When Jim and I purchased our home we hadn't planned on staying very long. We considered it a good first home in a great town. Well, as you can imagine things don't happen that fast when you've got two kids in tow. Heck, some days I'm shocked we get dinner on the table before 9pm.
The moment we've been waiting for is here and we've decided to sell. We've already signed the papers and scheduled the open houses. As expected, I've got mixed emotions. I would love not to have to rake leaves which outnumber our current national debt this fall. I cannot wait to have our bedroom floors at temperatures above freezing over the winter. And yet, being our first home, the first home of Nicholas and Alexa, and the birth place of Alexa. It will hold a special place in my heart.
So wish us luck. Luck for selling, luck for finding a place to live once we hopefully sell, and luck that I'll get through this with my sanity intact.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
10 for Tuesday- Memorial Day Weekend Edition
1. Memorial Day weekend. The unofficial start of summer. Our plans were to head to the Cape and enjoy yard sales, frozen mudslides, and the beach.
2. The yard sales were horrendous. Maybe it was the ones we hit but outside of one in Chatham, it was a waste of time. Boo. :(
3. While any weekend at the Cape is better than just about anything, the weather this weekend could have been better. Especially after the sunny and 90 degree weather here in Boston the few days before. Unfortunately, it was cold and kind of rainy. We did go to the beach for a short visit between showers on Sunday. Here we are at Crosby Landing.
Luckily Monday's weather was much better. We hit Skaket for a few hours yesterday afternoon.
4. Alexa loved the sand. She was happy as a clam just picking it up and watching it sift through her fingers, and of course, eating the sand along with any other finds. It also didn't stop her from crawling everywhere.
I wonder what she's thinking?
9. Nicholas enjoys Daddy's Burts Bees 'lip goo'.
!0. Grandma picked up a toy bus the other day for Nicholas. Leave it to Nicholas to find out it wasn't just a bus. It was a bus which transformed into a stage and plays rockin' music.
I tried to get him to show off his moves.
2. The yard sales were horrendous. Maybe it was the ones we hit but outside of one in Chatham, it was a waste of time. Boo. :(
3. While any weekend at the Cape is better than just about anything, the weather this weekend could have been better. Especially after the sunny and 90 degree weather here in Boston the few days before. Unfortunately, it was cold and kind of rainy. We did go to the beach for a short visit between showers on Sunday. Here we are at Crosby Landing.
Nicholas enjoyed (per usual) throwing rocks in the water.
Luckily Monday's weather was much better. We hit Skaket for a few hours yesterday afternoon.
4. Alexa loved the sand. She was happy as a clam just picking it up and watching it sift through her fingers, and of course, eating the sand along with any other finds. It also didn't stop her from crawling everywhere.5. We're going to have to find a different technique to building sandcastles. Currently Nicholas sends Jim or me down to the water to fill his bucket. Nicholas will fill the bucket with sand, tip out the wet sand, then smashes whatever "castle" (or mound) which is left. 
6. Here are a few photos of Alexa sleeping that Jim has caught over the last couple weeks. How can she sleep like this?
6. Here are a few photos of Alexa sleeping that Jim has caught over the last couple weeks. How can she sleep like this?
I wonder what she's thinking?
7. Nicholas talks in his sleep. he even fights with Alexa (I'd guess) in his sleep. The other night he I heard him talking and thought he was awake. When I went into his room he was sleeping and said, "Don't touch that."
8. Alexa loves paper.
9. Nicholas enjoys Daddy's Burts Bees 'lip goo'. 
!0. Grandma picked up a toy bus the other day for Nicholas. Leave it to Nicholas to find out it wasn't just a bus. It was a bus which transformed into a stage and plays rockin' music. 
I tried to get him to show off his moves. Tuesday, May 19, 2009
10 for Tuesday
1. Alexa is 11 months old...already!? She seems so much younger than Nicholas did at this age. By this age, Nicholas had already said his first word(s), was an active crawler, and walking with assistance.
