Side Lined for a Few Days

I've been going full speed ahead for a week now.  I'm exhausted, but I've stocked up on Cokes.  I had two twenty ounce cokes the other day and I still slept wonderfully.  Unfortunately, I pulled a muscle in my shoulder this morning moving something into storage.  Oh did it ever hurt.  Well, it still does, but I've been taking advil and have a heating pad on it.  I shopped today instead of putting the final coat of paint on the basement bathroom.  It's going to be beautiful when I'm done.  I wish I had painted it a long time ago so we could have enjoyed it.

For dinner, I did some thing that totally took my mind off of my shoulder.  I pulled the grill pan out of the oven to put cheese on our dinner and then I grabbed the handle to put the pan back into the oven.  I forgot the pot holder.  I had the pan in the air before my brain registered the burning hot handle.  I'm left handed and off course I now have a nasty blister on my left palm.  It might be a few days before I get back to painting or moving boxes to storage.  It's okay though, because if you check out my to do list, I've gotten a lot of things checked off of it.  I'm going to work on cleaning (with my right hand) tomorrow!  Oh and I think we have decided on a realtor.  That was a huge decision.  I feel much better about everything! 

Happy Birthday, Allie

Today is Allie's 8th birthday!  Can you believe it?  I can't.  It seems like just yesterday she was a crazy toddler who went full speed ahead without ever looking back.  Funny that her personality hasn't changed a single bit. : )  She chose a day at Busch Gardens for her birthday this year instead of a party.  I love that the kids will pick family trips over big parties with friends.  Anyway, tonight, Allie chose home-made pizza for dinner followed by chocolate cake with vanilla frosting.  She was having a fit to open her presents so we did that before dinner and cake.

 I totally scored on this little wooden doll house.  It was normally $50 at Walmart (which I never would have paid), but I found it clearanced for $15.  Allie LOVED it.

Jaelyn and Allie have amassed quite the critter collection.

There's still one more present hiding somewhere in our house and for the life of me, I can't find.  I accidentally pulled it out and stuck it somewhere so Allie wouldn't see it.  I guess I'll find it when I unpack in Missouri!

Caden's Field Trip

Caden had a field trip to Broom's Bloom Dairy today.  I was one of the lucky mom's to get picked out of the lottery system to chaperone.  I love this field trip.  I've been on it a couple of time.  They take you through the dairy farm and through the back of their restaurant to show you where they make the ice cream.  Then, after lunch, you get a scoop.  Today, I learned why their ice cream is so good.  She said Edy's and Briar's good ice cream is 13% fat.  Broom's Bloom is 17% fat from fresh milk!  Yum.

LOVE the wind vane

Caden was not shy about petting the cows

Oink

Our To Do List

I've met with two realtors and the news is not good.  While they think the house will show wonderfully and will sell quickly (which is a true praise), we are going to have to pay a ton of money to sell it.  At this point, we really can't afford to rent it and lose money month after month when the housing forecast is not expected to improve for a sale at a later date.  We are blessed that we had the foresight and ability to prepare and we do have the money to be able to walk away.

We have a ton of things to do in the next two weeks.  It's a little overwhelming really.  I'm a list person so I thought I'd make a list on my bloggie and check it off as I go.  Anyone who wants to come help, just give me a call!

I'm going to organize by room:

Caden's room -

• finish clearing out his closet
• patch nail holes
• touch up walls and trim
• pack extra toys

The girls' room -

• touch up paint and trim
• clear one more box out of closet
• clear off and organize top of bookcases
• replace blinds

Hall Bathroom -

• prime and paint kitty paw prints
• paint trim
• CLEAN

Hallways -

• touch up paint and trim

Master bedroom and bath -

• hang a picture
• stage night stands and dresser tops
• touch up paint and trim
• move rocking chair to living room
• organize closet
• scrape out and recaulk shower
• clear off countertop
• clean grout
• fix blinds

