Family Life

I’m about to burst.  I can’t stand it any longer – yet I have to.  I have no choice.  The list of things that must be put on the back burner until that time in the future “when the house is done” is looooonnnnggggg; Frustratingly so at this point.

Thankfully the end is in sight!

We are ready to move forward with the project and hope to be in the house before school starts next fall.

The road from here to there seems like a GIGANTIC one.  Which, I guess, has helped make me that much more antsy for all those things that are waiting until we’re all settled and at home in our beautiful, wonderful, fantabulous dream home.

In a desperate effort to remain grateful while at the same time blowing off some of this steam I figured I’d write a list of all the things I have to wait for so I can dream away now and be sure not to forget anything later!

Here Goes….

1.  A Dog

Since our beloved Bear died and our new pooch Wilson ran away we have been dogless.  Its been nearly a year.   We do have the two awesome kitty cats but, there is a giant hole in the family only a dear doggie can fill.  But, because we’re listing our house and because we may need to get a rental, we have to wait to get a dog….until the house is done.

2. New Dishes

I have been wanting to start scouring thrift shops and yard sales for cool old dishes to make a set for us, but, I can’t do that for obvious reasons, including having more to pack up and the potential for breakage during moving, …until the house is done.

3. Get Our Bed Back

We still sleep with dear O. in our bed.  He’s going to be 2 in a few months and is no small potato.  Plus, Mr. T. and I are getting old and “Doing It” in wildly creative places can cause pain for days.  But O. gets his own new bed in his own brand new bedroom…when the house is finished!

4. Make A Rag Rug

I found these instructions to make a rag rug a while ago online, but, since we were moving soon, just stashed them away.  I really want to use recycled material and clothing to do it and am going to hit up the local thrift shops for their stained stuff.  But, there’s no sense in doing that when I’ll just have to move the stash to a new house.  Plus the basement is going to be my new craft haven, and until then, I don’t need old cloth cluttering up the house I’m trying to sell.

5. The Basement

While we’re on the subject of the basement, this place is home to many things we’ve all been waiting for.  One of the biggest and best bonuses of the basement is the boy cave that will be down there.  Friends over, Sleepovers, TV, music, privacy – all for the boys and everyone else all because of  the glorious  basement!

The basement will also house a full on laundry room complete with indoor clothes line, shelving for cold storage, a big freezer again for veggie storage, not to mention storage storage!!

6. The Dream Gardens

Along with the dream house comes the dream gardens.  I’m trying to figure out a way to plant some stuff at the property while the house is going up; thinking it may be a container garden year.  I’m also trying to figure out a way to take some cuttings of the kick ass lilac bushes, fox glove plants, black berry and raspberry bushes and so much else.  We’ll see how it all goes down, but hopefully this one might actually get to happen AS the house gets built instead of having to wait until its absolutely finished…

7. Lower Heating Bills

We are looking at some seriously great heating options, the best of which is a solar heating system that will provide us with free hot water for our radiant heat in the floor for all but the darkest times of the year.  Compare that with paying for wood and oil and electric and….well, its a fantastic deal!  We’re all looking forward to keeping the thermostat where we want with little care for the “bills”.

8. A Big Refrigerator

We have a cute, efficient little europen fridge in our place now as its the exact size needed to finish of the kitchen the way it needed to be done.   We’ve also added another small fridge in the pantry as we knew as soon as we arrived at the house that that one small fridge would not be enough for us.  In the new house, I’ll have one fridge for everything.  We’ll still be sure to get an efficient one, but, everything can be in one place!  Seems like a minute detail, but it helps me stay organized much more easily.

9. A Dish Washer

That’s not to say we don’t have a dish washer now; its me!  When the house is done, I’ll have an actual mechanical dish washer.  Can you say “time saver”.  Not to mention getting that soaking pile of dirty dishes outta my sink.

