DOVE FAMILY

Still Packing...

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Monday, August 27, 2012.

Do you remember my post about how much I loved to pack (pre-Disney trip?) Well, that was then and this is NOW. I am so tired of packing. I am bumping into boxes, can't find anything even though I labeled each box. Everywhere I look there is one empty box just waiting for me to fill it. Ugh- I just stare back at the empty box in disgust.

You all know that I am pretty organized. I am not as "anal" as I used to be and I actually don't mind having clutter around anymore as long as I know where I can find something I need! But wow...living out of boxes is a challenge. What we have been doing the last 2 weeks is called EXTREME PACKING!

Most cupboards are cleaned out with only necessary items that we need for the next few weeks.

Dressers are now cleaned out.

All bathroom essentials are in boxes

Curtains are down, curtain rods have been removed, pictures are down.

We are now running out of room in the house because boxes are stacked in every nook and cranny.

Each day after work we have been doing our normal routine of dinner, prepping lunches and spending as much time as we can with the kids before bedtime routine. Kids first...boxes last. Throw in preparing for school, packing, soccer, kids playing outside and we have got one giant crazy household right now. I think we need to put a “CAUTION” sign in front of our door. Or “ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK” sign. It’s crazy in there. So, if you are wondering where we are or if you haven’t heard from us lately….you can find us hiding behind one of the boxes.

House Hunting 101...

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Tuesday, August 21, 2012.

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...Certainly does not look like House Hunters on HGTV. One of my favorite shows but it hasn’t been roses and wine during our search.

#1- We have kids. We have taken them to every house we have looked at. We prepare them well ahead of time, make sure the tablet and iPhone are at 100%. Snacks and drinks are packed because we just don’t know how long the house hunting will take. We have been on a mission. We also have a child with asthma, so going into a home that is filled with cigarette smoke or cats that have lots of hair has been tough. One of us has had to go in while the other stays outside with the kids.

#2- We can only go in the evenings and weekends. As many other families, we can only go house hunting in the evenings after work/school/daycare. We have to run home, eat quickly and go out in the evenings to look at houses. This makes it tough because we don't get home until late and then have to worry about baths, lunches and the normal pre-bedtime activities.

#3- Finding the right one. They say you are supposed to get a feeling when you walk into the house. They say that you will know as soon as you walk into the house. Well, what happens when you get that feeling with 2 houses?! They don't talk about that on House Hunters do they?

#4- Wearing Wedges. Part of our house hunting was also looking at brand new build homes. When I say brand new, I mean, that foundation slab is down and maybe part of the frame. Yes- I wore wedges and heels when going through them. No, it wasn't the appropriate outfit. Yes, I thought I looked cute but I didn't have time to change especially when we get a last minute call on the way home!

So - House Hunters is all daisies and sunshine but real house hunting takes work!

Favorites

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Friday, August 17, 2012.

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We just love going down to Chesapeake beach and walking around that little town. Now, if I lived there I may not like it as much because I see it all the time and my appreciation may be taken for granted. However, it's only a short 30 minute ride for us and the kids love walking around the boardwalk, getting ice cream, people watching and best of all....its gorgeous down there!

You don't always have to go and spend a lot of money to do fun things. Look around and find those local camp grounds, beaches, playgrounds, local events. Most of the time they are free and if not, they don't cost much at all. It's great to get out and about and find those hidden treasures that many take advantage of.

Big Girl Bed

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Monday, August 13, 2012.

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We finally moved Julia out of her toddler bed to a twin bed. We had an extra frame so we purchased this beautiful white suede tufted headboard and the mattress/box spring. I took her to the store and had her pick out her very own big girl bedding set. We went into the kids bedding area first and she saw some very girly sets that had flowers, birds, lady bugs...very cute. Surprisingly she wasn't thrilled with them so she walked down the next aisle and to my surprise it was the "college" bedding set. I told her that maybe we should go back to the little girl section and she said "NO". She immediately found the set she wanted- bright hot pink with ruffles on the comforter. It came with a matching ruffled pillow sham and pink & white polka dot sheet set. I told her that it may be "too old" for her and that we should go back to the little girl section and she threw a fit and said she wanted that one. I tried the old trick of putting the flowery bed set and the hot pink set next to each other and maybe it would change her mind but no- she insisted on the hot pink ruffled set.

We got home, put it all together and I am so glad she picked out the hot pink set. It looks gorgeous with the tufted headboard and the little girl sets wouldn't do this bed any justice. It was made for her. Just look below...

Trying out her new bed with her big brother watching.

Acting like silly monkeys.

Sound asleep in her new bed. This bed, the headboard and the set was made for her. It's perfect.

Last Day of Camp Carnival & SlideShow

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD)

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Friday August 10th was Matthew's last day at camp at Annapolis Area Christian School. They closed out the summer with a carnival for the kids that included a moon bounce, mini golf, soccer, potato sack races, dunk-tank, football toss, eating marshmallows from strings and more! It was supposed to take place outdoors, but with the threat of rain looming, they set up the carnival on the indoor turf field. Parents and family members were invited to attend and once the carnival concluded, we all made our way to the auditorium for the last slide show of the summer. I met so many counselors and saw the friendships that Matthew made these last few weeks. I saw how these counselors took care of the campers, I saw the hugs, the crying and the laughing. As we were walking out of camp to our car, I hugged Matthew and he told me that he had the best time at camp. I looked at Dave and knew that we made the right decision in sending him here this summer.

Alex on the moon bounce!

Girls playing mini golf

Go Matthew! Potato Sack races!

Haha! Matthew racing his friend Evan!

I can't tell you how many times Alex went in the moon bounce!

Auntie Debbie & Julia having fun!

First overnight Camp-out for Matthew

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD)

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Our dear friends Joe & Amber had an awesome camping birthday party for their son Phoenix. Matthew has never spent the night at anyone else's house other than Dave's mom's house. This was not a typical overnight party- this was in a cabin, in the woods...CAMPING! We bought a sleeping bag for Matthew and we talked about all the fun things he would do while he was there overnight and we even told him that we were only a few minutes away just in case he needed us! It was hard for me to leave him overnight at a campground in the woods, but he was there with our friends that would take care of him. Plus I knew it was something that he should experience and wanted to do.

They had so much fun celebrating Phoenix birthday, going swimming, searching for bugs, eating s'mores by the fire and just hanging out with the boys. Thank you Joe & Amber for such a fun time- although Matthew cried just a bit at night for Dave, this is something he will never forget!

This is the cool cabin where the boys slept!

Happy Birthday Phoenix!

Checking out the birthday presents!

Sold...in 4 days!

Posted by Mary Grace (MGD) on Tuesday, August 7, 2012.

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Some time after Julia's 4th birthday we decided that we were going to put the house back on the market again. I wasn't as hesitant as I was last year. Our house was on the market for 5 months and it didn't sell last year but I also was not ready for it to be on the market last year. I just couldn't let the house go. So, Dave sat me down and he had a talk with me. He said that we have to try to sell it again and just "see what happens"

Our house went on the market at 1pm on Monday afternoon, we had 9 showings between Monday afternoon to Wednesday morning and received our first contract Wednesday night. We approved the contract Thursday and our house was sold in 4 days.

I had no time to react. I had no time to think and I had no time to change my mind or be sad about moving. This was it. We sold our house. I then realized that we have to find a house- QUICK!