We spend as much time as possible outside on walks, at the park, or as spectators at daddy's softball games(well that he coaches not plays in). It's been windy this week but we've still made sure to get out everyday. Keeps us sane. Ryanna refuses to smile for pictures now so this was the best I could do.
Quinten on the other hand is always more than willing to cheese it up when a camera is present.


Kenna and Kate came over and the kids had a good time.
After I'd loaded the pics onto the computer Quinten squealed with delight when this picture came up. He and Kate spend lots of time together and get along really well. Actually after they left on this day Quinten cried and crawled to the glass door watching them leave. It was cute. We're lucky to have such good friends here.

Two huge milestones

Ryanna is now totally and officially potty trained. After the last attempt in December I decided to finally stop pushing it and just wait until she was willing and ready herself. A few days after her 3rd birthday she asked to wear panties. I gave her a pair and she hasn't had any problems since. She was finally willing and that was that. I've been amazed and proud of her. She was rewarded with the snow white dress up, her favorite.

Quinten started taking one or two steps between objects at least a month and a half ago. He just recently started walking more on his own, usually about 10 steps from the couch to someone else in the living room. He is getting more adventurous and is gaining better balance. He's such an adventurous little guy and so full of excitement. Lately he loves to give big open mouth kisses that sometimes turn into bites. Now with a mouth full of teeth (working on 9 and 10) that can really hurt. He's also using a few more words; Baba (bottle) his latest. Screaming DAAADAAAA is still his favorite.

This little boy

Loves loves loves his sister. He finds anything she does hilarious and/or acceptable even if it's a foot to the face. Ryanna says she doesn't need any more brothers or sisters cause she has Quinten. So far they are two peas in a pod.
Isn't much of a cuddler. In fact it is a rare occasion that Brian or I can sit relaxing with Quinten just chlling out on our lap. He loves to explore every inch of the house he can get to. For this reason we own 3 gates and use all three at all times. His adventures are always accompanied by a smile. He might be a little guy but I can say he is a very positive person. He sees the fun and good in everything(except sleep).
Likes to be around people and warms up to others quickly. This is one way he and Ryanna are quite different. She is more reserved around strangers and doesn't always enjoy crowded social situations. (Shout out to Jen who just had a darling baby boy and Allison who is pregnant with twin baby girls - both of whom look fabulous!!!! Thanks so much for coming to Ryanna's party girls :)
Gets the gold medal in how many times a baby can wake up in a single night. He has been improving greatly but a recent cold has brought us back to darker days. ;)
Enjoys family time. When my mom came to help when I had surgery Quinten's world was turned upside down. He was put on a bottle and his mommy was largly replaced by grandma for a few days. It didn't really phase him and I credit this in large measure to his growing bond with Grandma and other extended family. Here is a rare visit with Uncle Jim. Good times.
Is a little ladies man. haha. I only say that because most of his baby aged playmates are girls. He doesn't seem to mind a bit!

We've already kinda been called crazy... others like the idea...

This last week I went to Cincinnati to check out some homes. Homes there are getting pretty cheap with the economic downturn. Most the homes are absolutely uninhabitable... one house I looked at, priced at just under 10k was sold two years ago for 160k... Who in their right mind would pay that much? You had to have seen the house to understand what I am talking about.

One house, priced between 23k and 25k depending on the week, looked so good in the pictures that we made an offer and I flew out there. Below are pictures that I took of the beautiful home last Thursday.

The kitchens both look like this. The sinks are older and kinda antiquey... you can see the blue tape where someone has already sanded the wood trim to refinish... and they also already painted much of the house.

These pictures are in no particular order... In this next one you can see the double doors to the back patio and the stairs that go down to the street. The upstairs (identical) apartment just has a patio, no stairs in the back. The upstairs apartment also doesn't have this ugly red carpet.
A view from the back upstairs patio.

The beautiful garage that can maybe fit 1 1/2 cars... you also must have an SUV to get down there or your little cars will bottom out.

Here is a view of the front yard. This is a corner lot on a heavy foot traffic area... the Metro bus stop is right in front of the house.

Both bathrooms are identical with original features. They both just needed a good cleaning.

Ugly red carpet on the first level apartment... but a nice fireplace :)

Upstairs attic... don't want to call it an apartment... it does have a toilet and piping for a sink... but we would have to build a fire escape in order to call it an apartment.

2nd level apartment with those nice SHINY wood floors. If we stripped out the red carpet on the 1st level it could look like this with some floor cleaning and refinishing.

Shot from the corner.

So the final stats: 6 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 4 levels, garage, two seperate units (AC, Heat, Power, hot water... all seperate), good location for bus routes, close to the city, close to a skyline chili, close to freeways, etc... We're pretty excited.

Frequently asked questions... Why Cincinnati? I am from there and I want to reconnect with the city. This year reconnecting will include fixing up the house for two weeks while eating at Larosa's, Skyline, Gold Star, and the Busken Bakery... and also checking out the Bengals workouts in June (much like I did last year) and going to a few Reds games. I'm crazy, but you should have already known that... and by the way, the wife is on board as well.

-Brian