Month long road trip recap

Here's the moving crew - Ezra, Chris, and Andy- that brought all our junk out of our home in Buffalo. Brent was the master magician that fit all of our belongings in a 15 foot pod. It took way more time than we thought it would and we left Buffalo for Utah way behind schedule. But of course made excellent time with Brent at the wheel. It took us 33 hours to make it to his sister Debbie's in Cedar Hills, UT. The next three days we spent in Springville at a lodge up in the canyon with about a hundred  Pieper relatives.

 This is Marcus's Great Grandma Pieper- the lady that started it all.  He kept running around the place saying, "Where's Grandma Pieper?" For some reason it was love at first sight.

We finally made it to Washington at the end of the week and met up with the Casper's at Brent's sister Jill's home for some fun time around the pool.

Brent cleaned up the spare Buick from our garage and tried to figure out how he could get it back to NH and swap it for the old one we have been running. With no running AC or Title, and little time on his hands though he was forced to leave it behind. He's still trying to convince me to fly back with a couple kids and deliver it here. Since we all know I am such a good cross country driver now. Our old tan one ain't running well at all.

Marcus thought Grandma and Grandpa had really big front steps.

And really wished he could stay and be a farmer boy. He loved the big open spaces and we could hardly keep track of him. This was all new for a city boy.

Savannah spent her 11th birthday at the mansion. We planned a pool party.

I have no idea who invited this dude or what happened to his shirt but the guy acts like he runs the place. 

This was Savannah's first birthday in 4 years that we haven't been on the road moving or leaving on a trip. It was probably her best ever.

 Candice and Alainna are the young fun aunts who take care of our kids at all the reunions. We hope they can keep it up now that they have started their own families.

And it was the only night that we were able to stay at the mansion. It's tough to book a room at Grandma's house these days.

Caroline and Marcus each had a Grandpa in Summerville, OR. Can you guess which one is the real Grandpa Fielding?

We all gathered around the old cowboy for picture. These are all my siblings except Ciana who hadn't made it up from California yet.

Marcus made instant friends with his four year old twin cousins -Aidan and Avery from Dallas.  He really needs a brother. I have never seen him enjoy the dirt so much.

Spencer just started his own PI firm back home. I caught Jeremy and him discussing the possibilities of Jeremy leaving the exciting life of Dallas behind and getting back to his roots, while they waited for their turn behind the boat on the Snake River. This was one of the best days in Washington for me. I remembered how much I loved the sun and the river when I was growing up. I began second guessing our future in New England. Especially if the rest of the family moves back home.

I LOVE getting together with my brothers and sisters. It seems like it just gets better and better.

Somehow I got over it, though and have settled in just fine over here without them. As long as we can do this for a   week once a year I should be okay. Brent? 

We had our annual Casper Reunion at Jill's and it was easy for Grandma Casper to steal Marcus away from his Grandma Pieper now she wasn't around anymore. He is definitely a Grandma's Boy.

This was probably my second favorite day in Washington. I always look forward to the Casper swimming races (which I had a pretty good showing in this year, right Chelsea?) and of course the annual family talent show. We had a pretty lame entry this year at the talent show. Caroline sang a song she made up for her cousin Will on the spot after she found out it was his birthday. She couldn't keep his name straight though and sang Happy Birthday Austin throughout the whole song even after Savannah ran up to remind her that his name was Will.  She was so embarrassed. We are still trying to figure out who the heck Austin is.

Our very last stop before heading across the country was at the Casper Cabin in Priest Lake, ID.

I swam and swam and swam with the kids. It is my new favorite sport. Actually it is probably the only sport that I like and probably could've been competitive in if I would've figured this out earlier in life, rather than at 34.  I am looking to join the adult swim team here in NH.

All of my sisters were supposed to come and hang out with us. Alainna opted not to at the last minute and we were all pretty mad at her about that choice. Especially, Ciana who drove all the way from California with her five children to join us.

I am so glad that I endured all the stress, packing and unpacking, and DRIVING that this big trip entailed. It was totally worth it.

We're BAAAACK!

Here it goes. My first post from NH. After skipping all of July and most of August I am finally physically able to blog and catch up on our summer adventures since we left Buffalo.

