New Kids On The Block

I know you just saw that title and got all excited (although you don't want to admit NKOTB love) So for those of you who enjoy that little guilty pleasure....



Are you back or are you off to see a little "Please Don't Go Girl"? It's OK, I won't judge you.

Anyways, this isn't about the pop group, it's about being the "New Kid On The Block". It is not fun to be the new kid, even if you are a mid 30s woman who should be confident and immune to that jittery "not fitting in" feeling.

After moving, we have been pretty busy with unpacking and enjoying or new home; not getting out to really meet anyone. We were invited to attend Vacation Bible School (VBS) and I eagerly accepted because we need to find a church home and I thought the girls would enjoy it. Buzz was especially excited to "go to school and make new best friend". Belly was pretty unsure about the whole business and Bitsy...well, 5 month olds don't have an opinion about much of anything that doesn't pertain to a full belly or diaper.

About 4 hours before VBS started I got to meet "Paranoid Spastic Crayon Wrangler". I didn't really know she existed in me until then. I started worrying about my late talker. Was she going to have a lot of difficulty, would someone understand her, would other kids make fun of her? I didn't worry so much about Belly because she is my fearless-open-for-anything girl. But Buzz...she is cautious, reserved and emotionally fragile.

I dropped them off and paced outside by the van, waiting for my cell to ring telling me to come back and get them, I called my mom and sister and aired my fear/concern, called my husband and may or may not have teared up about being apart from my girls. Then it was time to pick them up.

I asked Buzz's teacher, "How did she do?" and then I cringed and braced myself.

Buzz's teacher said, "She did wonderful, she is such a chatterbox!"

Wha.....

Then Buzz proceeded to tell me at high volume and high speed all the things she did for the next 3 hours and then all the next day and while I type this she is still talking....

So the kids are having a blast and I decided yesterday to go ahead and attend the adult classes. As I pulled up the the church that familiar feeling crept in. You know...that feeling at the start of every school year or when you moved when you found yourself looking at new faces...that one. I tried to tell myself that they were more afraid of me than I was of them, but I think that only works with snakes. The insecurity got worse and worse, I called my Mommy. She reassured me that I was wonderful and people would like me, then told me to eat my veggies and wash behind my ears.

As I slow walked across the parking lot, each step filled with dread; I remembered I hadn't had any veggies today and I was unsure of the "behind the ear" status. "Great...this could ruin everything! Then an amazing thing happened...

The most talkative, friendly girl EVER happened to be in the parking lot and spied me. She confirmed I was going to the adult class and escorted me the rest of the way. Perhaps she noticed the "I am going to bolt" look in my eyes? I turned out GREAT and I am so happy that we have gone this week. I am still going to have a V8 before I go to class again tonight...just in case.

I want to encourage you, if you have a new kid or woman show up at your neighborhood, church, school or feeding trough...go make them feel welcome. Chances are they are more afraid of you than you are of them (I still think that is for snakes) but it's hard being the "New Kids On The Block"

Until next time, my friends....I'll be "Hangin' Tough"

I Get By...

...with a little help from my friends.

Alrighty, I would love for some of you to shoot my an email and offer to do some guest blogging. No particular topic (unless you would love to make up a song, Real Moms Of Genius or some lessons learned) In the next 3ish weeks, my blogging is going to be pretty scarce. We are down to the wire with the moving, my laptop is dying (never fear...one is being shipped as we speak) and my brain has seriously HAD enough. So if you want to guest blog, hit the "Contact Me" button and let me know!

It has been so stressful these past few months...come to think of it; it's been stressful since September when we officially put the house on the market. In addition to trying to sell our house, The Grays moved in with us, Bitsy was born, we found the dream home...the list seems to go on and on.

To top it off, these jerks (Yes, they are jerks and you will see why) who put a contract on our house have been unbearably dumb. Our closing date was set for May 25th with our move-out date set for June 4th. They agreed to this...THEY SIGNED IT! Wednesday I get a call from our realtor telling us that they purchased some kind of "early closing packet" and want to close the next day.

Ummm....did you forget what you signed?

Well, we ended up agreeing to the early closing and then they decided to turn into toddlers. You know....crying, being irrational, stomping their feet and not caring about anyone else.

They decided that they weren't going to sign the closing papers at all unless we agreed to let them move in on June 1st.

Once again, did you forget what you signed?

It seems that their landlord wanted them out on the 1st and they didn't have anywhere to live. So to them, it made complete sense to kick out a family with 3 small children so that they weren't inconvenienced.

Here's the deal. The "Dream Home" is a short sale. It does not follow the usual rules of real estate and we don't have a closing date set in stone. All we know is that it should be before the 28th. However...we don't KNOW that. It could very easily take a few more days depending on when everyone gets their John Hancock's on the bottom line.

How could I possibly agree to allow them to move in early if I don't know when I will have somewhere to move to? Follow my thinking here?

Our agent called and said the girl (Yes, a girl...not a woman. A woman has more class than that) was boo-hooing at the closing table because she didn't plan ahead on the original move in date of the 4th. It made perfect sense to her that we should be forced to move out early, regardless of if we had somewhere to move to.

