I know it's been over 3 months since I last posted but you gotta cut me some slack. I've been a busy girl!!
We got the house under contract in March and I had to start packing. It seemed like every time I put something in a box, something else would pop up in its place. Either that or someone would start asking where such and such was (even though they hadn't touched it in YEARS)!! :) Oh well... I guess that's the way it goes.
In May Renee came out for a visit. We had a lot of fun!! Olivia flew back to Arizona with her for a weeks vacation. She had a blast. Its the first time she has been away from home for that long. I don't think she wanted to come back home.
Gavin went to Louisville the same week to visit Sarah, Aaron, and the twins. Sarah said he wasn't too thrilled about the twins crying. He had a lot of fun though.
Where was I during all this free time?? :) I was in the Bahamas with my hubby :) Woo Hoo!!! We went with several other couples from his office (a company trip).
We had a great time. We stayed at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island. Our room and view were gorgeous. We ate and ate and downed a few Bahama Mamas as well. We went down to the beach at night and sat and stared at the stars. It was so peaceful listening to the ocean.
We went shopping downtown, sailed around the island on a catamaran, stared at the ENORMOUS cruise ships in the harbor, gambled a little, floated around the lazy river, and found the shadiest spot in one of the many pools. Leave it to Casper to search out the shade in paradise. :) I had a wonderful massage at the spa one day. Joey played golf with some of the guys at the country club. We even went to a theater at the resort and saw Avatar on the big screen (free for guests).
My most memorable moment was parasailing. We tried it in the Dominican Republic and I LOVED it so of course I had to do it again!! Joey put on a brave face and went with me again. It is so beautiful being hundreds of feet up in the air and being able to see for miles. After that, we went jet skiing for a little bit.
Of course, all good things must come to an end and Joey had to drag me kicking and screaming back home :( Oh well.
Once we were home, I had to finish packing the house because the move was only a week away.
I had the pleasure to babysit the twins for Sarah and Aaron's anniversary. Olivia went with me to help. I couldn't have done it without her!! My hat is off to Sarah for handling both of them on a daily basis. They were perfect angels and we had such a good time with them. Can't wait to do it again!!
Needless to say...the move didn't go a smoothly as I had planned, but that's a long, long story! The bottom line is that we are now happily in our cozy new home!! It's a little dollhouse. The kids love it and the neighborhood is really nice. We are so thankful everything worked out.
We had a wonderful Father's day and Fourth of July with our friends and family. Of course it was bittersweet but you make the best of the situation. Missy would be proud!!
So that's the last 3 months in a nutshell...now it's time to kick back and relax. LOL...yeah right!!!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
I'm trying to keep my promise...
Today is one of those days I wish I was at home in my PJ's, wrapped up in my snuggie, on the couch, and watching a flick! It is cloudy, windy and rainy. Yuck!
As the title says, I am trying to keep my promise to blog more frequently. A VERY big thing has happened since I last posted. We got our house under contract!!!! Yippee!!! I am so excited. The fun game of trying to pick a new house has begun. We have until June 14th to close and move out. this gives us plenty of time to find "the right one." In the few weeks that we have been looking we have struck out more times than I can count. We put an offer in on one property that we really liked in Hidden River only to find out the next day that someone had beaten us to the punch the day before.
Oh well...I know that's just God's way of saying "not yet guys...just be patient...take your time." The only bad thing about taking my time is that I don't know how to take my time. My life for the last 11 years has been about rushing to get from point A to point B. I do EVERYTHING fast. It's almost like I have this constant timer inside me. I know God has a plan for us, and that's why I am learning to listen for him. He speaks in a whisper to me, so I have to pay very close attention to what is happening around me.
One of our problems is that we have limited ourselves to looking at houses in one particular area of Bowling Green. There are several homes that we have to look at so we are staying positive. The other problem is that people seem to be flocking to buy homes because the tax credit runs out at the end of April. Houses seem to be going under contract left and right. It's crazy around here. We will be fine. The worst case scenario is that we have to buy a lot and move into an apartment while we build a house that we like.
