Moving In

We are moved! We our in our new home and we have all our stuff. We are surrounded by boxes and packing paper (but less and less each day). The boys have a wonderful play room - heated and air conditioned and very large (no leaks or intense heat or bitter cold or bugs).

The yard looked abandoned when we arrived - our lease has been active for two weeks and the owner was out a few weeks before that. It's cleaned up now - just need to get some string for the weed whacker and the neighbors will like us :) Speaking of neighbors, I've met several and all were very friendly.

Oh, while cleaning out the front courtyard area, I found my first Louisiana snake - just a 6" garden snake. It wasn't that exciting. I did pick it up and Bean touched it. I caught it while the movers arrived and they thought I was crazy.

It's certainly different being in a rental, but it feels more like home now that all our stuff has arrived.

The kids are driving us nuts. I know they're in a new place and in a new room and don't have their usual stuff where it usually is. They are into everything and constantly making terrible noises. We are going to take advantage of the 20 hours of free child care on base. We are desperate to get unpacked without their constant squawking. We bust are butts all day and are so exhausted and those two still want to get up at 6 a.m. Goodness. It's been not a lot of fun on that end.

What HAS been a lot of fun is having a Super Target and Best Buy and Bed Bath & Beyond and Lowe's and Macaroni Grill and Chick Fillet and Moe's Southwest Grill right down the street. We are also on the waiting list for the private community pool - they limit it to 300 families and are currently full. So, in not so fun news, we are taunted by the laughter and splashing on the current members ... just steps from our backyard. I hope someone moves soon.

Well, back to unpacking.

Oh, I forgot to call the gas company, so we didn't have hot water for two and a half days. The shower spit out ice cubes. It was terrible. I have no idea how people lived without hot indoor water.

OK, now back to unpacking.

Final Flight

The kids got up at 6:15 today. I sense a pattern. To be fair, we may have put them to bed at 6 p.m. last night - we were really tired and needed to catch up on Lost :) Bean fell right to sleep, but Moose squawked for a bit.

Today is Husband's "fini flight." It's his final flight for this assignment/base. Crazy. I'm picking Bean up early from school and then taking pizza, wings, and soda up to Husband's work. I should have some pictures.

I am still doing a lot of packing and setting stuff aside to sell and give away. We have buyers for the washer and dryer! They are going to a good home. We haven't gotten any calls on the fridge, but we can always move it with us and sell it in Shreveport - it's a little easier to temporarily stow a fridge in a carport than a washer and dryer. I can't believe how much stuff we have.

The packers/movers are supposed to call 72 hours in advance. No call yet. Hopefully we hear some Monday.

Too Early

Starting on Sunday, May 9, my children decided to start getting up at 6:30 a.m. I tell them, no, it's too early and to go back to bed. What is so wrong with 7 a.m.? Just give me a half hour. They don't go back to bed, but Bean does return to his room and plays till I go get him. Moose paces in his crib and squawks a lot.

Last night was my last M&Ms meeting. We had a catered meal, and I got a present. I love presents! Our mentor mom gave a little talk about mothers and all the roles we play. It was a great meeting, filled with us "old" moms and few new visitors. That group saved my sanity on so many occasions - it's where I met many of my closest friends.

I have been saving for an SLR camera. I have a good chunk saved now (after many, many trips to the consignment shop and some eBay sales) and have started researching. My goodness, you can drop a lot of money on cameras. I started to think it might make more sense to use that money towards a new vehicle and just continue using my blue Sony Cypershot (which I am very fond of - I mean, it is blue, and we know how I feel about things that are a cute color).

Anyways, I am leaning towards the Nikon 5000 for now and investing in a lens or two and a photography class. If I end up LOVING photography, then I can upgrade my camera body later and still be able to use the lenses on the new body. So much to learn.

We head to our new place this weekend but will return. The movers will be here next week (exact date still unknown).

Also, my aunt's breast cancer is confined and has not spread. That is great news.

