House

Background - We bought the house we are in now in 2005. I saw it had an OH, and went, even though we weren't in the market and had planned to move the following year. I fell in love. We fixed our place up, put it on the market, got an offer, signed the P&S and put an offer on this place. We saw it in Oct, and moved in in Feb.
It is the perfect house for us. A classic colonial, 4 beds, 3.5 baths, a nice but manageable yard with a fence, C/A, garage etc. . . More importantly it is in the town we love.


That said - the previous owner did a lot of work to it. He did a pretty good job, but he cut costs along the way. There are many things that in the long run we'll change, but all are pretty liveable for now.


One thing we really want to fix is our front steps. Right now, they are a mess. He created this odd pad of fake slate to bridge the driveway to the front steps. Now the slate is all chipped and makes a mess. I have NO idea how to fix this since there is a cement base under it. Without hiring someone, what do we do? All suggestions are welcome - here are pix:

This is our front entry area (don't mind the box - a mat for under our new treadmill)


And this is the pad. If you look closely, you'll see how uneven it is. Do you think we could rip up the slate and just leave the concrete pad? Long term we'll rip it all up and make even steps, but for now we just don't want anyone breaking their leg!

Another Meme - A-Z: Facts about Me!

To keep things somewhat out of the grave over here - another Meme.

We are heading to the cape today (my and babe - girls and hubby coming tomorrow) for a great weekend. Next weekend I have to get ready for going back to work. I am nervous, sad, anxiuos, excited. I am a mess. The runner (hubby) is leaving for a business trip from Monday through Saturday my first week back. Working fulltime, with three kids on my own - if I survive that week, I think we'll be ok. :)

(Full credit - I got this from one of the blogs in my reader, but I don't remember who!)

A. Attached or Single? Married
B. Best Friend? Brother K
C. Cake or pie? Chocolate Cake or Apple Pie
D. Day of choice? Saturday
E. Essential item? Right now, a baby swing, which gives me free hands!
F. Favorite color? Green
G. Gummy bears or worms? Gummy Bears
H. Home town? Bedford MA
I. Favorite indulgence? Magainzes, reading blogs
J. January or July? July
K. Kids? Three (Even I am surprised!) a 3 YO, a 17 month old and a 10 week old
L. Life isn’t complete without? My family
M. Marriage date? June 14, 2003
N. Number of brothers and sisters? 1 Brother and 1 Sister
O. Oranges or Apples? Any and all Apples
P. Phobias? None, though I HATE ants
Q. Quotes? I can't remember it - it is on my office wall. Something about 2 kinds of people in life - those that choose to accept what the results are and those who choose to make the results.
R. Reasons to smile? My kiddos - the 3 yo's wit, the 1 yo's laugh, and the baby sleeping :)
S. Season of choice? Fall
T. Tag 5 people: Anyone who wants actually reads this. :)
U. Unknown fact about me? I never cook or clean - my hubby does it all. (Except on Mat Leave - then I step up. Only one more week!)
V. Vegetable? Brocolli or Fresh Corn on the Cob
W. Worst habit? Speeding
X. X-ray or Ultrasound? X Ray
Y. Your favorite food? Filet Mignon with Garlic Mashed potatoes and brocolli
Z. Zodiac sign? Aries
Z. Which zoo animal is your favorite? Giraffe

About Me - Meme

Until I become witty - I thought I'd do a meme or two! I've seen this one around a lot lately.

1. What did you do 10 years ago?

I was 20, home on break from college. Working 3 jobs for spending money, and spending all free time on the Cape.

2. Five items on your to-do list today:
1) Visit the office (done!)
2) Finish organizing clothing donatin to drop off at dump (no more girl baby clothes for us!)
3) Pick up formula and lettuce wrap mix at Costco. Well this was on my list, but has been pushed to tomorrow
4) Make dinner, pick up kids, move the hosta, pay bills, switch out maternity clothes, load Ipod, order treadmill, it could go on and on and on.
5) Figure out how to put the baby done and not have him scream!

3. Snacks I enjoy:
Right now, I love what I can't have! (losing the baby weight). My favorites are Dove Dark Chocolate bites, Cashews, Pirate's booty, Chips and Salsa

4. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
I would probably move, though stay in our town, just in a newer, better house. We might get a place of our own on the Cape, and maybe one in VT / ME. I would quit my current job, and start my own business.

5. Places I have lived:

Bedford, MA; Needham, MA; Geneva NY; Barnstable MA

6. Bloggers I am passing the challenge onto are:

Everyone has done this so I won't tag, but feel free to do it and pass it along!

Hello Again

Trying to get into this blogging thing. Again.

We have 3 kiddos now, so I started a new blog. Fresh start. And I don't feel like I am betraying the babe.

I am loving the new Wii Fit. I don't enjoy how it mocks my postpartum fluff, but the games are fun. And I work up a sweat.

I have 5 weeks of leave yet and need to lose at least 5 of the 20 lbs left. Otherwise, I'll be wearing maternity clothes to work. Not good!

Why exactly does a Verizon rep feel the need to come by every night selling the service? We already have Verizon - leave us alone!

Babe is waking up. Gotta go. Hopefully I'll get over the writer's block and be back soon!