Happy Anniversary. I got you a house.

So last Saturday, Kase and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. And maybe you don’t know, but the traditional 5th wedding anniversary present is wood. No joke.

What else could we get each other?

In an update that should surprise absolutely no one who knows us, nor anyone else who happens to have read this blog for more than two weeks, we are moving!  Yes, again. Yes, we did just move 10 months ago. And 3 months before that. And 7 months before that. BUT! This time it’s different. Really.

People: We bought a real live house! I know. Who woulda thunk? As you read this, we are closing on our new house. Signing away our lives as we know them. I guess it’s not that big a deal. It’s just like a 30 year lease. Hmm, that’s weird. I just broke into a cold sweat.

In all seriousness, we are very excited. This house came out of nowhere, and much like everything we do, was kind of an impulse decision, in as much as a two and a half month process where everything but your first born is requested from the mortgage broker, can be considered impulsive. What I mean is, we weren’t *really* in the market for a house as we are currently leasing (anyone looking to rent a 3 bedroom house in Needham, MA? Let me know!) However, the thought of trying to renew a lease or house hunt with a toddler and newborn in tow made us start looking around at neighboring towns and doing some exploring. On free weekends, we’d pack Colin in the car, find some listings online, plug the addresses into the GPS and set out. The internet is so good like that. We’d search for the local playgrounds, schools, check out the town centers, time the driving distance to the nearest Friendly’s (you think I’m joking) and try to imagine ourselves living in that particular area. And each time, we’d say “That was a nice day. I wouldn’t want to move there, though.” And so we put some miles on the car, but we were learning more about what we wanted in our forever home.

One day Kase called me up and told me to research a new town. (If you are also in the market or are researching moving to a new area you are unfamiliar with, I recommend a Google search using “[the town name], city-data] as City-Data.com has very comprehensive forums that are extremely helpful. I know a little something about moving to brand new places sight unseen after all.)  After doing some initial research, I discovered that people love the town, the schools rate among the top 50 in all of the state and it’s generally a great place to find a nice house with a big yard for less than 5 billion dollars. Which was good, since our budget was considerably smaller. I happened to find this house online and told Kase on the phone, “I would make an offer on this house today. You need to take a look.”  We decided to contact our old realtor to see if she might recommend a local realtor for the area we were interested in. Turns out, her sister represented the area so the next day we hopped back in the car to explore again.

The house was built around 1820, so we’re talking nearly 200 years of major character (think four fireplaces, original claw foot tubs, porcelain fixtures, and wide plank floors) with the bonus of modern updates- like a relatively recent renovation above the “barn,” a new roof with slate tiles, and a newer kitchen addition off the back with subway tile and granite. We have more than enough room to grow our family, and Colin and his new brother will have an expansive yard to play in, not to mention a pool to enjoy in the summertime.  I”m already researching “toddler winter swim classes,” naturally.  Kase and I? We’ve got a nice deck with a built in hot tub. You know, for all those adult dinner parties we get to throw. 😉 Maybe we can just keep it cold and call it a kiddie pool?  With over an acre of land, we’ve got enough privacy, but being on a main road within town gives me the sense of neighbors I crave. But most importantly,  there’s a Friendly’s within a 10 minute drive.

Our new town is within commuting distance to Boston, so Kase will continue to take the train while the kids and I explore the state parks and beautiful lakes where locals hike, kayak and swim. It’s a truly beautiful spot, and we hope we love it in the years to come as much as we like it now.

If Kase and I could have created a home for our family, we still couldn’t have imagined this one. An antique? In a town we’d never considered, let alone heard of before this year? But it is exactly the right home for us, and we are so excited to make it ours.

Obviously, there will be a slew of house projects to discuss, but that should help offset all the baby crap I’ve been posting. Except for the brand new nursery, of course.  I’ll be beating that to death. Sorry I’m not sorry. 😉

(I posterized the photos so that defining details weren’t as obvious. Stalkers.)

