Unbelievably Sucky Situation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay so, this whole situation with our house just sank to a new level of crappiness! I just have to tell the story. So a, we put our house up for sale as many of you know. We were so excited when we got an offer after only 2 weeks. Then we found a great house, made an offer and didn't expect to hear back for months because it was a short sale. Well, luck was on our side and our offer was accepted in just over 2 weeks. We were all smiles:) Then the poo started hitting the fan a little at a time. It all started when our buyers had a death in the family. They asked us to extend our closing date 10 days. Of course, we willing to do that because of the circumstances. That all ended up working out because we were going to close on both houses the same day and then move right into our new house... great! Well, then our buyers had another set back and asked us to extend another week on closing. We were less enthused and beginning to get a little annoyed. But it turned out that we didn't really have a choice because they wouldn't have the money to close for another week. So we had to ask for an extension on the house we are buying as well. Luckily, they were okay with that. But it was really frustrating because that pushed our moving date out 2 weeks. So if you all are wondering why we're still here... that would by why. WELL..... you'll never guess. We got some more bad news today. The guy who is buying our house had a stroke last night!!!!!!!!! I know I should be feeling really sorry for this family because they are obviously cursed. But I'm just so annoyed and frustrated that it's hard to have sympathy because they're bad luck has really screwed up our situation. We're going to lose a lot of money and the house we really wanted. There's still a shred of a chance that things will still work out. The guy will recover from his stroke in time to close the deal. I'm really not counting on that though. So our house is back on the market. Stay tuned!!!

Tulip Festival

I finally went to the Tulip Festival! I've been wanting to go since it first started but have missed it every year. It was awesome. Sonja and I took the boys. I've actually never even been to the gardens at all at Thanksgiving Point so I had no idea how huge it was. I'm sure you all have been there so you already know how cool it is. Anyway, I took some great pictures and wanted to share a few. This will definately be a new tradition for us in the spring. Tay and Chase actually really liked it. Observing flowers isn't a very manly activity so I was a little worried that they'd be bored but there was plenty of climbing and rolling down hills to do so they were very entertained. Next year, I think we'll rent a golf cart and have a picnic:)

Slowly but Hopefully Surely

The moving process has slowly begun. What a long and drawn out process it is. We were so excited when we got an offer, but it's just the beginning of the long road to closing the deal. The buyers had the home inspection yesterday and it looks like we're replacing the furnace! It's apparently on it's last leg and can't be repaired. So we're pretty bugged. But it's okay. We'll get it done.

We've got a few things boxed up. I emptied a closet today. Kinda weird and surreal. Is this really happening?
Look! I made a valance for Taylor's room. I am so proud of myself. I know, those of you who sew are rolling your eyes because this only requires you to sew 4 straight lines. For me, however, it is a great accomplishment. My mother inlaw made these darling rag quilts for the boys and I made the valance from some leftover fabric. I've been meaning to do it for a while, but didn't get motivated enough until we put the house on the market. I had to do something with those ugly, black blinds. Not my pick, by the way. They were here when we bought the house.

On top of all the house stress, James is starting a new job. He's still at the same company, but they have put him on a new assignment in a different department. He's excited but stressed and nervous. I think moving and starting a new job are at the top of the stressful life events list, so he's got a lot on his plate. So I decided to make some comfort food for dinner and have us all sit down together and just relax. We've been eating out a ton because with everything going it's just easier.

Anyway, I decided to make homemade chicken noodle soup and homemade bread. I used the cookbook holder and the soup cookbook I got from my mom and sis for my birthday. So cute. I really enjoyed myself, actually. I do enjoy cooking but I have to gear up for it and prepare. I hate last minute cooking, which is almost always what I end up doing.

It all turned out great. The soup was good and the bread was delish. Very simple and definately nice on a cold and dreary day. I felt all Little House on the Prairie-ish.
James ended up getting home late and had to rush to Pack Meeting so we didn't get to sit down together. But hey, I tried.

Happy Easter!

I've been a little preoccupied lately. Easter pretty much snuck up on me this year so I was putting everything together at the last minute. But it all turned out fine. The only thing we missed were the Easter Egg Hunts around town. But the kids didn't say a word so obviously, no biggy.

On Saturday we went to James' parent's and had our little Easter get together. The weather put a damper on things but we still had a good time.

