A Conversation

My father-in-law called last night. "What's going on?" He asks. I gave him the latest news. "It's time to put something on the internet, give people an update." He says.

You know you've been incognito a little too long when your father-in-law has to tell you to communicate.

Drumroll please....143 homes later (yep, you read that right), we have found our home. We signed paperwork last night to confirm an already negotiated verbal agreement with the sellers. The home is just 25 minutes from our current home. The house that we have lived in for almost 11 years is under contract. Both should close on the same day in about 1 month. Of course, this is all contingent on appraisals, inspections etc. coming out to everyone's satisfaction. I'm ready to start filling boxes.

We celebrated no longer having to keep our house spotless with my personal favorite breakfast - strawberry crepes with hashbrowns.

Celebration of a 3 year old

3 years old! Can you believe it? Me neither. Nate had his first "friend" birthday party ever, planned by big sister Emma. The theme was none other than "Go Diego, Go!" Emma is a great party planner. Nate and his four little friends had a ball breaking a pinata, jumping around like tree frogs and climbing over the limbo stick.

Firsts

He got his first tooth and ate his first real food all in the same week.

Saving Dads and Doughnuts

I felt a sudden knot in my stomach when I pulled up to the school this morning to drop Emma off...dads and their cute kindergartners strolling into the school. Emma shouted from the backseat. "It's dads and doughnuts day!" The knot got bigger.
How could I have missed "Dads and Doughnuts" day? Emma has been talking about this chance to share doughnuts and stories with her dad for weeks. I missed the announcement note because it came on Monday when Dave and I were on a trip. The last thing Emma said as she jumped out of the van was "Get dad here!!!!"

I called Dave. "How fast can you get here? HURRY!"

I needed to save the day so I pulled my crying baby and Mickey Mouse pajamma-clad 2-year old out of the car and headed into the school. I hadn't even glanced at a mirror yet. Emma was waiting at the library door. I grabbed her hand and pulled all three kids to a corner of the library behind a bookcase. Christopher fussed. Nate pulled books off the shelves. Emma and I tried to read stories. One of the teachers came behind the shelf and with a super sweet smile told me she was glad I came. Dave arrived 35 minutes later and really saved the day.

The boys and I? We hurried out of there as quickly as possible. I took them to the local bakery for a doughnut. The doughnut for Nate cost $.77, but I didn't have change and they wouldn't take debit. At that very moment when I was feeling like the worst mom ever, a man I didn't know walked in. He hurried up to the counter, ordered himself a doughnut and paid for 2 extra doughnuts. He was out of there quicker than he had come in and the lady behind the counter handed me a brown bag with 2 chocolate covered doughnuts. I managed to hold back a stray tear until we were getting into the car.

Nate asked me why I was crying and offered his blanket for me to cry into. At least Emma got her very special day with her dad and Nate got a doughnut for breakfast.

Bows anyone?

An Answer for Everything

Me: "Why are you naked?"
Nate: "My pants got wet."

Me: "Who ate the goldfish off Emma's Kindergarten humpback whale diorama?"
Nate: "I don't know."
Me: ha, ha and I hope that glue really is non toxic. (I replaced the goldfish before I took the picture and before Emma saw it.)

Me: "Why are you licking the play dough?"
Nate: "Because it's kind of yummy."

Nate's Suggestion

"I go rake the snow and then we go camping. K?"

Sounds like a plan!