Summer is in full swing!

Last weekend was nothing short of delightful.  Saturday started off with dance class.  With only three more classes and one recital to go before we break for the summer, I can’t believe that Parker has completed her first year of dance.  Both of us have made friends during the year and have really enjoyed this activity.  I’m looking forward to picking up with the same group of girls and moms in the fall.  With that said, I’m loving that we get our Saturday mornings back! Well, depending on when we schedule Parker’s swim lessons at Goldfish.  An evening might work out best so that we can dedicate our weekends to the beaches, lakes, and pools!

Parker gives the okay to spending lots of time outdoors!

Teagan's not mad about it either.

After dance was nap and Kris’ parents arrived.  We chilled at home, grilled salmon and brats, and enjoyed the nice weather.  Sunday we were up and at the Rochester Heritage Festival.  Downtown Rochester on a sunny Sunday…doesn’t get much better than that.  A long walk next to Paint Creek, small business vendors, classic cars, petting zoo, playground, and a camel ride (these will NEVER get old!) made for a memorable day. 

On one of the 30 fire trucks.  We also got to spray a fire hose :)

Best $10 I've ever spent.

Loving her family

Country gals!

Hand sanitizer please!

Back home for naps then to the beach! 80 and sunny, who cares about the temperature of the water.  Actually, it wasn’t too frigid.  The local lake has a separate kid area that’s about two feet deep so we didn’t get too submerged, until we had to chase fearless Teagan all around.  That girl! No fear of the water that’s for sure.

Pineapple popsicles. Life is good.

My little ladies.

 Monday we headed downtown again for the Memorial Day parade. Every night before bed I ask Parker to tell me about the favorite part of her day.  Every night since Memorial Day she has replied with “the parade.”  After the parade we took a leisurely stroll through town, ending at the park again for playground fun and river wading/rock picking.  Back home again for naps, a dip in our huge inflatable pool, more grilling, more romping around outside, then bed.

Enjoying the show luxury style, double BOB

Whew! I forget how busy our summers are until we’re in the midst of them once again. But it's fun busy, the best kind of busy.

Busy summers also include plenty of sidewalk chalkin.

The home buying and selling process is progressing as it should be.  On Monday we get to meet the family buying our home! From a quick Facebook search (creepy? probably) we found it’s a couple, late 30s, with two young boys.  And the kicker? The husband is from OHIO! Knowing that a family like us is buying our home gives me the warm fuzzies.  It’s a great house.  I know they’ll love it for years to come.

The inspection on our new house went great.  A few minor repairs are underway, appraisal will be soon, and we have a close date of July 11^th. Happy 31st bday to this lady!

We had quite the home search list.  Want to hear it?

-In Adams High area

-End of cul-de-sac

-Not backing to neighbors

-Not backing to a road (we back to a major highway not.  Blocked by trees but still noisy.  Not ideal)

-Not full of wood trim, wood doors, and general dated feel (the bulk of the homes in this school district are 70s and 80s.  Very established area so this was the impossible task).

-Updated roof and windows.  Do you know how much windows cost?? Like a full year of tuition at OU.  Or an amazing vacation.

-In the school bus zone.  Practically impossible to find.  The first home we offered on was .5 mile from all schools, so no buses (have to be 1.5 miles away).  I can't count on my children to walk every day (in middle school) so buses HAD to be available.

-Kid friendly.
Let me tell you, we got kid friendly.  The three times we've visited our new home, the entire cul-de-sac, parents, kids and all, are all hanging out together outside.  The moms are great . The kids are young.  The parents have vouched about what a great sub this is, and how everyone here is just like us--moving to this area for the schools, and that we'll be so happy with this street.

I'm overjoyed!

The nice door! The nice walkway! The shutters! The everything!

Part of the kitchen :)

Another fun and busy weekend started today.  Getting the not so fun out of the way first—quote from movers (MUCH more affordable than I imagined) and doc appointment for Teagan.  BUT it was followed by delivery pizza and a movie.  Dance tomorrow, my parents visit, then the beach.  Sunday morning is open followed by a bday party for Parker’s friend and soccer.

Weekend, we're ready for ya! Hope everyone has a great time breaking in June 2014!

Hello all!

I am living in a whirlwind right now, and here's why:

-our home listed on a Wednesday afternoon.  It sold that Saturday morning.  3 ½ days. Almost full asking price. Uhhhh...what??

