Moving Buddy

Well, this is happening:

Yesterday we signed the dotted line after considering the results of the inspection on our house, telling the buyers that yes, we will sell them this house for a penny, and sure, go ahead and take the kitchen island and all our curtains, and wait- are you sure you don't want our first born child as well???

This whole selling your house when the market is down thing is not for the faint of heart.  I will spend more than one night mourning the loss of Newbie's stellar light-blocking bay window drapes.I've fantasized about our resident squirrel finally digging his way through the plaster in the bedroom after the new owners move in and squeaking out a "YOU KNOW WHY!" with his fist in the air, just to get even on the curtains.  Then I tell myself talking squirrels burrowing through a wall in the bedroom is a horrible thought to wish on anyone, but I smile a little anyway because those curtains are my favorite.

YOU KNOW WHY.

ha.

Anyway, we have to have our bags (and everything else) packed up and out of here by November 15.  We have a few fudge days in there, but our hope is to get out as close to our closing date as possible.  Which means me and my moving buddy busted out the boxes today and got for real on this joint.  Every time I emptied a wall of picture frames, I turned around and there was another wall full of them.  We've got four huge boxes filled already, and that was just the living room walls.  Yikes.  It is going to be a long and busy couple of weeks around here.

You might be wondering where my family circus is headed to once we wave bon voyage to this, our first little home.  That's a fabulous question.  When you figure it out, please let me know.

We are still looking for a house, and in the meantime, we are moving over to my parents' now-not-so-empty nest.  We're hoping to find something soon, but the market is slowing down and there are not a whole lotta fish in the sea right now.  Our hope is to move out of the city (we live very much in the city right now) and closer to our family.  We'd like a little room to breathe and space for Opie to run and run and run and run and run. We think once we turn the corner on 2012, the menu will fill up and we'll have some more options. Opie's coming along to stay at G-Mama and Grandad's, so for the sake of their sanity, we are really rooting for a variety of houses to pop up for sale soon!

Before we started packing this morning, we ran a few errands with the Hubs.  After stopping for some coffee and a snack, I reached back to Newbie's carseat with a little bite of a cinnamon roll for him.  He reached up, took it and I KID YOU NOT said, "tank too, Ma Ma."  WHAT??!  Newbie's first full sentence was, "Thank you, Momma".  What. a. star.  The Hubs looked at me, and we were both dumbfounded.  We've been working for weeks on getting Newbie to say "thank you" and had barely been able to get him to use the baby sign for "thank you", much less actually get him to say it.  Turns out that persistence paid off.  We've got a charmer on our hands, folks.

"Tank too, Ma Ma."

You can bet your bottom dollar that kid got another bite of the cinnamon roll.

I'm off to take a snoozer with Newbie.  All of this packing is hard work, and I think it calls for a few pieces of Halloween candy and a good afternoon nap.

Have a happy Thursday!

 

(This is clearly a brilliant idea.He did this to himself, man. When you're a little boy, sometimes you just gotta do some box diving.)

"Treat Treat!"

We had a blast trick or treating with our little man this year.  We kicked off the extravaganza with a trip out to the country Saturday to visit Newbie's great grandparents and Grandma and Grandpa. Newbie sported a costume I found at a consignment sale Friday morning for three bucks- I just couldn't say no. 

 

 

(Hi, Great Grandma and Grandpa!)

 

(Hi, Great Grandma!)

 

 (Grandma and a very wiggly little Elmo.)

Newbie was NOT a huge fan of his "Melmo" ensemble.  The good news is, the Melmo was a bonus because I had already made a homemade outfit for him.  He wore the homemade costume at Wednesday's Trunk or Treat and on Halloween.  He didn't mind the overalls and even kept his hat on- totally surprising all of us. We went Trick or Treating in G-Mama's neighborhood because its where I grew up, we know lots of folks, and its the perfect amount of houses for two short legs. 

 

Before we hit the street, our favorite two little girls stopped by to say "hi!" Newbie and I had a little play date with them earlier in the day that involved bouncing on trampolines and a trip to Krispy Kreme for some chocolate frosted donuts.  He was jazzed to see the girls again and was really digging hanging out with people who were (almost) his size. 

