The good, the bad and the...stinky

What a weekend.  We got lots unpacked and spent most of the weekend getting settled in.  I woke up pretty blissed out yesterday morning over the state of things.  We made breakfast and got to use both sides of the dining table!  After years of us all lined up eating on just one side of it, I was very excited.  Most of the boxes have been unpacked, or are at least in places that I don't walk past several times a day.  We had friends over to check the place out and it was fun to have plenty of space for the kids to get crazy.  

Our first official dinner here.  I think Miles looks unhappy because he had to eat couscous.

Miles, Iris and Emma playing a speed version of Ring Around the Rosy.

Our old neighbor Mary came over to see the place and have lunch.  We were excited to give her the tour, which went well until she stepped on sopping wet carpet in the basement.  Long story short, the upstairs toilet leaked and majorly flooded a section of the basement.  The roof looked like a giant water balloon and the light fixture, which we'd turned on, was completely full of water.  I was horrified.  It is terrible timing for something like this, especially after already knocking lots of expensive high priority projects off the to do list the first week we were here.  We called the plumber, who made the situation workable for the time being.  The old toilet has been ripped out and the nasty sub floor is now in the breezeway.  That previously mentioned blissed out feeling has dissipated a bit. I guess the positive is that we found it before the roof caved in and flooded the entire basement.

Jeff has been watching lots of HGTV so, stressful situation aside, I think he was secretly a little bit excited for the demolition of the soggy roof.

No bueno.  Remodeling this bathroom has shifted from long term goal to short term priority.
 
We just decided its time to head out to dinner...after Jeff washes his hands!

Moving Weekend

It's official!  We are now the proud residents of 8065 Oak Creek Drive.  (I can't really say owners for about 30 years, right?)  We spent last weekend moving.  It was super exciting and tiring and overwhelming and even quite sad.  I experienced more emotions in three days than I have in a long time. Saying goodbye to our first house...a house full of memories...was so much harder than I thought it would be.  I was doing OK until Miles decided we should tell Acer negundo (the big backyard tree) goodbye and thanks for all the shade it's given us, then it really hit me.  After a few days of sob fest I am finally getting it together and I'm so excited about the new house.  We've done a lot of unpacking, but still have boxes in every room.  The kids seem to be loving it.  They are sleeping well and we are too on our new king size bed!  That was a moving splurge and we both agree it was worth it.  Bella explored outside for the first time tonight and just returned scratching on the back door.  She was not happy about 5 days cooped up inside, so we let her out to wander. 

It's not so fun to have your house filled with this.

Jeff, the sold sign, the moving truck and only about half the contents of the shed.  It looked like an awesome yard sale!

The new kitchen on the first night.  We were overwhelmed by boxes stacked in every direction, so we tag teamed it and got the kitchen organized first thing.  We have so many cabinets that a lot of them are still empty even with everything put away.

The view from our closet window the first morning here.  Yep, I said closet window!

I am so thankful for all we have and so excited for all that is to come.  Here's hoping we have many happy years under this roof!   

Phoenix Weekend

I got spoiled this weekend.  I went to stay with Jen in Phoenix for a few days.  Adam was also heading down there to run a race with his friends, so I figured it would be a nice chance (or more likely, a once in a lifetime chance) to have some child free hang out time with siblings.  He didn't know I was going, so it was fun to surprise him at the airport!  It would not have been possible without Don and Martha watching the kids, so again...thank you, thank you for helping me make it happen!
We lounged, read books, ate out, saw a movie, got a massage and just relaxed.  It was the calm before the storm since we close on the house in 3 days and move next weekend.
Adam ran the Tough Mudder race down there with some of his friends.  Crazy for sure, but inspiring.  At the start I was sad I wasn't participating, but after just a few obstacles Jen and I were both pretty happy to hang on the sidelines with our cameras!  It was a great weekend!

 On our way in to my belated birthday dinner at Roys. 

My tasty birthday treat at dinner!

These days my Happy Hour is usually between 8 and 9 PM, when the kiddies are sleeping and I have a few minutes to myself before sleeping.  It was a treat to head out for an actual Happy Hour.

Jen is a great hostess, a great friend, a great sister...

Mid January Happenings

Well, we blasted right past New Years.  Happy 2012!  Then we blasted right past my birthday.  Happy 38th!  It feels a little strange to be getting so close to 40, but I really have no complaints about where I am in my life. 
We are slowly packing up the house.  Closing is scheduled for 9 days from now.  I am excited and sad at the same time.  The new place is great and I know it will be a good move for us, but part of me is a bit sad to be leaving Brookhill Drive and this space we've called home for 8 years.

Bella investigating a moving box.  She knows something big is on the horizon!

We finally had some snow, although you can see from the picture that it wasn't much.  It was still fun to get outside and play in it.  Miles was happy to make noises like an engine and pull Iris on laps around his "polar express".

The kids will miss Freddy, the neighbor cat.  He is so kind and patient even though he is always being chased and smothered with rough kid love. 

He has grown in a hefty winter coat and with all due respect to Bella, he is the most beautiful cat you'll ever see.

 Random shot of Miles and Bella and the Nook book.