Jumping the last hurdle


We FINALLY made the 1400 mile journey from DC to Tyler!!


 and we are settled into our furnished rental!  It is a cute little duplex directly across from the Cathedral Jason works at and right smack-dab in the center of the city.

We are slowly getting things put together and spending time with our friends down here.  I even cooked a real dinner tonight.  The last two weeks were ridiculously long and painful, filled with long days and even longer nights.  There were many moments I was convinced we would not survive through to the next morning.  I am SO glad it is over!


Now it is time to unwind and GET MESSY!!!!!!


Buying my children's happiness

What a weekend. We geared up on Saturday morning to attend the 4th birthday party of our neighbor Nikolas.  We got the invitation over a month ago.  I committed it to memory and threw away the invite so our house was "stage-worthy".  After all, it would be hard to forget this little guy's party!!


His party was at Pump It Up, the local bouncehouse (which we all know is my favorite place!).  We sat around drinking coffee lazily all morning.  The party wasn't until 12:30 so we had time to kill.  We told the kids that we were going to the bouncehouse for a birthday party and they were so excited.  They LOVE it there!  We left early to make a quick stop to pick up Nikolas' birthday present - a Batman action figure.  We had to take a long detour due to a closed road.  But no worries.  We were still only 5 minutes late.  We walked in the door and were escorted back to the party.  As we walked in, the entire party was taking a group photo.  I started to get that feeling in the pit of my stomach.  The feeling that something was terribly wrong here... It was.  

The party started at 11:30 am.  We were over an hour late.  I just walked my 2 children into a bounce house just as the entire group was lining up at the door to exit.

All the blood drained from my face and my nose went numb.  I was dizzy.  Confused.  And too scared to look down at my children who were looking up at me wondering when they could go jump.It was the worst moment ever.  I almost started crying I was so disappointed for my kids.  I tried to get them excited about getting in line for cake, but my kids aren't dummies.  Leo was devastated.  


The next hour was full of tears, cake, confusion and sadness.  I barely recovered.  Some of it was Leo too.

On the way home after an hour of torture, I asked Jason if we could stop and pick up the toy that we bought for Nikolas as a consolation prize for Leo.  Before I told him about the toy, I asked him if he forgave me for making such a huge mistake, he said no.  We held onto the Batman until he decided he could forgive me.  When he finally said "I forgive you Mom", we pulled out the Batman and his eyes lit up.


He didn't completely forget the huge disappointment of the day. But he did assure me at bedtime that he was very happy.  He understood that we were trying to buy his happiness.  And it was worth all thirteen dollars.  I would have paid more too if it meant he would be happy again.



Bedtime happiness montage brought to you by Batman

(I know it doesn't look 4T. But that shirt claims to be a 4T. And so it goes back in the drawer every time.)

*Sidenote: There were a lot of apostrophe's in this post.  None of which are properly placed.  I will never understand the apostrophe.  Were any of them right????

7 Quick Takes (#33)

7 quick takes sm1 Your 7 Quick Takes Toolkit!

1) WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We received an offer on the house on Jason's birthday.  We had to deal with the negotiations, inspection and general nervousness that she could back out.  But we met her the other day and it looks like she loves the house and is definitely going through with it.  Closing is set for September 21st.  Thank you Saint Joseph!!!

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2) HOLY CRAP WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Okay just kidding.  I'll do a real one.  Elena drew a portrait of me :)


Look at my legs!!!  Damn I'm good looking.


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3) Move over Clark Kent.  There is a new superhero duo in town.

By Day:

Ordinary citizens just like you and me.


Just trying to blend in as upstanding members of the community

 



By night: The White Collar IRA Marauders!
Check your balance :)

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4)  Oy! My kids...They received only ONE trait from me.  Toe-walking.


I told my Uncle Ray and his advice was to tape their feet now :)  


They are not the only MacDougall's to walk on their toes.  It runs in the family.


Their heels just never...


...touch the floor!!


