The Alpernardo House

The Alpernardos

2006-11-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes

2006-09-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Since we haven't officially declared it on the blog I will do so today...

The Alpernardo House is happily breaking up.

When we started this crazy thing that turned into one of the best years of our lives (for a lot of reasons and for all of us) we knew that the idea was pretty out there, but still felt like it was not only do-able but that it was a great idea for the four of us. It took us around 7 months to find a house that would work for what we wanted to do. Our four rules

1. The house had to be in Multnomah Village
2. We had to save money by doing the community house thing
3. We had to have private space
4. We had to have a professing Nascar Driver (Cheerios Car) living across the street (well, that wasn't a rule, in fact the Nascar dude just moved out here so I guess it doesn't count)

Eventually Karli found what was to be turned into the Alpernardo House. The landlord was a bit wierded out when Karli, Katie and I (Chris) went to look at the place while Mike was working and I told him, "We're all married," as if we're a three part marriage or something. He actually pulled the, "Not like its any of my business but...." and we subsequently explained to him that we are indeed sane people married to one person and simply really liked our friends and wanted to share a home together.

We moved in a month and a half later with the help of many folks from Evergreen and begun the journey. Karli was newly pregnant, Katie was starting grad school to become a teacher, Mike was pursuing grad school as well, and I was building trade show booths by day and being pastor by night.

Knowing that we might be doing this for the rest of our lives or for a short time, we gave ourselves an out. We agreed that one year from our move in date we would re-evaluate and decide whether or not to continue. When August 1, 2006 came around we had all agreed that it was time to try something new. Katie's working in the Scapoose (BEST NAME FOR A TOWN EVER) which is way out there from our house, Alperts wanted to buy a condo or house near there, and Karli and I were feeling the tug to huddle up together in our own place with a new baby.

After the intial conversation breaker (which was a bit tough, not knowing where everyone was at) we quickly realized that it was time to move on, and we were all really happy that our relationship was going to continue in a different incarnation after this house ended. How many bands break up on good terms? It rarely happens, it happened with our house.

We're happy together in the house, and we'll always share a special part of each other because of this great year living radically in community.

2006-06-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

Data tired of falling! Data tired of seeing skeleton! Data fall and nobodys care!

"Hey Yoooooou Guuuuuuuuuuuuys!"

2006-06-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

A good night at the Alpernardo House.

The good times started rollin tonight over Katies amazing tacos. It is seriously very cool how Katie is always making good food for us to eat. Slaving over a hot stove, or a burning oven. It is really really appreciated by her sleep deprived, grumpy, hot (it was 97 today!) housemates.

The evening grew nastalgic and magical over chocolate chip cookies, margaritas and THE GOONIES!

How long has it been since you've seen The Goonies?

The booby traps were a lot less scary, a lot of the lines were a whole lot of funnier and the kiss was a lot shorter than any of us remembered from way back when... but this movie still rocks. Especially if you use the subtitles to find out what the heck Data is actually saying.

After a crazy week for everyone, we all definatley needed tonight. Good times.

Birthday Fun

2006-05-23T22:58:00.000-07:00

May 24 = Karli's Birthday.

Happy Birthday Housemate.

2006-04-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

A By-product of Community: Exponential Growth of Family

Katie and I, along with many other Evergreeners, live nowhere near our immediate families (that is, if we consider our parents "immediate" family at this age). Both her parents and mine are tucked away in a mid-size suburb north of Dallas, Texas. Having busy lives and less-than ample spendable income, we rarely get to make the trek back to the Lone Star state. As a result, we haven't been able to spend Christmas, Easter or any of the other major holidays with our families for the past three years. We used to enjoy the independence. I remember our first Christmas in Prague as a married couple, spent with one other American friend who had dropped in on our small celebration. We had a two-foot tree and some candles as decoration. Its simplicity and complete bare-bones departure from the eleaborate celebrations growing up made it romantic and memorable.

Two years later, we've done the solo-holiday thing a few times and found its shortcommings to be not insignificant. There's something about a house full of people drawn off their regular schedules to simply enjoy each other's company for a few days or a few hours that warms the heart. I know this is something that's so incredibly intuitive to most people, that this would seem far from a revelation. For us, however, it's something that we've had to re-learn. We've grown so use to independence, that we almost hesitate to allow ourselves to be adopted by those who love us. Family is a beautiful thing, but it requires something of you, much like living in community. It's easier sometimes to stay insulated in our comfort zone.

