Seattle Trash 101

Being from TX, we are having to change our trash habits (and we do not know much about compost!) To go bigger on the trash bin, you have to pay an extra $70/mo! We are paying an extra $20/mo already for this "bigger" size, the normal size is smaller.

Big S is always asking us when we throw trash away, "Do you really want that to go to a landfill?"

Little N has been trying to do his part. We couldn't find our shoes the other day, then found them in the trash, along with some perfectly good playdough!

Strawberry picking!

We went for our first berry picking adventure this week. Strawberries are in season now, and we've been told blueberries and raspberries are ready for picking in July. Also, blackberries grow wild everywhere and we can find bushes along the river trail to pick for free. We picked 3lbs of strawberries, which cost only $3!

Happy Bday!

V had is big 39 last week. We had some friends over and ate on the patio. It was really nice weather all day, and an amazing evening outside.

N practiced drinking from a cup - fortunately it was only water. Unfortunately, it wasn't his cup.

And no, he's not wearing any pants (although he is wearing a diaper! - thanks for the clarification Mom!) Apparently with the third kid, pants are no longer a requirement, according to us. Even at birthday parties with friends over. In fact, it was the friends who pointed it out when they got here, otherwise I would have never noticed. They only have two kids and haven't reached this milsestone yet.

New House...

We got moved into our new house one week ago. We love the house and our neighborhood. The house has 4 bedrooms and an office, with a very cool back deck and a view of the Cascade mountains. We are on a culdesac with other kids our kids' ages (two kids start 1st grade with big S in the fall) - bike riding in the culdesac after dinner with the other kids is already a nightly ritual with the sun up until close to 10pm. The weather has been beautiful, so we spend most of our time outside the house, but we are so happy to finally have a place to call home.

Park and trails in our neighborhood

V walking back from the culdesac where the mailboxes are in the center island..

How things looked a few days ago... a little more headway made on some of the boxes now...

bike riding on our street, princess style... big S has her training wheels lifted up a few inches now, getting close...

Started swim lessons today... it is only 75 degrees outside but the water is heated to 90!

first jump off the diving board for big S!

spent the morning playing playdough on the back deck while Mom worked on unpacking more boxes... had to move the little table into the shade because it was "too hot" to the kids otherwise (about 70 degrees).

Trip to Microsoft Campus

We got to have lunch with V on the Microsoft Campus in the "Commons" area today. The campus would rival any major university campus in size, but the ammenities are incredible (as in disbelief!) The inside of the Commons looks like a major mall with different eating places and random stores so you can get your cell service and a bike while on your lunch break without leaving the campus! All drinks are free, but you pay a discounted price for the food. There is a massive interest in the World Cup, which started today, and to V's enjoyment (this is his all time favorite sporting event) there is a 1000+ employee world cup tournament going on internally. The Commons were decorated with big soccer balls and flags, and you can watch the games on the various TV all playing the games. Outside, there is soccer field (and almost every other sport field) to take a break and play a round of something. While V may not need to leave at lunch, it does make his family want to come see Dad at work! Most of all, I am so thankful my husband has a place like this to go to work every day.

Land of Make Believe

We closed on our new house! We'll post pictures of it soon, but for now, we're making do with the few things we have that are not in the mover's storage awaiting the move-in date on Wednesday. I have to say, I'm thankful how much my kids have had to enter the land of make believe without access to many of their toys...

Trip to RTC

We went to the Redmond Saturday Market today which is on the grounds of the Redmond Town Center, which is an outdoor mall. I've been wanting to check out both and the market was very neat and we bought a few veggies and dried fruits, but the mall blew my mind. It was also a gorgeous day and great to be outdoors (60 and sunny), and it really is a great place just to stroll around, even if you don't buy anything. Notice my Microsoft vintage tshirt Vic bought for me. I must look like a serious tourist dressed in that and with my camera out taking pictures at the mall. :-)

Finding things to do in Temp Housing...

You can get a little stir crazy in a small space with lots of stuff stacked around and lots of kids running around and jumping all over it. No sense of privacy around here, no sirreee. And a 1 year old who needs to nap while two more-energetic-than-average 4 and 6 year olds are "trying to keep the noise level down." Ha.

Here are some fun things we've done since our last post...

-Went to eat the famous "Top Pot" doughnuts for international doughnut day (didn't realize it was today, did you, neither did I.)

-Went to the much talked about Trader Joes and got loaded up on cheap chocolate and goodies, and what is called "two buck Chuck" which is wine called Charles something-or-other who owns Trader Joes and sells their wine for $2.99. I'm learning all the important lingo... I'll try it tonight.

-Went back to Marina park where the market had been on Wed, just to play at the little beach - it was warm yesterday, but still too chilly to swim. Pretty homes along the water.

-Got new pets: African Dwarf Frogs. This would seem like the worst time to acquire a new pet, but I was suckered into it and they are fun for the girls. They are in a self-sustaining environment consisting of natural bacteria in the rocks and a snail to eat the yucky stuff. We just have to feed them twice a week. Their names are Madeline and Lilly.