settling in

We've been in our new house just over a month, and the boxes are mostly unpacked (and more importantly we know where things are).    There is still a lot to do, but it already feels like home.  The backyard is the most private and quiet we've ever had, and looking around it I still can't quite believe its ours...

I'm glad it is relaxing, since we're still stressing about selling the townhouse, we know it will happen its just been a weird market in Houston this spring.

We had our first pool party yesterday -- Kevin's brother, wife, 3 nephews and niece, and their dog all came over for the afternoon.   The kids' reactions to the house were hilarious - "is this real?", "are you rich?", "can you leave it to me when you die?" (where do their ideas come from?) .   They had all been at a swim meet that morning, but still swam most of the time they were here, we also took the opportunity to find a nearby meat market and try out their fajitas -- delicious, since Kevin had pounded them out.  We should've bought more!  We had hot dogs for the kids, but the two older boys wanted the fajitas --- have to remember as they get older that they want the adult food more and more.    They also ate the entire dozen mini ice creams we'd bought....swimming makes them hungry!   better them eating them than me :)     We hope this is the first of many get togethers in our backyard and can't think of a better group to have been first!


Some random house observations from the first month:

• the first night, we realized there is no door between our bedroom and bathroom ..down the road we'll have one added, but was funny to realize we'd never noticed that missing door.   The main adjustment we've made is that I use my hairdryer in a guest bath in the morning
• there are so many light switches!    we still don't know what some of them do, but are slowly figuring most of them out
• We have a back door doorbell, and its a different tone than the front door (front is ding dong; back is just ding),    It'll take me a long while to remember that we have two, when I think doorbell I think front door
• our driveway is tough to back down with its curve, but so much easier than backing onto a busy street!

moved

We moved!  and this time i mean it, its the last move for the foreseeable future.

Moving day was chaotic and nearly gave me a panic attack (since floor cleaner guy got started way late and was barely getting going as our moving truck arrived), but everything got moved, and weather was agreeable (but hot for April).

I have still not learned to give myself enough time to pack**, so a fair amount of stuff (including the whole pantry) wasn't packed in time for the movers -- but our priority (heavy furniture) did all go.   I spent a good part of last week wrapping up stuff at the old house (and storage unit), I can happily say that all of our stuff is now at the house, and we are unpacking, funny to realize how much of our stuff can stay in boxes for days (weeks?) and we won't miss it -- kitchen, bedroom, bathroom were definitely the priorities.

getting to spread out again and needing to get some additional furniture means pictures will have to wait, but we are loving the backyard!  we even got into the pool, pushed a week due to a cool front the weekend we moved in....

**this time it was also hard to pack as we had to balance packing and keeping the house presentable for showings

TGIF

I think I say this each time I try to sell a house -- but as soon as we move I'm not making the bed again for .    We've been trying to keep the house show ready, with motivation waning since we haven't had a showing all week....but, we have an open house scheduled this weekend (which means more cleaning) and 2 showings already booked for the weekend too.  I wish one wasn't at 9 am, but hey...you can come at almost any time to see the house and fall in love and buy it.

I don't think it feels real to us that we are moving, partly since we're holding off on starting major packing (it'll start right after open house), and so we've just been doing the no-fun part of moving - trying to get utilities set up, movers, papers galore for the lender (rocket mortgage makes me laugh because no way can it be that easy!)

We'll be busy this weekend with showings and hopefully make it to the art car parade for some fun, and time outside - gotta soak in this spring weather for the brief time we have it....

lock box

Wonder what we're up to?  This photo pretty much sums it up.  Its a keybox so that our house can be seen by potential buyers.  

We got our house listed last week and have already had 4 showings --- keeping the house show ready is not easy, and I have NO idea how folks with kids do it!   Making the bed, cleaning the kitchen, keeping all of our stuff put away and getting myself and the dog out in time for last minute showings has kept me running.

I know its worth it because the more showings we have the sooner we will have an offer (I hope).

I know folks will ask why we are moving again so soon (been in our current place 2 1/2 years).  We'd originally thought we'd stay longer, but long term we need more space, less stairs, and a yard (and pool!).  We debated waiting another year, but knowing we will need to move it just seems like the right time to do it, and honestly this is already our compromise -- I wanted to be here through Super Bowl (to enjoy our proximity to all the festivities), and once that came and went we got serious about listing.

Moving is never easy, and this one IS the last one for a long time.....

a funny observation...I realized that most people buy a house to give their kids a yard....we will buy a house to give my husband (and dog) a true yard (again).....



**a week later, i had to title this 'lock box' and oh yes, believe me i keep saying put it in a lock box...

Home Alone

Kevin is at his first ever out of town (actually out of state) conference.     I considered going with him (I really want to be a tag along on a conference), but several factors - including it being a week earlier than we first thought - made us decide it would make more sense for me not to go.   Which means, that for the first time since his grad school days I'm home for a few days without him.

I'm not gonna lie, I'm excited -- total TV control!   plus I can starfish across our bed if I want to.     Sure I will miss him, but making the best of it - no sports and I can watch the shows that pile up on the DVR since he's not a fan...