What a whirlwind our lives have been! Brandon and I have been married for almost 5 years now, and we have lived in 2 places in Dahlonega (one being our house we own there; we have lived there twice), Flowery Branch, Texas pre-deployment, him Iraq, me Georgia, then Texas again, then our house in Dahlonega for the 2nd time, then Blairsville. We had planned to live here for a year, in this townhouse, but some things have been coming together for us.....
We have had our eye on a certain house ever since we moved back from Texas. It wasn't, however, supposed to go on the market until Spring of 2010, when the owner was planning to retire. It is a wonderful house-- 2500 sq. feet, right on the edge of town, 2 car garage, 2 acres, and a beautiful pond. For a great price, since we know this person, obviously. Well, the person decided to put it up on the market the morning that we had our portable DVD player and most beloved Veggie Tales movie stolen. From our car. While parked right. in. front. of. our. house. (!!!!)
K, I see, not toooo big of a deal, right? However, what's next? Our house? Who knows. Anyhow, we took it as a sign to go ahead to and try for the house anyway. If it happens, it happens, if it's just not God's Will, it won't. Believe me, I don't want it to. However, after much prayer, we applied for a loan, got it, and we are just awaiting inspection/appraisal. Believe me though, there will be no problem with the appraisal! Our closing date is June 18, the date we were supposed to take our anniversary trip, but we'll see if we can go earlier. If not, then we will reschedule.
As previously blogged about (I really want to put a link to a previous blog here, but I just don't feel like rummaging through the archives), we are going to live in our next house that we buy until we rot. That's right, the funeral director from Cochran Funeral Home is going to have to come in and physically remove my body in order to get me to my truly final resting place. This place will just be my final living place. Trust me. I never want to move ever again-- I want to settle somewhere I can nest in and make my own. And, I believe this is it!!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
And We're Back...
We left for the beach on Thursday morning. It was the supposed 'most earned vacation yet' for us. We have been working really hard, between the Casket business, Caylen's period of transition, and the Funeral Home. We needed this vacation, and it finally came! Little did we know it would be the worst vacation to date.
There were 12 people that were going to stay in the beach house, which I figured would be hectic, but that was the least of it. Oh, 13 counting Aunt Flow. She likes to visit last minute, you know, ever since I got my Mirena....
We left Thursday morning, at about 9. Caylen did great on the trip! We played Veggie Tales all the way there, and she took one long nap. After stopping for lunch at Cracker Barrel, we got to the beach house at about 5 o'clock. We turned the key to the house, started putting stuff in there, and we discover, after all our stuff was in there, there were fleas in one of the bedrooms. Bad. My guess is that due to this wet winter we have had, fleas have had quite the breeding ground, as evidenced by the amount that were on the beach. They probably got tracked in via towel or other beach equipment, and given that one flea lays 1,000 eggs, they bred quite voraciously. So, we ended up with a completely infested bedroom, and the rest of the house was not really safe either. We gathered up our stuff ASAP and moved it onto the porch, mom and dad cussed out the property management, and they let us rent another unit, not half as nice, but clean, for a couple of nights. It was smaller, older, and not as updated, but like I said clean. It was pretty cool though because it was like a 70's house that had not been touched! It had 70's appliances, outdated but clean, shag-like carpet that looked barely used, wood paneling, and the best thing of all, a stereo, with tape player, in the wall that played throughout the house via speakers in the ceiling! We slept there, like I said, a couple of nights, and then moved back to the original house after 18 flea bombs, yes 18, were set off and the exterminator came. And of course after the house was aired out after those said bombs were set off.
That was the least of our worries. It was a pain to change houses and sleep in cramped quarters, but what got us was that Caylen was sick. again. She has been sick constantly since she has started daycare, but we thought that she was getting better. She didn't get as sick on this trip as she had been before-- she was still eating well and functioning normally, she was just realllly fussy. The first night she fought and cried and screamed for what seemed like forever when it was bedtime, but finally went to sleep after I had a nervous breakdown, practically. She has just been crying a lot, ya know and she has been so clingy that she can't stand for me to be more than a foot away. Caylen didn't want to go anywhere and she didn't. want. to. sleep. In fact, much of this trip was really a blur due to lack of sleep. She was up all night, save a couple hours, for the 1st two nights. Luckily, the 3rd night she just fought sleep terribly hard, for an hour, but slept until the crack of dawn. 5 AM.What a restful night it was, too! I thought I had died and gone to heaven after I got to sleep for longer than 30 minutes at a time. Now, for the daytime. Caylen didn't want to get out. She didn't want to go to the beach. She didn't want to take a bath. She didn't want to go to the pool.
