Sunday, July 17, 2011

It’s a Playgroup Luau!

Get all of your best friends together. Throw in some games and crafts. Add some fun food and drinks. Finish it off with a couple hours of pool time…That’s about as good as life gets, if you ask Molly!

This playgroup get together was one of Molly’s all time favorites. It truly encompassed all of Molly’s most loved activities and she thoroughly enjoyed every single minute.

I did too. I really should have been home preparing for the impending move. There is very little in my house that has even been packed and I have a to do list that is a mile long, but oooooh, it felt so good to just sit back and relax. I forgot all about the stress of the moment and just had fun again. The move has really sucked a lot of those moments away from us this summer.

Here are just a few of the highlights of the day.

My friend Kim and her older daughter Ashley lead the kids in a couple of games.IMG_3830

Molly and Mia whispering to each other when they are supposed to be listening to instructions. Is this foreshadowing what is to come in school this fall? IMG_3833

Craft time: Decorating flip flops.IMG_3834

Molly and Mia pose with their projects.IMG_3836

The girls enjoy some tropical luau drinks before hitting the pool.IMG_3839

Aaaah, Molly’s favorite summertime activity. The kid is part fish….or as she would say, “Part Mermaid. Ya know, like Ariel.” The princess thing NEVER ends.IMG_3841

Best buddies give each other a pool hug.IMG_3842

The whole gang in the drink.IMG_3843

Do you think these two have posed for a few pictures in their lives?IMG_3844

Molly going off the diving board. When did she grow up? Wasn’t she a baby just a few months ago? Sure seems like it!IMG_3848

The look of joy on her face says it all!IMG_3850Hope your summer is going along swimmingly!

Ho hum. Now back to reality. Anybody have any spare moving boxes?

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

House Hunting

I am the kind person who looks at 10 houses and picks one. Somehow on this house search, it didn’t go exactly as planned. I looked at a few more than ten. Thirty-eight more to be exact.

Yep, when I finally found the house, it was the 48th house I toured. Yikes! God Bless my realtor. It really was a chore. The good news is that I adore our new house. It’s perfect. Well, as perfect as you can get when you are buying an existing house.

I’m sure that I will post more about the house in the future but for now, here are some pictures from our days on the hunt for the perfect house.

This house got top numbers by Molly. Any guesses why?IMG_3735Yep, it was painted bright pink. She LOVED this house. Me? Not so much.

The house we finally decided upon also has a pink room. It was a win-win for the all of us.

Here’s my realtor faxing our offer to the seller’s realtor. We had a signed deal a few hours later. That was fast!IMG_3738

After having our contract accepted, Molly and I celebrated at a local ice cream place.Dad went to work. Poor Dad.

Molly loved this place because in addition to ice cream, they had kiddie rides. For $.50 you could bob up and down for about a minute. How that is considered fun is beyond me. Must be a 5-year-old thing.IMG_3739

Looks like she got a thing for The Cat in the Hat.IMG_3742

Clifford was another favorite.IMG_3744

Once we found a house, I called the school district inquiring about schools. We stopped by Molly’s new school and the principal just happened to be outside. In the middle of summer. When school was out of session. Imagine our luck.

She invited us inside and gave us the grand tour. She also captured Molly’s heart. IMG_3745

Molly is so excited to start school here. Let’s see how excited she is come September!IMG_3746

The school was built in the early 1900’s but has been completely renovated. Very cute and school-y looking inside and out.IMG_3747

We signed the contract on the new house without Tony even seeing it. The day after we signed, he finally got a tour of the place. Good thing he approved!

Molly enjoyed playing with the current owners’ toys. IMG_3777

I don’t feel comfortable posting pictures of someone else’s house, so I won’t give you the full tour until it becomes our house.

Here’s a sneak peek…we are standing in the foyer. Hope to see a lot of pictures from this location in the near future!  IMG_3809Keep your fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly with the closing on our current house and our new house.

Who am I kidding. It won’t go smoothly. Let’s just hope we close!

I am sooooo ready to get off of this house selling/hunting crazy train!

Monday, July 4, 2011

The Same Old Yankee Doodle Molly

For the past five years we have attended our local Independence Day Parade. Here in our small farm town, things don’t change much from year to year. Some years we sit on the other side of the street just to shake things up. We’re crazy like that. But all in all it’s the same ol’ parade. No matter which side of the street you chose to sit.

The only thing that made this year’s parade a little different was the feeling of knowing it was the last time we’d attend the parade in our fair town. Next year will be a new parade in a new town. I have to say, I got a little nostalgic. But then the same exact same parade that I have watched for five. straight. years. rolled through and I quickly got over it.

Talk about same…Molly’s 4th of July outfit from last year still fit so she is even wearing the same clothes as last year. And she’s sporting the same hairdo. With the same hair pretties!IMG_6378

Each parade starts with the waiting and looking.IMG_6382

With periodic moves into the street to see if the parade is coming yet.IMG_6386

There is always a bit of irritation and impatience.IMG_6390

But eventually the fun begins…..IMG_6391

….with the band that is too loud.IMG_6392

Molly always waves to the parade participants.IMG_6394

You routinely have some of these:IMG_6399

Along with a bunch of these:IMG_6400

Sprinkle in a few of these:IMG_6401

Hey wait…here’s something new! Molly’s friend Julianna was marching in the parade with her church group and sneaked over to say hi.IMG_6403

But then it was back to our regularly scheduled parade, which always ends with these bad boys. If you ask me, the farmers are just showing off.IMG_6413

Obligatory picture with Dad.IMG_6417

Obligatory picture with Mom.IMG_6418And that’s a wrap!

In the evening we attend fireworks. Since this is way past bedtime, Molly shows up bathed and in PJs.IMG_6425

And of course there is more waiting for things to start.IMG_6426

More obligatory pictures:IMG_6428IMG_6433

And then BOOM!IMG_6441

By the end of the evening, everyone is tuckered out, including Daddy.IMG_6473

Finally, the same old traditional bedtime story: Apple Pie 4th of July. IMG_6475And there you have it. Forth of July.  Again. Just like last year. And the year before. And the year before that.

Happy Birthday America!