Thursday, April 24, 2008
Eating cacti makes for a very sick boy
What with being on the phone with Poison Control, explaining that cacti are not for eating to a screaming-I've-got-thorns-in-my-tongue toddler, kissing a sliced thumb (clippers will do that to you), listening to the true crying for over an hour stemming from the pain, dealing with "after effects" of eating said cactus, and explaining that Mommy's nose is not for biting on, it has been sort of a hectic-wear-me-down sort of day. Thank goodness that Baby Kitten has agreed to watch over The Boy for a few...
Friday, April 11, 2008
Moving On
We are moving. Let me tell you the story.
Back in November of last year, we were looking around at places. My mom works for this woman named Sally who lives on a farm in Poland with like 100 acres and sheep, and chickens, and dogs, etc etc. She has this other house down the road from her on her property. She turned the house into two apartments and her step-daughter rents the top floor. So last year, she lost her other tenant. We asked if we could come check out the place. She said we could but that she had it in total disarray because she decided to remodel. We went and looked at it and fell in love with the land (you know -- the simple things-- a garden, a clothes line, acres of land for Ezekiel to run, a frog pond (!), etc). Even the crazy things were exciting to us (the coyotes coming up to the front door.. yeah, that is about all the crazy). The house seemed wonderful in an old, farm house, cozy sort of way. Sally was asking $650 plus half the oil - which would run about $200/month. It just seemed steep but we said we were interested. She said she would think about it.
Last week (FIVE MONTHS after our initial visit), my mom told me that Sally was done remodeling. She was really torn about us renting (she was concerned about the oil prices, Marty being the only one with a job, and us with only one car) so she said she had to pray about some things. Well, I didn't call and I didn't call..I just didn't want to annoy her and plus, she hadn't told US about deciding to rent the apartment, only my mom. Then, on Wednesday, I couldn't stand it anymore! I called her and told her that we were interested in her place if she was willing to rent to us. She called me back a few hours later and burst into tears. She said that she has been carrying around the ad for the newspaper for a week and she didn't feel right about putting it in, but THAT day she was going to put it in if God didn't speak to her in a very loud voice saying that she should rent to us. Well, she got home..and saw her answering machine blinking, it was me. She said that she talked to her husband and they decided that they really wanted us and they wanted to offer it to us for $450/month (!!!!). We were like "oh my gosh, oh my gosh, yes, yes, yes, please!".
We got the key today :) :) It is SO beautiful. She has done a lovely job with the place. I asked her about security deposit and first/last month rent. You know what she said? She said "this house was an answer to prayer and we want to continue to help people. If you are willing to sign a letter of intent to live here and that you will respect this place, then we do not want a deposit or anything".
I honestly didn't know that there were nice people like that.
We are super excited about moving (I almost feel like we are starting a new, fresh life) but there is a tinge of sadness too. We've been in our current place for almost 7 years now. My sister has always lived down the hall from us. We moved in when Jacob was an infant, and we have always been here in Emily's little life. So it is sad to move away from them and not be able to have them run down to see us whenever they feel like it.
I took some pictures of the apartment (but I didn't take pictures downstairs or of the garage..those will come later).
This is the breakfast nook/dining area (she did the tiling herself):
Part of the kitchen with an overtired baby (it has special drawer/cupboard things for potatoes and one for flour).:
One of the rooms upstairs:
Bathroom:
Another room (you can see that she isn't quite done with the remodeling..she is going to finish up this week)
And another shot of the baby..and the floors. The floors were all really dark, she stripped them by herself and refinished them:
Back in November of last year, we were looking around at places. My mom works for this woman named Sally who lives on a farm in Poland with like 100 acres and sheep, and chickens, and dogs, etc etc. She has this other house down the road from her on her property. She turned the house into two apartments and her step-daughter rents the top floor. So last year, she lost her other tenant. We asked if we could come check out the place. She said we could but that she had it in total disarray because she decided to remodel. We went and looked at it and fell in love with the land (you know -- the simple things-- a garden, a clothes line, acres of land for Ezekiel to run, a frog pond (!), etc). Even the crazy things were exciting to us (the coyotes coming up to the front door.. yeah, that is about all the crazy). The house seemed wonderful in an old, farm house, cozy sort of way. Sally was asking $650 plus half the oil - which would run about $200/month. It just seemed steep but we said we were interested. She said she would think about it.
