Don't you just love lunch time?

Chicken Noodle anyone?... 'nuf said!

AMBER

Rules of Commentation!

Apparently the whole business of leaving a comment has gotten way out of hand. Please for the love of everything that is holy, if you read the blog... FRIGGIN' COMMENT! Otherwise, Ryan goes insane and abuses me.

2ndly, if you do comment, and choose to do so 'anonymously' so that you don't have to sign into gmail or what not, please sign your comment with your name or else we don't know who is saying what and therefore cannot get credit for you commentation and Ryan abuses me still! LOL!

Lastly- who told Ryan to read "deathstalker"? Is that even a book or are you sending a subliminal message? Hmm...

Please respond, much appreciated!

AMBER

Lurker Question

This question goes out to a lurker in Kansas. I believe you had mentioned last summer you were starting to read Sue Grafton's Kinsey Malone books. My questions to you are:

1. Have you started them?
2. How many have you gotten through?
3. Are they any good, meaning do they get better.

I started the first one and am having a tough time with it since it was written in 1982 or so. I need to know if it's worth investing my time. On one hand I'm excited because there are so many potential books to read. On the other hand, I need to know it gets better!

HELP!

Ryan

A bit of "Clarification"-

There seems to be 'some' confusion as to what will truly go down with our house situation. For now, it is hurting nothing to leave it on the market. I mean really, if we got a full price offer tomorrow, things would just work themselves out. I think mostly I am trying to express my concern to Ryan specifically, that staying at this address is not the punishment he's made it into. Since when did we live in a cardboard box out on the outskirts of the ghetto?

For now, our house remains on the market (as I don't mind keeping up with the cleaning chores... for now) and truly we don't have to accept ANYTHING we don't want to. The ball is entirely in our court. I just want to make sure Ryan will live happily ever after at this address currently, as apposed to revisiting moving/relisting our home every 6 months until some bozo buys it for $3.05... oh wait, my Dad already offered me "305", I guess I shouldn't categorize that person as a bozo then eh? LOL.

Love to all-
AMBER

Sunny Saturday Fun-

Two posts in one day- Now I'm unstoppable!

We went to breakfast today and then over to the PDX Costco and there happen to be a firetruck/fireman doing a fundraiser at the entrance. Cooper LOVED the big red truck, and was a lil' intimidated at first but then really got excited over the "bells and whistles".

Then we went to the elementary school to play on the playground, but sadly all the equipment was too big for him... so on our way out he decided to join in on a pick up game of b-ball with some other kids (total strangers mind you)... they welcomed him with open arms, and boy did he love that basketball! I think we know one of Mr. Cooper's birthday presents for sure!

One thing is certain, Cooper is a social guy, he'd much rather play with people than alone. He loves the slides, swings, grass but if he's alone, he'd much rather go where the crowd takes him... just like his mommy ... aww, sigh!

CHEERS-

AMBER

Up for your thoughts- As always

So... after MUCH contemplation I've decided to post my private thoughts on this public blog to get feedback from my friends and family. I guess I had a very "grateful" week and am in that mode where I'm thankful for the car I have to drive, my wonderful family, incredible friends (you know who you are!) and alas, the roof over my head. Which brings to surface my purpose in writing.

I'll be as brief as I know how to be- which is not very...

I think we should NOT move. I think we should take our house off the market and not sell. I recognize this seems rash and impulsive, but for me it really isn't. If anyone knows, we are moving because Ryan has decided it is a necessity, and like he has done soooo many times for me in the past, I'm choosing to support him 100%. (Don't get me wrong, a new house is awesome and always welcomed... who doens't want new pretty things?) Anyway, I guess I just feel like we need to be thankful for what we already have rather than always wanting something bigger and better when what we have currently suites our needs just fine. I did talk to Ryan about my thoughts and strangely (in not so many words) I think he agrees... what? The fact of the matter is this: We don't HAVE to move, we just want to. In a market like this, I just think it may be foolish and not clearly weighed out. I mean really, we've got Chase joining the family in about 3 1/2 months, I don't want to have to ship Ripley off to my mom and dads (which they have so graciously accepted him into their lives based on our need) and I don't want to impose on Ryans mom and dad who so incredibly generously will let us just move right in! I mean we would be literally shoving them out of almost 2/3 of their own house! As a side note, I'm sure Cooper would LOVE living with his Nana and Bapa!

To top it all off, I just have a somewhat sinking feeling that this whole business with the lot/land that we offered on, is just not going to pan out. It's that time old saying of "if it's meant to be it'll happen"... well, I know it's only been a month but things are really, seriously not happening.

Here are some facts- Average market time for a house 95 days, average lookers 2 per week! We've had 2 in 1 month. Granted we did have an offer, but it may as well have been no offer at all. The fact is, the timing is bad and I think we just really put the cart before the horse on his one.

So that's the jist- does anyone think I'm crazy or finally starting to make sense?

With humility-
Amber

Yahoo!!!

So, after a long 22 days on the market, we finally got an OFFER on our house! Pretty exciting, don't you think? Nope, you thought wrong. The mastermind offered us $35,000.00 below our asking price, wanted us to pay for his closing costs AND thought it would be prudent for us to throw in our washer, dryer and brand new fridge for good measure. You figure after everything is said and done, it would only cost us about a $5o,000.00 difference. This will probably come as a surprise, but we had to turn the offer down. We did counter, but obviously aren't holding out any hope.

