Welp,

Looks like we are staying put.

Yesterday, we had a contractor come out and look at our front porch. A front porch that was brand new just 2 years ago when we bought this house. It is now, literally, falling off the house. The steps are splintering and breaking off, the pillars have fallen down, the spindles on the rails are falling off. Every carpenter we've had look at it has said the same thing. "Idiots. They used interior wood and did nothing to seal it. Why even go through all the trouble and work?" The contractor today gave us a ballpark figure for replacing the porch. The porch that is holding up Fiona's bedroom. (the support columns are sound and will be kept.)

$12,000-$15,000

Now, you guys may have that kind of cash stuffed in your sock drawer, but we do not. And if we sold our house now, after only owning it for two years, we'd be lucky to break even much less make up the $12,000 for replacing the porch. Bob had a major fit when we got the figure and then he took a nap.

When we sat down and talked about it, we both just kind of said, "Huh. Looks like we'll be here for awhile." And when that had been said, a wave of relief and comfort washed over me like you wouldn't believe. I had no idea how stressed out I was at the prospect of moving again. I mean, I sorta knew. But, not really.

So, we looked around at all of the blessings God has put around us and we began to get our minds around this idea of staying put. We began to get excited about actually making this house our home. I haven't really done anything to personalize this house because I figured, why bother? we're just going to move again. We have been married 8 years and have lived in 4 different houses! I need some settling in time.

Bob has now applied for a doctorate program, the kids have started school (what did she say?! school?! I'll tell you all about it tomorrow but let's just say that if Kate could have started her own school, it would be just like this one.), we have Conor's school situation all set up, I'm making new friends in the neighborhood, and I bought paint. I'm painting the living room.

*deep sigh*
yep. pledging myself to these walls. and after two years of yellow...I'm painting them blue.

Do I need to tell you how this ends?

Part 2

You Know It's Summertime When...

There it goes...time flying by

So, the very observant among you might have noticed that over on my sidebar, Max and Rosie's age has changed. (those who noticed can email and collect your prize) That's right. We had a birthday this week. 5 years old is a big birthday psychologically, at least for me. 5 is...well, 5. I mean, it's school age isn't it? On the one hand, it's so amazing to watch them as they become more and more themselves. But on the other, of course is the growing up. the growing away.



The older I get, the faster I get older.



But, this job of motherhood...I'm good at it. I don't mean that in an arrogant kind of way. I mean it the way anyone means it when they talk about what they do and what they really feel called to. Sure, I have good days and bad days. relaxing days and overwhelming days. days when I feel like Mom-of-the-Year and days when I hope Department of Family Services doesn't come by. I have spent days snuggling my kids and days spent yelling at them. But at the end of all those days, I thank God for my life, for my family, and for the strength I get from my faith.

and dammit. It's just fun.

So...about our vacation.

We spent another week in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We have been going there for over 10 years. We have always gone up north near Corolla, but this year for reasons I'm not privy to, we went south. to Nags Head. It was nice and convenient, but I think I like the North part of 12 better.

The water was freezing for most of the week, but our house had a pool so the kids we able to swim even if they could only wade into the ocean. The kids have been looking forward to the beach for months now, and already they are counting down to next year. But, I don't know if we'll be able to go next year because my one and only brother is getting married next year! YAY!

So, here is a picture of most of my cousins and some of their spouses/significant others. That's Granny in the chair and me on the floor next to her.


This a pic of the babies in our group. That's Colby (9mos), Taylor (6mos), and Fiona (10mos) Next year we will have at least two new babies including a baby brother for Colby! YAY!


This is a pic of me and some of my cousins. I'm on the right in the blue Tshirt.


This is Bob and Chris, my cousin's husband. Otherwise know as "The Boyfriends" or "The Annoying Twins." When they may or may not have been drinking, Bob challenged him to a footrace at about 1:00am. Sadly, Bob lost. But, this inspired other "overserved" cousins to strap on their running shoes and vie for the title of "Fastest Drunken Man."


This is my cousin Lauren holding Fiona.


And this is Conor with my brother teaching him to dive. He is a certified Master Blackbelt Scuba Guide Instructor Guy. (among his other titles.) I'm still waiting for the underwater pics he took. I'll post them when I get them. They are pretty cool. Conor loved it! He wants to look into scuba lessons here in town, but says he is way too chicken to ever dive in the ocean. We'll see about that.



These are my favorite pics of the kids...I just can't get enough of the little white butts! I can't help it! They are so damn cute! Yes, they will kill me when they are teenagers and I pull this picture out to show their prom dates.

Do I need to tell you how this ends?

*sigh* I love summer...

whole lot of nothing to do.