House listed Friday

MLS#: 1219529

Best site to see pics is www.sibcycline.com which is crazy because it's not even our realtor.....

Sooooooo

So.... We are getting ready to put our house on the market. It's a happy and sad feeling-mostly sad about all the money we are losing and the stress that moving puts on everyone in the family but mostly happy-secure in the knowledge that we are making the right choice.

This journey started for us back in October 09 when we went to visit an open house of Cincinnati Public School District magnet schools. It was an eye opening experience for us-all of a sudden we began to realize that there were other districts around us that could teach our children even better than "excellent" rated North. So we began to try to figure out the logistics-we looked around Hyde Park-the only area of CPS that we thought we could live in without worrying about crime. However, the houses in Hyde Park were much too expensive for us.

So the search began again-you see we had an idea of what school COULD be like and we wanted that for our boys. In my search I found two districts that were possibilities: Mason and Sycamore. I asked my in-laws to come stay with the boys for a few days so we could interview principals, tour schools, and talk to as many people as possible. In February we had a meeting with Zach's teacher that didn't go very well and it just solidified in our mind how much we really needed to find a new place for the boys. After the meeting with Zach's teacher we talked at length with the principal, we had concerns about the 5th-6th grade building and she recommended going and talking to the teachers there.

So in the middle of March with the kids taken care of Chris and I had a whirlwind 2 day schedule of tours and meeting in Mason, Sycamore, and Fairfield. Upon walking into one of the elementary schools in Sycamore we knew we had found the boys future school. In Montgomery and Blue Ash (both in Sycamore) they had sensory rooms with some of Aiden's favorite sensory swings/pressure machines-even a stationary bike if the kids just needed to get out some energy. Some hallways had "sensory stations" with activities the kids could do in the hall like wall push-ups, stretching, etc. Kids don't have to qualify for OT with a medical diagnosis like they do in Fairfield, they just need to need the service to learn to the best of their potential. (YAY!) We asked question after question and saw classroom after classroom and over and over again we were more and more impressed. They really practice what they preach-the school is set up for the benefit of the children, the schedule, the classroom, the hallways, everything is for the kids! Hallelujah!

Mason was also an awesome district but they are growing so fast the I know in a few years the district will be in trouble financially. Class sizes are already 26-27 for Kindergarten/first grade compared to a cap of 22 in Sycamore with most classes only having 20.

So once we decided that we were going to move to Sycamore and wanted either Montgomery or Blue Ash. We needed to look into the housing choices. Both towns are beautiful with older homes and mature trees but the houses in Blue Ash are more affordable for us and residents have said that they love it there so we are Blue Ash bound!

As for our house here, we plan to have it on the market a week from today. We are finishing painting and some packing this weekend and next week we will be getting new carpet on Monday and Tuesday. Friday we have stagers coming to stage the house and then it goes on the market as soon as they leave. It still seems impossible that our home will be ready in one week but I am determined to make our deadline and I've been working my tushie off to get there.

Wish me luck :)

An Aiden funny

Ok. I know it's been a while, a looooong while.

I have so much to say, to tell everyone but this post is going to be a short one.

We are getting ready to put our house on the market (more on that later) and I gave Zach the option to clean his room himself or let me do it. The catch was that if I did it I could throw away anything I wanted to and he couldn't get it back. I reassured him I wouldn't throw away any of his favorites, and I didn't, but I did fill one WHOLE trash bag full of stuff.

So the bag was sitting in the hallway and I hadn't tied it closed in case I found any other little things to throw in it. Well.....Aiden came home and went upstairs to get something out of his room and it was taking a VERY long time to come back downstairs, which as any mother knows is a very bad sign. So I went up to find out what was going on. As I went up the stairs I see that the trash bag that was once full had a lot less stuff in it. I peeked in Aiden's room and there he is on the floor playing with his "new" toys. I told him he needed to put the things back in the garbage.

He looked at me with pleading eyes and said....

"But MOM everyone knows you have to ask the little brother before you throw things away!"

I so wanted to let him keep it, just because he is so gosh darn cute but there is a HUGE difference in Zach's eyes between giving something to Aiden and throwing it away. Unfortunately he would prefer things get thrown away before he would want his brother to get them.

That's it for now. I promise to post again soon, not in 6 weeks.

One word

“Love is friendship that has caught fire. It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving. It is loyalty through good and bad times. It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses.” —Ann Landers (1918-2002); advice columnist

We are not here to be rich or beautiful or cool or right. We are here simply to love and care for one another. As more and more people discover this, the world will change in ways we have not even imagined.

Ron Atchison

The Mayor of Inspiration Peak

Instead of having a whole bunch of New Years Resolutions that I won't follow I have a word for the year. A word that I try to live out, to think about all year long. In the past I have had Enjoy, Gratitude, and Simplify. This year I chose Love.

For me it started with a Bible Study that I was in in the Fall. It was titled "Lord, Change My Attitude" by James MacDonald. It was a 12 week study and in weeks 5 and 6 we learned how to trade a critical attitude for one of Love. There were two concepts that came out of those weeks that hit me over the head and stuck with me.

1. The concept of "You before Me" James MacDonald says this:

"Agape is selfless love, giving love. In can be summarized as "you before me." It describes love as an act of the will. It's a choice you make to put someone else's best interests above your own. Too often when people use the word "love," what they're really saying is, "I feel something." Tragically, what people often mean when they say, "I love you," is not "I've made a commitment to place your needs above my own," but instead, "I love what you do for me. You make me feel good. You are working right now for the person I love most--me." That isn't love; that's selfishness. If you build a relationship on that, you're going to have difficult days ahead."

