Housing Update Of Epically Boring Proportions

Okay, so it's been hooply-pooply-crazy around our homestead lately. But now that we have a place to live--besides the rescue mission--I figure it's time for me to update y'all on the whole scenario. So take a seat and pull out your boredom blockers--yer gonna need 'em.

Why We're Moving

We adore our current house, our current neighbors, and our current neighborhood. So why move? Well, our dear duplex-mates co-own the house with their (his) parents, who recently retired from the mission field and plan to move "home." We've known since we moved in that this was the situation, but in the meantime, their house has been a great place for us to land. Did I mention they are people of the fabulous sort? Yes. Yes they are.

Finding Another House

I've been searching the craigslist ads for a good six months or so now. I mean, if that isn't a barrel of fun, I don't know what is. As April approached, we heard of a friend of a friend who was moving out of the area, but wanted to rent out her house for a few years. We jumped at the chance and got everything ready for the move (which was scheduled for May 1). Long story short, the owners (very kind, gracious people, I might add) got their house ready to sell in record time, and decided to go that route instead. We could have still lived there, but took the risk of having to move shortly after moving in. So, we hit a big "undo" button on that plan, and went back on the search.

At that point, we had just one month to find a different place to live. I'm guessing that in two weeks' time, we called on over twenty options, and dragged the kids through many of those homes. No doubt what the kids will remember most about those tours is the little "speech" Pa and I would give them in the van right before going in. No talking, no running, no questions, no commentary, the end. They've rode the emotional roller coaster right along with us--thinking that each house "might be the one!" only to be disappointed, say, twenty or so times.

As a side note, it's been an educational experience figuring out the types of things Pa and I look for in a house. And by "educational" I mean, "relationally stretching."

Just when we were hours away from choosing among three "it'll do" kinds of houses, the same friend who told us about the first house told us about another house she knew that just came available. And that house is where we have chosen to live.

Our New House

Our new place is situated about ten minutes north of where we live. Still in the heart of the city, which makes me happy. I like being close to the action where the kids have access to many opportunities and where the diversity is the highest. 

The thing that makes me so happy about the house is that it suits us. I couldn't have designed anything better than what it is. It's old enough to have charm, and big enough for us to live in. As someone who is home nearly 24/7, I value having a place that is "livable." The house has a basement (which is highly unusual around here) that is finished and four (four!) bedrooms, one which we'll use as an office. And two bathrooms, THANK YOU JESUS.

What also tickles my fancy is that the house has a backyard (a back! yard!), which we've not had for the past three years. (We currently live in the front half of a duplex.) The kids are super-excited about that, and I am without a doubt looking forward to throwing open the welcome mat and giving the neighbors a place to kick back and relax.

The owner has told us that he eventually wants to sell the house. What makes this scenario (versus the first one) different for us is that a) we like the house enough to buy it, b) we have a chance to "test-drive" the house first to see if we like it, and c) we have a year or so to come up with a (hefty) down-payment. Which we will find buried in the backyard, of that I am certain.

When We Are Moving

We have rented a truck for this Saturday, so all our junk will be hauled across the city then. Meanwhile, I'm cleaning our current house, and when I get bored of that, I clean some more. Good times. Oh, and I squeak a little of Campers' school in--but we are nearly done and will be off for the summer soon. (Ziggy has been done for a week now.)

I'll get an address sent out to immediate family soon, but for those who like to keep their address books updated, please feel free to shoot me an e-mail and I'll give you our new address too.

And Now A Short Word From Our Sponsor

You know, I'm not one to use a bunch of God-speak (being careful to not put words in his mouth), but  through the whole (stressful) process I kept hearing "wait for it...wait for it...wait for it...." and being a person of faith for a loooong time now, I knew, knew our house wouldn't come through until the last minute. That didn't stop me from shouting this and this from the breakfast table, but surely God is over that by now. Many of you have prayed so faithfully for us, and for that I say "thank you." And I also say, "come help us move visit."

(Nap's over. Hope it was a good one.)

Now...back to my regularly-scheduled crazy!

Ready To Go

Taking the world by storm. And wearing her bib in case some food flies by.

Too bad she's so homely and reserved.

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

Not sure exactly what we captured here, but it is 100% our girl.

Little Mittens

Last week, the Suz was being extra-special helpful by taking some stuff out to the garage, and in the process, slammed her own hand in the door.

And to make matters even more dramatic, I hauled the Suz up the stairs for Pa to take care of the blood, because MY WORD AT THE BLOOD, IT WAS ALMOST 1/64 OF A TEASPOON! And after she was patched up yet still howling, I carried her back down the stairs, where I slipped on a blanket I had just tossed on the steps, you know, in an effort to "clean up."

But we don't really need to talk about the bruise on my back fat, or how it took me a couple of days to get the body parts all sorted back to the right order, no. This post is about the Suz.

Over the next few days, I got to take many a look at her hands, and they are little, oh, they are little. A while back, a friend of mine called them "mittens," and we've called them that ever since.

Even now, at almost four years old, Susie's entire little pinky is no bigger than the tip of my own little finger. Granted, I have freakishly long fingers, but that's enough about me. I've already told you about my back fat for crying out loud!! Gotta keep some things a mystery!

