Despite having cable TV at the hotel, it is very boring. So I started reading "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. I had my name on the reserve list at the library, but of course it came up during moving time so I never got the book. Since I didn't want to wait another 2 months until my name came up again I broke down and purchased a paper back copy of it.
What a good book! Not one I would read over and over again like Harry Potter or Twilight, but still very good. There are three books in the series: "The Hunger Games," "Catching Fire," and "Mockingjay."
*I have to admit, I put the book on my reserve list without knowing anything about it. My sister recommended the series to me and I took her word for it. Then I purchased the book, also not knowing anything about it... until Nick asked what it was about so I read the back cover description. At which point I wasn't so sure I wanted to read it. But I did and I am so happy that I did. It is a very good book and even better series.
I highly recommended it to anyone looking for a quick read.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
5 on Friday
1. 1 week until we are in our new house! Can you tell we are all very excited? Closing got pushed to the 4th now, we will not be happy if it gets pushed back again (another weekend in the hotel).
2. Last Sunday Ellie and I went to the Iowa Orchard pumpkin patch and picked out a pumpkin. Nick was helping out at a bike race so he was unable to join us. Ellie and I also took a hayrack ride and she got to play in the corn box and go down the slides. It was nothing too special, but good for a kid her size.
3. That same night we had our annual pumpkin carving night with Mike, Megan and Liam. We only did 2 pumpkins this year (one for Ellie and one for Liam). With two little ones, it was much easier than everyone doing their own pumpkin. Nick and Mike were in charge of the pumpkin carving. They did a great job.
4. Ellie learned a new 'trick' this week--- climbing out of her crib onto the bed at the hotel. The new house cannot be ready soon enough! This is not a trick we were excited about, even though I laughed when I found her sitting on the bed.
5. Ellie had her first visit to the dentist this week. She was a ROCK STAR! She opened her mouth for the dental hygienist AND Dr. Matt. Dr. Matt said she was looking great and right on track. Ellie was very excited for her new toothbrush and was brushing her teeth on her way out of the building.
*If we close as scheduled, there will not be a 5 on Friday post next week. However, I do promise lots of pictures of the new house once we are moved in.
2. Last Sunday Ellie and I went to the Iowa Orchard pumpkin patch and picked out a pumpkin. Nick was helping out at a bike race so he was unable to join us. Ellie and I also took a hayrack ride and she got to play in the corn box and go down the slides. It was nothing too special, but good for a kid her size.
3. That same night we had our annual pumpkin carving night with Mike, Megan and Liam. We only did 2 pumpkins this year (one for Ellie and one for Liam). With two little ones, it was much easier than everyone doing their own pumpkin. Nick and Mike were in charge of the pumpkin carving. They did a great job.
4. Ellie learned a new 'trick' this week--- climbing out of her crib onto the bed at the hotel. The new house cannot be ready soon enough! This is not a trick we were excited about, even though I laughed when I found her sitting on the bed.
5. Ellie had her first visit to the dentist this week. She was a ROCK STAR! She opened her mouth for the dental hygienist AND Dr. Matt. Dr. Matt said she was looking great and right on track. Ellie was very excited for her new toothbrush and was brushing her teeth on her way out of the building.
*If we close as scheduled, there will not be a 5 on Friday post next week. However, I do promise lots of pictures of the new house once we are moved in.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
New House
I am finally feeling better, and getting more and more excited about the new house. Although closing keeps getting pushed back, they are making progress. I realized I haven't posted much for pictures of the new house--- so here are a few. Nick is more of the picture taker, so I only have a few of them available to me right now.
The lockers:
Having lockers was one of Nick's requests. I agree with him that they will be great for getting the kids ready to head out during the winter months. It has since been stained a dark brown color to match the kitchen. Now I just have to find some cute baskets to put in the cubbies to hold shoes and winter gear!
The outside of the house with the siding on it:
It is hard to pick out siding because you never know how the colors will look together and on the actual house. We drove around and around looking for color combinations that we liked (originally we wanted something OTHER than tan). In the end, we put three colors together we thought would look good and went with it. I wish the shakes (the brown color) were a little darker. Nick wishes they were a little lighter. Once the outside lighting was added it really brought the colors together (sorry-- no pictures with the lights at this time). According to the sample photo, the official front door should be dark brown wood. You cannot really tell in the picture, but the front door is taller than a normal front door, we call it the Brad Door after one of our taller friends, Brad. It is different--- so of course Nick loves it because he loves anything that is different than the norm (I like it as well).
