Wii wish you a Merry Christmas

No I'm not actually blogging on Christmas... I'm too busy spending time with my family. How it works is that I pre-wrote this entry, but couldn't publish it until after Christmas morning, when Brad's sister and family opened their presents...because we got a Wii as a family gift from Brad's parents a couple weeks before Christmas when they came to visit, and couldn't spoil the surprise of the Wii gift his sister and family would be getting. So I had to keep a secret!
Of course after the surprise of a Nintendo Wii, we had to try it out right away...



Brad was trying out his boxing stance... what a knockout ;-)

The boys had a great time celebrating Christmas with Nana and Papa a week early. In the back ground you can see our over ornamented little tree that we set up in the townhouse. It is actually a tree that you hang on your wall, so it doesn't go all the way around. Which was alright considering we had to tie it to the wall so when Brady would give it tug it wouldn't fall over.

Brady was loving the big red bow, and the wrapping paper but could really care less what was inside.

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Yes its my Birthday and I'm not about to hide... Mainly because it the last one I celebrate in my twenties. Thirty doesn't scare me a bit, but it does sound so much older than those figures starting with a two. A couple weeks ago, I took a picture with the 2 other gals that work in my program to send out with Holiday cards for the other 2-1-1 programs in the state. These young gals (22, 23) actually made me look old. You can tell I'm the oldest just by simply looking at the picture? Is it because I dress more professional or is it the fine lines and start of crows feet that appear when I smile? Whatever it is, I'm not liking it!! Sure 3 kids make me feel well beyond my age, only because of the experiences and priorities in my life, but now I look OLD too? YIKES!! I gotta get me a good facial regime to stop this aging process, before I look like a Sharpe.

As for celebratory plans today... My dear husband is taking me for lunch, as the boys after hockey this evening, and I've got a ton of packing to do to head out of town for the Holiday. So pretty low key. I did get to open my gifts from all my boys yesterday, and was pleasantly surprised with the Spa la la la la package I received of slippers, bath robe, perfume, and spa gift certificiate. I'm so glad they finally caught onto the need for a little mommy pampering. To all those reaching out on facebook, Thank you for the birthday wishes. Another year of greatness under my belt ;-)

Going no where fast

Alright now that winter is in full force up here in the Northland, I've had the opportunity to experience the adventure of driving up Duluth's snowy, icy, steep hills. You see Duluth has these gorgeous brick roads downtown, that slick up with the slightest bit of winter precipitation. And it just so happens I work at the absolute bottom of the hill and live at the very top of the hill. So every day when I leave work I'm challenged with driving straight up the steep hill to get home. Of course the quickest way to and from work is out of the question as it is one of the steepest slopes, so I've had to find an alternative route, and even that leaves me spinning. Just yesterday I had to back down the hill, because the van in front of me was stuck... He couldn't make it any further up the hill. So he had to back down and take a side street to try a different angle. Thankfully I with a a running start I was able (but barely) to make it up the block... as I spun rubber I slowly inched along, but made it...all this for just one city block to catch the "main road". There are many different points throughout the city that the natural rolling hills have you spinning for traction...man is this crazy or what. I find myself panicked with wonder if this will be one of the times where i'll be going no where fast. Brad has a very curvy, steep track to and from work as well and on a daily basis he is witness to ditched and backing up vehicles. You'd like they'd be a little more on top of salting and plowing around here? Guess that's one of the consequences of city governments cut backs!

And now that we're in the midst of last minute shopping, the roads are full of retards flying around trying to get all their stops in on one night. (Why must people wait until the last minute?) But when you are jammed bumper to bumper you're certainly going no where fast. This is a huge disadvantage of living in the shopping district this time of year... the drive that normally takes us 12 minutes from daycare now takes 25-30 minutes. Good thing the kids nap on the way home, but even so my nerves are shot by the time we get home. (Which isn't a good thing when everyone is crabby for supper, and all you want to do is relax for a second.) Maybe Santa will bring me some red and blue lights I can put on the van... maybe that get me home a little faster some days.

Duluth Height Hornets

This past week the boys got their first team jerseys... Dylan sports #4 and Riley is #5 for the Duluth Heights Hornets.


Dylan has really stepped things up this past week. He has ditched the scooter skate, and now strides using both legs, and gets around pretty quick.


Riley is following suit, and is usually the only kid out there that has fun the whole time. Most of the others end up crying or whining about the cold, and have to go in to warm up.


Despite the cold temps and struggles of getting in all their layers, and all their gear twice a week, they have a good time, and don't complain (any more that is). They stick out the cold and put in a good practice each time.
Next weekend is their first Jamboree. Two games on Saturday, and one on Sunday... no goalies, small nets, and two 25 minute halves of running time... Lets play hockey!