For moms we often love our children with selfless love, but what about our husbands? Sure we love them but do we love them with a selfless love. I noticed when I started to show Chris a selfless love we fought less and gave more to each other. I wasn't the one always giving or the one always taking. I still fall into old patterns of selfishness but I am trying to do better.

2. The concept of Love is Kind. James MacDonald says this:

"Love is Kind. Have you ever noticed how much of Christ's life was spent in doing kind things? He spent a huge proportion of His time simple doing good. Love cares more for others than for itself. Kindness is often made obvious by what you say. keep your words free of petty criticism and focus on words that will build others up.

Make it personal...It's easy to be kind to some people. Others are more difficult. Let someone in this second group test God's Spirit's power in you. anyone can love a lovely person. Are you kind to those who make you crazy? If yes, then rejoice that the Spirit is in control."

Now, I consider myself a kind person but it's hard to be kind to the people who drive me crazy. Especially those that I feel don't do what they are supposed to do but even when I really, really, REALLY, want to criticize I am trying to speak with kindness and love. It's a very hard thing for me to put into practice which is part of the reason that I need to work on it this year.

Look what I made!

No, not the baby. The blanket. This is the blanket I lovingly knit for 7 straight weeks for my beautiful niece Quinn (the baby). There were a couple mistakes and it's not perfectly square but I'm very proud of myself anyway. (This picture was taken the end of November/beginning of December when she just about 4 weeks old)

Here she is again at Christmas (aprox 7 weeks old). Isn't she just perfect?

And here she is with her beautiful momma and daddy.

I miss cuddling this sweet baby. We'll see her again in July, I can't wait!

Bye-Bye sweet Sam

Our sweet foster dog Sam was adopted on Saturday. Our whole family is going through a bit of withdrawal. You see we have had him since the end of September and he was such a good fit for our family.

He loved to be outside, especially if Buster was out there with him. He would roll around in the snow like he was making doggy angels. We have bells on our back door that the dogs learn to ring so they can be let out, Sam would ring them if one of his friends was stranded outside and we didn't notice. He loved to chew and would destroy stuffed animals from the dollar store in 2 minutes flat.
He loved to run, chase, and wrestle with Buster. Allie and Sam were best buddies despite the 30lb size difference. Izzy just barely tolerated him, but now that he is gone I think she truly misses him. Every evening he would dance with happiness when it was time to go for a walk. He was my helper in the morning to wake up the boys, he would kiss them until they woke up giggling.

And he was the best cuddler in all the world. He loved trying to prove that a 40lb+ dog could indeed be a lap dog. On hikes he would follow Buster around and always come back to us when we called. We are all missing him now that his energy is gone from the house. He was one of the special ones.

We love you sweet Sam-a-la and we know you will have a wonderful life with your new forever family.

Conversation with Aiden

Chris and I were thinking about giving up Izzy to a family that was looking for their first dog. She just seems to not be so happy here...she doesn't like all the foster dogs we bring in and she would prefer that we treat her like a princess, hand feeding her chicken and giving her bottled water to drink. And we thought that she would adore being the only dog in the house like she was before we adopted her. But we knew we had to get the boys ok before we ever did that so I talked to Aiden first......

Aiden I want to talk to you about Izzy

Ok.

You know how she doesn't really like our house?

Yea

Well I think I found another home for her.

She's gone?

No, she's not gone but I'm asking what you think about giving her to a
new family.

If she's gone who will give me the best kisses? (said in that "I'm about to cry" voice)

Ok. Bud, she can stay.

BTW when I tried to have the same conversation with Zach he immediately put his head on the table and started to cry. So even if she hates it here she's stuck with us.

Right now

(Picture taken in August by Chris, Aiden's first day of school)

Right now: (Warning: Lots of random.)

*I am thinking of all my "to-dos." Knowing I need to make a list.

*Researching Migraines, trying to figure out why I can't seems to shake them. Having 1-3 a week instead of 1-3 a month.

*Wishing my Doctor was still practicing and not staying at home with her kids.

*Enjoying my last 10 minutes of quiet before Aiden comes home.

*Listening to Sam and Allie wrestle (she's 10lbs, he's 40lbs). She's winning :)

*Wishing I had the money for a maid

*Glad I finished organizing the laundry room (pictures to come later)

*Missing apple season in NY

*Wish Chris was home

*Just remembered I'm 3 days behind on my bible study...oops

*Zach forgot to put his breakfast away.....do I save it and make him do it when he gets home, or just do it myself?

*Buster just shoved his nose under my arm. He's such a sweet, sweet dog.

*Izzy isn't herself lately, wondering if there is something medical going on.

*If I had a smaller house there would be less to clean....right?

*I think I'll have tuna fish for lunch

*Have to put the bike lock on the fridge in the garage.....Aiden broke the other one. Don't ask why we have to lock the fridge, it's a long story.

*Almost called the police to look for Zach yesterday, he was somewhere he wasn't supposed to be-we had a long talk.

Off to pick Aiden up from the bus. Hope he had a good day today.

99.9

It's been a long time since I have had a fever, even a low grade one but it seems the kids are bringing home more than homework this year.

Boys and I sat at the table tonight and crafted presents for Dave's (their Papa)birthday. It was fun watching them work. I let them use some of my supplies and Aiden was over the moon :) I didn't take pictures but I wish I had.

Thinking about going to bed now.......

Calm

My kitchen is far from calm today. We live in this room and it tends to get the messiest-besides the boys bathroom (they still need to work on aim....) Zach's homework is on the corner of the table, all of my coupon stuff is spread out while I make my lists for the week, the island is full of the boys' work, the newspaper, my bag of knitting, my bible study supplies, etc. I am most calm when it is clean but that will have to wait as the boys and I are going out to dinner since Chris is eating with his work team. I will however have it clean by Friday when my in-laws come (I promise, Dave and Linda :)