30 is the new 20

Tuesday evening we packed up everything but the kitchen sink and set out on the 276 mile journey back to Seattle for the first time since landing in Walla Walla. We had a few things on our agenda...Andy sat for 2 of the 3 parts of the Enrolled Agent exam (which he passed), we cleaned the carpets in the good ole condo and showed it to two sets of perspective renters (one set completely BSC (bat shit crazy), the other refreshingly normal. Jury is still out but we are hopeful), a visit to Anacortes to toddler bomb my parents house (successful), a wonderfully messy visit to Red Robin to catch up with Julie, Jania, Bennett & Charli (table/toddlers smeared in Mac n Cheese & chocolate milk - check, nearby patrons with mouths gaping open at the mess we created - check, check), a mach-5 shopping trip through downtown to make up for Walla Walla's "mall" for lack of a better word (also successful)...and the grand finale...celebrating Miss Angela's big 30th birthday with a completely inappropriate burlesque dinner show at the Can Can (half naked man dressed as unicorn giving Ange a mock lap dance on stage -- yes, this happened).

BIG shout outs to: Robin & Chris for sharing your new (beautiful) home with the four of us, to Alice & Joel for taking such excellent care of our youngest while we partied it up, to my mom & Loren for taking Hadley overnight and delivering her back to us (she told me she very much enjoyed feeding the horsies, going to the park, rolling in the sand at the beach and being loved up by Gramma & Grampa), and last but not least to Aunt Joanie for meeting us at Greenlake for a coffee & romp in the sandbox!

Until next time I will work on mentally blocking out the car ride (and may have "I've been workin' on the railroad" stuck in my head for the rest of my life.)

Missing you all, but glad to be home!

Virtual Open House

This weekend we had a little open house at our place - for those of you that live far away, I thought I'd post some photos of the house / yard (so mad at myself for not getting photos of the kids' rooms, our bedroom & playroom while it was all cleaned up!) - But at least you can see the upstairs & outside!


Backyard

Coen taking a snooze mid-party

Kitchen / Living room - the addition was finished in 2006 by Dr. Murdoch (who bought the house when it was just a little shack and transformed it into what it is now.)

Kitchen - Andy's favorite part is the Sub Zero fridge & Wolf range (since he's such a big chef and all ;)

Guest room decor :)

Front Room - We call it the "Woodrow Room" because the whole front has all the original woodwork etc. It was built in 1918 which was the year Woodrow Wilson was president.

Dining room - Also all original built-ins etc. 1918

The Front - I love this view of the house, those are climbing rose bushes up both sides.

Guest room

Guest bath - Original tiles & claw foot tub

View of the living / kitchen from the deck

The patio

The black walnut tree out back - love this tree, it provides so much shade which is necessary on those 100 degree days!

The side-yard with all of Hadley's toys...many more of these to come I'm guessing!

Guest bath again - Vicki helping Hadley was her hands :)

Well that's all I got!  The downstairs is great because it's a basement and stays cool even on the hottest days.  The kids and I spend a lot of time down there during the day! Our bedroom plus both kids rooms & play room are all down there which makes it nice to have all of us on one level.  Next time it's all cleaned up I'll make sure to get some photos.

But hey...at least she's cute!

Perfecting the art of the temper tantrum.

I'm just going to come right out and say it. I blog stalk on occassion.  (This blog is particularly fabulous). The gal that writes this is married to a guy from WHS who was the "hot senior guy" when I was a freshman (some of you loyal followers may know him as Ryan Prentice).  I came upon their blog through a friend of a friend and I've been shamelessly stalking it ever since. I've never met the guy outside of like once when I was at a football game my freshman year and dug up the courage to wave at him because he was oh-so-cute.
Enough back story.  I should start by saying that I have nothing but respect for all you mamas out there that have only dreamy/beautiful/wonderful things to say about parenting, but I just don't think I can hang with you anymore - my kid has hit the terrible twos. (And, yes, I am aware that she's only 1 1/2).  I am thanking GOD at this point that she is nice to her little brother, as I am fully aware that it could be worse.  But little brothers aside, we've arrived at the point in Hadley's little life when if her day does not go exactly right, the only answer is a temper tantrum. 

For instance: Andy was pushing her in her brand spankin' new Fisher Price car that took him 4 hours and 15 minutes to assemble, and he committed a cardinal Fisher Price Car Sin. He turned "the wrong way". Why was it the wrong way? We have no idea.  But she screamed/cried/convulsed for over an hour about it.

Same went for when I offered her enchiladas at lunch (when last week enchiladas were her favorite food). Screamed/cried/convulsed until she could eat nothing but graham crackers.  And let's not forget the time I had to take my keys away from her to open the door to the house. God forbid we actually go inside, right?

If you had asked me 6 months ago if I thought my child was capable of this kind of behavior, I would've laughed at you. Laughed.In.Your.Face kind of laughed at you. There were so many tantrums today that it ended with ME in a heap on the floor crying so hard that it actually turned into maniacal laughter with mascara running down my face. (Gee, I wonder where she gets it...at least I saved my little performance for after bedtime, and at least Hadley doesn't wear mascara yet).

Please just read this post:  http://littlemisshadley.blogspot.com/2010/05/three-year-olds-suck.html  I had to read it out loud to Andy over an enormous glass...okay bottle of wine tonight because it helps me to know that I am not going through this alone. I wish I could meet this girl for coffee (with a shot of Jack of course).  I think I love her!

Tomorrow is another day, people. Wish me luck!

Jetsetters (Thomas & Percy visit WW)

I have some amazing friends, that is for sure. I feel so blessed to have moved to the furthest corner of the state and still have my best girlfriends swing through for weekend visits with their kids. (I know better than anyone that it is not an easy feat to travel this far with a kiddo in tow!) Alice & her son Lucas made the trip over this weekend, and we had so much fun catching up over wine & sippy cups. Lucas is 2 1/2 and is such a wonderful influence on Hadley. He has the best manners & is always willing to share his toys (e.g. Thomas & Percy who also made the journey).  Alice and I have been through tons together since girlhood (we discussed while she was here that we have been friends since I was 11 and she was 12. that's a dang long time!), so it's especially neat to have becomes moms so close together as well.  Since Luke is 10 months older than Hadley, I am always looking to her for advice on discipline and the "next" thing that's coming our way. It was so wonderful having them here! Andy was once again a saint and let us escape for a dinner out while he "babysat" the 3 kids (they were of course asleep, plus it's not really babysitting when 2 of them are yours :) -- we did the Walla Walla rounds -- hit all the parks, Vicki & Bruce's pool, the works!