The rock we have been under is actually our new house!

Wow!  SO much has happened since my last post.  I haven't gone this long without posting since I started this blog.  I am not sure where to even start!  I guess it makes sense to start with the biggest news:  we bought a house!!  Woohoo!  Very, very exciting times.

I really need to get nice pictures taken of the whole house, but I keep saying I will do that when everything is in its place.  Which means some time in 2014, if I am lucky.  Ha!  I do have pictures of the biggest change that we made.  Our house was built in 1940.  The foundation is great, but it is old.  Squeaks and surprises around every corner.  It mostly just needed some TLC and updates.  A little old lady had lived in this house alone for the past 20 years.  Everything neatly tucked away in its place - now replaced with two loud, bouncing little boys makin' it move and shake a bit more than it is used to.  I think the house likes it though.  We sure do.

Our home was two apartments at one time, so there were some quirky things about it.  We knew we were going to open up the living room more, but ended up just taking the whole wall down.  Why not?  We also tore out the drop ceiling in the living room and gained at least a foot more in ceiling space.  It is hard to imagine this home with that wall there now.  We sure had some killer vision!

We removed the wood paneling in the living room and had someone install new drywall.  It looks great now.  So open and light.  We ultimately want to remove the beam in the doorway leading to the dining room, but it was too large of a project to take on this time around.  We installed new carpet throughout and removed the carpet on the stairs.  We plan to strip the stairs and repaint in the next year hopefully.  

In the photo below, I am standing in our entryway.  There is a 9 panel window door that closes between the entryway and the rest of the house.  You can see all the way through our house standing in the doorway.  It is kind of cool.  Just passed the stairway is the door leading to the basement, then you enter the dining room and there is a guest room/office space on the right.  Then you enter the kitchen and off the kitchen is the main floor bathroom.  The door you see at the other end of this photo leads to the backyard and is off of, what we call, our summer kitchen.  A nice are off the kitchen with shelves and countertops - perfect for all that extra stuff one has just because they are married to a chef;)

We decided to take a break from all the home stuff and head to Bay Beach Amusement Park for one last, end of summer rally.  It was a gorgeous fall day!  The boys had so much fun and Ian was thrilled to be tall enough for almost all of the "big kid" rides.  Everyone's favorite was the tall burlap bag slide.  Huge hit!

Milo is the only smart one in the above picture.  He shows the true trepidation we all should have had before attempting the Tilt A Whirl.  Which I quickly renamed, the Tilt a Hurl.  Whew.  It was a close one, kids.  I was almost THAT mom.  

Soon it was as if someone turned the switch and true fall arrived.  It was cold and foggy, a light mist in the air.  A perfect day for apple picking with the GG's.  The boys are loving their new adventures here in Wisconsin.  Apple picking was a first for them.  We made applesauce and it turned out so yummy.  How have I not been doing it all my life?  

My silly little men partying at their friend's house for his 2nd birthday party.  

We got a visit from one my Indiana friends in mid-October.  She was up with her daughters and parents for a quick trip to Door County for the beautiful fall colors.  We met up at Birmingham's for dinner.  It is so nice to be able to see friends and family more often.  Colorado had its perks, but it was just too far to get frequent mini trips.

Halloween crept up on us quickly.  The boys decided to be firefighters this year.  They had talked about wanting to be a character from Star Wars, but no one could make up their minds about exactly what they wanted.  So, it was probably more like I convinced them to be firefighters for my convenience.  Works for me.  Ha!  Our pumpkins turned out nice too and the best part is, they were free!

The house above was their favorite spooky house.  The house below was Ian's favorite - the home of his kindergarten teacher.  He thought that was pretty neat!  The boy behind him is one of his kindergarten friends, Henry.  It was a cold and rainy night on Halloween, so we hit up just a few houses and then headed home to get warm and cozy.   

Ian had a t-shirt show at school.  Casey and I were both able to make it.  Ian was so excited to see us and we enjoyed being a part of his special day.  There are 3 kindergarten classes and each student took their turn showing off their favorite t-shirts while the teachers read off the scripts the parents helped the children write.  It was quite entertaining!  At the end they had a song and dance to share with us.  

A couple of weeks we were able to have a date night.  We met up with some friends to send off our dear friend, Shannon, to California.  Shannon was the first friend I made when I moved to Door County.  He is near and dear to me.  Even though we did not see each other much this summer, it was so fun the couple of times we did run into each other.  We also got to meet Niko, the adorable son of our friends Sarah and Brian.  Bonus!

Finally, a BIG moment for Milo.  He is ready for a booster seat:)  He still needs help getting buckled in, but he loves being able to climb in himself and unbuckle himself so he can get out on his own.  Now...if I could only get him to have so much pride about going potty, life would be good.  

A is for An Awesome August!

August was a fabulous month!  There was so much fun to be had.  It was hard to see it go.  