Living room -

• touch up walls and moldings
• clear foyer nook
• move recliner and sewing machine to basement
• clear out kitty/kiddie corner
• move ottoman to storage

Kitchen/dining room -

• touch up paint and trim
• clear off countertops
• take apart bench and move to storage
• organize pantry

Foyer bathroom -

• touch up paint and trim
• get rid of pee smell - little boys standing and non-glued together hardwood floors don't match

Craft/Computer Room -

• move kids craft table to basement
• organize/sort/clean out book case
• touch up paint and trim

Deck -

• cut off or hammer in that one pesky nail on the railing :p
• clean and stain!!!  We need 3 days of sunshine for this project

Yard -

• find lantana or pretty flower for walkway flower bed
• buy fern
• put down lava rocks
• clean patio
• paint storage shed inserts
• put down now mulch if we have time in front and back
• take apart and get rid of swing

Basement guest room -

• clear out all the extra stuff to storage
• hang picture

Basement family room -

• buy and put together TV stand
• stage
• box and and move toys to storage
• touch up paint and molding (especially bathroom door)

Basement bathroom -

• finish painting walls and trim
• stage

Basement storage closets -

• organize

Misc Stuff

• replace A/C filter
• wash all windows
• clean sliding door tracks
• clean, clean, clean!!!!
• hang valance in basement
• clean all mini-blinds

Are you tired yet???  I am and we have a long way to go in TWO WEEKS!!!!  Would you pray as we decide on a realtor?  It's a hard choice.  Would you also pray we get it all done and get a buyer with a quick closing date and for good weather because we need 3 days of sunshine to get the deck refinished.  The faster we sell it, the more money we can recoup in BAH.  The plan is for the kids and I to stay with my parents in Florida for the first few months of summer while Dan stays here and camps out in the tent somewhere or maybe his office or on a friend's basement couch???  He will leave here the beginning of July for a 3 week school in New Mexico and we'd like to be able to move straight to FLW once he finishes.

Four Years

April 5th is a special day for someone very special to me.  Four years ago today, my Mom had her very last radiation treatment and officially graduated to "Cancer Free" status.  Her breast cancer diagnosis was scary for all of us and we are so thankful that we still have her here with us today.  She is a a wonderful daughter, wife, mother and grandmother.  She's who I want to be when I grow up. 

Mom, I'm thanking God for you and your presense in my life, not just today, but especially today!

Running Crazy

In the last two days, I have more than made up for not doing anything last week.  Yesterday, it felt like I ran errands all day, but I got a lot accomplished.  I went to Lowe's twice, Home Depot once, Giant once, Walgreens twice, the post office twice, Rite Aid once, Kohl's twice...get the picture?  It wasn't that I forgot things or was spinning my wheels either.  I went to Lowe's to look for two things.  They didn't have exactly what I needed so I went to Home Depot.  I bought one thing at Home Depot and decided the second thing was better at Lowe's so I had to go back to Lowe's.  All my repeat shopping was things like that.

After dinner, I realized I hadn't bought the girls new bathing suits yet.  Dan stayed with Caden, while I took Jaelyn and Allie shopping.  All the women out there know how hard it is to find a bathing suit that's flattering and fits right.  Well, try bathing suit shopping with a seven and eight year old.  They tried on 20 (I counted) bathing suits and in the end, I bought Allie two and Jaelyn one.  I am really disappointed in girls' clothing.  Do little girls really need plunging V neck-lines or bottoms that are cut up high or bikinis with their bellies showing.  I don't think so!

I am extremely proud of one thing I did yesterday.  The dimmer switch to a light switch in the basement has been broken for a year.  I've asked for help changing it, but no one seemed interested in doing it so I bought the light switch and changed it myself...without getting electrocuted!  Go Kelly!