If you have wondered what cliff we fell off. . . here's the story. I was on the road for a whole month hopping here and there around the west coast, finally culminating in a 20 hour drive with my children to Sioux Falls, SD on August 1st where my husband flew to meet me and saved me from enduring another 25 hours on my own on the road. We arrived in NH on August 1st but up until last Friday had no land line for internet or phone connection. I didn't mind so much, because who had the time anyway?

The 20 hour drive I took on my own was something I will always be proud of. It was very liberating to find out I was capable. And Honestly?  I could've done the whole 45 without him. I called Brent after about 15 hours somewhere in WY and told him so. But by then we are so anxious to get the family back together, he came anyway.

I don't know how the rest of you feel about driving 45 hours with five kids on your own but it was enough of a concern to feel me with constant dread and reduce me to tears several times during the first 2 weeks of our trip out west.  When Brent flew back to NH and left me behind with a van and children that in WA,  it hit me hard that I was REALLY going to have to do this thing.  I was terrified. Once over the phone I told Brent that it was like my Mt. Everest. I really wanted to climb it to prove to myself (and him) that I could.  But with narcolepsy, it was like I had a broken leg and no matter how bad I wanted to climb this mountain I just wasn't physically able.  So, he flew back to meet me. Somehow he couldn't break down and fly all the way to Washington. I was 10 minutes from Iowa when he finally hopped in beside me.

Driving across the country without him was very liberating. Maybe it wasn't such a Mt. Everest after all. I would do it again no problem. So much for the broken leg.

Since then we moved into our big blue house (on our own in one day with Brent and his girls as moving crew. Even the piano was safely brought in though we opted to leave it right inside the back door as we knew we would never get it up the stairs.)

And we sealed the deal on the dental practice purchase.

It was in need of some serious TLC.  We were pretty sure no one would ever find a dental practice in the jungle.

                               So Team Casper was called out in full force.

Even Caroline got to work. She was our most willing helper by far. The whole time she was there she is right by your side, begging for new jobs and reminding you with a smile, " Mom, I love to work!"

We had more than the jungle outside to attack. This was AFTER the Dr. had cleaned up his desk on his last day.

We had lots of galloping horse stencils to paint over.

There wasn't even a computer in the office. 

Kennon or Savannah entered names in while the Dr. and his wife did the painting, decorating and organizing. The other preteen babysitter stayed home and watched kids. Though I loved working at the office full time, it was tough in other ways. Marcus is no longer what I would call potty trained, taking any naps or listening to a thing I say. We were seriously working around the clock for the last week and half while his new staff enjoyed a scheduled vacation. As we left the office on Saturday at midnight, we could hardly believe we had pulled it off and things would be ready for Monday morning.  We had to hold off refinishing the hardwood floors,  are still waiting for upholstery for some ripped dental chairs, and haven't begun organizing the mess upstairs, but we are very happy with the office transformation already.

Before and After shots are in the works. Still trying to decide if it looks good enough without the refinshed floors and red upholstery we have ordered for it's debut on the blog. Plus, it was too late on Saturday when we finished.

As far as New Hampshire, did we luck out or what? We spent so many hours researching towns looking for our ideal location and folks I am pretty sure This is the Place. It seems to be everything we were looking for. I've told several people that my rental house is in the sacred grove. I hope that's not sacreligious. But see for yourself.

This is off my back porch. We are definitely out in the woods. Besides that we are a short walk to the bay. From there you can hop in your boat, mooring for $150 a season, and head right out to the open seas. As soon as we have time and money that is seriously on the agenda. I think we will start small. Maybe a couple kayaks.

But first things first. So far my husband hasn't made a dime as a dentist. And he also hasn't done any dentistry since May.

Today was the big day. First day at his new office. Good Luck Dr. C! Team Casper is home cheering for you. . and crossing our fingers.

Goodbye Buffalo!

Yesterday our realtor stopped by and made it official. For me it was a very exciting moment. How come so many frowns?

Maybe because they all have to say goodbye to their bff's. Camille and Sarah had a tearful goodbye. Her Dad actually had to pull Sarah off of Camille so we could leave. Caroline doesn't have any of the other kindergarterner's phone numbers . . so she jumped in with Sarah and Camille.

This is Savannah and her best friend Tracy. They will have no problem keeping in touch because they already have the constant skyping habit down.

Kennon said goodbye Wednesday to her young women girls and leaders.  Kennon will definitely miss the leaders (Sister Reyhies and Sister Evans) the most. They were awesome! She had a great start to beehives and got tons of attention thanks to being the only one in her age group. I totally changed my mind about smaller young women groups. They aren't so bad after all because she spends more time with leaders that really are the best examples anyway.

