You Got Some 'Splaining to Do!

okay...

so the big move is pretty much over...we have the stuff in the attic and basement to still move over, but hey, there's a reason it's all in the basement and attic...we don't use it/know we have it/even need it or want it anymore...so we will slowly go thru it all and do lots more purging as we pack up those two areas!

But if we moved how come our stuff is still at the other place...how can we have 2 places at once...

That is answered with the why we moved question.

I know our move was a little surprising for many, but for us it's something we've be planning since last fall...

(obviously not planning too well if we still have stuff to move!)

maybe mentally planning since last fall.

our house...our home...our fixer upper...our money pit...

was a house we bought when I was 9 months pregnant with Wilson...

we bought it at the peak of the market 

     (not that we knew that at the time)

we had a 5 year plan...

the plan...

Year 1...put some money into the place, make it livable

    (believe me it wasn't when we bought it!)

move into once it's livable but with a long list of repairs still needed...slowly fix issues here and there...with the little money we have...

and then...

we'll have lots of sweat equity poured into it and refinance!

Years 2-4....take all that cash from the refinance and turn our money pit into a wonderful before-and-after-HGTV-quality-makeover! (with professionals doing the majority of the work, because we can now afford the pro's since we poured enough sweat equity into the 1st year!)

Year 5...Get a hit HGTV Reality Show because of the amazing transformation our house went thru!  Sell the lovely fixer-upper, make loads of $ and buy our dream family home!

5 year plan meets reality!

Year 1 came and the real estate market hadn't fallen, but it was hovering...we were at a plateau status with our money pit, couldn't refinance because we just were level...so let’s wait another year...fix things here and there with more creativity than money!

Year 2...market is slipping, but that's okay, it's just temporary, we'll wait it out and sell when we have enough to just buy a house without as many problems...

Year 3...we...okay me...went with the 'La-La-La fingers in my ears this isn't really happening approach'

Year 4...the market was so bad that I chose the more effective 'head-in-the-sand-approach' when it came to how bad the whole 5 year plan was looking 

Year 5...we really just didn't even talk about 'the plan'

Year 6...yeah I know 5 year plans don't have a year 6...

Year 6...we sit down and I am forced to take my head out of the sand...I am forced to admit that the money pit is more than a cute name I affectionately call our home...it truly is a money pit and every dime we spend on the house is a total waste.

Beau and I did a lot of talking......a lot of praying...I did some crying...

we talked to professionals

we sought out Christians that would give us honest advice on our situation...

the situation being...

we were in a house that was too small for us...

a house that needed lots of repair that would cost lots of money...

a house that would never be worth the money it needed in repairs....

a house that I was emotionally attached to...

a loan that was getting ready to 'adjust' to a price that was WAY out of our budget...

We made the hard choice to try to begin the process of selling our house via a short sale...

and also had to accept the fact that if it doesn't sell in a short sale we would/will be facing a foreclosure.

so that is where we are now...we have a 'sale' date for our house of August...

We began looking into rentals in January, knowing that when the right one came up God would lead us to it.

In the months we were searching for a place to move we were able to pay off all our credit card debt and make a dent in our recent car loan.

I am still mourning the loss of our house...

I am mourning the loss of my dream to have the perfect HGTV before and after pictures...I had a sense of pride in this house that I was an ugly duckling that I could see the swan inside of it...I never saw the tens of thousands of dollars that it would take, I just saw the potential that it had...

but that potential was taking money away from my family, opportunities from our kids, time from my marriage and no house is worth that.

We are now proud renters...

We are living is someone else beautiful house...

a house that I can still make a home...

a home that has tons of indoor and OUTDOOR space for my family...

a home that will not drain our family financially, physically or emotionally...

a home that is in a safe neighborhood...

(....yes, I still hold onto the 'Viva Downtown' dream, but the riff-raff that would meander thru our yard at night and not let me feel safe having our kids play outside is not part of that dream...so I say let the 20 something hipsters without kids fulfill the Viva Downtown dream...we'll come and visit...

and the best thing happened the first morning in our new home...

a sleepy little boy wandered out to the living room and asked,

"Mom, can I go outside and catch frogs?"

because we finally have a home that is a place for kids to be kids!

and a bonus...here is a pic of Beau mowing our lawn...

something we haven't had in 13 years of marriage!

and once we get totally settled, unpacked, pictures up on walls, etc. I will give you a tour of our new home room by room!

