The offer still stands...

Yes, we received an offer for the house on Friday. We have mulled it over, investigated, asked opinions and are ready for our counter. It really should not be this hard yet... it is. The offer has a contingency on it and according to the relocation company we aren't allowed to have any contingencies. We are willing to work with this couple on their hang-up and remain on the market until it gets resolved. It of course could not be simple but it sure is exciting. Lots of action will probably take place once business opens for the day tomorrow. Stay tuned...

In other news... I got to do some running in Ames yesterday. It was really great to get out and see the world after being home with itchy boy for a few days. Fred held down the fort in the best way he could and I brought home McDonald's for lunch. It was a win win situation.

After we got my purchases stored and lunch fed I took a nice little nap. Nic had been up around 4 with a bad dream so I was counting on a bit more sleep. After my nap I got busy with a few things and then Will and I headed to 5PM Mass. He was awesome throughout the mass except when I went up to communion. He is not quite ready to receive yet and usually walks up with me with his arms crossed. None of the Eucharistic Ministers offer him a blessing but Father Rick always does. Well, we sat in the wrong place to see Fr. Rick so he wanted me to walk all the way around to get in the other line. I felt awkward so I just let him stay in the pew and not get blessed. In just a few short weeks it will all be good buddy.

He and I spent a bit more quality religious time today. We had Jesus Day at St. Pat's Parish. It was a little mini retreat for all of the first graders from the cluster who are making their first communions. We went to four stations and got to spend time with Jesus and Moses and Aaron. We got to go on the Great Church Search and we even made water and wine. It was a very hands-on event and I think Will learned a bunch and had a great time too.

The boys got outside to play today, it was mild enough for a little time on the grass, and I made a gourmet meal of Hamburger Helper Lasagna and an even tastier dessert of warm chocolate chip cookies. Everyone is going to bed clean, with full bellies and ready to head back to school and work tomorrow.

My week involves submitting my resignation letter tomorrow and getting back into a groove with S and K. I plan to work until May 2nd then we'll head to Dallas for the great house hunt of 2008. It is a biennial event around here.

OK, I think I am pretty ready to hit the ground running tomorrow. I need that good night of sleep to make it all work though. Off to dreamland.

BIG NEWS!!!

Less than three full weeks after listing the house we have an offer. It is a bit peculiar and thankfully we have all weekend to think and work on it. It does have us out of here by May 16th. YIKES!

Not ready to talk about it on the phone just yet. Fred is still mulling etc. Please say a prayer that if this is supposed to work out it will and if not that the people from Altoona will have a shot! Stay tuned...

Day #3

I am really tired of my kids getting sick with illness that doesn't make them tired. Nic is FULL of energy and life yet has to be holed up with me in this quiet house. Sometimes he gets to be too much...

We have had a decent day today all things considered. Got Will off to school a little early, I ran in to work to fill out my pittance of a time card for the week. I was able to see real live people and enjoy a few moments of joyful conversation. Once I got home I putzed for only a few minutes on the computer before heading to the basement.

First I took care of some laundry then got busy at my scrap desk. I created while simultaneously backing up photos from the basement computer to disk. All good. I was reminded that there are a number of events from 2005 that need to be documented. I need to upload the photos and get them ordered so that they can get into the flow system.

After a good bit of work in the scrap space, that included cleaning it up when I was done, I decided to move on to other things. I headed upstairs and made a tasty grilled cheese lunch for Nic and me. During lunch I got a worisome call from Will from school. I was sure he had broken out in spots and needed to be brought home. NOPE! Seems he was dissatisfied with my lunch I packed for him. He wanted Wavy Lays, not pretzels. Sorry bud... You can have Wavy Lays after school. (I am going to take some in a baggie when I pick him up today.)

After lunch Nic and I watched No Reservations. I multi-tasked while watching it and continued to get photos in order on the upstairs computer. They are really in good shape but still need to be backed up. My next step. The movie was a bit lame but not terrible. Just predictable I guess. Too much kissing according to Nic.

Well, I am ready to head out, stopping at the library to return and borrow for the weekend, before I pick up Will. Fred is en route to DM from TX somewhere I think. He'll be home in time to pick up Pizza for Dinner! YEAH!

Here is the latest look at Nic's pox. Not too bad, getting through the phases, hopefully well enough to head to school on Monday.