Sooo, we spent most of our time trying to go places and ending up having to turn around and go back. She actually did enjoy the beach for a while though, which was great, and she did great, I mean great!, at Broadway at the Beach, which is like a boardwalk with restaurants and shops. We ate at Margaritaville of course, which we always do, and got her a build a bear. That was the highlight of the trip and, really, it was a lot of fun. We just aren't going to have another child for a WHILE. Not that we regret Caylen of course, she is a truly wonderful child believe me, but she is just the type of child that is quite demanding of all of our time for right now, and we don't see a light at the end of the tunnel anytime soon.
The drive back was long, we didn't leave till noon, but we stopped to eat at Cracker Barrel, at 1 PM, on Sunday so of course it was packed. It was really nice to get out of the car though, although Caylen pitched 2 tantrums while inside. I just rolled with it and she was ok. She was hungry, but there wasn't anything I could do for her-- we were waiting to be seated. And, I didn't want her to snack because she will keep snacking until she isn't hungry anymore, which means she wouldn't be getting any 'real' food. Anyway, the trip back wasn't bad, she did really well again with her videos, and we didn't get back until late, but Caylen went right to bed, slept all night :) and woke up at 6:30 :)). She was in a great mood and was very happy to go to school this morning, so I have to say, I am happy to be back! Whew!
There were 12 people that were going to stay in the beach house, which I figured would be hectic, but that was the least of it. Oh, 13 counting Aunt Flow. She likes to visit last minute, you know, ever since I got my Mirena....
We left Thursday morning, at about 9. Caylen did great on the trip! We played Veggie Tales all the way there, and she took one long nap. After stopping for lunch at Cracker Barrel, we got to the beach house at about 5 o'clock. We turned the key to the house, started putting stuff in there, and we discover, after all our stuff was in there, there were fleas in one of the bedrooms. Bad. My guess is that due to this wet winter we have had, fleas have had quite the breeding ground, as evidenced by the amount that were on the beach. They probably got tracked in via towel or other beach equipment, and given that one flea lays 1,000 eggs, they bred quite voraciously. So, we ended up with a completely infested bedroom, and the rest of the house was not really safe either. We gathered up our stuff ASAP and moved it onto the porch, mom and dad cussed out the property management, and they let us rent another unit, not half as nice, but clean, for a couple of nights. It was smaller, older, and not as updated, but like I said clean. It was pretty cool though because it was like a 70's house that had not been touched! It had 70's appliances, outdated but clean, shag-like carpet that looked barely used, wood paneling, and the best thing of all, a stereo, with tape player, in the wall that played throughout the house via speakers in the ceiling! We slept there, like I said, a couple of nights, and then moved back to the original house after 18 flea bombs, yes 18, were set off and the exterminator came. And of course after the house was aired out after those said bombs were set off.
That was the least of our worries. It was a pain to change houses and sleep in cramped quarters, but what got us was that Caylen was sick. again. She has been sick constantly since she has started daycare, but we thought that she was getting better. She didn't get as sick on this trip as she had been before-- she was still eating well and functioning normally, she was just realllly fussy. The first night she fought and cried and screamed for what seemed like forever when it was bedtime, but finally went to sleep after I had a nervous breakdown, practically. She has just been crying a lot, ya know and she has been so clingy that she can't stand for me to be more than a foot away. Caylen didn't want to go anywhere and she didn't. want. to. sleep. In fact, much of this trip was really a blur due to lack of sleep. She was up all night, save a couple hours, for the 1st two nights. Luckily, the 3rd night she just fought sleep terribly hard, for an hour, but slept until the crack of dawn. 5 AM.What a restful night it was, too! I thought I had died and gone to heaven after I got to sleep for longer than 30 minutes at a time. Now, for the daytime. Caylen didn't want to get out. She didn't want to go to the beach. She didn't want to take a bath. She didn't want to go to the pool.
Sooo, we spent most of our time trying to go places and ending up having to turn around and go back. She actually did enjoy the beach for a while though, which was great, and she did great, I mean great!, at Broadway at the Beach, which is like a boardwalk with restaurants and shops. We ate at Margaritaville of course, which we always do, and got her a build a bear. That was the highlight of the trip and, really, it was a lot of fun. We just aren't going to have another child for a WHILE. Not that we regret Caylen of course, she is a truly wonderful child believe me, but she is just the type of child that is quite demanding of all of our time for right now, and we don't see a light at the end of the tunnel anytime soon.
