House Showings from Hell

Our house is for sale...that's right it is STILL for sale.  We did end up switching Realtors several months back and we have gotten a few nibbles since then but no big bites yet (fingers crossed that one comes soon).  We got the call last week that someone wanted to come see our house on Sunday at 1:00.  We were of course thrilled to get another visit but it's very hard to keep your house in showing condition when you and your spouse work full time, have two children, and are involved in a million other things.  So, we spent the entire week getting organized and cleaning up but just planned for a big cleaning fest on Saturday.

Saturday morning rolled around and we did spend the morning cleaning but we were in no hurry.  So, at 11:00 on Saturday the doorbell rings.  Dan goes to the door in time to see a Realtor trying to get into the key box.  He opens the door and the Realtor says that she and this couple are here for a showing.  Dan quickly apologizes and asks them if they could give us 10 minutes because we were told that the showing was to take place on SUNDAY at 1:00.  The Realtor tells us that she is going to take them to another house and then come back.

Now let me set the scene for you a bit.  When the doorbell rings, the children are running around the house like the wild children that they are.  I am standing at the stove where I have just started cooking Hamburger Helper for lunch.  We are in the process of decorating so the living room looks like Christmas has just vomited there...plastic bins out, decorations littering the floor, nothing has been vacuumed in at least a week and everyone of us is still in our pajamas.

So Dan closed the door and looks at me and I yell "just hide stuff!".  So Dan, Brynn and I spend the next 10 minutes literally running around the house like crazy people just shoving stuff in cabinets and under the couch, vacuuming, throwing the hamburger helper (pan and all) into the fridge, etc.  Colton thinks this looks like great fun so he just begins running around in circles because everyone else is running. The dog can not understand what the excitement is about so she is just running around barking and the cat is hiding in our bedroom looking terrified.  We did the best we could (the results were actually not to shabby) and then toss the kids in the car (yes we are all still in pajamas) and get out of there so that they can do the showing.

So following that bit of excitement, Dan calls our realtor and explains what happened and to verify that this was the showing that was actually supposed to happen 26 hours later.  The realtor told us that she has no notice of any other showings so we just laugh it off and say it was all a big miscommunication and it's in God's hands anyway.  Moving forward to Sunday...

Saturday night Dan went to a bachelor party so I was on my own Sunday morning.  I knew it was going to be a bit crazy because I needed to get ready to attend a funeral, get the kids ready for church, get Brynn packed for a day of Nutcracker rehearsal and drop the kids off in Felton where Dan was meeting us.  I was pretty organized so I was in great shape.  However, 20 minutes prior to leaving, I realized my keys are missing.  So I spend the next 30 minutes (which would have been spent straightening up) frantically tearing the house apart (aka:  making things look worse in the house) looking for my keys.  I finally find them (at which point I am running late) so I toss the kids in the car and literally run out of the door.  BTW:  Colton had hidden my keys in his favorite hiding spot deep inside the kitchen cabinet.

After a very long day of funeral, church, Nutcracker rehearsal we get home to find a realtor's card on the table. This means that they have shown the house!!!!  OMG...I quickly run around the house to see what they saw.  Let me mention a few of my favorite things here...the dirty pan from this morning's scrambled eggs, was sitting on the stove, dirty dishes in the sing, this morning's dirty jammies on the steps, little tiny shoes haphazardly lining my upstairs hallway, the dog chilling in the playroom along with the pile of laundry that came out the dryer that I did not have time to fold, laundry room door hanging open, totally disheveled bed completed with blanket half on the floor thanks to the kids jumping on it in the morning, a pile of folded laundry on the chair in my bedroom, curling iron and make-up hanging out on the counter in my bedroom, etc., etc., etc!!! 

Do you know that feeling when you just can't believe that something just happened and you desperately hope that you are dreaming? That's exactly what we felt! Can you imagine what those people must have thought when they were looking at the house?!!!

I'm guessing that we did not make these sales. Someday this will be funny...

Brynn's Thanksgiving Feast

I actually have a list of blogs that I need to do but since this one is very belated...I will start here.

Just before Thanksgiving Brynn's school had a Thanksgiving Feast.  Each child was invited to bring two people to come to the feast.  My boss allowed me to sneak out for a couple of hours so I could attend but unfortunately Dan had a meeting and couldn't make it (although he did get to go to Colton's), So Brynn invited Grammie to be her other guest.

