It's a Little Embarrassing

Yes.  I admit it.  It has been a very long time since I've done a long-form "post".  Facebook, which I openly derided and resisted, has proven to be helpful at keeping up with friends and family.  Yet, as I sit here in our apartment (story to follow) and type, I can't help but feel the need to write, not post.  I doubt that my kids and their kids and so on, will be combing back through my posts to see where I "checked in" or be interested in the photo I took of that thing I ate.  But maybe, just maybe, they'd be interested in some of my stories- our stories.  Hence, I write, rather type, to keep it old school.

Speaking of school, it was just out of college when we last lived in an apartment.  Flash forward 12 years and we are back for an apartment stint.  Not that we got nostalgic for cramped parking lots, notes on cars from people we don't know telling us we parked in "their" spot, or throwing trash out on the curb 'cause "that's what you do on trash day."  No, we are in an apartment for altogether legitimate and logical reasons.  We sold our home.

We decided to put our house on the market in March and two and half weeks later that puppy was gone.  We were excited to move on, just didn't think it would be so quickly.  Telling ourselves we wouldn't rush into our next house (we bought our first home on a weekend and a whim, but never regretted it) we started looking as soon as the house was up for sale.  Once we realized we were going to be homeless in 30 days, we ramped up the search and felt we had found our dream house- a yet-to-be-built home on a cul-de-sac, aka a happy circle.

Building a home meant we had to find an in-between home and so we found #1616- a 3 bedroom special.  The State Trooper who lives across the hall has added a sense of security and a calm in the 'plex that I didn't think we'd get.  However, we can't hold conversations if the washing machine, dryer and dish washer are all running at the same time- it seriously is breaking a sound ordinance of some kind.

As we moved in with the generous help of friends from church, we looked forward to selecting all the design elements for our new home.  However, shortly after going through that process, we grew frustrated.  Not knowing what we shoud do, we continued to discuss options.  And then, I happened to pick up Kalee from soccer in a neighborhood we've always loved.  A neighborhood we've always wanted to live in, but never saw a home that seemed right for us.

Well, on this particular day, I rolled up and parked across the street from the field in front of one of the homes in this neighborhood.  As I got out, I happened to notice a for sale sign.  Of course, we had stopped looking about 30 days prior and this house, come to find out, went on the market 24 days previously.  I thought, "Well, I'll just look to see what the deal is with this house just for kicks and giggles."  After looking at the photos online, I quickly shot a text to Aprille to tell her to look and humor me. 

Well, that was a Thursday.  Two days later, we saw the home.  We went back the next day.  And the day after that our offer was accepted.  Craziness, right?  Well, we thought so too, but it just feels right.  Or righter that the last house.  Did I mention we also had an option on another home before that as well?  Yes- we got a little crazy.   But the third time is definitely the charm.  So, we move in just a few weeks- a few weeks after moving into apartment-ville. 

The best part in all this is we get a home we love in a neighborhood we love with friends we love.  To a new chapter! 

And We're Back

Actually, we never really left, we've just been....what's the word.....busy.  Yes, silence is back (see previous post) during a few short moments after the kids have left for school, but busy is back.  With a vengeance.  If busy were a student in high school it would NOT have gotten my vote for most popular.  Kids are busy with school, school projects, soccer practices, as in plural, as in they don't have just one a week- plus games!  Love Texas, but this State needs to mellow a little on the sports.  What's wrong with the 80's?  That's when I had soccer practice- once a week!  I turned out fine!  But then again, I'm not a starting player for FC Manchester either...hmm.  I'll come back to that one.

So the first week school started, I decided to take off the Thursday and Friday before Labor Day.  Best. Two. Days. Ever.  I got to hang out with the spouse and do what we wanted to do.  Well, I listened and did what I was told- but only because I was attempting to build a little equity before the travel season began!  So, showers got fixed, a hallway and bedroom got painted, stuff got organized and cleaned- essentially our spring cleaning, just 6 months late.  But the best part was going to Costco.  Alone.  It was pretty much like going to Disneyland.  We went down every aisle and discovered Costco sold alot more than cheese, butter and meat.  It was glorious and exhausting.  Two hours later we headed home with our haul and reveled in the sweet bliss of going to Costco with our undivided attention.  Can I say Costco one more time?  Costco.  It just brings a little rush just hearing it.

Later in September, we headed down to celebrate the birthday of Charlotte and Cooper, twin niece and nephew on Aprille's side.  The surprise was Ape's mom flying in to surprise everyone for the event.  It was great playing with the cousins, riding bikes, catching frogs, eating cake and Ape, Seth, Betsy and I even worked in a run (although Seth takes the cake with a 13 mile run- nice!).  We had fun going out just the adults to our new favorite pizza joint- Ghrimaldi's and hitting the gourmet grocery store where we tasted all the great samples and bought figs!

