the long and the short of it

So, after two years of on-again off-again shenanigans, our first home finally sold.

The amount of money we got for the house was disgustingly low (the Cleveland market really and truly tanked when the real estate bubble burst), and the amount we had to pay the bank to get out was alarmingly high, but I am proud to say we did it!

And, in early March, we found what we thought was going to be our next home ...  A large, short sale in a great school district with four bedrooms, three and a half baths, a big, open kitchen and living room combination, and a finished basement.  It was everything we had hoped for (and more!) at a deal of a price, and we were content to wait it out.

Although the title of "short sale" would imply a quick process, it only describes the fact that the bank will be "short" money at the end of the sale ...  So we moved into our temporary rental, made it feel as "homey" as possible, and waited to hear something about our new place.

Months passed (something not unheard of with a short sale), and while we casually looked for other, normally listed properties, we still held hope that the gears were moving.

But they were not.

Despite extra help (and annoyance?) from our realtor, the realtor representing the seller did not receive any information, or progress, from the bank that held the home's loan ...  And although the seller signed off on our offer (days after we made it), the bank never responded.

With our short sale unexpectedly off the table (and mysteriously gone from all the real estate websites I frequented), we were back at Square One.

So, the "casual" looking  became more serious.

We stretched our budget to increase the number of properties we could look at, yet the more houses we saw, the more we felt like we would never find anything that felt big enough within our comfort zone.  We thought we might have to just give in and settle on something that was "good enough."

I know.  I know.

Total "first world problem" right there ...

But after the time and effort it took to finally be in the position to buy a new house, we wanted this next one to be it ... 

The one we'd live in from here on out.

The one we'd ultimately raise our family in.

And despite some negative attitudes and the feeling that maybe we should have just stayed put a little bit longer (so as to save more money toward this next house), we pressed on ... 

And on.

And on.

Luckily for us, this little adventure in buying and selling has a happy ending.

At the tail end of June (if you're counting, that's about four months after bidding on the short sale), we got some great news from our realtor ...  Another realtor he knew was about to list a property that met all of the items on our "wish list" and was actually within our budget!  So we checked it out (prior to it even being on the market) and decided that it was the one for us.  After some back-and-forth negotiations (and a successful inspection with only some minor-ish issues that needed addressing), we're excited to call it "ours" (home!) in a few short weeks. 

Although I'm definitely not looking forward to the stress of packing up everything (again) and dealing with the scheduling that surrounds moving trucks and the delivery of our "pod" full of belongings, I can't wait to finally put an end to this journey!

A very happy end (that is really just the beginning).

getting closer

The wheels are turning ...

And we should be in our new home by the end of August!

(Maybe I'll feel motivated to write about the whole experience one of these days ...)

an interview with malcolm (almost four edition)

During one of the hottest days last week, the kids and I were spending some time on the porch and I got the bright idea to "interview" Malcolm.

Here are some of his favorite things ...

Favorite Color: Orange
Favorite Shape: "Half moons, crescent moons, full moons ...  They all my favorite."
Favorite Fruit: "Bananas, of course!"
Favorite Lunch Food: Macaroni and Cheese
Favorite Dinner Food: Noodles (this usually means spaghetti and meatballs)
Favorite Dessert: Gummies, cakes, or pies
Favorite Drink: "Lemonade at Gramma's house, that's my best drink."
Favorite Movie: A Bug's Life
Favorite Game: Hide and Seek (although I don't think he's ever played it before!)
Favorite Train: Gordon
Favorite Stuffed Animal: Peach (the starfish from Finding Nemo)
Favorite Bug: Lady bugs, thorn bugs, caterpillars, and butterflies
Favorite Animal: Seals and reindeer
Favorite Plant: "Droopy flowers, of course ...  And tulips."
Favorite Thing at the Park: Walking on the tires

Favorite Thing About Dad: "He chases me."
Favorite Thing About Mom: Getting hugs and kisses
Favorite Thing About Pearl: Reading books with her

Hopefully, I'll remember to try this again next summer ...  And see how his preferences change over time!

train wreck

We took Malcolm to a "Day Out with Thomas" event over the weekend and witnessed the (unexpected?) highs and lows of a three-year-old in the span of a half hour.

I think the following photos sum up the experience quite nicely ...

Photo #1: Too much excitement leads to an all-out kicking and screaming melt down, and some tears.

Photo #2: The train is coming back into the station?  Wait a minute ...  This is fun!

Photo #3: Being cooperative and actually posing for pictures (with Gordon, his favorite engine) ... Maybe he wants to come again next year?

 

You've got to love the roller coaster that is life with a three-year-old ... 