When we got home, we did our own thing. The boys patiently waited for the eggs to cook and the dye to disolve.


Then we got down to decorating.

It was all fine and dandy but things got ugly. We have a perfectionist in the family. His name is Taylor. He apparently had an image of the perfect egg in his mind and when it didn't happen he got ticked. He gave it a couple more tries but still, no perfect egg. He got really upset and I took a picture of him and it was hilarious because he was soooo mad at this egg. He got even more mad when I took the picture and made me promise I wouldn't put it on the blog. But this was the end result.

Chase had a great time though. Thankfully we have a laid back kid too.

By morning, Tay was over it and we had a great day. Happy Easter!!

11 Years of Wedded Bliss

Eleven years ago, tomorrow, James and I tied the knot. Happy Anniversary, Honey Bunny! Hope you've got something special planned!!! Meanwhile, Let's take a little stroll down Memory Lane...

We met at work. We were both really shy so a whole team of people had to get us to talk to each other. I was 23, you were 22. Being a mature and sophisticated woman, I was very reluctant to go out with a younger man. But you were sooooo cute. So I decided to give you a try. Our first date was the 4th of July. A group date, because you were scared to be alone with me. I had so much fun. You were completely different from anyone I had ever dated. We ended up alone at the end of the night. I asked you if I could drive your car. You let me. You totally wanted to kiss me when we got to my house, but I just wasn't that kind of girl. I mean, come on! The first date??!!!

We went out again a few days later. 2 Weeks after that you sat me down to have "the talk" because you didn't want me to date anyone else. I didn't want to anyway, so it was a good talk. 3 months later we got engaged. We flew to Portland that night and my parents took us out to dinner in a sweet limo!!

As cliche as it sounds, the day we got married was absolutely the Happiest day of my life. Everything about that day was perfect and my face hurt from smiling so much. We went to San Diego for our honeymoon and it poured the whole time we were there. But we didn't care:) At all. When it was time to fly home, we got to the airport 3 hours early, because we are both extremely anal about things like that. Two peas in a pod.

Remember our first apartment? It was a dump, because we were (and still are) sooo cheap. One bedroom, no air conditioner, no dryer vent. So we bought an extra long dryer hose and ran it through the apartment and out the bathroom window. We used to spray each other down with a squirt bottle to keep cool at night. In the winter, we froze to death because the wall heater was so loud that we couldn't sleep with it on. We endured all of this for an entire year. But it was fun. We ate at Red Bones 3 nights a week and saw every movie that came out.

Well... I could go on and on. But, I just want to say thanks for all you do. Thanks for working hard. Thanks for listening when I really need it. Thanks for saying the right things when I really need to hear them (even if I don't want to hear them).

Love ya. Happy Anniversary!

Happy Birthday Boopers!

Yesterday, Chase turned 7. I can't believe it. He's my baby and luckily for me, he's still fine with sitting on my lap and holding my hand in public, most of the time.
He got up early to open presents. Later on, we had the family over for ice cream and cake. He got a ton of stuff. Lots of army stuff, Legos and a remote control car. He was in Heaven.





He's such an awesome kid. And he's hilarious. He calls me Momelson and makes up songs about our dog, Fonzie. My favorite is the one called "A Pocket Full O' Fonzie". He has the cutest smile and the biggest dimples and is one of the greatest joys of my life.
Happy Birthday Chase! We LOVE YOU!!!

35

Just celebrated the big 35! Only 5 more years to 40. CAN'T WAIT!!!! When did this happen? Seriously. Turning 30 was weird but 35 is like... ok, this is really happening. I really am going to continue to age. It's not supposed to be a big deal. I even made it one of my goals for this year to not dwell on oldness. So, I'm not going to. I'm stopping. Right now.

My bday was fun. I let Tay ditch school and we went to the Dinosaur museum. We've gone there the past few years on my birthday so now the kids expect it. I kind of wanted to do something different this year but, that would have required some planning. Which I didn't do. Anyhoo, it was fun. Then we went to Bonsai for dinner. It was great. I got birthday gonged.

James and the boys got me a subscription to Astronamy magazine, a spa gift card and a sweet karaoke system that I never have to hook up! So, all of my favorite things were covered. Space, spa and belting out the tunes. NICE!