March 2011

We made quick work of getting settled and by the start of March the only boxes that were still packed (filled with mostly books) were in the basement and waiting for a shelf to unpack them onto.  This was great until we had a huge rainstorm March 6.  We got four inches of rain in a night, that with all the snow that was still around we ended up with four inches of water in our basement. Lucky for me Sam was unable to get into work that morning with the flooded roads so we were both able to start the cleaning process.  After hauling everything upstairs and Sam vacuuming up the water the drying process began.

Stuff was drying for weeks in these places.  Also had the tent set-up inside for a couple days.  In the end the only things that got ruined were college textbooks that had not been open in the past seven years.

Spring arrived early on March 17 (it disappeared again soon after) as we enjoyed what Annabelle calls "Green Patricks Day".  Hudson celebrated by taking his first steps.

Enjoying the bubble-blowing weather

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Green milk and cookie

Despite the flood we did have some fun this month, and while a lot of the house was a disaster I kept a couple rooms free of the drying clutter and was able to focus on the good things like...

Baking cookies with Annabelle

She is smelling the oil we sprayed the cookie sheet with

Hudson getting into the cupboard and helping himself to the syrup

Playing blocks with the kids
Annabelle built the giraffe all by herself
She is looking at Huddy making sure he stays away

Hudson taking advantage of a sleeping Annabelle
If she skips a nap, she is known to fall asleep during dinner

Hudon "playing" with his favorite toy

and the fact that after two years, nine months, and twenty-eight days I can give Annabelle pig-tails

February 2011

We spent the first week of February moving to the new house.  No moving company this time, but we did have help and a U-haul.  Sam and I spent the first part of the week making trips with our vehicles and then on the fourth we moved our furniture and spent the first night in the new place.  The month was mostly spent getting settled.  We also celebrated my 29th birthday with some good food and wine.  As I was going through pictures from this month, found that there are not many, showing just how busy we were.

Last picture of the kids in the old house
Hudson "helping" Annabelle in the kitchen

Birthday flowers from the Fishers

Annabelle's first time painting

Hudson doing what he does best, annoying his sister

They really do get along most the time

All cuddled up
(when she does get cuddled up like this she strips down to her panties first)

January 2011

Now that we are into May I thought I should update the blog and let anyone who still checks let you know how life is going here in Connecticut. 

We started the New Year by celebrating Sam's 30th birthday.  While he doesn't like to make a big deal about his birthday we had a nice dinner and tried to spoil him a little.  Hudosn even gave Sam a present, crawling for the first time.

Sam was welcomed by 30 cans of his "favorite" beer, or better said his
favorite beer that comes in a 30 pack.  Along with 30 things we love about him.

Snow was the theme for January.  We continued to get more and more as the month went on.  Not any worse than we were used to in Spokane, but it did get old quickly.

Our Patio

Our Mailbox
There were a few days mail was not delivered

  

Most of January was spent getting ready to move to another house.  The reason for the move was that the owners of the original house we were renting moved back from California and asked us if we wouldn't mind moving.  After only a couple days of looking in December we found another house within five miles of the first one. 

Helping Daddy clear snow for move
While out there said "I want to go to Hawaii"

Watching as Daddy and Annabelle clear snow

Getting things ready to move

Hudson had a big first (and hopefully last) during the moving process: surgery.  Nothing major and we had known about it since he was only a week old, but still difficult for both Hudson and mommy.

Waiting for Surgery

Headed to the Operating Room

Recovering at Home

 In between clearing snow and getting ready to move life went on as normal, here are some pictures

Watching the Danbury Whalers
kid's first hockey game

Annabelle doing dishes in her sink

Hudson "cooking"
Hudson started pulling up and cruising at the same time he started to crawl
He is only getting away with this because Annabelle is napping

Playing with Christmas gifts

Dressed for the weather

Giving kisses and paying her back for all the times she interrupted his sleep

Oma and Opa Part II

Still posting about December...

My parents were scheduled to leave the 27th so we spent the day after Christmas in the snow at Topstone Park and Weir Farm two place we had not made it to and wanted to show them.

Hiking at Topstone Park

Oma and Opa
Enjoying the snow

Keeping Toasty

Some help from Opa

Touring Weir Farm

We wanted to send them off with a memorable meal and accomplished that by purchasing "Larry" a live lobster.

Hudson and Larry

 We decided to give Larry a few last moments of freedom before he became dinner.  Also needed to get pictures of and with him.

Annabelle and Larry

Larry after his bath

We woke the next morning to more snow and the news that airports were closed and my parents flight was cancelled.  Good news they were at our house and not stranded at the airport, "bad" news the earliest they could fly out was the 31st.  We took advantage of the extra days with them and for the most part stuck close to home.

My mom was able to spoil the kids more and made sure Annabelle got the sled experience

More time with Oma in the snow

That works so much better

View from inside

View from Outside

Oma also got them 150 more balls for their ball pit

Opa got more cuddles

Sam and myself got some time alone.  We went out to dinner while my parents stayed with the kids.

This is what we came home to

We fit in one more "tourist" activity and went to Keeler's Tavern

Our Tour Guide

Annabelle at the end of the tour

Early on the 31st we said goodbye and Sam drove them to the airport. Their trip home went smoothly and they actually arrived early.  We loved having them here for the two weeks and look forward to their next visit, hopefully in nicer weather.