10/29 Hurricane Sandy

Sandy's on her way, and she looks to be a real B. I think we're ready- we've got plenty of food, water, supplies, etc. All of the laundry has been done and I'm washing the dishes as we use them. Meals have been prepped. The kids have free reign to watch tv all morning- since it could be a really long time before they will get to again ;) Early estimates are to expect power outages for 7-14 days- way to set our expectations! If that does end up being the case, we'll probably head down to my Mom's after a few days, once the roads are okay (and assuming she hasn't lost power too.) We've been lucky in that we didn't lose power during Hurricane Irene or the numerous winter storms before that when everyone else did. But this one looks to be a real doozie and I think we're probably due. A couple large branches have already fallen in our yard. So now we just wait I guess. Stay safe everyone!

In other news... today is also our 7th wedding anniversary! Happy Anniversary to my most amazing husband! We've had quite the adventurous 7 years together, and have weathered our fair share of craziness- it seems almost fitting that a storm like this would hit ON our anniversary ;) We had to take a hurricane check on our celebration planned for this past weekend, since Andrew's parents who were in town (and to be our sitters) had to jet home early to avoid the storm (understandably so). So we'll plan something for another time soon.

I'm totally snagging this from something I once heard Meryl Streep say (in an acceptance speech) when thanking her husband. She said "I want to thank you because everything I value most in my life you have given me." That's how I feel about Andrew. I couldn't be more proud of, or thankful for the life and family we've built together over the last 7 years. His ability to balance working really hard with being one of the most hands-on Dads (and awesome husbands) I know never ceases to amaze me. He's always been my greatest supporter, and I've always been his biggest fan- we make a darn good team if I do say so myself. And we laugh- a lot. Above all- he's given me the two greatest joys of my life. Leyla thinks that Connor is her superhero- I feel the same about Andrew ;) Love you!

Dad's Visit/Birthday Celebration

 A couple weekends ago my Dad came up to visit, see the new kitchen and (belatedly) celebrate he and Leyla's shared birthdays! Some of these pictures are mine, others are my Dad's.

Connor helped to bake an (extremely yummy) chocolate chip cookie birthday cake. Leyla's allergic to eggs (such a bummer) and in my opinion egg substitutes seem to taste better in cookies than in cupcakes or cake. It was a hit!

 My Dad gave Leyla this as her gift. She loves it, and calls it her tutu-tu.

Birthday people!

Blowing out the candles was a group effort.

So happy!

Important discussion.

So sweet!

As you can see she's a big fan of her Gramps.

Oliver, my Dad's dog, comes with my Dad when he visits. I think the kids look forward to Oliver's visit almost as much as seeing their Grandpa. He's a real big deal around here. As you can see, Oliver had a good time too. I asked Connor to smile and love how Oliver is smiling too!

A little picture drawing on Sunday morning.

Dad drew a picture of Oliver.

Connor gave Gramps a preview of his Halloween costume (and my Dad added these special effects on his computer, fun.)

Later that afternoon we went bowling, one of our favorite family outings. Connor got to show off his awesome technique ;)

This was the first time Leyla actually got her name up on the board and bowled each of her turns (2 games!) This little alligator contraption allows her to just push the ball down (after Andrew helps her to aim it).

She sure knows how to celebrate when the pins go down!

All jammied up and ready for bed!

Connor helping to flip the pancakes the next morning on our new griddle (love the griddle!!)

Pre send-off picture taking. I told everyone to make a scary face.

Sweet Connor and Leyla kisses.

I know I've mentioned it before, but another shout out to my Dad for his amazing weightloss journey over the past year. It just blows me away. He's been maintaining his 70+ lb weight loss, and has a new goal to lose 20 more by this May. He's done it by following the old fashioned eat less, move more diet. He keeps a food journal. The man who previously couldn't comfortably walk around the block now does things like Zumba (love this). He's no longer on any of his blood pressure, etc medications. He sleeps better at night. He's had to get new clothes, and he said it felt great to bag up all his bigger stuff and donate it away! Random people in his office stop him to ask about his weightloss. Sometimes he has cheat days, or falls off the wagon a bit but he always gets back on. And I am so so so proud of him. Keep up the great work Dad!! A before shot, a picture that I love of he and Leyla.

And after- Way to go Dad!

As I said, just couldn't be more proud. He looks so awesome!!

Finished Kitchen Pics!

A refresher of the before:

So obviously regardless of what we did it was going to be an enormous upgrade but we are so thrilled with how it all turned out!! That said- we never want to experience a kitchen renovation again. It just may have been more stressful than moving to Tokyo with a toddler and a newborn (well maybe not really).  It took less than 5 weeks start to finish- not a long time when you consider that we knocked out multiple walls and took the whole place down to the studs before rebuilding. But it was a long, long 5 weeks. We hope never to move but if we do- we've already said that the place will have to have a decent kitchen, or else we'll have to renovate it before moving in. Because we never, ever want to live alongside a kitchen renovation again!

