And after some hard work, having our first drink! From one of the three (!) beverage fridges in the wet bar. CHEERS!
Moving in the important things first!!
Category Archives: Tom
We are officially homeowners again!!
After some last-minute drama (with getting the funds wired the morning of)…it’s a done deal. We are now the proud owners of a 30-year mortgage! But it’s seriously our dream house and we couldn’t be happier. Tom and I just keep saying What did we do?! Oh yeah, we bought a house THAT WE LOVE.
I mean, we have purchased two houses in the past and they were both great for us at the time but we never loved them. We. LOVE this. house. (Is it perfect? Of course not. But does it check all of our boxes? Minus a lazy river and a four car garageā¦ Yes.)
And then Anna brought the kids over…and was our family photographer!!
Our last family photo in front of my birch tree!
On our way to buy a house!
I wasn’t expecting to buy this today.
Tom and I innocently went to a local artisan shop today to get some ideas for the new house and one of the very last things we saw was this desk/hutch. We had actually been looking at desks for the kids rooms (since they’re bigger) and even a basic Ikea piece is like $100 (and not real wood). So I had a hard time passing this up. (Of course Tom could build something like this but he just doesn’t have the time.) So this will be Owen’s new desk… Something he can definitely grow into and something that we can paint over the years if we need to. Now we just have to go pick it up next week after we close!
Surprise! The kids saw their new back yard!
We went on yet another walk in our new neighborhood today and the homeowner was outside in the garage and we quickly debated introducing ourselves or not…and I said WHAT THE HELL and long story short she’s super awesome—she was excited to meet all of us, reiterated that she’s thrilled the house is going to a nice family, and she let us show the kids the back yard.
She also told us she was leaving two additional TVs (one in the wet bar and one in the gazebo), that we were welcome to start bringing stuff over to leave in the third garage bay, plus, after we exchanged numbers, invited us over for a house tour and a drink on the deck!
Both kids are super excited about the gazebo.
We also got to scout out the back yard again to see where we could put a small shed so that was good.
A new type of Bloody Mary.
Bloodys with clamato, Worcestershire, garlic salt, celery seed, horseradish, and Absolut Peppar vodka. Much to our surprise, you don’t taste any clam at all and it was quite tasty!
We might be walking in our new neighborhood againā¦
Today taking a trip around the park to spin some Pokestops. We close in 24 days! 😱
Zoom comedy show!
Back when we lived in Troy (2008-2011), we met a super nice couple that we really enjoyed hanging out with. He eventually quit his job to become a standup comedian and heās actually done quite well. Weāve been wanting to see him live for many years now but it just has never worked out. Well, he was participating in a zoom comedy show with some other comedians tonight so we got tickets and went!
Look what Tom found at Costco?!
Shit. Shit. Shiiiiiiit. This new flavor is goooooood. #weighinday #cheatday
My feelings about drinking a LITE drink.
But I love my husband for getting it for me.
I also feel like I have a little Courtney Cox vibe going on here?
Today’s family walk!
Katie is more excited than she looks as she picked this route. She just wants to go play in the gross water and was mad at us for making her take a picture.
Scout Backyard Campout
Since Covid-19 has thrown everything out of whack, a scouts weekend camping trip was turned into a backyard campout. The boys had a schedule to follow including camp setup, meal planning, zoom calls, computer check-ins with photos, and games!
FRIDAY
We borrowed a small tent from friends and both Owen and Katie LOVED hanging out in it. We put it up in the morning and they pretty much spent all day in and out of it, sometimes together, sometimes alone. They were coloring and listening to music and who knows what else.
And of course Owen loved starting a fire!
Katie really wanted to sleep outside with him but he wanted to do it himself. We were slightly unsure he’d last all night, but he said he’d be fine but asked if we’d leave all the lights on…so it was basically daylight out there.
SATURDAY
The night went fine and he stayed out all night!! Tom assisted with getting the fire ready for cooking breakfast but Owen did most of the actual food prep!