Falling into Place

OK, so we close May 28!

We have fliers up at Husband's work, at the base consignment shop, and my Realtor is emailing it out to her associates - so, hopefully, our appliances will sell shortly. Our new rental comes with appliances, and I just hate to store ours for a year or so and risk an infestation of mice (or, umm, rats) or have the seals compromised because of the heat and humidity. Seriously, that humidity in Shreveport is like nothing I've ever experienced - I have no doubt that it can do serious damage. And, well, damaged appliances won't do us any good in terms of use or money.

I found the survey of our property - saving us $300 or so off closing costs (which we are paying for). Thank goodness. My husband had filed it away and my husband (whom I love dearly) cannot "look" for things to save his life. I cannot even recall all the episodes we've had over this little problem he has. I decided to go through every piece of paperwork he had filed away and found all our title paperwork in a legal-size folder underneath the files. I could have shot him (him, whom I love dearly).

BUT everyone is alive and well.

Things with the home are falling into place, all the May holidays are covered, we will be back for Bean's last two days of school, to sign all the closing paperwork (Husband is giving me POA ... wha ha ha ha), and attend the House of Toys' Boys birthday party. House of Toys is also hosting us once all our stuff is packed and gone - so a big thank you to them.

Now, anyone want to babysit this Saturday, so I can craft with friends? Am getting desperate.

In Contract, For Real

Yesterday marked the end of our buyers 10-day option period. Not a thing was said regarding the $300 (nor about our refusing to meet in the middle at $150). Their house in Nebraska is in contract. We're good to go ... barring terrible circumstances :)

I rented out a meeting room at the library for this Saturday. I invited several friends to come up and craft with me. I need to call around and wrangle a sitter, because my husband will probably be IN VEGAS ... AGAIN. Should I start to be concerned about all the time he spends in Vegas?

On the 15th, we are planning on driving one of our vehicles and a medium-large Uhaul truck to Shreveport. We'll get our keys and leave a big chunk of stuff, and then leave the Uhaul there and drive back here together. The movers will be here the 19th or 20th for the rest. Hello? I'm like really moving in about TWO WEEKS.

Tomorrow we are meeting Mrs. Precious One and Precious One for Story Time and possibly lunch (if SOMEONE behaves well enough that I'm not suicidal at the end of Story Time). I also have some shorts to exchange, because my husband cannot possibly understand why he would need two pairs of khaki shorts. Forget that I got them for $9, why does he need two pairs? So, hopefully I can find a DIFFERENT color in his size.

Husband is working late this week, so I got to run around sans Moose this morning. I hit deals at Target AND Walgreens AND CVS. It was SO peaceful.

It's raining here today, which I love.

Need to plan out what I'll be crafting this Saturday and then seriously start packing up the office/craft room. You know, TO MOVE IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

Oh, and this upcoming move will mark my 18th address. How many addresses have you had?

Whine

My great aunt has breast cancer. Oh, cancer loves to eat away at my family, but this is the first time I know of a relative with breast cancer. We don't know how bad it is - she goes in for another test this week that will determine that. Cancer sucks. This news just made me want my grandma back. She died of lung cancer eight years ago. My great aunt sounds like my grandma. I remember answering the phone at my mom's, shortly after my grandma died, and it took me a few seconds to identify the caller. It was pretty surreal for a moment. It just always feels like I'm losing more of her all the time. I have two shirts that she hung up before she died. I've never worn them again and - just barely now - they still smell like her laundry. My grandma was a laundry expert (I thought). It's something I can't seem to replicate.

It makes most everything else feel pretty insignificant - the move, the question of whether or not to have another baby, a new car, setting up a craft day with friends, repairs on the house, to sell or store our fridge, washer, and dryer, etc. We have to move and we have two healthy kids. We don't require a new car if we don't have more kids. Our buyers want $300 for repairs - I said no last night. Now, who the hell cares about $300. Who cares about appliances. It's just money. You can be buried with it, and it won't do you an ounce of good in the end.

