We might be moving.
After getting some preliminary estimates from contractors, we met with our financial planner and he pretty much said we were crazy to add on to our kitchen, when we could get a newer house that fits all our needs.
We have been looking at houses.
We talked to our realtor last night about what we needed to do to list our house, staging, etc.
It became a real possibility for me last night and it totally freaked me out and I'm having second thoughts.
I love this house and love the beauty of our neighborhood, oak trees and schools close by.
I hate not having a park to walk to, nor a swimming pool, nor any other SAHMs on my street. Oh, and the fact that when Mike works from home, we are all over him because we have no office.
I don't want to move to suburbia, but I want more kids in the neighborhood for the boys.
Should we stay or go? I go back and forth. I've always thought I was more of an "older" home, in the city, type person. I literally cannot stop thinking about it and am trying to pray about it that God will send us to the right place, even if that is staying here. I am so thankful that we have nothing pressuring us to move, if that's what we decide to do. We can take our time.
We have lots to think and talk about on our upcoming family vacation in the cool cool mountains! Can't wait!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
For the love of Michael
Daddies play differently than do mamas. My friend's husband is a physical therapist, and his friend wrote a whole book on how that's a good thing.
I love John Michael's laugh.
And, look at Noah walking!
And, yes we are losing the battle of adults versus toys in this house....
I love John Michael's laugh.
And, look at Noah walking!
And, yes we are losing the battle of adults versus toys in this house....
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Argh
For the record, right now, I am being still, being thankful and having a glass of red wine.
I was working on being present this afternoon and in the present, I decided we needed to get out of the house. Off to Gymboree we went for their open play time. JM and Noah were having such a fun time. Noah loved the shiny balls. JM was the biggest kid there and was having a blast doing all sorts of things that the littles couldn't and shouldn't do. He was just hitting his groove when mean Mama decided it was time to go home to cook dinner and proceeded to have a total meltdown when it was time to leave. He didn't take a nap at camp today and man, it showed. He wouldn't leave and threw himself on the floor screaming at the door.
Of course, my car was parked a half a mile from the entrance and I had 20 lbs of Noah on my hip, so I actually had to leave screaming JM with the store manager (love her!) and go get Noah in the car and pull around so I could physically extricate JM from the premises without brother on the other arm.
I really want to have a third child, but I have no idea how I would do something like this with three when at times, it's awkwardly ridiculous with two. Thankfully, I can laugh. Being a new parent with JM, I wouldn't have laughed at the situation.
Some outings burn a LOT of calories! This was one of them.
I was working on being present this afternoon and in the present, I decided we needed to get out of the house. Off to Gymboree we went for their open play time. JM and Noah were having such a fun time. Noah loved the shiny balls. JM was the biggest kid there and was having a blast doing all sorts of things that the littles couldn't and shouldn't do. He was just hitting his groove when mean Mama decided it was time to go home to cook dinner and proceeded to have a total meltdown when it was time to leave. He didn't take a nap at camp today and man, it showed. He wouldn't leave and threw himself on the floor screaming at the door.
Of course, my car was parked a half a mile from the entrance and I had 20 lbs of Noah on my hip, so I actually had to leave screaming JM with the store manager (love her!) and go get Noah in the car and pull around so I could physically extricate JM from the premises without brother on the other arm.
I really want to have a third child, but I have no idea how I would do something like this with three when at times, it's awkwardly ridiculous with two. Thankfully, I can laugh. Being a new parent with JM, I wouldn't have laughed at the situation.
Some outings burn a LOT of calories! This was one of them.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Be still. Be thankful.
I think one of the hardest things as a human being, and especially as an American, is to live in the present.
For example, it is 10 am as I write this. So far my morning has looked like this:
Wake up
Shower
Dressed
Get coffee
Makeup
Dress JM for camp
Make JM and Mike lunches
Make 2 sippy cups of milk
Make one snack cup for Noah of cereal
Get kids in car
Drive to mechanic and drop off car
Go home and drop Mike off to get his car
Drive to $1 breakfast taco place and get 3 tacos (me, Noah and JM)
Drive home because we forgot Bunny for JM's nap at camp
Get bunny
Go to camp and wait 5 minutes for doors to open, eat tacos at table outside
Drop off JM with his teachers
Come home, feed Noah what's left of his taco
Check email and brush teeth
Change Noah poo diaper
Put Noah in car
Return call from mom on bluetooth
Drive to Gymboree
Gymboree class
Drive home
Noah in bed for nap
Get on computer
Very little of that time did I spend savoring the moment. It was more like I was rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off. Lately, I feel like I'm spending a lot of time existing, but not living.