Double Happiness and Menu Cards

This weekend, we are heading back to the Dirty Jerz to celebrate my mom’s birthday. Her birthday is in July, but she celebrated a milestone birthday this year, so she gets a “do”. My siblings and I went back and forth with her as to whether she wanted a big party at my brother’s rooftop deck in midtown Manhattan or something more low key, and my mom, a woman clearly after my own heart, or maybe she created my heart?, anyway, she said she wanted to celebrate with only family at our local Chinese restaurant. And I died of happiness. Double happiness. Get it?!?

Since we are celebrating at a Chinese restaurant, and the food will be family style, I told my parents I would make up a menu card. That way, there wouldn’t be twenty Hannans all yelling over each other, “What’s this?” We can be a loud group. You may not know me personally, but I am loud. It’s genetic. I was born this way. Anyway, hopefully with this little card, we won’t get kicked out. Maybe.

So when Shannon was here last week, we left the boys with the boys and headed to a craft bloggers mecca- The Paper Source. Shannon bought some stuff, and I bought some stuff for the menus, because Shannon has great style and I can’t even pick out menu stuff without her input. If you had a professional party planner staying with you, you’d work it too.  Bottom line: we left poor. And then we went to Anthropologie where I decided to become poorer. You know how it is.

So on Saturday, Kase and I head to New Jersey, which means tonight, I make menu cards. As it happens, the next week happens to also include my dad’s birthday, my sister’s birthday, and a nephew’s birthday party. So there will be lots of celebrating. Lots of birthdays.  SO glad I’m off booze for the next 5 months. Super terrific. But I am super excited to spend time with family and see the little boys go nuts again. Hopefully, not in the restaurant. Can’t make any promises, though. Colin really loves his cousins, despite how the headlocks and general animosity may look. Appearances can be deceiving and all that.

First though, Kase and I have a pretty important appointment tomorrow here in Boston. Then after that is done, we can make our way down to New Jersey. With big smiles on our faces. Perhaps a crick in our necks. A little less money in our bank account, but double happiness splayed across our faces.

More on that later…..

Momjury (n.)

If only I could Instagram my immune system. Instagram makes everything better.

Momjury (n.) meaning:

1. Stepping on a matchbox car resulting in a deep cut on the arch of your foot. Treating said injury with a Curious George band-aid. Because you no longer own plain jane band-aids. What fun would that be?

2. Becoming a human Kleenex as your child wipes his snotty nose all over your person. Or wet coughs on you from the backseat. And you can feel the back of your head is wet with contagious spittle. Result: coming down with said cold yourself.

3. Gray Hair. Well really, this is merely insult to momjury.

So yeah, we’re sick here. Which is a shame- we had such a nice time visiting with Shannon and Gabe and John. In fact, I think I blame our awesome trip to the beach. In Maine. At sundown. In 50 degree weather. Sorry ’bout that.

I actually had to call Colin in sick to school yesterday. Which is cool. It’s only about $432 per day. And since Wednesday is Yom Kippur, school doesn’t resume until Friday. Plenty of time to get rid of the green stuff coming out his nose. I hope. And maybe enough time to teach him to cover his mouth when he coughs on me? Yesterday, we spent the day wiping each other’s noses, watching Pixar movies and generally being gross. It’s really amazing how much time there is in the day when you forgo a shower and any and all responsibilities. Like buying groceries. And, like, showering. But when you’re sick, it’s all the excuse you need to eat ice cream and sit in your own filth all day long, right? Or am I not supposed to do that now that I have a kid? Whatever. I’m sick. Leave me alone. 😉

Survival of the Fittest: Suburbutopia [Guest Post from my Awesome Sister-in-Law]

So, I’m not the only amateur blogger in the family. My brother and sister write a little blog of their own. Well, my sister in law really does, because like me, she is a work widow. We slave away all day with the chilruns and live to tell our tales. And she is funny. Like, funnier than I am. And I don’t say that lightly. I take pride in being the court jester of my family. (“Dance, Monkey! Dance!)

