I've Moved...

If interested,

www.buffalo-roam.com

Hope to see you there!

Today

Our babysitter took this week and part of next week off in honor of the 4th and her birthday. Between my folks and Dallas', we were able to cover most of the days off, but decided to take today and tomorrow off just for some extra family time.

Today we ventured on over to KC to run a few errands and do some shopping. We took the long way home.

Did you guys know about this?? I didn't...








Ft. Leavenworth National Cemetery. Gorgeous!

In other news, we recently celebrated our first wedding anniversary and my MIL started us a new, and very cool tradition.



We will get a different one each year. Cool right? I'm already thinking of display options. And how fun will it be to serve coffee out of 25 different cups on our silver anniversary??

And in yet further news, I gave birth to the most adorable baby on the planet.



And he has the best daddy on the planet.



And in totally unrelated news, my FIL does this. Cracks me UP!

The usual?

Every Friday we're able, my mom and I have lunchie lunch together.

Now that she's working a 9-5 with an actual lunch hour, we're trying to stay pretty close to both our offices. And today that meant the "Millenium Cafe" that's housed in the public library.

We've been there before, when the mood for a wrap or sandwich struck. But I can't say as we'd be considered regular customers by any stretch.

So imagine my confusion when every time the long haired fella is in charge of building the sandwiches, he asks me: "your usual?"

Ummm... I have a usual?

I usually just smile blankly and tell him "Not today, my good man. I'll have some of the yella." (LOVE me some Cousin Eddie)

Next time, I think I'll just say yes and see what I end up with.

And the winner is?

I have officially entered Severin into his first "cute kid" contest.

I know a lot of people have strong opinions about entering children into contests, or profiting off their child.

I'm not one of them.

But I do feel I must let you know - the contest is just at my work.

We're having a silly summer contest and the five categories are:
Funniest Moment
Greatest Athletic Feat
Most Unique Destination
Cutest Kid
Most Outlandish Overall

I'm pretty sure I've got two of the categories locked down.

Cutest kid:



Because, hello?!

Most Outlandish Overall:



Again.. hello.

Rumor has it the grand prize is a t-shirt!

Hollaaaaaa!!

I'm ready for my close up, Mr. Demille

Fresh out of the bath tub for his big 3 month photo shoot! My little feller is a ham and a half! We were thrilled with all the big smiles he gave the camera.

You can see for yourself here.

How to choose?! And in what sizes? Or special effects? Which would our parents and grandparents like to have??

It was too much pressure, so we just bought the whole dang disc. Which got me to thinking that I really need to learn how to actually use my fancy-schmancy camera and do this myself. They would look just as good right? Right. ;)

We were slated to meet with our builder, Bob (Bob the Builder), after pictures at 5:30.

Guess what time Dallas got called in to work?

5:25.

Boo.

So I went home to ohhh and ahhh over my punkin's pictures some more and Dallas called shortly thereafter to tell me he was already done working. So we decided to head on up to his motherland to check out their annual fair, Old Sett'lers. (That's not really how they spell it, but it IS how they pronounce it.)

It was your typical fare of rides, pork burgers, a bearded lady (no, not part of the festivities, but I did see one), and some country music. Severin was ohhh'd and ahhh'd over some more and when we made it home I found this in the back seat.



Being adored is exhausting!

PS - Are these not the sweetest little paws ever?



Sunday, we went to a family reunion on Dallas' side. His grandma is one of 16 siblings. Add a few generations and do the math.

When we left there we had some time to kill before our re-scheduled meeting with Bob the builder so we ran over to the mall to walk around. But alas, we can't make even one trip without forgetting something and this time it was the stroller.



Then when we went to eat delicious Mexican food, Severin had a blow out and we didn't have an extra outfit! So he was naked baby for the rest of dinner and we had to stop at Target for some emergency onesies.

Then we fiiiiiinally made it to our meeting with Bob the Builder. (That's definitely how I'll refer to him for the rest of my life)

Have I shown you our house plans?



We've made a few changes, but that's basically our house!

August = dig and pour basement
September = frame
October = plumbing and stuff
November = sheetrock and stuff
December = "all the finishing detail bull****" (Bob the Builder likes to cuss)
January = move in!

~Dances a little jig~

Drumroll, please...

We sold the house!

(cue the organ, and harps, and kettle drums, and tambourines, and kazoos, AND the choir.)

And we closed on Friday!

HALLELUJAH!!!!

