Almost simultaneously when we found out that our offer on the land was accepted, Mark got word that he was awarded a spot flying the 757 out of Detroit. This is a promotion for him and even though he will in the near future start work out of Detroit instead of Cincinnati, it's a great opportunity for him. Not only will he get a better schedule and higher pay, but he will get to fly to Paris occasionally instead of Orlando all the time. He goes to training at the end of June after we go to the beach with Mark's family.
Our master bath remodel is as good as finished and it is beautiful!! We survived much of 3 weeks without a baby gate on our front stairs which was much more painful than having to shower in our basement or walking down the hall to pee. We are just waiting for our shower doors to be delivered and installed which should take about another week or so. Pictures below!
Our contractor, Dave, was wonderful. He has such an easy going personality and the fact that the kids and I were home 95% of the time he was working, pretty much makes him a saint. I joked with him on his second to last day that I felt like we were breaking up. He told me that he could have been finished a week earlier if we didn't talk so much. He's chatty and so am I, but the work is finished and the bathroom is amazing, so let's sell our house. Yes, we are still moving. ;)
Since I last posted we have pretty much packed up 1/3 of our belongings. You know the drill...make the house look like a museum, but still live in it. Mark rented a 10 x 10 storage locker and packed it like a puzzle. I told him that no one in that entire storage facility could get more in their locker than he did in ours. It's a state-fair-prize-winner kind of amazing. My husband has skills.
My parents have been extremely helpful, pitching in whenever we beckon them. My dad did a lot of painting and my mom helped pack many a box as well as doing a fair share of babysitting. I'm sure they'll be as glad as anyone when this is all over. We promise not to move anymore.
We've taken down all our pictures and canvases (gasp!!) and so you can imagine our walls are bare. Metaphorically speaking, the "herd" has been thinned so much that it's a breeze keeping the house tidy. That will come in handy because in the next week or so, our house will go on the market. Let the fun begin!!
Houses in our area have been going like hot cakes. I've even heard of multiple offers and sellers getting over asking price. Yes, please! Recently, one in our subdivision went pending in 6 days and I have heard and seen on the MLS that that is not a fluke. I am hoping ours sells in 6 days too or I might make everyone crazy trying to make sure the house looks perfect while we live in it 24/7. We plan on moving to a rental so we will have double our pleasure when we move twice. Five kids and moving twice is a good idea...said no one ever. ;)
As always lurking in the background is the passing of days while we continue to wait for word on Ellie. 3 weeks ago Ellie's worker stopped by for her monthly check in. She shared with us that Ellie's dad still has not made any moves to get custody of Ellie or any relatives for that matter. When I asked her when we'd know if she gets to stay, she originally said July, but when I asked her when they go back to court, she said by the beginning of May. She explained that the county would have to state how they intended to proceed to wrap Ellie's case up so the decision would have to be made by May 4th because that's when they go back to court. That is so, so, so SOON!!
I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I could not have endured this waiting if it had not been for my faith and Mark's. He had been solid as a rock, never crumbling for a minute in a moment of weakness and that has been amazing. A true gift. Honestly, we have been cool as cucumbers because in faith we trust that God is going to work this out for Ellie and for us. The prayers of our home school community have also helped us carry this cross. You can not even imagine the sheer number of families that have us covered in prayer and that makes all the difference. Jesus, I trust in you!
Ellie is a handful as of late as most toddlers are. She is 21 months old and acting every bit of a tantrum throwing two year old. She can climb up on the couch and chairs by herself if she puts her mind to it. She is also afraid of loud noises like the vacuum (good thing I don't do that often!). The thing that makes me most crazy is when she finishes eating and launches her plate on the floor and then pours her drink on her high chair tray and splashes in it. That, my friends, makes my blood BOIL.
On the other hand, she has been calling the kids by name when the mood suits her and saying so many new things. She is cute as ever and she will play happily in "baby jail" also known as the Pack N' Play in the upstairs hallway for an hour at a time. That's how we get school work done around here without her being under foot.
Our school year still marches on mostly unchanged except for art. We've kicked art projects to the curb since February when all the farm business picked up momentum. Everyone is making great progress, but none such as noticeable as Stella. She is reading and able to sound out words and she is making great strides in math as well! This feels so good for both of us.
On March 11th Nashy Boy turned 5. FIVE!!!! He is a doll. He told me one morning while he was helping me make breakfast that he wanted to call me "Your Majesty" and then said, "No, Dad's the King, your're the Queen and I'm the Ace...that cooks." He also asked me if Kleenex was Latin for tissues? Ha! He says that Luke is his "best brother" and wants to give me a hug and a kiss so that I'll "have more patience". That kid is a crack up and I can hardly believe my sweet boy is 5.
I did take lots more pictures than in February so this is a mix from both my camera and my trusty phone. On to the fun stuff!!!
My oils
Mark's handy work. Reason #1036 we need to move out of our subdivision. I can't believe one of the neighbor's didn't call the fire department.
Let the good times roll...#toddlerriteofpassage
This is Nash's prized deer that he won in our annual Christmas "Silly Gift" game. This is from 1985 and when I try to get rid of it, he insists we keep his "deers". There used to be a pair, but we've narrowed it down to one since the other sustained a fatal blow which landed it in the trash.
Hope this doesn't get broken in the move. ;) Thankfully, Granna wrapped it up nice and snugly.
Ellie wrecking havoc.
And more trouble...
Oh, it's in the garage which was overtaken with supplies and tools. I didn't want to park in there anyway.
Our storage unit, which according to Mark, still has plenty of room. Lift with your legs, honey! :)
The weather had been crazy with up and down temperatures. With that comes up winds and downed trees. The kids got this all cleaned up and with my mom's help, got the big branch back in the woods where it belongs.
So I took pictures of this and then none of my aunt and cousin. I'm a loser! My mom and I and our out of town guests also went to lunch and to see the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2" which was hilarious. Probably even funnier than the original! We laughed and laughed which felt so good.
Miranda and I traded services...she and Brooke made lip balm and I designed and printed labels for her to use when she makes it at home. It was a win/win!
And now on to the really fun stuff...my bathroom!
Old
I was at the paint counter waiting my turn, but there was a huge line because they had blown a fuse and no one knew where the fuse box was at Lowes. Am I the only one who finds it hilarious that the employees of the home improvement store can't find the breaker box? Anyway, the clock is ticking and by this time it was 7:45 PM and I was hoping to get a much needed pedicure. This was my only chance to do it because Mark was going off to work the next day so I bailed on the samples.
The moral of the story is that I took my chances on the permanent wall color so I could get my less than permanent toenails painted Strawberry Margarita. It's about priorities. Thank the Lord, the wall color turned out better than I could have imagined and my toes aren't so bad either.
Well, there you have it. Next time we meet again, Lord willing, we should have our farmhouse plans squared away, know something about Ellie, and have a pending sign in our front yard. EEEeeek! We will just continue to pray our way through this and hold on while we are speeding towards Crazy Town. Until next time...
XOXO,
Katie
P.S. I just bought gym shoes for Brooke in a size 10 and she's 11.5 years old. We'll have to discuss that in May and I, in therapy. #staylittleforever