Moving

ugh!  packing, packing,
tossing, purging, packing

boxes, tape & sharpies

and the occasional,
"where did I put that one thing that's really important and I needed it today?"

I will sit down soon and catch you up on all of it
the how, why, what
as soon and were settled and unpacked...

but to give you the short story

our current house is old
it has no closet space, storage space, breathing space
     it is quaint
it has too many awkward issues
     it has loads of character
it IS the money pit
     it has lots of potential for the future owner to personalize

our current house has NO back yard
     or side yard
         or suitable outdoor space for our children to play

our kids...
girl child 10 yrs old
     aka know-it-all older wiser sister
boy child 5 1/2  yrs old
    aka annoying exuberant little brother
these two, lovely, sweet children of ours...
currently share a room...they NEED their own room
...I will be the first to tell you the wonderful benefits of children/siblings sharing a room
...but with the gender and age difference we have out lived the benefits of sharing and are ALL looking forward to the two of them having their own space!

and now my break from boxes, packing, purging is over and I must return!

Summer Lovin'

....the kids have the count down going,
they know that we only have 15 more days of school...
15 days until...
....

UNTIL

...

SUMMER BREAK

Summer is...
amazing
it's staying up late
it's sleeping in late
it's slumber parties
swimming parties
lake parties
camping
VBS
BBQ
4th of July
a week at grandmas....
and then...
then....
it happens.
....
..."MOM....I'm soooo BORED!"
....
how can something so wonderful in the eyes of every child turn out so boring?

source-Brassy Apple

I think I might make this little beauty and hand it over to whatever child whines to me that they're bored
directions at Brassy Apple 


I also stumbled upon this blog early this week with 100 activities to do over the summer
http://www.digitalreflections.typepad.com/digital_reflections/2009/06/100-free-things-to-do-with-your-kids-this-summer.html

and my goal is to have my kids read over the list and make a list of their own, they can choose up to 30 things off this list (there is a 100 to choose from).

I'm hoping that some of their 30 overlap so we don't end up with a list of 60 to do before summer is over!

I have already counted and there are 70 days of summer vacation..
so even if we end up with 60 activities we can double up and do more than one on certain days, and then we will have some weeks that none of these happen
(VBS week is enough entertainment all on it's own, and wears me out, so I get a free pass that week!)...

so I'm almost ready...
I'm getting mentally prepared for the moment when I hear the words...
'Mom...there is nothing to do...I am so bored'...

I think I will also make up a list of chores that I get to assign to the kids that tell me they are bored...

hmmm

some pictures that might help with the crypticness of this blog

so Becky you were right...
and NO, I'm NOT pregnant...
that would be more than slightly tearful in my book....

I will blog more soon about the
what
where
when
why
how
because...

Happy Mother's Day

here are some totally random photos for Mother's Day

yeah, I know this is a Christmas picture, but it's the only one I could find of me with my mom when I was a kid...so hint, hint Mom...I need some more pictures of my childhood!

a picture of my mother, my daughter and I, the day that Wilson was born.  I know I look amazingly great in this picture!  But I think it's a sweet picture of 3 generations!

two other amazing mothers in my life are my mother-in-law...I am so blessed by her in my life!

and my sister-in-law...a wonderful mother, an amazing aunt and a special friend

...what can I say, the Chambers men marry well!

Thank you mom you gave us so much growing up.  The hours you put into our lives, the prayers you prayed over us (and still pray) the foundation of faith that you instilled in my life has been my rock.  Thank you for being an amazing mother and now friend.

Kathy, you have been my mother-in-love...I knew when Beau and I were dating that you were a nice person, and I have realized over and over again since them how truly blessed I am that you are Beau's mother and I am honored to be part of your family.  Thank you for also laying the foundation of faith in your family and raising boys that love and follow the Lord, that became Men that lead their family towards the Lord!

Julie, I remember Luke bringing you 'home' and we all knew that you were that special one.  And I have so enjoyed watching you grow as a mom these past 2 years.  I can't believe that it's been 2 years and that it's ONLY been 2 years.  The wisdom and patience that you posses as a mother is amazing and I am always blessed by our time spent together.  You always encourage me and I am so thankful that our children get to grow up together!

