Oh Sansie

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Let The Fun Begin! Everybody loves the playhouse. We've been dressing up, playing with neighbors, hosting playgroup, building towers, and cooking "shood" (food). When people ask Francie what her name is and she says "San-sie" I say "It's Francie. She can't say her F's." Well the other day Sansie told a stranger "This is my sister, her name is Maisie. She can't say her F's." Guess I should let her be Sansie for awhile....

Punk Sansie

girls in their playhouse

fun with Emma and Owie

It's here to stay

Moving The Playhouse

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THIS was a BIG project! And took us almost two months with all the craziness of summer traveling but we finally got the playhouse from the driveway to it's little home in the backyard. And of course one project turned itself into three and we also retrofitted the chicken coop, moved and changed up the playpit, put in stone pavers, built a foundation for the playhouse and swingset and built a water table (oh wait, is that more than three projects? Ask my husband ;) So the past two weekends have been backyard moving and shaking... here's what we did.

Lots of pulling out the old and bringing in base rock...

I was even impressed with my handy husband's ability to put in four new drain pipes (anticipating lots of fun messiness from the water table) and three new water spickets (a hose, a drinking fountain and one for the water feature)

Daddy's little helper

A new slopped base for the turf in the playpit and another drain (oh yeah, that makes five :)

The chicken coop is a little more contained and they can't kick dirt out everywhere anymore. Francie and Dad both hammering

Now on the MOVING a 5,000 pound structure (pretty much a HOUSE). We had to take out our built in BBQ to get it through into the backyard... I was so sad, Heff and I built it and put the flagstone on ourselves a few years ago

Wearing her safety shades like Daddy

Bed head getting her stethescope (I can't even try to type it out the funny way she says it) from the playhouse (now rasied up on blocks)

"Here Dad, let me check your heart-a-beat to make sure you aren't working too hard"

"Oops." May have interfered with Dad. Caught in the act choking down a four letter word? ;)

Heff used his Dad's old hydrolic farm jacks to lift it enough to put the fancy new casters on

Everything in the backyard put asaide Saturday fot the big MOVE

First push from the forklift/tractor we rented and the fancy casters fell over. Back up plan = old farm casters. (not an easy process to lift it up again and get these under!)

We were all so excited Saturday morning to watch the big playhouse move... turns out it would take almost 12 hours and the excitement was limited to inch by inch...

"Come on Francie, let's go play while the Dad's work on this"

Thanks to Miles, Ben and Shaun our friendly engineer and muscle power neighbors who spent the WHOLE day helping us! We never would have been able to move it in a day without them

They moved the playhouse finally back towards the garage so they had enough room to get the forklift through and into the backyard. Watching the progress...

MAN power

When things were taking too long, Francie, Emma and Owen took matters into their own hands.

Inching through the garage/house narrow passage.

Too tight of a fit, gutters had to come off the garage!

A spectator sport.

"How the heck are we going to do this?"

Since the forklift tines were on the front of the WIDE side of the playhouse, we (like how I say "we" :) had to rig chains from the narrow side and PULL with the forklift

"WHAT is going on around here?"

Naptime outside in the camp bed

FINALLY in the backyard. The forklift back tires were off the ground half the time!

A 64-point turn to get it in place...

AND IT'S IN!!

Maisie can't even belive it

The big move wore us all out. Heff and I sat on the grass with beers amazed that it worked and Francie fell fast asleep in her new playhouse.

"It's A Playhouse!!"

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This post has been a long time coming... I don't even know where or how I start explaining the giant "Little Red Schoolhouse" that ended up in our driveway July 1 and has a cozy home in our backyard as of this past weekend. June 6 of this year was the Rebuilding Together Playhouse Auction called "Dreams Happen", the same event where Heff and I met four years ago. We knew we wanted to buy a playhouse SOMEDAY since it would have sentimental value and benefit the organization Heff spends a lot of time supporting, but didn't think it would be this year. There were so many great houses this year and it wasn't until after the auction we both said to ourselves- "maybe we should have bid this year!" (plunges in the economy don't bode well for over-the-top playhouse charity auction sales) But a few weeks later one of the playhouse found us. The "Little Red Schoolhouse" didn't work in it's original buyer's home and needed a destination... fast. We had five hours to decide if we wanted to match the bid and make it ours and we did! So the very next morning was a pretty exciting day at the Heff's...