The drive back was long, we didn't leave till noon, but we stopped to eat at Cracker Barrel, at 1 PM, on Sunday so of course it was packed. It was really nice to get out of the car though, although Caylen pitched 2 tantrums while inside. I just rolled with it and she was ok. She was hungry, but there wasn't anything I could do for her-- we were waiting to be seated. And, I didn't want her to snack because she will keep snacking until she isn't hungry anymore, which means she wouldn't be getting any 'real' food. Anyway, the trip back wasn't bad, she did really well again with her videos, and we didn't get back until late, but Caylen went right to bed, slept all night :) and woke up at 6:30 :)). She was in a great mood and was very happy to go to school this morning, so I have to say, I am happy to be back! Whew!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Anniversary No. 5!
As some of you may know, mostly family, Brandon's and my 5th anniversary is coming up next month! Also, as some of you may know, mostly family as well, Brandon and I never really took a honeymoon. Between my school and his work, we just went to Pigeon Forge for a couple days as a getaway. In a crappy mid-renovation motel. So, we thought we would do something special for our 5th anniversary.
Actually, the original plan was that Brandon was going to get me a ring to go above my bridal set in commemoration. However, as it turns out, I have developed an allergy, to well everything, after Caylen was born-- including my wedding bands. Yes, they are real white gold! I have read that in order to make white gold, nickel is mixed in,as a sort of alloy. I have always been allergic to nickel, but the rings never bothered me a bit until after I had Cay-Cay. I have to take the rings off at night and use my super thick and creamy Burt's Bee's Buttermilk lotion while they are off. It seemed to work for a while like a charm! However, if I forget to take them off, I get a terrible rash of hives where my rings have been; resulting in my inability to wear them for a few days, at least. I mean, the rash is all bumpy, scaly, and incredibly itchy! I even did the 'kid' thing this morning and bit on my finger to dull the itch. I know, gross. Who knew that the person who could roll around in poison ivy/oak (without getting a rash) could get such a rash from a fine metal? Anyway, we are looking at getting a plain wedding band of maybe palladium or titanium, which are hard to find. I mean, I wear a 4.5 and it's not like I can find a ring in that size to begin with, but to find one in a special metal, well, it is durn near impossible. Unless you order it of course. Or, I am thinking about asking our local Diamond Center about our options. Maybe using the diamonds in a hypoallergenic metal ring? I really don't know, so I'll just have to look into it.
Anyways... Getting to what I was originally supposed to blog about-- we are planning a trip for our anniversary! It is not anything huge, just to Chattanooga, but we didn't want to go too far and leave our baby behind. :( So Chattanooga it is! Er, Lookout Mountain, rather. We originally wanted to stay at the Chattanooga Choo Choo in a Victorian Rail Car, but we wanted something more romantic. Secluded. Special. So, we booked a couple nights at the Chanticleer Inn! It is secluded up on Lookout Mtn., but yet not far from Chattanooga. It's apparently across the road from Rock City, which I haven't been to in forever. Well, not only are we staying at the Inn, but we got the Mountain Falls Package! Included is: 2 nights stay, with homemade breakfast each morning, champagne with cheese, fruit and crackers upon arrival, complimentary dinner at Canyon Grill Restaurant, and a King sized bedroom suite with steam shower and private patio. Where does the Mountain Falls come in? Well, they pack you a lunch in your picnic backpack, yours to keep, and they give you a map and itinerary for hiking Lookout Mountain trails and waterfalls. Just up our alley! We are going June 18th, 8 days after our anniversary, but Brandon was on call the weekend of our anniversary. We are so excited and can't wait to go!
Actually, the original plan was that Brandon was going to get me a ring to go above my bridal set in commemoration. However, as it turns out, I have developed an allergy, to well everything, after Caylen was born-- including my wedding bands. Yes, they are real white gold! I have read that in order to make white gold, nickel is mixed in,as a sort of alloy. I have always been allergic to nickel, but the rings never bothered me a bit until after I had Cay-Cay. I have to take the rings off at night and use my super thick and creamy Burt's Bee's Buttermilk lotion while they are off. It seemed to work for a while like a charm! However, if I forget to take them off, I get a terrible rash of hives where my rings have been; resulting in my inability to wear them for a few days, at least. I mean, the rash is all bumpy, scaly, and incredibly itchy! I even did the 'kid' thing this morning and bit on my finger to dull the itch. I know, gross. Who knew that the person who could roll around in poison ivy/oak (without getting a rash) could get such a rash from a fine metal? Anyway, we are looking at getting a plain wedding band of maybe palladium or titanium, which are hard to find. I mean, I wear a 4.5 and it's not like I can find a ring in that size to begin with, but to find one in a special metal, well, it is durn near impossible. Unless you order it of course. Or, I am thinking about asking our local Diamond Center about our options. Maybe using the diamonds in a hypoallergenic metal ring? I really don't know, so I'll just have to look into it.
