In the Meantime...

What I'm going to think about today.

Not press conferences by various useless, dishonest, cheating politicians.

Not the crazy crowds expected at a pop star's public memorial.

But generous Americans like these.

And brave Americans like these.  

Happy Independence Day.

Signs.

Yet another sign that our decision to withdraw from the China Adoption Program was a good one (for us). Oh, and here's another one: (From the China Adoption Forecast site.)

Our prediction for LID 2006-06-27

China has 99 days of dossiers to be processed before they get to your dossier. China currently processes about 4.1 days of dossiers each month.

Our best guess: 2011-06-01

Since China generally sends out referrals in a batch about once per month, your referral date could easily vary +/- one month depending on whether you just get included or just get missed in a particular batch.

 

That's TWO MORE YEARS, people. On top of the three that have already passed. It so very obviously was not meant to be.

And I'm at peace with that.

Finally.

Remember Me.

Get your tissues out before you watch this video.

Of Poppies & Unpacking.

 

Poppies in a field near Oberstaufenbach, Germany

I know this photo has nothing to do with our new house, But I haven't blogged in a week and I haven't posted any more pictures from our Germany trip, so two for the price of one, so to speak.

So, it's been one week since we closed on our house. Seven days ~ LOTS of boxes, lots of trips in the van and rented truck, lots of trips up and down stairs, lots of sore muscles and bruises, lots of sweat and just a few tears. Aside from a few small things still at the other house, all of our stuff is here.

I'm trying to not get totally overwhelmed by all I want and need to do to the house, yard, and garden. My family and friends all tell me to make a list. Tackle one thing at a time. A couple of things are needed immediately (leaky toilet ~ ewww, a/c issues) but most are just to make this house into our home (paint and window coverings).

I'd love to get everything we need from Pottery Barn or Crate & Barrel, but alas, that is not in the budget. Oh, how I wish for a nearby Ikea! So, that is my challenge. I'll be trolling the internet for thrifty DIY home-improvement ideas. Any great blogs or sites out there that I need to know about?

Our first overnight guests, Jon's parents, will be visiting in September. How's that for motivation?

BTW, we've had our first homeowners' expense. On the day we closed, when we brought the first load over in the truck, we found that one of the young trees in the back yard was down and could not be saved. So sad. A quick call to a tree guy (and $120) and it was taken care of.

The day we brought the dogs over for the first time, Leo decided to try to give me a heart attack. He scooted out the garage door behind me and wouldn't come when I called him. He continued around the side of the house and I heard a great crash. Turns out the big dufus went right for the cover over one of the basement window wells and fell right through. Jon came running to my panicked cries, jumped down in and boosted Leo out. Thank goodness he was just scared. Dumb dog.

That's all for now. I suppose I need to tackle some of these boxes. Putting things in their place and putting some things in a Goodwill pile. Nothing like a DitY (that's do it yourself in AF-speak ~ pronounced ditty) move that makes one realize how much unnecessary crap one has, right?

I'll post photos later. I want to get rid of some more boxes and get some things on the walls. Then I'll let you see :-)

Wordless Wednesday ~ It's Ours!

Part of Wordless Wednesday.

Breathe, Girl. Breathe...

We just got back from our pre-closing walk-through of the house. Boy, oh boy do you see the house with different eyes when it's yours!

The sellers had the house cleaned, including the carpet. But five years, two kids, and several animals will do a number on carpet that no cleaning company can undo. It will be fine for now because it's good quality carpet, but I have a feeling that new flooring will be our first big expenditure.

They left random crap around that we will need to pick up and throw away. Anyone need a leopard print shower curtain? No? How about bullets? Yes. They left bullets. What the hell do we do with those?

The kids' rooms need major attention. We knew that we would paint the walls, but we noticed writing and stickers on the doors. Do we paint the doors or get new ones? Probably paint, right?

Now that all the furniture is out of the house, we really noticed how much touch-up painting needs to be done. So, do we touch it up or just re-do it little by little? And won't that be a bear once all of our furniture is in?

Lots of little things: loose door knobs, bent vent covers, showers that need to be de-molded and re-caulked, weeding and mulching of the landscaping, sod or seed the spot where the playset was...

I've had about 17 mini anxiety attacks in the past hour and a half. Add to that the fact that the moving to do list playing through my head didn't let me go back to sleep after I woke up at 3 AM, and you have an idea of the pleasant person Jon is living with right now.

But he is so calm. And excited. And that helps me look at all the good stuff.

We get to move out of our crummy plastic duplex with no basement and bedrooms on the second floor (in the middle of tornado country).

We get to leave this crummy back yard that doesn't have anything but weeds and dirt in it, is enclosed by a chain-link fence that we have to rent, and has a 10' square patio that fits nothing except a grill.

We get to leave a neighborhood in which 75% of our neighbors and the people who drive by (at 5:30 AM and 11:30 PM) have jazzed up cars with super loud mufflers and radios. How old do I sound right now? Wait. don't answer that.

We get to leave this kitchen. Too many things wrong there to list...

And what are we getting?

We're getting a solidly constructed home with lovely landscaping, a sprinkler system, a wood deck, and a privacy fence in the back yard.

Pella widows. Wood blinds in the bedrooms.

A dining room.

Room for guests - lots of guests - in the beautifully finished basement.

Bright and cheerful eat-in kitchen with ample cabinet space that opens up to a living room.

A pretty little park across the street.

And much, much more.

Maybe I should print this post out for reference when I'm freaking out this next week during the move. It might serve to calm me.

And for that Jon would be ever so grateful.

Post vacation blues.

We're back.

We've been back for a week.

And we're both blue.

We had such a wonderful time with wonderful friends.

But now we're back in the sweltering weather of the American Midwest.

No more of this:

 

or this:

or this:

or this:

*Sigh*

Oh well. We have awesome memories.

And, we are soon to be distracted from our melancholy. We close on the house on Wednesday! Only a few more days in our crappy military housing! Wheeeeeee!

(Hopefully our marriage will survive moving while PMS...)

I promise to post more photos of the trip and of the move / new house. I've been a lazy blogger and I apologize!

BTW ~ How did we like the wide-angle lens, you ask? 

It

was

totally

awesome!

We will be saving our pennies to purchase one of those babies!

Hi! and Goodbye!

Yes, yes. I know I haven't been posting lately. I'll get back on that horse soon, I hope, with fresh inspiration and creative energy.

We leave tomorrow to visit our friends in Germany and we are sooooo psyched for the trip. As long as I can contain my anxiety about being thousands of miles away from my dogs for ten days, everything should be fine. Actually, more than fine. Rachel has every minute planned and I know that we are in for a fabulous time.

Jon rented a wide-angle lens for us to take so that will be super fun to play with as we are tromping around the German countryside. We figured it was a good way to try out the lens before we plunk down the hefty $$$ to buy it!

But, I'm still loving my macro lens...

So, hasta la vista, babies! Catch ya' on the flip side!

To start your weekend off with a smile.

There is some amazing dancing by an very talented young man in the video below. I apologize for the quality of the video, it was shot by his father with a cell phone. But the quality of the dancing still shines through.

The fact that the young man in question is my nephew has no bearing at all on my opinion of his outstanding talent ;-)

Happy weekend, everyone!

Lucky

Have you heard this song?

"Lucky" Official Video With Colbie Caillat

I can't get it out of my head. It's just such a sweet love song. I'm afraid I'm developing quite a crush on Jason Mraz...