Daybook

Just popping in to say a quick hi and breaking all the blogger rules--no explanations, no promises, no pictures. Are there blogger rules? Like, you have to explain if you come back after a long/unexpected absence, and you have to set goals and tell the whole internet about them to keep you accountable (then offer more explanations when you fail to meet those goals anyway), and always post pictures because posts without pictures are boring and un-pinnable. Is "pinnable" a word? "Pinable"? There's another rule to break...

Whatevs. (And that IS apparently a word because "the computer guys" didn't put a squiggly red line under it, as Michael would say...)

I've missed blogging, but I didn't feel like I had much to say. Especially not after pushing through a rough couple of weeks to meet a deadline at the end of August, recovering for a month, then surviving (mostly, I'm not quite done) another crazy two weeks for the next project. Maybe I'll do a post about all those projects... next year...

But I was inspired and motivated by Bobby's  Weekly Writing in October link-up, especially when she suggested that if we needed something to get us started we could just go with a daybook kind of post. I can do that! I think I can I think I can I think I can... Chug chug chug, puff puff puff puff...

What, you don't randomly start reciting children's books in the middle of conversation?

So, with no further ado, currently I am:

reading
The Anne books, for the zillionth time. I'm on Anne of the Island and almost cried last night when Anne refused Gilbert's proposal. These are books that truly get better every single time, and I just have to read them in autumn. (Michael would tell me I don't "have to," I just really want to. He told me that the other day when I needed coffee. Good gracious.)

Also trying to read Augustine's Confessions. Because I'm ashamed I've never read the whole thing, and every time I read a passage from it for something else it is so beautiful and moving. I'm thinking this is one area where it's not really the thought that counts...

praying
This prayer from St. Augustine:

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. 

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. 

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. 

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. 

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. 

Amen.

And Psalm 131:

O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,

my eyes are not raised too high;

I do not occupy myself with things

too great and too marvelous for me.

But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

like a child quieted at its mother's breast;

like a child that is quieted is my soul.

O Israel, hope in the Lord

from this time forth and for evermore.

I just "discovered" this psalm and I am totally taken with it. Maybe because I feel like I'm almost never quieted and I am usually occupied with things too great (or at least too much!) for me.

listening

For Colette to wake up. Because teething. Ugh.

around the house

My parents moved in last week! Yes, moved in to stay. No, they're not in poor health (thanks be to God). Yes, we actually just all wanted to live in the same house. There's more to it than that--but it deserves its own post. You know, next year.

We put a lot of (pretty minor but very time consuming) work into the house and yard this summer getting ready for a refinance. And it totally paid off (hahaha, I'm so exhausted look how funny I am). But there's a lot more to do, starting with redoing the retaining wall along the garden/weed bed in front of the house--because the current wall is not doing a particularly good job at retaining and consequently the porch is sinking and starting to pull away from the house. No bueno. So that's next on the list, along with finishing (because planning totally means we've started, right?) the necessary remodeling to turn the basement into a bedroom and living room instead of one giant toy room.

watching

NCIS with Alex. We're almost caught up on Netflix (we took a semi-unintentional hiatus a couple years ago and fell off the wagon). This is some serious relationship-building stuff for us, because if it weren't for NCIS we would probably never have gotten married. Also deserving of its own post--I don't think I've ever told the story here. Man, these daybook things are fantastic for generating post ideas! But remember, no promises.

enjoying

October. It's my favorite. 

Watching Colette's personality and sense of humor continue to emerge. When she's really tired but happy she does this thing where she just shakes here back and forth until she starts leaning and wobbling all over the place. It's hilarious--until she smacks you in the nose with the back of her head.

Watching Michael learn and grow this past month of homeschooling. I love his curiosity (mostly), and watching his mind work is just a delight (mostly).

Listening to John Paul talk--he sounds so much older than 2 1/2. Last Thursday was a really rough morning, and at one point I had gathered all of the kids around me to try to hug all of them at once after having yelled at all of them for--I can't even remember. So rough. But I was crying and apologizing for yelling, and JP just looked at me and said "Is okay Mama. No woozles." Because apparently he thought I was crying because I was scared of the woozles.

Seeing Liam transition from toddler to big boy. He's almost four, so I guess he hasn't really been a toddler for almost a year. But suddenly he's seeming so old. He can be so sweet and so thoughtful, and also so mischievous and so creative. And his delight when he answers a question or sounds out a phonics exercise is the sweetest.

Dabbling in genealogy. So far I've traced ancestors back to Scotland in the early 1700s, Cape May, NJ in the early 1700s, and France and Switzerland in the early 1800s. And I'm pretty sure there's a direct line to William the Conqueror, because I remember reading some of the documents one of my uncles put together when I was in high school and then trying to impress some history-nerd friends with it. If I remember correctly they failed to be properly awed by my distinguished lineage.

