House Shopping

Reid, Elizabeth, and I toured 6 homes with our realtor on Sunday.

The first one was an older home that I had mentally moved my stuff into. Seriously. I knew exactly where I was going to put the Christmas tree...and the TV in the living room. In the pictures with the listing, it was stunning. I had concerns, mentally moving in of course, about how my dining room furniture was going to fit in the octagonal-shaped (yes, octagonal) dining room...and the kitchen looked small. But I was loving the look of the place online. Then we went there on Sunday. The living room, dining room, kitchen, terrace, and back yard did not disappoint. Beautiful. Then we went up stairs. WOW those were some tiny rooms. I was then mentally moving my Christmas tree into our faculty house on West Liberty's campus. Closet space wasn't good, but I don't expect it to be good in an old home. (And I love old homes!) I didn't, however, expect that two of the bedrooms (house has 4 bedrooms) would be so small that you could only fit a twin-sized bed and a small dresser in them. The master bedroom in that house is smaller than what we have in Fairmont. So, we moved on...

Then we were "treated" to a trip down Mike Brady's lane. A house built and last decorated in 1977 and one built in 1910 and last decorated in whatever year wood panelling would have been in fashion. Lots of freshly vacuumed shag carpet to go around both places.

Then we saw our house!

Built in 1915, it oozes charm. Warm and inviting. Stained glass windows in the entry, LR, DR, landing to 2nd floor, and family room. BIG closets (walk-in in the master BR, big one in Elizabeth's room, 3 regular-sized ones in the 3rd floor bedroom). Lots of extra storage in the garage and potential for lots of storage in the basement. There are 5 fireplaces in the house, but at the moment I can only recall where 3 of them are (LR, DR, master BR). The kitchen is sizable, but will need some work (although workable in the interim.) The downside is that there is only one bath, but it is a really, really nice one. There is a clothes chute (3rd floor, 2nd floor, main floor in the kitchen) all helping with the nasty chore of laundry (that neither Reid or I are fans of that task.) The family room is great - not too big, not too small - and just off of the kitchen. It will be the perfect place for Elizabeth to play while I'm in the kitchen. There are built-ins...two small seating areas on either side of the fireplace in the LR (pictured at left)...and two sets of bookcases/displays on either side of the entryway into the DR (pictured below right). There is a wonderful work-bench area for Reid so he can continue his tinkering with golf clubs. (Not that he doesn't already have a great work-bench for that task - he and Papa built one a few years ago.) But, ooh la la there is a rockin' scrapbook area for me!!! (Nice L-shaped built in area in the basement opposite of Reid's work-bench for me to catch up on my scrapbooking!) Coincidentally, it was the least expensive of the 6 homes we toured.

Then the rest of the house shopping was a bit of a blur as we couldn't stop thinking about the possibilities of that house.

We toured two more homes. One of which was very charming on the outside, but rather vanilla on the inside. (When it wasn't vanilla it was bordering on tragic.) The last home was huge, but I would need to either leave bread crumbs or hope my GPS unit could help me find my way around it. Not that I would need to GPS to help me find my way because of the size of the home, but rather the layout. It was like the architect was either mad or drunk...or both.

We put in an offer on Monday. The offer was accepted on Tuesday.

Wow! That was so much faster than what I anticipated it would be to house shop, put in a bid, and have the bid accepted. But what the hell do I know, I've never bought a house before...until now!

They Love You!

Cute E story...as most are...

E has recently been more obsessed with pictures than usual. She'll point to everyone she knows in a picture and say their name. If the picture is out of her reach she'll point and say something like, "That's Daddy on picture. That's Mommy on picture."

Last week as we were coming down the stairs in our house (if you haven't seen the house, you may need to note that one side of the stairway walls is lined with pictures, too many to count jammed on the wall.) A very, very small black & white picture of Grandma Ellen & Grandpa caught her eye (smaller than a wallet-sized pic...more like the small crappy size pictures that you gave out to your lesser friends in school - but those of course who still needed an annual picture of you...)

Elizabeth asked me who was "on" the picture. I told her that it was my Grandma and Grandpa. She replied, "Awwww. They love you."

Funny Stuff...

First of all, if you didn't see the Petraeus Hearings skit on SNL featuring WV "Senator" Bob Byrd, you're missing out. Get it here: http://www.veoh.com/videos/v69956042ckrJHPs

Now, some of Elizabeth's recent funnies:

• Yesterday on the drive to Nana's & Papa's, there were a few birds on the road. One bird waited until my car was very close before it flew away. My little back-seat drive said, "Sheeeew. That was a close call!"
• E is obsessed with Boo-Boos. She wants a bandaid on a freckle. She'll kiss anything that resembles a boo-boo. It's really awfully sweet. Last week, she wanted to kiss the boo-boos on Papa's hand. After several kisses, she gave up and told Nana, "Papa's all boo-boos."
• Last weekend, Reid, Elizabeth, and I went to Grandma & Papi's for Mother's Day. Reid was helping Elizabeth get ready for church when she started jumping around (literally) exclaiming, "I love church! I love church!"
• During Mass she was really quite good. She was on her belly on the kneeler "swimming" (albeit quietly.) When she was sitting on the kneeler, she discovered that she could see her own reflection in the back of the pew. Aunt Anne is so proud.

