Lot's of posts today, sorry folks but when you find some time these days it's a minor miracle. Granted a lot of this craziness is self-imposed. In the middle of both of the boys being sick, Tanner being a newborn and Jake trying to potty train, we have also decided to....sell our house.

That's right, after all that hard work and remodeling, just when we got it all done (literally, I am doing touch up painting in the kitchen this weekend). We have discovered that the one thing that we can't do to this house is add on a backyard. Having a toddler and soon to be two, really made us re-evaluate what we need in a house. So after much soul searching and admitting that I have been right on this for a year now, Marisa agreed to look at moving.

We have put an offer in on another house is Livermore, that, surprise, surprise, needs some work. But it is a large house with a large lot, is in walking distance to an elemenatry, middle and high school, and will be big enough for all of our needs. I blame this habit of mine on my Uncle Rick, who was buying and fixing up houses my whole early childhood. I always thought that it was so cool that if it wasn't what you wanted, you just made it what you wanted. If you wanted a river in your backyard, you made one. If you wanted a hot tub off of the Master Bedroom, you put one in. I have always been able to look past what shape a house is in when I buy it and see it how I want it to be, and I think some of that comes from Uncle Ricks living construction projects that I was always playing in growing up. So thanks Uncle Rick....

We will try to keep the posts more regular as we go forward. But as you can imagine, with our lives, sh*@ happens. - Brian

Our Littlest Man

Here's Tanner (or TJ or Tiege, depending on who is reading this). He is getting so big so fast. He is a joy, truly. Still bald, still sleepy a lot of the time, but starting to smile and "play" much more. I am enjoying my time with him, as I go back to school in 5 1/2 weeks (but who's counting?). Don't tell Brian, but I think I may want a third! (only kidding... sort of!).

Potty Training Success!

Quite proud of himself, Jake poses by the potty for a picture commemorating the fact that he is officially on the road to being a BIG BOY. He has been wearing pull ups for a month now and stays dry all day. I can't tell you how little I miss changing those poopy diapers!!! I have to give a great deal of credit to Miss Julie- she did most of the training, sitting him on the potty every 20 minutes for several weeks. Still, Jake deserves the credit for making the decision to get it done. Not to be too graphic, but it is pretty amusing the urgency with which he tells me he has to " GO POOP! RIGHT NOW, MOMMY!" and the ensuing rush to the bathroom makes me feel like I have joined some sort of Mommy Club. He still resists wearing big boy underpants- despite the fact that we have sbout 15 pair in all sorts of his favorite designs- Bob Builder, Thomas, Elmo, etc.... Our deal is that he can have gum (something he has been wanting for at least a year now) when he wears his big boys and stays dry for a week. So far the bribe doesn't seem to be working, but we'll keep you posted! In any case, I am relieved to know that my son won't go to high school wearing a diaper. Now if we can only get him to give up that binky....