Friday, January 30, 2009

Who Has Time to Crochet?


Hmm, well, me apparently. Although I'm somewhat surprised to have finished this sweater before Grace outgrew it or before spring came.


And yes, she is wearing it over her footy pajamas. That's what happens when mama is so pleased to have completed a project that she can't wait until the baby's dressed to show it off.

Melinda

Monday, January 26, 2009

Daddy/Daughter Date Day

As lovely and sweet as Grace is, there are times when it's nice to have a few moments to myself. And at such times, it's even nicer that Vic loves to take Grace for Daddy/Daughter Date Day. They go for coffee, hang out with friends, go shopping, and take walks.

Here's a photo shoot from one of their dates -- a wintery walk (with Grace in the backpack, of course).

Melinda





Friday, January 16, 2009

News from the Home Front

Who ever heard of waiting ten weeks for a response on a house offer?

Apparently, in the current housing market, if a home is up for short sale or foreclosure, it's buried in a pile of hundreds of such homes on the lender's desk. We put in an offer on this home November 1, and are still waiting to hear whether the offer is accepted, denied, or if they'll counter. The current owner is happy to have gotten an offer, but the lender has to approve also, and they'd probably like to get more of their money back. Given the interest rates right now, we'd really love to get a response and lock in a great rate on our loan.

On the upside, though, as a buyer in this market, the longer they wait to respond, the more housing prices decrease and the more reasonable our offer looks. (We're so thankful to be renting, rather than having to sell our current home before moving.)

Grace is tired of sleeping in our closet and would like her own room, I think.

Melinda

Friday, January 2, 2009

Our Christmas

As those of you who live in the Pacific Northwest know, it was a snowy December. For the first time that I can recall, it was actually white on Christmas. Not just a flurry in the air or a few flakes on the ground, but actual snowdrifts big enough to make lifesize snowmen, high enough to get into your boots, and slick enough to strike fear into the hearts of most Seattle drivers.

So how did we do with all this winteriness? We went to California. Yep, we spent December 19-25 in the Sacramento area with Vic's family, and had a great time. Grace was an absolute dream traveler (something we're not counting on with future trips, but were so thankful for). We ate yummy food, spent lots of time with the Wii, played several games of Scrabble, and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with everyone.

We flew home on Christmas afternoon, and immediately upon arrival at our car, Grace erupted into inconsolable crying. Apparently she'd simply had it with all this craziness. Once we unearthed our car from the snow and ice it had accumulated during the week, we hurried home on clear roads, got the Peanut a bottle of warm milk, and tucked her in for the night. She slept for 12 hours both of the next two nights.

The day after Christmas we had Melinda's family over for a far-from-traditional Christmas dinner -- chili, burritos, nachos, and for dessert pineapple cake with cream cheese frosting. Yum. It was great to catch up with everybody.

So with all these festivities, how did we celebrate New Year's Eve? Went to sleep, of course. Grace couldn't care less about 2008, 2009, or any other year -- she just wants her bottle at 8:00am.

But we wish you all the best in this new year!

Vic & Melinda

snow baby


with her grandfather and her papa


look who got bunny slippers for Christmas