It's been such a big month since I posted last. Life is settling down ever so slightly. We're taking the good with the bad. Both have been pretty evident these past few weeks. Here's some of the highlights...

*We love our new home. It has just enough added space here and there. more cabinets in the kitchen, an eating nook with lovely sunlight, an extra bathroom...and best of all a larger backyard and gated brick driveway. We're in small house heaven:)

*We're getting to know our new neighborhood. There is a little downtown to walk to, a train station stop along the way and an enclosed park to play at. It doesn't have the 'Baby Einstein' charm of Burlingame. But we're still able to walk to Mollie Stone's for grocherys, the bagel shop for bagels and most importantly have a safe park within walking distance for getting our 'afternoon crazy's' worked out.

*I'm finding people to be so warm and friendly. Really welcoming and helpful. We've already made two friends in the two days we've ventured to the park. You know the kind of friends who are pulling their phones out to exchange contact details so we can get together again. SOO nice! And best of all, Charlie has made two new friends (JT & Sonia...and the girl is his favorite!! love that) who will be entering kindergarten in the fall as well.

*Our nanny disappeared on us, and then with a crazy twist that still leaves me shakey to think about, reappeared on my doorstep 10 days later. It's been such a hard emotional betrayel and feeling of abadonment. I look at Charlie & Max daily, even with all their craziness and toughness...and am AMAZED that someone could walk away from them. What a loss for our nanny and for us.

*My first baby Charlie is turning 5 in one week. I've been kissing his neck, smelling his head and snuggling a little more every night. Do other mom's out there do the same thing?

*I have photos to post. Jeff's been in Singapore all week and he knows where the power cord is.

*My job- although it does cause stress in light of our nanny leaving us- does provide still such wonderful perspective. I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work on such a part time basis and doing something that I love to do. and a job that brings such eternal and daily perspective into my life.

we're onto a better and new week....with hopefully some photos of our new life coming soon!

on the move....

I had this post all planned in my head.

photos of stacks of boxes,....you know.... with the sun shining in... cute writing on the boxes, saying 'Kitchen stuff", "Boys books"....maybe an empty box with two cute boys inside.

We put our kitchen table out to the trash today....somewhere along the way two little monkeys have shredded our table and I gave up (they WON!)...along with the HUGE, 'box of a tv', that we stored in Chicago while we lived in London, then lugged across the country from Chicago to CA, planning to return for refund....since it was under warrenty when it broke....FIVE years ago.

yea, it went in the trash today.

I had plans of lots of photos and cutsy blog posts...

but I can't find my camera anywhere and I'm emotionally tired from trying to find it.

We're on the move. excited, sad and hoping this will be our 'second to last' move in many many years.

See you on the other side. Hopefully I'll find my camera and show you a bit of our new life in Palo Alto. Here we come, ready or not!

M & M's

Who doesn't love some yummy M&M's....

these were of the cute cuddly boy variety though.

It was the Mulder & Merkel sleep over:)

Charlie, Judah, Max & Levi.

and that's 5, 4, 3, 2 years if you're wondering.

What a foursome these guys are!

The first of many (we hope) sleep overs.

Great times...these boys are chips off the old block.

Jeff & Chad have never passed up an opportunity to

take a day time adventure into an over night bonding fest!

Glad to see the little guys are up for the late night fun as well!

Happy 2nd Birthday Max!

Your favorites at Two....

Sheepy

Rocket (from Little Einsteins)

Singing 'Hello to Max'

( and hello to the blanket, Daddy's truck,

and anything else your eye catches sight of)

Frozen Mickey Mouse Chicken Fingers...

they are precooked but Max likes them cold and frozen.

(Gross! but makes an easy snack on the go)

Playing firetruck and big red bus with Charlie

'I do it' is one of your favorite phrases.

Favorite bed time song "I've got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy down in my heart"

Playing...."Outside?, Outside?"

Snuggling during tv time (Mommy's favorite!)

We love you so much Max! Happy 2nd Birthday!

Every Mom wonders....

How this little guy....

is now this little guy.

It's been a great two years. We love you Sweet Max.

And our paths cross again...

We have shared so many life adventures with the Mulders

over our 15 plus year friendship.

And their sabbatical stay 'over the hill' in Santa Cruz for 5 weeks

has been such a fun bonus to our life.

Now...if we can just convince them to stay....

