Spring Sprung!

In some ways it feels like we just moved in even though we've been here over 6 months and the old house feels like a lifetime ago.  We're enjoying our neighbors and have all made friends, the dogs are getting plenty of exercise.  Seasonal allergies are hitting Samantha and Daddy hard, but other than that everyone's good.  Daddy and I even took some time for a long weekend away though I don't think we'll leave the girls with Nana and Papa again for some time.  There was a perfect storm of circumstances that lead to a challenging weekend for them, resulting consequences for the girls and disappointment for Daddy and I.



Summer is approaching and we're planning to have the opposite of last year's schedule.  Last year was camps every week with dance lessons and there wasn't time to relax.  This year the girls will have NO lessons and a nanny 4 days a week, which means I'll get into my office more (to help me focus).  The girls will be together, but free.  I'm hopeful!

International Children's Festival 2013

We got to spend the whole day with our friends at the International Children's Festival.  It's a tradition that we've done for a few years.  The dads weren't able to come, but we made the best of it.  We ended up heading back to our friend's house for dinner and got to spend the entire day with them!

I tried to keep the girls out of the house since it's smelly from all the work that's being done.  I'll completely admit that I'm nervous about the chemicals in new carpet, varnishes and paint.  Thankfully, the paint was no-VOC which was the best possible outcome.

 

 

 

Snow Day

Another snow storm hit so the girls finally got a snow day.  At least we got out and enjoyed it!

Our Green Green Garden

We finally have a garden!  I'm excited and proud because everyone helped to make it happen this year!  Sofia helped pick up rocks and planted some.  Samantha helped plant too.  I cleared most of the existing area and Grammy finished digging things out while I picked up.  Daddy planted and set up the fence to keep the rabbits out.

Here's some snapshots:

I can't wait to have the kids eat something that we grew ourselves!

Girls day, yard work and a festival

Since Daddy was golfing with Papa yesterday, Grammy came by to help me with a few projects. I wanted to surprise Daddy with some yard work for Father's Day, so I mowed the lawn. As a bonus, Grammy and I transplanted a couple of bushes that Daddy wanted moved. We giggled and the girls were awesome! Izzy came over to play and we all had fun!

We then headed to a local International festival with some friends. All the kids get along wonderfully as demonstrated by the silly pictures below.

The house is fixed (finally)!

All the holes from my plumbing adventure are fixed! I can now enjoy the memory and appreciate the adventure without staring at holes in our walls and ceiling. Everything is back into its place and all is right with the world.


Daddy had the great idea of changing the kitchen lighting since workers would be here already. We discussed that particular change when we initially looked at the house, so it only took us 7 1/2 years to complete! It's a wonderful thing to complete a project that wasn't necessarily needed; it was just desired and now we have it. I'm glad it's done!

Mom's plumbing adventure during a week without Daddy

Daddy started his new job and it involved him traveling all week. We missed him, but we managed our own adventures. The girls were both sick with colds, manifesting as croup for Samantha while Sofia struggled with a fever. Sofia seemingly embraced her age (read: terrible twos) this week, but I think it was really that she felt horrible. There was a lot of crying and frustration on her part until the prescription drugs from our visit to the doctor kicked in.

Samantha was a champ and loved the extra time with her Grammy and Papa this week. Grammy took her to ballet and Papa took the girls after swimming, so I could attend a parent information night for Kindergartners. (Wow, I can't believe Sam's ready for school in the fall!)

In a nutshell, we were struggling but it wasn't too bad and we were getting by. Then I took a shower and the water didn't go down the drain. I had to leave right away to pick up the girls and then it was swimming and then the school thing, so I didn't get back home for a few hours. By then there was a leak in the living room ceiling. Papa tried to help with the shower drain, but ended up leaving after Sam went to bed. Sofie has been especially energetic this week and now takes longer to go to sleep, so it was another hour before she went to bed.

I called a plumber who told me I needed to cut the ceiling to drain the water so he could determine the type of leak. All sorts of panicky thoughts went through my mind and eventually I remembered that God has never given me more than I could handle, so I made the hole and drained the water. All by myself! The hole kept growing until I called my mom to talk about my latest adventure. And the leak stopped! Did I mention I handled it all by myself?!? Behold my hole... The plumber came the next morning and stayed the entire day. As of now, we have six holes in our ceilings and walls. The frozen pipe that started the issue is thawed, but we still need the shower drain replaced and the various holes repaired. Daddy made it into the "Husband Hall of Fame" by telling me that he was proud of me for handling it and doing what needed to be done.



One thing I hope my girls learn is to view any new experience as an adventure. Yesterday while helping the plumber, I got to use a drain snake and I got to break holes in the wall. I've never done that before, so it was an adventure. I may not have preferred to have the leak in the first place, but I learned a lot yesterday so in a sense, it was fun!


On a side note, tonight Sam fell asleep on my shoulder while I read to her. What a wonderful feeling. I'm very happy to be a mother to my girls.

Listing our home for sale

As of today, our house is for sale. The house that was made into a home by each of us. The girls have never known another home. I am allowing myself and Sam time to process the likelihood that we will be moving (hopefully sooner than later) and I tell her that it's okay to be scared, sad and excited all at the same time. I'm feeling that way too! I think Sam is trying to take it all in which is what I'm trying to do too. It's been very hard on Daddy and I to get the house ready to show. I'm hopeful that we can take it easy for a few days and catch our breath. Life has been nuts, too nuts to sustain with any sort of grace. I am personally already feeling the strain so for now we're going to relax. Life is a journey, not a destination... one of my all-time favorite quotes.

Getting to this part hasn't been easy, but we are blessed in our life. The support that we receive from my mom and Daddy's parents is amazing. It not only benefits us, but our children are thriving. Yes, they are thriving. Our friends (who are an extension of our family) back us up and help us. We love them very much!

Time will tell how this turns out, so for now we will focus on enjoying the adventure!

Different isn't good or bad, it's just different

It has been over 7 years since we moved here. Those of you who know me well realize this is a personal record in giving up my nomadic lifestyle. We are planning to put our house on the market and eventually move. Last night I was looking around the house seeing what we can pack up to "stage" the house and was in awe of how much stuff we have... I like the thought of a new house, but it will be a lot of work. I'm hopeful that the end result of a little more space and a better layout will benefit us all in the end.


Samantha has reacted to the preparations with excitement, sadness and fear, all of which I am feeling too. I tried to explain about change and how it's hard to deal with sometimes. I asked her if she remembered what it was like before Sofie was born and she does. I then asked if she likes our life better now with Sofie than without. Sam said she likes it more now. We agreed that life is different and it's turning out to be pretty fun. I told her that our life was good before too, but it's different with Sofie. Not necessarily better, certainly not worse, it's just different and that is okay.

Attitude or perspective really is everything and we prefer to have positive (and adventurous) outlooks versus living in a fearful and angry place!