The last two or three holidays have been a blessing for us. Although we started spending time with the Leonardo's and the Poage's (Chris and Karli's families) before we started living in community, we've felt even more like adopted kids within the last eight months. Easter was no exception. After church, we cruised up the highway for an awesome brunch with both clans then headed further north to Chris's parents place in Ridgefield to enjoy...well just to enjoy each other. I remember sitting in the living room at one point with one of Linda's lime bars, listening to the girls play "Apples to Apples" while we casually watched "Walk the Line" over the shouts. It was just one of those authentically happy holiday memories. That and rocking the boce in the rain!

Thanks to Chris and Karli and our new families. They'll never replace the originals, but they've made us feel connected, which is no small thing. And they've made our re-entry back the extended family vibe a very easy one. Community continues to have even farther-reaching effects than we ever expected.

38th Ave

2006-04-15T13:59:00.000-07:00

I love this house. And the people in it.

home again

2006-03-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

mike and i went to the coast for the weekend- a long needed escape from the city. but we are excited to be home. we miss our three housemates. the two older ones are really rad to talk with, gain insight from, and hang around with. the younger is just as cool, although she's been shy as of yet to join our theological conversations. i am sure she'll warm up to us sooner or later.

you guys rock. we love you and are happy to be back.

Let The Good Times Roll

2006-03-12T15:30:00.000-08:00

I just thought I would take a minute to chronicle how much Karli and I love living with Mike and Katie Alpert. Mike and I are watching a Seinfeld episode where Jerry get's a bad haircut from his italian barber, Enzo. Earlier this week, Mike and I played bocce in our big ol' backyard (Thanks norris'!) and I was down 5 games to 9 with a best of 10 series. I came back at 9 to 9 then Mike the Boccefather made me an offer I couldn't refuse, and beat me.

I love this house. I'm a better husband and father because of the great people I live with.
-c

My Baby is a Beastie Boy

2006-03-09T20:44:00.000-08:00

My baby's got the Ill Communication

One Week Old

2006-03-09T20:41:00.000-08:00

One week old!

Bedtime

2006-03-04T21:50:00.000-08:00

For Your Viewing Pleasure

2006-03-02T11:18:00.000-08:00

Coming in at 7lbs 14 oz and 19 3/4 inches long, in the white trunks, we have Ania Isabelle Leonardo. Neck and neck for being awarded the longest birth in the history of birth:) She was born at 8:44 am, wednesday march 1 and has brown hair (for now, that could change, karli was born with brown hair that turned blonde and I had a ponytail, straight outta the womb.

She currently has very tired parents.

Ania- the most beautiful in the world

2006-03-02T09:20:00.000-08:00

She's here.

Ania Isabelle (sp?) Leonardo
Born Wednesday, March 1 at 8:44 am.

It was good, long, and hard.
More to come.

Alpernardo Night

2006-02-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

In this house, we have a scheduled night to hang out with one another. The 4 of us have such different schedules and can go days without having so much as a "So how was your day?" Sunday night is deemed Alpernardo night, and usually it consists of dinner and a movie or scrabble. (Karli and I like Cranium, but Mike loathes it- so we don't play :) ).

This is an important night because it forces us to reconnect. I guess it's similar to a 'family night'. I think the others agree that Alpernardo night is awesome. This is usually where the funniest stories, the stupidest quotes, and the most memorable times happen.

The reason I bring this up is because I was thinking about Alpernardo night this morning. We missed it last Sunday because of the Superbowl and I am craving it. But also I was thinking about it because Ania will arrive in 3-4 weeks, and she will be at Alpernardo night too. This is really cool! I hadn't really thought about her hanging out while we eat or play scrabble, but she will.... just chilling with her 'rents and aunt and uncle. It'll be cool.

We really love the 'Nardos.

And in the spirit of Napolean "Alpernardo night rules!"

So much fun!!!

2006-01-23T16:37:00.000-08:00

So, I don't know about the rest of the house, but I am having a blast! Major blast! I love to give karli and chris a great baby shower, I love to take out the trash, I love when the three of them get irritated at me for being irritated at them that none of them did the dishes, and i love the fact chris and i were born one day apart. It's so great to be in this house and I plan to stay.

Love you kids!

And happy birthday chris.

