DirecTV

So today was a lot of hurry up and wait.  We got up and took a load of boxes to the new house.  We have a lot to get done and while we will have time I do not want to live out of boxes.  DirecTV was scheduled to be at the house between 8 and 12.  I love the moving services that they offer.
While we were waiting Brandon and Nick hung the ceiling fans in all of the bedrooms and the family room and game room.  We decided to go buy those ourselves instead of paying DR Horton $250 for $75 fans.  It works because ours were not much more than $75 and are so much nicer than the ones that they install.  I just did not want to motgage fans, that did not seem like the smartest of moves.
DirecTV got here and then Hell broke lose.  The technician was wonderful.  He had work orders that were not at all what I had discussed with the moving department.  Anyway, I ended up on the phone with DirecTV for over three hours.  The woman in customer retention was wonderful and is the only reason that we are still with DirecTV, because I was about to just be done with them.  Glad that we got it all taken care of.  We now have the whole home DVR which is pretty dang cool.

I took the boys down to the pool. I needed to cool off and they needed to get some energy out.  We had a great time and are looking forward to spending a lot of time there.  They were excited to see Kiersten and Elliott swimming.  They all seemed to have a really good time, and of course none of them wanted to leave. 

Home Sweet Home

Well after a morning of screaming, begging, pleading, and praying we got the call that we were going to close at 4:00.  This was the news that we had been waiting on. 
There are still some things not completed, but they will happen even if we end up having to send out a warranty request.  At this point I am just so glad that we are all going to have a home that is ours.  So many blessings. 
We got the the attorney's office and did not have to wait too long.  Of course the mortgage company did not do some of the things that we had asked.  Go figure.  After things slow down there will be several certified letters going out.  We signd the papers and then were told that they were still waiting on one.  We ended up watching another couple close and then still waiting for that one paper, well it was like three I think, but it was one document.  Anyway, we finally closed and left the attorney's office with keys in hand. 
We headed to Meemaw's to get the boys and the TV's and a load of boxes.  Why not go on and get started.  It is ours.  We had to have the TV's and the DirecTV boxes though because DirecTV will be at the house at 8:00 in the morning.  We headed to the house and let mom have the honor of using the keys and unlocking our front door!  It was an awesome feeling knowing that we were finally home. 

Thanks for everyone who has been there for this journey  While it has only just begun I also know that I would have lost all signs of sanity had it not been for you all.  I love you all and cannot wait to start this chapter in our lives! 

Front Yard

Good evening everyone.  I have to say I am seriously pooped.  I got a lot done around the house, even though everything is still seriously piling up and the list has yet to start shrinking there was a lot of progress made tonight and in fact I am still making it.
I was able to get most of the Christmas gifts that I have already bought packed up, I will be able to finish them up tomorrow.  I have also been able to make a list of what is for who, which will be a huge help come December.  The has almost cleaned out the downstairs bathroom.  Again, that should be completely finished tomorrow.  Baby steps make for one happy momma!
I have a lot more on eBay.  I was also able to get most things that have sold boxed up and ready to ship out.  I love selling on eBay but it is a lot of work and I always forget that especially when I have taken a break.  I am glad to be back at it.  I figure I will have even more once we move, just because I am sure we will not need or want everything that we take with us, but that will be determined upon arrival.
I was also able to get most of the hall closet packed up.  I had a lot of it done, but still a lot left to do.  Also the dining room is almost 100% done.  Like I said progress makes me happy.  I am hoping to be able to report even more done tomorrow. 
When Brandon got off we headed to the new house.  We pulled up and it looked like a house.  The front yard had been sodded and the plants and the tree were in.  We also have a mailbox.  Never have I been so happy to see a mailbox.  I cannot wait to forward my mail to our new house!  There is still a lot of yard work to be done, but I know that it will happen soon.  There is also still a lot of paint to be done, the doors and shutters mainly, at least on the outside.  We headed into the house and the knobs and door stops were going it, the closet doors, and the carpet.  It seriously looks like a house and one that is soon to have some very happy homeowners. 