Well at least I don't need to invest in high-waters and braces.  Between this blog and toe-walking, my kids will never get a date.  Homeschooling here we come!  


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5) Texas has no idea what is about to hit...Less than 2 weeks until we leave!! 

(Thank you Uncle Ray for this family photo + one adorable dog!)

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6) Love these kids.  




Loved our first date night in over a year almost as much.  Maayyyyybe more??

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7) We recently made a submission to People of Walmart (um...how to say this?  Not a productive use of your time and definitely disturbing and graphic).  You are welcome.

I can't wait to get back to normal and start coming up with blogposts more often.  Until then, it's the 7 Quick Takes for me.  Thank you to Jen for hosting!!

7 Quick Takes (#32)

7 quick takes sm1 Your 7 Quick Takes Toolkit!

1) It only took us a month, but we finally got around to starting our novena to St. Joseph for the quick sale of our home.  St. Joseph, perhaps a bit annoyed that we had taken so long to ask for his intercession, thought he would play a little joke on us.  

Day 1 of the novena: Within an hour of saying the prayer, I get a text message from my brother "Check your email asap.  Offer is in!"  I freaked out.  I jumped to my feet, ran to the computer (just kidding.  I don't run. I walked rapidly), and saw that indeed we DID get a cash offer!  But not on our house.  It was an offer for my mom's house which basically went on the market that day.

Day 2 of the novena: We include our address in the petition.

Day 3 of the novena: We were told that we are in the #1 slot on a shortlist

Day 4 of the novena: We are told we will be getting an offer with in a day or two.

It is a possibility that we might receive an offer today on Jason's 30th birthday!

Happy Birthday babe!!!!!


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2) We received this awesome feedback from a realtor this week:

7. Additional Comments

the lack of a 2nd bath upstairs disqualifies it from my buyer's search. it shows well for all those children (this coming from a father of 5)

Well thank you Christopher.  Expect your invoice in the mail for the future therapy bills from my children.  Who knows what kind of damage we are doing to them by enforcing cleanliness and perfection all the time???  Hitler had an uptight mom you know...

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3) Speaking of Mom of the Year, I take the award by a landslide.  I decide to join Jason and his Youth Group on their annual Hershey Park trip.  We have to stage the house and be out of it by 8:30.  In the morning...  By the time we finally get in the car to meet Jason on the highway and caravan to Heshey, PA, Leo announces that he doesn't feel good and his tummy hurts.

I lovingly responded:

He had been fine all morning but woke up super early.  I thought his tummy hurt because of the painfully early wake up call.  I didn't have a clue where we were going and didn't have my GPS.  I had to join the minivan caravan on the highway or skip the Park.  So I hit the gas.

After 2 hours on the road, half of which was spent trying to calm Roman down from the drivers seat, and the other half spent imagining how nice and peaceful it was in the vans full of non-screaming teens, we arrived and felt a blazing hot forehead.  

Leo had a full-on fever.

The only option was to stay at the Park.  There is NO WAY Roman was going to make it 2 hours in the car.

Leo tried his best to enjoy a ride or two.  But just couldn't do it.


Elena, on the other hand:


Had the absolute time of her life!!!



Have you ever tried to carry three children up and down amphitheater steps while strangers gawk at your triple stroller?????  Yeah...



We arrived home to find that Leo had a fever of 103.1.  I gave him the remote and a spoonful of cod liver oil.  He woke up in the morning feeling completely fine!




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4) Elena and I played Toddlers and Tiaras yesterday


And then I googled Nuns with Habits and reserved her spot for Spring 2028...




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5) Woody got hungry the other day:


So she nursed him on her elbow

I drew the line when she tried to nurse Roman...

But let her change Leo's stinky diaper :)


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6) My boys



7) To keep him up-to-date with his milestones, we solicited the help of an expert to teach Roman:


Aside from being ridiculously adorable and hypnotizing to watch, the Inchworm lesson paid off in full.



 





Thank you to Jen for hosting and have a fantastic weekend!!!
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