Haven't been here in awhile...

Holy blast - it just took me about fifteen minutes to try and remember my username and password. That shows me that I have not posted for quite the long time. So great ready - this might be a long one!
So - life in Philly these days...always crazy busy, but always good. I can't really complain at all. Kev has the summer off from classes, so he has been busy getting wired - I mean, he's been busy WORKING at Starbucks and memorizing how to make the fifty million drinks they sell. He comes home quite happy, and he usually brings me a drink, as well, so this arrangement works out quite nicely. Good times! He was offered the position of shift supervisor, and we are really praying about taking it. It would make his fall semester very very busy, as he would be working way more hours than he originally intended, but it is looking like it might be necessary for us to do at this stage of the game financially. It will be a little crazy, but he's making sure to still have plenty of time with Kaden, and he and I will probably be going on lots of study dates to Borders after Kaden is in bed while a friend upstairs babysits the monitor!
Kaden is growing like crazy and is saying so many new things every day. He truly is our joy out here. He keeps us sane and laughing, so this is good. He is busy busy busy, but oh so much fun! Every Saturday we try and go explore a new beach around here. Kaden loves the waves, playing in the sand, and digging for crabs. He is quite fearless about some things - like the ocean, and quite timid about others.....like fans! Very strange. Anyway, he is getting over his fear of fans - just the other day, he went over and hugged our stand up one and said, "Ohhh, nice cozy cozy fan!" Hmmm, who's child is this anyway? He is very much into doing everything himself now and is quite proud when he can accomplish something. The next stage for us will be potty training. I really think that he is ready right now, I am the one who is just not quite ready yet. I'll be doubling classes for the next month and half. So, when those have been completed, we'll start the potty training.
Life in this apartment complex is a blessing as there are many accessible friends who are on this same crazy journey that we are, but it is also a little strange. This is just a stopover point for all of us - a chapter to complete in our lives so that we can go on to other great adventures. So, it's always a little weird when the journey ends for one family and the rest of us are left here for a little longer. Kev and I think that we will probably be here the longest of all of the couples that are in our complex, so that will be very weird. A family just left last month, another will leave at Christmas, one in February, and probably two next summer. Meanwhile, Kev and Amy will still have at least one more year to go after that. Kinda' yucky - but we're trying to look at the big picture. One year is already down, and it really did fly quite quickly, so hopefully the next two will, as well.
All in all, I really do feel quite content here. We really really miss our family and our friends back home, and we really really want to end up in Maine when this is completed. But, we also want to view this chapter in our lives as an adventure, as well and just really make the most of our time out here. So, once again we say to you all - we would LOVE for you to come and take a road trip out to see us. We have a super uncomfortable sofa bed waiting with your name all over it! And we could probably do a pretty good job of getting us all lost in the big city - but we'd have fun doing it!
I'll try to post more often and not write such an epistle the next time!