Ella's nutcracker performance

She was so cute as a mommy mouse!!!!

the hot tub!!

more house

I love my pantry sooo much....it is huge!!!!

the house......inside

first the house....inside...before it was really decorated...not that I have done that much more...

I can breathe!

I have been waiting to get camera stuff going on the computer to post...but I figured I would at least get Merry Christmas gone! We are having a crazy wind and rain storm here tonight and I have been stuck indoors all day!!! A rare thing around here...we usually are outside playing for half the day!!...and playing in the hot tub at night!
Speakign of our awesome hot tub....I have stooped to use bribery to get my kids to be helpful. So, I told them whomever is the most helpful that day gets to go in the hot tub before bed with me! IT is working great. The first night, they were all over it...."MOm, what else can I do for you?"..., it was fabulous. I had to take them all in that night. Luke got to go last night and tonight it is too stormy. IT's working so far for me. :) They are also motivated to get chores done so they can go play with the neighborhood kids...which is new and wonderful.
As for us being settled...we are getting there. I still haven't dealt with the garage or the master closet...but most other stuff is done. I haven't put up all the pics...I am working on a collage wall and I haven't quite decided how to do it yet.
The house is awesome. I promise to post pics. It is seriously perfect for us! We knew that something good was in store for us...but we were just a couple of days away from closing with no where to live...( many kind offers of friends who would take us all in) We are so glad everything fell through so we could get this place. It feels like the right time and the right place. That feels so good.
2009 was mental. I keep feeling this weird feeling...weird, like I am NOT panicked and worried, and sweating .....I had gotten so used to the stresses of showing the house, one car, no money, the worry for our business and our future.......and the effects of all of that on our family. Now....
I CAN BREATHE
and it feels so good.

pics to come!

Merry Christmas!!!

We just wanted to wish everyone we know and love a very Merry Christmas. We wish we could be with all of you during the holidays. I promise to take lots of pictures of the kids and post them.
Believe it or not, another rental fell through,...this time the owner decided to move in rather than rent it....so we STILL do not have a place lined up....and we have to move next week. I have looked at SO many....I dream about these houses at night ( if I can sleep).....Nothing feels right...and when it has felt like a go....it falls through. I am starting to wonder if homelessness is something we need to experience or something! It is crazy.

I continue to pack and try to keep the kiddos entertained...even though we packed all of their toys...good thing tomorrow is Christmas. We are all set and ready. Thanks to everyone who helped make this Christmas great for our kids. They are going to be so excited tomorrow. I can't wait to put on our Christmas jammies tonight and chill. I am going to pretend that we have great house to move into...and all is well. It almost is, afterall. :)

We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!!

thankful

I have put off updating this ...because I was waiting for something fun and exciting to happen...like a new house, etc....but instead so much bad stuff keeps happening. It is almost comical at this point....and I don't dare say it can only go up from here...Although things stink at the moment...I have alot to be grateful for.
The other night I was in tears over our one family car. It died on Thursday while Seth was driving to a client. We had it towed to a repair place and were told that it would cost around 3000$ to fix. Not good .....not now....not possible.
I felt buried under that van, having to be out of our house by Dec. 30, by packing, by Christmas and Ella's birthday, by sending off a dear friend I will miss, and by spending another holiday without any members of my side of the family.
The door bell rang and I answered it.
The rough looking character told me about a home that he lived in 2 yrs ago...that helped him on his way when he was homeless and a struggling alcoholic. ( I remembered we had donated to this home last year) My heart dropped a little as I had to tell him, I really had nothing to give him. I had nothing to give.
That didn't sit right with me....so I quickly asked..is there anything else I could give or help with?
He told me that they just started accepting women into this home and needed clothes and hygiene supplies for them...desperately. I had just filled 3 garbage bags of old clothes to donate...so I gave those. I gave half of my soap, shampoo and hygiene products I had. I realized how much I take for granted the good life I live. It humbled me to think of these ladies...who would be so grateful for a bar of soap, a daisy razor and maxi pads. ( sorry I said maxi pads!)....and I realized that I have so much.....even if so many things feel like they are crashing down on me right now...I have SOOOOO much.
If you are reading this....I probably love you....(if I don't...stop reading this you weirdo).....I am grateful for wonderful people in my life.
Thanks for all you are and do! mwah! oxxoxo