Lunar Eclipse

Great day yesterday!!!! Wish I would have thought to take pictures :(  Last night we BBQ with the neighbors the Thompson (should have been the whole block)  Had a good BBQ the boys got in a water fight and then we all watched the Eclipse.  Everyone gathered in the street to watch it.  One neighbor had an exposed x-ray that we bent in half to watch it, some had the glasses, cereal boxes, welding masks.  Paul brought out his welding glasses for us.  I thought that the welding glass made it look better because it was a green.  It was nice to finally meet the other neighbors on the block.  Everyone agreed to do a block party on June 4th.  I guess people put plastic of some kind in the back of their trucks and the kids use it as a swimming pool.  We are trying to pick a movie that everyone will like and use my house to watch it on.  I was so happy that Paul was talking and getting to know the neighbors.  The younger boys already know everyone in the neighborhood, Scott even stayed outside with us and kinda of socialized with everyone.  Even though the one neighbor girl brought her friend who has a major crush on Scott, I felt bad for the kid.  I know my friend took pictures and I will see if she will send me a copy so I can post them for everyone.  This neighborhood is so different from ours, Paul said that it reminded him when he was a little kid.

Fantastic Day

Earlier this morning I was talking to my brother Ken (chatting on FB) it was so good to talk to Ken!!!! I wish we lived closer to each other.  For those who don't know he lives in Hawaii.  One of these days I am going to take a trip out to Hawaii to see him and his family.  I am always so happy when I talk to my older brother.  Not really sure why, we have a HUGE age gap and didn't grow up around each other.  But finding him on FB was the best thing ever.  I really want to get together with Ken, Kevin, and Pam these are kids from my dads previous marriage.  Long story short the only one I really knew was Kevin and I think the only reason why he came around was because of my mom, when she passed away Kevin moved to Oregon and I haven't heard from him since.  I am just so excited to have these older siblings now I just need to get to know them.  Made it a FANTASTIC day, just so happy!!!!!!

This afternoon we are going to BBQ with the neighbors (Thompsons) then watch the eclipse or whatever it is.

House update again....

2 weeks ago it finally passed inspection for insulation!!!!! It only took 7 trys to get it right.  The building inspector was so furious at them.  (I personally don't blame the guy)  Our building inspector is really AWESOME!!!! and takes alot to get him mad or upset.  I for once sat back and enjoyed the show instead of being in the middle.  Last week they got all the sheet rock in, taped and mudded with some kind of design (brain dead this morning) oh yea textured.. Yesterday me, Paul, Scott and our friend Karen went and picked out the paint colors and the tile for the bathrooms.  Love everything we picked out except for the color for the main bathroom.  It was going to be a blue but we decided a brown would look better.  Not sure how we ended up with a brown themed house, not what we had in mind.  I am finally starting to enjoy the process of picking out and designing new things for the house.  Friday we finally ordered our kitchen cabinets and counter tops!!! That was a nightmare, it only took me an hour to come up with the design and be happy with it.  Don't know why the contractor kept putting us off.  It was a huge headache, we got the ok to order them then the contractor called and canceled them. Georja from Home Depot called me to see if the contractor called us to tell us we were over budget and said no and told her to order them anyways.  We will find room in our budget for the upgrade on the counter tops, we went from laminate to quartz.  Since it is so late in the game on ordering we are not going to be out of our rental home by the end of June :(    I really like the neighborhood but I want to go home.....  After seeing the sheet rock up really made all the rooms smaller then what I thought they were.  Its going to take alot of thinking outside the box to do the boys room and to put in our swamp cooler.  I am finally excited to see all the change in the house!!!!   

Super Quick Update on the House

Have really good news but can't share it yet :(  Paul and I are both doing the HAPPY DANCE!!!!!  I am going to be getting rid of alot of our rental furniture so please keep eyes and ears open so we can start replacing what was destroyed in the fire.  We don't even use half of the stuff that was sent over here.  It is also so very expensive.  I am trying to keep my blogs shorter instead really long ones.

Happy Birthday Brandon

I can't believe that it has been 9 yrs since you have entered this world and helped make our family complete. I am so proud of Brandon!!!!  I am the luckiest mom in the world to have such great kids.  This week is Teacher Appreciation and it is also make up day for the Hershey Track Meet so Brandon is going to have a very very busy day.  We want to have a birthday party for him with Mother's Day weekend coming up I just don't know what to do and he has Scouts today.  If anyone has any suggestions on when to do a party for him please let me know. 
Brandon I just want you to know how special you are to us, you are an extremely bright boy, such a cutie pie with gorgeous blue eyes that you and your dad and brother Scott share.  All the little girls in the neighborhood just love you. (little worried about that) You have grown into a fine young man.  My heart just explodes with joy thinking about you and how lucky I am to have you pick me and your dad to be your parents.  I just don't ever want you to forget how much we love you and how special you are to us!!!!!!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY I HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A FANTASTIC DAY!!!!!!!!

