Step 2 - Pour the foundation

Stem Wall and Anchor Ties in place

Merry Christmas 2011

Because the real live dog isn't good enough

Christmas this year found us hanging out at home, playing games, baking, watching lots of football, and just generally relaxing (or trying to at least!). Papa arrived last week and helped me with last minute shopping and entertaining the kids. He introduced them to 52 Pick-up (which they loved for some reason) and played lots of games of War, Sorry, Payday, and Stratego. 

We had a "snacky" dinner again (complete with pigs in a blanket, of course) and settled in to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Shrek the Halls.  As is the tradition, we moved all of the kids mattresses onto the floor in the bonus room and they had a big sleepover for Christmas Eve. Surprisingly they all fell asleep within minutes of laying down their heads and were out by 745.  They woke up by 615 and we watched Charlie Brown Christmas in our room together before going in to wake up Papa to go downstairs. Santa had come, eaten all of his cookies, and brought the boys Air Hog remote control helicopters and Faith a "Furreal" Puppy dog. This was probably the biggest hit of the year. She named it Snowball and she takes care of it like a real dog: feeding it, giving it water, playing with it, and taking it on walks down the block. She is so funny talking to it and reprimanding it, giving it treats when it is "good", etc... Yesterday on our walk the puppy (with the remote control leash) kept veering off to the right toward other houses. Faith says, "Mommy, Snowball is looking for a boy dog so she can go kiss is. That's why she keeps trying to go to these other houses!". 

Once again the highlight of Christmas!

After opening stockings and seeing what Santa brought we made breakfast and, in the Simonich tradition, opened presents until almost noon. The kids were so excited about everything. Tanner and Jake LOVED the football jersey/cap/Fathead gift from Auntie Sue and Uncle Eric and the Madden 12 Wii game from Grandma Mary.  Faith was so excited about the Boise State Cheerleading outfit, complete with orange and white pom poms, and she immediately put on the whole ensemble and showed off her cheerleading skills. Other favorites included the game of Stratego, a stuffed cheetah from Abby, a new Nerf football, and walkie talkies. We spent Christmas Day playing with all the new toys, learning new games, and watching the start of the delayed NBA basketball season.

The boys have an indoor football camp this week everyday from 1030-1 and Faith and I plan on going to the Y each day during that time. Dad leaves tomorrow, Mom comes home Thursday, and life goes back to "pre-holiday normality" next Monday. Until then, I see lots of family games, football games, and play dates in my future :)

Merry Christmas to Everyone!

Step 1 - Dig A Hole

Footings poured, stem wall rebar in place

Holiday Performances

Hi Mom and Dad

Jake didn't have a holiday performance this year, they had their performance earlier in the year I think to keep the music teacher from going insane trying to have one for each group of grades.

Tanner and Faith both had theirs though.

Tanner had several performances of theirs, for the school only and two times for the school and parents (so the 1/2 days kindergarten kids could be in it and one without them). His performance was very cute. It was kindergarten, 1st and 2nd graders. They sang some Christmas favorites that Tanner was practicing for a few weeks in advance through the house when he thought no one could hear him. He wore his antlers and sang the songs and did the moves, without A LOT of entusiasm, but he did do them, which was a plus.

Foxy Lady!

Faith had her performance the same night at the clubhouse. This was our fourth and last Smart Start Preschool performance, so it was a little bittersweet. Ms. Erin has been so great for both Tanner and Faith and they have loved their pre-school experiences, which have both included elaborated holiday performances. This year they were doing The Mitten, which is a Ukrainian folk tale. Faith was thrilled as she got to be a fox and had been practicing her "fox walking" in preparation. They also sang a bunch of Christmas carols after the main performance was over. Faith sang all of them at the top of her lungs and was VERY into the whole performance.

Nothing like little kids singing Christmas songs to kick the holiday season right in the butt. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy Season, whatever your holiday!

