perfect, the place is perfect, we are thankful.

In the meantime, I have spent the past two weeks in Kansas with my dad and stepmom who just went through a major heart sugery. It was a roller coaster ride of emotions as Connie struggled to live. Lots of tears and prayers and praises during this time. God showed Himself to be a faithful, healing Physician in more ways than one. I love you Daddy and Connie. You are the BEST!

As we look forward to everything God has in store for us in Chicago, we also look forward to the traveling this spring to see as many Georgetown University softball games as possible. It will be a whirlwind this spring!!!!! I will try to keep everyone updated as we enter into this time of change.

Maddie and Eva's Christmas Stockings

One of the traditions that I have passed on from Clyde's mother is making Christmas stockings for the grandchildren. These are felt stockings that are sort of 3-dimensional. Made with Love from Nana to Madeleine Aurora and Eva Primrose.

Christmas With All of the Carters!

Our family Christmas continues at the Annual Christmas caroling in Shrewsbury, Mass. at the city center. Heath, Thais, Mackensey, Clyde and I faced the sub-zero temps. to join in with other families to sing of the celebration of the Christ Child. We drank hot chocolate that was provided and sang the "holy" songs. Afterwards we found ourselves enjoying coffee at Starbucks while we thawed out.









On Christmas evening Ash, Courtney, Maddie and Courtney arrived after a long flight from Tulare, Ca. We had our Christmas Eve that day and our Christmas on the 26th. We read our Christmas story about baby Jesus, made and decorated birthday cake for Jesus, and left cookie, milk and carrots for santa and the reindeer. Santa left goodies in our stockings and we all enjoyed Maddie at two, passing out stockings and presents and of course opening her own. We also had a new snow and were able to build a snowman for Maddie.




















On Sunday we enjoyed a day in Boston exploring and sight seeing.















The challenge of getting a picture of our whole family, where all are smiling and looking at the camera with eyes opened, is one that Clyde has accomplished. He was able to get each family and the whole group with a silly picture of us all that is priceless!