LesBourgeoisie

The Scoop

So, we have finished the bigger projects that we in the works. We have listed our house for sale. (I should go take a picture of the house from the street w/ our for sale sign in the yard. I'll add that later...) We have also signed a contract. Our real estate agent showed it to some of his people before putting it on the market for all the other agents to see it. There was interest but nothing serious. So tuesday a week ago a sign was put in our yard and it went up on the MLS listings (http://ashtondata5.com/idx_tvlayout/mls-idx-nel/index.cfm.) The first person to come see it that afternoon made an offer for our asking price and we accepted. He closes on his house June 20th and then will turn around and close with us on June 30th. This is very exciting news, but for some reason it is hard to be excited b/c something could always happen to mess it up. Nothing is certain except death and taxes right? (and the power of Almighty God! who is taking incredible care of us like usual!!)
So I am now officially packing, actually I am not starting that until next week. Things have been crazy enough over the last two weeks finishing projects and then keeping everything clean and staying away so the house could be shown that we are taking this week to try and feel normal. The rest of the summer will definitely not be normal. It makes my head hurt trying to map it all out. One day at a time that is how we are functioning and right now focusing on moving day, June 20th/21st.
It is beginning to dawn on me how hard it is going to be to leave Ruston. I have been here since I was six, twenty-one years. Ten of it actually spent on this street. Five when I was a tweenager at 2903 Arcadia Drive and five as a newly married and growing family at 2602 Arcadia Drive. Kinda crazy...

The finished product

So we have pretty much finished the bathroom and it is a crying shame that is took us moving to do this. But here is a pic of the finished product.

painting, projects, pandora's box

Well it is almost the middle of May, the date we had set for having our house on the market. And it will be - yesterday, no tomorrow, Friday for sure. We are finishing up all the projects. Things we meant to do, things we meant to finish. Why we couldn't do any of this for own enjoyment over the past 5 years, I don't know and if I dwell on it anymore may scream.
The biggest project has ended up being the 1/2 bath in the master bedroom. This bathroom was a very ugly 70's green and had the last vestiges of the carpet we tore out of the rest of the house over a year ago. So we ripped out the carpet and toilet and wallpaper and had the faucet replaced. (This last part was very exciting b/c we now have hot water back there for the first time in 5 years) Brad and I have spent the last few days back there painting and transforming. I am well aware that really it could have been gutted and lots of HGTV renovations done to make it fabulous, but this will be good enough for selling, all right? I'm not quite done. The floor goes in tonight and then the baseboards get painted and then the toilet goes in and then the list goes on, but the plan is for it to be finished by t'row night and then I can post after pictures.
Here are not quite before pictures, but before any major renovations.

Doing all of this with 3 kids is not easy. We've let the time slip up on us and feel crunched to get the house to where we want it before listing it for sale. I feel like all my kids hear is, "not right now, Mommy has to do this, or Mommy has to do that." Once we get to Baton Rouge I look forward to spending time w/ Brad and the kids just hanging out. Maybe a day at the zoo or the pool, a day where I don't have to keep telling them no and hold on and don't touch/move/unpack that. That day I am clinging too as the light at the end of the tunnel.

Nater Tot

Let's build something together

Maybe you recognized the logo for Lowe's and maybe you didn't. I have had it running through my head all day. I went to Lowe's this morning with Stephen and Nathan while Lex was at Mother's Day Out. It was the 3rd time I've been there in the last week. Stephen wanted to know why we were going to Lowe's again? (asked in only the way a slightly exasperated and put on child can) So we made our returns and then shopped around for a few things to help me finish up the bathroom remodel we are doing. I feel so empowered when I wander through Lowe's. I always want to wander up and down every aisle. Then I want to come home and start a project, finish a project, and then head back to Lowe's for more ideas and more stuff and start the cycle all over again. But I am discovering it is very hard to get projects done w/ small children because - A) they are underfoot B) their constant stream of dishes and dirty clothes and goldfish crumbs don't stop just because Mommy and Daddy are trying to finish all kinds of projects around the house and get it up for sale!

The new house

Bourgeois stack'em

Everybody is all red because they have been enjoying their favorite nighttime ritual of wrestling and tickling!

Star struck

I don't ever post at work...I don't ever post anymore anyway, but a star former LSU and NFL quarterback just walked into my office and started chatting it up with me and one of my company's principals.

Whoa!

How do I respond to this??

Just now, from Stephen:

"Daddy, are you cheap?"

Daddy: What?!

"Are you cheap? I think it means you work too much. You know, for our food and our house and stuff."

I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

Advent

a baptism

Welcome to the Kingdom, Nathan!

mini me

Cmas Train

The Christmas Train came to Ruston a couple of weeks ago and we went and stood in line for almost 2 hours. Unfortunately, we didn't make it on the train. The train had run out of time and had to move on. Apparently it was on a main line and there were trains on either end waiting to get through. We were only 5 people away from being able to get on the train. Major Bummer! The kids handled the disappointment very well and it was really cool just to get to see the train. We don't even know what we might have missed that was on the inside. Here are a few pictures:

Nathan was a wonderful baby and slept through the entire thing riding in the sling!

He laughed!

I know the picture is dark, but just listen. Lexie made us wait until she was almost 6 monthes old before she laughed. Nathan is 2.5 monthes old. He is so ticklish! This video is from two nights ago when Brad was tickling him and he laughed over and over again.