Last week (FIVE MONTHS after our initial visit), my mom told me that Sally was done remodeling. She was really torn about us renting (she was concerned about the oil prices, Marty being the only one with a job, and us with only one car) so she said she had to pray about some things. Well, I didn't call and I didn't call..I just didn't want to annoy her and plus, she hadn't told US about deciding to rent the apartment, only my mom. Then, on Wednesday, I couldn't stand it anymore! I called her and told her that we were interested in her place if she was willing to rent to us. She called me back a few hours later and burst into tears. She said that she has been carrying around the ad for the newspaper for a week and she didn't feel right about putting it in, but THAT day she was going to put it in if God didn't speak to her in a very loud voice saying that she should rent to us. Well, she got home..and saw her answering machine blinking, it was me. She said that she talked to her husband and they decided that they really wanted us and they wanted to offer it to us for $450/month (!!!!). We were like "oh my gosh, oh my gosh, yes, yes, yes, please!".
We got the key today :) :) It is SO beautiful. She has done a lovely job with the place. I asked her about security deposit and first/last month rent. You know what she said? She said "this house was an answer to prayer and we want to continue to help people. If you are willing to sign a letter of intent to live here and that you will respect this place, then we do not want a deposit or anything".
I honestly didn't know that there were nice people like that.
We are super excited about moving (I almost feel like we are starting a new, fresh life) but there is a tinge of sadness too. We've been in our current place for almost 7 years now. My sister has always lived down the hall from us. We moved in when Jacob was an infant, and we have always been here in Emily's little life. So it is sad to move away from them and not be able to have them run down to see us whenever they feel like it.
I took some pictures of the apartment (but I didn't take pictures downstairs or of the garage..those will come later).
This is the breakfast nook/dining area (she did the tiling herself):
Part of the kitchen with an overtired baby (it has special drawer/cupboard things for potatoes and one for flour).:
One of the rooms upstairs:
Bathroom:
Another room (you can see that she isn't quite done with the remodeling..she is going to finish up this week)
And another shot of the baby..and the floors. The floors were all really dark, she stripped them by herself and refinished them:
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Part Two
Ezekiel is trying to grow up before it is time for him to grow up. He emulates everything (thus resulting in a huge cleanup of our language as of late). One thing he loves is the phone. He has long involved conversations while walking through the house (Marty is a pacer on the phone).
Multi-tasking - "talking" on the phone while yelling at the door to see if Marty is home (Da-daahhh!)
He's even got the cell phone down.
Wondering if I'm going to try to take it from him...
nope! safe again!!
Doesn't he remind you of an insolent little kid using his phone?
He has also discovered his inner coolness. He wants you to realize how very cool he is.
Impressed yet? If not, he will flash you his very new, VERY extreme smile:
He's also decided that if Daddy can drive like a clown, then he must be ready to start the driving too!
Let's back this beast up!
GET OUT OF MY WAY!! (loving on the horn)
We have long days at home alone sometimes, so Ezekiel and I "staged" photos to make Marty laugh.
'do you like my hair?'
'how about my face?'
"Do the Fish Face!!"
"Now pretend you are making Daddy smell your stinkies!" (one of his favorite games of all time)
Mandy gave us a papasan chair. Ezekiel adopted it. He has also adopted his first "Lovie" (other than me or Marty). This is really exciting for us - unfortunately, we took it on a trip and already lost it (referring to his Lovie-Blanket). I think it may be in our backseat............
Relaxing.
Very comfy.
Eventually, he did snooze in his little nest.
Little Marty..
Towering Giant..
Multi-tasking - "talking" on the phone while yelling at the door to see if Marty is home (Da-daahhh!)
He's even got the cell phone down.
Wondering if I'm going to try to take it from him...
nope! safe again!!
Doesn't he remind you of an insolent little kid using his phone?
He has also discovered his inner coolness. He wants you to realize how very cool he is.
Impressed yet? If not, he will flash you his very new, VERY extreme smile:
He's also decided that if Daddy can drive like a clown, then he must be ready to start the driving too!
Let's back this beast up!
GET OUT OF MY WAY!! (loving on the horn)
We have long days at home alone sometimes, so Ezekiel and I "staged" photos to make Marty laugh.
'do you like my hair?'
'how about my face?'
"Do the Fish Face!!"
"Now pretend you are making Daddy smell your stinkies!" (one of his favorite games of all time)
Mandy gave us a papasan chair. Ezekiel adopted it. He has also adopted his first "Lovie" (other than me or Marty). This is really exciting for us - unfortunately, we took it on a trip and already lost it (referring to his Lovie-Blanket). I think it may be in our backseat............
Relaxing.
Very comfy.
Eventually, he did snooze in his little nest.
Little Marty..
Towering Giant..
Are you shocked?
OK, this isn't the follow up to yesterday's blog about Ezekiel. But I'm thinking you will enjoy this.
