Final 4 (three, two, one...)

With plenty of NASA themed advertisements, we decided to get tickets for the Final r hosted in Houston. Timing was perfect, knowing that once the little one arrives we'll have more difficulty going to some events like this. Despite the uneventful final against Butler and UNC, the semi-final game with Butler and VCU made it all worth it. We were up high (as you can see) but still able to see all the action.



The last few months have been mostly spent on preparing the house and yard for the summer so that we can spend more time with the new addition to our family once he/she comes. We fixed some stucco, tore down trees, ripped up roots (thanks to Erik's parents) and built a retaining wall for the flower beds. We then replanted a new vegetable garden and a few trees/plants that won't clog up our pool drains as much (thanks to Marin's parents). Our fruit trees are looking good and we have 6 tomatoes plants already starting to blossom. All that yard work isn't too bad since the pool has averaged 82 for the last few weeks.

Marin is having a fantastic pregnancy with very few of the uncomfortable symptoms. Spending time at the YMCA and in our pool has helped significantly.

Until our next post, you'll find us on our back porch or in the pool enjoying the weather.

Is It a “He” or Is It a “She?” It’s…..

Well, it’s a baby, but that is all we are going to find out! Yes, we are one of those crazy couples who have chosen not to know the sex of the baby before birth. To be even clearer…Marin is pregnant and due in early June. Tomorrow she will start her 25th week! Time has been flying by as we begin to prepare for the major life (and checking account) changes that come with adding a baby to the family. We are very excited to start this next chapter in our lives and feel very blessed that we are able to experience the miracle of life.

Baby has been doing well and is a pound and a half so far. All 10 fingers and 10 toes are there (yes, we were actually able to see and count them on our most recent ultrasound)! The baby is quite active and kicking hard enough to make Marin’s stomach jump. The babe really seems to enjoy the water aerobics portion of Marin’s “Fit for Two” class at the YMCA which is a good sign that he/she will enjoy water activities as much as mom and dad! Marin’s belly is growing as are all the emotions that surround bringing a new life into the world. We have many wonderful nieces and nephews (family and “honorary”) in our life so we feel we have some sort of a clue as to what to expect. That being said, I am sure we will be looking for information and advice on strollers, diapers, car seats, etc. It is amazing how many products are out there these days!

We know that we have been horrible at updating our blog since we left the UK, but we are going to make one final attempt to keep it up to date. It seems it is the best way to keep everyone informed as to what is going on and how we are doing. That being said, please give us another chance and look for updates in a few weeks/months!

Much love and God bless,

Marin, Erik and the Babe!

Long Overdue Update!

No post since December? Wow, are we bad bloggers or what?! Hopefully some people are still checking on us; we promise to be better in the future! Since December we have been busy and made a lot of changes in our life. Since so much has been going on, we will provide a brief sequential update, with a few pictures here and there!

Christmas was spent with the Anderson’s this year. We had a really good time seeing family and friends. Because of where the holiday's fell (Thursdays & Fridays), we were actually able to spend a whole week together, the longest consecutive time together since October! It was definitely a treat. Marin’s parents hosted their annual New Year’s Eve Party and as an added bonus, Erik’s parent joined us! It was great to be able to have a get together with both sides of our families. The night was filled with fantastic Chinese food prepared by Marin’s dad, family, friends and a lot of Wii Guitar Hero. Here is an Anderson Family Photo...and for those of you that know the Andersons, these don't happen too often! In January we continued house shopping in Houston. Much to our surprise, we found a fantastic house in the Champion Forest area of NW Houston. In one week we placed our offer, completed the home inspections and then took off to Florence, Italy! Erik attended the GE Annual Meeting, so Marin tagged along and enjoyed the vacation. We stayed in a beautiful hotel in downtown Florence and were able to walk to everything. We saw the Duomo, the David, the Uffizi and took a day trip to Pisa. The Leaning Tower of Pisa was definitely a lot cleaner than when we saw it last, but it is a little odd to think that they power washed something so historic. Here are a couple of pictures from Italy.
This was the Duomo view from the hotel rooftop garden!

Most people forget there is a Cathedral attached to the Leaning Tower.

The Ponte Vecchio

February and March were moving months. Marin’s mom flew into Neenah to help supervise the packing of the home. Marin and her mom then took off on a 22 hour roadtrip with Lola, the cat. The road trip was uneventful and we made it in two days. Since our arrival, we have been busy unpacking the house and getting settled. Almost everything is unpacked and in its new place now. Erik’s parents visited us for the Easter holiday and helped complete the yard. We are very excited to see how everything looks in bloom and to figure out exactly what is planted (just looks green right now). The weather in Texas has been beautiful and we have even used the pool a few times. Native Texan’s probably think we’re nuts, but 80 degrees is definitely warm enough for a dip in the pool! We really love our new neighborhood and have been blessed with fantastic neighbors. They've invited us to BBQ’s, church and the ladies even took Marin to a Zumba class!
Erik is getting settled into his job and is very thankful that he no longer has to live out of a hotel. Marin has continued her Project Consultant work since the move and is lucky enough to work full-time from home. It is truly a blessing that everything has fallen into place and definitely helped make the transition a bit smoother!

One last piece of good news. As many of you knew, we still had our house for sale in Neenah when we bought our new home here in TX. As of today, we are very pleased to say that our Neenah house has sold and cleared inspection. Praise the Lord!

Please stay tuned for more posts. We promise to be more diligent about them!

Much Love,

Marin and Erik