It's been FIVE months since I have written a blog post. I don't think I have ever gone that long without posting. I guess it's because life just goes now - it's not new and exciting. There are very few adventures. Day to day life now doesn't include monthly trips to random fun Asian countries/cities. It doesn't include new baby experiences. I'm not having a lot of revelations about life in general...I will eventually write a post about surviving a year (almost!) with three kids 5.5 and under, but not yet. I'm still collecting my thoughts.
In the meantime, since December, we have traveled VERY little - really only to Michigan a few times and one trip to San Francisco. Sam registered for kindergarten in March. Sam and Elie continue to LOVE school (Temple Shalom in West Newton), we had a few weeks of all being sick with high fevers for five days, each. I started running again (usually with a kid or two in a B.O.B.). We have had a lot of low-key weekends. It's HARD to do more than one thing each day. Sam started soccer with other kids from her school for next year.
Samara is now 5.5. She turned into a big kid. She likes to read small words. She's figuring out everything and how it all works. She still loves to ride her two wheeler, she is working on her hand stand. She can flip over a bar. She does the fire pole on the playground and also the monkey bars. She has a couple of friends at school that she is obsessed with and loves to play with. She has an incredibly vivid imagination. She is also a fantastic big sister - she helps so much with both, teaching Elie how to do everything and helping them each get what they need. She makes Koby happy before I even realize he's unhappy.
Elie is 2.5 and also seems to have turned into a big kid. He does not stop talking - telling stories about everything - true and not so true. He is particularly obsessed with diving and knows the names of all of the gear and many of the fish. He knows what you need to do to set up your diving equipment and how it all works (quiz him - you won't believe it). He still LOVES his guitar. He is stuck on Purim and very stuck on the story - particularly the Haman part. When asked what his name is, he may or may not say, "Haman." He eats so much fruit, I can't believe he only poops five times a day. He started riding his bike with training wheels.
Koby will be one soon, and he's still a super easy baby. He is so happy to be sitting. Or playing. Or hanging out in a stroller. Or whatever. He's just so chill. He went through a few months when he didn't like other people (other than me), but he's over that now, and he waves, blows kisses, smiles left and right and has a lot of babble to say. He seems to say, "da-da" and maybe "hi." He doesn't quite crawl, but he finally scoots and gets around the floor. He still doesn't really flip over. He likes to stand up on things. He eats lots of purees and picks up some foods on his own. He still doesn't sleep, but we talked to a sleep consultant last week, and it's actually getting better (knock on wood...). We're working on sleeping from 7:15-3:30 and then again for a few hours. Last week he was waking to eat at 1 and 4 - at ELEVEN MONTHS. And when he "cried it out" he cried for HOURS per night, for at least 5 days at a time (so I was advised to stop each time). I can't wait to stop going to sleep at 8:30 pm. Matt waits for that time too.
Oh - and we bought a house. I guess we're staying here for a while.
We started looking at houses at the beginning of March. I looked in my emails each day to see what came on line. There were a few that looked interesting. I sent Matt to this one house in Chestnut Hill (kinda a snobby area) just so he could see what kind of house I liked - though I didn't like the neighborhood. He went to see the house and he hated it. He came home so mad he couldn't even talk to me. He just went for a run. And he saw a sign in our neighborhood for an Open House. He went there, and he saw it was 4 bedrooms. He toured it and said, "this is it. We want this house." He ran home and said, "go right now - they're closing. I think we want this house." I hadn't even seen it on my emails, because it was super under-priced in order to create a bidding war. I went at 3pm. I ran through it as they were closing up. Looked great. "Bids are due by 8pm - and I already have five," said the agent as I walked out. Awesome. We called our next door neighbor, Sandra, who is a well known agent in this area. We said "What do we do? We want this house. We are not pre-approved for a mortgage. Bids are due in about 4.5 hours." She told us whom to call and what to do. We did it. Bid went in. LET THE STRESS BEGIN! Koby had an ear infection. Koby was puking. Elie was sick. Sam had just gotten over a fever. Aaaaaahhhhh!!!