Now my brother and sister in law just moved to the burbs. Well, they are in the process, anyway. They bought a house. Then they gutted it. And now it is completely under construction. While doing this, they realized that commuting to the city for preschool wouldn’t work out quite as they hoped, so that was another wrench in their suburbutopia plan. Basically, like any move, they are hitting some speed bumps. And my sister in law is living to tell about it. And guys? She nailed it.

How to survive the burbs if you used to live in “the city”

1. Don’t eat out. Your restaurant days are over, unless you go into “the city” for a special occasion. Everything else will be an expensive and depressing endeavor. Instead, go to the grocery store and allow yourself to get giddy over the cheap prices (organic milk for under $7!). And forget about farmer’s markets because suburban ones are sad sad sad.

 2. Resign yourself to your vehicle. Yes, you may have imagined yourself biking everywhere because the streets are so much less crowded and the ride to the grocery store (the only place you now go) would be so pleasant. You may have even purchased a bike trailer for the kids to make preschool drop off more fun. It will stand unattached from bike that is buried deep somewhere in the garage. However, the car will be right there, in front of your door. As you will be usually in a hurry, despite the theoretical “slow down” of suburban life, you will only use the car.

3. Good-bye Equinox. Hello YMCA.

 4. Dress in work out clothes. Because you never know when the urge to drive over to the Y (which may actually be within walking or biking distance) will come upon you. Also, this gives the impression to the other mothers at preschool or the grocery store (the only place you now go) that you are about to work out or, even better, have just worked out (and still look so attractive!). This helps to negate some of the seemingly lazy car driving.

 5. Tory Burch. If you decide to dress in something other than work out clothes for some reason, go with Tory. No need to be creative. But if you can make it into “the city” flagship store on Madison Avenue, items unavailable at the local mall distributer will be spotted and commented on immediately. Worth the drive to “the city.”

 6. Commuting. Realize you will never, ever see your husband. While it may have seemed that your husband worked annoyingly long hours when you were living in “the city,” his commute will now be brutal. He will leave early in the AM to beat the traffic and come in late for the same reason. You, however, will probably cut down on your commute now that you no long need to work to support the expensive “city” life style. Just the grocery store.

 7. Make playdates. You and your kids will never, ever, ever, see another child on a playground, on the street, on their bike, on a scooter, at ice cream, etc. unless intentionally premeditated and coordinated by parental figures. While in “the city,” sidewalks are packed with strollers and playgrounds full of frolicking children, this is not how it works in the burbs. Playdates are the only way to ensure your kids do not become antisocial misfits AKA total losers. This may put some strain on you to make friends and remember names of preschool parents who do not seem at all interested in returning the attention, but it must be done. It might help to wear work out clothes and try to get invited to the mommy triatholon training groups.

 8. House Ownership. It’s likely you rented in “the city” with the cost of housing and all. Even if your apartment was fancy by “city” standards, it was probably disgusting to the majority of the developed world. Once you purchase your new home, you may find that whatever shape it’s in, it seems fine to you. And huge. And you will be confused as to why people keep calling it a “small house” that “needs work.” You will soon adjust to the new standard of living and decide to get a construction loan. Because a few thousand (or hundred thousand) here and there, really, what does it matter when you know you’re making an INVESTMENT.

9. Get past your hang-ups on schools. If you were lucky enough to move into a town with a great school system, you may soon be surprised to find out it’s actually not that good. It’s definitely not good if you compare it to schools in “the city” you’ve been salivating over but that charge 40K+/yr tuition and forced you to leave the city. It will be a little sad when you realize it’s probably not even as good as P.S. Whatever you scoffed at while living in “the city.” It’s OK to grieve a little, but you will soon get used to the idea that while the schools may not be great, no one seems to know this, and you will also forget.

