Happy Father's Day!!

He is the love of my life and the most wonderful father to our kids. I couldn't have picked a better man to fall in love with!! Thank you, Honey, for everything that you do for us. We love you!!

WOOHOO!! Going on vacation after all!!

It has been decided that after the closing on the house and we get settled in the new place the kids and I are going to Florida. I've planned to leave no later than July 7!! I can't wait!! Amelia Island here we come!!! We are going to be there the entire week and Michael is going to fly down on the 13th. He and I are going to drive to Tampa and visit Busch Gardens and just have some quality time for the 2 of us. We don't get a lot of that with 3 kids. My mom is going to keep those wonderful children for us for that weekend. I'm feeling much better about the summer now. It was depressing me to think that I wouldn't be able to go on vacation.

Here we go again!

Well, the offer was countered and finally accepted on the house. We close on June 30. This is also Joshua's 3rd birthday and I feel really bad about having to move on his special day. Maybe we will celebrate a little early for him. Anyway, I'm now in the process of looking for an apartment for us to move into. I'm just a little hesitant to put down a deposit on anything thinking of what happened last time. I will wait until sometime next week to make it a little safer for us. Please, everyone keep your fingers crossed that this contract doesn't fall through. I need for this to be over. It is entirely too much stress for one person to handle. It makes me short tempered! LOL

Awwww!

Tonight before I go downstairs after my shower I peek in on the kids. Ari is sleeping peacefully in her crib. I tiptoe to Joshua's room and what do I find? Joshua AND Daddy fast asleep. Michael has bedtime duty when he is home by order of the 2 year old so he takes him upstairs, brushes his teeth, and reads him a story. Tonight he never made it out of the bed! LOL They are so cute sleeping up there together. My poor guys are completely exhausted. Michael was up early this morning after working until midnight so he could watch the kids while I went to CPR class and Joshua played outside for 3 solid hours today. I guess the day just wore them out. Maybe I'll let them sleep and not worry about disturbing Michael. He deserves an undisturbed slumber.

*SIGH* Is it football season yet?

I'm tired of baseball (could be because my Braves are horrible!!!) and I hate basketball. Soccer does nothing for me. I NEED my football!!! I'm afraid my Bulldogs aren't going to be very good this year with all the players we lost last year, but I'm still looking forward to the season. I've been looking at the University of Georgia schedule and I can't wait even though I don't get to go to the UGA/Vandy game this year. September 2 is the first game. How many days away is that? I need a ticker at the bottom of my blog to count down!! I may have to look into that! LOL I am going to try to get tickets to at least one home game. Hey, if you know anyone with connections let me know!! ;-) I want to take Christian to his first UGA home game. He is a newly converted Georgia fan. When I met him he was a Gator fan. Yeah, that went over really well in my house!! LOL I've converted (brainwashed) him though so it's all good!! To seal the deal with his conversion he needs to experience Game Day at UGA. He will forever be a fan if he can have that experience. At least I hope so since it makes it so much nicer to be at my house during football season!! I'll be getting him some new UGA merchandise for the coming season too. Gotta get rid of that blue and orange junk!!

Notice.....

There are now ads on my blog. Be proud that I was able to do this "technical" computer stuff all by myself! LOL I really am computer illiterate! Now, feel free to click on these links at anytime. Help me make some extra money and maybe find something cool for yourself in the process!! ;-)

The house saga continues!

This really is a huge PITA!!! We got another offer on the house today. They are offering more than the asking price, but they want............get this...................$3500 in moving expenses (our agent nixed this before he even brought the offer to us) AND $6500 in closing costs. WTF? I don't think so!!! They also want other small stuff like title insurance, repair fees, warranty, our refridgerator and stove, and all blinds. Are they completely out of their minds? That is a lot of money and we don't have that much equity in the house to begin with. We haven't even been here for 3 years. I'm thinking of countering with what they are offering and closing costs ONLY. We are putting in a call to my brother-in-law who is a mortgage broker to see if the $6500 in closing is legit anyway. They can also have the refridgerator, stove, and blinds. I'm not giving them anymore money though. I've decided that I'm selling this house on MY terms and if the potential buyers don't like it then they can buy a different house. I refuse to get screwed. I'm content with staying here if it comes down to it. Yes, the gas to and from work everyday is still going to be an issue, but otherwise I love my house.