Pre:
Apres:
Pre:
Apres:
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
long, long, long!
This is going to be a long one. My recommendation is if you don't love all things Ezekiel, then just walk away now. Seriously...
I realized I haven't even posted on Ezekiel's Easter! How sad, and how needing of a rectification.
Easter -
We had dinner at my Mom's, everyone was there, it was super loud but the ham was incredible and so were the carrots (the best I've ever had - my mom says her secret is to soak them in sugar water before cooking).
Here is Ezekiel greeting everyone. He is practicing "new" smiles..
Tagging along behind Kevin Kahn and Ashley (or is that Isabella? already the confusion has set in). Notice - it didn't take long before he lost his pants.
Into the kitchen to find out what is going on!
And back out again to check on the dogs!
Ezekiel "found" the best seat in the house - Ashley's stroller. He waited until she was taken out of it, then he climbed in and wouldn't budge. He enjoyed sitting there talking to Papa. Both of them in their big boy seats.
The dog scares him. But he really, really loves doggies!
He loves to feed the doggies too. My family isn't big on manners I guess. No pants, feeding the dogs at the table, talking over each other. I bet there were a few elbows on the table too. You'd fit in as long as you are slightly-slobbish.
After removing his shirt and finding total freedom, Ezekiel also discovers the Easy Button. Really, have you ever seen a kid dance to "That was Easy." over and over and over? Ezekiel will dance to anything. Must be the music in his soul :)
The weekend after Easter, we had Emily's 5th birthday. Since everyone was pretty much still sick from Easter, the turnout was kind of low. That was great for Ezekiel though. The adults sat around in a circle and dutifully played audience to his various antics.
Watch me get the balloon!
Wait, watch me again!
Em blowing out the candles.
Realizing she forgot to make a wish.
(back to Ezekiel..) Everyone is amused by him.
even HE is amused by himself.
He just loves his Uncle Frank.
Showing off (one of the girl's put a sparkly belt on him)
And then it is dress-up time.
hmm, not sure about this.
*sigh* fine. Just get it over with.
Playing with Uncle Frank and the Baseball Hat (Frank so badly wants a Red Sox fan...)
ahhh. Even the little things impress these girls. Ezekiel LOVES his Marissa and Jazmin.
OK, this post is long enough for now..I'm gonna save the rest for tomorrow so I can head to bed. I took some Nyquil so I should manage a nice night of sleep (hopefully).
I realized I haven't even posted on Ezekiel's Easter! How sad, and how needing of a rectification.
Easter -
We had dinner at my Mom's, everyone was there, it was super loud but the ham was incredible and so were the carrots (the best I've ever had - my mom says her secret is to soak them in sugar water before cooking).
Here is Ezekiel greeting everyone. He is practicing "new" smiles..
Tagging along behind Kevin Kahn and Ashley (or is that Isabella? already the confusion has set in). Notice - it didn't take long before he lost his pants.
Into the kitchen to find out what is going on!
And back out again to check on the dogs!
Ezekiel "found" the best seat in the house - Ashley's stroller. He waited until she was taken out of it, then he climbed in and wouldn't budge. He enjoyed sitting there talking to Papa. Both of them in their big boy seats.
The dog scares him. But he really, really loves doggies!
He loves to feed the doggies too. My family isn't big on manners I guess. No pants, feeding the dogs at the table, talking over each other. I bet there were a few elbows on the table too. You'd fit in as long as you are slightly-slobbish.
After removing his shirt and finding total freedom, Ezekiel also discovers the Easy Button. Really, have you ever seen a kid dance to "That was Easy." over and over and over? Ezekiel will dance to anything. Must be the music in his soul :)
The weekend after Easter, we had Emily's 5th birthday. Since everyone was pretty much still sick from Easter, the turnout was kind of low. That was great for Ezekiel though. The adults sat around in a circle and dutifully played audience to his various antics.
Watch me get the balloon!
Wait, watch me again!
Em blowing out the candles.
Realizing she forgot to make a wish.
(back to Ezekiel..) Everyone is amused by him.
even HE is amused by himself.
He just loves his Uncle Frank.
Showing off (one of the girl's put a sparkly belt on him)
And then it is dress-up time.
hmm, not sure about this.
*sigh* fine. Just get it over with.
Playing with Uncle Frank and the Baseball Hat (Frank so badly wants a Red Sox fan...)
ahhh. Even the little things impress these girls. Ezekiel LOVES his Marissa and Jazmin.
OK, this post is long enough for now..I'm gonna save the rest for tomorrow so I can head to bed. I took some Nyquil so I should manage a nice night of sleep (hopefully).
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