Anyway. Mittens. Cute ones. Ones that remind me of the cute, pudgy hands she had back as a babe.

Simple Woman: April 26, 2010

For today... April 26, 2010

Outside my window... and down the street a bit is a big wall-like lilac bush. And it smells delightful. And reminds me of my childhood home.

I am thinking... about what Spanish names to give to the kids for when we start language study this fall. For the boys, I'm thinking "Jefe" and "El Guapo." 

I am thankful for... a husband who has a clear head and a fantastic sense of humor. We're in, how shall we say, a rather "stressful" couple of months and I'd likely spin out of orbit if it wasn't for someone keeping me in line. 

From the learning rooms... the boys are listening to me read The House at Pooh Corner. I am not exaggerating--they spent the whole first chapter howling with laughter every time I said the word "Pooh." Help me.

From the kitchen... I'm trying to add more raw greens to our diet, encouraged on by Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Pea pods were last week; broccoli this week. The produce guy at the market asked if I needed any help, and I said, "Yes. Tell me which green vegetable I should inflict on my kids this week."

I am wearing... a shirt which caused the boys to ask "are you going to give birth to that blubber, Mom?" Hmm. Need to schedule that liposuction. Cuz I'm obviously not getting to that "exercise."

I am creating... a big ol' huge honkin' mess in my house. We have packed the bulk of the non-essentials and now we're just tripping over the boxes.

I am going... to switch the Suz from a crib to a big girl bed when we move to a different house. What? Is age four too soon? Oh, I kid. 

I am reading... myself hoarse these days. Got so many books to read aloud to the kids. Made a big list at the beginning of the year and BY GOLLY we're gonna get through it! Or just get laryngitis! One of those!

I am hoping... that once summer rolls around I can breathe a huge sigh of relief. Moving and change is hard. Me no likey.

I am hearing... Ziggy talk about what he wants to be when he grows up. This week it's an artist, an astronaut, or a comedian. I told him he could draw pictures of space ships and then make fun of them. 

Around the house... sits an old car seat waiting to be dropped off for recycling. Did you know that car seats expire after six years and shouldn't be used (due to weakening of the materials)? I learned that this week by innocently trying to sell my (expired, unsafe) car seat on craigslist. The uproar! Was fast! And furious!

One of my favorite things... was hearing Campers brag about his brother to our pediatrician this week. Why, it was almost like he was proud of him--the thought!

My plans for the week... include sitting in a fetal position and rocking for a bit. What. This isn't how you deal with major life change? Oh, well forget I said that then.

Here is picture I am sharing... of the Pa. He hates having his photo taken. Hates it even more when it shows up on the blog. But you won't tell, right?

Crown Of Glory

Me: "Wow! Did you see all my gray hair in this picture?"

Hubs: *blink*

Simple Woman: April 18, 2010

For today... April 18, 2010

Outside my window... the red maple trees are starting to come back to life with the teeniest tiniest little leaves.

I am thinking... about how cell phones work, and how no matter how many times Hubs explains it to me, it never ever, never ever makes sense. My words become air waves? And they know which tower to go to? And they can travel across the country almost immediately? And then turn back into my words at the other end? See? It's hopeless.

I am thankful for... Legos. The boys are currently in the all-Legos, all-the-time stage of life. Gets them out of my hair. Gets the Legos all over the house. Win.

From the learning rooms... Campers was just introduced to the basics of World War II. I tried to work unicorns, rainbows, and ponies into the story. To no avail.

From the kitchen... asparagus is in season and on the menu. I've got four in this family who love it. The fifth stares at it for 20 minutes, pleads for mercy for another 10, and then chokes his itty bitty piece down with a big bite of drama butter.

I am wearing... short-sleeve (instead of long-sleeve) shirts under the same zip-up fleece I wear 327 days of the year.

I am creating... space in my schedule for a noontime cup of tea. Stash's Earl Gray is the current favorite.

I am going... to sign the lease on our next house this week!

I am reading... Red Sails to Capri to the boys. It drew us in from the first chapter which makes the read-aloud experience that much better. The past couple books have been too slow-moving and girly for me the boys.

I am hoping... to squeeze about two weeks of school into the following five days. We're getting close to being done and I'd like to have the worst over with before we move on May 1. 

I am hearing... my little girl say her colors. Correctly. Finally. She also signs the color when she says it, thank you from the bottom of my heart, Signing Time video the Suz has watched 876 times.

Around the house... are boxes sitting beside boxes sitting atop boxes. And did I mention the royal mess? Ai yi yi, it's reached epic levels. 

One of my favorite things... was watching both boys pluck the puffy seeds off a dandelion to give it a Mohawk. 

My plans for the week... include working like a dog during the day to get ready for this move, and then relaxing at night with episode after episode of The West Wing. I've got the DVDs of season one from the library. I will prevail.

Here is picture I am sharing... of the two showboats and the squash.

She Loves The Single Lady Boy

A couple weeks back, one of my online friends posted a video which ended up going viral.

I believe our family alone has watched it 50 or more times. Most of that is due to the Suz begging to see the "single lady boy." I finally caught her response on video:

Easter 2010: The Kids

Nothing but pics today. (In case you need a reminder, the kids are 8, almost 6, and almost 4.)

Easter 2010

We have entered the Glory Years. I feel very blessed.