Anyways... Getting to what I was originally supposed to blog about-- we are planning a trip for our anniversary! It is not anything huge, just to Chattanooga, but we didn't want to go too far and leave our baby behind. :( So Chattanooga it is! Er, Lookout Mountain, rather. We originally wanted to stay at the Chattanooga Choo Choo in a Victorian Rail Car, but we wanted something more romantic. Secluded. Special. So, we booked a couple nights at the Chanticleer Inn! It is secluded up on Lookout Mtn., but yet not far from Chattanooga. It's apparently across the road from Rock City, which I haven't been to in forever. Well, not only are we staying at the Inn, but we got the Mountain Falls Package! Included is: 2 nights stay, with homemade breakfast each morning, champagne with cheese, fruit and crackers upon arrival, complimentary dinner at Canyon Grill Restaurant, and a King sized bedroom suite with steam shower and private patio. Where does the Mountain Falls come in? Well, they pack you a lunch in your picnic backpack, yours to keep, and they give you a map and itinerary for hiking Lookout Mountain trails and waterfalls. Just up our alley! We are going June 18th, 8 days after our anniversary, but Brandon was on call the weekend of our anniversary. We are so excited and can't wait to go!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Beach!
I haven't blogged in a while, well, there really isn't anything going on, but I figured I would update everyone on our happenings in the next week or so. Or more. So here goes some random tidbits....
We are love, love, loving our Jeep still-- I couldn't be any happier with it!
Caylen is finally acting like herself again, after recovering from the world's longest continuous cold, so we are so happy to be able to spend time with our happy baby again! And, she seems to be even happier now than she was before! Hmmm, maybe being so sick for so long gave her a new lease on life! She slept in till 7 this morning and if it wasn't for us having to rush to get ready, I would have totally basked in it, given that she has been waking up at 5, maybe 6 if we are lucky, for the past month. I still miss her so bad at work, but I know she just loves being around the other kids, being the social butterfly that she is.
We are going to the beach Thursday! I am so excited... We have been waiting to go on this trip forever, and it is finally here! And, my little brother and his wife are going to join us, as well as the wonderful Clemmons family! I love having so much family!!
I found a swimsuit at VS.com for a really good price, and it is super cute! I haven't bought a swimsuit in forever, like 5 years, so it was time. I mean, I like my tie-dye one, but it is time to move on up. So, I got the top and bottom for like $20! And, it is not too revealing. I didn't want to be 'that mom' who totes around her child in a skimpy, trashy swimsuit. And, I didn't want to be 'that mom' who wears a mumu to the beach either. Anyway, it is really cute and I am trying to get everything together and perfect for Caylen's first beach trip! She has 2 swimsuits, some cute sundresses, and a new sunhat so she's good to go. Now, for Brandon some swim trunks.....
We are love, love, loving our Jeep still-- I couldn't be any happier with it!
Caylen is finally acting like herself again, after recovering from the world's longest continuous cold, so we are so happy to be able to spend time with our happy baby again! And, she seems to be even happier now than she was before! Hmmm, maybe being so sick for so long gave her a new lease on life! She slept in till 7 this morning and if it wasn't for us having to rush to get ready, I would have totally basked in it, given that she has been waking up at 5, maybe 6 if we are lucky, for the past month. I still miss her so bad at work, but I know she just loves being around the other kids, being the social butterfly that she is.
We are going to the beach Thursday! I am so excited... We have been waiting to go on this trip forever, and it is finally here! And, my little brother and his wife are going to join us, as well as the wonderful Clemmons family! I love having so much family!!
I found a swimsuit at VS.com for a really good price, and it is super cute! I haven't bought a swimsuit in forever, like 5 years, so it was time. I mean, I like my tie-dye one, but it is time to move on up. So, I got the top and bottom for like $20! And, it is not too revealing. I didn't want to be 'that mom' who totes around her child in a skimpy, trashy swimsuit. And, I didn't want to be 'that mom' who wears a mumu to the beach either. Anyway, it is really cute and I am trying to get everything together and perfect for Caylen's first beach trip! She has 2 swimsuits, some cute sundresses, and a new sunhat so she's good to go. Now, for Brandon some swim trunks.....