I had wondered aloud if there was such a thing as a "lemon law" when it came to houses, as I still couldn't believe everything had actually worked out. It turns out that, no, they can't return the house after 72 hours.

Glory be!

I've well voiced my consternation about selling this place. All I could think about was the eventual paying of two mortgages, worrying about caring for two houses, two lawns, and I just KNEW something major would break and we'd be responsible to fix it. Again.

The bottom line truth is, we had a nice house to live in, in what we felt was a safe neighborhood. We had everything we needed for the three of us. And being in that house for the past year allowed us to pay off the note on the land, and how great is it that we won't be financing dirt?

That being said... I am so happy to be out of the heart of Topeka! Oh, the noise! Oh, the construction! Oh, the potholes! Oh, the crazy neighbors! The crazy, craaaaazy neighbors!

Exhibit A:

Directly next door to us lived two college aged fellas who rented the place. In the winter, they drug out a home-built a ramp and would scoop and pile snow all around it. Not enough snow? No problem, they'd just get some shaved ice to supplement. Then, they'd climb up their little platform, strap on a snowboard... and slide down their three feet of ramp. Unstrap the snowboard, climb the platform, strap on the showboard, and slide down three feet of ramp. Over, and over, and over again. In the summer, they would light up their fire pit and sing, loudly, whilst strumming an acoustic guitar a la Jack Johnson.

Exhibit B:

Across the street lived a very friendly family, though they were very reminiscent of "Cousin Eddie returns to Kansas". Picture a house not overly well taken care of, several cars in various states of disrepair parked in the drive and yard, one of which being, what else? A Trans Am. One of those blue blow up pools also crammed into the front yard, and a family of five, all of which are fond of being outdoors in their skivvies.

About a week ago - Dallas is waxing the truck, Severin and I are watching.

Dad across the street, standing in 4 feet of water in blow up pool roughly the size of our bathtub: "Wanna come swimmin?"

Us: "No, thanks."

Big, hairy dad across the street, standing in 4 feet of water in blow up pool, splashes around a little: "It's hot out. Jumpyerassin!"

Us: "Thanks, but no thanks."

Guy across the street: "okely dokely" and rolls eyes at chain smoking, sports bra clad wife like WE'RE the crazy ones for not wanting to stand shoulder to shoulder in what is no doubt a luke warm pond of their kids' pee.

Exhibit C:

I hear some commotion outdoors so I peek through the blinds in the bathroom.

Oh, sweet. A homeless looking man has decided to take a rest in our lawn and a cop has shown up to remedy the situation.

5 minutes later, I double check the locks and take another peek.

Dude is still hanging out, and a second cop has arrived, lights flashing.

5 minutes later, re-set alarm system and take another peek.

Cops hand guy what looks like a business card and send him on his merry way while they drive off.

Whaaaaat? What if he's a serial killer? What if he decides our lawn is the comfiest lawn he's been on in a while and comes back? What if he blocks the "for sale" sign in the yard?! (For sale: nice starter home in quaint neighborhood, 2 br, 1 ba, appliances and homeless man stay)

Exhibit D:

Same week as the homeless man/cop scene, I arrive home to find the neighbor's car parked in their driveway. En fuego.

Exhibit E:

Seen spray painted on fence of house down the street: "I found u".

What the FREAK?!?!


This whole time I'm trying to convince Tanner that he wants to buy our place. Muah ah ahhhhh...

Granted, Ozawkie makes for a much less interesting place to live, but we were ready for the break in excitement!

Rental me this...

We moved into our rental in Ozawkie this past weekend.



It's awesome because:

Everyone smiles, says hi, or waves at you. I've caught myself several times thinking, "Do I know that guy?" But no, just real friendly folks.

The neighbors help you move, mow your yard, and bring you apple pie.

It's real quiet.

At night, it's real dark.

We can see the lake from our driveway.

We went for a walk last night and left every door open and unlocked and didn't think twice.



"But I don't FEEL like taking a walk!"



"Goshhhhh..."

But it's also a little weird because:

The only gas station closes at 11:00pm. God help you if you want a Pepsi after 11.

No restaurants. If I'm hungry, I can't just run for the border. God help you if you forget to grocery shop.

The nearest grocery store has limited foodstuffs. God help you if you want to whip up something fancy.

But, we really dig our temporary place! It's a little daunting to think we'll be turning right around and doing this all over again in 9ish months, but hopefully that'll be the last time in a looooooong time.

Moving is exhausting!