(These are hands down some of my absolute favorite people in the world.)

 (Newbie showed the girls around G-Mama's yard and I thought it was funny that none of them let their candy buckets out of their sight.)

Newbie was TOTALLY into the whole trick or treating thing.  He caught on really fast and would get out of the wagon, walk up to the door carrying his pumpkin bucket, tap on the door lightly with his knuckles and say "na na!" (knock knock) and then if he was really feeling it, he'd exclaim "TREE TREE!" (treat treat) when someone opened the door. 

 

 

He got a little overly enthusiastic at most houses and tried to breech the threshold to make himself right at home.  I think he figured there was probably more candy inside.

 

(Anxiously watching Daddy's every move while he unwrapped a chocolate bar.)

I don't know what it is about Halloween that makes us throw caution to the wind and let Newbie eat more sugar than he has had in his 18 months of life, but somebody flipped the switch and out of nowhere it was just a candy free for all.  Thankfully he's a slow eater, so he didn't make it through more than a couple mini candy bars, but STILL, oh, the sugar buzz.  He was going going going until he crashed at bedtime last night.

I'd be lying if I said the Hubs and I I commandeered his pumpkin bucket after he went to bed. Reason #235,309 I love being a mom: getting to feast on all kinds of Fun Size candy bars on October 31st. Awesome.  The Hubs has a ridiculous amount of self control and only ate three Smarties.  Total buzz kill, in my opinion.  Don't worry, I more than made up for his lack of consumption. 

Speaking of the Hubs, a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my macho man!  He turns the big two-six today, and we celebrated this morning with lots of bacon and blueberry muffins.  Newbie gave him two pounds of bacon for his birthday. 

 

(There are two packages of bacon in that bag.  No, I'm not kidding.)

Bacon is what you get for birthday gifts when you're saving to buy a house.  Or a new boiler.  Its hard to say which it will be at this point, but inspections went down yesterday and we should know by Friday what we'll be spending the big birthday bucks on.   In the meantime, the Hubs is loving the massive bacon inventory around here and Newbie and I are conquering an Everest and a half of laundry today as part of the Hubs birthday present. (HA!)  The other part of his gift (in addition to the bacon) is the OK to go out and do whatever he wants Thursday morning.  My guess is it will involve camo and ammunition of some kind.  But that's only a guess. 

I have been so blessed by this guy and can't describe how much fun it is to be married to my best friend.  He works so hard for our little family and is such a generous leader and a fun daddy-O.  I love him to pieces and would give him a trillion pounds of bacon if I could.  Happy Birthday, Babe!

Hope you all have a Happy Tuesday full of treat-treats! =)

 

(Halloween 2010 throwback)

Pumpkining

There's nothing like slamming the end of the week with some heavy treat or treating (I don't like tricks) festivities to dull the agonizing hullabaloo that comes with home inspections while trying to sell your house.  Take it from me.  Butterfingers help, man.  They really, really do.

Candy and orange Oreos aside, I'm not a big fan of Halloween.  The candy is a good time, and I like getting creative with homemade costumes, but the whole fear/horror/blood&guts scene is not my favorite game. We're planning on down-playing Halloween with our kiddos, avoiding the wicked stuff and sticking to the Seasame Street costumes and candy. We're stoked that our community has family-friendly events like "Trunk or Treat" to offer a safe and fun alternative to some of the gore and grime that's out there around Halloween.  At Trunk or Treat, volunteers dress up and decorate the trunks of their cars, filling a church parking lot with wall to wall trunks full of candy.  Kids walk around and trick or treat at each car, scoring themselves a load of candy by the end of the night.  It. is. awesome.