2. Despite Alexa not having said her first word yet, she certainly gets her point across. She babbles constantly and yet there are moments when her babbling will come across almost crystal clear as a full sentence. One day I was picking her up from daycare, and pulled her out of the jumperoo and it sounded like she said, " I want to jump." Even Joan, Alexa's awesome teacher, was amazed at how clear her words seemed. The remainder of the 99.9% of the time it's just "baa, baa, daa, daa, plsssst." In time; in time.
3. Alexa is still doing the army crawl. Her destination... wherever Nicholas' toys are.
4. Alexa has teeny tiny feet. I think this is a big reason why she hasn't started taking assisted steps yet. She's certainly strong enough but watching her stand is like watching a elephant balance on a beach ball. Just to clarify, she does not resemble an elephant in any way, but her feet do look that teeny in comparison to her body.
5. Alexa loves to look out the window and watch the cars drive by just like Nicholas does. I am determined to get a picture of the two of them watching cars together.
6. Alexa is teething again. It looks like her four top front teeth are all coming in at the same time. She has not been a happy camper. It looks like it really hurts. Poor thing.
7. Nicholas had the flu this weekend. Poor guy could barely stay awake for an hour at a time, had only a couple bites of food and some water. Jim and I were almost certain we were heading to the hospital (why do these fevers always happen on the weekend?) but luckily his fever broke within 24 hrs.
8. I wonder if it was swine flu. Over 100 cases have been confirmed in Middlesex (our) county and I've heard of at least three schools in the area closing for "rampant flu-like symptoms".
9. When the kids were small I loved co-sleeping with them. I co-slept with Alexa almost 6 months. Last night, since Nicholas was still not feeling well (and acting a bit clingy) he wanted to sleep in bed with me. Since Jim was away, I relented. Every time I moved he would reposition himself right next to me in some crook of my side. I loved and hated it.
10. I am really looking forward to Memorial Day weekend. I can't wait to be at the Cape for the start of summer and forget all our home projects.
2. Despite Alexa not having said her first word yet, she certainly gets her point across. She babbles constantly and yet there are moments when her babbling will come across almost crystal clear as a full sentence. One day I was picking her up from daycare, and pulled her out of the jumperoo and it sounded like she said, " I want to jump." Even Joan, Alexa's awesome teacher, was amazed at how clear her words seemed. The remainder of the 99.9% of the time it's just "baa, baa, daa, daa, plsssst." In time; in time.
3. Alexa is still doing the army crawl. Her destination... wherever Nicholas' toys are.
4. Alexa has teeny tiny feet. I think this is a big reason why she hasn't started taking assisted steps yet. She's certainly strong enough but watching her stand is like watching a elephant balance on a beach ball. Just to clarify, she does not resemble an elephant in any way, but her feet do look that teeny in comparison to her body.
5. Alexa loves to look out the window and watch the cars drive by just like Nicholas does. I am determined to get a picture of the two of them watching cars together.
6. Alexa is teething again. It looks like her four top front teeth are all coming in at the same time. She has not been a happy camper. It looks like it really hurts. Poor thing.
7. Nicholas had the flu this weekend. Poor guy could barely stay awake for an hour at a time, had only a couple bites of food and some water. Jim and I were almost certain we were heading to the hospital (why do these fevers always happen on the weekend?) but luckily his fever broke within 24 hrs.
8. I wonder if it was swine flu. Over 100 cases have been confirmed in Middlesex (our) county and I've heard of at least three schools in the area closing for "rampant flu-like symptoms".
9. When the kids were small I loved co-sleeping with them. I co-slept with Alexa almost 6 months. Last night, since Nicholas was still not feeling well (and acting a bit clingy) he wanted to sleep in bed with me. Since Jim was away, I relented. Every time I moved he would reposition himself right next to me in some crook of my side. I loved and hated it.
10. I am really looking forward to Memorial Day weekend. I can't wait to be at the Cape for the start of summer and forget all our home projects.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
10 for Whenever
1. Alexa is on the move. Just doing the army crawl at this point (pulling with her hands, and pushing with her right leg only) but she's already very fast.
2. Nicholas is being such a great big brother by trying to teach her to crawl. He'll get down on his knees and demonstrate. Adorable.
