358 Days

(Thanks in advance for the therapy *grin.*)
This is the number of days our house has been on the market now. It is actually being shown tonight, in about 30 minutes. We are beginning the rental process and will take that option soon to supplement the mortgage payment. It will not pay the mortgage but it will hopefully pay 2/3. Here is our listing. Realtor.com If you know anyone who is in the market for a new home, we would really appreciate the referral.

Over the 4th of July, the kids and I drove to Omaha again. Grandma Chris spent a lot of time with the kids while I did some work on the house. After working hard, I sat on the back porch one afternoon. We lived on the top of the hill so I was able to soak up the sun and look out over the entire neighborhood. Until I lived in that house, I always referred to 'home' as my parents' house. This house was home and so much more to me. Those walls held millions of memories from our new lives together. My new life with Joe and our new lives with both children. I was heartbroken, welling up with tears, as I sat there reflecting on backyard BBQs, sledding through the snow in the yard, late night card games, holidays, the children that came to play each day, and all the love, comfort and security of the life we lived there. How could someone not want a place I wanted so much? I know now it is not that people don't want 'my' house, they just don't want the house. And really, the market for homes outside of the 'first time home buyers range' in Omaha have not had any traffic in the current economy. I truly try to be optimist about the whole situation. The truth is, I feel lost. Lost is an anxiety filled, uncomfortable feeling for me. I wonder if we made the right choice to move, and if we should even be trying to sell the house. I find it difficult to be consistently faithful despite the long wait. I do understand that everything will work out and that this too shall pass...things always do. During the interlude, I am searching for strength and peace, and would appreciate your prayers and thoughts.

Although this is not the typical tone of our blog, I really do appreciate those of you who took the time to read about our struggle. I know so many have it so much worse and that we are very fortune and bountifully blessed in our lives.

Here are some pictures of a couple of things I was able to get done.

What Have We Been Up To?

I really don't have an answer to justify the amount of time I have left my blog without any real, updated substance. Before I blinked last it was June 3rd and we were packing to head up to Omaha. I am not sure beginning this post (a post meant to tide you all over for another week) at midnight is the best idea either. (I have used the backspace key more than all the other combined. ahem) So let me just post a few pictures for now...keep in mind most of these are from about three months ago. Enjoy! Stay tuned, oh, and thanks for the nagging (nagging may be a little strong, let's go with persuasion.) :)

Visions of tokens, tickets, and pizza dance in her head.

Yes, that's pink eye. We all caught it, some of us twice. And then there was the Influenza B, the ear infections, strep throat, and sinus infections. That was a great couple of weeks. :)

After that, we spent some time just hanging around.





I think all children's movies are shown in 3-D now-a-days. 'UP' was our first family movie, and it still serves as many a reference point in our house.

Life requires bits of spunk.

Wordful, I've Been Warned, Wednesday

Over the past few days, a few of the writers on blogs I follow have been informed that their images and content have been stolen. Images of their children and work have been seen posted on other blogs / websites and even on Ebay to help sell things. YIKES! I keep my blog mostly for the pleasure of family and friends, as well as the therapy aspect of it for myself. It never occurred to me take precautions so that my blog is not preyed on by pirates.

I am still trying to recover from my third computer crash in 6 months (Go PC! Ahem.) so, I do not have the man power, or the dedication to go back and fix all the previously posted photos. From this point on however, all images will be low resolution, watermarked, web ready images.

So, what do you think of my little (text only) watermark on this dreamy photo I took at the park the other week?

The Battle Within

If I had to, I would say that I was raised not to air your dirty laundry. In fact don't air your laundry at all. Is that bad, no. However, I have just recently learned how liberating it is to be yourself / speak your mind. Like many people do, I too decided on a few things I would do differently after our big move. This is a fresh start for us, so why not. The one that has brought me the most joy and reward, is to just be 'me.' 'It is very easy to be me. I don't have to perform. I can just relax.' (Adopted from Joel Osteen. When I heard this, I thought 'Yes!' this is what I have been doing that is working so well for me.)