Newbie and I went Trunk or Treating Wednesday evening with one of my friends and her littles.  We had a ball, but I'll wait to post pics til the grandparents see Newbie's costume live this weekend.  Newbie was a trooper out in the cold, going from trunk to trunk in the church parking lot collecting all matter of caloric goodness.  THANK GOODNESS the boy can't dig his six chompers (yes, he still only has six!) into the chocolate fun size candy bars yet because that means Momma has herself a good little stash-o-chocolate to confide in when the going gets tough.  I may or may not have spent Wednesday evening with the Hubs catching up on The Biggest Loser with my head half shoved into Newbie's plastic pumpkin candy bucket.  The end.

We tossed in some more fall fun tonight when Daddy got home from work: we dove into the pumpkins that have been waiting on the porch for such a time as this.  Newbie was excited to be doing a fun family something out on the porch, the Hubs was excited to be playing with a knife, and I was excited that I had a Halloween epiphany called "Carve your pumpkin on a disposable tablecloth and spare yourself all kinds of goopy mess".  Brilliant. 

 

(Are you digging our "elephant" pumpkin? And yes, those are velour pants...fashion violation #18 of the day since I'm a trillion lightyears behind on laundry.)

We had a ball and are scarfing down roasted pumpkin seeds to compliment the SweetTarts and LaffyTaffy this evening while we enjoy a little World Series Blogging Party (aka- the Series is on [GO RANGERS], and the Hubs is deeply engrossed while I give the TV the occasional nod in between downloading pictures and checking out Pinterest. It's the only way to fly).

Happy Weekending!

(Thanks for the card, Mutte!  He clapped was totally into the stickers on the envelop and clapped when he got it out and realized ELMO was on the front! =))

Newbie the Cyclone

What is it like having a busy toddler?

Yeah, its kinda like that.

PS- In other news, we are feeling MUCH better all the way around the block over here.  Although my stomach is still in turmoil over all the house-stuff we have going on right now.  Nothing to report- just lots of things up in the air.  ALSO, I am considering breaking out the Christmas music because I've been feeling the need to snuggle down with a warm cup of hot chocolate and some chestnuts roasting on an open fire.  Maybe.  Maybe?  

Twofer Tuesday

Two things.

Number one: There are all kinds of things going on in our housing experience.  Things change so fast when looking for a house to put an offer on...all I can say after four days of looking and loving is SOMEBODY PLEASE PASS THE OREO BLIZZARD.  Two big prayer requests this week: first of all, we have an inspection on our house tomorrow at noon. [insert hyperventilation here] I cannot describe the angst involved in having the buyer come through and pick out all the things that could possibly be wrong with your house.  OUCH.  The Hubs is not worried, however, nothing is set in stone on the sale for another three weeks when the papers are signed, so its all up in the air at this point.  Prayers for an ultra smooth inspection tomorrow would be so, so appreciated.  Thankyou thankyou thankyou! On the other side of the coin, we are deep in the search for another house and would just appreciate prayers that we would be wise and discerning, and that any offers we put down would be successful. Also, if you could pray the Dairy Queen would open up before its planned February re-open date, it would be helpful.  I kid.  Not really. (Yes, our DQ closes for a few months a year.  WHAT the WHAT?) There's no homeowner stress that cannot be at least somewhat put to rest with a little prayer and Oreo Blizzards, my friends. Thank you a billion times over for praying as we make our way through the Crazytown that is buying and selling in the housing market.

Number two: Have you seen this?!  I ran into it online yesterday and after sending the website to several friends, realized it was just too good not to pass along to my bloggy buddies as well.  Check it:
*Don't forget to mute or pause music at the bottom of my blog to get the full experience. =)

Y'all.  They are doing a CHRISTMAS TOUR. I am so there.  Check out the tour dates on their website and see if you can't get your buns to one of them this December.  I think it is going to be the best Christmas concert of the season, and I'm seeing Broadway's rendition of Irving Berlin's White Christmas this year, so that's really saying something. =)

Happy, happy Tuesday!

The Week the Croup Wouldn't Die

Good NIGHT.  If we could kick the Croup, we might actually be able to do something productive around here.  Last week Newbie was down and out with the Croup, I had a horrendous cold, and now we've passed that stuff on to the Hubs while Newbie battles some slight intestinal warfare, and I hold my breath and wonder just how many dirty diapers we are going to have to face today.  Whew.  What a week! 