Francie patiently waiting for the delivery of a "big surprise" early in the morning July 1

It took a little longer than expected (something about a 15+ foot structure on a flatbed not being able to fit under telephone wires or something :)

"Maise, did they tell YOU what the surprise is?"

"What's that down at the end of the street?"

"It's a PLAYHOUSE!!"

"On a giant TRACTOR!!" (just as exciting to Sansie)

Heff is on the roof guiding it under the cables

"Are they LEAVING it here?!"

next post... what/when/where/and HOW we moved this playhouse into our backyard and increased the "living space" in our little house by at least 10% :)

Swinging Sistas

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Maisie is old enough for the Johnny-Jump-Up and boy does she jump! We pulled out Francie's old jump thing and put it in the doorway to see if Maisie liked it, she could stay in it all day if it weren't for the danger of "help" jumpiing from her big sister

I like this thing Mom!

Francie trying to "swing her HIGH as Uncle Jerry does!" (thanks Jer, your fault if your goddaughter has bruises on her head!)

Maisie knows this might end badly... "no spinning France, just bouncing!"

"Weeeeee!"

Little caretaker/protector for a few moments...

"I could get used to this

Season Opener

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Friday night was Emmy's first soccer game of the season. We were there with her full force fan club, the picture above is just the family group who went out to dinner afterwards but there were at least twice as many Emmy fans there to cheer her on. They played great against powerhouse Santa Clara and didn't outscore them but it was in a win in Francie's book- she loved cheering EMmy on and yelling at those Bronco's "Don't take the ball from Emmy!" Let the season of soccer cheering begin!

the kick-off.. Emmy Belding, senior starter #10

we had a balloon in Kaky's seat, we all felt her presence

Johners B. supporting his twin sis, what a good brother ;)

Francie cheered Emmy the whole game

Maisie was in good hands with the Hinga family most of the game

"Bend it like Belding!" (very clever Tom and Crockett ;)

Almost in there!

Emmy's friends daughters and some of her favorite babysitting charges- Isabel, Ava and Giselle (in homemade #10 "jerseys" Alexis made!)

James and Em

Heff and Maisie

Deer in the headlights Francie with her Jannie

and to celebrate... a table for 22 at our favorite Original Joe's dinner spot in San Jose, we were there until midnight!

we missed you kaky

Mad, Mad, Maisie Mad

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Wow, that's a stink eye! Maisie in her chariot stroller sling apparently not happy we're home from our walk already (or I just caught her in a funny face, she wasn't really mad :) Heff and I used to call Francie "Mad, Mad, Francie Mad" when she was a baby and crying/throwing a fit but somehow it doesn't fit for Maisie as much- she doesn't have the same "vinegar" her sister occasionally did and still does. Maybe we should call her "Mellow, Mellow, Maisie Mellow" :)

I Wuv Ya, Tomorrow!

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Friday morning we went to Emma's play, Annie, at the Paly Theater. It was so cute and so well done! The play was the end of her two week Hope Musical Theater camp and pretty amazing these kids learned the entire play of Annie in 8 days. Francie and Maisie both sat on my lap the whole show enthralled with the kids, music and lights... well except for the times Francie ran down the isles to "go find Owen" and even though we were sitting in the way back apparently the entire audience and cast clearly heard Francie say "Hi Emma!" when she came on stage as Sandy the Dog. :)

Francie's not so sure about Sandy's face make-up but she sure loves her neighbors

Reenacting "HI EMMA!"

After the play we all went out to lunch with the "cast members"... Francie was so excited to be invited to sit at the big girls table. They all took very good care of her.

and she led a parade around the shopping center with all the kids while the parents sat outside in the sun for a few minutes of quiet (I think there were like 20 kids there!)