A childhood friend lost her father last week. He was a character - so funny and happy. He loved his Irish heritage and was a teacher for many, many years. The world lost a great man, and my friend and her siblings lost a most wonderful father. I don't like being this old and seeing friends lose parents.

Then it makes me feel guilty for not having a relationship with my own dad. But then I remember this, that, and the other, and it's just not worth it. MY father, the man I loved, he's been gone for a long time, and I sometimes wonder if he ever existed. Little girls make up a world of excuses for their fathers. Little girls have vivid imaginations. I'm not a little girl anymore. I don't like who he was or who he is. I'm not out anything most days. Once upon a time, I would have called him every name in the book. Finally, though, I think I've settled on one: He's a coward.

Then, a fellow blogger, Carrie at Farming on Faith wrote about A Virtuous Woman (found in Pslam 31). I'm not that into the Bible, but I'm finding myself thinking a lot about this:

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

As if I didn't feel like I have enough to do :)

In happy, wonderful, easy, and distracting news, I have finished all the Sookie Stackhouse books and have the new one (out May 4) on pre-order and ordered a book of short stories that also feature Sookie. It's always good to have things to look forward to.

For now, though, I will consider lopping my breasts off and my idleness.

Have I Mentioned?

Our buyers sold their home. It's in contract and closes May 27.

The buyers requested we do the following repairs:

1. Install electrical disconnect to water heater
2. Install three-way switches to hall lights.
3. Install safety pan under water heater.
4. Repair exterior light near garage
5. Repair hall shower drop valve.

Not bad for a 40-year-old house! None of the water heater stuff came up in our housing inspection, so we said no to that. We've installed three-way switches in the hallway, and it didn't solve the problem - it's not a long hallway, walk to the other switch. Let's see ... the wire is cut to the exterior light in question. There is another one 15 feet away - we made do, so can you. Also a big no to the drop valve. We use a plug, it's fine.

I told our Realtor last night that we wouldn't do the repairs and we weren't giving them any money for repairs. I haven't heard back from her. Something tells me these people have already paid for a housing inspection and their option period is over tomorrow (Sunday) - I can't imagine these things are deal breakers.

The movers will be here around May 19 or 20. I am straight-up dreading the packers and am hoping we can make a trip out to the new place with a big Uhaul or two BEFORE they get here to ruin my stuff.

No, the Kindle is not the Perfect Mother's Day Gift

Amazon is recommending its Kindle as the Perfect Mother's Day Gift. It was also the Perfect Spring Break Gift and the Perfect Valentine's Day Gift. I get it, Amazon, the Kindle is perfect. Shut up about it already. Let me tell you, the Kindle is not the Perfect Mother's Day Gift for my mom. No way. So, Amazon, for the first time, you are dead wrong.

I got the Amendment from the housing inspection - pretty minor stuff. Blah, blah, blah. My husband is going to say, "Yeah, we're not fixing any of it." Still, though, I guess I should show it to him and ask. (Any bets on how that conversation goes?)

We have real orders now and can schedule the movers. Can this be over already?

I finally took care of Mother's Day gifts for both moms (no, I didn't buy either of them a Kindle). I have cards picked out for the May birthdays. I don't think I missed anything, but I feel like I have.

Let's Move Already!

We have a Realtor's Open House this Thursday, since our home is not officially sold until These People sell their home.

These People had their home inspection today, and I'm curious to see what the guy found. We've worked really hard to eliminate most problems, so I'm sincerely hoping he didn't find anything that is (a) expensive or (b) a deal breaker. Please!

My mom is here. I picked her up at DFW last Thursday, and we went to the Fort Worth Zoo and the Miniature Train Ride. It was great weather and the boys had a great time. Awesome day. I want an open-air bird house with lots of cockatiels and parakeets.

