A Rambling and Rolling April

This month has just flown by. First there was the "seeing off" of my mom who was going on her first overseas trip since she was....4 months? Something like that. Traveling back to the land of her birth (Scotland, Edinburgh to be exact) and the surrounding areas. We're expecting her back in a few short days.

Then there was our trip. A whirlwind Toronto (and surrounding areas) trip, and then a relaxing New York trip. That seems like it should be the other way around, but that's not how we roll.

While in Toronto, we had many friends and family to see. And only 4 days to do it all. I was able to see friends from high school and university. I was also able to see my brother, his girlfriend and my father and step-mother. And more importantly, everyone met Izzie. For the first time! It was too short, but still sweet.

(I'm working on getting Phil to agree to go again, but that hinges on what the pipe band is doing next year. Will we go to Scotland? Maybe, but they've been planning Scotland for as long as I've been with Phil. So we will see.)

Next we were off to New York. Staying with Phils' sister and husband in East Hampton. The land of celebrities, Dutch/English architecture and an over abundance of police. (Police were seriously everywhere. I was afraid to jaywalk.) The first day we were there it rained, which was perfect. We needed to relax from our previous trip. And then we were introduced to something magical......Hulu.com. Wha? Why don't we have this in Canada? Copywright laws? Seriously? That sounds pretty lame to me. Phil and I are now addicted to Dollhouse and have no way of watching it. What's that? I could get cable? Sure I could, but then I'd do nothing else. Just watch old episodes of Star Trek: TNG and abandon my child to her toy box. Nah, she'd watch it with me, and I'd teach her that Picard is a better captain that Kirk.

Whoa, I just geeked out there for a minute.....and we're back.

We arrived home safe and sound to find our house and kitties safe and sound......then it happened. The cold hit the house. First it took out Izzie, then me and then tried to take out Phil. (Phil was too manly for the cold though.) It hit so bad that Phil had to stay home from work one day so I could sleep. Oh honkers was it a bad one! But now it's finding it's way out of our house. Thank gracious.

So April, you are almost over. It's been pretty rollercoaster-ish. So you'd better make these last few days worth it. Go out on a high note April!

P.S. I've written this crap post a few times now, but it's just not working. Oh well, post it anyways!

Moved?

Hello all,

We are (mostly) moved! There are a few items, mainly kitchen stuff, back at the apartment. But huzzah, we are (mostly) moved! It feels so nice to be in our own house. To not worry about making noise or hearing noise from other occupants. However, there has been an uber dumping of snow the last two days. Shoveling your own walkway sucks.

Izzie has been doing well with the move, except when it is time to sleep. She will not sleep without Phil or I next to her. Once she gets more comfortable we'll see about moving her into her own room.

Happy Izzie in her "ghost" costume

Now...time to unpack.

Busy, Busy, Busy

We're right in the middle of packing the house up for our big move. We take possession of the house next week and have all of Phil's pipe band to help us move all our wordly possessions from point A to point B.

Also, this weekend we have 6 visitors. 3 from Thursday to Saturday and the other 3 from Saturday to Tuesday. So, as the title says. Busy, busy, busy.

I haven't been able to write while the chaos surrounds me. I look at the piles and can sit at the computer for more than 5 minutes. The messiness drives me bonkers. So I'll be writing more once we are settled into the new digs.

Busy Day

Two things happened today. First, the family toddled off to a home inspection this morning. Secondly, I finished reading The Book Reader.

I'm in a bit of a state of shock. I think that is mainly coming from almost 3 hours of hearing everything bad about a house you're interested in. Still we decided to go for it. We have wanted a house for a long time, and the pickings are a bit slim. And Izzie really enjoys herself there. That is pretty telling for me. Most of the houses we've been to, Izzie has not reacted well. She's our own little house finder!

The house was built in 1904

Buying a house is a big freaking deal. I'm freaking scared about it, but it's now or never. It's going to take a while for us to work all the kinks out of the house, but it is over 100 years old. A house that old has kinks built into it. (Not really, but the kinks are to be expected.)

Then we go to The Book Reader by Markus Zusak. I highly recommend this book, but I really liked the Twilight series so there you go. A brilliant book told from the point of view of Death in Munich, Germany during World War II. It was at times difficult to get through, but that is because I am a big ball of emotions. Death is a wonderful narrator, at times sarcastic, dry but then beautiful. I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down.

