Hello Everyone,
I always have a difficult time deciding where to begin my "update." But probably the most exciting news (that I know feel confident in sharing, if you don't already know) is we close on a house this Friday! WE ARE SO EXCITED. We feel SO LUCKY to be starting our first home together. I still have my condo in Iowa City, but am currently renting it. And the house we are living in right now is a rental. So technically, this is our first home together! Ah, I love it. So wondering where it is?
Well we bought a home in Bettendorf. Those of you who are familiar with Bettendorf - it is on Greystone Drive (near 53rd street and 18th street) and in the Paul Norton school district if that gives you an idea of the general area. Here's a picture of the outside.
It has an unique floor plan (tri-level), which I never thought I would live in. I LOVE the neighborhood, very family friendly. We will feel like we have so much space that I can't wait until we get settle in, but we probably won't move until next weekend. There is wall paper galore! Yes, we are talking pink and green floral theme with lace curtains. The house only needs a cosmetic face lift, but anyone that has owned a house that needs some work knows there is nothing cheap about fixing! I so badly want to get everything updated right away, but that is because I am so excited. And there are so many decisions to be made, how can anyone decide (paint colors, shade of carpet, blinds, etc.) Maybe I will have to do before and after pictures like so many do on the blogs I follow. I have a ton of DIY projects in my mind I can't wait to get started, but it is overwhelming! I can't help but wonder though, how do people get all these projects completed? Even as a stay at home mom of two, I can't find a solid 30 minutes to myself to do much of anything. I think I had the misconception as a working mom at one time that stay at home moms had more time to get "things" done. So not true, at least not right now. I guess it all comes down to a strategic plan (for example, I cleaned the bathroom this morning while Katelyn took a bath and Jonathan napped), but who am I kidding, plans never goes as "planned" when you have kids. Listen to me ramble......a good diversion from doing laundry, dishes, cleaning bottles, folding laundry, preparing food, etc.
On to other things. A couple of other "big" things (well sort of, maybe I should say family milestones) happened this weekend. Saturday morning was the first time we have ever had a baby sitter come over and watch our kids (yes, first sitter for Katelyn and she is over 2). We have had the grandparents watch our kids multiple times before, but we are ready to have other options too. Nothing beats the grandparents watching the kids and their help is wonderful, but they need a break at times, and don't always want to stay up late waiting for you to come home. And summer always has a ton going on such as weddings, we figured we better get something started.
But wait.....before I brag, I will say we stayed at home part of the time with the sitter, and then left for only 45 minutes. While the sitter and my kids got to know one another, Brian and I tried to do some packing upstairs for our move. Then we went to Home Depot and got some quotes. It was great, but felt so weird. I felt so guilty (and Brian thinks I am a nutball). I can't explain it. Moms can you help me out with this one??? I will talk the talk and say I need a night out or Brian and I actually need to have some alone time or a date, but when it comes to it, I feel bad leaving the kids. But anyway I really liked the girl we had, and will use her more once we are moved and hopefully, gradually leave the the kids longer than 45 minutes! ha ha. You all might think I am crazy, but it really was a milestone for our family.
Then on Saturday we drove to Des Moines for my nephew's first communion. All four of us. What's the big deal you say?? Well, the longest drive we have made with both kids (even with just Katelyn) is about an hour and a half. Now, this past Sunday was 6 hours in the car for my kids, in one day. Most people will say, "aw don't worry, they will sleep half the time." I don't know if you know this, but my kids are a bit different - they only slept 30 minutes out of the entire car ride. 30 minutes on the way to Des Moines, and absolutely no shut eye on the way home. Crazy kids. But the experience was great. Pulling over in a Hy-Vee parking lot to feed Jonathan, finding a nutritious McDonald's to have lunch, public diaper changes, making the messiest table at Granite City - courtesy or Katelyn, etc. ha ha. No really it was all good. My niece and nephew (11 and 8 years) are growing up so fast I was happy to spend some time with them. Here are the cousins.
There is plenty more to bore you with, but this is getting too long and I have avoided cleaning up long enough so I will throw a bunch of pictures in for you. xoxox, Al
Oh and here are some photos from months April - May. Jonathan is around 7 and a half to 8 months. Believe it or not I have taken a ton more photos since then, but will work on that later......so I say. Enjoy!
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