Monday, June 29, 2009

Bay Area Children's Museum


One of our favorite places to visit is the BACM - just under the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a very special place - the setting is stunning and the kids have a blast everytime we go. Noah's favorite room is the ships and trains station where he loads crabs and catches fish.




At home, this has become Chloe's favorite toy - stroller'ing with anything (or anyone!) that will fit! That little dress that she is wearing was mine when I was a little thing like her.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Truly a Green Vehichle...


Now if we could only figure out a way to play -putt-putt on it!

Monday, June 22, 2009

Sitting Pretty


Proud to say that Noah's mastered the potty. We were getting a little worried at 4 when he still wasn't showing much interest. But then it was like a switch went on and he just got it. Only a single accident since. And he was on his way to the bathroom when it happened! Course when you can get this cozy - diapers aren't nearly as appealing!

Sitting Pretty

Chloe's learned to climb up on chairs and likes to perch and swing her legs.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Who's your mummy?


Its a amazing the fun you can have with toilet paper!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Blowing Bubbles

Have you ever tried to explain how exactly you blow a bubble? Noah really wants to pop a bubble! We're still working on it!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Moving On, but still in boxes, so no Sew

Okay, we officially moved in at the beginning of February. And then we were under construction to finish some things. Then we went to Hawaii for the month of March, so that Michael could really finish those things - without all the "help" from us. Then we had to install storage systems so that we could begin to unpack.

It is now June, okay middle of June, and we are still going through boxes (now all located in our basement - notice I show no pictures). I've been beginning to rack my brain to remember if I, could have in some way, offended our movers. Parts of our computer were spread out in no less than 6 boxes. Ditto with all of the AV/TV stuff. I'm now bound and determined to get sewing again. I located the sewing machine and have gone through every box marked "bedroom" where our sewing machine was located - still no power supply and pressure foot. Did find the notions in a box marked "kids bath". AAAHHHHGGGHHHH! I'm beginning to think it is a vindictive plot to drive me insane!

Sunday, June 14, 2009

To View "Before" Pictures of our house...

See the post dated October 6th, 2008...kinda scary?!!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Happy Birthday Honey - are you getting a little roll around the middle?

Here are some of the highlights...Michael and I sumo wrestled for his birthday...I took him down and then couldn't get back up!!

JUNE 13th




Friday, June 12, 2009

Welcome to our house....

I've had a few requests to see pictures of the house now that we've finished renovating the inside (for now!). Our home sweet home is small, but we are making it work by getting rid of a bunch of stuff and storing what doesn't fit. In some ways the downsizing has been refreshing. I've found there are advantages and disadvantages. For instance it takes less time to clean but gets messy in a hurry! I love the single floor layout for keeping track of the kids and not having to carry laundry. And finally, finally I have a kitchen that I can see the TV from which has inspired my cooking and baking during the am/pm nap schedule the Chloe is in. So welcome to a sneak peek at where we call home...





Chloe was sleeping while I snapped these pictures - so I'll have to save her room for next time!

Noah's Room


Noah can watch his dad come home of the ferry from his bed..

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Things I love about our kitchen, and don't

Here's some of the things that I really am glad that we were able to include in the kitchen (and some that we weren't), just fyi in case anyone is embarking an a kitchen re-do!

Love, love, love the big single basin deep sink (The cutting board is covering almost half of it.) I love that I can push scraps down the disposal (for now, until with get our worm box going for composting) and paper into the garbage right below...no dumping out a strainer!!

I also really like that we were able to work out an oil pullout right next to the stove top and cutting board and pan storage on the other side (Thanks KimSue!)


Michael loves the potfiller. I forget about it half the time, but now that I'm getting used to it, I suspect I'll wonder how I lived without it. Michael uses the griddle every weekend to make pancakes. I have yet to try out the grill option! Love having gas again - what a difference in control. I like having the storage for pots and pans right under the cooktop. Had that in Sonoma and duplicated it. I didn't bother splurging for the pull out drawer b/c I had doubts on whether it would wear well under the weight of our really heavy pots and pans. I'd be curious to hear what people that have that think.

We went back and forth about the pendant lights over the island. I'm second guessing our choice. I went for something more traditional since we were "reusing" our more transitional living room furniture. I kind of wish I would have kept with the initial feel of the design and wouldn't have rushed into getting something up to have lights in place. Bummer!

I wish that we would have had more room for an appliance garage so that I could keep my kitchaid mixer out at the ready. But I don't have any regrets because I really don't know where we could have put it. I found it more important to have a spot for our toaster oven and coffee maker since we use those on a daily basis. I would have loved to have a built in coffee maker, but that went out the door when we needed to replace the siding. Oh, and I really like that we were able to have some super deep uppers on the frig/oven wall. Great for big platters and such. I also like having the extra glass/dish storage by pulling the uppers down to the counter on both sides of the cooktop and it prevents that wall from looking cluttered since I am looking at it all of the time. And even though we had to squish the pantry down to 12 inch depth - it's still working out fine and I'm surprised at how much fits. It's Chloe's favorite thing to empty out. Noah loves the little corner bench and often sits up there to wait for company or Dad to come home. We have a little pendant to install and I found a table. Now I just need to budget for it! I also want to get some cushions made for it. I'm so glad that my talented friend Stephanie helped me on the detailing of the columns around the island. They really seem to integrate well with the cabinetry and rest of the room. She was so right to inform me that they could really look like an afterthought without some contemplation. Thanks Stephanie!

We're still looking for knobs and pulls for the cabinets. I'm gun shy about just putting things up because I feel like I rushed ahead with the lighting, so if anyone has any suggestions let me know!

Did you hear the one about the Polish mom cooking?

Went back to my polish roots and cooked up some galumpki's (pigs in a blanket, the ones above aren't cooked yet!), sarufka (cabbage/apple/celery salad) and some smashed garlic dill potatoes this week. Almost as good as my gram's!!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Laundry/Garage/Playroom/Sewing/Office...




We finished putting up the cabinets in the garage to transform our garage into a multi, multi purpose room. Its been great to have everything in one spot and I've liked camping out in here during b-ball playoffs and the stanley cup!

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Splashing in the Creek with friends


Noah's become best buds with Obediah! We went to a great park with a creek to play in, swings for the girls and lots of labs to play with. Our kids are within months of one another and Lynn and I clicked from the start so its been fun to explore all of the new (to us!) parks around the area with another little boy that is as energetic as Noah.