Saturday, May 1, 2010
I Succumbed, but Consciously!
So.... My last post was about wanting a Jeep really bad. I get that bug sometimes and usually it goes away after I spend some time looking at them and drooling. However, the bug wouldn't leave me alone this time! I just about went nuts thinking, constantly, about a Jeep.
So, being a person who takes things as 'signs,' I researched into actually getting one. That was a time consuming task though because there are all these things to think about. Like, do I want an old one, a new one, or just a newer one? Do I want a 2 door, a 4 door or do I want one that replaces the truck, or one to just toy around with as an extra vehicle?
Well, after much praying and soul and internet searching, we found one. So we went and looked at it. It was beautiful! The same year as my Rubicon that I used to have, but a 4 door silver Sahara. Barely even used. It looks like brand new! The price was good too. So, we traded the truck in. We love that truck, but we thought that a Jeep would be a better vehicle for the family. And, it is soooo much fun! We just took it home for the first time on Thursday, but we have already had the top down twice! Caylen loves it too- she can't stop staring up at the sky, right above her head in the car! She gives me this look like, "wow, mom, there's no roof!" I just love seeing her in it, enjoying it, too. Oh, and driving it is just like going back in time to when I had my Rubicon. Good times. The 6 speed is so smooth and easy, but adds that extra fun-ness to the drive. The seats were the same as the ones in my Rubicon, y.e.s. essentials stain, water, odor proof. The only kind of cloth I like if you ask me. I hate having a car for a while and the cloth gets that funky odor of fast food and sweat. yuck. Anyway, these seats are pretty awesome-- they are grey with mesh in the middle and they are sharp! Oh, and the back seat is pretty roomy too, surprisingly. It is as spacious as our Jetta. And, the trunk room in the back is very spacious as well. Having four doors on it is especially awesome too! I love being able to just open the door and put Caylen right in her seat, as opposed to a 2 door, having to practically hurl her into the back.
We are very pleased with our decision, and it was very well thought out. We got awesome financing through Bank of America, 3.5 to be exact, and we didn't increase our payments. Our insurance went down too! I am so glad that I thought it out and made a completely informed, conscious decision that I can feel good about when I am making those payments every month (We kinda got hosed on our truck loan). I am so happy with my Jeep-- it feels like I am complete now, once again! It just amazes me how God will bring things to you so you can have the 'desires of your heart.' We have been so blessed!
So, being a person who takes things as 'signs,' I researched into actually getting one. That was a time consuming task though because there are all these things to think about. Like, do I want an old one, a new one, or just a newer one? Do I want a 2 door, a 4 door or do I want one that replaces the truck, or one to just toy around with as an extra vehicle?
Well, after much praying and soul and internet searching, we found one. So we went and looked at it. It was beautiful! The same year as my Rubicon that I used to have, but a 4 door silver Sahara. Barely even used. It looks like brand new! The price was good too. So, we traded the truck in. We love that truck, but we thought that a Jeep would be a better vehicle for the family. And, it is soooo much fun! We just took it home for the first time on Thursday, but we have already had the top down twice! Caylen loves it too- she can't stop staring up at the sky, right above her head in the car! She gives me this look like, "wow, mom, there's no roof!" I just love seeing her in it, enjoying it, too. Oh, and driving it is just like going back in time to when I had my Rubicon. Good times. The 6 speed is so smooth and easy, but adds that extra fun-ness to the drive. The seats were the same as the ones in my Rubicon, y.e.s. essentials stain, water, odor proof. The only kind of cloth I like if you ask me. I hate having a car for a while and the cloth gets that funky odor of fast food and sweat. yuck. Anyway, these seats are pretty awesome-- they are grey with mesh in the middle and they are sharp! Oh, and the back seat is pretty roomy too, surprisingly. It is as spacious as our Jetta. And, the trunk room in the back is very spacious as well. Having four doors on it is especially awesome too! I love being able to just open the door and put Caylen right in her seat, as opposed to a 2 door, having to practically hurl her into the back.
We are very pleased with our decision, and it was very well thought out. We got awesome financing through Bank of America, 3.5 to be exact, and we didn't increase our payments. Our insurance went down too! I am so glad that I thought it out and made a completely informed, conscious decision that I can feel good about when I am making those payments every month (We kinda got hosed on our truck loan). I am so happy with my Jeep-- it feels like I am complete now, once again! It just amazes me how God will bring things to you so you can have the 'desires of your heart.' We have been so blessed!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)