Angry

Well.....

My purse was stolen again. This time from INSIDE my house. It was in the laundry room. It makes me sad, and angry. Why do people think they have the right to enter another's home and take things that do not belong to them?

Sigh

I had bought a "kate spade" purse from an antique store for $21. It's possible that it was a fake but I don't care it was perfect. Striped. Pink. Well made. It was just perfect.

I had just gone to the ATM and got out our budget money for the week plus a very generous gift for our babysitter who is off to Notre Dame in the fall.

I had a gift card to Land's End that I was saving to buy a bathing suit. And $ I had been saving for clothes.

A gift card to Outback.....

But--I have my phone, my keys, and no one was hurt.

AND...the police have a picture of him from when he charged $260 at Wal-Mart. We have been showing it around the neighborhood and Chris hopes to talk to the security officer at the high school some time next week.

Sigh.

right now

Just finished dinner, had pineapple upside down cake for dessert-made with fresh pineapple, fresh pineapple juice and an organic cake mix. So yummy. Between the four of us I doubt there will be any left in 24 hours.

Outside with the dogs. Playing ball and watering the lawn.

Two boys are playing tennis together. First time today they have been nice to each other for longer than 5 minutes.

After 4 days of having the windows open I had to turn the air on again, humidity just got to be too much.

Just noticed the sleeve of my shirt was messed up and I have ink on the front of it. Lovely.

Boys have joined the millions of kids that love these "Silly Bands" Silly indeed. $5 for a pack of 24 rubberbands but truthfully I'd rather bribe them with those than candy. And I really need the bribes if I'm going to survive the summer.

Chris and I just decided to lower our house to $225K.

One of the kids in the neighborhood told Aiden today "Get off my property or I'm going to go get my dad" Nice.

Going to go get the boys in bed....maybe they'll sleep in tomorrow......

house hunting

What I don’t like about selling a house:

Having to have my house spotless for showings and open houses (It takes me about 2 hours each time to clean the house top to bottom and sometimes longer if I need to clean windows or reorganize cabinets/closets)

Having to find something to do with 2 kids and 3 dogs that doesn’t incite whining and can include everyone.

We are spending a lot of money finding things to do that doesn’t incite whining and can include everyone.

I’m tired of having someone else’s things in MY house, although Chris constantly reminds me that it is no longer MY house. (Staging ends June 23rd, we decided not to pay the $400/month rent of their things)

I don’t like feeling judged, even though I know they aren’t judging me. I am doing better about letting that go.

I just want to get on with the whole thing. I wish to no longer be where I am but instead move on.....hard to do when you can’t sell your house.

On that note....

This past Saturday we went to Blue Ash to look at houses to see what we could get for our money and just how much we would be able to drop our price in order to get out.

We liked two houses (Chris liked a third one but I did not--so you know what that means-we won’t be buying it :)

The first one we saw was a lot younger than we want. It was only 9 years old, so we would be facing replacing the roof, windows, and carpet-which already needs to be replaced. It was a ranch which I really want. The basement was very nicely done. The size was perfect. It was also only $175K list.

The problems: the neighborhood was the biggest and most worrisome problem-it would probably keep us from buying the house. The house was over a blind hill and Chris talked to a neighbor who said that she doesn’t let her kids ride their bikes in the road because if someone comes over the hill really quickly there isn’t time to get your kids out of the way. Also it is a neighborhood that people have bought lots and bulldozed the old house and built new so it’s new houses with shacks next door-not cute older small homes but literally shacks.

If we could pick up the house and move it to a different neighborhood then we might put in a bid :)

Here is a picture, you can copy the link to see pictures of the inside.

http://www.remax.com/property/80724423-61000265/11060-Centennial-Ave-Cincinnati-OH-45242/

The second house was perfect in every way that truly mattered. The neighborhood was just perfect-delightful houses, big trees, kids, quiet and only 10 minutes from where Chris works and if he moves offices it’s still centrally located to the other offices.

The house itself was two floors with the bedrooms upstairs. The bedrooms were a good size with good closets. Big backyard with a nice deck and swingset.

the downsides: It’s $225K which is out of our price range because of having to pay the realtor so we would have to talk them down or win $ at bingo or something. The yard is mostly side yard but it's big. We would have to fence one side. Laundry is in the basement so we would work on getting that moved. Basement is "finished" but not really well so we would need to work on that as well, the picture makes it look better than it really is. We would also want to knock out the dining room wall and make a HUGE kitchen/eating area. But that's all fun stuff, not like a roof, or siding, even the windows are newer all of which the owner has already replaced.

http://www.remax.com/property/80285132-61000265/4465-Classic-Dr-Blue_Ash-OH-45242/

Now we have to decide what to do....lower and try to come up with the money somehow or sit and hope....sigh

A letter to my niece

Hey there sweet pea! I have missed you and can't wait to see you next month.

I've been busy here-trying to sell a house you know. But for the last week or so I have been spending a lot of time trying to find ruffled bloomers for you. I really wanted to buy some when I had kids but they were both boys and people don't think ruffled bloomers are cute on boys. Sigh. So anyway I've been looking for you and I found some on etsy but those ladies wanted $20 a pair!!!! Now that's just silly, I'm more discerning than that (some people might say cheap or frugal but I prefer discerning). So I have decided to take matters into my own hands and make you some ruffled bloomers. I hope to be able to bring them in July....I'm not so good at mailing things-just ask your mom.

Love you sweetie! See you soon.

Love,

Auntie Kristin

beautiful day

It is a beautiful day outside. Sunny. Warm. Lots of kids for Aiden to play with (which is good because I forgot his medicine today....)I am just sitting under a shade tree enjoying the breeze.

I should feel happy, carefree, but I don't.

One year ago I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression. I went on medicine. I went to counseling. I went on a different medicine. I started going to church. Counseling ended. I went on yet another medicine. It seems never ending.

Today maybe it's because I'm sick of having my house on the market. Life with neighbors hasn't been the best. I'm eager to move on. Aiden is almost a first grader. Zach is almost a fourth grader (where did the time go?) I want/need a vacation preferably with my husband and no kids. Buster isn't feeling like himself and I'm worried about him. My husband is working. But nothing that is depressing, just.....trying.

I have many good days. My depression was never about my life. I have a wonderful life. Two fabulous boys. A wonderful supportive, loving husband. A great extended family. Good friends. Life truly is GOOD. But sometimes my brain just can't support that. It's frustrating.

So today I'm just going to fake it. Pretend I feel happy, joyful, energetic. Maybe, just maybe my brain will get on board.

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!