RIP Microwave Drawer

Rediscovering some their books that have been packed away.

I'm thinking pink carpet might be a nice selection in the new house.


Not quite ready for a C of O yet.

View of the back of the house and walk out basement

There was finally some progress on the house this week. After months and months of a whole lot of nothing going on, we finally have a little something. The roughing of the house should be completed by the end of next week. I have been perusing the internet for lighting, which we need to select soon. Cheap Tammy has reared her ugly face and gone into overdrive with all the crazy over spending on the house. In order to maintain some financial sanity, I'm determined to stay within the budget. On the flip side we have spender Kevin who has no qualms about spending $800 on microwave drawer!! A microwave drawer?!?! His famous quote of lately is, "Well, we'll be living there a VERY long time, so you might as well get what you want."

Well, here's the thing. I tend to fall out of like with things pretty quickly, that's why I try not to spend so much money. Then when I want to replace something after a few years, I don't feel so guilty about it. The microwave drawer however, I'm taking that to my little space in the mausoleum wall with me.

I tasted heaven tonight

The boys got a toy dragon today from McDonalds that they just absolutely adore. Last week, Kevin brought them up to my school for a visit and one of my students was showing them his dragon from McDonalds. For the past week, Anderson has been asking to go to the "dragon store" to buy a dragon. So today, Kevin stopped at McDonalds for lunch and asked if he could just buy a couple of dragons. We used the dragons as a reward for staying dry all day today, as lately that has become a huge feat.

When it was time for bed, the boys were reluctant to give up their dragon. Because after all, "it's their most very favorite toy". After an hour of them screwing around in bed, I went back in and told them that if they didn't settle down, their dragons were going in a timeout. Their dragons aren't even in the same room with them. They were quiet for a few minutes and then they started up again. I went back in their room and told them I was serious, now their dragons had to go in a timeout.

They went bat sh!t crazy to say the least. Put them in a time out, no one really gives a hoot. Put the dragon in a timeout that isn't even physically in the room with them and they can't play with it anyways and their little world comes crumbling down. I let them tire themselves out for a bit before I returned to the room to settle them down. When I did settle them, Jake crawled into my lap and nestled his head on my chest and I assured him his dragon would be okay. We rocked back and forth holding each other as he gently patted my hand with his. It was a taste of heaven to say the least. I get frustrated at my lack of ability to truly describe in words just how powerful those moments really are. As I laid his head on the pillow, he clumsily grabbed me around the neck, pulled me to him and whispered "I love you mom. Mom you are bootiful". I can thank his Daddy for that one.

Thankful Thursday

I've been feeling a really strong sense of gratitude lately. Not to say that I take things for granted otherwise, cause I don't. At least I try not to, but for some reason lately, gratitude has been at the forefront.

**Disclaimer** I'm going to count my blessings, but please don't think my life is perfect. I'm not claiming perfection, rather just taking the time to be thankful for the wonderful things in my life.

I have so much to be grateful for. Countless things. Most importantly two beautiful, healthy, and inquisitive boys. They are perfect in every way and if they were the only thing in my life I'd still be full to to the brim. They aren't the only thing in my life however, I have this ever so patient and loving husband who adores me. Not to be boastful, but he really does adore and love me. He tells me so all the time. I'll be the first to admit, I'm not the easiest person to live with, but for some reason I was lucky enough to catch him.

We both have jobs. Really, really good jobs. If there were ever such thing as a dream job, I have it. I work three and half hours a day while my little ones sleep and get paid a reasonable amount of money to do it. My summers are mine to share with my family. Kevin's job is flexible and he is home by 4:30 everyday. He rarely has to travel, the government gives him great pay, vacation and benefits. Best of all he gets every other Friday off from work! Because of our great jobs, our lives are calm and relatively stress free. We have tons of family time, time to get the housework done, and time to do whatever needs doing.

We were able to sell our house in one of the absolute worst housing markets and economy in the country and subsequently were able to move into a spacious condo as our "temporary housing". We lucked out big time with this. My grandma's condo has a full basement, is 1500 sq.ft., and has a two car garage. We are able to store all of our junk here and have plenty of space for our living. A third bedroom would be great so the boys could have separate rooms, but that is just greedy. We are absolutely blessed to have had the circumstances work out the way that they did.

Our new house is going to be an absolute dream come true. It's in a really great location, the neighborhood is full of beautiful and well cared for homes, and we are able to customize our home to our liking. Right down to the pot filler over the stove that I'm so giddy about. The boys will go to great schools, I know because I taught for a couple of years at their elementary school :). They will live just a block and half away from their cousins. We can walk or ride our bikes to Stony Creek Metro park, Big Apple Bagel, Kroger, downtown Rochester and an ice cream shop to name a few. I've never lived anywhere where I could actually do this without crossing a major 5 lane road.

Kevin and I have great parents. We realize just how lucky we are that when I work, his mom and my parents are the ones that care for the boys. The boys are surrounded by loving care at all times. I don't have to worry about them when I am at work, I know that they are having a great time doing arts and crafts with Grandma or riding their bikes with their Papa while Nanny makes them their lunch. I've never had to leave the boys in an unfamiliar place with people that don't love them as much as we do, for that I am overflowing with gratitude.

I could probably keep going, but this post is already bordering obnoxious. I just wanted to take the time to make my gratitude tangible in some way.

Easter Weekend

Daddy and Jakey

Decorating some Easter eggs with Grandma

What the Easter bunny left

Time to get to work

"cheese"

We had a great Easter weekend. On Thursday, the boys colored eggs with Grandma. They did a great job handling the fragile eggs and decorating them. The next morning, we met Tina and the kids at the zoo. The boys enjoyed walking the zoo with Grant and Claire, holding hands and talking about the animals. After the zoo, we had a yummy lunch in downtown Royal Oak.

On Saturday, we took the boys to an Easter egg hunt at the church. The boys attentively listened as the priest read an Easter story and then it was off to the hunt. They each filled their baskets with eggs and then turned their eggs in for some trinkets and treats. Afterwards we (the McBrides and my parents) all went out to brunch to celebrate my parent's 40th wedding anniversary.

Easter Sunday was pretty low key in the morning. Kevin cooked us a fabulous breakfast and then we took the boys outside for a bit. The Easter bunny brought the boys some m&ms, some "cars" cars, Disney trading pins and DVDVD's as the boys like to call them. After naps, we headed to my parent's house for an Easter/Anniversary dinner. My mom cooked a huge dinner and had purchased a small wedding cake from the local bakery. We had some extended family over for dessert to celebrate their 40 years. On the way home, Jake told Kevin and I he had had such a great time.