As much as I like to complain (commiserate?) about it, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world!

busy days and a diaper giraffe

When Friday evening rolls around, I breathe a sigh of relief that the work week is over and I will actually have some time to relax over the weekend ... 

 

Unfortunately, although they seem rather unassuming as they approach, that hasn't been the case for a couple of weekends now!

This weekend, part of the "busy-ness" included a baby shower for one of my childhood friends.

And what is a baby shower without a diaper animal?

Since the "theme" of her shower was giraffes, I set out to make one as part of her gift. 

Using the following tutorial as a basic guide (and with the addition of some pipe cleaners within the legs to hold them together, some wooden popsicle sticks to support the neck, and different embellishments), I ended up with something pretty cute.

And while it wasn't as relaxing as I had hoped, it turned out to be a nice weekend afterall!

ghosts of the past

As has been mentioned around these parts, our house sold and we are currently residing in a "temporary" location until the short sale we bid on comes through.

To say that our current home has "history" would be a bit of an understatement.

Not only was the home built in the 1920's, and, therefore, is full of woodwork and character, it has also been in my family for decades ...  Owned first by my grandfather, then by my uncle and dad collectively, and, now, just by my dad.

But, it also has been lived in by these same people.

The downstairs unit has been graced by my great-grandparents, and my own family ...  From my birth, until the time I was nearly twelve, this was also my home.  I shared one of the two bedrooms with both of my sisters.  I played in the (small) yard (that felt huge at the time), and created plays and shows in the basement (which was set up as our playroom).

The upstairs unit, where we are living today, was where my dad grew up ...  He slept in the same bedroom that Malcolm currently calls "his."  Then, when my dad's family moved away, my uncle continued to rent the upstairs unit ... And, in more recent years, my sister and a friend lived there.

It's obvious to see that this house has been called "home" by most of my family (at one time or another), and now, here I am ...  Back with my husband and kids, and living here (albeit in a different unit) a second time. 

Making new memories in an old house.

Continuing the history that started so many years before.

While I never anticipated that our home selling (and buying) experience would put us in "The Double," I find myself happy that it did.

Yes, we are a bit squished in our two-bedroom retreat.

Yes, the kitchen is tiny and the stove is old.

Yes, it is awkward tip-toeing around the one-year-old that sleeps in the master bedroom.

And, yes, packing and moving on two separate (and closely-spaced) occasions is going to stink.

But, it is so incredibly cool to hear my dad talk to Malcolm about how he used to sleep in the same room when he was a boy ...

To see how this simple house connects generations of my family.

half way

This past weekend was "part one" of our big move ...

Since we sold our house in February, we put an offer in on a short sale and may have to wait up to four months to hear if the bank accepts the offer ... 

So, in the meantime, we (so very luckily) have moved into a rental property owned by my dad.

It is cozy (only one level and two bedrooms instead of three!), but already, it feels like home.

officially official

Someone added the "sold" to our yard sign at the end of last week ...

I guess this means it's really happening!

third time's the charm

So, as I mentioned in another post, our house was (back) on the market for the third time beginning in the middle of January.

It wasn't anything different.

It didn't feel special.

Just the same old song and dance.

A flurry of getting the house "ready" ...  Cleaning and decluttering so that the realtor could take photos, and so things would look nice if anyone wanted to take a closer look.

Debating on a new low, low listing price that wouldn't bankrupt us in the process (should someone actually be interested this time).

And then, of course, just sitting back and waiting.

And wondering.

And imagining, "What if?"

What if this was the time? 

And, after about one month of showings (averaging about one per week, not too shabby in Cleveland's depressed real estate market!), we got a nibble.

Someone made an offer.

And we accepted!

And, things still seem to be progressing in the right direction.

No news is good news, as they say. 

Third time's the charm!

So, here we sit, busy going through closets and loading boxes and trying to prepare ourselves (practically and mentally) for the April 10th closing date.

We're still figuring out the "new house" stuff on this end, but it is a good feeling.

Knowing that, after two years of the same old song and dance, the third try has yielded some results.

That our family will be moving on.

Our family will be moving!

surviving the winter

I feel like I fall into a little writing rut every year at about this same time.

Hopefully a wintery photo from last weekend will suffice until tomorrow ...

making room for the big boy

I had planned to write and publish this post about a year ago, as the impending arrival of "Baby #2" grew closer and closer.  At that time, instead of getting a baby's room ready (since it was already unisex, as we didn't know what Malcolm was going to be before he arrived), my husband and I found ourselves turning our attention (back) to "Baby #1."

More specifically, we spent many a moment crafting and executing a proper "big boy" room for Malcolm in order to coax him away from the small baby room that he knew, and into our larger third bedroom ...  He seemed perfectly content to stay in his crib forever!

