The big move

As I mentioned early, we just recently packed up and moved to the Frigid Northlands of North Dakota. Fargo, to be exact. It was quite an adventure getting up here.

The movers came and loaded up the truck. They were really thorough, which was both good and bad. They opened a hatchway in Mommy and Daddy's closet, a hatchway which unfortunately leads to the underside of the bathtub and an empty space on the other side of it. Not knowing it was open, after their room was empty two of the cats were thrown in there - Panic, who used to be pretty feral but is getting better about being around people, and Kolya, who's moving in the opposite direction. So of course the kittens went in there and wouldn't come out. We spent the night in a hotel since everything was packed and hoped for the best.

Saturday morning, Panic had come out but Kolya hadn't. We did some last minute cleaning and then it was time to get Grandma at the airport - she was driving up with Mommy, me, and three of the four cats (Tybalt, Daddy's cat who has a Siamese voice, doesn't do well in car trips when he's confined to a carrier, so he was riding with Daddy in the truck). Daddy decided to stay an extra day in Durham to try to get the stupid cat out of the wall. Mommy and I were off!

Google Maps had assured us that it was a 24-hour trip, which we were breaking into two days. We made decent time the first day, although I had some bathroom issues - mainly that I demanded a diaper change everytime I was wet, and I had several frantic false alarms. But we had a good drive the first day, and the scenery was very pretty driving through North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Ohio. We stopped for the night just over the Indiana border, and of course I wanted to go swimming even though it was almost midnight. But fortunately for me swimming involves putting on my trunks and maybe putting a foot in the water, so it wasn't a problem.

The next day Kolya still hadn't come out of the wall, so Mommy and Daddy made an executive decision that we'd only have three cats from now on. Daddy called the Humane Society and they dropped off a trap, which he baited with food and water. Our very nice realtor agreed to come by everyday until the stupid cat was out.

The second day of driving was very long. We went through Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota before finally, after 29 total hours of driving and at 12:30 AM, we were in Fargo!

We spent the next day exploring the town and deciding on a house to rent. Daddy made it in late that night. Grandma flew home on Tuesday. Kolya came out of the wall on Wednesday, four days after she'd gone in.

We really like Fargo. Daddy's working for North Dakota State University as a grant specialist in the animal sciences department. Our house is only a few blocks from the Red River and a great park, the library, and downtown. We can walk to all those places or ride our "motorcycles" (as I refer to our bikes). Daddy walks or rides to his office everyday, something he enjoys. And of course the weather is beautiful here - no humidity, not even really a need for AC (which our house doesn't even have). Sure, we might feel differently in a couple months when the snows set in, but right now it's great!

Farewell party

Right before we moved we had a big going-away party. Mommy was hoping the weather would be nice so we could have it outside, but of course it was 95 degrees, so we were all crammed into the living room and kitchen.
The moms had the bright idea of trying to take a group picture of half a dozen or so toddler and preschoolers. Yeah, that'll work just great.

When I grow up

Before we moved we made one last trip to the Greensboro Children's Museum, which is probably my favorite kids' museum to go to. It's basically a big introduction to the adult world - each room has something grown-up to explore, from emergency vehicles to a construction site to a doctor's office.

The first room is the transportation room. There's a kid-sized train to pretend to drive. I put on my traveling hat and prepared to board.
As soon as the engine was empty, I stepped up and drove the train for awhile.
Then it was off to the emergency vehicle room. I desperately want to be a firefighter when I grow up (or "blow up," as I say it). I put on my coat and hat and gloves and drove the truck. This is the most awesome exhibit ever. I love to drive this truck all dressed up, turning on the working lights while saying, "WOAAAAA-WOAAAAAA" over and over and over.And yes, my hat is on backwards. I prefer it that way.
Next there was an emergency in the cop car. No time to change, so I hurried over and drove that too.
Next to the race car!
I then piloted an airplane. I didn't do so well, I guess, because Daddy and I needed to evacuate.
Next it was on to the tiny kids section, where I spent a good amount of time playing with this train. I love to get a train together and push it back and forth on the track.
After that I decided to try my hand at being a receptionist.
And a psychiatrist.
And a doctor. Daddy was a very good patient!
Being a doctor was hard work. I stopped in the nursery and fed a baby doll that was almost as big as me.
Working with kids isn't really my thing. Maybe I need something more manly, like construction.
Daddy read me a nice story about trucks. I love trucks!
Then after a hard day of career-searching, it was time to do some shopping for dinner.
As you can see, I'm leaning towards a career with something that goes. Typical boy!