Unfortunately, it's looking like we're on Week 2 of this yucky sick run because Newbie still isn't himself, and I'm still hacking up a lunch every half an hour.  We aren't contagious anymore according to the doc, but nobody wants to hear a momma and baby hack their way through the playground or Target- you know what I mean?  So we're land-locked.  Boo! We've been trying to process getting an offer on our house and everything that means for our family through the fog of a head cold, and it ain't easy.  But we are coherent enough to know that we're really excited! 

Despite battling through the colds, we have managed to squeeze in some fun stuff.  You know, when we weren't watching Toy Story 2 or slurping tomato soup. Now introducing what has become a classic Monday week/weekend in review:

Early last week the Hubs pulled out the rake and made a pile of leaves for Newbie.  Hello, October!  He loved running through the leaves, but was not a fan of jumping into the pile, nor lying in the pile.  So he did a lot of drive-by's, and he loved helping Daddy with the rake.

 

 

I can't remember when, but one day last week I made edible raw cookie dough and it has possibly changed our lives forever.  The Hubs is even asking for it, and that skinny man never requests sugar.

Sometime after the cookie dough revolution, Funny Bones and I spent the day hanging out with Grandma and ate dinner at her house with Grandpa.  We had fun shopping at Lowe's and checking out some new family pictures Miss Trudy took of the crew a few weeks ago. Newbie was really working it for the camera, because in all of the images Miss Trudy showed us, I could have eaten that boy up with a spoon. Gray sweater and blue jeans, gel in the hair, and big blue eyes looking up at the camera?  Swoon. 

 

 

 

(Every time we go to Grandma's, he finds himself in the mirror and waves at his reflection.  Too cute!)

There was a schmattering of coloring time last week because when you're sick, markers can really make things a little bit better.

We even finger-painted on Friday to celebrate the offer we got on the house.  The finger paints don't come out unless its a big occasion because they are always a BIG mess.  I wish I was all "whatever, lets just have fun and create!" when it comes to finger painting, but the truth is, that stuff would end up all over my blinds and carpet and the fridge and Newbie's nose and Opie if I just willy-nillied the experience.  So we save it for something special.  Like Offer Day!

Saturday morning the Hubs ran in his first race- a 5K.  He rocked it, coming in second in his age group and making an awesome time.  It was freezing outside, and since Newbie was still coughing, we dropped the Hubs off at the race, ran Newbie over to Grandad's, then I drove back just in time to see the Hubs walking around post- finish line.  BUMMER!  Word on the street is, he slid across the finish line on his stomach, in a grand celebration of finishing his first race...and I missed it!  But he had the grass and mud stains to prove he made a great finish.  Opie- in all his crazy-eyed glory- came along to celebrate with his master.

 

(What.a.stud.)

 

And now for the crazy eyes....

 

BAM.  Told ya. 

Saturday afternoon the Hubs and I took off with our realtor to do some house shopping.  We were really overwhelmed, and realized after walking through a few houses that we might have to play the waiting game for a while.  We're hoping some other stuff pops up on the market because we weren't really digging much of what we saw on Saturday.  In the meantime, Newbie enjoyed some chicken noodle soup with G-Mama and Grandad and rumor has it he even got to play in the Beep for a little while.  Lucky duck!  This afternoon we're commencing House Shopping: Take 2 and hoping for the best!

Yesterday the Hubs was really under the weather, so I took off for small group and left him and Newbie at home.  When I got back, I found these pictures on the camera.  Looks like Daddy-O and Little Man had some fun watching the All Blacks play in the rugby world cup!

 

I have big ambitions of getting a ton of laundry done today and possibly even some vacuuming.  But I'm telling you right now: when you know you have to be out of your house in five weeks, you start to really question the point in vacuuming.  And dusting.  And cleaning in general.  I'm just keeping it real, folks.  I'm not sure when this place is going to see another scrub down.  I was hoping to vacuum today, but judging by the general grogginess that has begun to set in from the cold, there just aren't any promises.  