Today, I grocery shopped in the morning and I've spent the afternoon cleaning and sorting.  I've gotten most of the pictures off the wall and furniture.  It opens our house up so much to clear the nick knacks!  I hate clutter even if it is the smiling faces of our family and friends.  I finished patching and touching up the wall hiding the offending leaky pipe.  I have a realtor coming tomorrow to talk to me.  Please start praying for quick and well financed buyers!!

Dan the Plumber Man

I could only get one plumber to call me back and he was over booked.  Seriously?  I thought people were starving for work.  Apparently not in Abingdon. 

Dan told a guy he works with about our busted pipe.  Mike convinced him he could fix it himself.  I was a little leery of him attempting it with his zero plumbing experience; so I told him he could fix it if Mike would come help.  Yesterday, Mike and Dan came at lunch time and had the broken pipe replaced in under an hour.  That's including a shopping trip to Lowes.  Dan spent $10 on the parts and saved us at least $150.

We still have to tackle the deck (quoted at $385 - ain't gonna happen), paint the bathroom, touch up all the walls, replace a light switch, clean the carpets, and move a ton of more stuff to storage.  After that, I think we'll be ready for the for sale sign!

He Knows Me Well

Diamond and sapphire earrings (okay, I actually picked out and bought them)

BUT unknown to me, Dan bought me a new drill because the batteries for my old one won't hold a charge.  Isn't he awesome!

Caden was funny when I was unwrapping the presents.  He said "open the card first."  Of course, Dan didn't buy a card, he did write Happy Birthday on a piece of paper and tape it to the present.  Long past are the days when we would separately spend thirty minutes picking out the perfect cards for each other.

It's My Birthday

Today, I am 38.  Boy, does that ever sound old.  Thank goodness I'm not as old as my brother.  He's turns 40 in August.  Now, that's really old.

It hasn't exactly been the greatest of days.  I started antibiotics on Monday for a sinus infection.  I've tried antihistamines, decongestants, guafinesin and every combination of the three and nothing is helping.  I had actually gotten worse on the antibiotics until today.  The last two nights have been spent in the recliner watching TV because my nose has been so stopped up that I have this irrational fear of going to sleep and suffocating.  I woke up this morning and can finally blow my nose!  Praise the Lord!  Jaelyn and Caden brought me waffles on a tray in bed.  Allie drew me a picture.  Dan had better get to wrapping because I want my present (that I bought myself and put on his pillow with a note that read "wrap for Kelly and give to her for her birthday)!!!

Wordless Wednesday

I make a good pillow!

Monday's Musings - My Life as a Hex Bug

Recently, a friend asked if any of us felt like a hamster on it's little wheel running and running, but never getting anywhere.  I don't feel like a hamster, but I do feel like Caden's Hex Bug.  It's a teeny tiny little toy that flits around on the floor.  It goes in big circles until it runs into something and gets knocked back.  Most of the time, it goes off in a new directions.  Some times, it keeps beating it's head against the wall.  Every now and then life  (aka Zac the cat) comes by and gives it a big whack.  It'll send the bug flying across the floor.  When it lands on it's back, it kicks its little legs until it flips itself over and then goes right back to it's big circles.  Occasionally life puts it's big paws on the bug and holds it down while maybe taking a little nibble.  It never fails that eventually, someone will come along and rescue the bug.  We turn it off and let it rest.  I'm so thankful for a Heavenly Father who'll do that for me.  When I'm tired of going in circles and getting knocked around by life, God is there to carry my burdens and shelter me from the storm.  Right now, I'm having to remember daily to hand everything over to God.  As much as I want to be in control and work it out for myself, I don't have to.  He's got my back and little hex bug, I've got your back.  I'll protect you from a playful cat and silly kids!

And encase you are wondering, yes, I have spent considerable time watching and contemplating the bug!

If It's Not One Thing...

It's another!!!

Yesterday was a very good and than a bad day.  It started with Dan bringing me chocolate ice cream in bed.  Seriously...can a day start any better?  He was trying to make my sore throat feel better.  Ahhh! 

