Out with the old...

We moved to Bellingham in August 2000 with the expectation of being here until June of 2004 when Matt was to graduate from Western. We avoided laying down roots until Matt's deployment forced us to stay here longer. By that time we had a baby and I was going to be alone here for at least 18 months while he was gone. We decided the best thing was to buy a house and build some equity while we wait for the deployment to pass and for him to come back and finish school. Finally after almost 8 years in Whatcom county we are moving on.

Our new home is on the northeast side of Mill Creek (near Everett, WA). Isaac will attend Seattle Hill Elementary for kindergarten in the fall. Matt will have only a 20 minute commute to work- and will be travelling the opposite direction of the traffic. I will start my new job as a Designer with Thomasville Interiors in downtown Bellevue at the beginning of August. My schedule will be very flexible so Matt and I will be able to work around each other- keeping one of us at home with the boys most of the time. Things are changing fast around here...finally!

We make the move officially on July 18th. So... in with the new!!

What I am Doing Right Now

I am watching my husband play Guitar Hero on our new Wii. Our anniversary was yesterday and it was my year to surprise him- so I took him out to dinner at the Melting Pot last night, then home to this fun new toy! I know, I know, why would I buy a Wii as an anniversary gift instead of say, a night in a bed & breakfast or a cruise to Victoria? Because Matt and I have a different kind of love language. We love to play and be silly- we keep each other young that way- and we are very competitive. I figured what better way to celebrate this relationship than to get something that we can both enjoy- and it will last longer than a night in a bed and breakfast. So we got home late Thursday and we have no kids until Saturday morning- so there will be lots of Wii Sports and Guitar Hero and Champagne and strawberries to enjoy until then!

To Matt- I can't believe it has been 8 years already- it feels like I just fell in love with you last week. So when is the honeymoon phase supposed to be over? Actually I still haven't figured out how I managed to land you- you are the kindest, most playful, most intelligent, best-looking guy I know and I am in love with you! ;o)

Seriously!

We have an offer! It has been on the table for a few weeks now- I think it is gonna happen! I just didn't want to blog about it until we were a little more solid. The offer has been signed on both sides and we are just waiting on a lawyer to draw up the details!

In the meantime...

We got a new place! It is in Mill Creek and it is awesome! It is a single-level (good for me while I rehab my ankle!) and it has a giHUGEant yard!! Our official move-in date is July 18. Seriously it is happening for real! Pray for us that things continue to go smoothly from here as (in case you haven't noticed) the Buonadonna family tends to do everything the hard way.

I am so excited to know that Isaac will start kindergarten at Seattle Hill Elementary- which I have heard is an excellent school! We are walking distance from a church with a MOPS program and I already have a job interview with a design store in Bellevue and I am hoping for a call-back from another!

Matt and I have decided that it will be best for me to work full time for a few years so we can actually save some money and have more to put towards our dream home in a few years. The good news is that his hours are quite flexible so we can switch off days off as much as possible and keep the boys home with one of us most of the week. I am actually really excited to start working full-time in the design field- I know I will learn SO much!

So we are on the brink of some really BIG changes in our life and we are so ready! For our Whatcom county friends and neighbors: we will miss you all very much but we love you all and promise to come back and visit!

I leave you with a picture of our new yard...and that's not even the half of it!

And then there were two

more birthdays! Seriously... my niece Emma turned 11 on Wednesday. She lives in Cedar Rapids, IA and her birthday was very wet. So wet that the Cedar River rose to 30 feet above flood stage! Downtown was completely under water! All the same she and the family went out for Sushi- her favorite!! I know, wierd, huh?

I am glad that you had a nice birthday in spite of all the crumminess going on Miss Emma! We'll be praying that things get back to normal there soon and you can get to enjoying your summer break! We'll see you next month!!!

And then there is my dad- poor dad always gets father's day and his birthday crammed together... but I guess the good news is that he gets extra confirmation that we REALLY REALLY love and appreciate him in June every year!

Happy 65th birthday Daddy! I love you!

Up in smoke...

This is so sad. I haven't been home yet to see the remains of the building- but a Lynden landmark burned down yesterday.

http://www.kirotv.com/news/16552034/detail.html

The latest word is that 2 young teenage boys are responsible. Tonight I am praying that it was truly an accident. I am also praying for the kids (13 & 14 yrs old) and their families as they navigate the rocky road ahead of responsibility, punishment, reparation, and forgiveness. I praise God for protecting all the people from inside and around the building. It was in the end, just a building, but that structure had a soul built in the history of the Lynden community and it will be missed.

And yes...there are more!

Birthday #4! Yesterday was my wonderful father-in-law's birthday- not sure if he would be ok with me putting his age on here- but I am gonna do it anyway because this guy just blows my mind! He skis, he hikes, he kayaks, he camps. If it is outdoors- he's in. He is 70- with no sign of slowing down. He has to have shoulder surgery this winter and he is already trying to figure out how to time it just so he can get some skiing in first. He and MaryJane are planning a trip to Australia and Ireland within the next year or so. Nonstop I tell ya...

Happy Birthday Grandpa Victor! We love you!

The Worst Children Ever

So Birthday #3... well there's no way to sugar-coat it. We forgot. A couple of days before THE special day we were talking about it. We talked about it with the boys in front of her while we were celebrating Max's birthday. But a mere week later Matt was guilty of one of the worst things an adult child can do. Forget his mom's birthday. Oh yeah honey. I am laying this one off on you. You didn't call, you didn't send a card. You should be put in front of a firing squad at dawn. The nerve...
In any case, MaryJane your Lynden gang loves you dearly and we hope your birthday was lovely. We hope that in spite of our failure to call that you had plenty of phone calls from all of the other people who think you are pretty wonderful. When we arrive this weekend we will come bearing gifts and grandchildren- what more could you ask for? ;o)

Max's Birthday!

Birthday #2! We had a great party to celebrate our baby's second birthday- complete with Curious George, bubbles, donut cake and well, most importantly as it turns out- BALLOONS!

We got him up from his nap just as all of his guests arrived and he seemed a bit confused by all the people at first...then he saw the balloons. Apparently we could have saved some serious time and money if we'd just gotten him a couple of balloons for his birthday. Seriously.

"Bloo!Bloo!Bloo!Bloo!"

Ruby, John and Tessa with our little birthday boy!

Playing in the sandbox friends: John, Ariah, and Isaac

Frances, Alisha, Ariah and Maxee!

A Game of horseshoes is fun for everyone!

Maxee with Mamo and Grandpa Victor!



Riley chasing some bubbles from our silly bubble machine!

All the kiddos wait "patiently" for the birthday boy to come open his presents!

Who is that silly man in the big yellow hat? Why that would be the other birthday boy of course!(You guys did pick up on the yellow hat being a Curious George reference right?)

Cutie girls (and instant friends!) Ariah and Autumn cheesing for the camera!


Denise and Caedmon take their turn with the yellow hat!

Yay! Curious George Donut Cake! It was inspired by one of the boys' favorite "George" episodes.

Just a little help from mama!

Mmmmm...messy!

That's right John, it's All Good!

Tummy's all full...and I still have my balloons! Happy Birthday to me!

Matt's Birthday

...marks the official beginning of the annual Buonadonna Birthday Bonanza (not to intentionally leave out older brother Philip's birthday-there is just a decent gap between his day and Matt's- and thus the craziness begins!)

Homemade Cherry Pie for the love of my life- that's what he wanted instead of a cake! Like father, like son! Happy Birthday Honey!
I'm here, I'm wearing my bib. Can someone please tell dad we are all waiting on him?