Friday, July 31, 2009

Mini Matt

Matt at 2 1/2 -- Look like anyone else you know??


Two Big

Madison at 2 -- Big girl, holding her baby sister!

Friday, July 24, 2009

Our New House

WE'RE BUYING A HOUSE! Wow did that happen fast - so fast my head is still spinning. This house just went on the market on Monday. I talked to our realtor on Tuesday, I walked through it Wednesday afternoon. Then I liked it so much I told Matt he had to see it, so we walked through it again on Wednesday evening when he got off work. Then our realtor was at our house that night from 9:30-11pm writing a purchase offer for us. Then we got the call today that the seller accepted!!!! I am so overwelmed. I'm excited but at the moment I'm, well -- you know the feeling when you're climbing the hill of your first roller coaster? You have kind of a knot in your stomach, excited but kind of scared? Then you go down the hill and it's a terrific (if wild) ride -- that's the feeling!

We'll have lots of time for details later but for now here's the nutshell version: It's in Waterloo, built in 1880, 3 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath, garage, small but sufficient yard. It's older so there's plenty of updating to do. It's been well maintained though so no 'big' fixes needed, like foundation caving in or roof collapsing. Below are the pictures the realtor had posted on their website. I forgot to take my camera with me when I went so this is all I have for now.

Isnt' it cute?! It has 2 enclosed porches. The one on the right is deeper than it appears. Will be a great little play area for the girls - may be worth insulating to use for a winter play room eventually.



Inside the front porch. Matt said the putting-green carpet has to go. I agree. ;-)



Inside the living room. Not real big but not too small. The stairs, you can't see, but they are on the right hand side going up. And through that door...



...is the dining room. Good sized room, longer than the living room. I think the kitchen is spacious enough to fit our table & chairs, so I'm guessing we'll use this room as a 2nd living space -- computer area, play area, etc.



Walking into the kitchen... Plenty of cupboards and counter space. On your right is a door leading to that 2nd porch. Straight ahead on the left is a little hallway leading to the back door as well as to a small laundry room/half bath.



Bedroom #1



Bedroom #2 (I don't have a picture of Bedroom #3. Bedrooms 1 & 2 are about the same size. Bedroom #3 is a bit smaller - probably will be the baby's room.)



The garage. Definitely in need of some cosmetic work, but again, nothing major. The lot is narrow but fairly deep. There is a bit more yard on the right hand side you can't see along with a giant walnut tree shading the whole yard.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Summer Weekends

Here are a few pictures from the past 2 weekends --


"More Again Swide, Momma!"

She watched this video, giggled, clapped and exclaimed, "Good girl Mady!"


Tuesday, July 14, 2009

The Hand in the Cookie Jar

Earlier today I made a big batch of cookies and put them on racks on the table to cool. Madison figured out quickly what they were and walked around saying, "Nummy nummy cookies, Momma!" I told her several times not to touch but did notice her chewing once. I looked at the cookies and sure enough, she'd reached up and picked a little piece off of one and was munching on it. I again brought her to the table and told her not to touch. I pushed the cooling racks further back on the table so they wouldn't be such a temptation within her reach. After I was all done, I split a cookie with her. I then left the batch of cookies to cool on the table and loaded the girls into the van for a quick trip to the store.

Upon returning home, Madison sat down in the middle of the floor to take her shoes off. I took Avery into the bedroom and put her down for a nap. When I came back out, I didn't see Madison. "Where did you go?" I asked aloud. As I rounded the corner into the kitchen, there was Madison, standing in front of the sink with her back to the doorway. She was hunched over with her head down a bit, and in her hands she was rapidly devouring a cookie. "Madison!" I exclaimed. She jumped and turned around with a guilty look. I took the remaining half of the cookie away and scolded, "No no, you do not take things that don't belong to you. Momma told you 'No touch' and you did not obey." I didn't even have to scold her really -- the moment I came in and just looked at her disapprovingly, her face fell with shame and the tears welled up. She knew she was guilty. ;-) Honestly, I had to try to keep a straight face -- it was pretty funny, the little thief. ;-)

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Friday, July 10, 2009

July Checkup

The girls visited the doctor today - Avery for her 4 month checkup and Madison for a 2 year checkup. Madison's height and weight are right in the middle - a healthy average. Madison is also very advanced in her vocabulary (which we already knew from talking to her!). Avery's weight is above the 60th percentile, but her length is in the 93rd! Granted she may not stay that 'tall' for her age, but it surprised me. Who knows - hey, you might not know it from looking at him ;-) but Matt does have tall genes that run in his family. He has some cousins that are 7 feet tall!

In other news, Madison's latest thing is Kidsongs -- anyone my age remember those from your childhood? We have one of the videos that has Bingo and Old McDonald on it, and she asks to watch it over and over - usually 3-4 times a day. I'm usually happy to indulge her addiction - I can't help enjoy watching her love of music & singing develop at an early age!

Avery has joined the baby's libber movement, liberating herself from the confines of her playgym and rolling freely about the floor. She seems very comfortable to watch the activity of the room from her belly now and is starting to scootch around. It's amusing - Avery seems to have taken her doctor checkups very literally and uses them as an opportunity to move on to the next stage of development. Last time I took her, she immediately started napping better & crying less; this time she started rolling & scootching!




Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Monday, July 6, 2009

Happy Baby at 4 Months

Introducing my new and improved baby -- Look! She smiles!!

More July 4th

Hey I managed to hijack a few of my friend Anja's pictures off her Facebook page! Some of the July 4th memories I didn't manage to capture on my camera... but I prefer her pics anyway because she's practically-professional! (How's that for a title? She does an awesome job!) If you're on FB, you can see the rest of her July4th photos through the ones tagged on my FB page... I think. (I'm still new enough to FB that I feel sort of klutzy with it)












Independence Day Memories

One of the holidays we LOVE being back in NY for is the 4th of July. There's nothing like spending a warm summer day on the lake, relaxing and doing fun outdoor activities. (Of course, that being said, 4th of July was one of our favorite holidays in NE too -- walking in parades with the Governor, watching fireworks over the lake at our friends' lighthouse...)


This year we had a progressive picnic of sorts. We started with a cookout at some friends' house, complete with a walk through their amazing gardens. We then moved the party down to my parents' place on the lake where we concluded the day with dessert, badminton, swimming in my aunt & uncle's pool next door, and finally a campfire and music. (Plus more badminton until the sky was too dark to see the birdie! Some committed players, I tell ya!) Unfortunately I didn't get many pictures of the first half of the day due to chasing after kids (if I get a hold of someone else's camera, I'll post more pics later), but here are some from the latter half.

Avery, as Sweet Pea --









My dad and Aunt Anny - the team to beat --

Jen and Alyssa - the team that finally took them down!

The moon is high, the sea is deep, they rock and rock and rock to sleep (from The Good Night Book, which Madison has memorized) --

Friday, July 3, 2009

Celebrating Independence


Happy Independence Day!

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Tub Time

How stinkin' cute is that! Avery's first time in the 'big' tub --



Ha! I love this picture - she looks so small and out of place sitting there on the floor. What a lil peanut!