We are so excited that Amazon.com has started construction on their new distribution facility in Jeffersonville, Indiana. That means over 1050 new full-time well paid picking jobs for our neighbors. The new Amazon facility opens this fall so now’s the time to start looking for a house.

Our house is adorable and in perfect move-in condition. We’ve got a beautiful lawn with a picket fence and covered front and back porches. The house has 3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. It’s 1500 square feet ranch style house on a 1/4 acre lot. The 2 car garage is attached to the kitchen which is awesome for bringing in groceries in bad weather. The laundry room and patio are off the kitchen too. The kitchen is the center business which is great for managing kids while getting a meal together.

The great room has two skylights, 4 large windows, and is open to the kitchen that has french doors and another window. It’s well lit and we grow a lot of nice house plants. During the day we don’t need to turn on any lamps. There are three ceiling fans and lots of lighting when you need it.

We’ve added tons of storage to this house in every room. The bedroom closets have new organizers in them. The walk-in pantry is lined with shelves. The garage has a sink, phone line, person door, window, and tons of storage for the DIY’er. The bedrooms are quiet and each have a nice window.

The neighborhood is awesome. You can tell people take care of their houses. It feels like we’re in the country but we’re actually only a couple of miles from Walmart, Kroger, Meijers, Sam’s Club, Lowe’s, BassPro Shop (and every other retailer you could name). It’s really amazing how much shopping there is so close by. The schools, aquatic center, YMCA, and I-65 are all within a 2 or 3 miles.

Here is a link to our house website so take a look. We have a box on the door and your agent can call our agent, Becky Johnson, and set up a showing that’s convenient to you. Her cell is (812) 207-3845.

The reason our house is on the market is because we need to move to be closer to family. Vern lost his Step-Dad last year and we need to be near to his Mom so we can help her with the house and she can help us with the kids. We’d also be closer to my sister’s family, my parents and grandparents, and Vern’s dad and his partner. Otherwise we’d stay. We love the house.

Being 36 isn’t much different from being 35. The only thing I find amusing is that I’m now exactly twice the age of my 18 year old niece. She’s 18 years older than her new baby brother, Josh. I’ve noticed that I have less in common with those who are 30 than those who are 40. This is good I think. In our 30′s we are preoccupied with babies and new career’s and I, at least, let my self “go” a little. Now that the babies are big kids I’ve lost a little weight and take better care of my skin and hair. I look a little better at 36 than I did at 32. Perhaps, by the time I’m 42, I’ll look as beautiful as my sister-in-law.

I’ve been in my new research job for a little over a year and I still like it. Vern just failed to celebrate his 3rd anniversary at Bellarmine. Perhaps we’ll have a party next year or the year after that. Anyway, I didn’t forget and I’m proud of him.

Tommy is fighting and struggling his way through Kindergarten. Despite having a nice teacher it turns out that a failing school and high student teacher ratio really does affect learning. He’s made more progress in the few weeks we’ve been working with him at home than he did in the last 3 months of school. This is simply because no one ever sat down with him and showed him how to write one letter at a time. You can’t shove a worksheet in his hands and walk away and expect progress. Also, he daydreams, talks back, and complains that recess isn’t long enough. We worked with his teacher to try and train him to keep his hands to himself at school (not a rule at home) and pay attention in class. If he does these two things and earns a series of green checks he gets 10 minutes of computer time in class everyday. It seems to have worked to keep him out of trouble but he still complains that he hates school.

He’s getting good at the guitar and Mini Ninja’s. He practices his guitar for 10 minutes and does homework for 15 minutes and then gets 30 minutes of video game time. I’m not exactly a tiger mom. He seems to like the structure of the routine. We’re also working on the Magic School Bus science kits and preparing his Bey Blade science fair project. He’s also a big Doctor Who fan so we’re well on our way to raising a genuine geek.

Scout’s doing great, of course. She loves her school and is making new Louisville friends. She’s got a natural love of sports and so we’re looking into activities for her. She’s a little stubborn but just like a full grown woman in a little kid’s body. She knows what she wants. Too bad she always wants to wear sundresses even when the weather is cold. There is conflict on some mornings and I’m hoping her next school has a uniform dress code.

Our house is on the market. No bites yet but the market is heating up.

Tommy starts Kindergarten on August 18th. It feels like a moment of truth. Since before his conception I have worried about how my children would do in school. My memories of our experiences in public school growing up were mostly bad. We are stuck in Southern Indiana with nothing but failing schools as our options. Will the cycle of misery and failure repeat itself? We’re in a district with one of the best elementary schools in our county and the test scores are embarrassing. How is it that students go to school every day and yet fail to learn basic math and reading skills?

Tommy will beat the odds. He’s bright and self motivated. He’s competitive yet makes friends easily. He’s cute and clean cut. As it turns out, he’s also tall for his age. He’s well ahead academically thanks to his excellent preschool and daycare experiences. When his Aunt asked him if he was nervous about starting Kindergarten he replied “No! I’m excited!”. Now . . . will his new teacher raise his spirits and instill a love of life long learning or will school crush his spirit and make the next 12 years miserable for him.