The past few blogs I've written, included words such as "hectic", "busy" or "crazy", which has prompted me to blog about a recent sermon series that has started at my church. For the past two weeks, and another week to come, our pastor has discussed how important it is for people to not cram so much into their lives that they barely have time to do normal every day tasks. I have been trying to make my life less busy. Of course there are some things that I just cannot change (ie. the house situation - but once we close on the house, we won't have that craziness anymore. Well, just the craziness of unpacking. But once that is all over, and we're settled in.... there are no more excuses!)
Owen started preschool about two weeks ago and he is LOVING it! I don't know who loves it more, Owen, or myself. They have this drop off system where the moms line up in their cars and drop their kids off at the front door. It's great because Owen unbuckles himself and when the teacher comes to his door, he gets a huge smile on his face, grabs his back pack and hops out. Sometimes he's so excited that he forgets to wave goodbye to me! This is SUCH a relief because last year was anything but joyous. He would kick and scream and cry, and the teachers would have to pry his arms off of me. It was a nightmare. I felt like the worst mom in the world every single day when I left him (which was only 2 days a week, but it was torture for both of us) So that was the reason why I took him out of preschool last year. This year is just amazing. He goes four days a week, but always says "I wish I went to school every day!"
We thought that once everything settled down, we would sign Owen up for hockey because he is obsessed! I can't wait to see him out there on the ice in his hockey gear.... so cute!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
I see your promises, promises
I promise I will get better at updating this at least once a week now that Owen goes back to school on Tuesday. There has been a lot going on here (when isn't there, right?) To our great disapproval we haven't moved into our new house here yet. That is a LONG story that I most certainly do not feel like getting into right now, but it looks like we will close on the house by the end of September, or early October. It's ironic because we closed on our house in NY in October of 2007. Speaking of, our house in NY didn't sell - which complicated the whole house buying issue here even more. We took our house off the market after our contract expired after five months. Several people were interested in the house, but nothing concrete ever surfaced. We felt like we would have been taking a huge hit if we had sold it, after all of the upgrades we had done to it, and the sale price which would have been what we paid for it three years ago if we were lucky, or less.
You're probably wondering how we pulled this off. Well, a couple circumstances were in our favor and we were able to rent it out to Navy nukes stationed nearby for training (the same site Brian was at almost 8 years ago when I met him). We plan on doing that for however long it takes for the real estate market to pick back up, and then sell it. Meanwhile, we're buying another house here! We are in love with this house. It is absolutely perfect for us. It has everything we were looking for and here's the best part.... it's 10k less than what we paid for our house in NY and it has SO much more than our house in NY has. Unbelievable.
We feel so blessed to have found such a wonderful city to call home. Not only is the cost of living lower here, but the quality of life is so much greater than in NY. Great schools, great hospitals, low taxes, more for your money house-wise, low home prices, friendly people, great churches.... I could go on and on. We are confident that we made the right decision in moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The move has been tough, and things haven't gone smoothly the whole time we have been trying to settle in here, but nothing worth it is ever 100% easy. We have learned a lot about ourselves, our family, people in general and our faith. We miss our family in friends a LOT, but look forward to seeing them whenever they can make it out here, or we can head over there.
You're probably wondering how we pulled this off. Well, a couple circumstances were in our favor and we were able to rent it out to Navy nukes stationed nearby for training (the same site Brian was at almost 8 years ago when I met him). We plan on doing that for however long it takes for the real estate market to pick back up, and then sell it. Meanwhile, we're buying another house here! We are in love with this house. It is absolutely perfect for us. It has everything we were looking for and here's the best part.... it's 10k less than what we paid for our house in NY and it has SO much more than our house in NY has. Unbelievable.