3. Since Alexa is on the move gates are going up. One so far but I'm afraid more will be necessary. I don't think Nicholas is excited about this.
4. Alexa is cracking me up at mealtimes. If she doesn't like a particular food on her tray she picks it up, shakes her head no, and serenely moves her arm to the side to dispense the displeasing food item on the floor. And repeats, until all offending items are gone.
5. When Nicholas either wants to leave the dinner table early or something he knows he shouldn't have, he looks at me with one eye squinted, mouth cocked like a pirate, and states his desire in a soft voice. I have to get this on film.
6. Alexa's mobile has been taken down. The end of an era. That Tiny Love Symphony in Motion mobile we got at my baby shower was one of the most invaluable baby items ever!
7. What do they say; two steps forward, one step back? That's how things are going in the potty training world for us. Nicholas now claims he's afraid of the potty and I'm looking for new ideas to make him want to use it. I know he'll get there eventually but sooner looks better to me.
8. Nicholas has been telling us that he likes to eat spiders "all day long". Oooh, yummy.
9. My excersion to the Mothers of Twin Association yard sale was oh so sweet. The whole day was full of fabulous yard sales. I was giddy for days with the loot I got for the kids.
10. I canNOT wait to see the upcoming movies Star Trek and Terminator Salvation.
2. Nicholas is being such a great big brother by trying to teach her to crawl. He'll get down on his knees and demonstrate. Adorable.
3. Since Alexa is on the move gates are going up. One so far but I'm afraid more will be necessary. I don't think Nicholas is excited about this.
4. Alexa is cracking me up at mealtimes. If she doesn't like a particular food on her tray she picks it up, shakes her head no, and serenely moves her arm to the side to dispense the displeasing food item on the floor. And repeats, until all offending items are gone.
5. When Nicholas either wants to leave the dinner table early or something he knows he shouldn't have, he looks at me with one eye squinted, mouth cocked like a pirate, and states his desire in a soft voice. I have to get this on film.
6. Alexa's mobile has been taken down. The end of an era. That Tiny Love Symphony in Motion mobile we got at my baby shower was one of the most invaluable baby items ever!
7. What do they say; two steps forward, one step back? That's how things are going in the potty training world for us. Nicholas now claims he's afraid of the potty and I'm looking for new ideas to make him want to use it. I know he'll get there eventually but sooner looks better to me.
8. Nicholas has been telling us that he likes to eat spiders "all day long". Oooh, yummy.
9. My excersion to the Mothers of Twin Association yard sale was oh so sweet. The whole day was full of fabulous yard sales. I was giddy for days with the loot I got for the kids.
10. I canNOT wait to see the upcoming movies Star Trek and Terminator Salvation.
Vegas Baby!
Back in 2002 Jim and I went to Vegas for a weekend. I was not impressed. After hearing many rave about Vegas we decided to give it a second try for our 5th anniversary last week.
We stayed at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay which is THEbomb. Everything there is labeled as THEblank; from THEpad, THEcafe, baTHE products, even a sticker on the toilet paper saying THEtp. Minimalist decor, great service, very slippery marble tiled floors. B/c it was our anniversary they upgraded us to a corner suite on a quiet floor. Do not bother going into/asking about prices in the gift shop. At $6 for a small bag o chips I wish I didn't ask.
The pools at Mandalay Bay are more club scene than pool. The music was way too loud for my ageing ears. The lounge chairs were completely filled by 10 am and the good chairs were gone 5 min after the pool opened at 9 am. Friday many were spreading their towels on the concrete or just piled their stuff next to the pool. About 90% of people at the pool seemed to be groups of guys or girls guzzling buckets of beer and looking for entertainment or company. I'd guess m were Bachelor/Bachelorette parties.
Of course being from this family, I was disappointed that they do not allow food/drink purchased outside the casino in the pool area. And they do check. I decided to save that Starbucks coffee cup to sneak in a beer, and luckily I brought a bag large enough to bring food in. (Side note; while there were kids/families there, I definitely do not feel the pools were family friendly at all.) Thankfully we found less expensive options to the $10 drinks and $15 turkey sandwiches... directly across the street from Mandalay Bay was a liquor store, Subway, and McDonalds. Jackpot!