And with that, I should probably do the dishes and fold some laundry* before bed. I mean, before Colette needs her 9pm snack, to be followed by her 10pm snack, to be followed by her 3am snack, to be followed by her 5am rise-and-shine routine. Or at least that's how it went last night...

*In the interest of full disclosure, I refused Alex's offer to clean the kitchen and won't let him help me fold the laundry, because those chores are my chance to watch Netflix and as long as there isn't an imminent deadline I would generally rather do them myself. They're almost as much of a luxury as a chore, however bizarre that may be.

Check out the other weekly writings at Revolution of Love, and I'll try to be back here before next Saturday--maybe even with pictures! (Oh wait, no promises!)

That thing where I write stuff on the internet sometimes...

You know when you put something off for a little too long, and it becomes kind of overwhelming?  And your mom tries to guilt you into taking care of it (true story), but you just can't find the time?  So you you put it off even longer, and it becomes just too monumental to even contemplate?  So you keep pretending to ignore it?

And then you finally work up the oomph to tackle it, and as soon as you sit down to get started BOTH children wake up from their naps within moments of each other?

And then you finally convince them to play more or less contentedly without you and sit down to start again, and one of them promptly fills his diaper?

And then... and then... wait for it... oh, I guess we can move on!

So, I didn't mean to take an unannounced, two month hiatus from blogging--it kind of just happened.  (Rescue smaller child from pillow he is trying and failing to crawl over.)  So, how to catch up?  Well, I suppose the last two months could be summarized with:
-we bought a house and moved it
-I quit (one of) my job(s)
-we're pregnant (!!!)

You know, just the usual life stuff!  (Break toddler's heart telling him he can't help type the blog post.)  Okay, not really usual at all (except being pregnant, that's feeling pretty normal by this point).  (Rescue smaller child from train table he is trying and failing to crawl under.)  So yeah, it's been a crazy, stressful, wonderful, overwhelming, epic two months for us.

We finally found the house of our dreams (for, like, the third time) and this time everything worked out.  We're all moved in and the frantic, chaotic unpacking of the first week has settled down to a box or two every week or two.  It's home.  It's wonderful.  I'll take and post pictures of it someday (probably).

I quit my job at the Augustine Institute, and so for the first time in three years I'm only working one job, and I'm loving that fact (only one part-time job--there's still the whole motherhood/housewife thing, naturally).  However, that one job does involve teaching three classes a week, each of them an hour's drive away.  So I'm away from the house for five hours at a time three times a week.  This week is the fourth week of classes, and I'm just now starting to feel like maybe it won't kill me.

And we're expecting a new addition to the family in early March.  I was kind of waiting to announce it until I found some cute, clever way that didn't involve time/effort/craftiness/etc.  Well, that search proved fruitless (and by search, I mean I thought about getting on Pinterest and decided it would just be depressing, and nothing else occurred to me  in the grand total of ten minutes I've spent thinking about it).  So no clever announcement (so sorry, baby), just a lack of words to express our joy and excitement.

We are blessed, life is crazy, I'm exhausted, and God is good.  That about sums it up.  I promise not to wait another two months before I blog again.  Seriously.

7 Quick Takes (vol. 32)

--- 1 ---

These may be the quickest quick takes ever, because I am exhausted.  Seriously, completely, worn out exhausted.  And while I have been thoroughly enjoying Jen's seven day blogging challenge, it generally means that after tucking Michael in I force myself over to the computer to write that post I've been thinking about all day but never got around to, when usually I would just put it off till tomorrow and be that much closer to going to bed.

--- 2 ---

I don't know why I'm so very tired.  Somehow the obvious reasons of two busy little boys (one of whom is still waking multiple times per night), a part time job heading into the busiest/most stressful week of the semester, and the emotional drain of disappointment and continued house hunting just don't seem sufficient to explain it all.  I don't know... I guess I want a reason I can fix to make at least some of the tiredness go away.

--- 3 ---

But, speaking of houses... drum roll please...

We are under contract for another house.  I know, it should be an exclamation point.  It is, sometimes.  I go back and forth between thinking something will obviously go wrong with this one as well and being so excited that in less than a month we'll finally be moving into our house.  We have our inspection on Wednesday and are praying praying praying that there is nothing expensive wrong with it (and that if there is the sellers will be willing to take it into consideration and renegotiate the price).

--- 4 ---

I suppose something else I could fix would be my own bedtime (but that's way too obvious).  The last few nights I've stayed up far later than I intended to playing Doors & Rooms with Alex on his iPad.  It's a ridiculously addicting puzzle game where you have to find and solve all the clues in a room to move on to the next level.  Hello, time sink.