We are real busy packing, cleaning, and selling stuff on Craigslist right now to get ready for our move on Saturday. We are loading all of our belongings in a Pod and having them deliver it a month when we have a place to deliver it to. We got the call on Tuesday that the house would be closing any day so I called Brent and  Kennon attending Girl's Camp and Brent house hunting. in New Hampshire, and told him to get home quick because our time was up.  They had been living there over a week. I know I am totally crazy for allowing him to do that again. This time no big surprises though reminiscent of four years ago, when I got the call. . ."Hey honey, congrats you own a home" . . before even asking my opinion on the $30k Matter. As you know it all worked out in the end, though.  ,

He was unable to get the financing to buy a home though in New Hampshire, so it looks like we will be forced to rent for the first time in our lives. He pretty much came home with little results except figuring out where we want to live if we are able to get into a rental. And nothing was available till August 1st, so that left us with the whole month of August with nowhere to go. 

So I begged and pleaded . . . and Guess What? I talked my husband into driving 38 hours in the opposite direction. First to Utah to hit the Pieper Reunion, then on to Washington for the Fielding and Casper Reunion in late July and our cabin week at Priest Lake, Idaho.

Unfortunately, there was one big catch. When we made the deal I had to agree to drive back to New Hampshire by myself with my 5 children. Brent bought his airline ticket back so he can get to work on the practice by the middle of July and that leaves me with 5 kids, a van pulling a trailer full of our Washington valuables we left behind 4 years ago, and a 45 hour road trip. I'll think about that later. It wouldn't be such a big deal if I hadn't inherited narcolepsy from my father. 

We are so excited to see everyone again and hope that this will be the last across the country road trip. 

Here are some other updates: At the end of the year award ceremonies. . . Kennon was given the Peace Award. Her classmates voted on the person who was the kindest and promoted peace at all times.  I almost stood up to protest, "Excuse me but I have lived with this young lady for 12 years and I can testify that she does not promote peace. . I mean are we talking about the same girl because I am pretty sure there has been some mistake. . . "  but I held my tongue. She also received the technology award but was unable to tell us why or how. 

Savannah got the Presidential Academic Award for her class. 

Camille also got the Academic Excellence Award for her class, an award for some artwork that was chosen as the best in her Manatee club, and was chosen to read her essay about the flag.

We have no idea what happened at Caroline's kindergarten celebration because we missed it for WDW, along with the wonderful solo that I still feel bad about.

So I just am doing a quick post before our my life is in limbo I have no idea where or if I will be posting from after this until I arrive safely in New Hampshire the first of August. 

One quick story I have to tell though before it expires from my memory.

Tuesday night Brent got home from his trip and we were only together about an hour and I took off for a baby shower. The last thing I remember telling him as I walked out the door -"Bye Brent, I am taking Savannah" Two hours later at 9:15 I walked in the door and Brent came down the stairs and said, "You have Camille with you right?" 

"No of course I don't have Camille and you had better be kidding me!"

No they haven't seen her at all and just ASSUMED that she had left with me . . .  and did nothing about it for two hours! So now the trail has gone cold two hours later and it's getting dark outside. I ran outside and found her bike gone. About two minutes went by of total and complete panic, Brent and I racing up and down the street trying to figure out where to even start. No one could remember actually seeing her since dinner. I was so angry. . . pretty much all directed at my assuming husband. 

Suddenly Savannah came running up the street and announced that she had been found in the basement, asleep under a makeshift tent and 50 packing boxes ready to move. Marcus had gone down and found her while we were all running crazy down the street.   Now Marcus keeps running around telling us, "I saved the Day!" 

 I hate those moments when your heart stops beating. I have way too many of them since I became a parent.  

We figured out the next day that her bike had really disappeared. Stolen out of our backyard. The carnival's back in town this week for the 4th.  They set up in the park two blocks away.  The only other time we had a bike stolen was three years ago during the same week.  Those darn carnies!

This is the final post in the Buffalo Chapter. Looking forward to what's next.

Taking on Disney World

We owe our fabulous Disney vacation to our wonderful niece Lindsay! She is the Disney employee who made it all possible. Meeting us every morning with roommates and getting us into the parks . . . for the best bargain any of you will ever find.