The whole house hunting experience has been hilarious so far. We went to several open houses one Sunday afternoon with the kids. They were bouncing off the walls and I was trying to keep them reigned in to the best of my ability. They were so excited to be looking with us that I can't blame them, but my nerves were wearing thin. We went into one particular home where the realtor had SEVERAL candles burning. This would have been fine had they not been all very different and very potent smells. You had to breathe through your mouth to keep from passing out. Well...Gavin, being the fun little man that he is, yells out, "What's that smell? It stinks in here!" I could have died!!! The realtor was in the next room and both Joey and myself are practically sitting on him to keep him quiet. He just kept saying it until we finally had to tell him that he could go stand outside on the porch. Poor little guy just doesn't have that whole brain/mouth filter worked out yet. Olivia was a champ. She only whispered to us once about the smell an held her breath the rest of the time. Note to Realtors: Only one candle should be lit at a time!! People tend to lose brain functioning when they can't breathe!!
Of course at the time I was super embarrassed. As soon as we all got back into the car (after several deep breaths) we cracked up about the whole thing. Kids are great for comic relief.
Our realtor rocks!! We have the best time looking at property with him. Of course, it helps that I used to be his assistant. He reminds me of one of my uncles. He and Charlie are constantly making cracks about something. that is what is making this whole experience bearable. I feel very in between right now. I want to pack, but I don't want to do it too early or before we know what house we are getting. I know the people who are buying our house are supposed to be solid, so I'm not worried about that. I just like to know where I'm going before I pack for it (kind of like a trip).
So that's where we are right now. We've spent most of our weekends driving up and down and all around Three Springs Rd. It keeps us busy. I'll try to keep you posted on things .
On a side note...my latest why not moment involved me dragging my friend Karen out at midnight last Friday to purchase a copy of New Moon on DVD. What makes it even more funny is that I had pre-ordered a copy from Wal-mart but I wasn't going to receive it in the mail until this week. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Don't worry...I had the stun gun and a feisty Italian with me :) Plus, we were home by 12:30 a.m. thanks to the short lines at Best Buy. Why you ask would I go out at midnight to pick up a movie that I had already ordered? Why not?? :) It was something different to do. See how much fun you can have when you do something out of the ordinary?
As the title says, I am trying to keep my promise to blog more frequently. A VERY big thing has happened since I last posted. We got our house under contract!!!! Yippee!!! I am so excited. The fun game of trying to pick a new house has begun. We have until June 14th to close and move out. this gives us plenty of time to find "the right one." In the few weeks that we have been looking we have struck out more times than I can count. We put an offer in on one property that we really liked in Hidden River only to find out the next day that someone had beaten us to the punch the day before.
Oh well...I know that's just God's way of saying "not yet guys...just be patient...take your time." The only bad thing about taking my time is that I don't know how to take my time. My life for the last 11 years has been about rushing to get from point A to point B. I do EVERYTHING fast. It's almost like I have this constant timer inside me. I know God has a plan for us, and that's why I am learning to listen for him. He speaks in a whisper to me, so I have to pay very close attention to what is happening around me.
One of our problems is that we have limited ourselves to looking at houses in one particular area of Bowling Green. There are several homes that we have to look at so we are staying positive. The other problem is that people seem to be flocking to buy homes because the tax credit runs out at the end of April. Houses seem to be going under contract left and right. It's crazy around here. We will be fine. The worst case scenario is that we have to buy a lot and move into an apartment while we build a house that we like.
The whole house hunting experience has been hilarious so far. We went to several open houses one Sunday afternoon with the kids. They were bouncing off the walls and I was trying to keep them reigned in to the best of my ability. They were so excited to be looking with us that I can't blame them, but my nerves were wearing thin. We went into one particular home where the realtor had SEVERAL candles burning. This would have been fine had they not been all very different and very potent smells. You had to breathe through your mouth to keep from passing out. Well...Gavin, being the fun little man that he is, yells out, "What's that smell? It stinks in here!" I could have died!!! The realtor was in the next room and both Joey and myself are practically sitting on him to keep him quiet. He just kept saying it until we finally had to tell him that he could go stand outside on the porch. Poor little guy just doesn't have that whole brain/mouth filter worked out yet. Olivia was a champ. She only whispered to us once about the smell an held her breath the rest of the time. Note to Realtors: Only one candle should be lit at a time!! People tend to lose brain functioning when they can't breathe!!
Of course at the time I was super embarrassed. As soon as we all got back into the car (after several deep breaths) we cracked up about the whole thing. Kids are great for comic relief.
Our realtor rocks!! We have the best time looking at property with him. Of course, it helps that I used to be his assistant. He reminds me of one of my uncles. He and Charlie are constantly making cracks about something. that is what is making this whole experience bearable. I feel very in between right now. I want to pack, but I don't want to do it too early or before we know what house we are getting. I know the people who are buying our house are supposed to be solid, so I'm not worried about that. I just like to know where I'm going before I pack for it (kind of like a trip).
