My brother's awesome girlfriend Cassie went to Haiti this past September as a volunteer nurse, and now she's feeling, "a little helpless" as are many of us. She's doing her own little fundraiser with the photos she took while there. If any of you are able to support her, it would be wonderful! Check out her blog for more info, or the Picasa album where you can pick a picture to purchase for $10-$15, with all proceeds going to Partners in Health. Thank you!
It's taken longer to gather up the photos and thoughts for this post than possibly any other post I've written. I recognize my over sentimentality in even writing this, but can't help myself. So, bear with me as I tell the tale of our "Baby Home", the one we have officially said goodbye to last week, but shall never ever forget.
We bought 15825 12th Ave. back in September of 2004, it was our first home, a big step for us, and in so many ways a whole new beginning. We knew there would be a lot of work attached to buying this home and we quickly got started. "We" meaning, as it frequently does in referral to this house as "Todd". So, "we" tore down and rebuilt the bathroom and most of the electrical and plumbing with the help of my Dad, and I wrecked havoc on the walls, administering vibrant color right and left with little skill as this was the first house painting I'd ever done. Well, after some weeks of work we moved in. In October we celebrated with an Open House/Birthday/Halloween party for friends. I was busy as ever at school that year with a student teacher, a fun class of 3rd graders many of whom I'd had as 1st graders, and so the year went by quickly as they tend to. Todd plowed away at the house, and I offered what moral support I could. ;) Todd put SO much into this home over the years, I was just about to list all the incredible work he did, and realized that the list would be SO long you'd all grow weary from reading it. From the roof, to the foundation, to nearly everything in between he invested so much time into this house it's been a relief for him to be done. So, time passed, we got pregnant with Baby #1, and with nesting vigor we turned the basement into an office, and turned the tiny office into a tiny baby room. And then Quin arrived! And we brought him home!
(Please disregard our background chatter and that dirty car window!)
That first year at home with Quin was such a fun one! Though admittedly, being the busy gal I am we didn't spend much time there at all. I doubt there was even a handful of days we spent the whole day at home. We always had friends to visit, the Library, store, JCPenny portrait studio to stop by, the parks to walk in or to, and the jobs to go to (watching Alex, and then the Solhaug boys a few days a week once Q was about 6 months old). I loved our back yard more than ever the summer of '06, with endless amounts of time spent nursing, cuddling and playing with Q in the hammock under the big Alder trees, and just laying out on big blankets in the shade. Of course, Papa was working away on house projects and Mr. Q was his little helper: And again, time passed. We worked as hard as ever inside and outside of the house, adding new gardens (ah see I did help some), and enjoying the seasons and holidays and this time in our home. We got pregnant with Baby #2: And she arrived, and we brought HER home: This is where I would have put Hazel's little welcome home video clip had she not been so sad to be stuck in that car seat she despised so. We enjoyed another summer spending so much time in our great backyard. Time passed, the kids grew and changed, We upped the anty on house work after we realized not long after H was born we definitely could NOT do a remodel, after years of thinking, designing, and working on one. It was liberating in some ways though, and we'd spend the next year getting ready to sell the home, with an uber list of "to do"s" for Todd it seemed daunting for so long. And now, we're on the other side of it all, and oh so much wiser, I hope. It may not have been the perfect home or the right size, but we loved our nearby stores, parks and schools, and our incredible neighbors we hope to never loose touch with. This home was where we brought our babies home, where they celebrated their first birthdays, where we celebrated so many holidays and special occasions with family and friends, where we grew to be the family of 5 (can't forget how Theo loved this home too!) we are today. So, it is bittersweet saying goodbye, and I just hope that our new house will be the kind of place we can call "home" so dearly as well.
