Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
The Market is good for us
Our house has been listed for only a few days and we've had ten showings and three offers. Wow!
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Settling in, getting hot
Not much to say. Just thought I'd post a few pics. Jack and I are back in the glorious swing of routine. I've stalled on unpacking as we reached that stage where enough is out of boxes to live. Eventually, a certain box in my view will grate on me enough that I unpack it, but for now I'm taking a break. Also, someday I need to, you know, put together a baby room. For a baby. Now only 3 months away. But I have time, right? I also finished getting the old house ready for sale. It will be listed at midnight. Does anyone out there need a townhouse?
Anyway, here are some snapshots from the last week. Dang. I can't believe I was walking around in a sweater just then. I've had our swamp cooler on all day today (verdict - not as good as A/C but pretty dang helpful and a lot cheaper). The heat continues for the rest of the week.
Jack got two capes for his birthday, Superman/reversible Batman from April, and this one from Amanda with the sign for Danger. He's pretty into them.
Matching tats
Jack LOVES to help me in the kitchen. Maybe it's because now there's a stool for him in the kitchen all the time, because he pulls it up to the counter with every meal, insisting "I help you! I help you!" Saturday morning we made crepes. He asked for peas after gagging them down with dinner the night before, saying "I like peas!" See, Dr. Nagel told him at his check-up that he should try to eat more superfoods, like superheroes do, so he can be super strong and fast. I can't believe that's working. He's eaten a handful peas, a bite of broccoli, and half a slice of avocado since then. Not much, but that's infinitely more than the amount of green he would eat before = big fat zero. Anyway, on this particular morning he ate only two peas because the crepes introduced him to Nutella. Seriously mom? You want me to eat peas when this brown stuff exists??
White Fence Farm with my family right before they left for Europe.
Oh my gosh.
Seriously?
Jack is going to make this new baby WORK IT to beat his cuteness.
More help in the kitchen. He can wash, stem, and pit cherries all by himself.
This week's story time made me proud because he sat up front with the other kids the whole time. Normally he makes me sit with him in the middle on the floor, so he can be on and off my lap. This way, I got to sit in a comfy chair in the back. He did great!
Welllll...
Mostly great. In terms of bravery. Not so much in front row etiquette.
Random today shots
Anyway, here are some snapshots from the last week. Dang. I can't believe I was walking around in a sweater just then. I've had our swamp cooler on all day today (verdict - not as good as A/C but pretty dang helpful and a lot cheaper). The heat continues for the rest of the week.
Jack got two capes for his birthday, Superman/reversible Batman from April, and this one from Amanda with the sign for Danger. He's pretty into them.
Matching tats
Jack LOVES to help me in the kitchen. Maybe it's because now there's a stool for him in the kitchen all the time, because he pulls it up to the counter with every meal, insisting "I help you! I help you!" Saturday morning we made crepes. He asked for peas after gagging them down with dinner the night before, saying "I like peas!" See, Dr. Nagel told him at his check-up that he should try to eat more superfoods, like superheroes do, so he can be super strong and fast. I can't believe that's working. He's eaten a handful peas, a bite of broccoli, and half a slice of avocado since then. Not much, but that's infinitely more than the amount of green he would eat before = big fat zero. Anyway, on this particular morning he ate only two peas because the crepes introduced him to Nutella. Seriously mom? You want me to eat peas when this brown stuff exists??
White Fence Farm with my family right before they left for Europe.
Oh my gosh.
Seriously?
Jack is going to make this new baby WORK IT to beat his cuteness.
More help in the kitchen. He can wash, stem, and pit cherries all by himself.
This week's story time made me proud because he sat up front with the other kids the whole time. Normally he makes me sit with him in the middle on the floor, so he can be on and off my lap. This way, I got to sit in a comfy chair in the back. He did great!
Welllll...
Mostly great. In terms of bravery. Not so much in front row etiquette.
Random today shots
Sunday, June 02, 2013
Jack's 3rd Birthday
(Thank you, Amanda, for taking these!
Important skills
Jack likes to play Lego Star Wars on the Xbox. He's getting really into it now.
Later he paused to game to drink some water from his sippy cup. Hilarious.
UPDATE:
Ben took video too and sent it to me. See facial twitching and aforementioned sippy cup break.
Later he paused to game to drink some water from his sippy cup. Hilarious.
UPDATE:
Ben took video too and sent it to me. See facial twitching and aforementioned sippy cup break.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Getting it done
Today the Masons went visiting, so Jack and I had a kind of normal day together. We did our breakfast routine. I swept and vacuumed for the first time. We got new library books. We got yogurt at the grocery store. We have lunch at home. We walked Jem down the street. We got mail for the first time. When Ben got home we tried out the new lawn equipment.
