Whirlwind weekend

The weekend was pretty busy filled with work, weddings, playing, and driving. I left for the Bay area on Wednesday. Steve was Mr. Mom for the week. I had a team mtg in San Jose. It was long and tiring but it went well. I was the MC of the mtg so it took a lot out of me. Steve had parent teach conferences at night on Thursday so his parents came into town to watch Gavin for us on Thursday night. They were on their was down to the desert for the winter so it was a nice pitstop. By Friday, I was beat.

Steve was planning to come up Friday night, but due to some "family planning issues", he had to come up Friday morning instead. It was nice to see the fam and Gavin and Coleson got to play a little earlier. Gavin hardly noticed cousin Keaton but we had fun remembering what it was like to hold a newborn. She eats, poops, sleeps like clockwork. She is a good little baby and loves the ergo baby carrier. I hardly heard her through the night so I would say that is a huge step given her brother wakes me up more than she does.

Friday night we all hung out and got our favorite NY style pizza. The boys loved playing with trains, and blocks and watching a little tv. They got along well. There was minimal hitting or yelling. They loved building a tunnel of pillows and jumping on the sofa in the living room. On Saturday we went downtown in the morning so Nik could sleep and watched the marching band parade. It was fun to see that times have changed and there are now guy flag girls in matching little flashy outfits. The boys like marching down the street like the band.

Saturday afternoon we had a shower for Nikki over at Becky's house and the fam and friends came. She got some good loot and clothes for Keaton. Food was yummy and the cupcakes were huge. Saturday night we got all dressed up for Uncle David's wedding. We got a babysitter and the boys did great with her. We were a little late to the wedding but didn' t miss the wedding-phew. Just in time. Kristin and Taylor looked really nice and Uncle David looked really happy. The venue was great and the wine cellar was decorated nicely. I now have another Aunt Peggy. Her dress was pretty and she looked like she was having a great time. Kristin gave a great toast and Uncle Tim did too. We had fun being out without kids and drinking wine. Nik had to go home early for Keaton but Steve and I were the delinquent parents and stayed out to dance a little more. We boogied a lot with all the fam and I am sure there are some scary pictures. We got a ride home from Larisa and Chad. Gavin stayed up til 10pm! We were in bed by 10:30- PAR-TAY! haha.

The weekend ended with us chilling on Sunday and having the fam over for a little bit. We had to hit the road so we didn't stay long. The drive home was quick and easy. Gavin slept most of the way home. It makes for a hectic week when you have been gone.... laundry, grocery, house stuff piles up. But you can only do so much each day. Who cares if there is stuff in the floor. I'd rather have a half hour to watch Desperate Housewives or play on my new Ipod. Ya need a little chill time now and then.

Pictures to follow once I get them on the computer. There is too much to do right now...maybe next week :)

Travertine!

We got new tile installed this weekend. We left for the lake to meet up with Steve's family. While we had fun chilling at the lake, Dave our tile guy was working 14 hour days to get the new tile installed. This was the last trip for the summer season. Steve's parents go back to the desert this week. We met Scott's fiancee, Sammy. We got up to the house late night and little Gavin was passed out. We were able to transfer him to his little foam bed on the floor and we hung out with the family.

Sammy is super sweet and Gavin had a ball playing with her. Now we have another camera added to the family. I called them the Paparazzi and we are on a reality show. Dave, Scott and Sammy all had their mammoth digital cams out snapping away like Gavin was a celebrity toddler. Snap, snap, snap, snap, click click, click, is all you heard. Steve didn't even get his out. I love it since I have a ton of awesome photos as memories of the weekend. Once I get some of the pics, I will post them here. I don't have to worry about forgetting my camera. Now I know what it is like to have my life on film. haha.

We came home to a new floor. The kitchen, entry and bathroom all now have awesome travertine floors. It is step one of the floor transformation at the Gould house. Next up is the carpet. White carpet does not work well with a toddler. So we are going for a soft brownish color called River rock. That is going to be a serious chore to install since it is basically like moving out but it will look awesome I hope.