Since there are two more hands around, I finally got around to listing several items on eBay. No joke, I have 16 auctions on there and am hoping that I make enough to buy my SLR camera in the very near future! You can see them here. Spare me the lecture on buying the stuff in the first place, got it?

Speaking of my camera, my mom and I went to the casino Saturday night, and I made $90 off the free $10 the casino gives people with a military ID! Wahoo! I pocketed my $90 and walked out with it more than an hour later. Mom's luck wasn't as good.

My old neighbor, House of Boys, wants to have a garage sale May 15. But, Melissa, you just had a garage sale! I know! Still, though, now that we're actually moving I have a few more items I might be willing to part with, and she has a chunk of stuff anyway. Why not? I have rugs and kitchen carts - maybe I'll find more.

We went for a walk today at the park, did some shopping, and pigged out at Red Lobster - lobster, scallops, shrimp. Yum. I am stuffed.

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Boys are good.

Bean is skinnier than ever - my mom notes that all his chub is gone, even his face is skinny. She's suggested adding Ensure to anything that calls for milk just to get some more calories in him. We've been giving him a PediSure each day, but clearly he's still anorexic.

Moose is running and walking and climbing. He throws things when he's mad, and he can be a bit of a bully - but when those things aren't going on, he's still very sweet and easy-going. (Even with the mood swings, I still think he's less ornery than Bean was at this age.)

Husband is very busy with work, his paper for his master's, and maintaining the yard and doing some small repairs. My mom noted that his car is much dirtier than it used to be. Clearly, the man is stressed out. We are still waiting on official orders - we can't schedule the movers without them. So, yes, that's fun.

Not Myself Lately

With so much stuff stripped away, it's been interesting.

It's quite easy to keep the house picked up and, within an hour, it's easily shiny and spotless.

Much of my craft stuff is packed away and the rest of it is spread out into a couple closets. I haven't touched the stuff in nearly a month. That's right - I've gone an entire month with no crafting.

I've done a lot of reading. Books 3, 4, 5, and working on 6 of the Sookie Stackhouse series. Reading is a very tidy hobby.

I'm considering keeping the craft stuff packed away after we move - at least for summer (when I'll be unpacking and then rewarding myself with an escape from the heat and a trip to my family up north). I'm strongly considering having a real guest room instead of a craft room. Can you believe it? I mean, we'll be living in a place where people might actually WANT to visit us.

I'm thinking I can downsize my stash to just fit in our current TV armoire. Our rental home has a built-in in the den that houses a TV, so we won't need it in the den. The formal living room will be the toy room. Yes, we're going to keep things classy there. (I don't have to worry about selling it, so I plan to live strictly with what is most convenient for my family - caring little about what you think when the first thing you see is a mess of toys to your left and my craft stuff all over the dining room to your right.) The kitchen has space for our small dining table (where we eat all of our meals unless we have company).

One of the offers has till 3:30 p.m. to respond to our counter. If we get a no or don't hear anything, then we'll accept an offer from the other buyers. They have a home to sell, so it's not a done deal, but there's a high likelihood of everything turning out OK. All the math and money talk makes a humble English major uncomfortable. Husband is crawling the walls in anticipation. I actually told him to HAVE A DRINK AND GO PLAY VIDEO GAMES last night. So, you know it was bad.

Well, I think someone pooped in their pants. Twasn't me.

Garage Sale

Last Saturday marked the Third and Final Annual Garage Sale between ourselves and the House of Toys. For the first time, we skipped the ad in the paper - and we have no regrets about it! We both cleared hundreds of dollars of stuff.

I actually think we're kind of disgusting. How, for the third year in a row, have we acquired hundreds of dollars in stuff that we don't want? Such consumerists. Personally, aside from groceries, I don't think I'm a big shopper. I will say that even Mrs. House of Toys has cut down on the toy buying. Still, though, we found lots of crap.