--- 5 ---

I mentioned last week that Liam has been loving to feed himself.  New favorites within the past week include: cheese, scrambled egg, blueberries, and peas.  He has also been devouring yogurt mixed with applesauce, cinnamon, and chia seeds.  It is so much fun to watch him enjoy food so much!

--- 6 ---

M mowing the "yawn" with Daddy this morning

--- 7 ---

When I posted about all the hilarious things Michael has been saying recently I forgot to include my favorite: "Mama, need nunnles!" (snuggles)  I love Mitenal nunnles, and I love when he comes up and asks for them.

And now it's time for some nunnles with my pillow (ignoring the siren call of the puzzle games...)

Go see Jen and the rest for more Quick Takes!  
Happy Friday :)

7 Quick Takes (vol. 31)

--- 1 ---

You know what is really good news for the end of the week?  Not losing your earnest money because the person who was supposed to sell you a house filed for bankruptcy and went to jail.  We're still feeling pretty bummed about not getting this house, but at least we're only out the money for the inspection and not another $2000.

--- 2 ---

Guess who turned 8 months old?  This guy!

Who? Me?

Okay, actually he turned 8 months a couple weeks ago, and I'm just that behind.  Good thing he's so easy going--I don't think he'll hold it against me.

He's sitting up by himself (with relatively little tipping over)--one of my favorite milestones.  A little over a week ago he suddenly decided he loves being fed, and started opening his mouth voluntarily and lunging for the spoon.  I almost cried with joy.  He's also getting much better at feeding himself, so we're doing lots of soft finger foods.  It looks like crawling is next on the agenda as he has started getting up on his hands and knees and rocking, all by himself, just in the last couple days.  But hey, maybe he'll surprise me and go back to being The Amazing Sleeping Wonder Baby first and sleep through the night consistently again (we had a stretch of a couple weeks back in May, and then... once, since then. blech).

--- 3 ---

Alex was running some errands before our latest trip while I stayed home and tried to get ahead on a project for work.  I asked him to pick up some more deodorant for me.  Like the dutiful, generous, attentive husband he is, he did (or maybe he just didn't want me to smell on vacation).  He got the right brand and the right variety, but while I usually go for "Active Clean" he picked up "Sexy Intrigue."  I asked him if it was a compliment, a hint, or just an innocent oversight, and he said that was the only scent they had.  I'm not sure I buy that answer.

--- 4 ---

Does anyone else feel slightly disoriented for a day or two when switching deodorants, or is it just me?

--- 5 ---

Michael's newest literary love is Calvin and Hobbes.  At first I was thrilled and thought it was just so cute that he wanted to sit and read it all on his own.  Then I caught sight of one where Calvin is climbing out the bathroom window instead of taking a bath like he's supposed to.  

Don't be getting any ideas, Buster.

the picture of innocence

--- 6 ---

If you're looking for something to do this week I'll be joining Jen for her blogging challenge: every day Monday-Sunday.  You totally should too.  (Dad and Dene', I am looking at you.)

--- 7 ---

Please keep Dwija and her family in your prayers as they grieve the loss of baby Nicholas.  I have no words.

Go see Jen and the rest for more Quick Takes!  
Happy Friday :)

Do you ever...

...pick the wrong check out line at the grocery store?

You know, there are so many options and you really just want a quick and easy check out experience, and one line just looks like it's moving fast than the rest, so you hop in that one?  And then ten minutes later you're wondering if you should move to another line or just stick it out since you've already invested so much time in the slowest. line. ever.?

Yeah, that's kind of us and this whole house deal.  (And here you were thinking it was an elaborate analogy leading into an apology for being MIA for weeks... nope! But I am sorry... really!)

We went under contract the middle of June, and everything was going well.  The house was in pre-foreclosure and we knew there was a chance the bank would ignore our contract with the seller and auction it off at the scheduled auction on July 3rd.  The morning of the 3rd we learned that the bank had postponed the auction for a couple weeks--not exactly the news we were hoping for, but still good news.

A couple hours later our realtor called us back to tell us she had just been informed that the seller had filed for bankruptcy.  The house was now under the protection of the bankruptcy court, and the seller needed to petition for permission to sell it to us anyway.  It would be at least two months before the court even issued a decision.

We sent the seller an amend/extend that would push the closing date out long enough to allow for the slow-grinding wheels of justice (or something like that) and asked for confirmation that she was, in fact, still intending to sell us the house.  We heard nothing (surprise surprise).

Today we learned that the seller is in jail.  ?!