I have so many things that I am looking forward to we just have to get through the move.  I wish that the time would hurry up and get here. 

Baseball, Plumbers, and Parties

So the fact that we were up before seven and gone by eight and not back until nine....thirteen hours later means very little to the to do list that continues to grow.  It was an amazing day though and for that I am very thankful.  I am still feeling pretty queazy, I am not sure what is happening there, but I am determined to suck it up. 
This morning when we were getting ready and I was saying my prayers, I asked God to let the rain hold out and he did for this I am so super thankful.  Two whole days of rain for Mother's Day weekend would have been too much!
John Michael's game started us off.  It was a win for them, but definitely not one that came easily.  They were tied for a while and it was truly a great game.  I love to see everyone playing baseball!  I was proud of John Michael, he hit the ball great and he even got a hold of the ball once and got it in quick! 

Danny's game followed a couple of hours after John Michael's not enough time to go home, but we did manage to grab lunch.  I have stick to my gail...no money for the creepy consession stand guy.  Danny's team did great.  They won and I was so proud of them all.  Danny made an AMAZING catch!  I am so super proud of him.  He hit the ball awesome too! 

We have a pretty awesome announcement that we learned about today but we are going to wait to share.  And before everyone calls my mom, NO I am not going to announce a new baby!  It is about my baby though.  Just hold on and wait for it and I will share soon. 

We headed to gocheck on the new house and the plumber had been there.  He is not finished, but the upstairs showers and tubs are in.  I loved seeing my garden tub!  I have waited so long for one.  I cannot wait to get it in, wait I did that today!  I cannot wait to actually enjoy it though!  The  lines for the outside spickets were done, and well I just cannot wait it is so exciting to go by there and see progress.  Less than a week for the walk through and then it is sheetrock!  YAY!!!!! 

Well I am so excited and so exhausted.  I was fortunate enough to have a job tonight but it was for an awesome friend and her mom's suprise party.  It was so great to be around so many people who were in the mood to celebrate!  I love smiles and happy occassions!  Stay tuned to my facebook page or to the blog at http://www.monicaannephotography.com/ for more on that!

Now I am off to bed.  Showers for everyone and now almost everyone is asleep.  With seven minutes until Mother's Day I want to go to dreamland....I will be dreaming of the beach I need my toes in the sand. 

No Progress

This morning after I took the boys to school I headed to Alabaster for a photo shoot. I love the park there and I hope to go back for more shoots in the future. It was beautiful. The shoot went great, and I cannot wait to get to work on it. Stay tuned to www.monicaannephotography.com and the blog there for more information on the location and the shoot. I promise it will be worth it!
After Brandon got off we all headed to the new house to see if there was any progress. There was none. This waiting for it to start is killing me! I am so ready to see something start to happen! Maybe sooner than later! Stay tuned for more.

Corner Forms

Brandon and I had a pretty full day today, which is pretty common because he is off so we try to cram everything into that one day.

We took the boys to school. We had to run in and take some popcorn for one of the scouts and Danny's lunch order form. Danny is testing again today and we are praying that John Michael gets a green face. He has been doing so good and then the last two days we have been at yellow.

Brandon and I ran to the mortgage company to sign papers. It is always stressful to sign your life away, but it is also most definitely a blessing. I am so thankful and cannot wait to be moving in! Hopefully time will go pretty fast. It should since we are pretty busy.

After the mortgage company we headed to Morris Avenue where I had a photo shoot. It was a great shoot and we had to work fast since the rain was trying to get to us. It sprinkled a few times, but we made it through which was a plus. After we picked up the boys we went to Botanical Gardens for another shoot but for this one I was not so lucky. It rained, and rained, and then rained some more. Still got some fun cute shots so I am not going to complain. It was definitely an experience and one I hope that Brooke and her family enjoyed and will look back on with smiles later.

BTW...John Michael got a green face and Danny has to continue testing through next week! They had great days though, which makes me happy!

We went to the house and were so excited to see that the corners were formed, more gravel was brought in, and there was a little dumpster looking thing on the lot! Progress makes me so happy! Maybe next week there will be even more. Fingers crossed.

