I've mentioned a few times here that there were things going on that I couldn't write about. Well, now I can write about them. I think you'll understand my lack of posting over the last several months once you know the whole truth of our lives...
Back in October, we moved. Not just across town. We bought a house a couple hours away from where we were living before. But that house that we bought? We aren't living there either. (You'll see in the pictures to come, why that's the case). So, instead, we are living with Auntie and her dog and cat while we remodel our new/old house. Oh, but wait....
The girls and I are living with Auntie. Daddy has continued to work at is job two hours away. He has been living elsewhere four days a week and with us for three. This is the reason for the silence. We wanted to be respectful to his company and the people he works with. It's not really nice to talk about the fact that eventually you will be leaving them high and dry. And I have been mostly a single mom since then. I do ok the first three days of the week, but by Thursday night, I'm done. Oh, and let's not forgetting I'm getting towards the end of my pregnancy, so I'm getting tired and cranky more easily anyway...
So, Padyn's new school (well, new back at the end of October) is in the town where our house is, which is not the town Auntie lives in. Every school morning, we wake up at 6:30 to leave the house by 7:55 to drive the 25 minutes to school. Then Kate and I hang out in town for 3 and a half hours until it's time to pick Padyn up again. Sometimes we hang with friends, sometimes we shop, once a week we have gymnastics and playgroup...it's all about finding something to do. Around December I realized Kate wasn't getting much play time. We'd go over in the morning, she'd hang with me, we'd come home, she'd eat lunch, take a nap, wake up, watch a little TV while I made dinner, then bath and bed. No playing. So, I put her in a two day preschool two days a week starting in January. That gives me two mornings a week to help in Padyn's class and go look at tile, appliances, cabinets, and other random things we need for our new house. And Kate gets to play. Yeah!
Daddy has been working his tail off. He comes late Thursday night and works all day long Friday (while still working his job via phone and email) through Sunday on the house. Sometimes I don't see him again until 1am. He's exhausted by the time he goes back to work on Monday morning.
We finally closed on our old house in February. That was a huge relief. In this market, we had no idea how long it would take or what we'd get for it. We didn't do too terribly, but still...this market hurts. And we didn't want to start anything super major on the new house until we closed. It's always nice to have money in the bank before you have to pay for a major remodel.
So, here we are. The baby is due in just over 6 weeks. Our house is gutted, but on it's way to being put back together again. We're planning on moving in at the end of April. That will of course be with one non-remodeled bathroom (the others probably won't have been touched yet), a somewhat working kitchen, new paint, new floors, and a yard that needs a major overhaul. But that is so down the road.
For now, I'll keep looking for a new refrigerator. That's my last kitchen appliance to decide on. And from here on out, I'll keep you in the loop.
Oh, and if you've ever put slate tile in before? Let me know. We will probably need your help.
the night (late late at night) before the painters started-the frame for the semi-dividing wall between the kitchen and family room is up, the electrical, lights and plumbing are done, and we're ready for drywall and paint.
The painters have been in for almost a week and a half now. They should be done this Thursday or Friday. I'll get you some pictures of that this weekend. I think it's going to look and feel very different. Like we might actually be able to move in one day.
the night (late late at night) before the painters started-the frame for the semi-dividing wall between the kitchen and family room is up, the electrical, lights and plumbing are done, and we're ready for drywall and paint.
kitchen-that window is where my sink will be
family room looking into the kitchen-we are taking out part of the wall to create a bigger opening between the two rooms. Notice the large closet is gone. 
hall bath-we're keeping the tub but we'll eventually replace the cultured marble. Do you think we should keep the blue?
It's even better now...more to come.