2824 Parkwood Lane

Much like our Fargo home... Looks are deceiving. This "raised ranch" is 2738 sq ft ~ 4+ bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, Huge kitchen, dinning area, mud room, walk-in pantry, office area, large storage room with work bench, HUGE unfuninished area in basement, 2 stall garage with wall to wall storage and a huge workshop area, new 25 x 12 deck, and a PERFECT back yard. There is so much roominess I LOVE IT!!

Here are few pictures of our "soon to be" house. Now keep in mind that these pictures were taken during the home inspection, so its not our stuff, choice of wall color or decor. Nor is it our mess. Any its a visual to show the space and layout.

Entering the house from the attached garage is this lovely mudroom/laundry room, that any mother of young kids would envy. Tons of closet space, and durable ceramic tile for all those wet, muddy shoes and gear and the washer right there to toss them in. This room excites me the most!


Brad is relaxing in the upstairs living room that you enter upon coming through the front door. The opposite wall with the big french doors lead you to the deck overlooking the SWEET yard.


The tree line comes up the sides of the yard to give us privacy and containment. When there are leaves on the trees its so thick you feel like you are on the edge of a forest. We're cleverly tucked back in a quiet development, so you rarely see or hear traffic. The homes in this neighborhood are very beautiful, and we've seen lots of kids, during our couple visits- so looking forward to a living in a great neighborhood.


This is the fabuolous master bath :-) The wall color has to go, but the tub can stay! A walk-in closet, shower, toliet (of course) and nice long sink/counter top of the master bath.


I'm super excited to have a kitchen big enough for all of us... and all our stuff. Everyone hangs out in the kitchen, and you are always stepping over kids, toys, and each other. Well not in this baby. There is a spot for everyone and everything. The long counter is an eat at bar and then the dinning area is just off that with a big bay window. Again terrible choice of colors, so with some new counter tops and a little paint, it'll be perfect.

I'm already mentally moving in, and planning paint and furniture placement. I just need a little elbow grease... so watch for details on a painting and a moving party, and we'll see ya then ;-)

We got a house!!

After backing out from the building idea, and placing a long shot offer on a house in September we were exhausted and decided to lay low key for awhile. It was quite discouraging and we had had enough house hunting for a while. As mentioned before the housing market is disgusting out here. Old, outdated homes with no backyards for lots of money~ not of interest. Duluth certainly isn't the on the up and up for new development...I guess building on rock isn't so cheap and easy.
Anyway the house that we made the long shot offer on in September, continued to sit on the market, so just a few weeks ago out of curiousity we had our realtor inquire about it to see if they had changed their minds and would be willing to entertain our offer again. They came back with a rock bottom price that was almost $50,000 less than their original listing price... and only $8,000 more than our offer. So we went for it! Throw in all appliances (inc washer/dryer), play structure and window treatments and we've made up the difference. After a week long scuffle of paper between their lender and relocation we are good to go and signed the purchase agreement last Friday, locking in on a 5.125% interest rate :-)

The sellers are in a tough spot on this deal. The husband was relocated to Minneapolis for work (already living there), and with the financial loss on the sale of their home they were working with a relocation company to help with the process. Now I'm not sure how relocation company's work and what help they give to recoup the costs, but I do know they got in our way, and drug out the process to getting a purchase agreement signed. Part of the issue is that we are buying the home for $23,000 LESS than what they paid for it in 2006. So as a seller they have to bring a big wad of cash to the closing table. YIKES-crappy for them... But Sooooo good for us ;-) We were good on our end... just waiting for them to get their crap together.
We set Feb 3rd as a closing day (moving in day) as we are still tied to our townhouse lease until April 30th. Unless our unit gets re-rented before April we will be paying rent and a mortgage. That would really suck- so If you know anyone looking for housing in Duluth PLEASE send them my way. Thankfully we have the ability to close and move in earlier should we find re-renters.
Its a great house, with lots of space (2738 sq ft) and a gorgeous back yard. I'll post some pix and more specific next time.
FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY is all I've got to say in closing.

Rockin N' Rolling

Gosh he just can't get any closer to taking off and gettin' on the go than this. He gets on his hands and knees and rocks and rocks and rocks... almost like he's trying to build enough momentum so he can shoot out of the gates and sprint to the other side of the room.
You can see here the determination and sigh of frustration.

What started as backward scooting has turned into backwards crawling, and now he's gone to taking 1 or 2 strides forward before throwing in the towel and resorting to the good ol' barrel roll. Its exciting to see him on the brink of a new milestone, but I'm not quite on top of the child proofing thing, yet. So I've got some work ahead of me this week.

All I want for Christmas is my 2 Front Teeth...

...Nope its not the big boys... But the little man. We are talking the first round here... He's got bulging top gums with little pearly whites trying to poke through. A swipe in there today finds one of them just breaking the surface and faintly sharp to the touch. I'm torn with the excitement of sprouting new teeth and sadness of saying goodbye to his toothless grin. Its just one more thing that proves he's growing up too fast.

We knew something was up this past weekend, as he just wasn't his happy self. And no wonder with these kinda choppers making their way- I'd be crabby too!