Well, it's a Children's Museum sort of week I guess, cause our SCP field trip this week was to the Everett Children's Museum. We hadn't been up there in ages I guess cause it was a whole new place: new train set up, new climbing fire truck, new little rooms all around, like this black light room(reminded me of college parties...) newly fixed up areas, wow! Quin and I actually had a membership there just a little while back, which now that I think of it, was 2 YEARS ago! How did THAT happen? Ok, sorry I think from now until Quin's birthday next month I'll be a little in awe of him being almost 4, and blatantly sentimental, sorry. Anyhoo, this was a really fun field trip, with a planned lesson for our class on winter and snow, art activities, carpet skating, "ice" fort building, a snowy book, and then free time in the museum! Which both kids loved. They had such a great time in this Wildlife Clinic, they played "Vet" later this afternoon at the Roberts. We could have stayed all day, and I promised Q we'd go back, so we'll have to soon!
When Seattle weather has you down, you can count on a couple of cheerful kiddos to cheer you up, or a geode:(after doing lots of crafting and painting inside) It's always fun to go out on rainy days, like to preschool (thank goodness!) and the Children's Museum. We were planning a trek to the Science Center with friends today, but the exhibits there are closed on Tuesdays, huh?! So, we went to the Children's Museum instead, which is always a hoot. Sitting on an octopus rock outside the Science Center The kids really enjoyed shopping today: I love the way H tosses things lately, like store items into her cart: I wish I caught the look of pure glee on her face when she went through the "seaweed":We were there with good PEPS pals Shellie and Gabe, and the boys played together and worked together so well that Shellie and I felt like the days where the kids go off and play all on their own are coming. Wow, they really are almost 4!
I don't know if it's the new year, it likely is, or the settling down of sorts that comes with this time after the holidays and such, but I've gotten all excited about dinner again. Thank goodness cause we had a sad spell there for awhile with lots of pasta, costco freezer items (not to dis those cause some are pretty good), and I don't even know what else. Now, don't get me wrong, dinner is anything but easy to pull together with two busy little ones and a dog who needs an afternoon walk (sorry pal, you've gotten the short end of the stick lately ;)). But, we have had some nice meals together in this new year so far, and it gives me hope. Tonight we did simple Greek: with pitas, a huge plate of veggies, tsatsiki, fresh hummus, chicken etc. Last week one night we had a fav of chicken chili but with heaps of extra yummy toppings like avocado, cilantro, fresh tomatoes, smoked cheddar etc. A project Q and I did was make these little gzoya. He just loved wetting his finger and gently packaging them closed. He's going to be a good cook, this little man. Another night it was honey mustard chicken, another fav here, but H was really into the bulger I cooked up as a side, which is why I thought to mention it. I also tried a new idea of pork chops with a light cream wine sauce with mushrooms, peppers and such, which I served with freshly baked bread and spinach salad. Oh and with some of the extra bread dough I made some tasty stromboli's upon Papa's request. They made a great alternative to a pizza Friday, as I could pack them full of more veggies. Lest you think we've been all good about our eating, we did have some tasty roasted marshmellows by the fire last night as a special treat: Now, this week we've got fish tacos with mango salsa back on the menu, and maybe a stir fry, plus on busy dinner night simple chicken with oven fries, with sweet and reg. potatoes. Plus, I've gotta do something with these brussel sprouts and artichoke that Q picked out at TJ's: Which reminds me, oh how very thankful I am that I have such willing eaters, especially since Q had taken to being picky for a while there, and I was so disappointed, hmmm...maybe it was all the unexciting food I was making....Anyway, any more inspiration for me? We just LOVE new ideas!
My brother's awesome girlfriend Cassie went to Haiti this past September as a volunteer nurse, and now she's feeling, "a little helpless" as are many of us. She's doing her own little fundraiser with the photos she took while there. If any of you are able to support her, it would be wonderful! Check out her blog for more info, or the Picasa album where you can pick a picture to purchase for $10-$15, with all proceeds going to Partners in Health.
Thank you!
We bought 15825 12th Ave. back in September of 2004, it was our first home, a big step for us, and in so many ways a whole new beginning. We knew there would be a lot of work attached to buying this home and we quickly got started. "We" meaning, as it frequently does in referral to this house as "Todd". So, "we" tore down and rebuilt the bathroom and most of the electrical and plumbing with the help of my Dad, and I wrecked havoc on the walls, administering vibrant color right and left with little skill as this was the first house painting I'd ever done. Well, after some weeks of work we moved in.