We feel so blessed to have found such a wonderful city to call home. Not only is the cost of living lower here, but the quality of life is so much greater than in NY. Great schools, great hospitals, low taxes, more for your money house-wise, low home prices, friendly people, great churches.... I could go on and on. We are confident that we made the right decision in moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana. The move has been tough, and things haven't gone smoothly the whole time we have been trying to settle in here, but nothing worth it is ever 100% easy. We have learned a lot about ourselves, our family, people in general and our faith. We miss our family in friends a LOT, but look forward to seeing them whenever they can make it out here, or we can head over there.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
46804
Hectic, hectic, hectic! I have barely had a spare minute to update ( as you can see, I haven't since January).
We moved to Fort Wayne two weeks ago and aren't completely settled in yet. I forgot how difficult it is to move. It's especially difficult to move with a child. Last time we moved Owen was only a year old, and it was WAY different. Besides that, we had also moved from Virginia to NY, near my parents so they helped watch him a lot during the whole process.
The move has been really hard on Owen and we're trying to make it as easy as possible, so I have been spending a lot of time taking him to do fun things so that he really loves this area. It's not too difficult, because this area is easy to love if you're a parent or a child. Fort Wayne really must be one of the most family friendly cities in the world. Everything you could want is so close by.
One of the first things I did when we moved here was buy a zoo membership and Owen have already been to the zoo 5 times in the past two weeks. It is such a great thing for him and I to do together, and he is absolutely fascinated by all of the animals and their habitats. It really is very humbling to see animals and how peaceful their lives are, and how they interact with one another.
Brian loves his job here, which is a definite plus. He comes home smelling like printer ink, office paper and magnet wire from his companies plant which is next door to the building where Brian's office is. The best part is, it only takes him 10-15 minutes to get home. He had to drive 45 minutes to get to work when we lived in NY, and that was pretty tough (factor in an extra half an hour if there is snow/ice)
I've been trying to get our home life as stable as possible even though not everything is completely squared away. We still have boxes that need to be unpacked, and we still have another 30 or so boxes back in NY with two living room sets and a ton of other furniture. We didn't really bring any furniture with us, other than our bedroom sets, which meant we had to buy new furniture when we got here. We will be moving all of our other furniture when our house sells. Then we will store it in Indiana until our house is built because we will need it. Our new house in Indiana is going to be about 3,500 square feet (our house in NY is 1,700 square feet).
From now on I'm going to try and update once a week, and I'm going to try really hard. Maybe I will make it a goal to update every Sunday. That's usually a pretty laid back day.
We moved to Fort Wayne two weeks ago and aren't completely settled in yet. I forgot how difficult it is to move. It's especially difficult to move with a child. Last time we moved Owen was only a year old, and it was WAY different. Besides that, we had also moved from Virginia to NY, near my parents so they helped watch him a lot during the whole process.
The move has been really hard on Owen and we're trying to make it as easy as possible, so I have been spending a lot of time taking him to do fun things so that he really loves this area. It's not too difficult, because this area is easy to love if you're a parent or a child. Fort Wayne really must be one of the most family friendly cities in the world. Everything you could want is so close by.
One of the first things I did when we moved here was buy a zoo membership and Owen have already been to the zoo 5 times in the past two weeks. It is such a great thing for him and I to do together, and he is absolutely fascinated by all of the animals and their habitats. It really is very humbling to see animals and how peaceful their lives are, and how they interact with one another.
Brian loves his job here, which is a definite plus. He comes home smelling like printer ink, office paper and magnet wire from his companies plant which is next door to the building where Brian's office is. The best part is, it only takes him 10-15 minutes to get home. He had to drive 45 minutes to get to work when we lived in NY, and that was pretty tough (factor in an extra half an hour if there is snow/ice)
I've been trying to get our home life as stable as possible even though not everything is completely squared away. We still have boxes that need to be unpacked, and we still have another 30 or so boxes back in NY with two living room sets and a ton of other furniture. We didn't really bring any furniture with us, other than our bedroom sets, which meant we had to buy new furniture when we got here. We will be moving all of our other furniture when our house sells. Then we will store it in Indiana until our house is built because we will need it. Our new house in Indiana is going to be about 3,500 square feet (our house in NY is 1,700 square feet).