Her ex-husband is trying to get power of attorney so he can sign our notice of termination so we can get our earnest money back.  We don't know if there's any possibility of him being allowed to take over the contract and still sell us the house, or if the seller's incarceration will have any effect on what the court decides about her bankruptcy situation.  We're thinking this chapter of the epic (epically awful) house search is probably closed.

We're vacillating somewhere between heartbreak and good riddance.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us throughout this whole process... and thanks for your continued prayers.  We need them.  A lot.

House update (prayers please!)

So, a quick update on the house situation.

We had our inspection, and it was pretty much as we expected--the house is 35 years old and needs some TLC, but nothing too scary.  The owner, just to be consistent, ignored our attempts to negotiate a somewhat lower price based on the results of the inspection.  We weren't in much of a position to press her--if we officially stated we would only buy it at a lower price and she refused (or ignored) our request to negotiate then we would end up out of contract (again), and we weren't willing to risk that.  It would have been nice for her to acknowledge the work it needed and knock a few thousand off, but we weren't willing to let the house go over that.

So one major milestone has come and gone.  The next milestone is a scary one, because we have no control over it.  The house is in pre-foreclosure, being foreclosed on at the end of the week.  The bank had already scheduled an auction for July 3rd to auction off the house unless the owner sold it before then.  Because the seller has a buyer (us) but hasn't closed yet the bank is being asked to postpone the auction to give us time to close on the house.  But they might say no.  And we probably won't know until July 3rd whether they are going to auction off the house anyway or whether they are going to let us buy it.  If it goes to auction then it's out of our reach because we can't pay cash for it.

We don't have a particularly high opinion of banks as involved in the home buying/selling process, but we really feel like this house is God's will for us.  So for the next week we're just trying to trust and pray and not FREAK OUT ABOUT IT.  Sorry.  Like I said: trying.  Alex is doing a better job with the not-freaking-out bit than I am, but that's fairly typical.

Please pray for us that the bank would let us have our house!!!

and once we move in you can come over and I'll bake you
thank you cookies!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Sunday was my birthday.  I got to spend the day with five of my favorite people in the whole wide world: my  amazing husband, my two beautiful boys, and my wonderful parents.  It was glorious.

picture stolen shamelessly from my dad's blog

On Sunday Alex and I also went under contract for a house.  THE house.  The house of our dreams; the house of our prayers.

This morning we had our inspection.  The house needs some work, and we're excited to make it our own and give it the TLC it needs.  We were thrilled that there was nothing too drastic; there is some mold in the attic which needs to be addressed before we move in, but nothing that can't be taken care of.  If all goes as planned (please oh please keep praying for us!) we'll be homeowners in early August.

And you guys... this house is on a corner.

God is good.

Still houseless, but never homeless...

The short version is: we still don't have a house, and I'm mad, sad, and trying to let myself be comforted.

The long version... well, the long version is going to be quite long.  And even longer if you want some of the background here.

For the last two months or so we had been keeping our eye on a house.  A fairly large house, with a nice size  yard, in our dream neighborhood.  It was out of our price range, but not hopelessly so.  And there was a decent chance it would be well within our range by the end of the summer (if it stayed on the market around long enough).

Before we came out to Lincoln we decided we should try to see it, just in case we needed to/were in a position to make a move while we were on vacation.  After a few scheduling snafus (chrome says that is spelled correctly, but it looks awfully strange) we were able to see it late Tuesday afternoon right before driving out to Lincoln.  We even delayed our departure time by several hours to fit it in (which is probably what threw Liam for such a crazy loop sleep-wise, but that's neither here nor there).

And it was perfect.  Not perfect as in "too good to be true" perfect, but perfect as in "we can absolutely see ourselves living here and making this our own and being thoroughly happy and comfortable here" perfect.  After we replaced the pinkish tile and magenta carpet in the master suite, of course.

Waiting...

Well, I'm finally doing it.  The boys are both napping, I can't remember anything more important that I'm supposed to be doing (for the moment... it'll come to me as soon as one of them wakes up... shhh, no, not laundry).  I have time to blog in peace and not at bedtime, and all I can think about it our house hunt.  So here's the saga (so far).

The waiting is the hardest part

Every day you see one more card

You take it on faith, you take it to the heart

The waiting is the hardest part

I don't know what it is, but I love Tom Petty (as long as I don't look too closely at the lyrics).  And while I'm pretty sure he wasn't pining away to own his own home, this chorus has been my theme song for the last year.

Year?  Yep, this week marks an entire year since we moved in with Alex's parents.  It was only supposed to be for a couple months... just long enough to finish saving up a down payment and find the right house... we were going to be happily and comfortably settled in said house long before the baby we had just found out we were expecting was born...