A Day in the Life of Natalee

The Lincoln Park Zoo was beautiful and FREE!  (I hate it that modern culture makes me see 'Linkin Park' in my head ... grrr!)

Blue Lagoon.

Reindeer!

Me and my 'twins'

Little kids.

Buncha' monkeys.

Taken by one of the little kids.

Hatchlings

Our 4 days in Chicago were exhausting and fun, the highlight being the beach for me, of course.  It was surprisingly aqua-colored and clean, and for a moment I could pretend I was back in Hilton Head.  Is that wrong, fantasizing about one vacation when you are on another?

Braving the cold water together.

Braving the deep, cold water together.

Cutie patootie.

Around here, if you’re not a Steeler’s fan, you’re not having fun.  Matt has been a Steeler’s fan for years (it all started with a teenager trying to irritate his father), and it has really rubbed off on the kids.  This year, it has even gotten to me.  It’s fun to have your team go to the Superbowl!  The kids have been so psyched, and really getting into it.  Game day is gonna rock!

Please tell me ... If you had a firefighter walking around your house looking like this, wouldn't you be starting fires all over the place just to keep him around?

Our "Vally Park"

 Over the course of the next few days I will post some of the 120 photos I took at the park yesterday, both because there are too many for one post and because I will need something easy to post as I frantically search for a place to live.  WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!  But first about the park ...

We had a VERY last minute showing yesterday (pat us on the back for getting it together in very little time), so we headed to the park with our school books in tow.  We ate a fast-food picnic, played, and did our school work on the most perfect day of the year.  I took along my camera and experimented, with some fairly good results.  This, of course, is not hard to imagine when you know how photogenic my kids are.  But I am also quite proud of a few of my nature shots.  Who knew, including me, that I had an interest in photography?  It was such fun for me.

And now for the house news:  Pat me on the back for forcing my family (kids in tears, husband in disbelief) to show the house in an hour and a half.  Usually we get more notice than that; and keep in mind that life was not exactly normal around here due to the widespread power outtages that still persist.  BUT ... get it ready we did, and within a couple of hours we had an offer.  We've since countered and agreed on terms, and are still in a state of shock that we have to be out by November first.

Are you wondering why I've now made an announcement twice that we've sold our house?  Well, the first contract is contingent upon the sale of their house, which is priced too high.  Their contract was a beautiful thing: it did not cause our house to go "pending", in which case no one would take a second look at our place.  The other great thing about it was that it was "sudden death" -- it required no notice to them if we accepted another offer.  So we are in business with these new folks.  Their only contingency is a contract that they are not "officially" out of due to a failed inspection (mere paperwork).  Their house is sold, and they are impatient.  Two houses they've tried to buy have failed an inspection, so they are ready to go.  This also explains the expectation of moving in at closing.

Our heads are spinning, and we don't know what we are doing.  Nothing out there seems to have all that we're looking for (3000 square feet or more, 5 acres, not UGLY, not out in the middle of nowhere ...)  We might be forced to rent an executive home for a few months so that we are not pressured to "settle" simply because we're out of time.  This is a good problem to have ... I'm not complaining.    As I've said from the beginning, God will show us the way!


Want to know what's out there to rent for a family of seven?  Much ... in a market like this.

And now for my beautiful family ...

Indian boy.

Mia the peanut.

Cute boys in cool tones.

Elena

Noelle in cool tones.

I know.  She looks like Julie Z.  I hear it all the time.  :-)

Julia in sepia tones.

Why won't they ANSWER me?

It's all gonna be OK.  As you can see from this photo, the boo-boo is healing nicely and might be unnoticeable in a mere few weeks.  Just thought you needed to know I cancelled my appointment with the plastic surgeon (kidding).

On a side note, if someone copies your hairstyle, are you flattered or insulted?  Check into the poll below?

 

I wanted to post this picture because I was so impressed with Julia's color choices.  I bough her this clay colored dress/shirt that she was wearing over jeans, and she paired it with her Panama-inspired necklace, which she picked herself.  I don't know if the photo gives it justice, but the colors, shades, tints all worked great together ... and she is only 11.  Almost twelve.  Can't forget that part.

Plus, isn't she getting beautiful?