My friend, Mrs. Precious One, also dropped off some stuff. She wanted Tastefully Simple product instead of her cash - fine by me! She brought lunch to the house today and saw her old office chair in my office and her old shower curtain in my guest bathroom. Ha ha. She said it was quite a compliment to see her old stuff in someone's home. I'm not proud, I'll take my friends' unwanted stuff :)

There were several incidents of Crazy Old People - all harmless and fun. I sold the play cube for $30 (exactly how much I paid for it two years ago - talk about holding its value!). Husband finally parted with his surround system ... that's been sitting in a closet for almost three years.

I'd say only two or three groups of people walked away without buying anything - that's amazing.

I also had a young man and his female friend ask for a tour of my house. I showed them around and warned them that anywhere from four to eight kids had been running through the house all morning. The kitchen and living room were a bit messy, but all the other rooms were pretty good. They both really seemed to like it. I suggested he talk to our Realtor, if needed anything else. Apparently, this meant that he should come over again Sunday sans Realtor. That's right, I again roamed around my home with a young pilot while my husband was at class. (Husband did meet him right before he left the house.) Funny enough, my husband has also said things like, "Give him your number." and "Drop by his house and leave a note." and, when I suggest husband talk to him, "Oh, no, he likes you better." My mom, Mrs. Precious One, and I all find it hilarious that my husband thinks absolutely nothing of his wife giving out her number and giving tours of bedrooms to handsome guys while he's away. Wha ha ha.

So, we've had someone look at the house - just not the traditional route.

I painted some gutters today, scrubbed all the siding and did some minor repairs to the trim around the garage. It was just a little effort, but they're all marked improvements. I may tackle the gutters in the front of the house tomorrow and possibly the shutters.

Hope and pray that we are in contract before the end of the month. We are getting very nervous.

Come Look at the Dang House Already! Someone! Anyone!

We picked a bad weekend to kick off our house selling. Holiday weekends aren't known for their activity. Thanks, Jesus, for waiting till April to have Easter this year. I prefer it in March, but I guess that's not really up to me. While we're at it, it's quite a bizarre way that Easter is chosen. I mean, the first Sunday after the first fool moon after the spring equinox? I think we can do better.

So, our home remains hopelessly tidy and the yard remains wonderful. Now that it's all done, I realize that I quite like my house. It so makes me wish that Husband would have gotten around to a few of these improvements sooner. I think about our home waiting in Shreveport (lease and checks mailed off today), and I know it'll be fine, but it's not nearly as nice and not done to my taste (and costs more, gag). This place, everything is painted to my taste, the floors are my tastes, my master bath is 100 percent my taste. We have new doors and nice landscaping. I know the landscaping well. Friends have looked at the online tour and commented on how nice all the pictures look and how neutral and clean it looks.

YET, no one has come to even look at this darn house yet. Not a single phone call. The Realtor is headed over here today to place an "Info Tube." So, the looky-lous will have something to check out. I don't need looky-lous, I need a buyer.

On the plus side, I do have some serious interest in our riding lawn mower and refrigerator. The lady for the fridge doesn't need it till after we move, so that will be perfect. We'll miss our "tractor," but the rental home has a small yard (seriously, we can mow and edge in less than an house) and no place to store a tractor (it's a carport setup, not a full garage - but the carport is in the back and original to the home, so it doesn't look like most the eyesores that people think of when they thing "carport").

So, honestly, everything is going well here - except for getting buyers inside this house. I just keep telling myself that it'll happen, I just need to be patient, it's a slow weekend with the holiday.

Shreveport + Me = In Love

We made a short trip to Shreveport this weekend. Seriously, we got there around 11 p.m. Friday and left about 2 p.m. Saturday.

We loved what we saw, though.

We looked at two rental properties, the only two I could find near good elementary schools. They were both in great neighborhoods, but the homes themselves were a little more outdated than we hoped.

