Where's your family?

Several weeks ago, Katie and I noticed that our blog was full of KEGGS pictures and several of Katie's family, but very few of mine.
"Why is that," we asked each other? Then we figured it out - we saw my parents and brother frequently enough, and they were close enough, that we regularly forgot to bring a camera with us. Additionally, when we saw them, my Mom would take pictures with her camera, or Dad with his iFlip (where do you think the videos of Ethan, Mom and Gracie came from?).
I mentioned this to Mom, who said that several other people had also noted the lack. "Well," I said, "can you please help rectify the situation? Please send me a CD or SD Card with your pictures on it!"
She did, and so now we have an extra 78 pictures from her camera. Mom warned me in advance, and I pass this along to you, that there won't be all that many pictures of her: she hates having her picture taken!
So sit back, relax, and check out the latest additions to the Picasa web album. The photos were filed by the date they were taken, but you should be able to find them by looking for the most recently modified pictures.
Take note of one other thing, too. If you mail us pictures, or a link with high quality digital pictures, we'll add them to our album! We don't post many on Facebook, mostly because we put everything up here!

Puppy Walk!

Well, we know most of our pictures have been of Ethan, so as to not to leave out the other kids, here is a George and Gracie fix! This is a picture of Gracie walking George and I to the park. Every morning and evening they get a nice walk to the park, which is about three block away. Steve is their usual walker, but in the evenings and on the weekends, Ethan and I tag along.

All of the parks here are "dog parks", which means there are always dogs off leash running around in them. Unfortunately, they are not fenced in, so G&G are not allowed to go off leash. Actually, the only fenced areas at the parks are the children's playgrounds!

A very dog-happy city here, the supermarkets even have a place where you can tie up your dog outside while you shop - sort of like a puppy hitching post! Look for pictures in the photo stream!

Three Months Old!

Today is Ethan's three month birthday! He is falling into his new BA routine really well. An E-man day goes something like this:

5:00am - Wake up mom for morning snack
5:30 - 6:00 - Talk to myself in my crib and fall back asleep
6:00-7:00 -Sleep!
7:00 - 7:30 - Get up and dressed
8:00 - EAT!
8:30 - 9:00 - Play
9:00 - 11:00 - Nap
11:00 until dad comes home - rinse and repeat -Eat, Play, Nap - with some general fussiness and multiple diaper changes mixed in to change things up.
6:00 -Go on walk with dad, mom and doggies
7:00 -Bath time!
8:00 - Last meal of the day (maybe.....)
8:30 - Bedtime

I know, a very excting day!

To catch you up

I guess it’s been a while, perhaps over a full month, since last we blogged. There is actually a really good reason (or several), and so I’m going to share them with you, along with some updates. Therefore, let’s begin.
Actually, before we get there, let’s start with a picture of Ethan in his, “Yo soy tan mano” (I'm soo cute) outfit, courtesy of Auntie Mara.

Reason #1: We Weren't Home

Almost continually for the last 24 years or so, Katie’s family has rented a beach house in Brigantine (a barrier island north of Atlantic City) for a week. This year, they rented the house for July 4th week, starting Saturday, July 3. Katie and Ethan stayed the whole week, but I had to return to DC for class early Tuesday morning. While there isn’t terribly much to do in Brigantine beyond spending time at the beach, watching TV, eating, and leaving the island, Katie couldn’t do any blogging because the house doesn’t have a wireless (nor wired, for that matter) network. Since she had the camera and SD cards, and most of you aren’t really reading the blog, but come here for the link to the pictures, I chose not to blog when I got back. You folks, however, are in luck – as we have beach pictures! Go to the gallery link, and click on the albums dated 7/3 – 7/11.
Anyway, here are some beach highlights: Upon arriving in Jersey, we stopped off at Nick and Sue’s house and got to spend some time with Nick, Sue, Sadie, and Mom-To-Be Becky! Good times. That night, we got grandparents to watch the babies, and Katie, Nick, Sue, and I went to Bobby Flay’s Steakhouse in the Borgata and indulged our foodie sides. Mmm, steak, shrimp, and general goodness! July 4th was fun, I barbecued on the ancient gas grill, and the neighbors next door played their music loud enough to annoy darn near everybody – but, since some of it was patriotic, and other bits were pretty good, it almost seemed difficult to ask them to turn it down. Other beach highlights included: Seeing Kelsey, Jay, and Rachel; playing ball in the ocean; Paul breaking the cheap glass in the old table; a visit from Aunt Peg, Uncle Paul, and Laura; some good family time; and oh yeah, more loud music from the neighbors!

Reason #2: Katie's Birthday

Ok, so this reason’s not really a great one – in fact, it’s really just an opportunity to thank Lea for introducing us to Victoria’s Cakery in Fairfax. I went up to PA to pick up Katie and Ethan on July 10, and we came home on the 11th. The 12th was Katie’s birthday, and my parents were kind enough to have us and Peggy over for a barbecue. I ordered a peanut butter / chocolate cake from what has rapidly become Katie’s favorite bakery since Lea introduced her to it at Debi’s baby shower – the ubiquitous Victoria’s Cakery.
http://www.victoriascakeryinc.com/

Reason #3: OMG, WOAH!

So this was supposed to be a blog entry all into itself. OMG, WOAH! As of July 14, we’ve become homeowners (OMG, WOAH = Oh My Goodness, We Own A House!). Taking advantage of the VA home loan program, and unbelievably low mortgage rates, we found a 5 BR (although we consider one of the rooms more of a den/family room), 3 Bath house in the Falls Church part of Fairfax, just inside the beltway. The house is B-E-A-UTIFUL, and full of updates. It started life in 1950 as a post-war 3 BR/1 Bath rambler. The previous owner bought it almost 20 years ago, and taught himself to do all sorts of updates. He redid the floorplan of the original house (there’s only one room from the original floorplan that hasn’t been touched), moved the door, pushed out the back, and added a second floor. When he pushed out back, he moved the kitchen and put in granite countertops and a Viking professional range.
We have ideas on what we want to do with the house to make it even more ours. When we walked in the first time, we agreed with our realtor’s comment that the renovations were well done, but lacked imagination. Externally, the front of the house has a long, high, unbroken roof that doesn’t help the curb appeal. We’ve got several thoughts, including adding double dormers, a single large dormer, and a standing seam (metal) roof. Internally, we want to rip out two walls – one that separates the small dining room from the living room, and one to create a hallway between the kitchen and the 5th bedroom (the one that would be an excellent family room), where there is currently a large closet.
You’re probably asking, as so many have, “Why buy now, when you’re leaving? What are you going to do with it while you’re gone?” Well, I think I already answered the first – the market and interest rates were right, we were still eligible for the 8k tax credit, and we had to seize the opportunity. As for the second, well, we’ve got renters! Surprisingly, the renters will cover a good chunk of our mortgage. The best part: we’re able to do this on my overseas salary alone, so anything Katie earns, or any raises I get (including for serving in DC), enables us to enjoy the house and area even more.
There are some pictures in the gallery, but the best way to see the house is to visit when we’re back in the area.