Go Spartans

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Tonight kicks off the Season Opener for the San Jose Spartans Women's Soccer Team and...Emmy's first game of the her senior year season! Spartan Stadium Friday August 21 7:00pm. Be there.  It's her first game Kaky won't be in the stands watching her and Emmy is thinking about that a lot but she'll have a HUGE fan club in the stands cheering her on!  and check out the SJSU Athletics Homepage... Emmy is the shining star and will be leading her team tonight against the Broncos. GO EMMY!

 


 

 

 

More of My Maisie Moo

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A post for Maisie, just because she is so smiley and happy... most of the time ;) After a bath the other night she was trying to roll off her changing table but Dad stood guard so I could catch some smiles and laughs on camera (I know I'm bad with new videos, sorry Linda :) It was her 4 Month birthday yesterday, she is getting so big!

She's figured out her gig- look at the camera. "Big sister won't do it so I will"

Looking for Dad. She always turns to his loud voice ;)

a little old soul

cracking a smirk...

and now a smile...

can you HEAR her giggling!?

We love you Maisie! Happy FOUR MONTHS!

Building Blocks

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I saw these cool little blocks at a museum in Red Bluff last year and just came across them at the Linden Tree bookstore last week. They are so much fun and so easy to build big tall towers with! Francie thinks they are pretty cool but I think I like them more than she does... and luckily she is patient while I build my "tower" and then let her knock it over.

my igloo/beehive

dangerously close...

Simon Says... touch your shoulders...

Simon Says... pick your nose (thanks Heff)

and down it goes


and the next night before bed (and after a face/shirt full of tomatoes) we go at it again...

Almost as tall as Sansie! She helped build this one and is very proud...


"thank you, thank you very much."

Painting with Owen

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Francie is just old enough now that she can "play" with the neighbors and they don't think of her as the baby anymore. We are lucky to have fun neighbors who put up with us! (As I listen to Heff screwing in loud lag-bolts in the driveway right now... probably past their bedtime!) Emma and Owen found a loose board in the fence between our houses last week and it has been a party ever since. Their mom, Chrissie, and I can't fit through it like they can so it's a cat-and-mouse game going back and forth to each other's houses when we are looking for the kids! The other day while Emma was at camp, Owen and Francie "painted" a diapers.com cardboard box they wanted to live in. I think I get a bad-mom award since I didn't have any suitable kid paints, I watered down some Benjamin Moore REAL paint and let them go at it! Owen provided the aprons but sorry if his clothes came back a little altered Chrissie :)

Owen is so cute with his peace sign for the camera

Francie didn't really get the whole "don't mix the colors" thing

Owen was very patient with her

"Beautiful"

And then it digressed to mixing and dumping. Waiting for Heff to ask about those dead spots on our lawn ;)

Rollin' Like a Maisie

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As Francie says "Maisie is a rollin' all ova the place!" I don't know exactly how she moves so much but somehow she gets herself anywhere but where I put her. When we were getting ready for the block party Saturday I put her down in the living room on her tummy time blanket. Every time I walked back in or out of the house she was in a new position so I started taking a picture each time I went outside and here is what I got:




I guess she just likes hardwood floors. Little Stinker ;)

Comparisons

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I added some "pages" to our blog under the header... one says "Francie & Maisie" (was Francie VS Maisie but that seemed a little too competitive ;) So I added the pages to move their Day-by-Day pictures since the length of my sidebars is getting a little insane. I randomly pulled their side by side photos from the same age (makes it easy that they were both born on the 18th of the month for counting back!) and noticed some of the pictures looked the same (same pose, expression, etc) even though I think Francie and Maisie themselves look like very different babies. I pulled out the next round of hand-me-downs and was inspired to stage a "look-a-like" photo this time... both girls in the same Bumbo seat in the same outfit with the same kitchen toys in the same place!

Francie...
and Maisie!

Francie had a lot more hair...
and Maisie is such a little baldy!

Francie dropping things...
Mischievous Maisie says "Uh-Oh!"

