Helen Keller

I don't know where to start. My life has been chock-full of all manner of blog-worthy incidents since I last wrote...

So we moved December 15 and have been going non-stop e'er since. Actually non-stop for the month or so prior to the move. Anyway, we are here as I have already indicated in my previous post, and we are getting settled slowwwwly as we have had a lot of projects to do in the process.

I will start by saying we LOVE LOVE LOVE our new house and location. Not because it is mansion, but because it suits us and our needs as a family so much better than our last house. Tisn't glamorous, but highly functional, especially with the new babe on the way. I just want to say this so that anything else I say about the house won't sound as if I am bragging about OR dissing our new abode.

So we love it and are ever so thankful for it, but yeaaaah, the previous homeowners...we don't know them, but from all we have been able to ascertain at cursory glance...handy people they were NOT. And clean people they were NOT. And painters they were NOT. And the builder was no finish carpenter his own self. I joke that he subcontracted that job to Helen Keller Custom Finishing. It's almost hilarious! Structurally it has passed inspections with flying colors, but aesthetically in some areas, oh MAN!

Take for example one small 4'x6' half bathroom in which they attempted to hang 3 towel racks/toilet paper holders. There were twelve holes for each fixture. Yes, TWELVE, and not small little tap, tap, tap brad holes...they were gaping screw holes in which anchors had been attempted to be placed, but had either fallen out or sunken so deep into the wall that some serious go-go gadgetry would be needed to fish them out. Looked like four holes for each attempt, before finally hitting it "right", but still not quite rightly level and still usually able to be pulled out of the drywall with one gentle Kathryn-sized tug. Then add another 6 or 8 holes for other wall hangings. But to their credit, they did try to patch some of 9 holes under the bathroom mirror THAT THEY TOOK WITH THEM with some home-fashioned patching concoction, leaving behind large barely sandable globs as evidence, lest their act of kindness be overlooked. Needless to say my finishing of said potty room was a huge triumph this weekend. The painting was easy part, it had taken me a whole day of patching and priming with multiple coats to get to that point. I can't stop walking in there to inspect my handiwork. So far it has been the most dramatic transformation in the house. I wish I would have taken before and after photos.

The whole house, with the exception of the girls' burn-your-retinas-off pink room, was antique white...walls and ceilings throughout in varying sheens, but primarily flat and semi-gloss...my two least favorite paints. Flat on the wall, semi on the ceiling. =) (I told you it was funny!) But it has all been re-painted now, with the exception of our bedroom/bathroom, the laundry room, and what will be the baby's room. My mother is coming over tomorrow to help with our bedroom and bathroom. Jeff's parents have been an enormous help as well. Together, our mothers painted most of the first floor, the walls going up the stairs, the hall, and the kids' rooms and main bathroom...walls AND ceilings all within the first 4 days of our moving in...all in the week before Christmas. "Blessed!" Amy did all the taping and made lunch for the work crew. BLESSED! (Was that enough personal glory, man?!)

And Jeff wasn't napping through all of this of course. He busy ripping out the yummy carpeting and padding so it could be replaced that week as well. Did I mention this house is only 3 years old?! I'm telling you...these people...it seems like you would have to TRY to trash a house so quickly. I can't imagine.

Anyway, the kids started their new school January 4 and have transitioned very well. I am so relieved. I hated to make them switch schools mid-year, but they appear not to have suffered a second. It helped that their beloved cousins, Austin and Lexie, already attended that school. It is only a mile away which I LOVE and the starting time is an hour and ten minutes later than their old school. LOVE! We actually have time to get up and ready at a somewhat leisurely pace. We have time for baths in the morning and a real breakfast and still have to try not to get there too early. All this in contrast to the letter I received a week before leaving the last district threatening to turn my children in to the county truancy officer if their excessive tardiness continued. Good stuff! And Jeff and I are enjoying 5-6 minute commutes to work versus the 30 minute ones we used to loathe. It's all good.

Let's see...what other cliches can I come up with? Oh yes...I need to make like a church and split...=)...tee hee...lest any K folk get up in arms about that, I'm actually poking fun at my own current church situation. But that's another story. And it's really not funny. But might's well laugh as cry.

Good day!