We have no idea what we are doing ;-)
But isn't this nice?
We have no idea what we are doing ;-)
But isn't this nice?
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Old and New
Here is our dark, narrow, small, dingy carpet shell of an old house.
Quail street, you were good to us. But I think we outgrew you two years ago.
We filled the truck, plus a minivan, and at least 4 Pontiac Vibes.
Now onto some of my favorite things in the "New Big Orange House," as Jack insists on calling it. (Excuse the mess. The decorating and arrangements are all improvised and temporary.
Laundry on the main floor! With nearby chairs to sit and sort fresh from the dryer.
A wood burning fireplace that isn't tacky or dated or overtaking the room! Doesn't it scream for Christmas stockings?
A shaded back patio with ample (but not too ample) back yard!
Jack's larger room, with adorable and totally rad new bed! Which he sleeps deeper and longer in!
A master bedroom with room to walk around!
Attached master bathroom for private trips during the middle of the night when the boy in residence in my tummy decides to play the tom-tom on my bladder!
Walk in closer with triple the rod space, shelves to the ceiling!
A happy happy cat!
Quail street, you were good to us. But I think we outgrew you two years ago.
We filled the truck, plus a minivan, and at least 4 Pontiac Vibes.
Now onto some of my favorite things in the "New Big Orange House," as Jack insists on calling it. (Excuse the mess. The decorating and arrangements are all improvised and temporary.
Laundry on the main floor! With nearby chairs to sit and sort fresh from the dryer.
A wood burning fireplace that isn't tacky or dated or overtaking the room! Doesn't it scream for Christmas stockings?
A shaded back patio with ample (but not too ample) back yard!
Jack's larger room, with adorable and totally rad new bed! Which he sleeps deeper and longer in!
A master bedroom with room to walk around!
Attached master bathroom for private trips during the middle of the night when the boy in residence in my tummy decides to play the tom-tom on my bladder!
Walk in closer with triple the rod space, shelves to the ceiling!
A happy happy cat!
Moved!
We are here in our new house! Thanks to helpful family and hired movers, we got our new house moved in on Sunday. Monday was a birthday party for Jack - now THREE! and a flurry a unpacking. Today is more settled in, the slower unboxing part of moving in. Ben is back at work. His folks are staying for the week to help with Jack while I continue unpacking. The cat and dog both seem to love the new house. When Ben and I catch our breaths between moments of exhaustion, we are over the moon about the new house.
Pictures to come of the party and house later. Too tired to dig out transfer cords.
Pictures to come of the party and house later. Too tired to dig out transfer cords.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Sliding through May
Amanda pointed out that I haven't posted in a while, so let me give you a quick run down of our May so far.
1. The house purchase is going extremely well. The offer, inspection, objections, appraisal, loan, and closing preparations are all going so remarkably well, the realtors are even amazed. At least half of our house is already in boxes. Jack spent the morning playing Transformers with Brian while Ben and did a packing spree. In addition, we've been doing a couple boxes a day for the last few weeks. I have met with carpet and paint people to prepare our townhouse for market. I feel like I have all my ducks in order.
2. I declare Jack potty-trained! He took to it really well. After a week I started leaving his diaper off during naps too, and he wakes up dry every time. We carry about our days normally and he's able to use all public restrooms or hold it until we get home pretty much all the time. I'd say he had two minor accidents in the last two weeks - and I blame myself partly for putting him in a tough situation. He still wears a diaper at night. I'm told that part will come much later. It wasn't exactly easy to train him. It took a lot of work. Diapers sure were easy. But hopefully we can enjoy a few months diaper-free before starting over again with the newborn.
3. We have a short list of names for the new little boy, with two that we really like. Not certain on the middle name yet, but we have a list for that too. We're going to keep all our ideas under wraps again. We don't get too much negative feedback on names we actually love, and so we might change our minds last minute if needed. But I will say that Elmer Lightning Mason is no longer on our lists ;-)
4. Been doing lots of dishes, lots of laundry, lots of grocery shopping.
5. I took Jack to the zoo a couples times. We also go to the playground most days. And . . . here are some pictures to jog my memory.
Zoo trip on a Friday. Silly me, I didn't realize it would be crawling with school groups and other moms, happy to finally have a nice weather day to take out our kids. I brought his stroller because he hurt his foot that week, and carrying him isn't an option for me anymore when he gets tired. It had been at least a year since he rode in it. Maybe more. He didn't recognize it. He was SUPER into the stroller. Then he went all old school with his hat, duck, and puppy.
The carousal ride was on Tuesday this week, where we met Erin and her daughter Nora. Jack and Nora are a month apart, and so are our due dates for our next kids! I hope we can spend more time playing together now.