Francie sure was a chubber!
and Maisie is nothing but smiles

Pretty funny to see the differences! (In the pics, Franice is 2 days after her 4 month birthday and Maisie is 2 days shy of 4 months... pretty close to the same age ;)

and another look-a-like shot (kinda creepy maybe ;) Maisie was by chance (i swear) in these pj's when I pulled up an old photo of Francie and it popped up HUGE on my computer screen so I held Maisie up next to it. (Heather Sakai is holding Francie, sorry to cut you off/replace your head with Maisie!)

Block Party

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Saturday afternoon we gathered the troops for our annual neighborhood block party! We alternate years to host on our end of the street or the other end and this year was our turn so we broke out John's Bog BBQ, the bouncy, water balloons, bobbing for apples and lots of beer for a rocking good time. It was the best party- especially since we didn't have to go anywhere! We've been working on the backyard all weekend so this was a great diversion and pretty easy too :) We are very lucky to have such fun neighbors!

Willows Moms and Babes on the couch on the sidewalk

Francie can't figure out why she is actually allowed to play on the street today

Natalie "Daddy Drinks Because I Cry" Knitter

Alexa, Maisie and Francie

Busy Block Party

Emma made "Franice's" nametag for her ;)

Maisie took a little nap on the tailgate

The big girls around the cupcakes

Francie trying to keep up with those big girls on a borrowed scooter and helmet

Nothing says summer like a cooler full of water balloons

well, maybe the ice cream truck on a hot afternoon

Ready for the "longest launch" contest

Won't take the helmet off

love the kids shadows...

Cute Annabella... Maisie's BFF-to-be

Time for the toss

Splats

and now for the real launch (into unsuspecting neighbors yards who didn't show up)

some serious air

Dad checking on his Moo

Bobbing for Apples

Emma, all that and you didn't get one!

Brandon and Zack rocking the mullet

The Ewers

The Heffs in blue!

and more scenes from a block party...



Girls and Girl Stuff

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We were doing lots of "girl stuff" waiting for Dad to come home! Monday we met Emma and Chrissie over at Jannie's to sew the pacthes on her new Brownie vest since she out grew her old one and has too many patches to fit! Francie was in 7th heaven showing off all of Jannie's toys and dolls to her BFF Emma. It was a fun project, I can't wait for Francie's Brownie or 4H/FFA days! We made a matching set of ruffle pants before Emma came over, Francie wanted Emma to have some too :)

Maisie hung out with "wittle ziolet" on her new I-Spy quilt my mom's friend Judy made for her!

Emma's new vest "before"

Jannie brought out my old Brownie uniform...

not much has changed!

All done! Emma is going to need a few extra inches on this vest now if she keeps earning all these patches!

The girls hanging out ;)

Maisie watched patiently with her beloved binky

Somebody wants to be a big girl

Owen taught her to do sommersaults she reports

She even set the table for dinner while we were anxiously awaiting DADDY to come home!

Very proud of herself (A for effort, not sure about the placement :)

and..... DADDY'S HOME!! with a little camo jacket for Maisie and a new hunting hat for Francie

She got to sleep in her "camp bed" on the floor next to Dad to celebrate. She missed him ;)

Meeting Ryann

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We had a visit from Lea Pavlovich this week with adorable baby Ryann Kate! Ryann belongs to her son Nick and his wife Laura and is just a few weeks older than Maisie. Nick and I grew up together... and Jannie and Nick's dad Steve grew up together too! Lea is babysitting Ryann for three days, she is brave! Lea and Jannie had so much fun with their "babies" and remembered the old days getting together when their kids were babies. Ryann and Maisie played together on "tummy time" and Francie supervised, taking her rold of big sister very seriously these days.

Ryann Kate and MaryMarjorie

Love hug or sleeper hold? (Don't worry Laura, we pulled her off!)

Come and get me Maisie!

Ryann, Francie and Maisie

and Francie's done with her sister on her lap

getting love from her Jannie

Thanks for the fun visit Lea and Ryann!