Birds

Alex just excitedly told me he just saw two mourning doves outside his window. And he keeps telling us that there are bald eagles nesting near the Connecticut river so he is on the lookout for them. He knows a lot about birds and is very interested in them (particularly 'birds of prey') while neither Allan nor I know much about them. He must get it from my dad and I think that is so cool. He inherited my dad's binoculars and when he's a little more responsible I can't wait for him to have them. They can be seen in the Red Sox game photo a few months back. I'd find it but I need to get myself and three boys ready for church and then spend at least five minutes stamping my foot so Allan gets ready.

Science Center

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Originally uploaded by jsslotter

We figured out what families with weekends off do: fight off other families with weekends off at places like this. Mom has sharp elbows so the boys got their turn :)

Mountain

No amount of optimism will turn this mountain into a molehill.

Fun Fun Fun

And if I walk in such a way that David can drag in between my feet I can push the stroller with one hand and make a phone call with the other. Provided that Thomas keeps a good grip on those dryer sheets that is.

Move Out

The movers came, packed and loaded. Allan disassembled and cleaned. I arrived. We ate at the Lilac Blossom. We both packed and loaded liquids and gases. Alex and David swept the garage floor. I had a great idea for a small business: move out service. I'd come in after movers and remove all the gas cans, liquids, etc. and broom clean the place. Imagine the huge collection of lighters and bug spray I'd amass. Our realtor said he has a basement full of the stuff.

I kissed our house goodbye. I felt a twinge when I said goodbye to the beautiful custom kitchen knowing that I won't have something similar for many years if ever but that's okay. I'll happily trade it for laminate counters and builder grade cabinetry if it means I get more time with my family and a golden dooger ever on guard for something food-like to hit the floor.

Anyway, it's time to move on and we are all okay with it!

Big Girl

I was twenty when I got married. I didn't like to make business type phone calls. I let Allan handle all that. Slowly over the years I've gained confidence and a particular interest in our finances. It's difficult to call and get information when you are not the primary account holder and while I'm pretty good at impersonating Allan online sometimes you need to talk to a human being.

Yesterday I called and set up a home inspection and a septic inspection. Today I hired a real estate attorney. I feel like such an adult. When we close on this home I'll have a pretty good understanding of what's going on.

House

We are verbally under agreement! Waiting for the fax. Closing December 30th.

Eyes

David. Six o'clock in the morning after being awake and crying at one and three. After being told to go to sleep:

"But my eyes just can't close."

Me. Ten o'clock in the morning after being awake at one, three and six.

"But my eyes just can't stay open."


........


On the house. They countered. We're thinking.

Movers are coming tomorrow to start and our close in Groton is scheduled for Monday.

Giddy Up!

Offer

We found another house that we like better than the one last week. It's a divorce situation which means that they need to sell quickly. It's been on the market for a month and they've dropped the price significantly in two stages.

We're submitting our offer this morning.

We may be fighting a couple from New Jersey who've seen the place three times. Or as I chose to believe, there is no such couple. I think the selling realtor made them up!

Yesterday

Here's a smattering of what we saw yesterday. #1 smelled so much like a litter box that it made us all shudder and then there was the squishy floor in the master bedroom that made me suspicious.

#2 was nice but the kitchen was too small and there was no way around it. The stove in the island had a vent in between the burners which made me curious.

#4 was nice and big but in a terrible neighborhood. The glass door you see was taped up with packing tape?

And the last was small allover, and dated with ugly wallpaper.


Three cancelled because of the flu. Flu schmoo. We need a place to live! We are looking at four more today.

One Month

On Thursday I celebrated a full month without a job. Not a full month without work, mind you but a full month without a paying job. Full time mother, overtime required.

The benefits are absolutely fabulous. My bosses can get a bit demanding from time to time.

And I can't escape this feeling that Allan expects me to do everything around the house because it is now my job. I just made a big breakfast. Homemade cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon, toast and orange juice. And all the dishes are sitting there waiting for me to finish this post because he's tired, he worked all week and he hasn't had a proper weekend in four years. Yet, strangely he hasn't said a word to that effect, it's all in my head.

I will get to those dishes in a minute.

We are looking at seven houses today and hopefully at least one will distract us from the cream puff I saw earlier this week. I need options.

Mommy's Little Helper

David is all business in the laundry room. I put a Shout color catcher sheet in with a load a few weeks ago because it had a new orange shirt in it and I didn't want it to bleed so now when I put a dryer sheet in the dryer he announces, "So it doesn't get all orange!" Now if I could just get him to carry a load or two back to the repartment.

Blogorrhea

I just realized I have too many Thomas pictures. Here's Alex enjoying our apartment's pool.

A Bink In the Mouth is Worth Two in the Hand

He has a bink tethered to his shirt at all times and yet he still felt the need to steal and taste another boy's bink at our new playgroup on Monday.

Menu Plan Monday

Yeah, it's Thursday. Between Allan's birthday dinner out, grabbing quick sandwiches before seeing a house, and Chinese takeout we are off a couple of days. This afternoon my friends from Peapod are delivering the fixin's for:

*Honey Glazed Chicken Legs, Green Beans, Pasta Side
*Steak, Crash Hot Potatoes, Corn
*Baked Mac & Cheese, Green Beans, Crescent Rolls
*Spicy Orange Shrimp, Rice, Sugar Snap Peas
*Beef Brisket, Butternut Squash, Rolls
*Cheese Ravioli with Marinara, Garlic Bread
*Assemble Your Own Pizza
*Pork Roast, Carrots & Potatoes
*Inspire Me Chicken
*Inspire Me Pork Chops

Hey, Mom!

"Can you get my Galactic Enforcer down?"

Yeah, I knew in general what he was talking about. But if he'd said

"Can you get my Barbie Dream House down?"

I would have dropped everything and played along. But only if I got to be Barbie.