Love you so much Mom & Dad

Slowly more progress on the house and an update on Scott

Yesterday me, Paul, Scott, Peg, Kris, Aria and Ben all met a Home Depot with our contractor to pick out cabinets, counter tops and flooring.  We were successful on picking out the cabinet look.  Wish we were smart enough to take a picture of the one that we liked.  Talking to the guy at Home Depot told us that Pergo had a warehouse fire and they are 4-6 weeks out on the floor. UGH!!!  Scott was great on keeping Aria entertained :) After there we had to hurry and take Scott to therapy and Dr. He is not getting better so they want him to go see a neuropsychologist  (don't know how to spell this early) so tomorrow we get to go see our family Dr and get an evaluation I know that it will be good for Scott and all of us (maybe I can get some sleep) I worry so much about Scott with his memory not getting better and his pain is just getting worse on his neck and back.  Today after Scott's Dr appointment I am going to talk to the principal and counselor about Scott to see what our options are.  I know Scott has a huge 40 hour project due that was assigned at the first of the year and he can't remember anything about it.  I hate being so frustrated and not being able to do anything to make my son feel better.
Back to the house we had an AWESOME plumber who finished and now we have everything done on our end that will not get in the way of the contractors.  John the building inspector came over yesterday and was furious with the way that Jeff (Complete Restoration) had done the insulation.   He had to leave early to go to another job (surprise surprise) John made him a huge list on what to fix because he was not going to pass off the insulation.  Tomorrow we are supposed to get the Stucco guys over here.  I find amusing because we have not picked out any colors.  Friday Carpet One is coming over to take measurements again and to do the flooring.  I guess they are doing all out floors except for the bathroom and that is getting tiled.  I think that Paul will end up doing that because of how crappy the Contractors have been.

Paul is telling me that I am being to hard on the contractors but I disagree because we have not seen them for a month.  I told Dan the contractor over us that when they insulate that I wanted the insulation to match the rooms.  Dan started telling me that it only comes in pink and yellow.  I told him that I didn't care I wanted everything to match.  He said that we weren't going to see it my response was that my bra and underwear have to match and no one sees them but I know.  He was getting so frustrated that he was asking people in the office if their were different insulation we could use or if they could color it.  Paul started laughing so hard that Dan finally realized we were teasing him. 

I am concerned that we have not heard from the insurance adjuster or the rental people about extending our contract here at the rental.  I am going to call Tip today after Scott's appointment and see what he says and also ask about if we can get some of this furniture removed so we can start replacing.  It is costing the insurance $1957.61 a month just for the rental that is more then rent!!!! We don't even use half of it, so I am hoping if we get rid of stuff they will extend our contract until the end of June.  Dad talked to Tip last week and my understanding is that we have nothing to worry about.  It would make me feel better if I knew for sure or had it in writing.
I love the house we are in but I can't wait to get back to my neighborhood!!!!!!  My neighbor Jamie gave me a bunch of tomatoes and other plants so I guess I need to finish tilling so I can get them planted. So excited to do that just to get my hands all dirty and in the soil.  I guess I have wrote enough and will get back to laundry and cleaning before people start waking up.  My neighbor just dropped of his son Harley so it won't be too much longer before I lose the quiet house.  Thanks for listening to me, love you guys tons!!!!!

P.S.
When it comes time for Christmas letters can people just read the blog so we don't have to rewrite everything again

Teachers Doors I got the ones that were done before I left

Jake's Classroom

I really want to thank everyone who has helped me and my family with our burned house. One good thing that has came from all this is that I have gotten to know my mother and father in law better. They are not just inlaws to me they have became mom and dad. I wish my stubbornness would have figured this out a long time ago,better late then never. I can't even begin to express how grateful I am for the help we have received, disappointed that no one from my family has helped. But I have learned that I just have to let go and find my big girl panties and just deal with it I don't think I have cried so much over the last couple months then I have since my parents died. I really appreciate who ever reads this and listens to me vent, cry, scream and everything else. I am trying to hold it together for my kids and Paul. I know that I have been horrible and when I get stressed I take it out on everyone, I need to learn a better way to deal with it I know that I am not helping anyone out. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. I am sorry if I have offended anyone, I truly don't mean to. During this experience I have found out the hard way who my family and friends are. Thank you!!!! Love you guys tons!!!!!

Update on house

We are schedule to be out of our rental home by May 30th, I don't see how that is going to happen. Plumbing and heating is 85% done. framing and a bunch of other things need to get fixed before they can insulate, sheet rock and all that other stuff. I am hoping that the insurance will decide to extend our lease because I don't want to be rushed on moving and cleaning this house but what do you do??? The sheeting is finally up YEA!!!!!! The roof is fixed thanks so very much to mom and Scott for helping and everyone else. I don't know what we would do without them.