Library story time and grocery store horse ride = classic combo. (Although these pics were on separate weeks)
Making Mother's Day cookies for Grandma Susan. (I had a fantastically relaxed Mother's Day. Ben treats me very well. I'm only sad that I remembered several days too late to take a portrait of me and Jack. This one will have to stand in for this year.)
Ben taught him to use the big swings.
He makes friends easily every time we go to the playground.
Cold weather day spent at CC mall.
Completed hat and sweater (minus buttons) for the baby. I'm halfway through sweater #2. Yay for autumn babies!
Snuck into Pre-opening night at Cafe Rio in our neighborhood and got a free dinner. It was so busy we ate it outside.
Jack was cold, so we improvised. Ben declared this photo "Glorious."
Play time with Wolfie. These movie trades are great. They were seeing Iron Man 3. The Saturday before we got to see The Great Gatsby (at the Alamo, of course!).
That brings us to this Saturday. The day was spent packing, more Cafe Rio for lunch, and nap time for all three of us. Then we went to H Burger with Brian and Amanda, and dessert at Sweet Action ice cream. It was 30 minutes past Jack's bedtime and, again, too crowded inside. We ate on a sidewalk table. After asking "How about inside?" I went to the car to get his blankets again. This was met with "You have undies for my hat?" Not wanting to make another trip to the car, we got over our giggles and made a head wrap.
1. The house purchase is going extremely well. The offer, inspection, objections, appraisal, loan, and closing preparations are all going so remarkably well, the realtors are even amazed. At least half of our house is already in boxes. Jack spent the morning playing Transformers with Brian while Ben and did a packing spree. In addition, we've been doing a couple boxes a day for the last few weeks. I have met with carpet and paint people to prepare our townhouse for market. I feel like I have all my ducks in order.
2. I declare Jack potty-trained! He took to it really well. After a week I started leaving his diaper off during naps too, and he wakes up dry every time. We carry about our days normally and he's able to use all public restrooms or hold it until we get home pretty much all the time. I'd say he had two minor accidents in the last two weeks - and I blame myself partly for putting him in a tough situation. He still wears a diaper at night. I'm told that part will come much later. It wasn't exactly easy to train him. It took a lot of work. Diapers sure were easy. But hopefully we can enjoy a few months diaper-free before starting over again with the newborn.
3. We have a short list of names for the new little boy, with two that we really like. Not certain on the middle name yet, but we have a list for that too. We're going to keep all our ideas under wraps again. We don't get too much negative feedback on names we actually love, and so we might change our minds last minute if needed. But I will say that Elmer Lightning Mason is no longer on our lists ;-)
4. Been doing lots of dishes, lots of laundry, lots of grocery shopping.
5. I took Jack to the zoo a couples times. We also go to the playground most days. And . . . here are some pictures to jog my memory.
Zoo trip on a Friday. Silly me, I didn't realize it would be crawling with school groups and other moms, happy to finally have a nice weather day to take out our kids. I brought his stroller because he hurt his foot that week, and carrying him isn't an option for me anymore when he gets tired. It had been at least a year since he rode in it. Maybe more. He didn't recognize it. He was SUPER into the stroller. Then he went all old school with his hat, duck, and puppy.
The carousal ride was on Tuesday this week, where we met Erin and her daughter Nora. Jack and Nora are a month apart, and so are our due dates for our next kids! I hope we can spend more time playing together now.
Library story time and grocery store horse ride = classic combo. (Although these pics were on separate weeks)
Making Mother's Day cookies for Grandma Susan. (I had a fantastically relaxed Mother's Day. Ben treats me very well. I'm only sad that I remembered several days too late to take a portrait of me and Jack. This one will have to stand in for this year.)
Ben taught him to use the big swings.
He makes friends easily every time we go to the playground.
Cold weather day spent at CC mall.
Completed hat and sweater (minus buttons) for the baby. I'm halfway through sweater #2. Yay for autumn babies!
Snuck into Pre-opening night at Cafe Rio in our neighborhood and got a free dinner. It was so busy we ate it outside.
Jack was cold, so we improvised. Ben declared this photo "Glorious."
Play time with Wolfie. These movie trades are great. They were seeing Iron Man 3. The Saturday before we got to see The Great Gatsby (at the Alamo, of course!).
That brings us to this Saturday. The day was spent packing, more Cafe Rio for lunch, and nap time for all three of us. Then we went to H Burger with Brian and Amanda, and dessert at Sweet Action ice cream. It was 30 minutes past Jack's bedtime and, again, too crowded inside. We ate on a sidewalk table. After asking "How about inside?" I went to the car to get his blankets again. This was met with "You have undies for my hat?" Not wanting to make another trip to the car, we got over our giggles and made a head wrap.
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