Both kids LOVED cooking over the fire… Katie—who generally says she doesn’t like hot dogs—cooked and ate TWO!
Owen decided to let Katie sleep with him the second night and she was over the moon. They had another official 9:30 lights out but she says they stayed up really late! And again, as bright as day out there.
SUNDAY
Overall we were really impressed with how much Owen enjoyed spending time in the tent and prepping and cooking food! He’ll be even more ready if and when actually camping weekends start again!
Last day of school and eLearning (2nd and 5th).
Katie picked out this fancy dress to go to school supply pickup. Of course she hadn’t showered in three days.
She missed her last class Zoom meeting where they were going to share their goodbye posters so I posted it to the school’s page and sent it to her teacher.
School supply pickup was more emotional for me than I anticipated. I might have gotten a little teary-eyed as we drove away. I asked Katie if she was okay and told her I was sad so it was okay if she was. She said she was a little sad but she was okay. Leave it to Mom to be overly emotional.
Then we had to go through a huge garbage bag of Katie’s stuffā¦includingā¦a lunch bag. Thankfully it was empty!! We were all thinking we’d have to just toss the whole thing. Phew! Oh, and we had an outfit change!
Then it was time to take Owen’s picturesā-and he hadn’t showered in awhile, either. But Tom had given him a buzz cut.
Normally last day of school pics are just me and the kids…
…but since Dad is working from home, he got in on the action. #gonnamissthisbench
Tom is now officially in charge of making pizza.
He tried our first ever deep dish tonight and holy hell it was good. Pepperoni for the kids—and onion, homemade sweet pepperocini, and leftover chicken apple sausage for us!
Here’s the pan we used if you’re interested. We had been looking at recommended deep dish pizza pans and they were like $40! This one worked fine!
Of course we had drama over it, too. Katie—who loves pizza—picked at it and then refused to eat it. She’s a pain in the butt when it comes to food and frankly we weren’t surprised but we’re so exhausted with her over it… So we asked what she didn’t like about it. Silence. Asked again. Silence. Asked again, saying we want to make something she’d like the next time so she needs to tell us what she doesn’t like about it. She doesn’t like deep dish pizza. BZZT. We call bullshit. She likes it just fine—it’s got to bed SOMETHING ELSE. Silence. This went on for a good five minutes. I finally told her to to get ready for bed then (it was almost 7). Of course she didn’t want that. After more discussion and prodding, do you know what it was? The freaking parmesan cheese Tom sprinkled on top after it came out of the oven. We gave her a new piece and she gobbled it up and asked for another. Ugh. Frankly we call BS on that, too, since she has sprinkled it on her pizzas before… We just can’t ever win and it’s exhausting.
Covid fireworks!
This is what happens when you combine your stock with your neighbors. You get a mini firework show!
We will be homeowners again!
It’s really happening, y’all. We will be homeowners again on July 8 barring any unforeseen circumstances! That’s two months from now!
From seeing the house listed Tuesday to getting pre-approved Wednesday morning to walking through the house Wednesday to making and signing an offer and getting the offer accepted was less than 48 hours!! We were only the second people to view the house!
This wasn’t something we were going to do until spring but we’ve been looking at houses for a few months and we know what’s out there and what we wantā¦and this house had 95% of our wish list!!
And look at my side of the master bath!
As soon as this Covid debacle allows, we will be having a MEGA housewarming/retirement party. Oh, yeah ā Tom turned in his retirement papers last week so that’s official now, too (his official date is July 1, 2021).
We are still stunned. And excited. And exhausted.
I’m a hot mess of anxiety today.
So I’m a hot mess of anxiety today and have pretty much checked out and am just doing what I need to do to mentally survive the next few days.
I woke up to a text from Tom saying Maggie (age 14) doesn’t feel well and is moving slow and acting odd and needs to go to the vet. They can’t get her in until Saturday but we’re on a waitlist. Of course every time she’s out of sorts I assume the worst and that this. is. it. She’s had a few of these days before and has always rebounded but this feels different. I vascillate between thinking of taking her to the emergency vet and just waiting another hourā¦ And then she seems fine. And then she doesn’t.
