Imagine If You Will...

As Craig and I were leaving Wisteria Walk for the last time, Craig started laughing at a memory from the first night in our home. Anyone who knows Craig will tell you he can't remember what happened yesterday much less 6 years ago so this had to be something profound to stick in his mind!


I will preface the story to get you "up to speed".


Craig, Joshua and I had been living in an apartment in Kingwood for part of the summer while our home in Amarillo was being sold. Kimberly lasted 2 weeks in Houston before asking to go back to Amarillo to tend to the dogs and house.


We finally got a contract on our Amarillo house and bought a home in Spring but Joshua was going to have to drive from Kingwood to KleinCollins High School the first 3 days of school until we closed on our house in Spring.


I honestly didn't like seeing my 16 year old drive off each morning, in Houston traffic, at 6:15 in order to be at school by 7:30. We were extremely anxious to move in to our house. Our home on Wisteria Walk was close enough to school that Josh could leave the house at 7:15 and not be late which meant he could sleep later plus not be in rush hour traffic.


Closing day finally came but the movers wouldn't deliver our belongings until the next day so we had the carpets cleaned so they could dry before the furniture was delivered. It is at this point in the story that Craig was laughing about and remembering.



Imagine if you will...3 people so desperate to sleep in their new home that Craig and Joshua shared a blow up mattress. Joshua might as well have slept on a bucking horse because every time Craig rolled over Joshua was bounced off the mattress. Keep in mind we had to sleep downstairs because the carpet was wet and downstairs had wood floors. Without thinking I had placed the dimpled side of the mattress against the wood floor which caused "tooting" noises any time someone moved. I think I had it best; I slept on a swimming pool float.


Poor Josh; between being catapulted and rolled on to the floor and hearing pppfffttt noises all night I don't think he slept a wink.


The next morning after a good night sleep, Joshua was ready to concur the world until he stepped in to a cold shower. (Someone had turned the hot water heater off) Joshua didn't see the humor in the situation at the time but he was a good sport.


So, as Craig and I were leaving the house for the last time and he started reminiscing, I offered to stay one more night on the air mattress for old times sake.


I'll bet you can guess Craig's answer.

Boxes, Boxes Everywhere

The sprint to the finish line has begun.

The movers are to arrive Thursday morning between 8 and 10. Craig and I have a few more boxes to fill but they are the last minute boxes of office and kitchen items.

The house is no longer looking like home. The walls are all bare, closets and cabinets are empty.

Tonight when it "cools off" we will empty the attic and garage then we will be finished with the first half of our move.

Hurry up and Wait

Have you ever thought time was moving slowly and then think to yourself "where did all the time go?" That is where I'm at right now.

Constuction on the new house is moving quickly. The landscaping is in and I think it looks really pretty. Joshua will be proud that his Mom didn't have to dig a single hole!

The carpet has been installed. Craig and I went with your basic plush carpet because carpet is only in the bedrooms, office and sitting area. The family room, kitchen and dining area are all 18" tile. I love the look.

The appliances were to be installed this week but were not as of Friday afternoon.

Once the appliances are installed and the final touch-ups are complete we will have our walk-thru to find anything we want the builder to "fix". The walk-thru is scheduled for the 30th.

If all continues as projected we will close on the house July 7. Hurray!!!

We are sooo excited to be in an area with sidewalks, bike paths and people who like to be outdoors. Plus only 25 miles to Galveston---bike rides on the sea wall... here we come!

So for now, we will just Hurry Up and Wait.

Papa

Today is Father's Day; a day to celebrate our Dad's and today I celebrate Papa. (My sister and I always called my dad, Papa. I'm not sure why but my sister started it and I never knew any different.)

A little girls first love is her Daddy; her "knight in shining armor"; someone who makes her feel safe. He teaches her things like how to hold a hammer and how to clean a fish. That's Papa.

He sat through countless hours of dance and piano recitals, band and choir concerts plus the grand kids dance and piano recitals, basketball and baseball games, track meets and golf tournaments and I never heard him complain. He set the standard of what family means.

He kept a watchful eye and offered advice; some we took ,some we didn't. Papa encouraged but never bossed. He was always there when we needed him.

Papa went home to be with The Lord on February 19, 2008 after a short battle with Pancreatic Cancer. I thank God each day that he was spared the agonizing pain that usually accompanies cancer of the pancreas and that he went peacefully in his sleep.

I am so lucky to have had such a loving and caring Papa.

BOXES NEEDED

This morning I was looking at the calendar in order to "keep track" of Craig's and my timeline for moving.

Now keep in mind we have kind of been in limbo as to when we will close on our current home. Since the contract is contingent on the buyers selling their home we need to keep our home "show ready" because it is technically still on the market.

Yesterday I received an update from the buyers agent and it looks as though closing will be Friday, June 27; which means we have to have everything out of the house no later than the 26th.

YICKS!!! I now have 12 days to have everything boxed and ready for the movers.

Akuna Matata; after all I am my Father's daughter. :-) I will have everything done with time to spare! Craig will be exhausted from watching ...just kidding; he will be helping.

Wish me luck and say a prayer. I'm off to find boxes.

The Next Great Adventure

513 Laddingford Lane

After 2 year of contemplation, Craig and I have decided to downsize. It wasn't the easiest of decisions because we like our house and neighborhood that is why it took 2 years of thought.

Throughout our marriage we have always been eager for "new adventures" better known as moving. We have moved 14 times in 28 years of marriage. Some of those moves were from interim houses or apartments but they still count because you still have to pack.

Since we are downsizing we decided to move to a more "outdoorsey" area of Houston. We have chosen League City. Below is a preview of the home we have chosen so as long as our current home sale finalizes we should be off on our adventure in July.

Front stone detail

Looking in the entry to the family room

Looking out the entry from the family room

(open door on left is to the garage; on the right is front door)

Family room

Kitchen

Cupcakes and Sprinkles

Isn't it weird how small things can bring a flood of sweet memories?


Friday morning Craig told me we were invited to his boss Kyle Kuhlo's home for an impromptu get together. The menu for the evening was crawfish which I have not aquired a taste for but I do like the corn and potatos that are boiled in the spices. Anyway...rather than go empty handed I decided to take cupcakes and my world famous Butter Cream or "lard" icing.

Each time I get my recipe card for Butter Cream frosting from my recipe file I think of Albuquerque and my neighbor Shari Cairns who shared her recipe with me 25 years ago.

The Butter Cream frosting became better knows as Lard icing thanks to a friend Jeff Knapp. During a Longcor/Knapp family cookout, Jeff who happens to "love" the icing asked how it was made. When I told him his reply was "it's nothing but lard!". From that day forward everyone in my family has refered to the butter cream icing as lard icing.

Anyway, as I was baking the cupcakes it began to sprinkle outside. It was a quiet soft rain and the smell of the dampness in the air after days of dry wind reminded me of Platoro Colorado, family camping trips, trout fishing, campfires, out-houses, etc. Good times!

To make a long story short...the rain cleared, the cupcakes and lard icing were a big hit and Friday was a great day!