Ready

The kids are clean and the Easter carrot muffins are made.  Let the bunny fun begin...

P.S. I love how Piper has a double butt like a double chin.  At least this isn't Facebook!

Birthday Burgermaster

Why not pull up to the drive-up Burgermaster for birthday hamburgers?  Super yummy.

Our Stuff

The movers came today.  An earlier spot opened up and I jumped up and down in glee when I found out I didn't have to wait until April 3rd to get our stuff.  The house feels like a home and the reverberating echo has disappeared.  I made a scratch in the hardwood floor and I feel terrible.  It isn't deep, but I am the guilty one who made the first mark.  Better than having to blame a kid for the rest of their life.

Downtown

We went to the downtown Target this morning to buy baby gates.  You know you are in a fun place when you have to get your parking validated in a machine inside of Target before heading down to the parking garage.  Oh, and you definitely know you are in a city when there is a man with mental issues throwing up on the floor right in front of the elevators.  It was an awkward "excuse me" to get to the down button.  Ah, culture.

P.S. I had Blake pick out his own birthday present in Target because I knew I wouldn't be visiting a store without kids in the next 48 hours.  Me=lame mom.

Beach Park

Wow.  The neighborhood park is also a beach.  That is a perk.  Guess we will be hanging out here a lot.

Working Man

First day back at Google for Andrew.  Yay for routine for all of us.

Neighbor Houses

Some houses from last night's neighborhood exploration walk.

Chicken-y Fun

A chicken/bee keeping feed store that serves candy (like the olden days) alongside dried mealworms.  Hipster fabulous.

First Night

Our first night was spent ooh'ing and ahh'ing at the view and realizing we desperately need furniture to cut the echo of Reade's two-year-old screaming voice.  We are garage sale hunting right now and are planning on stopping by the chicken store for ideas.

Drive Time

We got our keys yesterday so I spent the day driving around picking up craigslist finds.  I love how the weather changes within minutes.  I left Seattle to head north for 10 miles and found myself in 38 degree splotches of ice rain (sleet/slush/whatever).  This California girl is easily entertained.  We move into the house for good tomorrow.  I love the house, but I have to admit I worry about my family's respiratory health.  The builder is a green builder, but that doesn't mean things aren't still a tad toxic!  We met our neighbors and there are two five year-olds all in a stones throw.  I now have living bodies to invite to Blake's mini birthday party.  I bought some rusted cake pans at a thrift shop that will be cleaned up so he can have something homemade to show we care.

Nursery

Our Realtor had the great idea of meeting up for breakfast at a local nursery.  Right, because nurseries in CA have cafes in them!!!  This isn't even the biggest one.

To The Shops

We are all piled into the car for some shopping.  The notary came by this morning to sign the final paperwork for the house.  We get the keys tomorrow.  The floors have one more coat of finish so we will be moving in on Friday.  The movers said they are too busy right now with end of the month moves so we can't get our stuff until April 3rd.  Time for some craigslist freebies!

Donut Trailer

Donuts served from an Airstream.

Theobroma

We toured Theo Chocolates today.  They are a full chocolate factory because they process the chocolate and create the confections all in one spot.  Usually, chocolate makers purchase processed chocolate and then create the goodies.  I highly recommend supporting this company because they started with the idea of making fair trade chocolate.  I didn't realize how grim it is for the laborers in Africa.  I now feel the need to save the child chocolate laborers of Africa.  I thought chocolate factory tours were supposed to make you happy.  Oh yeah, there was a movie that was grim and happy.  Long live the Oompa Loompa.

Hot Dogs

What we have done today:

Laundry

Grandma and Aunt Jessica took the boys to a movie.

Andrew and I went to the house for the final walk-through with builder at our new house.

Went to a coffee shop for yum treats.

Dropped kids off at a community center with a babysitter so the adults could go on a CHOCOLATE FACTORY TOUR!  Pics later.

Hitting up a gourmet hot dog shop.  Mine is a frank with nacho cheese sauce and chips.

Shops

So many shops to see.

Happy St. Patty's Day

A leprechaun came and left a shoe trail that lead to balloons and silly putty.  That tricky leprechaun.  He left a note behind and now the kids are on the hunt for him.

North Beach

I can't believe we will be calling the neighborhood North Beach our home on Thursday.  The house is spectacular and I look forward to the urban homestead-y lifestyle we have ahead of us.  We met the builder today and it was fun hearing his take on the vision of the house.  One of the pictures below shows the Wolf gas range in the back of the builder's car getting ready to be installed for Andrew.