So that's where we are right now. We've spent most of our weekends driving up and down and all around Three Springs Rd. It keeps us busy. I'll try to keep you posted on things .
On a side note...my latest why not moment involved me dragging my friend Karen out at midnight last Friday to purchase a copy of New Moon on DVD. What makes it even more funny is that I had pre-ordered a copy from Wal-mart but I wasn't going to receive it in the mail until this week. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Don't worry...I had the stun gun and a feisty Italian with me :) Plus, we were home by 12:30 a.m. thanks to the short lines at Best Buy. Why you ask would I go out at midnight to pick up a movie that I had already ordered? Why not?? :) It was something different to do. See how much fun you can have when you do something out of the ordinary?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Why not??
So I'm sitting here thinking about how much of a slacker I've been in regards to posting on my blog. When I first started this blog, I was pretty good about keeping up with it. I'm not sure what went wrong along the way but I promise to be better this year!!
I'm sure a lot has occured in the 5 months since I last posted, but I honestly can't remember very much. I know that we celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's in the usual way...surrounded by family and friends. I wouldn't change it for the world. I will chalk my lack of memory up to being excessively busy.
Anywho...back to the present.
Gavin and Olivia are growing up so quickly. Olivia got a phone in her room for Christmas. I haven't had to answer the phone since we hooked it up. I know it's a girl thing! She's so funny about it all. She has called her Aunt Renee' just about every day. I finally had to tell her that she has to ask me or Joey if she can call anyone. Then we introduced her (along with Janice, Chuck and Rick) to Skype. I will admit it's an awesome concept. A free video phone program. We can call anyone and talk as long as we want for free. The video quality isn't stellar and the program has some glitches, but to be able to see the Arizona gang while we talk to them is worth it all!!! She is starting to remind me of a teenager with the way she talks and wants to dress. I don't know if I am ready for all of that. We went shopping on Martin Luther King day and I just kept thinking about what it will be like in a few years with her. It kind of freaked me out!! I barely have the patience for all the drama now!! Oy vey!!
Gavin is doing well. He is still very much into his video games. He amazes me by how smart he is. This year he made it into the Gifted and Talented program at school. I was so proud of him (and still am). We like to pick on each other sometimes. I was teasing him the other day about how he runs like a monkey. It was a Friday afternoon, and I was picking the kids up from school. As most of you know, he is only allowed to play video games on the weekend and during school breaks. Well, he came flying up to the car rider line with his hands waving over his head. It was HILARIOUS!! He looked like the monkey in the Clint Eastwood movies. He even makes noises like a monkey. I've always called him my monkey boy. When he was little, he used to hold his bottle with his feet so he could drink it. That's where it began, but him running around just brought it all back. I couldn't help but pick on him about it. Of course he was in the back seat pretending he was embarassed and Olivia had to throw in her two cents. I love those moments as long as they don't turn into a sibling smack down in the backseat that is!
What can I say about Joey? He is the same as he always is. You gotta love his consistency. Although he has discovered Facebook (Mafia Wars) and Ebay. All I have to say about that is..."bad things man...bad things."
Now about what I was really wanting to say.
I decided this year to not make New Year's resolutions. Let's face it, by now most of them would have been broken and you would be feeling like a failure. Who needs that kind of blow to their self esteem? Instead, I decided to approach the year in a different way. I decided to have a why not kind of year. I am always afraid to do things because I constantly worry about something. I worry about what others will think. I worry about all the other things I should be doing at that very moment. You get the idea.
I decided that when life is asking you why you should learn to respond with why not? I'm not encouraging reckless behavior or anything like that. I am stopping to ask myself is that worry or chore really worth it? Should I really care what others think? Is the laundry that important? When I think of things in that way, I realize that none of it matters. What good is being alive when you're not enjoying all that life has to offer? Are you really living?
One of my favorite quotes is "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, 'WOW . . . What a ride!' " It's been a while since I have lived this way. I think the last time I said why not was back in 2007 when Missy and I dropped everything and drove to Florida on a whim. It was such a surreal experience. I kept thinking to myself on the drive down "did we really just do that?" I had a blast on that trip. Mom has referred to it as our Thelma and Louise moment. That's how we wound up with tattoos. We just decided why not?