Feliz Navidad

Ho Ho Ho Santa - 2011

Merry Christmas To All

The holiday season is officially upon us. I guess it has been for awhile- I heard my first Christmas song right after Halloween. In any case, we are all in the holiday spirit. The kids love waking up and opening the advent calendar each morning, I love seeing the lights on the outside of the house each night and sitting in front of the Christmas tree each evening.  I sing along happily to all of the music on the radio and even heard my favorite, Bruce Springsteen's "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". Between that and having the Starbucks red holiday cups I am in heaven. Small pleasures... 

We went back to our old tradition of getting our tree from Home Depot- after the tree we got last year (at a local neighborhood farm) died within days of getting it. Decorating the tree was highly anticipated by the kids. They love the traditional "snacky dinner" (including such healthy items as salami and cheese, mini tacos, pigs in a blanket, and bagel pizzas) plus they love how Brian sits on the couch with the bins of ornaments and takes out each one and hands them to the kids. We talk about where each one came from, which are our favorites, etc... This year we listened to the new Michael Buble Christmas CD while we decorated. The tree looks beautiful! 

Jake was up for angel duty this year. The first year he
 did it on his own without being lifted up.

Yesterday was the annual Hidden Springs Holiday Party at the barn. The kids- especially Faith- were very excited to see Santa. Once we got there, though, Jake told me he was getting too old to sit in Santa's lap and asked if he "had to". I said, no, but Brian made him stand next to him at least for the photo.  Faith didn't cry (first time ever!) and although Tanner wasn't completely at ease, he also didn't burst into tears upon seeing Santa walk into the barn. They all LOVED the gifts that Santa brought. Faith got a Zooble that then came with us everywhere for the rest of the day (and had to be rescued after being left behind at Joe's Crab Shack) and the boys got NFL knit caps. Jake swore he would never take his off- not even to sleep. 

Tuesday we are both taking the day off work to go Christmas shopping. We leave at 830 AM and will be gone most of the day to shop, eat lunch, have a coffee/diet coke break, and just generally take in the festive atmosphere of Boise. We did this the last two years and it really helps make the holiday relaxing and fun and allows us to avoid shopping on any weekends!  The boys are hard to buy for this year. All they have on their list is NFL gear and a trampoline. We'd like to do the trampoline but since we are moving it doesn't make a lot of sense to get one now and then move it in May. Not sure what we will get for them. Faith is easier- she basically wants anything that is an animal- stuffed, plastic, electronic, or other. She wants zoobles and littlest pet shop and build a bear puppy, and Furreal Puppy and... you get the idea! 

No tears for the first time EVER!

Like our Thanksgiving, Christmas will be very low key. My Dad will be here and I will cook and bake but nothing fancy and no extra guests- just the six of us. The boys are signed up to do Y Sports Camp during their time off school, and an indoor football camp the week between Christmas and New Years.  

Basketball Season

It's a really BIG shot at this age

Today was the last day of basketball games for both the boys in the YMCA league. As per usual, the last game was followed by treats and the "everyone gets a trophy" presentations. I assistant coached Jake's Third Grade team for the 1st half and then Tanner and I had to leave to get across town for his game.


Tanner had a great season. Kindergarten Y-Ball is really just awesome. No one really has much game and everyone is more or less at the same level. The teaching is the basics, traveling, double dribble etc. and a made shot is a huge deal. No score, no winners/losers etc. This was the first season that I actually had a boy on the team who was too little to get the ball all the way up to the 8 ft hoop. He didn't score a point all season, but never got down, never got discouraged, he would just keep coming down the court and throwing it up there, sure that one time he was going to get it. Tanner made several baskets over the course of the season, was a great ball handler and a very good passer on the few occasions where I told him he wasn't allowed to make any more shots and had to pass the ball. We had 11 kids on the team, which was tough because it means that you have to substitute mid quarter so that the 11th kid gets equal playing time. I had one of the dad's help me on the bench and that was his whole job, keeping the playing time straight. Tanner loved basketball and had a great time. We are putting a basketball court in at the new house so he will be able to get lots of practice in before next season.

