The Herrman Family: In the New House

We are in! Yay! These last few weeks have been a flurry of closing on the house (which was just about the craziest closing ever... you would think with this being the third house we've purchased in the last few years that we would be old hats at this.. well suffice to say the market is very different right now and the closing was nuts!) moving out and moving in, a re-licensing survey from the Department of Health at my work and a new site going live at Chris's, my birthday (guess how old??) Uncle Matthews Birthday and just settling in!

We had Grandma helping us tremendously Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Claire duty while mom and dad packed, packed, unloaded, carried, unloaded, stuffed and moved... it was great fun and exercise :) On Sunday we had our first visitors! Grandpa, Uncle Matthew (who helped move on Saturday and Sunday!!) Aunt Colleen, Cousins McKenzie and Baby Ben, Cassandra, Chris, Olivia and friend Travis over!! Above is all the little munchkins on the floor of the living room of the new house! Its so exciting to see them all so close in age! Yay!! Thanks team for all the fun times, moving help, food and laughs! What a great way to end a tough week of moving.

Claire, Breck and the Boys are adjusting to the new house well. The boys love all of the windows and sunlight and take advantage of it by getting in extra naps all over the house.

Claire with her increased mobility is able to crawl everywhere and everywhere quickly now! The unpacking gave us the opportunity to "baby proof" from the get go. She is now pulling up on things too though and decided to start climbing up the stairs while I was putting some dishes from lunch in the dishwasher! It is so exciting to see her learn more every day, imitate the sounds and faces we are making and actions. She has a little routine for guests that we were in part able to show to Grandma and Grandpa when they stopped by this morning for birthday breakfast (My birthday was yesterday!) and to Thom and Melissa who were over this afternoon for a Wisconsin Theme lunch complete with Brats, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Frozen Custard for Dessert. (Peaks Frozen Custard is a relatively new place down the street from our new house - we are telling everyone about it - AMAZING frozen custard - great coffee/espresso - yummy treats, cakes, salads, etc - just an all around wonderful place that we hope weathers this economy successfully) Then our friend from the UW Madison MBA program Vibhu came over for a quick hello and planning session with Chris at Third Place Books. Claire did a little dancing, some clapping and a few giggles.

So Claire's full routine consists of repeat / response clapping, saying "DaDa" when we point to Chris and say who's this? Sipping from a sippy cup, feeding herself crackers, laughing uncontrollably when you tickle her, playing peek a boo, saying ba-ba and using the sign language motion for milk then drinking from her bottle... and if you're lucky getting her to chomp down on your finger with the full force of her two upper and two lower teeth... Auntie Annie can relate to putting on a show for guests... you'll have to ask her what we used to make her do to show guests how cute and talented she was.

Friday night we found out is social night in the neighborhood - the first Friday night of each month a great couple down the street hosts a get together. So all the neighbors congregate and share stories and ideas for upcoming projects or talk about what else is going on - it was a great impromptu Birthday outing and way to get to know all the neighbors! A truly great group of professional grand parents, middle aged parents with adolescents and teens on down to the youngest before Claire came along being 20 months! A really great mix!

Folks ask if we are all moved in.. and while yes all of the stuff is here.. it will be a bit until it all finds its special place :) The dining room, living room, kitchen and Claire's room are done.. the rest... well will come with time :) (the couch will be the toughest.. since it doesn't fit through the front door we'll be removing the front bay window then when it comes time to sell the house the lucky new owners will get a couch too! Either that or it will make for some fine fire wood :)

Some parting pictures of the house when vacant. Happy Spring Seattlites... its snowing!