Halloween

I love Halloween! I think I had more Halloween decor then Christmas decor at one point in my life...Did I mention how much I loved Halloween? Well I do :)

I put up our decorations the other day, and my sweet hubby was all sorts of in to it. I think the conversation went something like this: Mr. Bywater: "Isn't it a little too early to put up Halloween Decorations?" Mrs. Bywater: "No, how would you like it if you were Halloween and Christmas always got all the glory?" Mr. Bywater: ? "Right, I am going to go do some homework" "Yell to me if you can't reach something and you need a grown-up for the job."

I thought it was nice of him to offer...Here are some shots of our Haunted Condo. :)







Did I mention how much I love Halloween? ;) Thought so.





My sweet husband made breakfast for dinner the other night (notice the stuff on our SWEET kitchen table that we love- the best part about it is it was easy to carry up three flights of stairs) I know, don't fall over, he made dinner :) Olive helped, or waited for him to drop something anyway... :)

Missin'.....

My sister today.... :) just because of the simple fact that we are dorks together

There is Beauty all Around

We are loving where we live in Chicago. This is where we walk to the train in the morning, and where I have the lucky job of running every morning. I had to explore the other day...I am getting an itch. :) Here are some great photo's
May I just say that it is much easier to run here because it is very flat! That makes me excited to do more running outside. Then I found this little ridge that they call a Glacial Ridge....Friends...this is nothing but a hill in Illinois made by dirt. Believe me, they are hard to come by.


A Mother Nature made planter I found.

And last but not least, Scott is going to kill me for this, but I have to share this photo. Mom, this is where all of your hard work raising your boy went....

The Drive

Onto the drive. We had planned to go a little slower on our 1,600 mile drive across country, but ended up getting to Chicago a day early! I think that was due to the fact that Scott wouldn’t let me stop at Buffalo Bills Wild West museum in Nevada. Bitter table for one here! :)

The dog and cats did soo well! We really lucked out. Here is the spot the cats choose in Wyoming.

Scott and Olive in Wyoming
Here was my view....for three days....

Nebraska was fine :) Predictable was the word my Dad used on the phone. I thought it was a perfect description. We did run into some weather in Nebraska, but it was just rain. The truck ran wonderfully, the car did too, and so did Scott and I. The animals did a great job too! They were quiet, and put up with the two hotel rooms that we slept in perfectly! I loved crossing the Misouri, and the Mississippi River. It was all I could do to keep my eyes on the road. We went through Shelby County Iowa, and the city of Shelby, Iowa (there is also a Shelby, Montana...just in case you’re wondering. Which I know you were.) We also went through Scott County Iowa too. I am not joking folks, it was mine and Scott’s week.
Here are some more photo’s of our drive.

Nebraska Sky




















We made it to Chicago a day earlier then we planned. I should have taken some shots of the house. Mr. Bywater’s a great furniture picker outer....The condo looked charming, and totally made his interior designer wife proud.

The Packing

We got the moving van on Monday. My house looked like this...
Where it previously looked like this....


I was ready for the van on Friday folks. Thanks to my helpful sister, visiting teachers, and sister in law, and neices that made sure all my shoes were worn before they got packed. I had to warn everyone that came with a child that they needed to bring some source of entertainment. We had none at the Bywater household...it was all in a box.
Well, okay, Aniston found the source of entertainment

So Monday morning came and my sister in laws, mother in law, sister, brother, father in law, husband, friends from the ward, etc. all descended on the house like the rain that came and went. We had the truck packed and ready to go in record time I thought. Thanks to all our help...



Humbling thought. That is just what I kept thinking, my life and my underwear are all shoved in a moving truck. :) Powered by diesel....An even funnier thought.

Going Away

My dear parents hosted a little going away party for Scott and I the weekend before we left for Chicago. We had a grand time. It was delightful to see so many of our friends and family there to support us.

It really was great to see everyone, and to know that we are loved.


I am going to miss my nieces and nephews the most however... :) We love being Uncle Scott and Aunt Shelbi. There are already big plans to put them on a plane and have us pick them up when they land in Chicago. Jensen wanted to come with Grandma and Grandpa Bywater to help us unpack, and to support Olive. Knowing that boy he was mathematically calculating the possibility of getting a seat as a standby on the plane.