Jake brings it down

Jake had a good year individually as well. I guess he is just getting to a tough age sports wise, because we ran into some of the same issues during basketball that we ran into during baseball. Some of the kids on the team are really good, know what to do and want to win (again, this is the first year they kept score) and some of the kids, this was their first year playing the game. At this age there isn't a higher level option beyond just Y-Ball. AAU starts her after 5th grade. It makes me feel bad for the boys who can play as they bring the ball up and have two options, be a ball hog, or pass it to someone who may or may not be ready for it, may or may not be able to catch it, and most likely, turn the ball over. His coach this year was one of the parents that we had issues with during the baseball season, so it was interesting to see how he handled it. The last game, we played the best 5 together for just one quarter to see what they could do and they had a 16-2 quarter, so they can really tear it up, given the opportunity. Jake has one more year at this level and then he can try out for AAU if he wants.


I had a great time coaching both boys teams, but was exhausted each Saturday afternoon, so I am a little relieved the season is over. Trying to keep 11 6 year olds were they are supposed to be and running up and down the court with them is tiring enough, then trying to coach what was essentially two different third grade teams (some on the basics and some on the advanced pick and roll etc.), was even more tiring. Combine them and I was feeling every single one of my 42 years by Saturday afternoon. It was a lot of fun, and I'm sure I'll do it next year again, but I am trying to coerce Marisa into coaching Kindergarten girls ball next year for Faith. 


The boys are done with serious leagues for a bit (they have some football camps over the break) and so it is Faith's turn. She has signed up for ballet, jazz and tap lessons (although she is scared of tap for some reason) for the next few months. Once we get thru winter, it's baseball time. Tanner and Faith will be on the same TBall team and Jake will try out for AAA. The seasons change and they grow older, and so do I.

Coaching Tanners Team

The Superstitious Kind

Our New House Elevation

So we have been holding off updating the biggest issue going on in our lives out of a fear of jinxing it. I understand that given we are both college educated professionals that seems a little silly, but this is such a big deal that we didn't want to take even a silly chance that it would fall apart. So once again. we are moving. We are building a new house on a vacant lot at the other end of our neighborhood. 


We sold our house, just as we were getting ready to pull it off the market and do another addition. It just went thru yesterday and finalized today. The new owners are allowing us to rent back for up to six months while we get the house built, so we don't have to pack twice, move twice etc. It really works out to be a perfect situation for us. So as of yesterday, we are renters. The pictures are of our front elevation of our new home and a shot of our new lot. 

Welcome Home!

This was a tough decision, whether to relocate or not. We are moving away from the Merc and a little further from school for the kids, but we know a lot of families in our new neighborhood and we'll be able to get a better laid out floor-plan for us (no more treadmill in the Dining Room - no more Dining Room actually). We are currently finishing up the floor-plan and getting it approved by the town and county. We started on selections today and it's A LOT to go over. We have done a remodel before, an addition before and a new kitchen before, but this is our first time doing an entire house. We are both excited and a little nervous. I am able to visualize things a little bit better than Marisa can and she has a tendency to get overwhelmed by the minutia, so we are trying to spread out the selections over a longer time period. 


The design process has been a lot of fun. Our builder is a custom home builder and we were able to sit down with him and his architect and go over what we needed and wanted and were able to come up with a great floor-plan that really works for our life. We have no formal Dining Room (we don't use ours now), a downstairs Master Bedroom with a walk-in shower and all three kids rooms are upstairs and all connected (Jake and Tanner share a bathroom), and Jake's and Faith's doors are right next to each other. Faith has her own bathroom (her brothers are pigs). The kids have a Basket Ball court out back and I have a nice big garage. 


We are meeting tomorrow to finalize the selection details and the contract and then they start digging. According to our builder, the house will be ready in April (which means June most of the time), but we're still within our 6 month rental window. Wish us luck that we get thru the process in once piece.