I had to carry her down the steps to go potty and then she wandered around the yard a little shakily for a bitā¦then just stood at my feet and staredā¦so I just picked her up and sat in the grass in the sun and held her in my lap for a loooong time in case we are near the end.
That was my breaking point and just sat and cried. 😭 It doesn’t help that I haven’t had a good hard cry since this all started and I really need one because I’m just so sad about so many things. Kids not in school and eLearning sucks. Kids not being able to play with their friends. Behaviors issues with kids. Feeling like I’m failing as a parent. Baseball session cancelled. Swim lessons cancelled. Community pool likely being cancelled. Life just being on hold but Tom’s retirement still looming… Nothing Earth shattering, but all still…there.
I talk a good game about this Covid thing not being that hard because I’m an introvert and being at home is actually pretty easyā¦but there truth is lots of things are getting to me. And this was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
I’ll be fine. She’s been on my lap on the couch sleeping nicely for two hours. But for the immediate future, I’ll be taking it easy and spending time with Maggie.
Katie left us notes again tonight.
Of course Tom’s has an I love you in it. Mine she just asks for something.
Tom braved Sam’s Club today…
so it’s pizza for dinner. And of course drinks.
Family drive to pick up some more alcohol!
We had to take Tom in to drop off his car (when he took it out this week he realized the brakes needed attention) so since we were going to be out, we placed an order…
I hate not being able to wander and shop but I could get used to drive up service.
Not preparing to go shoppingā¦
Woodworking today since it’s gorgeous out!
Tom came up with dinner tonight
Introducing naan pizzas with leftovers! We each got to build our own with bunches of whatever was left in the fridge!
- Tom: pulled pork, fried onions, fried jalapeƱo, bbq sauce, mozzarella
- Owen: pizza sauce, spaghetti and meatballs, pulled pork, bratwurst, cheddar cheese
- Jen: mozzarella cheese, fried onions, fried jalapeƱo, bbq sauce, cheddar cheese
- Katie: bratwurst, pulled pork, cheddar cheese
They were delicious. But more importantly, Katie willingly ate meat! She finished the whole thing!
Tom jokingly put Katieās robe on Maggie…
Tom jokingly put Katieās robe on Maggie about an hour ago and she has wandered all around the house and up and down the stairs and it still remains.
The Masked Hudsons
Masks, made with love, from a dear friend. We love them!
Dusting to drink!
Picking a bottle off the shelf in the garage means I have to dust. And I didn’t even pay attention that Tom opened something for me while I was busy. P.S. The white sangria is yummy.
Tom’s home office setup.
We happened to have an extra 42″ TV not being used so Tom bought a cable to project his laptop screen. And we quickly learned that we had to make signs since he’s often on conference calls…plus the door needs to stay shut to retain heat.
Another dinner, another drink.
When you have to get creative with dinner because the packaged cabbage salad (that you forgot about in your garage fridge) is half frozen (because the fridge is stupid and apparently can’t hold a correct temperature) so you have to improvise and create an egg roll stir fry with some leftover pork while also making chicken nuggets for the kids because you know they won’t eat the stir fry and then hubby gets yet another work call right as we’re sitting down.
I can still smile, though.
No, they’re not spoiled.
I knew the kids were downstairs watching TV but I didn’t expect to see this setup. Their daddy spoils them.
Tom makes a daytime appearance!
He is working more hours now than before—sometimes starting before 7 and trying to finish by 6 but getting calls at all hours. He even worked ALL weekend. So since it was so nice today he tried to take a little break to play catch with the kids. It lasted about 10 minutes before he got a phone call.
Bedtime surprises!
Katie left this for Tom on our door. How sweet, right? To me it says she couldnāt give two shits about my day tomorrow. ļ
Owen left this on my side of the bed. Not sure what this means. Maybe I should sleep with one eye open. ļ