The walkway to the front door:
We left the quarter circle as dirt and will put some plants and rocks in there next spring. It is actually a lot bigger area then I was thinking it was going to be. We are happy with the stone on the front of the house. Also one of the choices that you don't know how it will look until it is up. We have two pillars that will be put in on the front porch. It will make the porch look smaller, but I think it will add to the design of the house.
We went out to the house today to get the mail and see how progress was coming. This is what we found:
Cabinets! So much space to fill with fun kitchen tools. Now all those bins of kitchen supplies that were in the basement at the last house will finally have a home. And anything without a home will be donated to Goodwill (my agreement with Nick). The picture is a little dark--- it was taken with my camera phone. I love the under cabinet lighting, our Realtor recommended we do that and I think it was a good choice. The island will have the sink and the dishwasher, along with a eating place for a few chairs. Makes me want the next week to go by really, really fast as I cannot wait to get into a REAL kitchen again!
We hope to be moving in a week from tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that we do not get pushed back again, as the hotel is getting old for all of us and another weekend is not desired.
The lockers:
Having lockers was one of Nick's requests. I agree with him that they will be great for getting the kids ready to head out during the winter months. It has since been stained a dark brown color to match the kitchen. Now I just have to find some cute baskets to put in the cubbies to hold shoes and winter gear!The outside of the house with the siding on it:
It is hard to pick out siding because you never know how the colors will look together and on the actual house. We drove around and around looking for color combinations that we liked (originally we wanted something OTHER than tan). In the end, we put three colors together we thought would look good and went with it. I wish the shakes (the brown color) were a little darker. Nick wishes they were a little lighter. Once the outside lighting was added it really brought the colors together (sorry-- no pictures with the lights at this time). According to the sample photo, the official front door should be dark brown wood. You cannot really tell in the picture, but the front door is taller than a normal front door, we call it the Brad Door after one of our taller friends, Brad. It is different--- so of course Nick loves it because he loves anything that is different than the norm (I like it as well).The walkway to the front door:
We left the quarter circle as dirt and will put some plants and rocks in there next spring. It is actually a lot bigger area then I was thinking it was going to be. We are happy with the stone on the front of the house. Also one of the choices that you don't know how it will look until it is up. We have two pillars that will be put in on the front porch. It will make the porch look smaller, but I think it will add to the design of the house.We went out to the house today to get the mail and see how progress was coming. This is what we found:
Cabinets! So much space to fill with fun kitchen tools. Now all those bins of kitchen supplies that were in the basement at the last house will finally have a home. And anything without a home will be donated to Goodwill (my agreement with Nick). The picture is a little dark--- it was taken with my camera phone. I love the under cabinet lighting, our Realtor recommended we do that and I think it was a good choice. The island will have the sink and the dishwasher, along with a eating place for a few chairs. Makes me want the next week to go by really, really fast as I cannot wait to get into a REAL kitchen again!We hope to be moving in a week from tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that we do not get pushed back again, as the hotel is getting old for all of us and another weekend is not desired.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Iowa Orchard
This is my favorite picture from Ellie and my trip to the Iowa Orchard pumpkin patch last weekend.
Friday, October 21, 2011
5 on Friday
1. Nick went to the Primus concert last Saturday night, so Ellie and I went and spent the night up in Ames. It was nice to get out of the hotel for a while and Ellie enjoyed spending time with Grandma and Grandpa (especially Grandpa and his toys!).
2. I started having ligament spasms in my lower abdomen last Friday and they are still going on. The Dr. said it is normal and nothing to worry about (just another fun part of pregnancy). They recommend minimal activity and laying around as much as possible (pretty much any time I am not at work). It really hurts and I have almost been in tears a few times. However, I would take this pain over the constant nausea feeling any day.
3. Laying around with an almost 2 year old--- not easy. But Daddy has been helping out and chasing Ellie a little extra.
4. The St. Louis Cardinals are in the World Series. Ellie and I are very excited. She only get to watch the national anthem and part of the first inning before bed--- but she loves it, claps during the singing and gets a little upset when they go to commercial. She is getting very good at saying, "Go Cardinals!"