One thing I can promise: It's chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese for lunch today.  Minus the cheese for Newbie because everybody knows cheese is not on the stomach warfare BRAT diet. (Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) I figured we'd mix it up a bit with some chicken noodle soup because toddler cannot live on toast and applesauce alone, and the menu hasn't wavered from that much in the past 24 hours.

Here's to a week of happy and health and edible raw cookie dough.  Check out the raw cookie dough revolution here or just toss all of these into a bowl and mix 'em together:
 1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
4 to 6 tablespoons water

*When I make it, I microwave the butter for 30 seconds and veto the 4-6 tablespoons water.

Your thighs may regret it, but your heart won't. Amen.

Happy Monday!

A BIG DEAL

Today the Hubs and I have a date. 

Yesterday morning he called to tell me that we received an OFFER ON OUR HOUSE!!!  Then he asked me out to go HOUSE SHOPPING today!

I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

The first words out of my mouth as I zipped up Newbie's jammies on the changing table were "Praise Jesus!" and those are the same words of gratitude I've been whispering since.  I looked right down at my little man and said, "Baby!  It's Daddy!  He said we can get a new house!" Newbie picked up on my excitement and smiled from his head down to his toes then kicked his legs and wiggled all over the place.  Not even the one year old could contain himself at this news! 

My heart is just overflowing with thankfulness and excitement. We are so, so thankful someone has put an offer up!  There are a couple things that need to happen before we sign the papers in a few weeks, but our realtor says it looks solid and its time to look for what we want to move into.  WHAT?!

[insert squeals and butterflies in the belly]

After 7 months on the market this year and several months on two years before, we just can't believe this is actually happening.  Its ACTUALLY HAPPENING!

(I'm up at 5:45 this morning because this whole house thing is more exciting than Santa Claus, and I couldn't sleep.  I'm sitting in the corner of my bedroom pounding away with a tap-tap-tap on the keyboard, and the Hubs just popped out of bed and said "Oh my gosh!  Are you OK?!?  I thought you were CHET!" Apparently if you're in a deep sleep, laptops can sound a lot like rebel squirrels having a hoedown in the attic.Yes, Chet has been back in all his glory the past few weeks.  Reason #54,603 we are ready to move.)

Where was I?

MOVING!

I can't begin to describe how many people have been saturating our house in prayer and asking God to move some mountains so we can pack up the family circus and move.  Even my realtor expressed how much her and her husband have been praying for our house to sell.  They've closed on 45 houses in the past 15 weeks, and they were praying ours would be the next. 

Guess what, y'all!  IT WAS! 

Thank you so much to those of you who have been praying our house would sell!  Please keep them coming as we need the transition from offer to papers to go smoothly, as our realtor thinks it will.  I appreciate so much every single one of you that has come up to me over the past 7 months and said you are praying for our house- it means the world to us, and we feel so encouraged and loved and grateful!

Today we're hitching up and heading out bright and early.  The Hubs is running a 5K this morning (no big thang for my iron man) and then we're picking up donuts, taking Newbie to Grandad's (he's making a slow recovery from the Croup, but slept through the night last night which means we're getting there!) and then hitting the road with our realtor for the afternoon. 

And I get to do it all with this stud:

(Yes, that's an engagement pic circa 2007- by http://www.trudyholtzphotography of course! And yes, we feel like newlyweds all over again because this is just WAY too much fun!)

Can't wait. We've been talking about our "the house must have" list since he got home from work yesterday, and neither one of us can talk fast enough or smile big enough.  We are so giddy and full of anticipation. 

 

(image created by http://www.trudyholtzphotography.com)

I hope you all have a fabulous Saturday and a blessed Sunday tomorrow. 

Happy Weekending!

 (One more because I just couldn't help myself...http://www.trudyholtzphotography.com)

PS- Check out who's back!  Miss A posted yesterday with some precious pictures of her new family of four.  I was honored to make her post with a cameo hospital newborn snuggle shot! =)