We have many phases of upgrading this house.... after carpet, next up.. the fireplace tile and gas insert... then it is a toss up between the cabinets or the countertops but I think I would vote countertops.....then upgrading the bathroom counter and mirrors......there is no recession right??? spend spend spend. haha. It may take another 5 years but eventually I will have the house exactly how I want it.

Dave, our tile guy, is wrapping up the job. He stayed at the house in the guest room all weekend, barely eating and working like a dog. We are very happy with how it turned out. Pics to come shortly.

Steve's Birthday weekend

Steve turned 37 last Friday. We had hoped to go camping at Limekiln but the fires rearranged our plans. The campground was closed. So instead we got a babysitter and went out to a nice dinner just the two of us. Steve wanted a yummy italian meal so we went to Cafe Roma. We got the classic meal....wine (lovely sangiovese) bruschetta, salad, raviolis, tiramasu and cappucino. We remember all our meals from our Italian adventure. It was a great time and fun to get out. Of course we were too tired to do anything else so we came home before nine. We are definitely official old farts.

Gavin was still up so we got to reassure him that we weren't leaving him since he has a crying, hold on to daddy's leg meltdown before we left. Poor Ashley (our babysitter).

The next day we drove up to Sandollar beach so Steve could at least get in his surf and sand fix for his birthday. The view was picturesque, nice breeze, looked like a great day....until we got down on the beach. It was pretty cold in the shade and the wind was kinda kickin in. Not too bad but then add in the swarms of crazy nat/flies. You couldn't see them from far away but there were millions of them. They were hovering everywhere. The only saftey from this pesky things was to be low to the ground. That doesn't work when you have a two year old. The thought of lounging on a beach low to the ground is a distant memory. I have to grin and bear it.

Steve made his way out into the blue ocean while I fought with bugs. Gavin and I walked along the beach and he found lots of rocks. I tried to find a place where the flies would not touch me. Luckily, the flies move quickly and if you zone out, you don't see them. Eventually they subside and I am able to enjoy myself. I was definitely taking one for the team.

Gavin ended his afternoon with tug of sea kelp war and ring around the seaweed. He had a blast running around all the hippy drunks that stumbled onto the beach from the jade festival that was happening on the other side of the road. Luckily, Gavin didn't see them lighting a doobie or flashing their "units" on the beach. He just walked by and said to them "Hi guys". They all stone-ily laughed.

Sunday we headed to the Pumpkin patch to get some pumpkins. They enticed us with 3 bouncy houses. Gavin was in heaven. He had no fear. He didn't mind the old kids who paid no attention that he was half their size. He would just turn to them and say "Don't do that to me". Gotta love it. The pictures will show how much fun he had. He inherited the tongue out when concentrating gene from Steve. Now almost every hour he says "can we go to the pumpkin patch?"

The Weekend of Wii

We got the Wii. For anyone reading this that doesn't know what that is, it is a Nintendo game console that is really fun. I got it for Wii Fit. I thought it would be a fun way to stay in shape. Steve could also have fun with it when he can't get to the gym. We are now slowing becoming addicted to Wii.

It rained this weekend so there wasn't much to do. We spent a lot of the weekend upstairs in the loft cracking up playing the games. We got Wii fit which comes with aerobic, yoga, strength and balance. The yoga and strength ones are pretty hard and you definitely feel it. The aerobics and balance games are really games but you also get in a work out. Steve was really good at the balance games. He is a professional snow jumper and soccer ball header. I am a pro hula hooper.

Picture this..... I am standing on a board and looking at the big screen tv. Hula hoop starts and I am swinging my hips around super fast like I have a hula hoop on but I don't. I lean forward with both hands acting like I am catching a hula hoop but I am not. I was cracking up so hard all by myself the first time I played. This makes working out fun.

Gavin is a little too young for it. It tracks your weight and your BMI each day. Tells you if you are underweight, normal or overweight. Hopefully my Wii does'nt tell me I am fat.

This Wii will be loads of fun and we have to make sure we don't become junkies. The good thing is that you have to be moving for most of the games so no fatties in our house playing video games.

Sunday the rain stopped and we actually took showers and got out of the house. We ran a bunch of errands and had a typical Sunday. We ended it will movie night, watching Nemo and popcorn. It was a nice relaxing weekend that went too fast.