You are ONLY as old as you let yourself feel!! I personally want to feel like a 21 year old again. I have let myself fall into the rut of being a wife and mother only. I have forgotten that I am much more than just that. That is why I thought of this idea. So far it has been paying off. I have rediscovered my real laugh and my fun side. Instead of feeling like a 50 year old when I wake up I think I am down to a 40 year old. That 21 year old is just around the corner :)
I encourage everyone to ask themselves why not when faced with a decision. Sometimes you just have to go for it. Remember, you don't have to be reckless and abandon your life. Just try to have a little more fun and try new things. Don't let yourself get stuck in a rut.
Remember this, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths that we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." I love that quote!!
I'm sure a lot has occured in the 5 months since I last posted, but I honestly can't remember very much. I know that we celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's in the usual way...surrounded by family and friends. I wouldn't change it for the world. I will chalk my lack of memory up to being excessively busy.
Anywho...back to the present.
Gavin and Olivia are growing up so quickly. Olivia got a phone in her room for Christmas. I haven't had to answer the phone since we hooked it up. I know it's a girl thing! She's so funny about it all. She has called her Aunt Renee' just about every day. I finally had to tell her that she has to ask me or Joey if she can call anyone. Then we introduced her (along with Janice, Chuck and Rick) to Skype. I will admit it's an awesome concept. A free video phone program. We can call anyone and talk as long as we want for free. The video quality isn't stellar and the program has some glitches, but to be able to see the Arizona gang while we talk to them is worth it all!!! She is starting to remind me of a teenager with the way she talks and wants to dress. I don't know if I am ready for all of that. We went shopping on Martin Luther King day and I just kept thinking about what it will be like in a few years with her. It kind of freaked me out!! I barely have the patience for all the drama now!! Oy vey!!
Gavin is doing well. He is still very much into his video games. He amazes me by how smart he is. This year he made it into the Gifted and Talented program at school. I was so proud of him (and still am). We like to pick on each other sometimes. I was teasing him the other day about how he runs like a monkey. It was a Friday afternoon, and I was picking the kids up from school. As most of you know, he is only allowed to play video games on the weekend and during school breaks. Well, he came flying up to the car rider line with his hands waving over his head. It was HILARIOUS!! He looked like the monkey in the Clint Eastwood movies. He even makes noises like a monkey. I've always called him my monkey boy. When he was little, he used to hold his bottle with his feet so he could drink it. That's where it began, but him running around just brought it all back. I couldn't help but pick on him about it. Of course he was in the back seat pretending he was embarassed and Olivia had to throw in her two cents. I love those moments as long as they don't turn into a sibling smack down in the backseat that is!
What can I say about Joey? He is the same as he always is. You gotta love his consistency. Although he has discovered Facebook (Mafia Wars) and Ebay. All I have to say about that is..."bad things man...bad things."
Now about what I was really wanting to say.
I decided this year to not make New Year's resolutions. Let's face it, by now most of them would have been broken and you would be feeling like a failure. Who needs that kind of blow to their self esteem? Instead, I decided to approach the year in a different way. I decided to have a why not kind of year. I am always afraid to do things because I constantly worry about something. I worry about what others will think. I worry about all the other things I should be doing at that very moment. You get the idea.
I decided that when life is asking you why you should learn to respond with why not? I'm not encouraging reckless behavior or anything like that. I am stopping to ask myself is that worry or chore really worth it? Should I really care what others think? Is the laundry that important? When I think of things in that way, I realize that none of it matters. What good is being alive when you're not enjoying all that life has to offer? Are you really living?
One of my favorite quotes is "Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting, 'WOW . . . What a ride!' " It's been a while since I have lived this way. I think the last time I said why not was back in 2007 when Missy and I dropped everything and drove to Florida on a whim. It was such a surreal experience. I kept thinking to myself on the drive down "did we really just do that?" I had a blast on that trip. Mom has referred to it as our Thelma and Louise moment. That's how we wound up with tattoos. We just decided why not?
You are ONLY as old as you let yourself feel!! I personally want to feel like a 21 year old again. I have let myself fall into the rut of being a wife and mother only. I have forgotten that I am much more than just that. That is why I thought of this idea. So far it has been paying off. I have rediscovered my real laugh and my fun side. Instead of feeling like a 50 year old when I wake up I think I am down to a 40 year old. That 21 year old is just around the corner :)
I encourage everyone to ask themselves why not when faced with a decision. Sometimes you just have to go for it. Remember, you don't have to be reckless and abandon your life. Just try to have a little more fun and try new things. Don't let yourself get stuck in a rut.
Remember this, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths that we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." I love that quote!!
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