On a side note...if you are reading this blog, we are not going to tolerate "lurkers"...you read, you post a comment. It's that simple. Some people have it down, some people don't. Time to start working on that!!!!!!

Ryan

Sucker Fun!

Who new something so small could offer so much entertainment?

Grammie (Ambers Mom) sent Cooper a Valentines package, and incluced was a heart shaped sucker. Cooper discovered it today. We decided today would be the day we would enjoy our sweet snack!

The sucker fun lasted over 35 minutes until the sugar on a stick was apprehended by Ripley the dog... game over! Wah wah wah!

Til' next time- Enjoy!

Yardwork 2008-

2 posts in 2 days! YIKES! What's gotten into me... i'll tell you what, my cute boys- they inspire me... awww.... tear.

Anyway, we spent this sunny and rather warm weekend cleaning up the back and front yard. Cooper no doubt was a huge help in the whole endeavor and without him, i'm just not sure we would've stayed on track or finished at all.

In case you are wondering, yes that is my son eating dirt; I just feel so lucky to have caught it on camera... (i'm makin' a joke in case you can't tell... who wants their kiddo eating dirt?) Alas, they all do though eh?

Enjoy the shots!

CHEERS-
Amber

Playtime for all!

I know, I know... I haven't blogged in some time (Trust me, i've been chastised doubly today by both Pamela and Nicole!) Finally, I'm sending word of whats going on with us.

The house has been for sale for 2 1/2 weeks now and Ryan is wondering why we don't have multiple offers and a bidding war already... in a market like this... I just can't understand why? Hmmm... Anyway, we had a showing the first weekend, and have people coming this afternoon as well. I'm optimistic with the holiday weekend that more will be around to peak through what we have to offer. Only time will tell and truly, if it's meant to be, things will pan out nicely.

In other news, I decided to take a picture of Cooper doing his very favorite thing... playing with his trucks! So in the midst of playtime, he realized I was snapping photos of him, started posing and grinning from ear to ear and (in my opinion) I was able to take the very best picture of his entire life. See photo array- smiling with all his teeth, head cocked right, grappling his black tow truck- I just really think he looks like such a little man rather than my baby boy! Awww, tear... they grow up so fast!

Lastly, and some of you may not be as interested in this lil' tidbit of information, but Ryan and I had a good laugh about it. Let me lay some ground work; Cooper is not a night time pooper. (I promise this has relevance.) So when Ryan and I put him to bed last night at 8:45ish and then checked on him again at 10:30, when we walked in his room it smelled 'poopy'. At first we thought it might be Emma; We've been having a 'shitty kitty' problem lately (literally that, a cat that won't stop crapping on the carpet... but alas it didn't smell like cat poo, but maybe a stinky diaper pale... so just to make sure I checked Cooper himself and sure enough, he was poopy! Which shocked both of us because really, in his 23 months of life, he has NEVER pooped while he was sleeping (only once during a nap, but never at night!) So I scooped him up to change him and plopped him on his back on his changing table. He proceeded to roll over and curl into the fetal position, completely undisturbed by his movement from crib to table. Ryan snapped a quick shot of this to share with everyone, but the most impressive bit of info... Cooper stayed asleep the entire changing experience. Very determined to sleep, JUST LIKE HIS DADDY!

Anyway, hope this brings you chuckles and smiles. Miss you all terribly and hoping you're doing well. Enjoy the upcoming spring and we'll try and be better about more frequent blog posts... although in my defense, it's not like i'm at home squeezing my nipples or anything- I am keeping a toddler filled, animal infested house spotless from top to bottom day in and day out so as to sell our humble abode! Give a girl a break!!!

Til' next time-

AMBER

House Watch - DAY 6

OK, so I'm not very good at this waiting thing. Normally I'm quite patient, but when it comes to major things like fantasy football/baseball trades, ebay and selling a house, I go crazy.

We had a person come and look at it over the weekend. The realtor left his card and our realtor is supposed to come by and pick it up so he can touch base with the guy, but so far it's still on my counter.

Isn't about a week enough time to sell a house, you'd think so????

Ryan

P.S. - Note to Erika who just got her first dog. No, I don't think it looks like a cat. Most cats I know are much bigger and could kick your dogs ass right now. I think you should name her Remy after the rat on Ratatoullie!!! :)

Buy Me, Lose Me, Boys!

Ok, so we' ve been busy people since we last posted on this damn thing. First things first. Our house is up for sale. Anyone out there want to buy it? I'm becoming very impatient. I mean it has been on the market for 5 days now. HELLLLOOOO, let's go here.

Second, I'm four weeks into an actual diet this time. When I gave up on the last one, I decided to see how big I could really get. When the first of the year rolled around we were starting a contest to see who could lose the most weight in three months. I managed to work my way up to 185. Not bad eh? I'm down to 173ish, so almost 12 pounds in four weeks. Only 13 more to go.

Oh yeah, we also found out we're having another boy! YES! Makes things much easier on me and the pocket book. Not sure I could afford 2 Amber's!

Ryan