I had a conference in Vancouver, WA - which is in close proximity to one of my bestest friends.  We haven't seen each other in almost 4 years.  When work told me I needed to make the trip, I was thrilled.  Aris, Chris, and I were roommates at one time, so we really have a great time together.  A trip by myself - what a special treat!

I was also able to reconnect with an old friend from college.  Eric and I go way back, but haven't seen each other in years.  I found out a couple of years ago that he lived in Salem, OR too.  I told him I would let him know if I ever made a trip his way.  To add to the randomness, we ran into each other at the airport Friday night actually.  I was waiting for Aris and Chris to pick me up and poof!  He appeared from somewhere and I was blown away. 

I have a high school friend who lives in Portland, OR and was able to meet up with him too.  We last saw each other at a high school friend's wedding in 2009.  He is a hoot!  So much fun catching up.  

Aris and I were able to get in a lot of QT. She came up and stayed with me at my hotel, so every night we went on a little adventure.  Our last night there we hit up a McMenniman's on the river.  A fabulous happy hour!  I couldn't think of a better way to end such a great trip!

When I returned home, the Martinez clan had arrived.  10 days + 5 boys = an insanely good time.  They had so much fun together!  It was crazy at best, but one of those summers that you just can't forget.  

Casey and I decided we wanted to take all the boys on a beach trip.  Just Aunt Melissa and Uncle Casey.  It was fun.  I think I was most impressed by our ability to get all 7 of us out of the house by 10:30 AM with full beach gear in tow.  

What a great shot - wish Taylor was in it too.

This is definitely going up in the new house.  Love this shot!

Ian and Ethan with their tough guy faces. 

Uncle Casey helping the wee ones with their squirt guns.  

 

When we got home from the beach, it was time to celebrate Taylor's 10th birthday.  His mama did a great job on the cookie cake.  Yum!

Making a wish while Milo sizes up his piece of the pie.

Milo aka The Chip Bandit

Taylor's actual birthday was August 22nd.  That afternoon we all went on a pontoon ride for a couple of hours.  The Martinez boys had never been on a pontoon boat before.  It was a gorgeous day.  Man I love living here!

The birthday boy takes charge.

Then Ian got a lesson...

and Milo too.  

Christopher and Ethan did too, but I couldn't get a picture of them.  Sneaky devils!

 

Mimi and Milo

It was right after this shot that we lost power on the boat.  Um, at first we thought it was a fluke.  But after 5 minutes it started to seem like an issue.  And by 10 minutes, we were needing to formulate a game plan.  We called the rental place and within minutes we had someone there to help us.  Everyone was calm, cool, and collected about it.  I am sure the snacks helped:)

I also had the next day off, so we headed north to the dairy farm.  Megan and Sean took the older kids through the corn maze.  I stayed back with the little ones.  We got to play on tractors...

and eat ice cream!  The perfect mid-morning snack if you ask me.  

The next day the Martinez family rolled out.  The silence was a bit eery, but everyone was happy to settle back into a routine.  But not without a few last minute summer hurrahs.  

Ian and I went shopping at the Bargain Corner one day.  He loved checking out all the vintage stuff.  If I had $225 to blow, I totally would have bought this old phone booth.  Ian thought it was pretty rad too. 

One last summer swim with the Goettelman girls.  I love this photo!  It will be fun to show to them in 15 years.  Ha!

My skater dude.

We got the pleasure of another boating experience before summer comes to an end.  Our friends, Joe and Josiah, bought a boat.  Summer has been busy for all of us, so it was the first time we were able to connect.  Not bad. We were honored to take their maiden voyage with them.  The boys thought the launch was the best part!

We were all thankful to have Casey chauffeur us around Clark Lake.  

Such a happy kid...

turned sleepy bear!

The time then came for backpacks, school supplies, new shoes, and a haircut.  Summer is over and school is in session.  I can't believe my little man started kindergarten this year.  He was so excited!  We read The Night Before Kindergarten and talked about all the wonderful things he was going to do, see, and learn at school.  I am sure he was afraid, but he walked in with true confidence.  Proud Mama right here! 

September 3 was the first day for everyone in the district.  However, the kindergarten kids had a 15 minute meet n' greet to drop off their supplies, meet their teacher, and see their classroom.  He was most excited about meeting his teacher, Ms. Carstens.  I snapped a photo before we left because it was also Daddy's first day at work (which is also a school), so he was not able to be there.  I asked Ian to put his game face on and this is what I got.  Pretty nice I would say.  

September 4th was his first full day of kindergarten.  He picked out his shirt himself, is sportin' his new shoes, and loving his TMNT backpack and lunch box.  I shed a tear or two at the bus stop as he drove away, but mostly I was excited for him.  For all his future successes and failures, for all the moments that will make him into a wonderful young man.  No matter what, I am always proud to be his mama and I just know...he is destined for great things.  I love you, Ian.