The first one was in my target neighborhood and just a hop (not even a hop and skip) away from the school. A greenbelt runs through the neighborhood and there's all the shopping and dining you could want within a 10-minute drive. There's also the most awesome playground ever within an easy 5-minute drive. The downside was not much of a yard and no fenced in area for the dog.

The second home we looked at was more in the boonies. It was surrounded by forest and had a private lake for the neighborhood. The trees were amazing. The house had a gigantic backyard. The property manager warned us about snakes, then we saw a guy catching a snake out of the street. Needless to say, my husband was not impressed with the prospect of poisonous and not poisonous snakes hanging around. A friend suggested we buy some guinea fowl to take care of the problem - fresh eggs and no snakes! I like it! BUT, the place is not within walking distance of its great elementary school AND my husband is totally freaked about the snakes. Totally.

Ultimately, we decided on the first house and headed back to it. AND IT WAS GONE! Someone came while we were gone (a whole 3.5 hours) and gave her a 2-year lease and a deposit. It felt like we had the rug pulled out from under us. We drove every street in the neighborhood hoping beyond hope that we'd see another place for rent - no luck. As a matter of fact, there were only two homes for sale in the whole neighborhood (and two townhomes).

It's funny. I was sort of favoring the forest/snake house, but when we found out the first house was unavailable, we didn't head back to get it. Clearly, the second house was not the right house for us.

We checked out the base. The commissary is great. It was a madhouse (right after pay day and the day before Easter), but I was still in love - I love grocery shopping. The Barksdale Inn, however, left a lot to be desired. We've stayed on base at three other bases and this was by far the worst. They call it "historic," I call it a dump.

We checked out base housing and weren't impressed with what we saw. We also heard of "East Gate" which is base housing about 20 minutes outside of base that they're moving people to. So, we made a decision that we absolutely did not want to move on base and pay for private school. The area right outside of base isn't nearly as nice as the area by the first rental home.

We drove around the downtown. It looked nice - no abandoned buildings and rundown businesses. It actually looked pretty clean and totally not scary. The convention center was very pretty from the outside.

We played at a couple playgrounds (including the super-awesome one).

We headed home and about an hour from home the landlord of the first place called. She didn't like the people's credit, so the home was ours, if we still wanted it. AND WE DID. She's in the middle of PCSing herself, so we'll get the paperwork this week and send it back with the checks. So, I hesitate to say the place is ours till everything is signed and money is exchanged, but things look good.

The casino/riverwalk area looked pretty neat from the highway - at least six HUGE casinos, complete with hotels and restaurants and even theater venues.

So, all in all, I'm in love with Shreveport. I cannot wait to get moved out there and start our life.

Now ... someone buy this damn house.

Comfort in Clutter

I'm completely uncomfortable in a tidy house. Everything is put away, all the surfaces are clear, and a mountain of packed boxes reside in Husband's former parking space in the garage. I feel restless and bored, and I just want my stuff back where it goes - in my house, cluttering tables.

I try to keep the house less than 15 minutes away from "show ready" at any given moment (my mom said to be careful doing this, because Husband might come to expect it - the horror!!!). Before I left the house for Story Time at the Library this morning, I ran through the house and left it "show ready" (except for leaving all the lights on). That way, if I got a call while I was gone, the people could come straight over without me ruining my plans.

Of course, Moose was a complete monster at Story Time. He wants to walk around and squawk and play with the damn drinking fountain over and over and over again. He also decided to crawl on top of the table today. I know it's just normal stuff, but it's exhausting and there's not a single other kid there doing such things. Why mine? Why mine every single time?

I opted not to continue the torture and skipped lunch and play time with friends afterward. We came home, and Moose went right to sleep. This morning, he was hollering at me and squawking and I put him in his crib and went to take a shower - you can act like a jerk while you follow me around and drive me crazy or you can be a jerk in your crib, and I will take a nice, quiet, hot shower.