Time to kick up the feet and play blocks with Izzie.

How quick a week can go by...

Haven't posted in a few days buy I want to bring you up to speed...

On Monday, Phil and I and Izzie went to see three houses. Out of all the houses we've looked at, the last one we saw that day REALLY stood out.

On Tuesday after much discussion, Phil and I decided to make a bid on the house. We went in and signed our life away. The bid was accepted without a counter offer with all appliances included!

On Wednesday my mother and her lovely friend were in town and requested a viewing. Our wonderful real estate agent, Ryan, let us in. They both loved it, except for the main floor ceiling which needs to be replaced eventually. (But we already knew that)

On Thursday we were approved from money lenders and governments alike. Only one more thing to do.

Today, Friday the 13th, we go to have the house inspected. (I first wrote "our home"just now but then took it out since it isn't yet.) If all goes well, then we seal the deal. If it doesn't, then we run screaming with our money.

We go in an hour and a half.

Wish us luck!

Hunting

No, not the type you think. Well maybe. If you're thinking house hunting, then you are correct.

Phil and I have been on the prowl for a few weeks for a house. We've driven all over town looking at houses. Scoping them out. Lying in wait for the perfect house in the perfect area in the perfect price range. Getting ready to pull the trigger on signing an offer.

Why are we looking now when the economy is sucky? (Yeah I called it sucky, so what?) Well, because we are apartment dwellers and would like to invest in a home. We'd also like to move into a bigger home than we have right now (2 bedroom) in preperation to maybe eventually having another child. However, with the economy being as it is (sucky) we have a VERY low price range.

So we have looked at really nasty houses, nice houses in seedy areas, and houses that look great but then you get to the basement and notice that there are wires everywhere or pipes that could give you lead poisoning. Alas, we have been searching in vain....so far.

It can get pretty depressing after a while. I'm trying to stay upbeat. Saying that the perfect house will come along at the right time. Then I go see a house and wonder why the perfect house is taking it's sweet time to show up. I'm excited to move into a house, so show up already! Thankfully there is no major rush for us to buy a house, we have all the time in the world. Or at least until our lease is up in June. But I get so excited looking at houses online that I get a fever. And the only cure is the perfect house. I'M WAITING!!!!! Calmly, of course.

Me? I was a drunk bride

I just spent the afternoon at the Winnipeg Wedding show and I have one thing to say. I am so glad I'm not getting married!

Our friend Jessica is newly engaged to her long time, long distance love Chris. They met in high school, suffered through torturous separation due to going to different Universities in different provinces and are now on the road to wedded bliss. But enough about them, I'm the Matron of Honour. (Yes spell check, up here we spell it with a u.)

Yay me! Huzzah! I get to be the matron. Doesn't sound so glamorous but if anyone can make it glamorous, Jessica can.

I wasn't lying! Actually it was my only
drink of the night

My wedding was planned in about 3 weeks and was exactly 3 months from engagement to wedding. My Phil lived in North Dakota and I wanted him IMMEDIATELY!! So, we planned for our wedding to be around the American Thanksgiving so his relatives could be there and had it in Kenora so most of my relatives could be there. STRESSFUL! So I drank a wee bit to calm my nervous ass down. Did it work? Hell yeah!

Spending the 5 hours at the wedding show made me think about how much pressure there is for the perfect wedding. I definetly felt that pressure during those three months. I can't imagine being engaged for years. Our wedding did turn out to be perfect. But it was different. It was in a museum, at 7pm and there was no sit down dinner or speeches or throwing of the bouquet. We had a mix and mingle with a live celtic band playing and home made wine. The museum was decorated for Christmas with trees and tinsel and lights everywhere. It was simple, to the point and very us. And I loved it.

I can't imagine the stress Jessica is feeling. She is aiming for 2010, but has not nailed any other detail down. But since she's only been engaged for two weeks, she doesn't need to have anything nailed down. Go with the flow I say, and that is the flow of liquor!

Side note #1: When my mother learned of our engagement, she told me that she wasn't good with planning "those sort of things." Turned out, she planned most of my wedding. Silly mama.

Side note #2: Most of Phils pipe band thought he was marrying me because I was pregnant. Well I wasn't, he married me for other reasons. So boo on you pipe band!

My bridesmaids Shawna, Chrissie and Shelagh
and I giving the glamour pose