And it had to be a bargain or I don't think I could've done it. Paying several hundred dollars a day to torture myself in the hot sun standing in long lines? We probably picked the worst time of year to go.

Lindsay said the heat didn't bother her. But us Buffalonians were blown away by the record high temps we encountered all week. I am not used to all that sweat.

She also taught us how to get free ice water and we really owe her for that one too. 

We had already asked the kids schools for permission to leave early because our house was closing. Then it didn't close. .  so we left anyway a couple weeks early. As usual it was last minute. Planned Wednesday -executed Saturday. Almost canceled on Thursday when Caroline came home with the solo for her kindergarten graduation. I hated to miss hearing her sweet, "My country 'tis of thee, Sweet land of LiVerty". But Disney Magic was calling our name.

Marcus was the one I was worried most about and kept trying to figure out a way to leave him back home. Turns out he was the best kid of all. He loved everything and sat contentedly in his stroller all day dripping with sweat.
We made it to all the parks and would have a hard time telling you our favorite. They all had their highlights. And the very same drawbacks- 2 much sweat & 2 much people. 

We arrived in the south already suffering. Our Van's AC sprung a leak last summer.  Brent filled it up and JB welded the night before we left. It all went well till we stopped for the night. The next morning we had nothing left and we drove for a miserable 4 hours stretch that morning trying to convince ourselves that it wasn't that bad. At least we couldn't hear the kids hollering in the back seat with all the windows down. But the farther south we went the more irritable we all became and Brent eventually pulled over and fixed  it again in the Wall mart parking lot. It worked the rest of the day. .  . only because we never shut it off again, even to pump gas.

On the third day at Disney Camille and Caroline made the first and only purchase from this family inside the park. Their older sisters followed them up to buy it telling them what a waste of their money this was.  Therefore, Camille and Caroline nursed that Sprite for hours afterwards trying to make their precious $3 pay for itself in the amount of hours it was enjoyed.   We ate a big meal every morning and late every evening in the condo. But the rest of the day we all survived on whatever I packed on my back (granola bars and mushed up PB and J)  and all the free ice waters we we could get a hold of.

. 

It was hard to find time for the pool during our busy schedule. Right below this pool is the lake where Marcus was nearly EATEN BY A CROCODILE.  We had just pulled in the first night and were all unpacking suitcases when I noticed Marcus was missing. Brent was unconcerned and said he had seen him just 2 minutes ago run in between the condos toward the back. Having no idea what was "in the back" I raced back  and found him at the bottom of a big hill scooting on his bottom to the edge of the bank. I couldn't believe it. After rescuing my two year old, I went back and gave everyone a lecture about how we needed to be more careful because "Marcus ALMOST DROWNED. . . There was a BIG LAKE DOWN THERE!"

The following evening down at the pool I was approached by a family who pointed to Marcus, and said, "Is that the kid who ran down to the lake last night by himself?"

I said something like, "Yeah, you see all these kids I got. Once in awhile I lose track of one of them." (It's especially easy because I get so used to one of older girls watching him and so I don't think of him every second like I should.)

Well, apparently they were all on their back deck the previous evening watching two 6 foot alligators at the edge of the lake when they see a toddler goes racing down the hill. They were about to rescue him when I ran down. And according to them,  right after I scooped him up, the two alligators swam right down to the same exact spot.

Brent and I could barely sleep that night thinking about the horror of our son meeting up with alligators only 2 minutes after we arrived at our vacation. Apparently other vacationers in our condo had been warned not to go anywhere near the Lake of Alligators at check in. But no one said a thing to us. I can't believe there are just lakes of alligators everywhere in Florida without fences to keep them in.

 With all the sweating, walking, starving, and stressing about alligators you would've thought we would've lost a few pounds on this vacation but. . . . Naaahh.  Speaking of sweating. . . . here's Caroline and I glowing at 9 a.m. in the morning.  Our 6 year olds legs didn't function as well in the heat and she often begged to be carried and pushed like Marcus.

 We had the ugliest but most well utilized double stroller in all of Disney World.

Thanks Lindsay for the Great Vacation!
Here are some highlights:

Kashann being hit with 50 tons of water as a star stuntman during a Hollywood Studio show

Kashann winning the Velcro Relay at Epcot

Camille being the only one to get lost. . . over and over and over. Always in her own little world.

