These are so cute!

Scott needed some baby gifts for two women at work, and I came across these. I thought they were so cute! Even cuter than mine, I wish I had thought of it. They have a few other animals, too. you can find them here

Quick update from the land of crazy...

• I Spilled a quart of paint all over the walls, carpet and new Pottery ba.rn rug, 2 hours before the open house. Thank Goodness for the carpet cleaner I bought with the intention of cleaning my own carpets(yeah, right!). if we never use it again, it was worth every penny!
• Have had 2 open house and a Realtors tour. No offers, yet.
• We live in the car. Literally. Did you know that you can get 3 meals a day at Sta.rbuc.ks?
• I drove by a house today with a huge lemon tree full of lemons. It took everything I had to not stop and ask for some. I might go back tomorrow.
• It takes me an hour every day to get the house in "walk through condition". I don't have an extra hour every morning. Do you know where I can get one?
• When staging your house, just turn everything on an angle. (furniture, vases, pictures)it looks better. Go ahead, try it.
• I haven't been able to take any pictures, because I can't find my camera. I had to drop out of my photography class because I missed so many trying to get the house ready. I am sad.

Could the economy get any worse??

Today I paid $4.69 for a gallon of gas. But the worst thing yet, the realtor asked me to pick up a bunch of lemons to put in a big bowl on the counter for the open house. I went to the store and put them in a bag and brought them up to the register. She rang them up and I did a double take. They are how much? They were $1.60 each. For. Lemons. I did not buy them. Anyone have a lemon tree? Or want to buy a house?

I don't do perfect (very well)

I am having a rough week. I know you don't feel sorry for me because I just came back from a two week vacation, and that's fine. We now have T-minus 3 days until the first open house. And my head might explode before then. The house cleaners made me rush home and miss the incoming Kindergarten playgroup that I am in charge of, because they couldn't open the lock box. They couldn't put in a three letter code and open it. So I came home, only to have them tell me that they didn't have time to clean my house this week. WHAT? I sort of lost it. I didn't yell. or anything, but I was very exasperated and asked why they wasted my time making me drive all the way home? So I called the realtor and she convinced them to do the kitchen and baths. When I asked them how much to pay, he replied "I don't care. I am only doing this so I won't tarnish my relationship with the realtor" At this point, my kids are trying to kill each other and I am standing in the driveway crying. So I put them in the car and head out to...nowhere. I had nowhere to go. I had the dog in the car and nowhere to go. And they are still fighting. So we head to the store. The kids only get worse, asking for everything in sight and alternating screaming at each other. Gracie decides she wants Sprite, and I said no. Which starts an hour long screaming/kicking session. Scott happens to call at this time and I am bawling. The kids have really been at each other lately, and I am not sure what to do. That, combined with the fact that the house needs to be perfect, all the time, is putting me on edge...This too, shall pass...

How I am feeling right now...

I was tagged by Susan. This would have been totally different if I had done it on vacation, but here it is!
Tired. On a different time zone and packing all day

Lucky. To have been able to go on a two week vacation with my family.

Panicked. At the thought of getting the house staged by Saturday.

Worried. that the house won't sell.

Hungry. and no food in the house. I guess we will have to go out (oh darn!)

Books, Books, Books

I love, love to read, but I don't do it as much as I would like to. Partly, it is because when I am in the middle of a good book, I do not like to be interupted. For. any. reason. Something my children do not seem to understand! I can be a litle bit obssesive about my reading, staying up until all hours of the night and gerenerally ignoring all the other things I need to be doing. (like cooking and laundry!) So I only read a few books a year. Except when I am on vacation. I have finished 3 books so far. Then, I discovered Audiobooks on my ipod. I can listen to a book while watching my children in the pool and not being a neglectful parent. I can also listen while making lunch for them and in the dark, two things I cannot do while reading. They are a little on the expensive side, but totally worth it to me...
Here is what I have been reading/listening to and would highly reccomend:
The last summer of (you and me)
by Ann Brashares

This was my first Audiobok, and I thought it was great. I have not read her Sister's of the traveling pants series.
Change of Heart by Jodi Picoult

This was not my favorite Jodi Picoult, I liked My sister's keeper and Nineteen minutes better, but it was still a good read.

The Friday Night Knitting club by Kate Jacobs
I loved this one for it's women's relationships.


Next on my Audiobook list is Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen


What are some of your favorite books?

It wasn't exactly as I'd pictured...

I have always loved the 4th of July. I grew up close to the beach and we would spend all day there. Then, at night we would have a fire and watch fireworks. I have always wanted my children to experience that. But in Northern Ca, it is cold in July, and too foggy to even see any fireworks. The water at the beaches are too cold and the waves too dangerous to swim. So I was excited to see that our resort was having an "Independence day beach party" complete with a BBQ and fireworks. It seemed ironic that my children would get to live my childhood 4th of July dream-in Mexico. Still, I was excited. But it was not meant to be. Instead we got this:


I am not sure if you can see the rain in this picture, but I have not seen rain like that since China. Complete with crashing thunder and lightning...So the beach party was moved indoors and we walked back to our room in pouring rain and watched the short fireworks show from our balcony. Not as I pictured, but still fun...

Beauty and the beast

by the river

A big leezard

I did all the work. She just looked pretty!

Wish you were here...