The zoo is always fun!

Elephants...................giraffes.........................and tigers...................oh my!




Joshua in his "Cool dude" shades!



Ari is having fun in the bamboo forest.


Hey, 16 year olds are good for something..............carrying around cranky 1 year olds on a hot day at the zoo! Just kidding Christian, you know I love you!!

Sneaky Little Monkey!!

Does dog food really taste that good?

Ari will sit right beside the dog food bowl with her back against the wall and stealthfully slide her right hand into the bowl and pick out a piece of dog food. When she thinks I'm not looking she will then slip that piece of dog food into her mouth. As soon as I say her name she takes it out of her mouth and gently places it back into the bowl only to repeat the whole process a few minutes later. We do the same routine several times a day. I will move her away from the bowls and give her a toy to play with, but she comes right back within minutes. I'm guessing that dog food is a wonderful tasting food that we are all just missing out on!! LOL

Even though it is gross it is the funniest thing to watch. She really thinks she is pulling something over on us. She even gets this little innocent look on her face when she sits down. Like she has no intention of doing what she knows she shouldn't be doing. I love it!!

End of an era.............goodbye #9!

It's a very sad day for this Titans fan. Confirmation came today that Steve McNair has been traded. Not only has he been traded, but he's been traded to the Ravens of all teams! I knew there was a strong possibility he would go, but I was hoping against hope that it would not happen. Being a lifelong football fan I understand that this happens, but I hate it. It hurts my heart to see those players I love leave my beloved team. Steve was the last of the Titans who initially won my heart. I had no intention of being a Titans fan. I grew up a Dolphin and thought I would forever be one. Then the Oilers moved to Nashville. I went to a game in Memphis. It was fun, but no allegance change. I went to a few games at Vanderbilt. Still no change. They changed their name to the Tennessee Titans and came to the Coliseum. I was lucky enough to get tickets to every home game. That first year in the Coliseum was amazing for me. That team played with such heart. They seemed to be able to find a way to win and it wasn't always pretty. With each game I became more and more of a fan. I finally realized that they had my heart during the playoff game against the Bills. I wasn't able to be at that game, but I was sitting in front of my tv biting my finger nails watching. I remember calling my mom when the Bills went ahead with 16 seconds left. I was in tears. I was jumping for joy by the end of that conversation though with the Music City Miracle. It was at this time that I knew I was a Titans fan forever. They made me cry. The only other football team that has ever been able to make me cry is my Georgia Bulldogs and I live and die Georgia football!! Steve was a major part of winning my heart that season. They have made me cry several more times over the years, but what a ride it's been. The memories will be forever etched into my heart. I do miss all those guys from that season and I will miss #9 as well. I wish nothing but good things for Steve in his new home. Except, of course, when he plays my Titans! ;-)

To Steve................Thanks for the memories!! You will be sorely missed!!

Well hell!

Not only was the sell of our house postponed, but now it has been cancelled. The couple buying our house are now separating and can no longer buy it. Geez people. You would think that if someone was having marital problems they wouldn't be trying to buy a house. Right? They have to have been having these problems before they put an offer on our house. I mean really, it's only been under contract for a month. This is getting to the point of ridiculous. Don't they have to pay a penalty for breaking the contract? What happens to the earnest money? I guess that is something I need to talk to my realtor about.

I have decided that I am going to look at the positives here.

1. We have more time to find the "perfect" house.
2. I am home to keep the house presentable since we are out of school for the summer.
3. We learned a few things about offers, counter offers, and closing costs. (This could help us make a little more money on the sell.)

This is going to be a good thing for us. Please remind me I said this when I am stressing out later! LOL

Chirp.........chirp............chirp!

Anyone hearing crickets around here? I swear that there is nothing going on in my life at the moment. Not really. Friday was the last day of school for the kids. I still have tomorrow and Wednesday then I am out for the summer! WOOHOO!!! Mom came to visit this weekend. She was coming to help me pack for the move, but alas we are not moving at the end of this month. That has been postponed until the end of June. Ugh!! So, we didn't do much. She went to check out a few houses with me. I have a very short list that I need to get to my realtor so we can go look at them tomorrow. I'm so over this whole house hunting thing. I'm tired and frustrated. I just want a place to live so my kids can play outside. That is my main consideration at this point. They love to be outside and where we are now the yard is horrible in back because we can't grow grass and the front slopes to the road too much for me to be comfortable with them playing out there. Please keep your fingers crossed that we can find a place soon.

