The Evendens

I'm cool

I'd had enough sun so napped right here for a few hours!

Chillin at the pool

Matching Suits

I can't believe how quickly the summer is going!  My mom came to visit the first week of June, just a few days before Joe was done with school for the summer.  She was here just shy of a month.  For one of those weeks my brother was also here and for the final week my dad was here.  We had a lot of fun enjoying the sun (not so much the heat) but hitting the pool most days and the beach a few days as well.  Other than that we just hung out playing with the baby.  She spoiled us rotten, and even though it was such a long trip it was still sad to see her go.  Her and my dad, as well as my brother will all be back the first part of August though as we are having Jackson baptized.  It's looking like they are the only family that will be here so it will be a pretty low key event.  My dad will preform it in the ocean!  

Joe has been off of work since the second week of June and quickly became bored!  He was able to go to Atlanta to Six Flags with the Jr. High youth group we both work with and then from there they headed into Tennessee and spent the day white water rafting.  He seemed to have a great time.  Shortly after he got back he decided to seek out a part time job as he was bored.  So, he's working 25-30 hours a week at Staples.  He's just really getting into the swing of things this week.  School goes back here much earlier than it does in Michigan, Joe goes back August 10th and the students start back the 17th.  I'm in a wedding in Michigan the 15th, so Jackson and I will have to make the trip alone.

Jackson is so much fun!  With each new stage I think I like this one more than the one before it!  He's 6 months old now and getting to be a big boy.  He's learning all sorts of new things and it won't be long now until he's mobil.  He loved having Grandma and Grandpa here, Grandma was the only one that could really get him giggling.  He's sleeping through the night for the most part, and we're working on trying to get the 6am (sometimes 5) wakeup calls to a more reasonable hour!  He's eating solid foods now and it's fun trying new stuff with him.  He also loves our pets but by the fistfuls of hair I've found I'm guessing the dog doesn't always appreciate him!

As for me I'm still enjoying it here in South Carolina.  The heat took a little getting used to, some days it nears 115 with the heat index, but I'm getting there.  I'm STILL searching for a job and it does get quite frustrating.  It's been almost a year now that I've been searching.   I've had some interviews but there just aren't many graphic design opportunities right now.  I've been applying for office jobs and am also trying to get my own graphic design/photography stuff up and running.  I'm working on a website now and then hopefully I can drum up some business.

I think that's all that's going on here right now.  I will post some pictures of what our summer has looked like so far.

Once again I apologize for being such a slacker.  Most of the time it just doesn't feel like our lives are full enough to update anything!  

Things in SC are good.  We are still enjoying it here a lot.  I enjoy being able to go down to the beach whenever I want and put Jackson in his stroller and just walk.  I'm already amazed at how warm the water is!  Growing up I was either in Lake Michigan or the New England coasts which never really get all that warm.  The water here is already warmer than Lake Michigan gets!  In fact, over labor day weekend last fall we went to the beach one day and the water temp was 91!  

Things in general here are getting warm if not HOT.  The high today is 96!  We are trying to really get a lot of use out of our pool here and thankfully Jackson loves the pool.  

One nice thing is that we are starting to meet more and more people in the area.  It's been hard, especially since I'm not working, to meet friends but we've formed a really great group of friends from our church and are enjoying that.  We are also helping out with the Jr. High kids there and have meet some people through that.  Most recently we have starting hanging out with our neighbors.  I had talked to her at the pool one day as they have a baby boy 2 months older than Jackson (and a 3 year old little girl), and Joe and her husband have hit it off as well.  They are in a similar situation as us being new to the area and not knowing many people.  So again, little by little SC is becoming more and more like home.

Joe only has 3 full days of school left and 2 half days.  He is READY to be done.  I'm not sure who's more ready him or the kids.  He's had a great year and does loves his job but he's ready for a break!  One thing we are learning is that schools here don't have the long summer breaks that we are used to in Michigan.  They don't get out until the second week of June, but they go back much earlier, Mid August for the kids and the first of August for the teachers. 

We don't have a whole lot planned for the summer at this point.  My mom is coming down on Thursday and will stay for 2 weeks and then my dad will join her for another week.  We are planning a trip to Michigan (hopefully) in Mid July for a friends wedding and then I am in a wedding in Mid August in Michigan.  The July wedding we're all going to try and come for but the August trip will most likely just be Jackson and I as Joe will already be back to school.  If you want a beach vacation we have space and would love to see you!

I have enjoyed being home with Jackson so much but have also been job searching for about 3 months now.  It's frustrating and there's not much out there at all.  We were hoping that I would be working all summer since Joe will be home with Jackson but we'll see.  I continue to look and there are a few prospects out there.  We're just hoping that something comes along soon.  

Now every month I say in regards to Jackson that "this is such a fun age!" and they all have been so far, I love being a mom and watching him change every day but this 4 month stage has been SO MUCH FUN!  He giggling and rolling and eating some solids and in general is so much more interactive.  I can't believe how much he's changed since we got home from Michigan just over a month ago!  He's pulling up to his knees which reminds us as he's turning 5 months that mobility is just around the corner!  How fast time flies!  

This is how Jackson and I spent our Mother's Day....curled up for a nice long nap!