-we found a house we thought we loved.  Offered full price.  Got the house.  Backed out due to inspection findings. 

-viewed 12 homes.  Put an offer on another under asking and way under budget and in our coveted school district. Signed deal.  Contingency in effect though so I'm cautiously optimistic until keys are in our hand.  Once the keys are in hand you better believe I'm breaking in this master bath.  And the master closet.  And the backyard that backs to endless subdivision woods (read: no potential homes being developed in our backyard.  Rare find.  Also rare find: one of the multiple huge sub parks is just next door).  

-must be out of our house by second week in July.  Clock is ticking. 

-this house search has consumed my life and has sent me on an emotional rollercoaster.  I've been stressed.  I've lost weight.  I've been excited.  I've planned room designs and paint colors. I've went back to being stressed.  Right now though I feel good :) 

-Parker’s spring recital costume came in and there’s only one word to describe it: DARLING! Even more darling was the rehearsal. Recital is next month.  Very much so looking forward to seeing what miss P has been practicing for endless weeks!

P's BFF.

Parker is concerned.

Still side eyeing this entire process.

Warmed up and nailing it!

-Soccer went much better thanks to naps.  Parker is doing it on her own, listening to the coaches (Rochester High soccer players), following all the drills, and has even made a friends with a teammate.  Parker and L love running around right next to each other.  The minor details of actually kicking the ball into the net are being overlooked.  Socializing is much more interesting. A certain mother often got in trouble in school for talking to friends "excessively."  Please, define excessive because I'm certain I'll disagree. I guess it's hereditary.

Preschool Adidas? Yes!

-Dare I say Teagan has outgrown her milk intolerance?! We’ve experimented by giving her dairy at dinner and knock on all the wood you see, it hasn’t upset her belly, sleep, or general happiness.  Hopefully we’re on the road to serving one meal that everyone will eat (ha, hilarious!)
**update: I wrote this post weeks ago.  The dairy did in fact wreck Teagan.  Back to non-dairy meals...

Zoo trip, Mother's Day. 

-The bigger she gets, the more fun it is to see all she’s able to do.  Stringing words together to form sentences (not nice, Parker—that never goes over well—to uh oh ehtio—uh oh, spaghettio--I just love seeing that little mind grow and grow.

-Teagan will now give us kisses and hugs whenever we ask.  Hands down, one of the best things about being a mama.

You would not believe how often we get asked if the girls are twins.  Matching outfits or not, it's a question we answer on the regular.

Out of 46 mom-daughter pics, this is the best shot.  For real. 

What else, what else…

We're looking forward to family visiting for the holiday weekend.  The inspection on hopefully our new home is Saturday.  Rochester Heritage Festival on Sunday.  Parade Monday.  Online shopping deals all weekend long ;)

Happy long weekend everyone!!

It's official!

As of this past Wednesday our house is officially on the market! So far so good.  Within hours we had our first scheduled showing and the same person scheduled a second showing the next morning.  Another showing earlier this evening, three tomorrow, and we’re on the right track! While we’re still mourning the prospect of selling not just a house, but a home, I feel a wave of relief when I remember that we’re getting into the 8^th best school in the state and #443 in the nation (check out  US News for your school! It's a great resource).  Yep, we've finally determined our location—same town we’re in now, which is great because we adore all the amenities in this area.

Keeping a house spotless with two young children, a dog, and a full time job is far from a walk in the park. Windex windows? Little hands will find them.  Clean the stainless fridge? Little hands find that too.  Add a black shedding dog to the mix and I’m cleaning way more during the hours of 9pm to 11pm then any sane human being should be cleaning.  I cannot keep this gig up so sell home, sell!

Other things:

Parker started soccer.  Parker cried at soccer.  Parker didn’t want Kris to leave her side. Parker needs to nap this Sunday so we have better results.  I’m feeling optimistic that if this girl will settle down and admit to herself that she actually is tired and must nap  she will do much better at her game this week.  Fingers crossed! Regardless, I’m proud of her for doing the drills (which she did with grins!) and saying that she wanted to play again.

Pink team!

Dance is still going great.  In two weeks Parker has her dress rehearsal and photo shoot.  In six weeks she has her spring recital! So stoked to see her "Animal Cracker" routine.  Then it's on break until we start up again in the fall.  