Tonight, I am meeting a friend for dinner and then dress shopping! She is having a BALL for her 30th birthday party. While I look forward to the girl time, I am most looking forward to being away from ::someone:: less than 3-foot tall who SQUAWKS all the damn time.

Last night, I noted that Moose says a lot more than Bean did at this age. At two, Bean said four words clearly (and only clearly if you were, umm, me or my husband). He said, Da-Da, no, more, and Na-Na (lazy speech for Ma-ma). Moose says Da-Da, no, Na-Na, "I do," bye, and hi (usually more of a "hey"). He also signs please, all done, more, and sippy. He also has some mish-mash of words that means "blow it up" (requesting a fist bump of sorts - I'm not kidding, thank my husband for that one). He's by no means a language genius, but we might escape speech therapy with this one.

Oh, how did I forget to mention that we had Bean's big birthday party last Saturday! It was smashing success, despite the Bounce House people canceling the bounce house just two hours before the party and me quickly indulging in two adult beverages to calm down. We borrowed a smaller one from our neighbors, and the kids had just as much fun (and we saved $80). The kids also played in the sandbox, on the playset, and enjoyed the Venom Hunt (where we searched for Venom and then sprayed him with silly string). Bean had loads of fun with his buddies - we had 22 kids here total. It sounds crazy, and it was, but everyone had a great time with it.

On Sunday, Husband was in class, so the boys and I headed out to spend some of Bean's birthday money. He chose a Spider-Man razor scooter (that he's sort of scared of - he tells me, "It falls me, Mama."). He also picked out two Batman toys (a helicopter and submarine that match his Batman castle and car) and two Thomas engines (Percy and Charlie). Bean is loving all his new toys.

Our house went on the market last Friday and supposedly hit the MLS listing Monday. The Realtor said it takes two to three days to get it up on the web, so I still haven't seen it on the company's website or on Realtor.com. A few times, I've noticed people slowing down as they drive by the house (but that doesn't mean anything). Most the houses in the neighborhood have gone in one or two weeks, so I'm really hoping we follow that trend.

A rental home in Shreveport just came on the market yesterday - it is right next to my first-choice elementary school and the property backs up to the Green Belt in the neighborhood. I think we should just go ahead and sign a lease, but Husband wants to get out there first and take a look. We may run out there for a quick look at the city and the house his weekend, but we have to be back by Sunday morning - I have most of an Easter dinner to cook.

Why So Quiet?

So, we have our orders. We need to be in Louisiana by May 31. It's, umm, overwhelming to say the least. I didn't expect to be out of here quite so soon. I was thinking more the END of summer, but no one who makes decisions cares what I think.

We've gone back and forth on a million different things but have decided to get a home on-base. Husband is already getting that paperwork together, so we'll be on the waiting list and ::fingers crossed:: have a home to move into upon our arrival. (The base housing there is quite nice we hear.)

We'll get Bean tested for the magnet schools. If they're full or he doesn't test into them, then we are sending him to the Montessori school for kindergarten. Should we get assigned to Shreveport long-term, then we'll move to an area near one of the better public elementary schools. To save some money, though, Moose will not go to the Montessori school for pre-school. We'll just place him in a church-type pre-school a couple days a week (he'll only be 2, after all). Luckily, a student loan that we're currently making large payments to will be paid off by the time tuition comes do - we'll just roll that money into the Montessori tuition instead of into another loan, as we had planned. So, actually, we won't even miss it. Thank goodness.

We met with the Realtor. I can't say the price is bad, but how much commissions and fees take is quite disgusting. We do all the hard work for years and these vultures swoop in for a few weeks and take a healthy chunk of it. BUT, I do like the Realtor. She seems very organized and professional. Personality-wise, we also mesh well.