Nothing New?

Danny's testing started today. He was so worried, when I explained that these tests would not effect his grades he seemed to relax a lot. He told me that he did great, which made me feel so much better! I do not like it when he worries.
After school I had a photo shoot at Aldridge Gardens. My boys were hoping to see snakes. I was hoping not to see any. They were pretty disappointed that we didn't, but it is what it is. We were definitely more aware of where we were and what was on the ground close by.
We headed home so we could head out to the new house where we are hoping that they have done something. We get there to see that everything still looks the same. I wish that they would get to work, I am so ready to see some changes. It is so exciting, but also so frustrating to just sit around and wait. We will not be able to head back for a few days so maybe it will be enough time for things to change.

Catching Up and a New House

Today was a great day and the boys and I worked around the house, played basketball, and went to the park in Trussville for a photo shoot.
The great thing about photography is that I get to meet some amazing people. I also get the chance to catch up with old friends. People who I have not seen in years are so great to work with. We are able to catch up and talk about the past, the present, and the future. It was great to see Kristin and meet her beautiful daughter. Watch for more on this shoot on the blog at http://www.monicaannephotography.com/. Before we move I WILL get this blog caught up too!
We headed to Springville this afternoon to see the house, while it is still a lot the work has started which is beyond exciting! They have staked the lot and the corners of the house! I cannot wait to start seeing more progress. The boys were so excited to see where the house will really and with their awesome imaginations they had it up and living in it just with the corners.
John Michael was starving and ill when we left so we headed to Fox's and let them play and eat. They had a blast and it was great to see them enjoying themselves. Happy babies make for happy parents!

SOLD!!!

So today I started the process of going through everything. I figure if I make one pass now then when we go to packing it will be that much easier. Plus I think I will feel that much better about it. While the boys were at school I completely tackled the living room. Every shelf, drawer, etc has been gone through. A few things for donations and few things for eBay and then everything else just cleaned.

After school John Michael had two gifts to open. He was so excited. He loved them both too. Now if we can get thank you cards out this week that would be great, we shall see it is a goal of mine.

When Brandon got off we headed to Springville. I was so excited there was a SOLD sign in front of our lot. YAY! It just sort of made me feel good to see it. I was so happy, and to see the boys so thrilled it just made my day! They cannot wait to start seeing the house go up. A few weeks and we should start to see something! Brandon's mom and Aunt Paula met us up there to see the lot and to walk through the house that is like the one we are building. They seemed to love it. When we went from our lot to the house the boys asked to walk! Without hesitation we let them. There is something awesome about watching the boys run down the street and knowing that they are safe and just spreading their wings some, which children have to be able to do and now finally my boys will be able to.

We headed from the new neighborhood to the ballpark. Both boys had practice. They did very well, and had a blast which I love. Danny is doing really well and he is so glad that baseball season is finally here.

Now we are home and headed to sleep, soon, I hope! Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers! Good night!

It's Happening

So today is the day I have been waiting for all week and it arrived and was awesome!

We are building a house! It has been back and forth for a while on where we were going and what we were going to do and now it is happening. This is going to be great for us and for my mom. Brandon and I found a house a fell in love, we had no idea what mom would think and she loved it too. Today we picked out a lot and signed the papers! It is official and we could not be happier!

After school, which was at 1:00 because of the weather, we took the boys to see the house that is like the one that we are going to build. They loved it and then we told them we were going to build one just like it with mom and I have to say I do not know if I have ever seen them more excited. We showed them the lot and they cannot wait. I am so ready to see progress starting. Stay tuned to here for more as it happens!

My dad wanted us and mom to move in together after he died. We told him okay but it never happened. Neither house was what we all needed and we could not find another one that would work. We even looked at land to build but there was nothing that was what we needed. After the tornado in January we were not sure what was going to happen and then this house, which is perfect in a neighborhood that is perfect just sort of appeared. I am so excited and I do not think that I can say it enough. I also think that my daddy is happy which makes happy.

We came home and hunkered down for the storms. While it was rough we were all safe and with all of the crazy weather that happened throughout the country we were thankful to say the least.