Savannah trying to talk us out of wasting our time each time we stood in a line for a show instead of a ride.

Savannah starving every day because she hates sandwiches & granola bars

 The Amazing Epcot Aquarium

Kennon's fear of 3 - D shows

Magic Kingdom's Safari- I could of swore we were in Africa. It was amazing.

 Kennon using up  most our  memory space on pictures of the condo. . . every nook and cranny. .  before we even made it into Disney
Pouring rain at Epcot not slowing us down. 

Caroline making it through her First Ever roller coaster ride without screaming, "Stop the Ride!"

Marcus singing "It's a small world over and over and over the whole way home"

The Georgia Peach fight. 7 people and 2 peaches.
Brent pulling his traditional stunt of refusing to stop on the way home because he is sick of vacationing. He drove the 19 hour drive in 23 hours with no more than 1.5 hours of help from me. 

Once again. . .

Too much time on our hands.

If you couldn't reach us last week. . . 
This is why. 
Details of our 6 day, less than a $1000 vacation to the Sunshine state coming up next. 

Wow, this dentist has way too much time on his hands.

So back to this practice purchase. This is going to be my last Searching for a Practice post.  Just one last one so I can remember how it all went down in the end.

Who would've thought that it would take us until June 4th to make the decision? It was seriously getting embarrassing to have to keep telling everyone that we have no idea where we are headed. Brent told me last winter that February was our deadline. Then the months just kept going by, and nothing ever felt good enough to actually say, "Yes, We are doing it. This is what we want. I am so excited!" We came pretty close to buying that practice in Pennsylvania. . . but ended up with so many reasons why we shouldn't that I couldn't even remember why we were ever looking there in the first place. I gave Brent one last week to go down and make a decision and was so overjoyed to have him come home deciding that it wasn't the place for us after all. I was just starting to feel trapped there already and the thing is we could still walk away. So we did.

There wasn't much on the horizon anymore. We felt like we had burned up all our old contacts. But Brent made a couple calls and within the week had an interview in NH for an associateship and one in Wisconsin. We decided there was no reason to rush home after his interview in NH. We have been so interested in NH but never found the right opportunity. So after the interview he stuck around. We spent a lot of time talking on Skype, him sitting in McDonald's. One night he called me from Lake Winnipesaukee and we discussed how awesome it would be to sail up there just like Bob. It probably is silly to get obsessed with a place from a movie but we both fell in love with NH when we watched What about Bob starring Bill Murray. Then we found out that they don't have a sales tax, state income tax, or a SEAT BELT LAW and we were sold. Of course we will need to get our hands on another sail boat.

Brent still was entertaining aspirations to buy a practice not work for one, so he stopped by one in a little town that had only been on the market a few weeks. Twenty minutes from the sea, 15 min from Winnipesaukee, 1.5 hour to Boston Temple,  mountains nearby, and 15 minutes to Target. It all sounded good to me. The practice is small, but in a great location on a busy road.  It's needs some TLC. Brent drove by it three times before he could even spot it among the overgrown bushes. From the beginning we were really excited. It seemed like our golden opportunity. A chance to take something and build it up. But the price was too high in our opinion for a practice that needed that kind of work.

He came home and we flew to Wisconsin the next week. The interview there went great. We really got along well with the partners in the practice and it seemed like one of our best options we have had so far. But then it wasn't at all what we were looking for. More like what we were going to settle for because we never found what we are looking for. We would've been buying into a group practice in the middle of nowhere. Albeit a very nice town but seriously . . . talk about living the small town midwest life. Farms and cows all around, tornadoes once a year, no river or lake or Target unless you drive 30 miles away to Iowa.  I just didn't know if I could do it and Brent felt just as uneasy. It was nice. . . but BORING.

By the next morning though, we had a great offer to join the practice and we told them we needed the weekend to mull it over. We would call with our decision by Monday. So we had 5 days to make an offer on the practice in NH and for it to be accepted. It seemed like such a long shot.  We were determined to move to Platteville WI if it came down to that.

The next day we got the call. Dr. _____ was happy to accept our offer for almost half the listed price! So we are ecstatic. Things may finally be coming together. We are not taking the easy road. We are nervous and know that we have some tough times ahead making this work. Taking a job would've been so easy, but who wants to take the easy route and get bored. I am excited that I can help though because we are the owners. I will be the gardener outside. . Kennon and Savannah will be the weekend cleaning ladies. I am going to get my house on a little lake someday soon I am thinking. Probably not Winnipesaukee, but heck there are lakes everywhere up there. I need to get me a canoe right away.