In October we celebrated with an Open House/Birthday/Halloween party for friends. I was busy as ever at school that year with a student teacher, a fun class of 3rd graders many of whom I'd had as 1st graders, and so the year went by quickly as they tend to. Todd plowed away at the house, and I offered what moral support I could. ;) Todd put SO much into this home over the years, I was just about to list all the incredible work he did, and realized that the list would be SO long you'd all grow weary from reading it. From the roof, to the foundation, to nearly everything in between he invested so much time into this house it's been a relief for him to be done.
and with nesting vigor we turned the basement into an office, and turned the tiny office into a tiny baby room.
And then Quin arrived! And we brought him home!
That first year at home with Quin was such a fun one! Though admittedly, being the busy gal I am we didn't spend much time there at all. I doubt there was even a handful of days we spent the whole day at home. We always had friends to visit, the Library, store, JCPenny portrait studio to stop by, the parks to walk in or to, and the jobs to go to (watching Alex, and then the Solhaug boys a few days a week once Q was about 6 months old). I loved our back yard more than ever the summer of '06, with endless amounts of time spent nursing, cuddling and playing with Q in the hammock under the big Alder trees, and just laying out on big blankets in the shade.
Of course, Papa was working away on house projects and Mr. Q was his little helper:
And again, time passed. We worked as hard as ever inside and outside of the house, adding new gardens (ah see I did help some), and enjoying the seasons and holidays and this time in our home.
We got pregnant with Baby #2:
And she arrived, and we brought HER home:
This is where I would have put Hazel's little welcome home video clip had she not been so sad to be stuck in that car seat she despised so.
Time passed, the kids grew and changed,
We upped the anty on house work after we realized not long after H was born we definitely could NOT do a remodel, after years of thinking, designing, and working on one. It was liberating in some ways though, and we'd spend the next year getting ready to sell the home, with an uber list of "to do"s" for Todd it seemed daunting for so long. And now, we're on the other side of it all, and oh so much wiser, I hope.
and our incredible neighbors we hope to never loose touch with.
where we celebrated so many holidays and special occasions with family and friends, where we grew to be the family of 5 (can't forget how Theo loved this home too!) we are today. So, it is bittersweet saying goodbye, and I just hope that our new house will be the kind of place we can call "home" so dearly as well.
new little rooms all around, like this black light room
(reminded me of college parties...)
Quin and I actually had a membership there just a little while back, which now that I think of it, was 2 YEARS ago! How did THAT happen? Ok, sorry I think from now until Quin's birthday next month I'll be a little in awe of him being almost 4, and blatantly sentimental, sorry. Anyhoo, this was a really fun field trip, with a planned lesson for our class on winter and snow, art activities, carpet skating,
"ice" fort building,
a snowy book, and then free time in the museum!
We could have stayed all day, and I promised Q we'd go back, so we'll have to soon!
(after doing lots of crafting and painting inside)
Sitting on an octopus rock outside the Science Center
I love the way H tosses things lately, like store items into her cart:
I wish I caught the look of pure glee on her face when she went through the "seaweed":
We were there with good PEPS pals Shellie and Gabe, and the boys played together and worked together so well that Shellie and I felt like the days where the kids go off and play all on their own are coming. Wow, they really are almost 4!
He's going to be a good cook, this little man.
Now, this week we've got fish tacos with mango salsa back on the menu, and maybe a stir fry, plus on busy dinner night simple chicken with oven fries, with sweet and reg. potatoes. Plus, I've gotta do something with these brussel sprouts and artichoke that Q picked out at TJ's:
Which reminds me, oh how very thankful I am that I have such willing eaters, especially since Q had taken to being picky for a while there, and I was so disappointed, hmmm...maybe it was all the unexciting food I was making....Anyway, any more inspiration for me? We just LOVE new ideas!