And Ania is the best.

katie

Missing the 'Nardo's

2006-01-06T22:10:00.000-08:00

So Chris and Karli are in Texas (how's that for a switch?) for the weekend at Tyler's wedding. It's strangely quiet around here and we're missing the afro and the tummy. In thought of them, here's a few additional poses for your visual delight from the infamous Sear's sessions:

Happy New Year

2006-01-01T17:51:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the weekly Alpernardo extravaganza. Which, today consists of a movie, board games and margaritas. Well, virgin margaritas for me : )

The house was very quiet with long naps today... I am sitting in the recliner by the window waiting for Chris to wake up. I went in to check on him awhile ago and he was smiling in his sleep. Mike and Katie went to the store, I think we are all making it a goal to literally not leave the house tomorrow.

Only about 8 more weeks to go until we have a baby. It's really going to happen. I think.

I have been pondering a lot lately. I think that pregnant women do a lot of pondering and this is why the word is used for Mary when she "pondered these things in her heart". Pondering. This is what happens when you are amidst the work of building a human inside of you.

I am enraptured by the little life inside of me. Why I chose to say little, I am not sure because it actually seems like a really big life. More and more this little girl is a person and I am ever more aware of her presence. Now that I have honed in on it I recognize feeling it before... like early on in the summer when I was standing in the kitchen and caught this feeling of her, of her essence, and knew she was a girl.

She already is who she will be. But in there. And I can sense that. It is mid blowing. Pretty soon she will be here hanging out with us. On another margarita night. Make that 2 virgin margaritas!

15 minutes of fun

2005-12-23T08:14:00.000-08:00

Friday morning.
4 alpernardo's meet in the kitchen heading out to work.
tired and a little doozy still from the night's sleep.
chris singing.
mike dancing.
katie confused.
karli cooking and urging to leave.

lots of laughter.
time for work.

"Good morning Starshine, the Earth says HELLO!"

Cher'ed

2005-12-18T23:11:00.000-08:00

Its really too late for me to be up, but my heart is fluttering with the possibility of having a snow day shut-in tomorrow. I've been browsing through the forum tonight and doing a little posting while listening to the new sufjan album.

Tonight feels nostalgic. That's the only way I can describe it. Its like current nostalgia. That feeling where you had a day where you had fun, felt sad, hugged your mother and grandma, played scrabble with our best friends, felt bored, read a great book, talked over the wierd position us young 20 somethings are in these days, watched snow come down, watched arrested development, built a fire in the fireplace, contemplated being snowed in on a monday, and watched a rat try to find a warm place to rest amid the snow flurries.

You know that feeling? It feels like you were actually there, which I was. It feels good.

And the best part was that all of it was shared.

-chris

ice and rice and lice

2005-12-18T21:19:00.000-08:00

today it is a snow day. and we at the alpernardo house are enjoying our time in our pj's, playing scrabble, eating brownies, and figuring out the meaning of life.

fun.
and sorry about the picture from before. i guess people didn't get the "go figure". i only meant that others think "you need community" too.

and if you were wondering...
quod is a word.

katie

SNOW SNOW SNOW BABY!

2005-12-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

Bring on the pajamas and board games for the alpernardos!

community

2005-12-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

Google image search. Go figure.

housemates

2005-12-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

a conversation...

"my housemates are pregnant and we are having a little baby come into the world in a few months."

"You have housemates???"

"yes, Michael and I live with another couple."

"How does THAT work?"

"well, we found a big house, we moved all of our stuff in, and now we live together."

"No. I mean, how does that WORK?"

"oh. (pause) Do you live with your family?

"Yes."

"it's like that. only better."

Christmas time in the city

2005-12-06T09:23:00.000-08:00

Our lovely husbands went to 'man-night' last night and Karli and I decorated the house for Christmas.
A couple highlights...

1. Karli and Chris inherited more Christmas stuff than they will ever need
2. Fake poinsettas are, by far, the loveliest flower
3. Getting caught inside the shower with a pregnant woman requires major maneuvring!
4. Using a rolling chair on lenolium (sp.?) is not very smart.
5. "A Christmas Carol" The Musical- is a very good addition to decorating- even if Kelsey Grammar does frighten you
6. Hanging lights near windows, sinks, or showers, does not electrocute people! um...
7. Having 4 big stockings, and a little one, over the fireplace is a great sight.
8. Never question a decorating pregnant woman.
9. I love this house.
10. Coke icees always help any job.

katie

Did you know...?

2005-12-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

That Mike got a perfect score on the GRE that he took recently??

Yup, yup. That's right. Let's all hear it for Mike. As Katie put it "That means he's a perfect writer" and I would like to add that he eats green beans out of the can in the morning.