So, life continue to keep trucking and we are doing our best to keep up with its pace.  We'll get some pix up soon- so check back!

Can You Hear It?

It has been gone all summer long.  But it has finally returned.  It comes shortly after 7:30 am each morning and even now, at 8 pm, I can hear it.  I didn't realize how much I missed it.  But now that it is back, I realize how much I needed it- still need it.  Ah.  The sweet sound of silence.  It has made its triumphant return in the form of kids heading back to school in the morning and heading off to bed at night, not getting up to ask for water, or food, or a book, or to go to the bathroom, or to tell us something, or to give us a hug (am I missing anything???) because they are soooo TIRED from school.  Yes, silence is back.  Rock on.

LOTS OF UPDATES. CHECK BELOW!

Lizard

Don't ask why we decided on this cruel and unusual nickname for our daughter (ok- blame Aprille- she started it!)  It is hard to imagine that a year has past, but it has.  Kaiya is officially one.  Her hair thinks she's a newborn, but we're confident that in the coming months, there will be enough hair to some how wrap a bow around it thus eliminating the much loved comment...."Oh, how old is your son?"  It's our favorite!

Anyway, she has made it.  What do you need to know about Kaiya?  She goes with the flow, loves to be held, loves to explore, loves to be fed, as in, she can feed herself, but prefers others doing it like we are part of her entourage, she has more fun with random scraps of paper she finds on the floor than she does with actual toys, loves to take naps and then wake up, look at you, rub her face in her blanket, look up and repeat the process all over again.  She is into baths, not into diaper changes, thinks her brother and sister are amusing distractions, likes to say momma when she wants her bottle, not always a fan of the car seat, but that's cause she loves to be held.  She is neither an angry child or shy- just right in the middle which is where we love her.  She is so calm, reassuring and steady.  She's perfect.  Happy 1st Birthday Lizard!!!

Exsqueeze me, baking powder?

The kids have been on a roll lately with the things that come out of their mouths.  For obvious reasons, Kaiya is excluded from this post. :)

K: Dad, can Kaiya where the yellow swim suit?
D: Sure, why?
K: Because she's just the light of my life.

A: Koebe, do you want a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich?
K: Yes........um.....what jelly are you going to use?
A: Why?  What does it matter?
K: Are you going to use the jam you made?
A: Maybe.  Why?
K: Mom.  Sometimes you think everything is wonderful.  But, your jam....it's kind of disgusting.
A: :/
K:  Mom.  The only thing that's really wonderful is Jesus.
A: :)

A: Kalee, what is this picture that you drew for me?
KK: That's me, that's you and in between is my heart breaking when I go to college.
A: What?? You know, you can come home and visit us, you know?
KK: (Minutes later) Ok, here's another picture.
A: What is this of?
KK: That's me, that's you and that my happy heart when I come home for vacation from college.

K: Dad, can I watch this movie?
T: Koebe, no, you can't watch that movie.
K: Why?  Is it becuase it's for adults only?
T: Yes, because it is for adults.
K: Well, I'm an adult in my spirit!

(While Koebe was in primary, as related by a third party!)
Primary was talking about prophets and got on the subject of Enoch.  Enoch was a righteous prophet and those that followed him were eventually taken up to heaven.  As Koebe sat and thought about how this whole city and all these people went up to heaven, a logistical question formed in his mind....his response?
K: Did they take the elevator????

"Houston, We Had a Party"

We packed some extra courage for a weekend trip to brave the humidity as we headed down toward the Gulf to visit Aprille's brother's family near Houston.  It was a blast.  Betsy was the hostess with the mostest and provided plenty of DC, mac salad and baked beans to feed a small army.  I'm still craving those dang brats!!  The kids, of course, had a great time with their cousins- 8 between to two families.  I'm sure they realized the full return on their investment of carpeting the upstairs.....:)

Brie joined too and provided lots of hilarity to keep us entertained on the way down and back.  I think she holds the record for the most Diet Coke consumed in a 1 hour period BEFORE heading out on a 4 hour road trip.  It was just great to hang out with family, not worry about what to do, but to just let the kids wear themselves out.  Oh, and watch the three cabbage patch kids- aka- Kaiya, Charlotte and Cooper.  Pics are below!

I'm holding my breath till we get to my cousins' house.

Thanks Auntie Brie for the Oreos.

The humidity finally did us in.

Cousins galore

Don't put me between these two- are you crazy???!!!

The Hot Chicas

Hot date at Lupes- kids free!  I want those tortillas!!!

just the girls