There were 19 bids. We waived all contingencies. We made a high bid. It was accepted. We couldn't believe it. We were so excited for a minute. Then...Shit!!! WHAT DID WE DO!!!??? We waived our contingencies!?!?! We were buying a house built in 1939 with no inspection!?!? Our agent had said we could get an inspector to come in before we signed the purchase and sales agreement, just informally, and not negotiate based on the inspection, but we could walk away if we saw too much bad stuff. But the sellers would not let us in with an inspector. They did let me go in with a builder/contractor. He said there were a few things that he worried about - but not major damage. And all houses here have SOMETHING. So we ended up putting a heck of a lot of money down with the purchase and sales agreement without an inspection. Then I got the fever and got super sick. Koby continued to be sick. Stressful. Then we got an inspector in. There were a few things, but nothing that major. PHEW!!!!! We closed yesterday. We own a house!
It's a 1939 colonial, a few streets from ours. It's exactly the same layout downstairs as our house, except it has an addition of a family room, an eat-in kitchen (and updated kitchen) and a master bedroom and bathroom upstairs. It's on a dead end street with three houses on the street. It's across the street from a field with about six soccer fields, four tennis courts and a playground. It's a six minute walk to Newton Centre T and Peet's Coffee (critical), plus the rest of the shops and restaurants in Newton Centre. It's still walk-able to Nancy's and our favorite playground in Newton Highlands, but we did add about 8 minutes to each of those. Let the fun begin!!!
Oh - can someone teach me:
How do we make grass in the back yard? What do we need to do to our yard? We have a whole back corner that looks like a mess of vines. I need help!
What do we need to do to the house on what basis? Like what kind of maintenance?
What else do we need to know about owning a house!?
In the meantime, since December, we have traveled VERY little - really only to Michigan a few times and one trip to San Francisco. Sam registered for kindergarten in March. Sam and Elie continue to LOVE school (Temple Shalom in West Newton), we had a few weeks of all being sick with high fevers for five days, each. I started running again (usually with a kid or two in a B.O.B.). We have had a lot of low-key weekends. It's HARD to do more than one thing each day. Sam started soccer with other kids from her school for next year.
Samara is now 5.5. She turned into a big kid. She likes to read small words. She's figuring out everything and how it all works. She still loves to ride her two wheeler, she is working on her hand stand. She can flip over a bar. She does the fire pole on the playground and also the monkey bars. She has a couple of friends at school that she is obsessed with and loves to play with. She has an incredibly vivid imagination. She is also a fantastic big sister - she helps so much with both, teaching Elie how to do everything and helping them each get what they need. She makes Koby happy before I even realize he's unhappy.
Elie is 2.5 and also seems to have turned into a big kid. He does not stop talking - telling stories about everything - true and not so true. He is particularly obsessed with diving and knows the names of all of the gear and many of the fish. He knows what you need to do to set up your diving equipment and how it all works (quiz him - you won't believe it). He still LOVES his guitar. He is stuck on Purim and very stuck on the story - particularly the Haman part. When asked what his name is, he may or may not say, "Haman." He eats so much fruit, I can't believe he only poops five times a day. He started riding his bike with training wheels.
Koby will be one soon, and he's still a super easy baby. He is so happy to be sitting. Or playing. Or hanging out in a stroller. Or whatever. He's just so chill. He went through a few months when he didn't like other people (other than me), but he's over that now, and he waves, blows kisses, smiles left and right and has a lot of babble to say. He seems to say, "da-da" and maybe "hi." He doesn't quite crawl, but he finally scoots and gets around the floor. He still doesn't really flip over. He likes to stand up on things. He eats lots of purees and picks up some foods on his own. He still doesn't sleep, but we talked to a sleep consultant last week, and it's actually getting better (knock on wood...). We're working on sleeping from 7:15-3:30 and then again for a few hours. Last week he was waking to eat at 1 and 4 - at ELEVEN MONTHS. And when he "cried it out" he cried for HOURS per night, for at least 5 days at a time (so I was advised to stop each time). I can't wait to stop going to sleep at 8:30 pm. Matt waits for that time too.
Oh - and we bought a house. I guess we're staying here for a while.
