Woo Hoo! I finally updated this thing!!

The summer months have been very busy and joyous.  I have had the opportunity to meet a lot of the great people.   When Tim accepted the job offer at Raven Software we both knew that relocating to a different city would be difficult.  However, we both feel very fortunate that we were able to tackle this adventure together!!  That makes a world of difference.  Also, some of Tim's friends from Chicago also accepted a position at Raven and this allowed a natural group of friends to develop.  Tim's friendships with "the EA boys" has grown stronger.  And, I have had the pleasure of getting to know the boys and all the wives and kids too.  

"The wives" or "the girls" having been keeping each other busy throughout the summer.  We go out to dinner to celebrate each of our birthdays.  We have attended summer concerts, street fairs and the farmers market and we have had a BBQ at someone's house at least 5 times this summer.  The group also meets for Sunday brunch on occasion.  Also, we have started a book club.  All these events have allowed us to develop a nice friendship.  None of us have family in the area, so we are sort of a "surrogate family" for each other.  In addition, we are all  "gamer wives" and we understand what it is like to have our husbands working long hours for weeks on end.  So, we tend to support each other through these times.  It has been a great pleasure getting to know all the families.  I feel very fortunate to have made such great friends.    

This is a picture of Todd and KC.  Tim and I had everyone over one night for dinner and drinks. It was fun just sitting around the dinner table talking and making joking.  Todd looks so pleasant and KC his planning something devious.  They are both tons of fun.  

Adele and Dan, they are the newest members to our group of friends.  They just relocated to Madison in July.  There is one bone of contention with this couple....notice the Steelers hat on Dan's head.  Yeah...we are working through this flaw.   

Here is a picture of Matt (left), Tate (center) and KC (right).  This was a BBQ night at KC's. Tate's wife is not pictured I believe she was out of town.  Matt is still playing the field and has yet to settle down. 

This is a picture of Meredith.  I can't believe I don't have a picture of her with her newborn Gabby.  Often, Gabby likes to hang-out in a "sling" around Meredith's shoulders.  I believe Mere is enjoying her free time while it last.  Below is Gustavo, Meredith's husband with their other daughter Maya.    

Here is a crazy picture of RJ and his son Noah,  two peas in a pod.  Marisa (yes I have a friend named Marisa...sounds just like my name) is pictured below.  Her and RJ are expecting, a baby girl, this December.  Congrats!!

Mike with his daughter Iris blowing bubbles at one of the BBQ's.  His wife Tracy is pictured below with their other daughter Sage.   Every picture I had of Tracy this day she was laughing and having a good time.  

A better picture of Sage (left) playing with Trevor.  Trevor is the son of Mark and Kelly.  

A close-up of Iris...too cute to pass up this photo.  

Mark is holding his son Spencer.  This day Spencer couldn't get enough of his Dad.  Kelly is pictured below fixing a drink for one of her kids.  The following picture is of their other son Trevor, digging a hole outside of  the sand box.    

That wraps up what I've been doing here in Madison with my new friends.  There has been a couple of weekends were Tim and I traveled to Chicago to visit Josh, Rachel and Norah and vice versa.  And a different weekend to visit Lisa, John, Jack and Will.  It has been very nice having family 2 1/2 hours away versus 9 hours.  Traveling the short distance is much more manageable for a two day weekend.  I hope to post pictures of the family weekends for my next post.  But, there is no telling when that may happen.  So, just check out Tim's blog.  That will keep you up to speed.