Hopefully all our financing goes through and we can make this work. Also crossing the fingers that our house closes soon.

The practice is located in the Seacoast Region of NH, near Dover, NH.  44 hours from Pasco, Washington. We really are crazy.  Brent needs to start making some money because I plan on flying home to see the folks from now on.

A big makeover for Brent's brother Ben

Some of you have heard of Brent's infamous brother Ben. He is  a real life inventor by trade.  Brent and him once bought a plane together. Brent was 16 at the time. They had a great time piloting it around the area until one afternoon Ben decided to try landing it on the highway near the farm. He almost made it, even under the electric wire that hung over the road. But the car with it's hood up on the side of the road was too big of a surprise. He smashed right into it and wrecked the plane for good.

Brent and him are great buds because in many ways they are a lot alike. But, I like to think I got the better catch of course. As far as looks- they have twin bald heads . . but where Brent takes a small  amount of pride in his personal grooming and appearance. . . Ben couldn't care less. 

His 18 year old son has had it, and is getting him back for years of embarrassment by entering him in a web Father's Day contest to win a makeover. 


The contest ends Sunday night (Sorry, I have been all wrapped up in our own little world since BRENT BOUGHT A PRACTICE IN BARRINGTON, NH YESTERDAY! LIVE FREE OR DIE BABY!) . . . But BEN is still in need of a few more votes to seal this up.  Believe me. . .  he needs this way more than the rest of the contestants. Pop on over, take a look at this awesome blog, Make You Over and Definitely vote for the guy in his Grandpa's overalls, BEN (no matter how tempted you might be to vote for the gorgeous Benny). You will know him when you see him. Just look for a hilarious version of my husband.

Go Vote Now!


Here's the link:  http://makeyouover.blogspot.com/2010/06/top-5-fathers-day-finalists.html


And don't forget to add this blog to your reading list. 

http://makeyouover.blogspot.com/

Marcus's big catch

Brent is back home for a few days and life is pretty good. We're doing some fishing. . . .

     Marcus caught his first fish yesterday on the Niagara. It was hardly bigger than the worm used for bait but he was mighty proud.

Swimming in the back yard

                 In a boring old kiddie pool. (The usual trash can was being utilized) 

Going to school concerts and art shows

Savannah (showing off her art) is a proud owner of her first pair of glasses. Kennon also is getting a prescription pair. When Savannah found out that Kennon would be following her she was pretty mad and swears that she has to be faking it.  I also want to know what's up. Brent and I have perfect eyesight and suddenly two of our daughters need glasses? Now, Kennon wishes she wouldn't have spoiled the moment by being seen in her attitude glasses all over town for the last year.

They are all too happy to have the accessories, even though they will be permanent for the rest of their lives.

 And staying very busy even though neither of us has much going on. We can't pack anymore and we are waiting around in between job interviews.  The future appears to be bright though. After 3 showings in a week, we have two offers on our house and decided to accept the one from a nursing student. 

I am ecstatic at this turn of events. . . though I know it is way too early to be so. We still have inspections, appraisals, and the bank to deal with but this time our buyer isn't on disability income so that is a very good start. That's what made the first sale fall through.  So imagine our joy when we got our first offer this week and turns out the woman is on disability income also. We told her we wouldn't accept it until we had proof of a permanent disability income. 

Brent was here when the dental student was here to see the house a couple days later and asked her by any chance if she was disabled. She looked at him startled, probably insulted and assured him she was not. He explained that so far the only offers we receive for this home are from the disabled so we were just curious. But now should things continue (fingers double crossed) the tentative closing should be at the end of June. 

Perfect! The kids finish school and Brent finds a job by then, right? 

I hope my early blabbing doesn't jinx the sale.

Here is a view of our river where the big fish swim and the Casper family once sailed. Our house is found right in the center of the picture about 5 houses deep.

An early birthday for Caroline

Caroline didn't want to be six and still have her two front teeth. They had been loose for . . . a whole week! Brent agreed to pull them out late one night. I wasn't happy about it. It was too late for her, and too early for the teeth. He couldn't resist her pleas though. . .and he needed the practice. Dr. Casper didn't have the proper tools but the pliers from the basement seemed to be good enough.