We started looking at houses at the beginning of March. I looked in my emails each day to see what came on line. There were a few that looked interesting. I sent Matt to this one house in Chestnut Hill (kinda a snobby area) just so he could see what kind of house I liked - though I didn't like the neighborhood. He went to see the house and he hated it. He came home so mad he couldn't even talk to me. He just went for a run. And he saw a sign in our neighborhood for an Open House. He went there, and he saw it was 4 bedrooms. He toured it and said, "this is it. We want this house." He ran home and said, "go right now - they're closing. I think we want this house." I hadn't even seen it on my emails, because it was super under-priced in order to create a bidding war. I went at 3pm. I ran through it as they were closing up. Looked great. "Bids are due by 8pm - and I already have five," said the agent as I walked out. Awesome. We called our next door neighbor, Sandra, who is a well known agent in this area. We said "What do we do? We want this house. We are not pre-approved for a mortgage. Bids are due in about 4.5 hours." She told us whom to call and what to do. We did it. Bid went in. LET THE STRESS BEGIN! Koby had an ear infection. Koby was puking. Elie was sick. Sam had just gotten over a fever. Aaaaaahhhhh!!!
There were 19 bids. We waived all contingencies. We made a high bid. It was accepted. We couldn't believe it. We were so excited for a minute. Then...Shit!!! WHAT DID WE DO!!!??? We waived our contingencies!?!?! We were buying a house built in 1939 with no inspection!?!? Our agent had said we could get an inspector to come in before we signed the purchase and sales agreement, just informally, and not negotiate based on the inspection, but we could walk away if we saw too much bad stuff. But the sellers would not let us in with an inspector. They did let me go in with a builder/contractor. He said there were a few things that he worried about - but not major damage. And all houses here have SOMETHING. So we ended up putting a heck of a lot of money down with the purchase and sales agreement without an inspection. Then I got the fever and got super sick. Koby continued to be sick. Stressful. Then we got an inspector in. There were a few things, but nothing that major. PHEW!!!!! We closed yesterday. We own a house!
It's a 1939 colonial, a few streets from ours. It's exactly the same layout downstairs as our house, except it has an addition of a family room, an eat-in kitchen (and updated kitchen) and a master bedroom and bathroom upstairs. It's on a dead end street with three houses on the street. It's across the street from a field with about six soccer fields, four tennis courts and a playground. It's a six minute walk to Newton Centre T and Peet's Coffee (critical), plus the rest of the shops and restaurants in Newton Centre. It's still walk-able to Nancy's and our favorite playground in Newton Highlands, but we did add about 8 minutes to each of those. Let the fun begin!!!
Oh - can someone teach me:
How do we make grass in the back yard? What do we need to do to our yard? We have a whole back corner that looks like a mess of vines. I need help!
What do we need to do to the house on what basis? Like what kind of maintenance?
What else do we need to know about owning a house!?
Koby and Grandma in Florida in December
Hanukkah in Florida with Grandma, Grandpa, Savta, Papa and Jeremy
Happy New Years 2016! Doesn't get more exciting than this...
Cute.
Super mild winter. Cute kids in sled.
Sam ice skated for the first (and second and third) time!
Koby sleeps like this. Honest!!
Elie and Uncle Dan in N. California
With Bubbie and Zaydie on the cable car in San Francisco
Saying goodbye to Sadie, our cousin-dog :(
Half Moon Bay
I voted in the primaries! With three little kids (and one had a feb. It was so hard. But I got there!
The kid clearly lacks personality
Samara's self portrait
Shabbat in Elie's school when he was the ozer (helper)
Daddy was in Asia, so Savta came to shabbat in Elie's class
Monkey!
Worst photo ever taken. He thought he was smiling
Such a happy dude
Elie gets his teeth checked for the first time
Tile shopping couldn't be more fun.
Koby and our neighbor-dog, Tenzing
Elie had a tea party with his friends and brother. At like 6:20 am
Here's the house! Before photos...
Living room (to the right of entry)
Family room (behind living room)
Eat-in kitchen area
Dining room
This will be an extra bedroom/office/guest room
Sam and Elie will sleep in this big one
Koby gets the purple one
Matt's working on re-doing this bathroom
I'm not confident we can fill all of this space.
Master bedroom
Florida in Dec w Savta - too tired to move this one
Florida in Dec
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