Am I ready for this?

OMG!! We got an offer on our house this morning and we accepted. It is now under contract to be closed on May 31!! Umm, we haven't found a house for us yet!!!! We have less than a month to find a place to live! I don't want to be homeless!!! I did find a house that I absolutely loved yesterday, but unfortunately there is a contract on it. Is it horrible of me to wish that the contract falls through so we can get it? I really really LOVE that house!!!

Wish us luck on finding a house soon.

Geez, sometimes people amaze me.

As you all know we have put our house on the market. We have been kicked out of our house almost daily. This evening I got a call from the scheduling people asking if someone can come by and look at the house between 8-9pm. Um, no. That is awful late to be viewing a house especially when you have 2 kids who have to get up rather early to go to school the next morning. Come on people, think just a little.

I'm soooooo over this!!

Okay, selling a house while you are living in it totally sucks! I'm so tired of having to make sure the house is in perfect condition every day. It's hard to do with 2 kids and a dog. Actually, it is impossible. I'm tired of getting the call that says someone is going to be by at a certain time and I have to pack up the kids and the dog and leave my house for at least an hour. Can they not give me an actual time instead of a window of time? That might make it a little easier. Oh and isn't it fun (NOT!!) when they call at 2:00 to tell you that someone is coming by between 1:30 and 2:30? They did this to Michael yesterday. Luckily, he was already out of the house. I just want someone to put an offer on this house so we can put an offer on a house that we like. It needs to be over so I can relax some. Selling a house is very stressful and I've decided that stress is not my friend. It is making me kinda irritable!

Joshua

Happiness is......................

Father and son

I love this picture!

Ari

She just has that look of "I'm definitely going to get into trouble today!" LOL
Look at those pig tails! Aren't they just the cutest things?

I wish I would have had a working camera tonight!

This was Wild West Week at Joshua's school. Today the kids were supposed to wear their "cowboy" clothes. Well, Joshua refused to wear his denim shirt and his boots this morning. He wouldn't even put them on at school when he saw all the other kids wearing theirs. Not long after we get home he sees his boots and his shirt and wants to wear them. This wouldn't normally be something funny, but tonight he was just in his t-shirt and underware. Now picture this.......................t-shirt with denim shirt over it, Finding Nemo underware, and cowboy boots! I was laughing so hard at my son (Does this make me a bad mommy? LOL). Of course I go in search of the camera. I find the old one, but no batteries and it has been taking pretty bad pictures lately. The nice new camera is with Michael so we don't get to document this unusual outfit for future embarrassment. How sad! LOL

Ah, the volatile weather of Spring

And so it begins. Last night was rather scary. We had some really rough weather starting around midnight last night. I woke up to hail beating down on my roof and against my windows. I laid there just listening intently to the storm. I was a little nervous. Around 1am there is this huge clap of thunder and Joshua screams. He made it to our room before I could get out of bed to go get him. He was scared to death. Poor little guy. He ended up staying in bed with us the rest of the night. Michael got up around 1:30am and went downstairs to take the dog out........I guess. When he came back up I sent him back to watch the weather. It was so windy with continuous thunder and lightening. I ended up going down to watch too. I stayed up until about 2:30am before venturing back to bed to try and get some sleep. The storm ended somewhere around 3am and I finally went back to sleep. We didn't have any tornados in our area, but back to the west of us was hit pretty hard. We were lucky this time.

I love Springtime because it starts to get warmer and the trees and flowers come alive again, but I also dread it each year. Bad weather like that really scares me now that I have kids. It seems like it is getting worse too. Maybe it's just because now I pay more attention to it and I'm also in an area where we get more bad weather than where I've lived in the past. I'm hoping that this year it really isn't as bad though. Although, they are already talking about more severe storms coming through at the end of this week. Let's keep our fingers crossed that they are wrong.