Whoops

We close on the house we are living in tomorrow morning. My realtor called at lunch today to say that the buyer was going to walk through this evening. Whoops! We haven't finished the list of items from the inspection because we are leasing the house until the end of July and quite franky, we have more going on than we can handle. Picking out items for the new house, making sure everything is going as planned, last minute fixes on the new rental before the first tenants move in on Thursday, emergencies on several other rentals, the little munchkins, and oh yeah, our full time jobs.

Fortunately, the new buyer understanding and we have a new agreement to complete the maintenance items by the end of July. Now the fun begins. Packing. Since we have only been in this house for a little over three years, the pain of moving is all too fresh. Hopefully, having 9 weeks will ease the pain, but I seriously doubt it! Especially since we are on the time crunch on the new house. Not much has happened in the past week and we are still a week away from drywall. That leaves 8 weeks for the interior, which takes FOREVER as I remember when my folks built our house when I was in middle school. Everytime I talk to the builder, I remind him we must be in the house by the end of July. And every time he reassures me that is more than doable. I'm not so convinced.

Mark the day

Today is a momentous day. The boy made his own peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And he was so enamoured with his new ability that he made one for little sister. Mommy no longer has to cook dinner!

Friends

We have lived in our current house for over 3 years and the kids do not have friends they play with in the neighborhood. The boy started playing with the boy across the street earlier this week. One week before we sell our house.

In other news, I have passed my neurosis to my children. The boy tells new friend- after you pet the dog, you have to wash your hands.

Not so bright in the morning

Two of my coworkers are nuts and decided that meeting at the gym at 5:30 am every morning was a good idea. Since I have been less than consistent in my exercise routine, I decided that the morning was probably the only time I could get consistent. Too many excuses at lunch, too many activities in the evening, too exhausted at night.

Tuesday morning I set my alarm half an hour earlier and ran for half an hour on the treadmill. Wednesday, hubby was home and the treadmill is right next to the bed, so I ran around the neighborhood. And this morning, I thought why not meet the guys at the gym for the 1 hour 15 minute killer cardio/weight class that I love.

Last evening, I packed up work clothes, toiletries, and breakfast for this morning. I slept in my gym clothes, set the alarm for 4:50, rolled out of bed, brushed my hair, put on socks and shoes and headed for Katy.

Half way there I realized I had forgotten my breakfast. It wasn't until I was in the shower, already shampooed when I reached for the conditioner and realized it was body lotion. So, I was hungry, tired, in a lack of caffeine induced haze and my hair was nothing but straw. One of the guys invited me over to his house for breakfast and I bypassed the straw issue with a french braid. Now all I need is a nap!

Last day

Today is the boy's last day of 1st grade. I can't believe how fast the years are flying by.

Status

Vacation is almost over. I would like to say that I crossed all the items off my list and still managed to sneak in some fun. Unfortunately, the week did not turn out that way. We did spend countless hours at the house, watching, thinking, and planning. We picked out the cultured stone and tried out several colors for the house. I bought most of the tile for the house. I did get taxes finished and caught up on accounting for one of our companies. Managed to get some repairs for one of our existing rental started.

However, we did not punch out one item of the repairs required before we sell our home. Still have several lingering items to finish on the new rental. Did not get a chance to look at appliances and I wanted to tour some local model homes for tile/appliance/decorating ideas.

My niece was hospitalized this week with cellulitis from a spider bite. We took the kids to see her and in less than half an hour she went from down in the dumps to laughing. The girl got sick and we've spent the last two days dragging her around on our errands. We took the boy lunch and cupcakes for his birthday yesterday (a month early since it falls in the summer).

We did not once make it to the gym and worst of all- no golf! The weather is perfect right now too. And if anyone is still with me......new pics on the house......

Elbows

Things are moving now! Four different subs working at the same time- now that's what I like to see! Our activities for today include choosing the cultured stone and the color of the metal roof over the front porch. The house *should* be dried in today. So RAIN SMAIN.

Look at all the elbows! Plumbing rough-in is underway. Electrical boxes are in place, but the wires have not been run yet.

We have windows! They are all installed as of late yesterday and the roof should be complete today.

Happy belated Mother's Day

I'm only a couple of days behind. The weekend was nice- started with the boy's baseball team party Friday evening. Our new house is in a different league and one that I have heard is more serious. The last few games the boy has really come around including almost making a triple play Monday night!! He did make several double plays this week which proves his capabilities when he focuses.

Saturday morning was spent doing the weekend laundry fun and the boy had his last baseball game for the season. I then spent 4 hours with my tax advisor that evening while my parents kept the kids. I really, really, really, really, really hate taxes. And it is a huge weight off my shoulders that they are finally complete, albeit a month late.

Sunday, I dropped the boy off with my grandparents for church and the girl and I hit the gym. We all met up at my aunt's house for a Mother's Day celebration. I stopped by my mother-in-laws on the way home to visit and give her a gift. Hubby finally arrived home Sunday evening after all the festivities had finished.

Updates

It has been a bit since I've posted house pictures and since these were taken, we have windows! And we're getting a roof! I'll take more this afternoon and post soon...

Vacation!

Today is the official start of my vacation. What wonderful and exciting places are we going to see and do? Unfortunately, this is a working vacation. We have so many tasks to catch up on, that I created a daily agenda. How sad is that to spend my vacation refinish bath tubs and doing accounting and meeting subs at various rentals. I am excited about deciding on finish materials for the new house. I CAN NOT WAIT to move in!!!