The pre-school put together such a beautiful event. Everything was decorated and they had huge tables set up.  Brynn was so proud of the decorations that she helped to make.  They had a full thanksgiving meal including turkey, gravy and all of the fixings.  The kids all sang a Thanksgiving song and after we ate some of the characters of the Nutcracker Ballet were on hand to entertain.  It was such a beautiful event and I am so grateful for Brynn's pre-school...what a wonderful blessing they have turned out to be!

My place setting:-) 

Brynn in her Pilgrim Hat

On this Turkey they had each child answer the question "What will you do for Thanksgiving?".  The answers were too funny.  One little girl said that she was going to sit on the couch with her Mommy while her Daddy cooked.  Another child said that they would probably go to McDonalds.  Neither of those were my child...shew.  Brynn said, " I don't remember but I think Mommy will cook and Daddy will help."

On the place mats they had asked each child how to cook a turkey. That got some pretty funny responses too.  Brynn said to cook it for 3 minutes and then cool it for 3 minutes...IF ONLY!

Holiday Weekend Wrap-Up

Ahhhh...what a fabulous long weekend! What is it about long weekends that make it so hard to go back to work?

Anyway....the long weekend was full of delicious food, family time, decorating for Christmas and plenty of shopping.  Does it sound like my perfect weekend or what?!

Our general tradition is to put the Christmas tree up on Black Friday.  However, I would personally put the Christmas tree up on Halloween if Dan would let me get away with it.  So much to my surprise Dan agreed that we could put the tree up last Wednesday...gasp, before Thanksgiving!  Dan's parents had come over for dinner so we all had a fabulous time decorating the tree.

Brynn was a big helper hanging the ornaments this year.

Colton showing off his new ornament which he refused to put on the tree and instead carried it around with him for two days.  Elmo is now missing a foot.

Once we got the tree up, Brynn was inspired to "play Nutcracker". What that means is that she pretends to be Clara (performing the key parts) and assigns roles to everyone else who happens to be nearby.  She then gives each person very specific directions about what they are supposed to do.  It was so fun to watch.  She assigned her Pops (her grandfather) to play the role of Mouse King, Daddy had to be Drosselmeyer, and I was the Nutcracker.  I was particularly delighted by Pops's performance of Mouse King...what a good sport.

Clara sleeping before the mice arrive to take the Nutcracker.

We had a very relaxing Thanksgiving.  We spent the morning on the couch watching the Thanksgiving parades and cooking some goodies to contribute to dinner.  After a short naptime, we went to my Dad and Stepmom's for dinner.  It was a huge family feast!!!  I think there were at least 14 children there under the age of 11 not to mention at least that many adults.  It was super loud, fun and delicious.  We did manage to fit in a quick Christmas card photo shoot while there...and thanks Denise because they are great.  (You will just have to wait to get your card to see that pic).  Here are a couple of other pics:

Some of the kids

Two of my nephews...Ronnie and Hunter

 Colton REALLY enjoyed his cupcake!

Brynn trying to follow her older cousins.

Black Friday was a huge success...perhaps a little too successful!  I am not sure my credit card (or my husband) has gotten over the shock!  However, we only have a few more odds and ends to pick up and we will be completely done.  We left my cousin's house at 6:30 and did not return to her house until 4:00.  We timed it just right because we missed most of the crazy shoppers.  And...we got home just in time to head to my Dad's house for leftovers....still yummy!!!

We did have two crazy mishaps over the weekend with house showings but that will require some explanation so I will save it for another blog:-)

Black Friday...It's on!

