House Hunting in NJ

House hunting 1.5-2hrs from Philly (in Monmouth County, NJ)

                                    

Dave has been talking a lot about not wanting to do dishes ever again (we don't have a dishwasher at our place in Philly) so Mia saw this and said, "this is the machine so Daddy could not wash dishes again"

                                    

This was the 3rd floor of our 2nd house plan that fell through although we didn't know it at the time.

The kids at the Hazlet Best Western 

TOOK A BREAK FROM HOUSE HUNTING TO GO TO THE BEACH

Dave, negotiating with our realtors on the beach

Beach boy

Sun in mom's eyes

Daddy and Gavin snacking on the shore (Daddy sporting Gavin's hat)                            

Gavin at the Woodmere house that had no backyard, was kind of yucky in some regards but was a true mother-daughter so we had to check it out.  Though despite a water view, there was no usable beach nearby.

This "look and see" trip led to what we call the Marlboro mishap and the 423-whoops-when-I-said-May-I-meant-July situation

Mia's family drawings

The artist (Mia) and her person

After listening/watching a book on www.starfall.com about drawing family pictures, Mia decided she wanted to make some pictures of her family

Here you see (from left to right) Mia, Daddy, Gavin and Mommy with Gogo and Mojo pictured on top (see their 4 legs as opposed to just 2?)

This one is similar (see Gavin in the bottom right and kitties on top) but you can also see one of her first sun pictures (oval with spokes in the middle) and some trees even (lollipop looking things on the left hand side)

For this one she said it was raining.  I love it!

last Philly get together with Lipchocks

Our close friends Sarah, James, Simon and Jane Lipchock moved to MD 5/25/12 but before they did we had one last Philly playdate.

First, a pre-dinner dip in the pool

Jane/mommy smiles

Hummus (take-out) dinner

followed by a trip to the playground.  Here is Mia strolling Simon back from a dizzying display of nonstop play.  I felt like I needed a stroller ride just from watching all of his energy- go Simon!

Good bye hug (I'm going to frame this for each of them to put in their new rooms)

We have already planned a trip to see the Lipchocks in MD (6/9/12) and hopefully they will visit us in NJ once the dust from their move settles.  

3rd Homebirth Class Reunion (Spring 2012)

We are getting good!  At the first reunion we almost forgot to take out the camera and half of the guests visiting times didn't overlap with the other half so a group shot was hard.  The 2nd time around we had the forethought to get all 3 babies in one shot.  The most recent reunion, we decided the challenge of getting all 3 couples would be fun (and funny!). 

Spring 2012

late Fall 2011

Summer 2011

Sarah Walker's visit

Although the circumstances were not the best (in town for the funeral of her grandmother), we were fortunate enough to have a nice long visit from Sarah recently.  Given her love for nature and need for a boost in morale, I decided a good walk in the Wissahickon state park would do her spirit well.  Here are pictures from our snack/lunch/beach turn around point:

A new shared passtime

Vicki visit & Boston birthdays

Vicki came to Philly (5/8/12) on her way to Boston, her final destination from Miami.  

Of course "aunt" Vicki came bearing gifts:

Hello Kitty!!

and hugs for everyone :)

It was a pretty laid back yet fast visit and then we soon followed her lead to Boston to celebrate Mattie & Jeremy's birthday and adoption:

A recipe for good time had by all:

great company

amazing food (Harold-made enchiladas)

                                 

cute kids

hours of running and bouncing

WATER!!

and love:

love

 love

                                  

 BFF love

 love is all you need

Welcome to the family Jeremy & Mattie, we are so happy that you will forever be a part of our lives and we look forward to a future of camping trips, birthdays, holidays and cousin sleepovers to come.

NJ here we come

On May 17th, I accepted a Research Scientist position at IFF (International Flavors and Fragrances) http://www.iff.com/.  My office will be in the Research & Development building in Union Beach, NJ, which (as you can see below) is across the Raritan Bay from NYC.

Timeline

1. Last day at Monell Chemical Senses Center:  June 12th 2012
2. Hopeful move-in date for new house:  June 15th 2012 
3. First day at International Flavors and Fragrances:  June 18th 2012

On Memorial day weekend we are all 4 going on a "look and see" trip to hopefully find a rental home we like.  There is an 8 mile long bike trail called the Henry Hudson Bike trail that we would like to live near and there is also the possibility that my parents will be living with us for the warm months of the year so these will be considerations.  On Thursday, we will be going back for my pre-employment physical as well as to go on daycare tours.  I tried to prepare Mia that her new daycare will be different from St. Mary's, which has all kids (18 mo - 5 yrs) in the same room and allows the kids to eat whenever they want/need to.  Her heartfelt response was that she needed to be there to protect Gavin from if anyone tries to take his toys or hurt him.  I assured her that despite the fact that they would likely be in different classrooms (a concept she isn't familiar with yet), he would be safe with only other kids his age.  

Gavin's first birthday party

May 5th 2012 (11am-2pm) @ 4738 Sansom Street Philadelphia, PA 19139

In attendance:  Mom, Dad, Grandma Mary, Mia, Gogo, Mojo

Hillary (from Monell), Len, Charlotte (2.5 yrs) & Lilly (10 mo.)

Allison Roszits (Gavin's babysitter from 8 mo old - 1 yr old)

Allison (from Monell) & Noah (Gavin's Monell twin)

Sarah & James Lipchock with Simon (3 yrs) & baby Jane (1 mo.)

Here is the party boy ready for his breakfast

Brunch

Do you like my hat?

Birthday outfit

Guests

Gavin's Monell twin, Noah

Mia's best buddy, Simon

The cake (carrot cake made with apple juice concentrate in place of sugar and cream cheese frosting)

Dave cut his cake or tried to feed it to him or something but Gavin did not like it.

 

mommy trying to show him what his first cake is all about

 

Now he's interested!

Feels squishy

mmmm (he literally said this!)

he ate the WHOLE piece!

Fun in the basement!

We had such a lovely little brunch/playdate.  Thank you to all who came and even those who just sent their well wishes and/or gifts.  It was a nice laid back, calm event.  To see your little baby grow up into an interacting toddler is quite something else.  He is (and we are) lucky to have all of you in our lives.