Goal Complete: Go See a Parade

Yay for making it out to a parade!!

Today we enjoyed a small-town Farmers Appreciation Day Parade in Dodgeville! Once again, I was unprepared, and didn't know where to go exactly or what to expect, but it worked out just fine.

We got there right before it started and found a great spot on the corner. The boys enjoyed the giant badger, the fire trucks, the music and most of all-the candy!! I didn't realize people would throw candy out to the crowd, and then I started thinking back and realized I don't think I've ever been to a parade that I wasn't IN! (Back in the good 'ol popular band days)

I enjoyed the local feel. It wasn't hundred of thousands of people crammed into downtown Dallas with everyone sticking together like sardines. The boys behaved very well. I only had to correct Kolbe once when he said during the 23 second break in the parade that he was "bored" that he needed to be thankful we were here.

It will be fun to go again next year, and yes we are thankful for the Farmers!!

Review: Villa Dolce

It's been about a month now, but I tried a quaint Italian/Gelato restaurant called Villa Dolce with a new friend from work one night- it was amazing!!

I love it when old Victorian-style homes are converted and restored, and this is the case with this sit-down eatery. The pizza was one of the best I've had, and that's saying a lot as I have tried a LOT of pizza in my lifetime. We ordered the Prosciutto & Arugula and the Thai Chicken. Tack on a couple of cocktails, some gelato and good company and the evening is perfect.

I've gone there once since then to pick up and order, and am dying to go back and take Keith sometime. I think he would like it, and it's the perfect place for a date night.

LOVE it!

Adulthood Welcomes Nicolle

I have to admit-I've relied heavily on my family, well…forever. Anything from seeking their approval on life-decisions, calling to find out how to make a certain recipe, or babysitting the boys. I have always had access to my grandparents, Mom, Aunt and in-laws with the speed of a phone call or a short car ride away.

Not anymore!

At times it feels liberating. I like the fact that Keith and I rely so much on each other, it brings us closer together. Even if he's just picking me up at the car shop. What I don't like is the boys asking to go to Oma and Opa's house and not being able to fulfill that without a trip across the country. Or when there's some downtime we can't just have my grandparents over for dinner. Or I can't just load the baby up in the car and stop by my Mom's work. Or I can't call my Aunt up to hang out and go see a scary movie on a Friday night.

I know in time this will get easier. It's only been 4 weeks since we've all been here in Madison. I know that the visits down to Texas (in 3 1/2 weeks as a matter of fact) will be quality time. I know that we will find new friends, routines and activities here- we have already enjoyed quite a few so far, including 2 dinners with J&J from Pewaukee!!

I feel grown up. I feel responsible. I feel like this is good for me. I hope it turns out to be a good thing for "us". It's important to me to see people we care about on a regular basis so that the boys don't "forget" people or things and they are still comfortable with everything and everyone from back "home". We will make sure that happens.

In the meantime the top priority is: FIND A SITTER! =)

The New House

We've been in our new house for almost 3 weeks now, and it's going OKAY! Here are the Pros and Cons:

PROS
• The backyard is HUGE and has mulberry and apple trees that the kids can pick from.

• The basement is great-plenty of room for the kids to play and keep all their toys, plus I can run on the treadmill down in a cool place with a T.V and no one can hear me.

• The neighborhood has a massive amount of trees.

• We can open the windows and get a great breeze in-all the windows and doors have screens.

• There is a ton of closet space.

• The house has solar panels.

• We are close to Target.

• We love (the boys especially) the laundry chute.

• It's a huge amount of space with an extra bedroom and office.

CONS
• The house is so big sometimes we can't find all the kids.

• The backyard only has one side fenced in. (Could lose a kid)

• The house has "crawl spaces" which really freak me out.

• The laundry room/storage part of the basement freaks me out.

• Too many flights of stairs-especially if I forget something.

• There's a ton of dog hair in the backyard clinging to the rocks from the previous owner. Eventually I'll clean it up- and I bet it will make a medium-sized sheepdog of our own when I'm done.

• The laundry chute (it's a love/hate relationship). We don't exactly love the boys throwing shoes, food or Keith's cell phone down it.