That was fun, Dad! Let's take out the other one now!

Surgery #2 - The hardest part was to get her to stop giggling so he could perform the extractions. 

Two very large holes, but according to Caroline -No Pain! All giggles, No crying. Two in one night! Now she could turn 6. . . in style!

Once the home showing was over Friday we started getting ready for the GREAT BIG HAWAIIAN PARTY she had requested. 10 girls from kindergarten had been invited.  Grandma in Washington is really in tune. Without knowing it, she sent a perfect outfit for the theme and it arrived a couple days before the big event. We had a very small support group of friends it turns out. One other kindergartner showed up! She was too shy to get dropped off, so her mother stayed for the FAMILY party. It was an odd mix but we made do. I don't think any of the other mothers had cars. We decorated the backyard about an hour before the party. Once the decorating was done, it started to rain. So the party went indoors.  Kennon won the hula hoop contest.

And the limbo showdown.

Momma planned and baked the cake. Then Dad and Savannah decorated it to surprise her when she woke up the next morning.  Caroline took one look at the cake the next morning and started hollering that we had ruined her birthday.  It was "Her Cake!" We let her stick in the umbrella and candles and promised to not surprise her next year.

Caroline also learned how to ride a bike without training wheels later that day. Unfortunately, the only picture I got was her Dad riding it.

A showing at 11 a.m?

"I am sorry, but I have somewhat dreary news"

I am borrowing this exact quote from my Realtor last Thursday. And to think I was actually 2 seconds before overjoyed when her name popped up on Caller ID. We have been waiting and waiting. . .probably 3 weeks now for the house to close. That is how long it has been sitting at the bank with everything done. The magic date of May 25 was quickly approaching and so I was AT LEAST 1/2 way packed and ready to go. So of course I figured this was the big moment we had all been waiting for.  

Instead, we were told that our buyer wasn't able to secure the loan and the house was now back on the market. . . and Oh, Would we be ready for a showing the next morning at 11 a.m?

No! My house is full of boxes. I removed all pictures from the wall, spackled and painted over them, and had made very minimal effort to keep the appearance up in quite awhile. Cleaning isn't top priority when you are moving. 

Well, we aren't. Not anytime soon now. I bawled like a baby all afternoon. Brent on the other hand was totally cool. He did mention that he had told me several times that a house isn't sold till you have the money in the bank. He let me cry it out while he just kept right on doing what he was doing the moment the call came in. (Taking the Wii apart after Marcus stuck a penny in it) We worked our guts out from the time we heard to 11 a.m. on the dot. All the boxes were hauled to the basement, and organized as best we could so you could at least pick your way to the washer and dryer, should you want to. Then I went back through the boxes again trying to find my pictures, vases, etc and little touches that I realized after cleaning were essential. . .the place looked totally bare and boring. And, since my house sold in March I didn't bother with curb appeal this spring.  So at 10:30 we were out frantically planting flowers and spreading fresh bark literally finishing seconds before seeing the buyer coming up the walk.
Once all the work was done I was surprisingly all better- no more tears.  Yeah, we are now months behind schedule. Closing a house in New York takes forever, and we have to do it all again.  But it just was impossible to not be happy now I was living in a clean organized house with fresh flower beds. 

And really doesn't it solve another really big problem? I guess we won't be camping now.  

That has to be why Brent is taking it so well. Pressure is off. It's all back on me to sell the house- cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. But it's going to be way harder now. The $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers is over and done with. But as they say here in NY -What are you gonna do?

Speaking of what are we gonna do, we really don't know. You know how I told you all that we were -Going to Pennsylvania. Well, now we have to say. . . we might probably not move to Pennsylvania. Last week we were able to finally see the info we have been requesting for weeks and turns out it doesn't look as good as we hoped and now we are just too nervous to proceed, plunk down the money and make the commitment. So the job search continues on. Brent has an interview later this afternoon. I think I will just leave the Where? out of the post.  When he has been extended and accepted an offer I will let you all know. I hate to keep jerking you all around. 

It's been a little hard on Brent now that we are down to what (his wife thinks) is crunch time and his dream of purchasing a practice right out of dental school may not happen. It takes so long to investigate and at this point it may be time  to go to work for someone else as he gets started . . .so he can get started. 

Caroline is 6 today. We partied yesterday so Dad could leave us today. Her Big Birthday Party post is coming up next.