Crazy CA

We have been busy with family and fun - an informal wedding reception, a beach birthday party, Disneyland and lots of family and swimming at Aunt Shirley's house. Grandma and Grandaddy and Uncle Brad and Bea Honey are all here (Brian's family). We had Uncle Ron's burial yesterday. We looked at houses all day Tuesday. I hope to answer email and work on buying a house in the next few days.  We saw several houses we like, one particularly cheaper than the rest - not that it's cheap though!  We are working on the financing... or should I saw Brian is, while I chase the kids.  :) Oh, and I broke the camera, so no pictures for now. On the positive side, my dad is mailing me my cell phone. :)

Good News from CA

We ratified a contract today on the VA house, so here we go - they have 2 weeks for home inspection and radon testing. Closing is set for Aug 28. The boys and I made to to California and we are with Brian, Aunt Shirley and family, including Grandma and Grandaddy! We have been here only abut 12 hours, but we have already been swimming and stuff!

Since we have the family and Brian is off work, we will go to Disney on Monday and house hunting Tues. Ack! Things are moving fast and I'm tired already.

I did lose my cellphone at my dad's before I left, so I'm very hand-free. I'm still on email though and if you have Brian's number, feel free to call.

How are my friends and family?

Beachy Day

We went to a cute little beach today, boys had a blast.  I was somewhat unprepared.  It was only supposed to be in the mid-70s so I thought we would only get our toes wet.  WRONG!  I should have worn my swimsuit and brought lunch - it was hard to tear them away to go home.  Haha, better for me to learn now I guess that at the "big beaches" in CA.

It was warm in the sun and we have been swimming a lot lately so they boys are getting really comfortable in the water.

In other news, we don't have this offer yet, but our realtor says it's still coming - supposed to be good price-wise, so I am anxious to see it (and sign it?!)  and the A/C at the house is working..  for now.

Tomorrow we are going back to "Pump it Up."  Joseph hasn't stopped asking about it since last week when we went.  Friday we will be flying out to be with Daddy - possibly indefinitely!  Cross your fingers for us.

:) Laura

Unplanned Weekend

Brian arrived Friday morning and we decided to go to my parents' vacation home in Door County.  We had planned to go to a monster truck race but it got cancelled.  My parents were going to watch a golf tournament but it looked like rain here.  We had a nice sunny weekend in Door County - going out to eat, to the pool and just relaxing.  Most of all we enjoyed Brian's company after 2 weeks apart.

Not much else to report....  till next time!

Who is that kid?

We found "Pump It Up" today, within a mile from my parents house.  It was a blast.  Anthony had a ball as usual, and fell asleep early on the couch before nap.  Joseph surprised me the most though, going up the ladder of the 20 ft slide while I was on my cell phone.  The terror in his eyes turned into elation at the bottom and he did it 10 more times at least.  :)  It's adreneline - I tried it later with Anthony a few times.  Wow!

Nothing going on with the house.  :(  Brian will be here for the weekend starting tomorrow morning and next Friday we head to California to be with his Aunt and family.  I think we will be staying out there, but it's still flexible.  It will be sad to say goodbye to Nana and Papa and all the fun here.  It will be nice to be with Daddy and we will take it one day at a time.

Baseball and all.

We had a fun weekend.  We did chocolate chip pancakes, an art show, and a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game with Uncle Keith and Aunt Claire in addition to myself, Nana, and Papa.  They won and the kids lasted the whole game - with the help of 5 adults, some hot dogs, lemonade and pink cotton candy - yum!

As for our home - the offer is not dead in the water, but it appears to be sinking in the water... Brian and I are lowering our price on the MLS to try to get some more action.  It makes me very sad / nervous, but here's hoping!

If you have time, let me know how your weekend was!  :) Laura

A little kid-free time

I got out a lot during nap today - exceeded nap time even.  Yeah!  My hair is cut and styled, my toenails done and the kids had lots of attention from Papa and Nana.  The kids are very happy with all the attention.

We counter offered on the house and haven't heard back yet.  I think the potential buyer put Sunday as the end of the offer, so hopefully we will know soon.

We are going to an art show tomorrow and a baseball game with me, Nana, Papa, Uncle Keith (my brother) and Aunt Claire.  Brian is in Reston for the weekend - he was back home on business and has a list of tasks from me to get done.  I'm sure he'll have a little fun too.  I'll get him back sometime in the future for my own visit there or somewhere!