5. The house is coming alone and we are set to close on November 2nd. Cross your fingers that it does not get delayed again. I don't know how much more hotel life we can handle.
Bonus 6 and maybe too much information--- Ellie has pooped in the potty a couple times at day-care this week! We are SO proud!!!!!!!! She is loving her M&Ms during the Cardinal game as a reward for her accomplishments.
2. I started having ligament spasms in my lower abdomen last Friday and they are still going on. The Dr. said it is normal and nothing to worry about (just another fun part of pregnancy). They recommend minimal activity and laying around as much as possible (pretty much any time I am not at work). It really hurts and I have almost been in tears a few times. However, I would take this pain over the constant nausea feeling any day.
3. Laying around with an almost 2 year old--- not easy. But Daddy has been helping out and chasing Ellie a little extra.
4. The St. Louis Cardinals are in the World Series. Ellie and I are very excited. She only get to watch the national anthem and part of the first inning before bed--- but she loves it, claps during the singing and gets a little upset when they go to commercial. She is getting very good at saying, "Go Cardinals!"
5. The house is coming alone and we are set to close on November 2nd. Cross your fingers that it does not get delayed again. I don't know how much more hotel life we can handle.
Bonus 6 and maybe too much information--- Ellie has pooped in the potty a couple times at day-care this week! We are SO proud!!!!!!!! She is loving her M&Ms during the Cardinal game as a reward for her accomplishments.
Friday, October 14, 2011
5 on Friday
1. Ellie loved having her friends, Gracie and Lucie, come visit on Saturday. It was so neat to see her interact with the girls.
2. I started reading The Hunger Games on Sunday. Finished it on Tuesday. I highly recommend it.
3. Go Cardinals!
4. We are working on getting Ellie to tell her day-care teachers that she has to go potty, instead of doing her little potty dance. Yesterday she did really well.
5. Ellie enjoyed going to Mike and Megan's on Sunday. I told her we would go after her nap, she tried to get away with a 5 minute nap and woke up saying "Me-Me house?"
2. I started reading The Hunger Games on Sunday. Finished it on Tuesday. I highly recommend it.
3. Go Cardinals!
4. We are working on getting Ellie to tell her day-care teachers that she has to go potty, instead of doing her little potty dance. Yesterday she did really well.
5. Ellie enjoyed going to Mike and Megan's on Sunday. I told her we would go after her nap, she tried to get away with a 5 minute nap and woke up saying "Me-Me house?"
Friday, October 7, 2011
5 on Friday
1. We are officially in the hotel, with our belongings in PODS somewhere in Des Moines.
2. The pool water is a little cold, so we haven't been swimming much (besides Nick who has enjoyed the hot tub multiple times). We did go swimming last night with our friends, the Beltman Family, and Ellie LOVED it! Ellie was still talking about "Phia" this morning.
3. The 'good' night last night was a welcome change to the previous night's 'bad' night. Ellie was not a fan of the hotel room Wednesday night. Poor little girl!
4. Ellie does like going to get breakfast each morning! She runs down to the lobby and knows exactly where to go. Then she carries a juice and her food back with her like a little grown-up.
5. Ellie also gets to watch Mickey's Clubhouse (or something like that) each morning and she loves that. We don't have cable, so it is a little treat. Not fun is that cable does not have Sesame Street--- she has asked for Elmo a few times already.
2. The pool water is a little cold, so we haven't been swimming much (besides Nick who has enjoyed the hot tub multiple times). We did go swimming last night with our friends, the Beltman Family, and Ellie LOVED it! Ellie was still talking about "Phia" this morning.
3. The 'good' night last night was a welcome change to the previous night's 'bad' night. Ellie was not a fan of the hotel room Wednesday night. Poor little girl!
4. Ellie does like going to get breakfast each morning! She runs down to the lobby and knows exactly where to go. Then she carries a juice and her food back with her like a little grown-up.
5. Ellie also gets to watch Mickey's Clubhouse (or something like that) each morning and she loves that. We don't have cable, so it is a little treat. Not fun is that cable does not have Sesame Street--- she has asked for Elmo a few times already.
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