From now on I'm going to try and update once a week, and I'm going to try really hard. Maybe I will make it a goal to update every Sunday. That's usually a pretty laid back day.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
New Year, New....
... place to call home. Brian officially accepted the the promotion, so we're off to Fort Wayne, Indiana come Spring or early Summer.
I was really torn with the idea for a long time but finally come to terms with everything. I found comfort in the following;
"Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there...to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, will power or heart.
I was really torn with the idea for a long time but finally come to terms with everything. I found comfort in the following;
"Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there...to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be but you lock eyes with them, you know that very moment that they will affect your life in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you at the time that may seem horrible, painful and unfair, but in reflection you realize that without overcoming those obstacles you would never realize your potential, strength, will power or heart.
Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of luck. Illness, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity all occur to test limits of your soul.
Without these small tests, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere safe and comfortable but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet affect your life. The successes and downfalls that you experience can create who you are, and the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart, forgive them because they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.
If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but also because they are teaching you to love and open your heart and eyes to little things. Make every day count. Appreciate everything that you possibly can, for you may never experience it again.
Talk to people whom you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break free and set your sights high. Hold you head up because you have every right to.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, no one else will believe in you. Create your own life and then go out and live it."
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
the Holiday's are here
It's hard to believe it's Christmas eve eve. Silly, I know, but when I was little I would get so excited and say "Tonight is Christmas eve, eve!" As an adult, Christmas is still my favorite Holiday. Lately I've been trying to focus on enjoying the Holiday season as much as possible while getting things done, without getting too stressed out. I've always wondered why Christmas has become so stressful and this year I've realized why. Most everyone has high expectations of the holiday that only comes once a year. With those high expectations comes the need to make things perfect "it's only once a year!" I've tried to keep the stress to a minimum this year by sticking to my year long slogan 'keep it simple' you can add an extra S, to make: 'keep it simple stupid' but I prefer to not verbally bash myself.
I probably won't have time for another post until after Christmas. I still have another 5 batches of cookies to bake. I've already baked 5, and a batch of cupcakes (with a couple ice cream cone cupcakes in there, per Owen's request!)
Until then, everyone have a wonderful Christmas!!!
I probably won't have time for another post until after Christmas. I still have another 5 batches of cookies to bake. I've already baked 5, and a batch of cupcakes (with a couple ice cream cone cupcakes in there, per Owen's request!)
Until then, everyone have a wonderful Christmas!!!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Buffalo Chicken Enchilladas with Creamy Ranch Sauce
This is a favorite of Brian's. I think I made this for the first time about 5 years ago, and it's been a favorite ever since!
prep time: 25 minutes
(ready in 1 hour 10 minutes)
Servings: 6
(2 enchilladas each)
Ingredients:
1 can (10 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup purchased sour cream ranch dip (I used ranch dip w/ a spoonful of sour cream)
2/3 cup chopped green onions (about 10 medium)
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
3/4 cup purchased buffalo wing sauce
1 package (10.5 oz) flour tortillas for soft tacos and fajitas (twelve 6 inch tortillas)
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (12 oz)
~ ~ I also used a bit of cayenne pepper, some chili powder, and garlic powder because we like a little bit of a kick.
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13x9 inch (3quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In medium bowl mix soup, dip and 1/3 cup of the onions. In large bowl mix chicken and buffalo wing sauce until coated.
2. Spoon 2 tablespoons soup mixture down center of each tortilla; set remaining mixture aside. Reserve 1/2 cup cheese for garnish. Top each tortilla with about 1/4 cup chicken mixture and scant 1/4 cup cheese. Fold sides of tortillas over filing; place seam side down in baking dish. Spoon remaining soup mixture over filled tortillas. Cover tightly with foil.