Restaurants we went to;
Mon Ami Gabi at Paris- great service, good food, great outdoor seating over looking the Bellagio fountains. We had a delicious duck confit app but our steak frites was ok, and the chicken was tastey but overcooked to beyond dry. We did not do dessert b/c of time.
Fleur de Lys- 1/2 priced drinks and free apps b/w 5 -6:30 pm. Yummy gourmet popcorn and ckn satay complementary apps served to our table. Nice selection of drinks.
Stratosphere bar/lounge- Wed night is ladies night which includes 1/2 price drinks, a raffle of a designer bag, and a free glass of champagne to the first 75 ladies. They also claim "contemporary chic strictly enforced". The view from up there is amazing but will cause vertigo. The martini selection looked delicious but what we had was small and way too tart. The "designer bag" was a small Coach bag. Not too sure what contemporary chic means but apparently it includes jean shorts and sneakers for guys. Also, the Stratosphere is NOT a comfortable walking distance from the Wynn.
Wynn buffet- About 1/2 of what I tried I LOVED. Especially the prime rib and veal. The other half was not good. Could just me my taste but I think it's pretty darn hard for me not to like a chocolate dessert. I do think I got sick from a fish dish cuz my tummy was off all day the day after.
Bouchon- Thomas Keller protege's restaurant. Fabulous waiter service, amazing dinner although Jim would tell you they did not provide us enough time to eat our pate before serving our meals, and they improperly cooked Jim's lamb twice. Anyway...we got the pate (delicious!), the lamb and steak frites for our main course, choc mouse and creme caramel for dessert. All excellent. They comp'd the desserts in celebration of our anniversary. Can't complain there.
Cirque D'Soleil "O" at the Bellagio- We were lucky to get tickets the morning of the show. 2 partially obstructed views 6 rows from the stage. The show is really amazing. Not only the acrobatics but the engineering of pool/stage, etc kept you stunned. The tickets were nicely discounted but we did miss some of the show being in partially obstructed seats. Not the main bits but some of the lead up, etc.
Overall, we had a great time and I'd definitely stay at our hotel again. A very different experience to my first trip there and I do wish we were able to do more but it was enough time away from the kids for me of which I am so thankful to Mom and Dad for taking care of the kids for us.
Here's a very few pics. To much time eating, drinking, realaxing to do anything else. ;)
Mandalay Bay Hotel from the East Pool.
The East Pool.
Thehotel from the East Pool.
One of TWO bathrooms in our corner suite.
The bedroom of our corner suite on the 36th Floor.
The living room of our suite.
Jim taking in the highway view.
I think he's looking at the airport here.
We stayed at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay which is THEbomb. Everything there is labeled as THEblank; from THEpad, THEcafe, baTHE products, even a sticker on the toilet paper saying THEtp. Minimalist decor, great service, very slippery marble tiled floors. B/c it was our anniversary they upgraded us to a corner suite on a quiet floor. Do not bother going into/asking about prices in the gift shop. At $6 for a small bag o chips I wish I didn't ask.
The pools at Mandalay Bay are more club scene than pool. The music was way too loud for my ageing ears. The lounge chairs were completely filled by 10 am and the good chairs were gone 5 min after the pool opened at 9 am. Friday many were spreading their towels on the concrete or just piled their stuff next to the pool. About 90% of people at the pool seemed to be groups of guys or girls guzzling buckets of beer and looking for entertainment or company. I'd guess m were Bachelor/Bachelorette parties.
Of course being from this family, I was disappointed that they do not allow food/drink purchased outside the casino in the pool area. And they do check. I decided to save that Starbucks coffee cup to sneak in a beer, and luckily I brought a bag large enough to bring food in. (Side note; while there were kids/families there, I definitely do not feel the pools were family friendly at all.) Thankfully we found less expensive options to the $10 drinks and $15 turkey sandwiches... directly across the street from Mandalay Bay was a liquor store, Subway, and McDonalds. Jackpot!
