we have a broken heater

We had a really fun weekend filled with friends and fun until this morning....

This morning we thought it was getting pretty cold in our house, but we weren't for sure.  We're still trying to figure out the furnace and all 4 thermostats.  Seriously, it's like a puzzle.

After checking the furnace in the basement we realized our heater wasn't working.  We called our landlord and a few repair men hoping for heat by tonight.  Our landlord is a real peach and never responded to our calls.  The repairmen can't come until tomorrow.  Soooooo..... we are cold.  

I am irritated, but we are making the best of the situation.  We bought a few small heaters for the kids rooms for tonight at Lowe's and we already had another larger electric heater we put in our room.  BUT what a mess and a bummer.  I'm so disappointed.  I tried not to act upset before I put the kids to bed, but I think they know I am sad.  More than anything it is frustrating knowing we rent this house from a jerk.  There are several other things we were promised, but he hasn't delivered.

We knew we needed a laugh to end the day, so we all cuddled up in the playroom and watched Christmas Vacation.  It was the best medicine.  I loved hearing the kids laugh and giggle as loud as Gary and I.

We are making the best of a crappy situation.  I'm sure there are many people in the world that never have a heater.  I'm just thankful we were able to buy small heaters to warm us for the night.  I know moving to this old as dirt house is a learning experience.  I'm gaining character ... right?!? 

I am frustrated, but very thankful our family is together and we are all healthy and happy despite the disappointment. 

Tuesday - Our travels begin

Today was Layla's last day of school in Texas! It's a bittersweet day.





We are leaving our house! We are all a little sad, but excited about our seeing our new house too!





Saying our goodbyes was the hardest part. I cried my eyes out while saying bye to one of my best friends. We also said bye to both Gary's mom and my mom. I didn't want to say any goodbyes. I much prefer 'see ya later!'






The carpet cleaner got a late start this morning and that put us behind schedule, but we are still hoping to get to Little Rock tonight.





Oh ... these are some sleepy kiddos! Daisy is sleeping too. She is the best traveling dog ever!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

LK's thoughts on moving

Layla got to stay up a little later tonight since it's the weekend.  She is so sweet and I just love the little lady she is becoming.  

First I just want to say we have been very open and honest with our kids about our upcoming move.  We never sheltered them and we have always made them feel like they were part of the family when it comes to moving.  

While watching the Disney channel tonight we started talking about moving because they were talking about moving.  She said almost exactly what I feel.  She said, "Mom, I'm not really sad about moving.  I'm sad when I think about leaving my friends, but I make friends so easily I know I'll be fine."  It's like she jumped into my brain and said what I feel.  I feel like I have done my job as a parent after hearing her say this.  I know moving is hard and can be scary, but I also know that having confidence is so important as a child.  I think she is going to be just fine.  I feel like Gary and I have done the right things so far to make her comfortable with the idea of moving.  Hayden is just so young, I know he will do great.

I know we haven't left yet and we have lots of goodbyes to say.  Hopefully she will continue to feel this way in the weeks to come.  I think we will all adjust just fine to our move.  The internet has made it so easy to keep up with our friends and family.  

I'm thankful for this blog so Layla and Hayden can look back someday on this move.  I know for sure that Layla will enjoy looking back though blog pictures and pictures on my Picasa account.  I have hundreds of pictures for years and years.  We love looking back and seeing our memories on a slide show.  Hopefully my addiction to taking pictures will help us through times when we are missing Texas and our friends and family,

My sweets!

When I am sad or having a rough day...

these two little munchkins make me feel better!

I love my family and am so thankful for the blessings in my life.

Selling a house and moving and looking for homes in another state = unbelievably stressful for this momma.  I know we are on the down hill slide soon to be relocating, but right now is HARD!

Thank you, 

my blog friends, twitter friends, real life friends and family for helping me through this test!

It seems tough right now, but I know it is for the best!  

Ohio will be amazing once we get there.  ♥

a jumbled mess of emotions

This is one of those times where your fingers dance on the keyboard solely for emotional benefit. I am so conflicted tonight.  We had a wonderful weekend as a family.  We ate and drank and played and had the best time.  I loved every precious second.....BUT all the fun doesn't change our current situation.  Our situation is.... tough.

The kids and I are going from seeing Gary every single day, 24-7 to seeing him whenever we can.  He is back n forth between here and Ohio.  I know our situation could be much worse, but this is quite the adjustment for our little family.  Gary and I are best friends and Gary is a very active father.  He is an amazing dad and is always helping me with chores and parenting these babes of ours.  Going from him working from home to being gone is a shock.  The kids hadn't seen their dad in 3 weeks.  3 long weeks y'all.

Our house is on the market.  It has been listed on MLS for about 46 days.  We have had about 5 showings.  There are several other houses on our street for sale.  Not a lot is going on in the home selling department around here in my opinion.  So, do we wait it out?  I don't think I can.  I want to be with Gary.  The kids want to be with Gary.  It is so sad to see the kids faces when they see him leave again.  It breaks my heart.  I know this is temporary and I keep trying justify my feelings.  I'm weird like that.  But dang, my feelings are my feelings and right now I can't change how I feel.

My feelings say forget this.  We live in a house.  It is just a house.  My thoughts are flowing like gasoline into an overflowing tank.  One minute I want to change realtors.  Maybe get someone with a little more fire....someone who wants to sell this house.  My next thought is to drop the price.  My next thought is to rent this bad boy.  What is the world?  I know that going through life's challenges makes you stronger, but right now I'm just grasping for clarity.  What in the world do we do??  And I'm not expecting you guys to answer these questions.  You just get to see the mess that my emotional fingers are typing.

I'm not one for usually putting all this out there.  It's not that I mind having my feelings all over the WWW, but I do.  I clearly just needed to vent and type and hope that soon I will have a clearer mind.  I have prayed for a sign from God.  I don't have a clear sign yet.   I know all this is happening for a reason.  He isn't done with me yet and I have to deal with the not knowing what to do, or feel or blah blah confused blah.

So there is that.

I'm a hot mess covered in confusion and emotional vomit and know you all know about it.