I think it's our nature to reflect on the past, or to plan for the future.We spend so much time beating ourselves up for mistakes we've made, or things we wish we had done differently in the past. Or, thinking about our young selves and the way we looked and acted. We remember those times fondly wishing for the freedoms of youth; innocent time when we relied on our parents or time before being a parent when our lives were much less complicated, when we could go anywhere or do anything without anyone relying on us.
We spend so much time planning. Planning for our kids' next growth spurt and buying them clothes. Trying to get good deals on things they will need. Planning our next vacation. Planning for the house or car we want to have. Planning how many kids we want. Planning for our next promotion. Planning for what we think will come next.
When I was little, I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. It was not ADHD, where I was aggressive or wild, but I had a difficult time concentrating. I am sure in the time before ritalin and ADD, I would have been called spacy or simply a daydreamer. My mind simply likes to wander. Over the years, I trained myself to focus in the classroom and it was never a problem. I got good grades and managed to graduate from college. But now, in this age of smart phones and busy lives, I'm having a tough time concentrating again.
God said, "Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)." Let's break that down. "Be still!" Stop what you are doing! Quiet yourself. "Know that I am God." It is so fulfilling, knowing that there is something more than the ins and outs of getting places and being on time. If I never stop to quiet my busy mind, I am missing things. I am listening to my kids with half an ear as I worry about whether we should sell our house instead of adding on. When I am on my computer mindlessly using Facebook and looking at pictures of someone that I really don't interact with, I miss Noah walking four steps across the room. If I am constantly running here or there and texting and checking email and voicemail and go go going, I am missing the quiet little nudges and signs that the Holy Spirit sends us during our days. You know, the beautiful sunset or the butterfly that goes right over your head or your child innocently combing your hair. I think God wants so much to have a relationship with us, but getting stuck in the past or future is the devil's work, because we are not really living. When we are anxious or worried, that is NOT God. And, God is so amazing. Look at the intricacies on the simple veins of a leaf or study the beautiful little lines on your child's hand and you'll know what I'm talking about.
So thank you, Jesus, for two happy kids on the swing. It's hotter than hell right now, but for this very moment, we are having a good time and laughing. Thank you, Jesus, for this sweet baby in my arms. He is walking now and doesn't like to be held, but I so appreciate that he will let me rock him to sleep. Thank you, Jesus, for letting the tire on my car get flat 500 feet from a tire place next to a McDonalds.
Lord, help me really listen to the people around me. Help me look at them in the eye. Help me to not exist in the past or future, but LIVE right here, NOW. Amen! This is a great video/song Be Still and Know That He is God.
For example, it is 10 am as I write this. So far my morning has looked like this:
Wake up
Shower
Dressed
Get coffee
Makeup
Dress JM for camp
Make JM and Mike lunches
Make 2 sippy cups of milk
Make one snack cup for Noah of cereal
Get kids in car
Drive to mechanic and drop off car
Go home and drop Mike off to get his car
Drive to $1 breakfast taco place and get 3 tacos (me, Noah and JM)
Drive home because we forgot Bunny for JM's nap at camp
Get bunny
Go to camp and wait 5 minutes for doors to open, eat tacos at table outside
Drop off JM with his teachers
Come home, feed Noah what's left of his taco
Check email and brush teeth
Change Noah poo diaper
Put Noah in car
Return call from mom on bluetooth
Drive to Gymboree
Gymboree class
Drive home
Noah in bed for nap
Get on computer
Very little of that time did I spend savoring the moment. It was more like I was rushing around like a chicken with its head cut off. Lately, I feel like I'm spending a lot of time existing, but not living.
I think it's our nature to reflect on the past, or to plan for the future.We spend so much time beating ourselves up for mistakes we've made, or things we wish we had done differently in the past. Or, thinking about our young selves and the way we looked and acted. We remember those times fondly wishing for the freedoms of youth; innocent time when we relied on our parents or time before being a parent when our lives were much less complicated, when we could go anywhere or do anything without anyone relying on us.
We spend so much time planning. Planning for our kids' next growth spurt and buying them clothes. Trying to get good deals on things they will need. Planning our next vacation. Planning for the house or car we want to have. Planning how many kids we want. Planning for our next promotion. Planning for what we think will come next.