 10. Your minivan may have been cool in “the city” but it’s not in the burbs. While it’s hard to say a minivan can be truly cool anywhere, a brand new, shiny, enormous minivan with its own parking space in a covered garage is a unique and useful enough thing in the city to qualify as cool. As it can seat 8 plus all their strollers, baggage, etc. it’s close enough to a bus to be considered public transportation, which is cool. Anything that facilitates daytrips to “upstate” or the Hamptons or in general implies that you have a weekend home is cool. In the burbs, there is nothing cool about a minivan. Especially one that has bumper dents and scratches from “city” traffic. You will need an SUV soon to match your “working out” look. Work on convincing your husband of this starting day 1 because it will make no financial sense. Look into bundling it into the construction loan. 

 

I love so many things about this list, but especially the minivan part, only because when we saw them recently, my brother was extolling the virtues of the minivan and how we had to get one. And I was convinced!  But reading this, I am wondering if that conversation wasn’t like those conversations we have had before. You know the ones: “Having kids is awesome!  You should have kids, too!” So, I guess no minivan for me. Although, here? A Volvo SUV would be more cliche. And of course, I want one.

The Big C at the Big E

It’s been seven years in the avoiding, but my Western Massachusetts born and bred husband finally managed to drag me and our two year old son to The Big E- or the Eastern States Exposition. For those of you not in New England (because let me tell you, in NJ, we have our own fair and have never heard of the Big E), the Eastern States Exposition or The Big E, as it is called, is basically a state fair. We’re talking fried food, carnival games, amusement rides, livestock,  and tons of stuff being sold, like Sham Wows.

And let me tell you: It  really was awesome. I had my first real corn dog. I had beignets. I got vetoed by the children on securing myself a lobster bisque, but got a taste of Kase’s loaded baked potato. Wait, that sounded grosser than it was supposed to.

Warning: Pregnant Lady with a corn dog. And bags under her eyes.

We got to spend time with good friends and their sweet girls, take the kids on pony rides (Colin: “Yee Haw!” Me: How did he learn that?!”), eat hot dogs larger than our faces, and walk around the grounds until our feet were ready to fall off. And please. Anyplace that combines shopping for crap while I eat cotton candy? Is a winner.

It lasts for 15 more days, so get on it, if you are in the area, or even in Massachusetts or Connecticut or New Hampshire or whatever. Because they have a magical unicorn cow. And you wouldn’t want to miss that.

[Fat Tuesday] Pantry Raid Quinoa with Garlic Chicken Sausage and Mozzarella

I was thinking about what to eat the other night when I realized that my freezer was full, my pantry was stocked and yet, I couldn’t think of a single thing to make. So I improvised this tasty little dinner, and it wasn’t bad at all, if I do say so myself.  And Colin kept opening up his trap, insisting “Mouth?” for me to shovel in large bites, so I guess he liked it well enough. It’s even better the next day.

I was using what I had on hand, but if you are looking to add a vegetable beyond the tomatoes, then I would say add some spinach. That would be yummy.

If you are trying to thin out your pantry and freezer, this is a good way to start: Quinoa with Garlic Chicken Sausage and Mozzarella.

Ingredients:

1 Cup Quinoa

2 links of Roast Garlic Chicken Sausage

1 can diced tomatoes

1/4 cup of Ciliegne mozzarella balls

*Balsamic Glaze optional (but darn tasty)

Directions:

In a heated pan, sautee cut sausage links. Cook Quinoa according to package, cutting out 1/2 liquid and substituting diced tomatoes with juices.

Once cooked, combine sausage, quinoa and add mozzarella to top. Garnish with balsamic glaze. Salt and pepper to taste.

Magnificent Magnets.