One of my top 3 favorite days of the year is almost here...that's right people, Black Friday is two days away and counting!!  I am a bit of shop-a-holic.  I get a serious high from black Friday because it is the one day of the year where Dan does not have a heart attack when I go out and give the credit card a hefty workout.  In fact...when I get home with arm-fulls of shopping bags, he doesn't even as how much I spent (probably fear).  Ah...the freedom:-)

Black Friday is a long standing tradition for the women in my family.  When I was a little girl my grandmother would take my cousins, siblings, Aunt and I out shopping and we would each get to pick out our own Christmas present.  After we were done shopping my grandmother would treat us all to lunch.  I remember us kids begging my grandmother and Aunt to start the shopping later (we thought getting there at 8:00 was crazy).  These days my grandmother just gives everyone money (because she has 5 million grandchildren and great grandchildren) so she doesn't go anymore and over the years the Black Friday Shopping has dwindled to just my cousin and I (and my sister-in-law when she can)...but Denise and I are die-hards.  It's also funny that now we are begging my grandmother to come over earlier to watch the kids so that we can leave on our shopping expedition at 6:30.  Since we are such Black Friday experts, I will share with you some of the lessons we have learned over the years.

1.  You want to go early but not too early.  If you get there at 5:00 am you will be shopping with the crazies...you know those people that will push, shove and run over you for the last pair of 25 cent socks.  Not really fun anymore.

2.  Black Friday is not a day for looking cute.  If you chose to wear your cute boots, you will be sorry!  Two hours into the day you will feel like the balls of your feet have no more skin on them.  Which leads to buying new shoes to wear to finish out the shopping day (Denise and I have both learned this lesson though it did take us two years).

3.  Bring your ponytail holder!  You are going to want to have a ponytail holder handy at all times.  Shopping is hard work and sometimes it gets very hot.  Besides...you never know when you are going to have to wrestle someone over the last pair of 25 cent socks!

4.  Bring a friend.  Some of the lines are super long so it's a lot more fun if you have a friend with you that you can gossip with while waiting.

5.  Leave your coat in the car.  If you are carrying your coat around you have less hands to hold shopping bags and you are going to get too hot to wear that thing.

6. Be sure you stop for lunch. Shopping takes lots of energy so you must rest and refuel.  Besides...Black Friday people watching is some of the best!!!

I have a few more tricks up my sleeve but I'm afraid I cannot share them.  Black Friday shopping is a sport; therefore, it would be crazy to reveal all of our secrets:-)  Denise and I have spent our week stretching and carb-loading to prepare...it's on:-)

Me and my partner in crime (no this is not on Black Friday:-)

Giving Thanks

November means that it is time to start the annual Thankful Tree in the String Household.  I think it's important for all of us to remember how blessed we truly are and this is our fun way of doing it.

Sorry...I can't figure out how to rotate the pic:-(

Each night we trace our hands to make "leaves" for our tree.  We write one thing that we are thankful for on each leaf and then hang it on our tree (which is prominently displayed on the back of our front door).  We look forward to doing it each night and it's fun to watch our tree grow.    What we are thankful for each day is usually a reflection of how the day has gone....you can find everything from wine to belly laughs on the tree.  I love to see what the kids come up with!

It's not quite done yet (we do it for the whole month)...I'll try to remember to post a pic of the complete tree.  On December 1st we take pictures of the tree and than take it down.

My Heart Melts

Brynn and Colton have reached a great age where they really play with each other and enjoy spending time together.  Today on the way to school, I turned around and saw this...

They were just happy as clams holding hands as we drove to school.  My heart melts...all is right with the world:-)

Happy Birthday Sis!

I wanted to take a moment to wish my sister, Kim a very happy birthday!!!

Kim and her family live in Louisiana (air force) and Brynn and I just got back from a wonderful visit with her.  I was really bummed that Dan and Colton weren't able to come with us (just too expensive) but I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to do this with Brynn.  The whole thing was just so special.  She was the perfect little traveler even when we had to sprint through the Airport to catch our last flight.

Almost small enough to be a carry on:-)

Chillin' in our hotel room the night before our flight.

 I just loved Louisiana...kids have great manners, lots of beautiful land and they fry everything...what's not to love.  We managed to squeeze in lots of fun stuff (I learned to shoot a handgun and ride a four wheeler (next time I need an automatic four wheeler!)) but the best part was just spending time sharing a few (or more) glasses of wine with my sister. 

Cousins:-)

 

Helping out the boy scouts with a food drive.

My oldest niece...where has the time gone?!

This boy cracks me up.  My four wheeler coach.

The view from the porch...sigh.

Trying to get a nice picture...

Yea...that's about right!

At the zoo

Playing dress up

Kaylee and I playing Slumber Party on the Wii.

I told you they fry everything...pickles!

It was such a wonderful trip but I miss them even more now:-(