Because (at that time) he really liked owls and moons, I thought the two things could be a loose "theme" for the otherwise neutral room.

The bed tent (although he hasn't actually slept in it in ages) was the final piece of the puzzle ...  The pictures on its sides included a crescent moon and an owl, and seemed to tie the "owls and moons" idea together.

It's like we had a camping under the stars theme going all along!

As you can see, it took some time to put everything together, but I feel like we are finally finished ... 

Luckily, the house being up for sale (again) prompted me to take some photos while it was clean and tidy!

blindsided

So this post doesn't fit the "theme" of this blog at all ...

It's not about Malcolm or Pearl.

Or something funny (or sweet) the husband did.

It's not about our house being back on the market (that will come later).

Or about anything remotely "mommy" related.

Yet, my mind and heart have been compelling me to write it since this weekend ...  To get these thoughts on (virtual) paper.

To remember.

Sometime on Friday night, a neighbor and friend that I grew up with, a boy who was like my "little brother," took his own life.

He was only 26-years-old.

Truth be told, although we haven't spoken in about two years, I am still having a really hard time wrapping my mind around it, and find myself preoccupied with thoughts of him (and his family that were left behind).

This loss has blindsided me in a way that others before it have not ...  That's not to say the deaths of my Grampie or uncle were not difficult, but, in many ways, they were expected.  My Grampie was old.  My uncle had cancer.

This boy, however, wasn't old.

He wasn't sick.

He was young.

Vibrant.

And I just don't understand how someone so young, so full of life and other possibilities, could really be gone.

Growing up, this was the kid that lived to make us laugh.

The kid that idolized Jim Carrey and perfected his impressions of him (using us as his audience).

The kid that forced us to call him by a different name for an entire summer, and liked having various shapes shaved into his buzz-cut hair.

The kid that was always smiling.

The kid that was small in size, but so huge in personality and charm.

The kid I "babysat" on occasion, spending evenings playing games on the computer or making milkshakes and other junky snack foods.

The kid I tutored in math for weeks on end, only to have him fail the exam anyway ...  And somehow convince his mother that the tutoring had really helped.

The kid that, truly, seemed to be so outwardly happy.

I obviously don't know why he chose the path he did.

I can't (and don't want to) speculate.  It's none of my business, anyway.

Instead, I sit here in disbelief, and wonder how I will make it through the wake and funeral without completely losing it. 

How I will be able to accept the crazy reality of the situation ...  While my mind and heart are fighting against me, trying to convince me that nothing has changed and this is all just some weird dream or misunderstanding.

I just can't believe that he's gone.

(And I know I'll sound like a baby saying this, but) it isn't fair.

It just isn't fair.

almost there

I'm not usually one to get overwhelmed by the various stresses that creep into my everyday life ... 

But, to put it lightly, this week has left me feeling downright exhausted and ready to collapse into bed each night.

It has been quite a challenge.

(And I haven't even had to leave the house!)

It is the last week of school before semester exams, so I'm busy working with students to help them end the semester on a high note (and go into that last exam prepared and ready to go) ...  And, on the administrative end, I'm grading lots of late work, attending tons of department and planning meetings, and just otherwise preparing for a new semester of science material.

Pearl has been much crankier than usual because she is (seems to be?) teething.

Malcolm is embarking on his first full week with no pull-ups and, while he is doing extremely well, there are the inevitable accidents to be had (and clean) ...  On top of that, he has also been super energetic (probably from being cooped up all day), wanting to run throughout the house and play, often plowing over his (crabby) sister in the process (and making her even crabbier).

And (last, but certainly not least) ...  We talked with a (new) realtor and put the house on the market for the third time.

All of these things, although tolerable on their own, are adding up to a perfect, chaotic storm in our house!

A storm that I am so ready to see blow over as soon as the weekend hits.

(And I hear the weather is supposed to be nice, too!)

I'm ready to take a break from my computer and pull myself away from its glowing screen ... To hang up the "working mom" hat for a little while and just relax with my kids (crabby or high-strung as they may be) and husband.

I'm ready to give my girl some good, long cuddles.

I'm ready to give my boy a chance to bounce balls off the wall in the basement (or maybe jump on the bed) to expend a bit of energy ...  And, of course, stick lots of stickers on his wall chart for all of his bathroom successes!

This weekend really can't come soon enough.

If only it would stay for more than two days ...

cookie monster

Now that she's been given the "okay" to eat table food with the rest of us, I may have created a monster ...

Girl's got a sweet tooth just like her mother!

four gifts

After a stressful week full of teaching (and grading, and meetings, and phone calls) and battling sickness (that was affecting both of my kids and myself), I was definitely in the mood to think about "fun" things and join up with Elizabeth's "4 Gifts" link-up ...