Happy Mothers Day!

changes

just a heads up, there are big changes on the horizon for the ChambersMade household...

good, wonderful, slightly tear-ful changes...

a Scone-ful week

So I had this idea last week that I'd do a few English sounding recipes because of the royal wedding and all...
and then I did none of them...because I won't post a recipe that I haven't actually made so since I never got around to making any of them I couldn't post them...
and by English recipes I mean scones...
and scones and a few more scones...

all that blabbering to say, that I finally got around to making these yummy scones yesterday for breakfast
and it's actually my own recipes because I totally tweaked the recipe I was following so much that it's nothing like the original!

oh, and if you've never made scones before, please do...
they are so easy to make and so worth it!
think sweet biscuit...
and if you've never made biscuits SHAME ON YOU!

nothing like a nice warm scone right out of the oven with your cup-o-Joe...
and I'm always amazing at how many scones my kids devour daintily eat for breakfast!
and hey, whole wheat, fruit (dried cranberries are a fruit right), dairy (yogurt)...that's a well rounded breakfast!

Cherry Vanilla Scones

1 cup dried cherries 

     or my cheater cheap version 

     1 cup cherry flavored dried cranberries

2 teaspoons vanilla*

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup white flour 

     (or go with 2 cups of whatever you have,

      I like to have some wheat so it seems healthier)

3 Tbl brown sugar (or raw, if your going the healthy route)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup butter, cut into pieces

1 teaspoon orange or lemon lest

1 beaten egg yolk

1 cup vanilla yogurt

1 tea vanilla

1 recipe Vanilla Glaze, recipe follows

     (optional, I didn't make so you don't see it in the picture)

Place dried cherries (or cranberries) into small bowl, pour 2 teaspoons vanilla over the top and then pour enough boiling water over them to cover.  Let stand for 5 minutes and then drain well.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine flours, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  Using a pastry blender cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.  Toss in orange zest and drained cherries/cranberries; until coated. 

In a small bowl combine egg yolk, yogurt and vanilla.  Add mixture all at once to flour mixture, using a fork stir until combined.  Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface   Knead dough by folding and gently pressing dough for 10-12 strokes.  Pat into a 1 inch circle and either cut into 12 wedges or cut circles using a biscuit cutter.

Place scones onto an ungreased baking sheet, bake in a 400 oven for 7-9 minutes.

Vanilla Glaze

mix together 3/4 cup powder sugar and 1 tbl vanilla until you have  a drizzling consistency.

*Vanilla Tip...not sure if I've ever shared my tip for cheap good vanilla.  Buy it from a Mexican Grocery...I buy my big bottle for $8...Yep $8 for 33.7 oz of Really Mexican vanilla or $4 for 8 oz of imitation Safeway vanilla???

this little shopping secret allows me to use lots more vanilla which, in my opinion, is the key ingredient in many baking recipes!

don't have any idea where a Mexican Grocery is...either google it or look it up in the old fashion yellow pages, or talk to someone at your favorite Mexican restaurant...the Mexican store I go to is in the small shopping center as one of our favorite Mexican restaurants!

historical day

okay so yesterday might have been a biggie for the United States and the world
(bin Laden going down and all that)
but in our house it was also one of the biggest days a child can have...
the boy child lost his first tooth...

toothless Wilson

interesting fact...the girl child lost her first tooth 3 months before she turned 6...

the boy child lost his first tooth 3 months before he turns 6...

Madison the week she lost her 1st tooth...wow she is so little!

also...
just something to talk about if you have not had a child lose a tooth before...or if it's been awhile for your family...

before the dad rips that loose tooth out of the kids mouth maybe he should have a little private conversation with the mom to make sure there is any money in the tooth fairy bank (aka mom or dad's wallet) before said tooth is removed from child's mouth...

also...good to remember that your child has lost their VERY FIRST tooth....
written the tooth fairy a nice note...

and is anxiously awaiting the $$$ under the pillow
BEFORE you fall asleep in a pile of drool on the couch watching old movies on netflix only to wake up and drag yourself zombie like to bed forgetting 100% about the little boy sound asleep upstairs with all the faith in the world that the tooth fairy will be visiting!

also good to know where the kids keep their cash...
so when you wake up and have your first cup of coffee and remember that the tooth fairy did NOTHING the night before you can raid their stash (to be replaced later...I promise)...
sneak into their room to 'straighten up their covers and kiss them good morning'
while slipping THEIR own money under the pillow with one hand and removing the tooth with the other!