I chose every detail of this kitchen and I love how it all came together! I became a little obsessive about certain details at the time, but so happy with the outcome. Taking space and financial limitations into consideration- it really is our dream kitchen. Andrew acted as the "General Contractor"-- coming home at lunch every day to oversee the work. The only day he couldn't come home (leaving it up to me) the painters painted the room the wrong color. Oops. One thing I was really nervous about were the cabinets. I had the cabinet designer custom design them to look like ones I really loved in my kitchen design book (House Beautiful Kitchens- best book ever if you're doing a kitchen renovation!) so I wasn't quite sure how they were going to turn out until they actually arrived. I was so happy with the finished product- whew!!

 Couple more progress pics. With the wall knocked out, it's a much bigger space than we were working with before!

 Cutie Connor and Daddy- just because ;)

The new open room made for a great floor hockey space (we don't do that anymore now that the new floors are in of course!)

 And after!! As you can see- I wanted an all white kitchen. With two small kids (who do a ton of baking with me!) and two parents who both love to cook this might make some people nervous but I'm not phased in the least. We make really big messes, I just like to clean them up sooner than later :)

So happy to finally have an island where the kids can sit!!

We've since added three barstools and glass in the cabinets (we had to order that separately). I store all our glassware and the polish pottery that I collect (which Andrew's Mom got me started on and I just love!) in those cabinets which looks great and adds color. Still need more pops of color, curtains, oh and a kitchen table. Those can all come later though.

The day it was finished my Dad came up to visit for the weekend. We christened the kitchen by making a freaking Thanksgiving dinner- roasting a huge turkey and all! We are so happy!

Bueller? Bueller?

Anyone still out there? I have been MIA for sure. There seems to have been not enough time in the day lately and I'm afraid the blog is always the first to get the boot. I'm going to really try to catch up. We've been doing all sorts of fun things lately and I've still been taking plenty of pictures so hope to make time to share them. Where have I been? Besides my full time stay at home mom gig, we've had the major kitchen renovation (this felt like another full time job on it's own!) It's finished now, and we're thrilled with both the finished product, and that it's finished!! Adding to that, I've recently joined the board of Connor's preschool (my role is 1st VP). Connor's (non-profit) school is structured such that the board oversees the Director (who hires and oversees the teachers and the day to day operations of the school). I was looking to get involved, exercise the (limited) non-Mom part of my brain and meet new people-- in a way that wouldn't take away time from the kids. I absolutely adore Connor's school,  and this seemed like a perfect fit. So when the old board nominated me, I said yes. While I have met a ton of really awesome people, it's definitely been more work/time than I was anticipating (isn't that always the case?!) My job includes attending quarterly Board meetings, monthly executive meetings, and weekly Marketing committee meetings (I oversee the marketing). We just rolled out a new logo (huge project- and we hired another stay at home Mom to design it!) and I've taken over the website (both updating the current one and redesigning a new site since the current site's software is full of issues- it hasn't gone live yet.) I have zero computer/graphic design experience other than this blog so you can understand what a challenge this has been. However, if I ever start a small business and need to build a website, I now know how ;) I'm also in charge of communications and writing the board newsletters (just finished October's!) The good news-being that the board is almost all volunteer stay at home Moms (plus one working Dad)- it's very low key. With the exception of the board meetings, I take Leyla to almost all my meetings (there's usually at least one or two other kids there so it becomes a playdate of sorts for her). Meetings take place at Connor's school so I also get to watch him in action while I'm doing my thing (and he thinks it's way cool that I'm there too!) Anyway, now that the school year is off to a smooth start and major projects are out of the way (or at least in a holding pattern)- hopefully things will slow down a bit.

Here's some quick (very random!) recent iphone pics:

Sunday family bowling. More pics of this to come in another post (my Dad came to visit that weekend too!)

 Leyla on the playground at Connor's school. She really thinks it's her school too- it will be next year!

 Leyla's friend at the library.

 Kids eating at our new kitchen island!

Leyla feeding the guinea pig at her Mommy and Me class at the Nature Center- probably my favorite thing we do together each week- every week there's a new animal (the guinea pig is actually always there). She's such an animal lover, and fearless (at least when they are smaller than she is!)

Leyla has a serious crush on Ernie from Sesame Street so when I saw this stuffed Ernie I had to get it for her! She takes him everywhere.

Recent playdate at Tracey's house on Long Island. Connor and her daughter Maeve are apparently boyfriend and girlfriend right now.

Connor still frequently dresses up in his halloween costume from last year (his firefighter costume from the year before too!)

 Dance party.

Leyla likes Connor to carry her around like this. She's such a little koala bear. Those two are so funny.

 Kitchen pics to come next.