So, with about two weeks until the big day (seriously, where did the time go?!), here's my Christmas list this year ...

1. A tropical beach vacation is definitely the epitome of a "need."  Obviously, it is completely impractical, but right about now, I think some time in the sun and sand would do me a lot of good!

2. A Canon EF-S 18-135 mm lens is at the top of my want list ...

3. I've been pining for a pair of Converse Hi-tops for quite some time, now, but I've never gone out and made the purchase.

4. I've always been a huge Batman fan and loved watching the old 1960s show via reruns when I was a kid ... So I think "Boy Wonder: My Life in Tights" by "Robin" (Burt Ward) would be an entertaining (and easy) read!

And my husband says that I'm "hard to buy for."

Who's he kidding?!

uh-oh ...

Pearl started crawling a couple days after she turned seven months old ...

Now, a couple days into her eighth month, and she's already trying to pull herself up the stairs?!

(It's hard to tell because the sleeper is a bit big on her, but she is totally putting her body weight down on that left foot!)

What kind of crazy joke is this?

Don't let that sweet little face (and chubby cheeks) fool you ...

This girl means business!

second verse (same as the first)

As of November 1st, our house was officially off the market (again).

Yes, the second year of "attempting to sell our house" has come to a close so that we can enjoy the holidays without the the potential of open houses and random showings hanging over our heads.

Not that we got a lot of those anyway ...

(Although we did get more than last year)

Things are still sluggish in the Cleveland housing market.  Foreclosures are everywhere and, it seems, people would rather pay half the price for a fixer-upper than buy our ready-to-live-in, full price home.

I don't blame them, of course.

I mean, if (and when) we do sell this house, that is just the sort of house we'll be looking for ...  One that is big and cheap, that will provide us some extra growing room.

But, for now, it's back to life as usual in our "old" house.

Time to just settle in and enjoy the charm of its nearly hundred-year-old construction.

Time to make it more liveable for us and our current needs ...  Which includes finishing the basement "play room" project so that our living room isn't overrun with toys anymore.

Time to have fun with the kids and build new experiences and memories ...  And think back on old ones.

As much as I want to get out and start a new chapter of our lives, I know that, when this "on the market" stuff ends with an actual offer and sale, it will be bittersweet.

This is our first house!

We purchased it over seven years ago.

We pulled down yards and yards of wallpaper, pulled up carpet, painted rooms to our liking, fixed up the kitchen (and added a dishwasher!), remodeled the bathroom ...

It was lots of work.

Lots of hard work.  A labor of love.

So, until next year, when we start the whole process all over again, we will enjoy this house and consider ourselves so very lucky to call it home.

a difference of opinion

Every now and then my husband have the same discussion.

He thinks that I am "sharing too much" on this blog and it makes him nervous.

I think that my blogging habit is fine just the way it is ...

I try to assure him that I am careful.

I'm not posting any naked photos of our kids (as cute as their little butts may be), and, for him, I don't post videos.

I'm vague in regards to where we live.

I don't openly share our last name.

Besides, how many readers do I really have?

This blog is more for me (just another way to document what's happening in our household) than anyone else.  I like to take notes, keep track of everything ...  It's the scientist in me, I think.

As an avid blog reader, I tell him that I've personally read lots of blogs (with much, MUCH larger followings) where so much more is shared ...  And those authors (and their families) seem to be okay. 

Or else they wouldn't be doing it, right?

Yet, I can understand his concern ...  And I like when his papa bear instinct comes out.

He's a bit less internet-savvy than I am.  He definitely doesn't read blogs (he doesn't even read this one!), so he doesn't have the same perspective as I do.  He definitely doesn't get it.

So, I put it out there to any other bloggers that happen to be reading here ... 

What do your spouses/significant others think of your blogging habit?  Do they approve?  If, like my husband, they have a difference of opinion, what is your compromise?

dressed for the fest

We went to the "Fall Pumpkin Fest" out at Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania over the weekend.

First, we enjoyed a parade down Main Street (complete with leaf throwing while we waited) ... 

Hooded sweatshirt: The Children's Place (thrifted for $2.00)

Long-sleeved tee-shirt: Old Navy (thrifted for $1.00)

Jeans: Arizona Jean Co. (thrifted for $1.00)

Socks: Circo ($1.00)

Shoes: Kidgets (thrifted for $1.00)

Then, we moved on to Conneaut Lake Park for (more leaf throwing, obviously, but also) craft and food vendors galore! 

All in all, it was the perfect way to spend a gorgeous fall day.

Definitely worth another trip next year ...

the engineer

There's just something about trains that is really capturing his attention lately ...

It's a good thing he got some nice, wooden track for his birthday!