Teagan is such a monkey-see monkey-do girl.  If Parker jumps off the couch, Teagan tries to jump off the couch.  If Parker runs around the house, Teagan runs around the house.  It’s amazing to see the effect Parker has over her little sis.  Poor T is in the middle of a sore throat and cough bug that kept her out of school this past Monday (and scored this mama a day of hooky with her girls!) but seems to be on the mend now.  She says really cute things like "I love you" and "peeta" for pizza.  


Easter was a nice day with the fam.  The bunny treated us well, however Teagan was NOT happy when she realized that she was not allowed to shove 39 Starburst jelly beans into her mouth at once.  

Often I'm asked if the girls are twins (typically when I'm holding Teagan and it's hard to tell the size difference).  I see the similarities :) 

Sigh :) 

Success!

Parker showing off her new butterfly rain coat with matching boots. 

Thanks Easter Bunny!

Some chica is happy finding eggs.

Day out at The Villages to see the big bunny.

Yes folks, this is a real picture of Parker getting ready to HUG the Easter Bunny.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend! 

Update!

Fast update before we pack up the fam for a long weekend and head to a world of water, 84 degree temps, and fun in the great indoors.  Yeppers, it’s time for Great Wolf Lodge! I’m ready for a much needed break and here's why:

Remember how I previously mentioned listing our house for sale in two years? About that…two years turned into two minutes.  We're 97% sure that our house is being listed for sale.  Like, soon.  Like as soon as the painters get done painting the outside of our house and the mulch gets laid (three inches of snow in mid-April will wreck even the best laid outdoor sprucing up plans) and the flowers bloom. 

My heartstrings are being tugged on.  We ADORE our home.  Six years in this home has brought us from a recently engaged couple, to husband and wife, to a family of three and shortly thereafter, a family of four.  We had vision in this home and we brought those visions to life.  From the little things of updating every last doorknob and painting every last piece of baseboard trim, to the big things of demolishing and renovating our master bath to adding livable space in the basement, we've poured our hearts in this home. 

But the time has come to say goodbye.  While the school district we’re in is good, it’s not the best.  Three of the best school districts not only in the state but in the nation are literally right at our fingertips.  One district is in the town I work in.  The other is in the neighboring town.  The other is in our current town but to the northwest.  While school districts were not of most importance to us six years ago, they are now.  So away we must go. Plus we want to get in before interest rates and home prices rise even higher.

However, obstacles are in our way but let’s start with the positive.  It’s a sellers market so we should be able to sell fast with a nice profit.  Now let’s go to the negative.  It’s a sellers market.  Homes are selling fast and inventory is low.  This week three houses were listed that I really liked.  They’re already off the market.  It’s only Wednesday.  You do the math.  Also good school districts = less bang for your buck. 

Thankfully though we have a lot of great people helping us through this process.  The CEO of a large real estate agency is our client so he directly referred us to the best real estate agent in our area.  My coworkers are all Michigan born and raised and just this morning I took a 30 minute tour with one of them around potential neighborhoods.  We’re on the right path, and I’m sure we’ll find something, but I’m ready for this to be a long process.  Checking out three homes tonight so we shall see!

Whew, so much for a fast update! Other things going on:

Parker is in full blown playdate mode. Last weekend’s playdate was at a roller rink.  Parker rocked and ROLLED (hehe) it. I was SO proud of her for trying and actually learning how to skate.  The rink had an instructor, the Easter Bunny, and Parker’s name was drawn and she won an Easter basket full of goodies.  Earlier that week she won a drawing at school and was awarded a bear.  I’m thinking we should take her to the casino this weekend. 

Duck face preschoolers.  Posing all on their own. I know, we're in trouble.

Teagan is in love with hats.  Winter hats.  In spring. 

Doing it!

This happened.  On April 15.  BUT this did set us over the Michigan record for most snowfall in a season.  I can already hear myself saying, "back in my day..."

Dentist success! Parker rocked it.  I was SO proud of her bravery.  While I got my teeth cleaned Parker chilled on the chair with me and watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Next it was her turn and there was no fussing, no resistance, and no tears.  At the end she was rewarded with a Disney princess toothbrush, three toys from the toy chest and high fives.  

Trying to sell my dad on the tastiness of Lacroix via a cute pic.

What else, what else...

My baby girl who refuses to keep her hair up in anything while at home :) 

What is it about belly laying and coloring that is so darn cute? 

Obligatory library photo.

So there you have it & this girl is off to bed.  Happy Easter all!