Insulation

Well, the quote came back. And it was nearly 4 times the cost. It would take many, many years to pay out and we just don't see how we can float it. Oh, well. It is the way of the future, but we're not there yet. At least in terms of demand.

In other news, we made it through the inspection on our house and the sale is full steam ahead for the end of the month.

The kids birthdays will be here before I know it and I have started preparations for the girl's party. She is having a combo party with her best friend which is the ONLY reason I have agreed to throw a $425 kid party through Tea Parties to Go.

The boy's birthday is first, but I am still waiting on him to decide where he wants to have it. I had better get on the ball quickly though because his birthday is in less than 6 weeks. How does time fly so quickly?

Roof

It is finally starting to look like a home. Roofing materials are due to arrive tomorrow and hopefully the house will be dried in this week. It has rained over 5 inches in the few weeks. Not good for the lumber, but it is hard to control mother nature.

The decision we need to make now is about insulation. We are considering using spray foam insulation in order to reduce our utility consumption. Friday, we watched installation at a house in the Memorial area. The house is completely air tight and ventilation is not required. A fresh air system is required because the house is so tight. It is nearly three times the capital cost compared to fiberglass insulation, but the reduction in AC load makes it more attractive. Another way we plan to reduce our carbon footprint is to go with tankless hot water heaters. I am also going to discuss ways to recover grey water for the yard with the builder this week.

Just another Monday

I have learned to loathe Mondays. The weekend and party time is over and it is back to the daily grind of life. Working for a living. Living life for The Man. Paying dues to Uncle Sam. It started off like any other Monday. Tired and groggy, I drag myself out of bed hoping for a snow day, rain out, ice, anything to keep from going to work. I finally make it into the office and rinse out my coffee mug, head to the coffee crack machine and join the other working stiffs for a cup of joe to make the day a little easier.

I start on my work and before I know it, lunch has arrived. The phone rings and it is my realtor. She has good news! The buyer has accepted our counter offer and not only do we have the house SOLD! but we have a lease for 2 months so we only have to move once. I celebrate! I dance! I call hubby and he celebrates with me. The his other line rings and when he gets back to me, he has more good news. Our new rental is leased! Finally!

Don't expect too much more from me this week; I'm off on another boondoggle at a resort in The Woodlands.

Two story

Front view

Rear view

ESPN

I woke up yesterday knowing it was going to be a good day. I even dressed up (in a skirt!!!!) for the occasion. I knew I would finish with the project I'd been fighting at work that morning. I knew I was going to win something and I just knew that we would get an offer on our house.

Well, I did finish the project. And I did win something in a raffle and we did get our first offer at 6:30 this morning. I told hubby all of this and he looks at me and says- Damn girl! You have ESPN!

On a side note, I won a lantern (a lantern?, seriously?), the offer on the house was way less than we are asking, and we also received a letter from the IRS saying we underpaid our taxes last year.

Blonde moment alert!

It's been awhile since I've posted one of these....

Last night, hubby looks at the scented plug in that I placed near the sink to take any musty smells away from the house since the house has to be FRICKEN SPOTLESS 24 HOURS A DAY EVEN THOUGH TWO ADULT SLOBS, TWO MESSY CHILDREN, AND TWO ANIMALS LIVE HERE because the house is on the market and we're trying to sell it. I'm doing fine with it, thanks for asking.

Anyways, back to the story of my brilliance. It's been plugged in for several days and I noticed that it didn't give out much scent. I think maybe the cartridge is in backwards and inspect. Nope, fine. Last evening, he takes one look at it, turns to me and says- You are such a blonde! And then takes the cartridge out, peels off the protective layer and puts it back in.

D'oh!

One story

Sara

Happy Birthday!!!!

Hope you have a great one...

Bird

The boy (TB): Mom? When I buy a pet, can I name it anything I want?
Fuddy Duddy Mom (FDM): Mom and Dad have to agree before you buy a pet.
TB: I want to buy a bird and bird cage. Can I?
FDM: No. Not now.
TB: Uh! What about when I am a teenager?
FDM: Maybe. We don't need to decide that now.
TB: Will they still have bird cages at PetSmart in 9 years? And birds?
FDM: Yes they will.
TB: I'm going to name my bird Gangster.
FDM: Why?
TB: Because it's cool.
FDM: Gangsters aren't cool- they are groups of kids that do bad things and end up in jail or killed. Still want to call your bird Gangster?
TB: No. I'll call it Yo.

They are so cute. Before they can walk and talk.

I received a call from the vice principal at the boy's school yesterday afternoon. Apparently he said 'f#$k' in class and the teacher told him it was not appropriate language. Then he kept taunting her by repeating 'fuh' over and over again. She finally wrote him up and the VP made him call me and tell me what he said. She put him on the phone and I said boy- what did you do? He replied- I said a bad word. I heard the VP in the background saying tell her what you said. Um, I said, well it ends with a 'k' and begins with an 'f' and there is a 'uc' in the middle.
The VP gets back on the phone and tells me the story. And that he will not be allowed to participate in field day. I reassure her that he will be punished at home.

He had a baseball game last night, so as I am telling this story to two other moms, they both told me of the first time their boy said the word. One mom said she has a special bar of soap just for such occasions. I already told him he would get his mouth washed out with soap and I had planned on using liquid soap since that what my mom used growing up :) But I thought the bar of soap was too good an idea to pass up, so I opened up a very special bar of Dial just for him last night. Good times, good times.