Ponky Ponk!

I realized today that I really need to blog this before we forget it... For an unknown reason Addison has recently saying "ponky ponk" constantly. I have no idea how she came up with this one... it started when she would run into something and say "Ponk!" Then she added "I am going to ponky ponk!" just before she would run into you, or anything really. The newest is "I am going to ponky ponk your eye ball!" Not sure what that one means, but it probably isn't good! ha ha

Week 2

This week has brought us a foundation for our house. The top photo is taken from the back right corner of what will be our garage looking toward the "house". Brian had our builder add an extra 4 feet to the back of the garage, so of course he took a photo of that! The second is from the left side of the house.

We are still doing gymnastics and the girls really like it. It feels nice to do something that is "normal" for us. I think the girls are done with my being home all the time! ha ha They are as sassy as ever. Brian spent hours on Sunday washing, buffing, and waxing my sister Nicole's car after Addison decided to color chalk on it instead of the sidewalk. I was calling for her, asking what she was doing in the front yard. She replied "I am coloring auntie's car!" Yeah, lesson there is that sidewalk chalk CAN scratch paint! ARGH!

Progress!

On Friday we decided to go and have a look at our lot to see if they have started anything... We had thought that maybe they had started staking the lot or possibly started to dig. We could not believe that footers were already in and the forms were standing by for the foundation! It was very cool. While we were there the couple who will be our new neighbors to the back, were out walking and immediately came up to us and introduced themselves. They were so sweet, she offered their bathrooms if we were ever out on our lot and the girls needed a bathroom! They had great things to say about the neighbors, and our builder. That was great to hear. We will have to see what this week brings! There is no stopping now:)

Gymnastics

We had our first class at the YMCA this week. Payton has been going to gymnastics since she turned 3 so she was VERY excited to go back to class. She kept saying "Mumma! We live in an apartment and I can still go to gymnastics! I didn't know that!". Poor thing thinks she can't do anything she likes apparently. haha We love the Gymnastics Club in Owatonna, so I was really hoping that this program would be just as good. I had heard good things, but was waiting to see it for myself. The girls are in 2 different classes, this is Addison's first gymnastics class and Payton is a bit more advanced. It was really nice too because their classes are at the same time so I could watch them both at once. Payton did really well, like she never stopped her classes. Addison did awesome at following directions, but I laughed out loud when she was on the bars and when she when to swing over the bar she let go and grabbed her coach around the waist. Poor lady... it was hysterical! Overall it was a good class, and it is very much like the classes we are used to. I just wish it was one hour instead of 45 minutes. The girls could have more time on the equipment that way. That and it is open gym after the class is over. So the kids can just play on the equipment, sounds good unless your 3 year old jumps in "the pit" full of foam blocks and can't get herself out. I almost fell in myself digging her out!

One Door Closes, and Another One Opens!

Brian and I were off to Owatonna last week for a brief stay to close on our house there. We lived in that house for 4 1/2 years, and it was brand new when we moved in. So for me it felt strange handing over our keys! I called our neighbor to tell her to be on the look out for the new neighbors! But it was SO exciting as well because now we can move forward with the building of our new house. We met with our builder to finish making all our choices over the weekend. The building permit is in process, they will start staking the lot and they hope to start digging by the end of the week! Above are some photos of our lot. It will be fun to see everything started!

Busy!

I think it is amazing how busy we have been for the last 3 weeks, considering I have been home with the girls! I look at our calendar and every day we have somewhere else to be, or something else planned! We have been on the hunt for a child care center for Addie. After 3 tours and a lot of talking, Brian and I finally decided on one. It is the closest to where our house is going to be, has the biggest playground, the biggest rooms for the kids, very close to the elementary school if we need Payton to be there too, and the prices are good. And the staff is really quite nice and the pre-school program is good too!

Payton has been struggling with the move. We are hopefully going to start gymnastics at the YMCA in April (for both girls) and I am going to try to get us more on a schedule each week which will hopefully help.

Brian and I went to MN last week to finish emptying out our house there. The movers came and moved what was left into storage. It was amazing how they stacked our stuff into that storage unit! Filled it right up (it was stacked about 12 feet high I am guessing!). Now next week Brian and I make another trip to MN to close on the house. Then the next week our house starts construction here. We are pretty excited for that to start. We have begun picking out the finishes with a designer, and wow it is tough. But I think we are doing really well and not getting too overwhelmed. Although we do keep second guessing all those decisions. We have some time to think though, which is a good thing.

I have reconnected with several friends from Michigan Tech that live in Green Bay/Appleton area, and that has been SO nice. And I got a call from another friend from Tech that has lived in Georgia for 10 years that is going to be relocating with her company to Appleton in May. Wow, that is crazy timing! She is coming house hunting with her family in April, and I am SO happy about it!

Brian's job continues to be busy and challenging. But he likes both of those things, so that is a really good thing.