Dan and Jaelyn headed out to procure us a storage unit while I pulled out things from the basement to move.  In addition to the storage unit, Dan also procured fertilizer so we can make our grass green and inviting to potential buyers.  It was weed and feed so we turned the water on to the outside spigots (this is an important detail, so remember it).  After fertilizing, we made two trips to the storage unit and one trip to the dump.  The kids were such good helpers throughout the day that we took them to Broom's Bloom Dairy on our way home for ice cream.

As soon as we got home, I discovered water leaking in our laundry room.  The water was leaking from a floor joist about 2 feet from the wall. We couldn't see where the water was coming from.  Directly above the leak was just wood floor.  Dan did some further investigating and discovered the pipe to our outside spigot was leaking.  It was going down the wall to the basement and must have been running between the plywood sub-floor and foyer hard wood floor until it found a spot to leak down in the laundry room below.  And I'm so thankful for the laundry room leak because we might not have discovered the other leak for days. What a mess.  The water was on for at least 4 hours.  It looks like the pipe has been a problem before because there's a patch on the wall behind the pipe.  I was able to remove the patch so it'll be easy for a plumber to come fix it.  You should have seen the water shooting out when Dan turned the water back on. I've had fans blowing on high ever since trying to dry everything up. 

So...Monday morning, bright and early, a call to a plumber is number one on my to do list!  And after that, I have another car load of stuff to go to the storage unit and then Goodwill.  It's time to get busy and make our house look move in ready!

All About Allie

Allie has to do a word search with her spelling words every week.  At the beginning of the school year, she was horrible.  She couldn't find any of the words on her own.  She's gotten better and better and has become almost addicted to them.  I bought her a Disney princess find a word from the Dollar Store and it's become her best friend.  She has a pencil she keeps inside of it and she carries it everywhere she goes.  I find her sitting in the oddest places doing her find a words.

 I was lucky to get to tag along to the Baltimore Museum of Science with Allie's second grade class.  She classes were divided into small groups and were allowed to self pace through the museum, seeing whatever they wanted to see.  Our groups main goal was to visit the gift shop :).

Remember When Dan Said McDonald's Delivers?

How funny is that???  Think they have a 20 McNugget minimum?

If Only They Were Always Like This

Normally I must be present when games are played.  The kids are perfectly capable of playing without me, but they won't.  I guess they know they'll eventually need a referee.  Jaelyn and Caden surprised me last weekend when I heard them playing very quietly.  They made their own rules as they went and spent about an hour playing Monopoly without me.

Caden brought home a writing assignment on St. Patrick's Day.  He wrote "I am lucky because I have two sistrs.  and I can play with my sistrs all day."

See, they really do love each other and more importantly, like each other.  It's the little glimpses of friendship that get me through all the arguing!

Signs of Spring and Other Things

We are beyond ready for spring.  I love living in Maryland, but the cold kills me every winter.  I'm so thankful it's finally warming up.  I'm sure it's just temporary as my Grandma Molly was always right when she said "there's always one last cold snap before Easter."  Today was the perfect spring day.  I had the windows open enjoying the 70 degree breeze.  I took Allie and Caden to the library after school and then we walked to the school to get Jaelyn from her after school program.  We were on the lookout for signs of spring and we found some.

 You have to look closely because they are piled on top of each other, but there are 11 turtles sunning themselves on the logs.

Jaelyn was thrilled to hear that I spent a couple of hours today sorting clothes.  I am forever thankful for generous friends who have gifted us with hand me down clothing.  I think Caden can wear a different shirt everyday this summer - seriously!  I have 2 big bags of winter clothes to pass on and the kids have short sleeve shirts and short sleeve pants ready to go.  BTW short sleeve pants is Cadenese for shorts encase you couldn't figure it out.  Other than new flip flops and bathing suits for the girls, I don't think I'll have to buy any summer clothing.