When I was little, I was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder. It was not ADHD, where I was aggressive or wild, but I had a difficult time concentrating. I am sure in the time before ritalin and ADD, I would have been called spacy or simply a daydreamer. My mind simply likes to wander. Over the years, I trained myself to focus in the classroom and it was never a problem. I got good grades and managed to graduate from college. But now, in this age of smart phones and busy lives, I'm having a tough time concentrating again.
God said, "Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10)." Let's break that down. "Be still!" Stop what you are doing! Quiet yourself. "Know that I am God." It is so fulfilling, knowing that there is something more than the ins and outs of getting places and being on time. If I never stop to quiet my busy mind, I am missing things. I am listening to my kids with half an ear as I worry about whether we should sell our house instead of adding on. When I am on my computer mindlessly using Facebook and looking at pictures of someone that I really don't interact with, I miss Noah walking four steps across the room. If I am constantly running here or there and texting and checking email and voicemail and go go going, I am missing the quiet little nudges and signs that the Holy Spirit sends us during our days. You know, the beautiful sunset or the butterfly that goes right over your head or your child innocently combing your hair. I think God wants so much to have a relationship with us, but getting stuck in the past or future is the devil's work, because we are not really living. When we are anxious or worried, that is NOT God. And, God is so amazing. Look at the intricacies on the simple veins of a leaf or study the beautiful little lines on your child's hand and you'll know what I'm talking about.
So thank you, Jesus, for two happy kids on the swing. It's hotter than hell right now, but for this very moment, we are having a good time and laughing. Thank you, Jesus, for this sweet baby in my arms. He is walking now and doesn't like to be held, but I so appreciate that he will let me rock him to sleep. Thank you, Jesus, for letting the tire on my car get flat 500 feet from a tire place next to a McDonalds.
Lord, help me really listen to the people around me. Help me look at them in the eye. Help me to not exist in the past or future, but LIVE right here, NOW. Amen! This is a great video/song Be Still and Know That He is God.
Monday, July 04, 2011
First movie
Michael took JM for a "Guys Afternoon Out" on Friday to see his first movie, Cars 2. It went pretty well. He had to get up to go to the bathroom 3 times, but Michael said he also drank a lot of root beer. Yes, the first thing that JM said when he came home was, "I got two ice creams!" Apparently someone not only got to drink root beer, but also had popcorn and ice cream at the movie and then went to Mickey D's for dinner and got another ice cream! I'm glad he got some good calcium that day. Here are the pics Mike sent from the theater. The first one is titled "First course, root beer"
Then we have "Mmm, popcorn!"
If you were wondering, while the boys were at the Alamo (yes, isn't JM the lucky one? Seriously, I'm so glad he and Michael did something fun together even if they ate nothing but garbage) Noah and I had my mom over for a wine happy hour/review of our current kitchen plans, then the two of us went out to sushi. It is so weird how having only one kid, even a baby who throws food all over the floor, seems easy after having two!
We had a really nice 4th weekend AT HOME (woo hoo!) including: Zumba class, birthday pool party, cookout with the playgroup families, attendance at the neighborhood 4th parade and swimming at our neighbors' pool. No fireworks in Austin this year because of the drought, so we're watching on TV, for the first time in my life! So unAmerican!
Noah I think might be ready to wean. I'm a little sad tonight because of that. :( The past few feedings he's not all that interested. Wah! I guess almost 13 months isn't bad! He is also walking. When you aren't looking he goes 2, 3, 4 steps. I'll try to get on video! I am doing a crappy job of updating this blog lately. At night, I am tired and want to zone out.
Then we have "Mmm, popcorn!"
If you were wondering, while the boys were at the Alamo (yes, isn't JM the lucky one? Seriously, I'm so glad he and Michael did something fun together even if they ate nothing but garbage) Noah and I had my mom over for a wine happy hour/review of our current kitchen plans, then the two of us went out to sushi. It is so weird how having only one kid, even a baby who throws food all over the floor, seems easy after having two!
We had a really nice 4th weekend AT HOME (woo hoo!) including: Zumba class, birthday pool party, cookout with the playgroup families, attendance at the neighborhood 4th parade and swimming at our neighbors' pool. No fireworks in Austin this year because of the drought, so we're watching on TV, for the first time in my life! So unAmerican!
Noah I think might be ready to wean. I'm a little sad tonight because of that. :( The past few feedings he's not all that interested. Wah! I guess almost 13 months isn't bad! He is also walking. When you aren't looking he goes 2, 3, 4 steps. I'll try to get on video! I am doing a crappy job of updating this blog lately. At night, I am tired and want to zone out.
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