10. I. Gets His Own Room

I. and K. can still play with the best of ‘em but, there are also times it would be so nice to send the pre teen I. to his room for some, um, space.  He is also in a place where self expression is something he’s really exploring, and a room of his own is an important piece of this to him.

11. We’ll Be On The Bus Route

I’m still interested in taking the kids to school as I really like that time it gives us.  BUT, the long drive I could definitely do without, so being closer overall will be great, and the option for then to ride the bus as needed is even better!  The other day I had car issues and Mr. T. had to work so, I. didn’t go to school….what a drag.  When we move though we’re on the bus route and, about 5 min from school; a drastic difference to the 15 min we have to drive each way now.

12. I Can Volunteer At The Local Library

Weird to have on the list, maybe, but still – it’s been a dream of mine forever to be a librarian, but not every day!!  Our small village library is entirely volunteer run!  So, once we’re within 3 min drive of the place, I’m signing up to volunteer.

13. We Finally Get To Live On ‘The Property’

We’ve owned “The Property’ now for a year and 1/2.  Again, for Mr. T. and I this place is a dream come true.  10 acres, a river, beautiful trees, a walking path, a great home site and so so much more.  I’m excited to live in the forest again, and I’m excited to live in that specific place too.

14. We’re Back To A Mr. T. Built Home

We’ve had an addition Mr. T. built, the, we got to live in a whole home designed and built by Mr. T. (and I, but really him).  It was so amazing.  We all wanted that again, but, Mr. T. and I wanted to move somewhere besides New Mexico.  Here we are now in beautiful Maine and we’ve got our property and we’re so so close to that feeling of being back in a Mr. T. designed and built home!

15. We Can’t Do Much Else

The house is our everything, our baby we’re birthing if you will.  We have to tend it this year.  Which is awesome, but it takes a lot of time away from many other things that must wait even longer….until awhile after the house is done!

Phew.  That’s a long list.  There’s more too.  But, it all almost sounds ungrateful.  I feel so blessed for the moment we are in right now.  Everyone is happy, healthy, we’re building our own home, Mr. T. and I are still in love after 16 years together, we’re both working and we’re living a good life.

Every once in a while though, it helps to let it all out.

Ahhhhhhhh……

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I. celebrated his 10th birthday yesterday!  That’s quite a milestone in childhood – and for parents.

Double Digits.

Its so exciting.  He’s on the cusp of everything.  No longer a little kid with just a one digit age, he’s got 2 numbers now, and that means a LOT.

He had a great day complete with the lego kit he’d been wanting, a mint chocolate cake from his favorite bakery, pulled pork sandwiches for dinner, and some buddies over for a sleepover.

Birth days are always a neat day for me too.  I remember where we  were just that many years ago, as most mothers do, and think about that miracle that we were a part of.

That miracle who in just another few years will be on his own, but who for now, is just 10!

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Its going to be Halloween again soon and its time to figure out a cool costume.

This is a holiday that is long looked forward to in our house, so costumes are luckily done early; one of the tricks to making things more affordable and saving some hard earned dinero!  With 3 kids the money can disappear quickly when it comes to Halloween costumes; not anymore though!

I’ve done Halloween on a Budget now for many years and here are my Tricks…or Treats as it were.

Second Hand and Consignment Shops usually have lots of great items that you can use to create a fantastic Halloween  costume all that’s required is a bit of planning and creativity.  You may also be able to find gently used costumes at these types of establishments.

Put an ad on Freecycle (www.Freecycle.org to find a group in your area).  Never know what someone may have stashed up in their attic or out in their barn from Halloweens past.  Bring it to life again and, for Free!

If you’ve gotta have new stuff, shop sales, and use coupons.  You can find discounts like BuyCostumes.com coupons, and usually Free Shipping deals too; just keep your eyes open and be sure to shop around!

And last but not least, start early for next year.  Everything thats left after Halloween goes on sale November 1st – so plan your costume early and you can really save!

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