They basically held us hostage over this closing contract. We had to sell this house, because we have a contract on another one. They have finally caved and signed, but if history is any judge with these people, this will not be the last we hear of it. They have been a thorn in our side since the very beginning. Sending inspectors and appraisers without consulting with us on our schedule. Coming to see the house, but showing up late and having a temper tantrum because we were in the house. Then there have been at least 20 calls (this is not an embellishment) trying to convince us to move out early. They even sent a termite inspector who claimed there were termites, but if we would just let them go ahead and move in; they would take care of it. We got two other termite companies to come look at the house and there was no evidence of termites. Just a little game they were trying to play.

Now do you see why I call them "Jerks"?

So anyways...I need some guest bloggers to fill in while I am up to my armpits in wrapping paper, boxes, packing tape and finalizing when we move to the Dream Home.

Help me get by with a little help from my friends.

Blah Blah Blogging

Another edition of Blah Blah Blogging.

Trying very hard to balance between common sense and lunacy packing. We needed to reduce the amount of "stuff" in the house so that it shows well, so we started packing it up. We have had 2 favorable showings, but no contract as of now. The inside of the house has been scrubbed and polished to a spit shine. Honestly, I don't like being in the house, the neatness and reduction of personal items is a bit disconcerting. I really pray that this house sells. I am so ready to move and just "get 'er done." I want to keep packing on faith, so there is not so much to do later...that is where the lunacy comes in. So when in doubt; do nothing.

The kiddos have been wonderful help (HAHAHAHA!) in this whole adventure. Somewhere in a box that got sealed up is my toothbrush and a whole pack of Pull-Ups. Belly was packed for a moment, but we found her pretty fast. They are reacting to the turmoil in the home with predictable behavior. Much is being looked over and excused for now.

Personally, I am very tired. We have taken this Day of Rest, for a day of rest. I think The Man and I really needed it. In addition to the physical work we have been doing, there is the emotional work of praying for the house to sell or His Will to be revealed in our living situation.

Baby Emily is a top floor kind of girl. I still have a ways to go in this pregnancy; but if her crowding the top levels is any indication of things to come, I can go ahead and hang up being able to breathe at 30+ weeks.

Alright, I will admit it. This has been a pretty boring post. I think my humor is taking a day of rest as well. I also have some belly shots to catch up on and I don't think I have taken any pics of the kids lately to show off. *Sigh*

Award, hacksaws and clean spots

The Splash Award is given to alluring, amusing, bewitching, impressive, and inspiring blogs.

When you receive this award, you must: Put the logo on your blog/post. Nominate & link up to 9 blogs which allure, amuse, bewitch, impress or inspire you. Let them know that they have been splashed by commenting on their blog. Remember to link to the person from whom you received your Splash Award.

Thank you to My Little Life AND MannLand for the nominations. Yes dude...I got the award from two different people. Irockthis!

My nominations are...(envelope please)
Outnumbered by Testosterone
Become What You Are
A Silly Little Sparrow
Rachel's
(Following in my predecessors footsteps, I am not going to make it to 9. Does not mean I don't find your blog "Splash worthy" but I can't seem to find my links right now.)

Thanks again ladies.

You know those creepy movies about haunted houses in which the walls move and doors disappear? Yeah, I have one of those houses. I decided to return my oh-so-expensive-ate-a-hot-pepper-to-get blinds (since we might move) and just get some from Walmart. I measured the windows (for serious) three, maybe four times. I actually used a tape measure instead of measuring with the length of my arm like I do for the kids clothes. I know my measurements were right. KNOW IT! I wrote the numbers down and picked up the blinds. By the time I made it home, the windows had shrunk about 1/4 of an inch. Seriously, they did. My measurements were correct. What's a girl to do?

Hacksaw.

Look a little bit above the toolbox containing hacksaw and see reciprocating saw.

Look above that and see gas powered chainsaw.

Have some common sense and use the reciprocating saw.

Realize it needs a blade.

Now it needs a battery.

Now I need a clamp for the blinds to hold them still.

.02 seconds into it, battery dies.

Go for the hacksaw.

Realize my elbows are not meant for this.

Leave all tools, pieces, blinds and curse words in the garage for The Man to deal with tomorrow.

And THAT is exactly what a girl should do. Or use the chainsaw after all. I wouldn't steer you wrong here.

So I now am sitting here in front of the computer and in front of blindless windows (because putting it off until tomorrow is something a man should do) feeling very self aware, trying to remember to not scratch my butt for fear a neighbor will see...and you know how rumors start. It's been a long week, mainly due to the wonderful cleaner I bought to remove some smudges on the wall thank you children, and it became one of those "Holy-cow-I-just-made-a-clean-spot" moments. I tried to smudge the spot back up, because I didn't want to have to deal with cleaning all the walls to match the clean spot, but I don't have the needed ickiness on my hands that children are born with. Now I am doomed to go room to room making sparkly clean walls. At this rate, I will be to worn out to nest.

BTW, I am aware that my typing format is all jacked up, I am dealing with it; hope you are too.

Toodle-dee-doodle-doo.