Restaurants we went to;
Mon Ami Gabi at Paris- great service, good food, great outdoor seating over looking the Bellagio fountains. We had a delicious duck confit app but our steak frites was ok, and the chicken was tastey but overcooked to beyond dry. We did not do dessert b/c of time.
Fleur de Lys- 1/2 priced drinks and free apps b/w 5 -6:30 pm. Yummy gourmet popcorn and ckn satay complementary apps served to our table. Nice selection of drinks.
Stratosphere bar/lounge- Wed night is ladies night which includes 1/2 price drinks, a raffle of a designer bag, and a free glass of champagne to the first 75 ladies. They also claim "contemporary chic strictly enforced". The view from up there is amazing but will cause vertigo. The martini selection looked delicious but what we had was small and way too tart. The "designer bag" was a small Coach bag. Not too sure what contemporary chic means but apparently it includes jean shorts and sneakers for guys. Also, the Stratosphere is NOT a comfortable walking distance from the Wynn.
Wynn buffet- About 1/2 of what I tried I LOVED. Especially the prime rib and veal. The other half was not good. Could just me my taste but I think it's pretty darn hard for me not to like a chocolate dessert. I do think I got sick from a fish dish cuz my tummy was off all day the day after.
Bouchon- Thomas Keller protege's restaurant. Fabulous waiter service, amazing dinner although Jim would tell you they did not provide us enough time to eat our pate before serving our meals, and they improperly cooked Jim's lamb twice. Anyway...we got the pate (delicious!), the lamb and steak frites for our main course, choc mouse and creme caramel for dessert. All excellent. They comp'd the desserts in celebration of our anniversary. Can't complain there.
Cirque D'Soleil "O" at the Bellagio- We were lucky to get tickets the morning of the show. 2 partially obstructed views 6 rows from the stage. The show is really amazing. Not only the acrobatics but the engineering of pool/stage, etc kept you stunned. The tickets were nicely discounted but we did miss some of the show being in partially obstructed seats. Not the main bits but some of the lead up, etc.
Overall, we had a great time and I'd definitely stay at our hotel again. A very different experience to my first trip there and I do wish we were able to do more but it was enough time away from the kids for me of which I am so thankful to Mom and Dad for taking care of the kids for us.
Here's a very few pics. To much time eating, drinking, realaxing to do anything else. ;)
Mandalay Bay Hotel from the East Pool.
The East Pool.
Thehotel from the East Pool.
One of TWO bathrooms in our corner suite.
The bedroom of our corner suite on the 36th Floor.
The living room of our suite.
Jim taking in the highway view. 
I think he's looking at the airport here.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Weekend tidbits
Every 6 months the local chapter of the moms of multiples association has a yard sale. I've been going for years and I always find fabulous gems for the kids. This visit was no exception. The day was apparently a popular day for yardsales because I hit 2 others on my way to the MOTA sale and 2 on my return. All of which I scored some amazing finds including a t-shirt for Nicholas which says, "my mom rules". How could I pass that up?
Tonight Nicholas was all about mommy. At bathtime he washed my face for me and afterwards he insisted on clipping my toenails. While I could get used to treatment like this I think I might steer him away from a career in spa services.
With Alexa's birthday coming up (and a coupon for a free print in hand) I went to Picture People to have some pictures taken for her milestone. We did some in an "angel costume" and then did a wardrobe change and did some for her birthday. At the end of the session, they asked us for an image release and put one of her photos up on the wall! Who can resist this face? Here are some from the session. There are more on our shutterfly site too.
More pictures to share later. You'll have to wait until after her birthday. Don't worry, they are worth it.
Tonight Nicholas was all about mommy. At bathtime he washed my face for me and afterwards he insisted on clipping my toenails. While I could get used to treatment like this I think I might steer him away from a career in spa services.
With Alexa's birthday coming up (and a coupon for a free print in hand) I went to Picture People to have some pictures taken for her milestone. We did some in an "angel costume" and then did a wardrobe change and did some for her birthday. At the end of the session, they asked us for an image release and put one of her photos up on the wall! Who can resist this face? Here are some from the session. There are more on our shutterfly site too.
More pictures to share later. You'll have to wait until after her birthday. Don't worry, they are worth it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