In addition to sorting clothes, I decided it was time to start feeling better (whether I actually do or not - I've been sick on the couch, thus the lonely blog) and get to work on our house.  I finished caulking the basement bathroom and did a little caulking in the other bathrooms.  I've gotten pretty handy with a caulk gun if I do say so myself.  I carried 5000 lbs of stone pavers from our backyard, up to the deck, through the house and to the front sidewalk for a freecycler to come pick up.  OK, maybe it wasn't 5000 lbs, but it was 15 of those huge 16" pavers and another 6 half pavers.  It's one of those projects I've been putting off for a couple of years (3 maybe).  I also sorted through 2 big tubs of pictures, called around to get prices on a storage unit AND cleaned out my memorabilia boxes.  I'm not a pack rat - let me say that again, I'm not a pack rat, BUT I do have a box where I keep sentimental things.  I sorted 2 boxes down to 1 and in the process found a coupon for a massage I bet Dan gave me in the first couple of years we were married.  I handed it in tonight because my back is killing me from those 5000 lbs. :p

Next on my to do list is to paint the bathroom and the front door.  I bought the paint today.  Dan's been busy with paperwork.  He's gotten all the forms he needs to get our name on the FLW housing list.  We will be #2 on the list so that's good!

Long Overdue - The Jaebyrd's Update

What would I do without The Jaebyrd (she still calls herself that)?  Encase you are wondering, it's a family thing.  We spell Byrd with a "y" because I had a great grandfather named Byrd with a "y."   Anyway, Jaelyn has defiinitely had her ups and downs.  I know for sure a lot of her behavior issues are coming from anxiety over moving.  We had stopped talking about it and she calmed down.  Monday, we found out for sure, we talked about it and Jaelyn has had hard evenings the rest of the week.  She's come home "rumbling" everyday from school.  Thankfully, today was a good afternoon.

We started her on a new ADHD medicine two weeks ago.  She's having stomach aches from it, but as her body gets used to it, they are supposed to go away.  It should take another week before we'll know if it's helping her focus.  We go back to see Dr. K in April. 

Have a mentioned what a peanut Jaelyn is lately???  She was 46 lbs and 47 inches tall at her last appointment.  I put that into a growth chart and she is in the 3rd percentile for weight and height.  She's been eating really good lately though because she needs to be 48 inches to ride all the big roller coasters at Busch Gardens.  I'm not sure she can grow an inch in a month, but with the right shoes and hair do, she should be able to squeak by.

Long Distance Play Dates

Isn't technology grand?  My nephews, Nick and Jared, recently spent a few days staying with my parents.  Nick spent at least an hour every day playing games via our webcam with the kids.  We were so sad when they had to go home!

Jaelyn and Nick putting together a jigsaw puzzle.

It's Official ~ This Circus is Leaving Town

Dan called this morning to tell me he'd received his RFO for Ft. Leonard Wood.  For you non-military people, that's "request for orders."  I'm actually relieved.  I've hit the acceptance stage and it is time to get on with it.  It was 99% certain we were going there, but without the orders, we couldn't plan when to put our house on the market or get our name on the housing list in Missouri.  Someone finally put the job in the system.  The next step is for Dan to submit some paperwork here and hopefully we'll have orders in hand by the end of the week.  We aren't sure of our report date yet.  It'll be sometime between July 1 and August 31.  It'll all depend on when we sell our house and when a house on base in Missouri is available.  After lots of crying and googling and phone calls, we've determined we have to live on base so the kids can go to the good schools.  There's bigger, renovated housing that we would really like to live as opposed to the 1950s unrenovated teeny tiny houses so we've got to get our name on the housing list.

This is going to be a hard move.  I'm doing my best to talk it up, but my heart isn't in it yet.  We are settled for the first time...ever really and we have roots.  Prayers all around would be appreciated!

Reading With Dr. Seuss

I'm so stinkin' impressed with Caden's reading skills.  This is the first time, to my knowledge, that he's read Green Eggs and Ham. 

Way to go Caden and yea for Miss K and Mrs. S - 2 awesome teachers.