3. Bake 40-45 minutes or until hot and bubbly
4. Remove from oven. Uncover; sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup cheese and remaining 1/3 cup onions. Return to oven; bake uncovered about 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Enjoy!! We're having leftovers from last nights dinner, for lunch today!!
prep time: 25 minutes
(ready in 1 hour 10 minutes)
Servings: 6
(2 enchilladas each)
Ingredients:
1 can (10 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 cup purchased sour cream ranch dip (I used ranch dip w/ a spoonful of sour cream)
2/3 cup chopped green onions (about 10 medium)
3 cups chopped cooked chicken
3/4 cup purchased buffalo wing sauce
1 package (10.5 oz) flour tortillas for soft tacos and fajitas (twelve 6 inch tortillas)
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese (12 oz)
~ ~ I also used a bit of cayenne pepper, some chili powder, and garlic powder because we like a little bit of a kick.
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13x9 inch (3quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In medium bowl mix soup, dip and 1/3 cup of the onions. In large bowl mix chicken and buffalo wing sauce until coated.
2. Spoon 2 tablespoons soup mixture down center of each tortilla; set remaining mixture aside. Reserve 1/2 cup cheese for garnish. Top each tortilla with about 1/4 cup chicken mixture and scant 1/4 cup cheese. Fold sides of tortillas over filing; place seam side down in baking dish. Spoon remaining soup mixture over filled tortillas. Cover tightly with foil.
3. Bake 40-45 minutes or until hot and bubbly
4. Remove from oven. Uncover; sprinkle with reserved 1/2 cup cheese and remaining 1/3 cup onions. Return to oven; bake uncovered about 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
Enjoy!! We're having leftovers from last nights dinner, for lunch today!!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
every which way
Last month Brian, Owen and I made a trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana. A 'no strings attached' trip provided by Brian's company. It's pretty overwhelming because even though we loved so much about the area, there are still things we have here that we won't be able to have there. You have to give up some things, to get others, and that's what we're having a hard time with. We haven't made any definite plans or decisions. We have pretty much made plans for if we stay here, and plans for if we go there. We have definitely grown out of our house here in NY, so if we stayed, we would build a house. If we moved to Indiana we would most likely build there too. We did see a bunch of houses we really liked while we were there that make it tempting to not have to deal with the stress of building a house. There was a 5 bedroom, 4.5 bath, 3,140 square foot house that I'm in love with.... with a heated pool in the backyard and full sunlight basement (which is on our list of musts) and it's only about 10 minutes from where Brian would work in Fort Wayne.
Other than that, we've just been enjoying how Owen hasn't had any nasty school illnesses lately (because he only went to 1 day of school in November- because he was sick for a little over a week, we were in Indiana for a week, and he had a week off for Thanksgiving) He went to school today though, so keep your fingers crossed that he didn't pink anything gross up today!
I have all of my Christmas presents wrapped but unfortunately that isn't as good as it sounds because I'm not done shopping. Yuck. I will be doing 99.9% of my Christmas shopping online to take advantage of no lines, shop when I want, and free shipping if I can.
All of you stay warm and have a cup of hot chocolate and stir with a candy cane!!! This is my favorite time of the year, for sure! =)
Other than that, we've just been enjoying how Owen hasn't had any nasty school illnesses lately (because he only went to 1 day of school in November- because he was sick for a little over a week, we were in Indiana for a week, and he had a week off for Thanksgiving) He went to school today though, so keep your fingers crossed that he didn't pink anything gross up today!
I have all of my Christmas presents wrapped but unfortunately that isn't as good as it sounds because I'm not done shopping. Yuck. I will be doing 99.9% of my Christmas shopping online to take advantage of no lines, shop when I want, and free shipping if I can.
All of you stay warm and have a cup of hot chocolate and stir with a candy cane!!! This is my favorite time of the year, for sure! =)
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