Just thought everyone needed to know. : )

Karli

Kickin' It

2005-12-03T22:54:00.000-08:00

So, after a long-time without some good Alpernardo quality time, we resumed our refreshing Saturday morning rituals. We sat around, drank coffee, ate cinnamon rolls and watched a few episodes of Arrested Development. It was good for all of us to sit on the carpet and talk about nothing for awhile. As Chris said, we've all been a little busy lately and haven't had as much time as we would like with each other. The baby also made an appearance as we could actually see her visably kicking against Karli's tummy. Way cool.

We had the chance to drop into the Sumner House on Thursday night to see some folks and listen to the Advent reading. I'd never been over before. It was cool to see a little more of what they've got going on. I dig the pad. It feels very welcoming.

Well, the time is drawing nigh for the baby to come on the scene. I've got to say that I'm personally getting totally stoked. I feel so priveleged to see another couple's experience with their first child up close. It will (and has) undoubtably teach us a lot about parenting. I feel very fortunate that Chris and Karli have allowed us to be a part of their experience. The only downside that Katie and I anticipate is how hard it's going to be to part ways whenever we decide that it's time. I forsee us getting pretty attached to the little one. Good things.

Mike

Barely

2005-11-28T22:08:00.000-08:00

"Staring At The Sun" by TV On The Radio

Here's one part of living in a communal house that's hard, and one that you probably would not presume to be a difficulty.

When you've barely seen your housemates for 2 weeks. Crazy crazy life and crazy schedules sometimes make it tough to spend quality time together. We intentionally block out sunday evenings, so if all else fails we know we're recooping (sp?) together then. Every now and then the occasional wedding or family thing will come up and then sunday gets scrapped as well. Its hard to be so close but so far away. Blah cliche, its true.

"So Much Water" by M. Ward

I miss my friends. We live in a house together, but I still miss them.

-chris

Belated Halloween stuff~

2005-11-23T16:01:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

From the indians and the.... superheroes.

Love from the Alpernardos

Missing the Saturday-morning goodness

2005-11-19T10:22:00.000-08:00

By far, the best time in the Alpernardo house is Saturday mornings. It's typically the one time when we're all around without our schedules pulling us in opposite directions and without a to-do list a mile long. Saturday mornings have been a lesson for me in gaining a minute understanding of what "rest" really is. The thing I love about the Leonardo's is that they've taught me to appreciate down-time. They're both incredibly busy people. Between Chris working and giving graciously of his time to Evergreen and Karli rocking the on-call, mid-wife lifestyle while taking classes and cleaning houses, they don't have copious amounts of time to sit around. However, when the joyous Saturday AM's roll around, they know how to take advantage.

Usually Katie and I will saunter upstairs after getting enough sleep and we'll all do some sort of breakfast, chat about nothing and everything, listen to records or watch a movie. It's absolutely the best way to spend a Saturday morning. Unfortunately, I'm spending this Saturday morning in my lovely cubicle. That's right, it's one of the few Saturdays that I have to drop into the office. Bummer. Hope the better three-fourths of the house are chillin as usual.

Mike

Dorms

2005-11-17T14:02:00.000-08:00

Some have asked if living with another couple is like living in a dorm. Yes and no. No- because we are two 'married' couples and dorm rooms usually consist of single people. No- because we have two separate living spaces. No- because there are two bathrooms.

But sometimes...
Yes- because there are tons of dishes and no one wants to do them. Yes- because there are fun times up late and on saturday mornings in pajamas that are unforgettable. And Yes- because you can hear others pee if it's quiet.

I'm sure there are questions that you, our friends, have but have never asked us about this situation. So, here's the space. Post your questions- if you have any- and we'll try and answer....truthfully.

Boss

2005-11-16T14:22:00.000-08:00

I'm on my break and thinking about how nice it is to have live-in best friends when you're a married couple.

Karli and I have always thought (but not until recently been able to put it into words) that our marriage is ours to enjoy and cultivate and protect, but that it does not belong only to us. The things that our marriage produces should be things that others are able to benefit from.

I love that I'm able to watch Mike and Katie in the little things and learn from them. To NEVER see Mike raise his voice (unless its laughing:) ) is good for me as a husband to encounter.

More thoughts later. Must work.

Living in this house rocks.

And its not wierd, like some of scardy-cats joke, its boss.
That's right. Boss.

-chris

Drumroll Please...

2005-11-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

ITS A GIRL!

Baby

2005-11-14T07:06:00.000-08:00

Tonight we find out, boy or girl.
More to come!

-chris

Inaugural Blog

2005-11-13T19:00:00.000-08:00