Last Time Around the Block

Last night I had the kids solo while Adam got the car tire repaired (because we don't have enough expenses these days, we needed to add a popped tire on the list).  The weather was great and the kids were in good spirits, so after dinner we went to ride around St. Albaan's one last time.  We have loved living so close to this block, which has been a great place to let the kids blow off some steam and burn off some energy.  

This time, I was the one that got the workout!  It is no easy feat navigating both the wagon and the trike.  Alex & Lukas spent the whole time yelling to me "Fast, fast!"  "Race, race" and if god forbid I would slow to a walk "Run, run!".  

Halloween Preview

We love to go trick-treating with our college friends that have two boys and conveniently live just a block away (literally one house shy of an exact street block).  We're a bit sad to be moving out of the neighborhood and away from them.  Even though we move the day before Halloween, we'll be coming back to the old 'hood for trick-or-treating fun. 

I learned last week that M, who is 3.5yr old is also going as Buzz Lightyear -what an awesome coincidence!  Yesterday, we went over for a Buzz playdate and it was so much fun watching these two run around tickled-pink to have someone else in their same costume.  Two videos below (if you get this via email, you will need to link to the blogwebpage to view).  

"To infinity and beyond!"  Enjoy!

Thank Goodness for Grandparents!

Last weekend Papa & Margit had the boys and this weekend Ken & LeeAnn had them, giving Adam and I the ability to pack without little feet under foot.  The lil' boys have been talking a lot about Opa, Mormor, Pop-pop and Grandma, so it sounds like everyone had a lot of fun while they were away. Now that the boys are a bit older, and more verbal, it seems like the outing wasn't as exhausting on the grandparents as past visits (though a newly-potty trained Alex did add an extra twist).  

Opa & Mormor fed the boys lots of Pfannekuchen (crepes) that even Lukas would eat.  I'll put aside the fact that he's rejected this food the multiple times I have tried to fed them to him, and will consider it a win!  Oliver got to visit the farm down the road with Opa while the lil' ones slept - feeding carrots to the bunnies (and himself).  

School Picture Day: Take Two

It was school picture day today.  Oliver is becoming notorious for making silly faces in family photos (ahem), so while we waited, I gave him a chance to get it out of this system.  It looks like Lukas is covering his ears, but really his is trying to mimic Oliver's silly faces that have his hands on his head.  Not sure where Alex had run off while we were doing these photos.  

House Update: Homestretch!!!

We move in one week!  Eeek!  This Saturday already (in 3 days!), the boys (Alex/Oliver's) furniture is arriving, so we are getting very close.  I was in the house this morning to check on a few things.

• The basement vinyl has been laid and the first floor hardwood are installed.  Check! 
• The recessed lights are all in.  Check!
• HVAC system replaced in basement & added on third floor.  Check!
• The painters have completed all (five) bathrooms and the laundry room and are starting on the second floor bedrooms today.  
• The contractors have as much done as they can in the bathrooms -- we have had some issues (wrong toilet sent, mirrors forgotten to be ordered).  

Laundry room (TL); Basement floor (TR); First floor hardwood (BL); Master bathroom (BR)

The third floor hardwood is being installed over the next few days.  The painters will continue to paint throughout (of course in a perfect world the hardwood would be installed after the painting is completed, but we don't have the luxury of time on our side).  The blinds and stairway runners don't get installed until after we have moved in.

Also, we have tenants for the old house!!!  (Solving our cash flow problems, but not liquidity issues, since we will continue carrying two mortgages).

Lukas - 2 1/4 update

Oh Lukas (here's the last update)...  we definitely have our hands full with this little guy.  Lukas has the most complex personality of the boys.  He's our "spirited child" which seems to make the highs sweeter and the parenting challenges often more daunting.  He shows the most empathy. always quick to bring one of his brothers a lovie if he sees that they are sad.  He has the best grin and loves to be tickled, cuddled, and played with... except when he doesn't and boy does he tell you!  

Alex - 2 1/4 year update

Of course, I'm a little behind on these kid specific updates (here's the last one).  These photos were taken in July at my new favorite playground in our neighborhood.

Alex remain our loud, happy-go-lucky kid.  He's a little ball of laughs and had this awesome belly-laugh he does -- you can't not smile/laugh when you here him laugh.  Happy or sad, he has no volume button, gee, where did he get that from?

Life with Lena!

The boys adore Lena and she seems to be pretty fond of us as well!  It's only been about three months that she has been in Philly, but it feels like so much longer.  She has really integrated into our family and we feel very lucky to have her!  I really enjoy the nights when Adam is out, and Lena and I cook ourselves a delicious fish meal and enjoy watching Scandal together. 

Adam and I have decided, we will only take au pairs going forward that have been recommended to us from our friend Debbie, since she is the one that hand-picked both Pauline and Lena for us.  Clearly, Debbie is better at figuring out what would be a good match for us better than we can!   

Heike's Business Trip Photo Chronicle

Last week, it was my turn to be on a multi-day business trip.

Another House Update

Here's a photo collage to depict how I'm feeling about the way things are going....

I spent over SIX hours tackling house things on Tuesday.  Luckily, I seem to only have to do that every few weeks, or I would really be close to loosing my mind.  It feels like each time I am in the house, I'm adding an additional project to the list for our General Contractor (GC).  I shudder at the thought of that final bill. 

Fortunately, we seem on track for an October 30th move, but of course there are plenty of hiccups that could still throw things off.  We needed to find a new HVAC guy, which has been the most recent frustration as getting that system expanded/replaced was the highest on my pre-move priority list.  The guys that we had selected had an on-site accident a few days before they were supposed to start our project and told us we needed to find someone else.  That turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I feel like the new team we have found has a better HVAC solution.  

The master bathroom remodels are moving along, as is the recessed lighting which Adam loves so much.  Hardwood installation is scheduled for mid-month and we just found a painter.  They came and measured for our blinds and for the hallway runners, so lots of decisions are behind us.   

Still to go: Paint colors... for the whole house!  Eek!  Luckily, my mom came down on Sunday we have the process started, but its still a big daunting to have to make that many decisions all at once.  

There is also still the small subject of selling our current house.  Over the last week we have had more viewing than we have had in the last month, but no offers came in.  It's looking more and more likely that we will be renting it out and selling it in Spring of 2016, which is a bummer, but better than the alternative of selling it for much lower than we are comfortable with.