I think it's very fitting....

that Charlie has a new love of making cards for people.

If you are sick...having a sad day...Charlie wants to make you a card.

If its a holiday or he misses you...Charlie wants to make you a card.

They are the sweetest cards in the whole world.

They say things like

"I love you all day long."

"I hope you have a nice house"

"I love your hugs"

and they are always signed 'Dear, Charlie'.

We've tried to explain that its really suppose to say 'Love, Charlie'

but he is adament it should say 'Dear, Charlie'.

The letter writing and card making is fitting

as its one of the things I love best about Jeff

and a huge part of how we fell in love.

Letter writing and card writing.

In the olden days before emails:)

One college day long ago,

when Jeff was working the front desk of our dorm,

I came to pick up my mail.

Jeff asked "Did you get any fun mail today?"

I said "Not today"

(and secretly thought what a cute boy that is

who's asking me about my mail)

The next day, Jeff left a little note in my mailbox.

Sadly I didn't save it,

not knowing it was the first note from my husband.

I do remember that it said something like this.

Hi!

Here's some fun mail.

love, Jeff

I guess we know where Charlie gets his writing skills from.

Two sweet boys writing their way into others hearts.

How lucky I am to have them both for my Valentine.

It's ALL about the good moments....

One of the most helpful things that Jeff & I are learning

while parenting these two

crazy monkey of boys we have....

is to savor and soak up the GOOD moments....

the moments of caring and sweetness between them....

It really melts a heart

And eases a thousand worries of...

'will they EVER be friends?'

Because....

watch out for the NEXT moment....

the crazy monkey's are BACK!

You can take them out of Taylor U....

But you can't the Taylor U out of them.....

We have a good time at these crazy parties.

But we're still a bit of the wall flowers.

At least we have each other.

And Jeff's stories to keep us entertained...

Fun times at the Admob Holiday Party....

We Merkels head to the beach....

The Merkel men...

minus an ornary 4 year old who refused to slow down long enough

The Merkel girls...

Grammie & Grandpa Merkel...

enjoying the quiet and the view together.

I love this one of Max

with Grammie & Grandpa Merkel in the background.

Such a great way for this Merkel family to spend time together.

Romping on the beach!

We got our snow fix....

We headed to Lake Tahoe with Jeff's family for a 3 day stay. It was great fun for the boys to romp in the snow. Jeff, Charlie & I had a day of skiing. Charlie did great in ski school. He may have loved the hot chocolate snack the best:) Max was not too sure of the snow but had plenty of 'helpers' to get him around.

Another beach bum on our hands...

Merry Christmas!

Charlie was a hoot when he woke up this morning. First off he wanted to head back to his room and put Baby Jesus on our advent calender, then off to get some cereal for breakfast.

NO THOUGHT at all of Santa. We asked Charlie "Who do you think came last night?"

Grammie and Grandpa are here!!!.

"NOOO....who else do you think came?" ......No answer from Charlie.

"Charlie, what did we do last night after church?" (you know the cookies, the reindeer food,) ...Blank look from Charlie.

The kid had no idea that Santa was actually going to come.

We had to usher him into the living room to show him the half eaten cookies and the full stockings before he got excited.

Silly boy. We will just appreciate that he's most excited about his Grandparents coming and Baby Jesus' big day:)

Here's Charlie checking out the half eaten cookies and carrots.

Checking out the stockings.

Looking to see if the reindeer food is gone.

Check out Max swiping another cookie.

Legos for Charlie & Max were the big present this year.

Merry Christmas!

Hope it was a magical day of family and friends.

Happy Christmas Eve!

We had a relaxing day of walking into town for breakfast,

enjoying the sunshine and a little last minute shopping.

All dressed for Christmas Eve service. Handsome boy.

Call us crazy but we did attempt to get a shot of the boys

before we headed to Christmas Eve service. .

Seriously...this was the best we got. AND it made us late for church.

Back at home, after the Merkel Christmas Eve meal

of chili and hot dogs.

We started a first attempt at some of our own family traditions.

A new book for everyone to open.

Lighting our Christmas pyramid.

Cookies, carrots and.... water. We ran out of milk.

Max borrowing the chocolate off of one of Santa's cookies.

He put it back though when he was finished.

Fun to see Charlie getting a kick out of his little brother.

Sprinkling reindeer food on the sidewalk.

And off to bed....asleep for the big morning!