Day #2

The view out the back this morning... It is "officially" Spring right?

So this is another view from this afternoon. A few more spots but not really too bad. Nic took an Oatmeal bath this morning, and despite the wicked smell that just about made me gag, he found it very soothing. We got him clean from head to toe and tackled some homework and enjoyed a movie together today. We watched Martian Child which made me laugh and made me cry and made Nic laugh at me when I cried.

In other news here are a couple of shots of the fun time I missed at the DM Science Center. The good news is that we are members so we can go back again once everyone is healthy, and the other good news is that Will was well behaved and had a great time without me. He was a little clingy when I dropped him off this morning, but he must have recovered nicely.

The final blog-worthy bit of news is that Will is not feeling hungry, not a huge bit of concern, but he did say he didn't feel so hot. Well, let's follow up on that and take your temp. He is registering 100.3 in the ear. We'll keep an eye on that until bedtime. Could be a full house here tomorrow?!?!?!

Gratitude... Yes, I do have some!

1. Staying home allowed me to catch up on laundry and change the boys bed sheets.

2. Nic is handling the CP as well as can be expected. The ones in his hair seem to be the most bothersome.

3. Will had a great time on his field trip without me. See, I have raised strong, independent but loving children!

4. I made Blue Box Mac 'n Cheese today. It turned out the best it had been in a long time. Silly thing to find join in but I do!

5. Fred is due home tomorrow! Let's hope the snow melts before he gets here:)

Day #1

So this is what home schooling might look like at my house... Nic hard at work now that we have some work for him to do.

Sadly, this "condition" will prevent me from joining William on the 2nd Grade field trip to the DM Science Center tomorrow. I am bummed to say the least. Sadly, with no contingency childcare plans and no one who really relishes time with my nine year old suffering from the "condition," I had to bow off the chaperon list. I am sending the older digital camera with Will and plan to personally connect with his group leader in the AM to ask for her assistance in getting a couple of shots and letting Will have some fun with the camera as well.

The parting shot of the day will be Nic's back. Not really too bad as of this afternoon. Nothing even pussy... yet. His first spot appeared last night and there were MANY more this AM. We are up to about 30 right now. Stay tuned... He did ask if I planned to scrapbook this disease. He said he might like to know what kinds of sickness he had growing up. Since he had Fifth Disease a month or so ago he has been a little more aware of childhood illnesses. Crazy what kids pick up on?!?!

I make plans... God laughs!

So, not that we have a LOT of stuff going on here, just trying to sell the house and stay busy. Well, it seems that God wants us to slow down a bit. Sit still even. Nic has the Chicken Pox. He is #6 case at his elementary and just after we went in to see the nurse she got a call about #7 who is in Will's grade. YIKES!

Right now Nic just has red spider bite looking things. Less than 20 I'd say. He is a bit itchy and VERY board. Me too. I got the house in great order for the showing yesterday so it's not like I have cleaning to do. I do need to tackle some laundry so that will help keep me busy. I should look on this as an opportunity to sort pictures on the computer and back up some files. But I think I'll do that in my sweats. Off to change out of my work clothes.

Happy Wednesday!

Made my cake and I'll eat it too!

So I got a call around lunch time that a couple wanted to take a third look at our house around 4:30 this afternoon and they wanted to have at least 90 minutes! Yikes, I think they might be serious... Well as fate would have it, S went home not feeling great today so I was able to make arrangements for K this afternoon and take off of work early. I got home around 1 and got straight to work. I vacuumed every piece of carpet in the place, I washed the hardwood floors, I dusted, I wiped, I straightened. We had been home for four days straight and it felt like so much needed to be done. Well, after 2 1/2 hours I just had to be done. The boys and I crashed at a neighbors house from 4:15-5:15 then we ran to M-town to grab some dinner. They wanted Burger King and I am so nervous I can not eat. Well, on second thought I could carve myself a big 'ol slice of Chocolate Torte that I made for Easter dessert. If I don't eat a bit it will go to waste.

So I am nibbling my torte and waiting not so patiently for a call from my Realtor. Who knows when it might come...


Oh yeah, and check out my home listing here. Do you see any reason someone wouldn't love this house? I would move it to TX with me if I could. It is a great house!