Husband is wrapping up the guest bathroom and I'm packing. Husband has already lost his parking spot in the garage to boxes. I have a garage sale planned for April 10 and a chunk of stuff to take to Goodwill and to the base thrift shop. I also have some painting projects to look forward to (nothing huge, but painting is not something me or my husband look forward to - since some extreme painting at our last home, he actually hasn't painted a thing in this home). Also, I've noticed I have a thing for paint colors that name fruits. For example, Apple Green, Cherry Red, and Northern Pear Tree. The only other paint color I have recently selected is called Overcast - so it's not a 100-percent theme (BUT, Mrs. House of Toys actually picked it out, so maybe that doesn't count). (Don't worry, I didn't paint any room Cherry Red - just the mailbox and touch ups to the bench and flower pots.)

I finished our taxes today, and we're getting a nice chunk of money back! Thank goodness. We're just going to let it sit for now - in case something comes up with the housing inspection or we move without selling it and need some moolah on hand to make extra mortgage payments. What spectacular timing. If all goes well, though, it'll be the start of a new car fund! We have our eye on something with decent gas mileage, three rows of seating, and NOT a mini-van (I'm not so opposed to it, but my husband is dead-set against it). Husband is sort of liking the Chevy Traverse. Now, I love a Chevy, but the thing looks like a monster compared to my Elantra. I'm a small-car girl - a beloved Chevette, a not-so-beloved Escort, and the good-car-worst-buying-experience-ever-never-buy-anything-from-Butler-Hyundai-on-the-northside-of-Indianapolis-ever Elantra. Oh, but ROOM! Road trips will be so much more pleasant when we're not packed on top of each other - with luggage and snacks and entertainment shoved between. Only 12 hours to Orlando - we might make that trip a couple times a year!

My new thinking: It's just money. We'll get more next month. (My frugal friends are gasping - my apologies, but it's the only way I'm going to get through the next few weeks. I will resume my more frugal lifestyle once this house is sold and the move is complete.)

Crazy Kids

Moose has been unusual lately.  I'm not sure if it's a growth spurt or an illness.  Maybe he's missing Husband or maybe he's just a weirdo.  Maybe it's the Terrible Twos arriving a bit early - which wouldn't surprise me, my oldest son was born into his Terrible Twos.

Moose throws a fit every morning when we have to leave Bean's classroom.  The last two days, I've just dropped Bean off at the front door of his school.  This avoids Moose's screaming in the hallway and the wrestling into the car.

He's taken a real liking to hitting.  In the face.  Particularly my face.  It doesn't hold a candle to his brother's, umm, shenanigans at this age, but it's still embarrassing.  I'm also happy to report that Bean traded in most all his mean shenanigans for just run-of-the-mill boy shenanigans.

Moose napped for three hours yesterday and seems to think that means he doesn't need to nap today.  He is wrong.  I put him in there, he lays down, but then he starts singing.  Then he starts singing and dancing.  You can't fall asleep singing and dancing. (Note that you can pass out from singing and dancing and drinking, but I haven't spiked the child's milk.)

Also, I found a great house in Louisiana.  It's within walking distance of my top-choice public elementary school (and an easy drive to the magnet schools should my children prove brilliant).  It has four bedrooms, an open-concept kitchen-dining-living area, and a bonus room upstairs.  This means there's enough room for a craft room, a dedicated toy (and gaming) room, and both boys could still have their own rooms (which they won't, because they like sharing a room, and I don't see the sense in giving them three rooms to trash).  It's For Sale By Owner and the price seems very reasonable for the size and neighborhood.  I'm not betting the timing will work out, so that's unfortunate.  I do see a lot of nice houses in the area, though, so I'm sure we'll find something when the time is right.

I'm already packing up a lot of stuff - for staging purposes and to get a heads up in case we sell in eight days :)  I've gotten rid of loads of books, but somehow I still have far too many.  I also sorted through loads of memorabilia stuff.  I tossed out some, and I got most the rest worked into nice bins.  In my senior book, one of the questions was what I had pictured for my future family in the next 10 years.  I wrote, "None (maybe a husband)."  I was also supposed to be a magazine writer and living in Seattle, Washington.