Forever Neighbors...

Okay, so the house across the street from us has been for sale forever. And I mean FOREVER. Well, technically, it was for sale. Foreclosed. Now for sale again. It's sat empty for so long that it just has seemed like we'd never get neighbors. Well, the last 2 days, I noticed a lot of "showings" - completely out of the blue. When I looked online, I saw the bank (who owns it) has slashed the price (over $250K LESS than it started for!! So, it's no wonder!). Okay, so tonight, my dear daughter Grace gasped as she looked out the window and saw all the lights on across the street and people inside (presumably being shown around by the realtor). "Oh no!!," she exclaimed. "People are inside the house! No one can live there! I don't want anyone to move into that house." Not at all MY reaction from seeing some life (FINALLY) inside the house (even if it is just random realtor showings). I then realized she was truly upset. I walked over to her, bent down to her level and asked her, "what's the matter, honey?" As tears streamed down her face, she sobbed, "No one can live there because I am going to live there when I'm a Mommy so that I can live right across the street from you! I'm supposed to live there so I'm right by you and Daddy." It dawned on me that she was truly serious about this. She was so upset and heartbroken that someone else might be buying her "future" home. After a few hugs and kisses I assured her that when she's a Mommy, if someone else lives across the street in that house, I will move to wherever she lives so we'll always be together. Or, at least right across the street. I would give anything to bottle that feeling she has right now and SAVE it for when she's 25 - so I could convince her never to stray very far from home.

I'll have some chicken nuggets, ketchup and a side of carrots to go, please...

It's become a big joke around here. When Daddy's away... Betty Crocker stays hidden in the cubbord. It turns into "kids meal" night (aka, "Would you like cereal or chicken nuggets for dinner, kids?") I can't possibly be the only mother who does that, right? Sometimes we call Daddy during dinner time since we miss his absense. He's stopped asking, "whattya guys eating?" He knows it's going to be, "Ummm yogurt. String cheese. A couple grapes." or "Clifford Crunch." But, that's okay. He knows I'm taking good care of his babies. On the same note, I've also stopped asking him what HE'S eating for dinner (over the phone). I got tired of hearing about his delicious salmon fillets and exotic salad blends as I'm trying to gag down a last bite of spongy chicken nugget :)

Here we go...

All right. I'm going to do it. I'm just going to jump right in and pretend I've been doing this forever. Of course, I have maintained our family website for several years and I hope to continue to do so, but this blog stuff is just so cool. I love the idea of connecting with others and meeting some new friends with similar interests. If nothing else, maybe I can somehow stay connected to my two DEAR friends Amanda and Jennifer, since our playdates have been difficult (impossible) to coordinate!! And, I love the idea of having a place to journal memories for my kids. I gave up on scrapbooking. Just not my thing. But, with a camera in my hand and a keyboard within reach, creating a keepsake for the kids (albeit a cyber keepsake) just might become possible!