2.36 Animal Park

By Cyndi

August 19, 2013

We are one week away from our guest invasion and I think we are ready for it!  We have been meal planning, trying to finish up the guest room painting and prep for three weekends of visitors.

I'm so excited to have some of my NJ family visit!  It's the first time I will be able to host them since they have graciously hosted me many, many time over the years.  It feels GREAT to return the favor, as I have so many memories of visiting them!!

Matt has finished painting the guest room, which was a pain (or so he says)!  He will paint the guest bath this week and then move to the craft room.  There are some furnishing upgrades for the guest bath, but we will wait until all visitors are gone in early September as that gives us three weeks to complete those before Saba is back to babysit overnight so Matt and I can go to a wedding on the eastern shore of Maryland.  Then Chicago, twice for me, our fall trip to see family & friends -- especially great grandparents including my grandpa (now living in Chicago) -- and I'll be headed back alone (AHHH) for a dual bridal shower for my sisters-in-law to be!  I'm not sure I remember how to only pack for myself and carry on luggage!

Back to this week ... we made a trip to the pool -- while a bit cold, we are trying to expose them as much as we possibly can. 

On Saturday, we met up with Uncle Daniel & Auntie Jill at the Leesburg Animal Park.  It was awesome to have an extra set of hands and we all had a great time. 

Lots of feeding animals ...

Z: "Mr Sheep, do you want to play??"     T: "Hi Mr Pig!!"

Tyler LOVED the pig in the full contact area and; Zach loved the sheep.  Jill wasn't up for full contact and stayed outside with our cup of feed, because those animals are crazy if you have food!!

Sunday we had a friend's birthday party, which was rained out at the pool, so everyone just met up at their house for a big playdate.  With most of the the kids are now between 2.5 - 4 years old, they play so much better together and much less helicopter parenting is required!  We all keep an eye out for the little ones, as there are a few 1-1.5 yr olds who are still learning the ropes of sharing.

The other exciting thing was we picked out all of the paint colors for the rest of the house!  A friend recommended a designer / house stager, whose hourly rate was VERY reasonable.  We met with her and in 1.5 hours we have colors for the entire main level, foyer & upstairs hallway, and master bedroom.  We need quotes and then its go time!  So so excited to finally have color and start seeing this house look like ours!  It has been a year ..... so so lucky to have found our home and hit the timing of the housing market correctly just before prices started to rise and rates were incredibly low.

One year ago ....

... to now!

One last picture -- took a walk one evening while Matt was working since the weather has been so pleasant and watched a local baseball game.  T&Z loved it, though they were easily distracted by the airplanes landing at Dulles!