Hope all of my friends and preferred relatives have a great weekend too!

:) Laura

Good News?

We got an offer on the house last night!  Very exciting, but lower than we want...  so we are countering.  I'll let you know!

A busy day with the kids and I'm tired - aren't we all?  We went to the local pool and it's fabulous.  Only cost us $4 too!  I'm sure we'll be back there again soon.  Joseph napped 15 min in the car and that was it for the day!  (that's about 2+ hours short for him)  He was pretty rough the rest of the day and all 3 of us adults were losing patience with him.  Here's hoping we sleeps PAST 6:30am tomorrow.

Wish my girls were here to drink wine with me tonight.  :)

Starting a new week...

The weekend was great - having Daddy here, my parents are great with the kids, also seeing my brother and his wife, Keith and Claire, and even cousins from the St. Louis area. Lots of people and lots of fun. I was a little apprehensive and slightly sad when everyone was gone today - back at work and back to St. Louis and California. The boys and I went to downtown Milwaukee to a Childrens' Museum, but only after setting off my parents alarm (my fault, not the kids!). The police here in Brookfield, WI are very nice. :) We had a good (albeit exhausting) day. We are missing friends and playgroups. I'm just planning it day by day, but wishing I had our regular routine with preschool, playgroups and playdates. I found a couple of good websites for local moms and things to do around town, so that should keep us going.
Sorry I can't find my camera at the moment. You know I'll post more pics once I find it again. :) Let me know how your day/week is going by emailing me or commenting here! Thanks!

Happy Fourth of July

Hope everyone is having a good fourth! We have highs and lows - we went to a "hometown parade" in my parents' community and it was great - the kids ate the candy they as they threw it out. After 55 min Joseph says "I don't want to catch candy anymore." haha- wasn't sure if we would get to that point. Anthony loved the firetrucks, drums, and motorcycles (it's Harley country here) but thought it all was a little loud and overwhelming...
On the downside- I may have ruined ALL of Brian's workpants - chapstick in a pocket through the dryer. Welcome home from California honey!
Happy Independence Day everyone!

The Play Gallery

Someday!
Look at the website
My mom found this new place out here last winter- it was what I had hoped "At Play Cafe" would be and wasn't. It has a full outdoor play ship inside with plank walk-up and slide down, wooden steering wheels and rope swings. They have dress up clothes including hats and puppets and a stage. An art area with all the appropriate stuff. There is a "tree house" with dolls and a tea set. A sand box with magic sand and letter forms. A book corner and a soft play area for kids 0-3. There are 2 train tables, 2 shopping carts with a wooden fruit stand and a kitchen decked out with Melissa and Doug food. There is a construction area with building supplies - tubes, legos, pullies, blocks.. There are 2 family restrooms, a kitchen/gathering room, and benches and magazines for the parents. It's missing the coffee and danishes, but you can eat in the lobby at 2 tables with surrounding benches. I paid $20 to spend 3 hours there with my kids (it was a daypass, but we had to go home for nap). It was well worth it, and would be about 1x per month. They have drop-off services, but you have to buy a pass of min. 12 hours (to be punched hour by hour, I think.)
Someday I want to start one of these, it's such a great idea.

What we're up to....

Ok, so before I talk about the fun things we have been doing, let me also say that we miss all of our friends greatly - the ones from the neighborhood that we saw daily, the ones we saw at school, our weekly playgroups, and our weekend friends we visited with as families. We miss everyone, but we are trying to make the best of it, so I'm sharing the cute/fun stuff rather than complaining at this moment. :)
Here is the beach from Sister Bay, WI last weekend...
and the park today, where we went with my mom (Nana)....
Next I will talk about my dream business... :)

Shout out to Emma

Despite my dear husband being quite the computer guru, I want to make it known that Ms. Emma Patton is my technical assistance. Thanks, Emma, you rock!

Hi Everyone,

I'm finally starting a blog to keep everyone on both coasts and in-between on our lives now that things have gotten a little crazy. We arrived in 13.5 hours to my parents house last week. The house in Virginia is on the market. It had an open house last weekend and another next weekend, so cross your fingers for us!
Check it out

My parents are adjusting to having 2 toddlers around (themselves and their furniture, knick-knacks, etc...) And we are adjusting to the idea that this is a waypoint in life not just a vacation!

More to come later!