That being said, today has been a battle. I run Tuesday nights. Tonight I wanted to take Cambry to see a Ventriloquist at a local church, so I would need to run earlier. Before running, I needed to make a playlist on my mp3 player because I was tired of listening to everything and having the hear "The ants go marching two by two, Hooray!" in the middle of my run. (Cam and I share the mp3 player.) Well the d*&% (sounds like ma'am) thing wouldn't work. Then it froze up completely. After an hour with tec support, I threw in the towel. I can't run without music, so I guess I'm done running. Without running, I will never loose the weight I need to. I'll be fat forever. (Yes, that was the thought process. I even verbalized it to Joe. He is so patient with me. lol.) Here is a little cartoon that reminds me of me. Remember: I'm a work in progress.


www.nataliedee.com

After slapping some sense into myself (literally), I spent another three hours on the thing, and finally got it up and running. Despite the fact that it was nap time, we were going running. If I didn't do it now, I never would. That's where the battle comes in, I drag myself to run each time (3 times per week). I feel great afterwords, but list off millions of excuses for why I don't need to or shouldn't run. I thought running would help me loose weight. Yes, still just over 50 lbs to go. Yikes! We I read recently that unless you are running 30+ miles per week, running alone is not enough to shape your body and loose large amounts of weight. Clearly. I have been weighting for weeks in hopes to see even just a couple of pounds shed - not helping the motivation so much. I thought maybe is I posted my measurements and checked in (like other bloggers), I would be held accountable. Not so much into that, I am still a little sensitive about it all. Then I heard something great today. "Treat it like a full-time job." (Thanks Noelle) Love it! My only job right now is to take care of the kids; I can handle another job right? I put my heart into making things the very best I can, why would I deliver any less on this job? So there you have it, I'm hired.

P.S. Check out the temperature. The picture was taken just before we set out to run 2 miles, yes outside. What was I thinking?

Go On, Get Your Vote On!

It's here, it's finally here! Mommy Madness Houston kicked off today at 12:01AM. Today was the perfect day for it. Life was madness around here. (To people like me, madness is a great thing. It gives you that rush. That 'activating all your senses' kind of rush.) The computer crashed - due to a virus - early, early Sunday morning. Thankfully, I thought a few hours before that would be super time to back up my photos and documents. So other than all my software, settings, and web contact information for everyone I know, I have all I need. :) Please send me an email, if you would, so I can update my outlook.

After spending most of the day yesterday on the phone with Dell on-call, I was able to get my internet and outlook back up. Hooray! Life line restored! Now for some blog therapy. Oh, and can someone please look to the left of my blog address in the URL area and tell me if my favicon (that apple slice) is still there? I switched to Firefox and I can't see it. Thanks for helping to restore the peace.

Now for the good stuff...
Have I told you lately that I love the Chevy Traverse? Really, the more I drive it the more I love it. Let me rephrase that, the more I look at it, the more I love it! (driving helps too) I find my self stopping by the bedroom window (the window that overlooks the drive) just to check on (read, admire) my purple beauty. Today we took at trip down to Galveston Island, in the Traverse of course. (Yes, as soon as I get the software back, I will post pictures.) Joe drove; I did nothing in the comfort of the ultra spacious passenger seat. As a woman who normally will take two vehicles, even on a 1000 mile trip, to avoid having to ride in the passenger seat, the Traverse may have me demanding a chauffeur more often. We had the double BOB, umbrella stroller, my 15 'must have' bags (3 really), the cooler and a huge stash of sand toys in the back, and I still had a perfect platform to change Boston's diaper before hitting the beach. Hey, you do what you gotta do.

The Mommy Madness Site is up! Stop by as often as you like to vote for your favorite Mommy, and be entered to win. After you vote, if you enter your current car year, make, and model, you get another vote! (Men and women and vote and be entered to win, and you can win from anywhere in the country.) I would really appreciate it if you would pass the word on. Thanks for your support!!