We just got an offer (sung to the tune of Blue's Clues for all you parents!)

Yes - after much prayer, worry, more prayer, and more worry (on my part anyway) - we have gotten an offer on our home, and have accepted it. So, we are now in the "option" period, where in the next 10 days, the buyer must secure a home inspection. Upon completion, the buyer can negotiate with us as to things they want fixed from the home inspection. They can also cancel the whole deal based on it, but I'm not too worried about that. So, we are getting one step closer! If all is well after that, we will close on April 2nd. Our new home has yet to be bricked, so it still has a bit to go. They will hopefully have it done by that time in April too. We are so relieved that this moment has come!!! Keep up the prayers, and we will pray for you and yours too!

Ooo - crash!

Poor Luke! We decided to take advantage of the gorgeous day outside and play a little family game of soccer (albeit I spent more time pulling random weeds or pruning plants than aiding my team) and during that episode - Luke bit his lip. So, a fat lip and a little blood later, we decided to take a family walk/bike ride. Aidan rode in the jog stroller, I pushed him while roller blading and holding Speedy, and Luke and Dail rode their bikes. They took off in a racing match, and Luke wiped out big time! He scraped both knees, his elbow, his finger, and his hip. Two of the scrapes were so big, a bandage couldn't help. He *hates* to feel foolish, and he equally doesn't do well with pain. So, while I was doctoring him, he told me I could either sell his bike or throw it in the trash, because he was NEVER riding it again! He was finally calm enough for us to carry him to the couch and put him in front of the TV to distract him from his pain. Poor poor guy!

Luke's photography award

Last night at Jefferson...they had PTA Awards night, and Luke was given an award for getting 2nd place in the photography portion of the Reflections contest. Basically, the students were asked to submit a photo, journal entry, or other media form that reflected their "Favorite Place". Luke had me take him to Castaway Cove last October (mind you they were very closed) to take a picture. The gentleman who was working there was nice enough to let us in, even though there wasn't any water at any of the attractions. So, on a gloomy day in October, he took a picture of Castaway Cove and that picture earned him 2nd place for the K-3rd grades. Of course, he was bashful and didn't want to go up on stage to be recognized, but I was able to snag this picture when he returned. :)

Update on the patch

Aidan is doing remarkably well with his patch. In fact, he only wants to wear it when he thinks someone will see him....can you say "center of attention"? He LOVES for people to pay attention to him! Today I told him he needed to wear his patch, and he asked what we would be doing. I said, "Well, we'll be home for a while, then we need to go to Target." He asked if we would see anyone new at Target. I told him Maybe. So, he asked for his patch in case he sees anyone "new" at Target! He wears it to school, wore it to get his haircut, anything that is beyond our house! I'm glad he's embracing it so well. Makes it much easier for Mom! Next week we'll tackle his other affliction...his teeth. We're going to another pediatric dentist for a second opinion. We'll see what this one says!

And a few more pics

This is our closet!!!
and laundry room (I'm just excited we have enough room for a cabinet NEXT to the washer/dryer)
And another view of the master closet - this *might* be Dail's corner! :)

Updated house pics

Well, now our house is locked, so we can only get into it when there are workers there. I did get our realtor to let us in today to take these pics. As you can see, they are working on trim, closets, and cabinets. Fun!!! Everywhere I look, there is storage...I am SO excited!!! The pictures are of the boys closet, our kitchen, the mantle, and our bathroom cabinets.

As for our current home, we've had a lot of traffic in here this week, so *hopefully* it will be the house that someone has been searching for...and we'll get an offer soon!

Love transcends words

As I've mentioned in a past blog, Luke's best friend at school is "from Vietnamese" as Luke says. John likes to call Luke on the phone and chat, and he often asks Luke to come over and play. We've had a stalemate on that issue for a while, as I have a rule that I have to meet the parents of anyone Luke wishes to play with, and John's Mom doesn't speak English. So, we've just kind of bypassed it for a while, but yesterday it came up again. John really wanted Luke to come over and play. Finally I asked Luke to put John's sister (who is 9 and is the family's translator) on the phone. She got on and I introduced myself. I asked her if her Mom was aware the John was inviting Luke over, and she said yes, she was. Then I explained to her my rule about meeting the parents, but that I also knew her Mom didn't speak English. So, she said I could come bring Luke, and meet her Mom then, as she (the sister, Lin) would be there.

So, Luke, Aidan, and I drove to John's house. I was met at the door by John's sister, Mom, and Grandma. They were all sweetly smiling at us. His Mom gestured for us to all sit on the couch. Then she brought Luke a Sprite and frozen yogurt, myself a cream soda, and Aidan a frozen yogurt. She just kept smiling brightly at me, then Luke, and then John. I told her my name, and she shared hers. Then, more smiling. Luke, being SO shy, didn't speak a word, and John is just as shy, so they sat on opposite couches, just looking at each other. Aidan of course, went all over the living room, looking at toys, and asking John's Mom what everything was.

As I was sitting there, I realized that she and I may not speak the same language, but we shared something very special in common - we both have a deep love for our sons, and want them to be both happy, and yet safe. She wants John's friends to come there so she can be present with them. I want to meet the parents of Luke's friends, which I know she respected and understood. Finally, after much silence, I told Lin that I could stay there while Luke and John played, or I could leave him there and return in one hour for him. I asked what her Mom preferred. She said "Luke is the guest, it is up to him." So, I asked Luke if he wanted me to stay or go. He just shrugged...to shy to speak his mind. I asked him again to tell me what he wanted. Finally, he quietly said "You can go". So, I told Lin that he wanted me to go, if it was OK. She again said "Luke is the guest, whatever he wants is what my Mom wants." I rose, headed to the door with Aidan, and John's Mom appeared from the kitchen doorway. Lin told her the plan (I think) and his Mom smiled and said "One hour, OK." It is really quite beautiful to think that we never really spoke or at least conversed, yet the love in our hearts for our sons conveyed everything.