We were on the Cape this weekend with Kase’s mom, and while shopping around Provincetown, we happened upon a children’s store that sold the sweetest clothes. While perusing, we saw this:

We were confused at first. What? How does it close? I don’t see any snaps or a zipper. Do you see any snaps? Nope! Turns out, it is completely held together with magnetic closures! How genius is that?  And really, the magnets just find eachother- there’s no lining them up or anything- it’s like a magic onesie. So for diaper changes in the middle of the night (and in the middle of the middle of the night, and then right at dawn, and then, well, you get it), instead of trying to line up snaps and fumbling around you just do this:

I know. I wish I had thought of it, too. I love the caption, “Not to worry.” If they knew me back when I was brand new to the mothering gig and trying to change Colin with the dimmer light on, then they would have captioned it “Don’t cry. It will all be okay!”

Speaking of snaps, or lack thereof, we snapped it right up. Well, my mother-in-law did. Thanks, Doris! And if you know someone about to have a newborn, I think this would be the most amazing gift to buy. Seriously. Easier= appreciated.

You can find your own at Magnificent Baby.

Preschool Prep

T minus ten days until Colin starts school. Every few days we receive yet another note from the school, whether that note has a nice little reminder to send them money, or if it is just to tell me how to do drop offs in the morning, I’m getting a little overwhelmed. And then they sent me a note telling me that all of Colin’s clothes and items need to be labeled. As I thought to myself, can he get away with wearing a uniform to preschool so I only label five outfits?, I discovered these:

They are totally customizable iron-on labels from Etsy seller (where else) Lollipop Labels. I got to choose the graphic (had to be a “digger”) font and color. Lifesaver! And she carries a ton of different labels for all sorts of uses, so if you are in need, check it out.  I paid $12 for 100 little labels, which are a perfect size to fit into little shoes. Because shoes need to be labeled, too. Jesusmaryandjoseph.

Now, I just have to find my iron. Or buy an iron. Whatever.

Another year older.

Dear Colin,

Where to even start? The other day, your dad and I scrolled through pictures from the last year. To say you’ve changed so much is an understatement. You are truly your own person now. You’ve discovered your independence and your personality is evident in ways we never imagined this time last year. I don’t know if babies change more the first or second year of life. It’s really a toss up.

This year alone you mastered walking, running and runningreallyfast. You jump, you dance and you play hard. You talk a lot, too.  You love to practice your vocabulary and show off your intelligence. Your excitement is contagious and your energy can be quite draining for those of us trying to keep up with you. But again, your infectious enthusiasm just make us laugh and your smile never fails to make me happy beyond words.

You are sweet, caring and kind. You love. You emote. You are quick to wave hello to new friends, hand out hugs and ask for kisses. You love your parents and your dog, “Fen.” You bowl us over with your hugs, and you sweetly bestow upon us kisses that melt our hearts. My favorite conversation is this one: “Mommy? Kisses?” which you say with a sly smile on your lips, as if you know you are irresistible. And when you have gotten your kiss, you say to me “Much!” as in, “Colin, I love you soooo much!”

You have become a strong little character- both physically and mentally. You love to show off your physical prowess, and also love to demonstrate your strong will. You are the embodiment of the most challenging aspects of your dad’s and my personalities, so we can only look at each other and shrug because it makes you undeniably ours. And we love you for it.

It seems to me you knew you were about to hit the big 2. You were preparing yourself to become a big boy. You have become both more cooperative and intensely independent. You have opinions and objections and yet, enthusiasm and excitement to spare.

This coming week you start school, and I am so excited for you to begin that journey. After all, it will be a long (and expensive) one.

This coming year, you will become a big brother. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I think you will relish your new role. You, my friend, are a CEO in the making. You are happy to delegate tasks, like making us color for you and telling us which matchbox car to drive in “circles!” I’ll be happy for you to have someone else to boss around. I can only imagine how much you will grow over this next year.

You say “no” more than you say “yes”. You throw fits and you ask for kisses. You hate getting changed, but you love baths. And the biggest head scratcher still: You are blond with hazel eyes.

You are Colin.

Happy Birthday,

“Much!”

Mommy and Daddy

(to read last year’s letter to Colin, click here)