MEDICAL ALERT: Gem (WV) Chicken Bird Flu Virus UPDATE

This just in:

Anne reports - "Add Anne, Sean, Granddad Wine, Grandma Wine, Aunt Jane, Cousin Clint, and Aunt Cheryl to the "Typhoid Elizabeth Virus" list. She got sick BEFORE she saw the chickens so you can't blame it on them. I think everyone is on the mend now!!!!"

You say tomato (typhoid Elizabeth virus), I say tamato (Gem Chicken Bird Flu Virus)...

The Clap Is Not a Dance!

Elizabeth cracks me up! Well, that...and I am really to the point where I need to watch what I say around her. (Not to mention needing to put a muzzle on "Uncle Jake" when he comes to visit - Aye-yi-yi!)

Anyway, this morning when I was getting Elizabeth into the car for the drive to Nana's & Papa's house, I got a wee bit clumsy. Not to say that I threw her in her carseat, but I have put her in it much more gently on thousands of other occassions.

Upon my plopping Elizabeth into her car seat she said,
"Holy clap, Mommy!"

Naturally, I laughed. Then she said it again and again..."Holy clap. Holy clap. Holy clap."

The novelty of that quickly wore off before she started going through what I refer to as role call: "Where's Daddy?" He's at work. "Where's Kennenny?" She's in the house being a good puppy. "Where's Grandma?" She's at her house with Papi. "Where's Papi?" He's at his house with Grandma. "Where's Nana?" She's at her house with Papa. That's where we're going now. "Where's Papa?" He's at his house with Nana. "Where's Aunt Anne?" She's at her house with Sean & Alex. They live in New York City. "Where's Sean?" He's at his house with Anne & Alex. "Where's Alex?" He's at his house with Anne & Sean. [Need I continue???]

It's like the song that ne-ver ends...Yes it goes on and on my friend...Some people started signing it, not knowing what it was...And they'll continue singing it forever just because...This is the song that ne-ver ends...

MEDICAL ALERT: Gem (WV) Chicken Bird Flu Virus

So Elizabeth went to Grandma & Papi's this week. Aunt Anne, Sean, and Alex came in from the Big Apple for a visit this week. I took Weezie to Grandma & Papi's on Tuesday afternoon. I came back to the friendly city of Fairmont on Wednesday afternoon.

Thursday was to be Elizabeth's big day on the farm at Grandma & Grandad Wine's in Gem (WV). Anne, Sean, and Alex came to Grandma & Papi's to get her. They played at the farm for a bit...and then it hit - the Gem Chicken Bird Flu Virus.

Elizabeth got sick...on the throw rug at the Wines...then in the bathroom as Anne was cleaning her up. Then later that evening at Grandma & Papi's - nasty, nasty sick during the night (requiring a bath in her somewhat sleep induced state.) Then again a couple more times while she was in bed with Grandma (as her pack-n-play was left uninhabitable for the night while "stuff" was in the washer/dryer.)

She bounced back rather well on Friday. Got to go back to the Wines' farm - played in the creek, drove a tractor (that wasn't on), played with Alex's swing, fetched an egg from the chickens' house - a complete farm girl for the day. Then it hit - Grandma was struck with the Gem Chicken Bird Flu Virus...then Papi. Anne went to Grandma & Papi's to collect Elizabeth so Grandma & Papi didn't have to worry about a 2-year-old while being sick. Reid & I went to the Wines' Friday evening and spent the night. Then it hit - Alex got sick in the middle of the night.

On Saturday at Grandma & Papi's (Grandma was still feeling the effects of the Gem Chicken Bird Flu Virus), we didn't stay long - trying not to catch whatever in the heck bug they have all been stricken with. Hoping Anne & Sean and all of the Wines can keep from getting it, too!

Alex took his first independent steps - at 11 months! He's so big. It's too much fun watching E & Ali together!!!

Check out my newly acquired mad skills

I'm going to toot a bit loudly here, so consider yourself warned...

Check out my newly acquired "mad" Photo Shop skills (to heck with my nephew, he knows he is cute...look at meeeeee - and what I have created, besides a monster!):

Dancin' Dancin' Dan-cin'!

I couldn't get to my camera quick enough yesterday - I would have totally interrupted the moment. I need to just set up some camcorders to truly make every moment of Elizabeth's life captured on film. Darn it! I'll do my best to explain what Grandma & I witnessed first hand.

It started with Elizabeth spying her TMX Elmo in her toy box. Until last evening, she has wanted absolutely NOTHING to do with the TMX Elmo. I pulled TMX Elmo out of the toy box and put him on the floor. I pushed his stomach and he did his shaking, laughing, and somewhat creepy thrashing thing. Elizabeth jumped up on the couch as he thrashed about, but giggled - a first that she hasn't just pointed at him and shouted, "No Elmo! No!" When he was done, she wanted to see him do his thing again. We would take turns pushing the button on his foot and every time she would run up and sit next to me on the couch while he thrashed about - a safe distance away.

At some point, she noticed that Dancing with the Stars was on while we were waiting for the tip of the NCAA National Championship. She picked up her TMX Elmo by the hands/paws and like the couple that was dancing at the moment, she began doing the Viennese Waltz in really rather good time with the music - Elizabeth and Elmo hand-in-hand turning round and round. They stopped when the music stopped. The couple kissed at the end of their dance - as did Elizabeth and Elmo. Then Elizabeth stood, with Elmo by her side, her arm around him, facing the TV and awaiting their scores. They did quite well. 10's across the board.

Perhaps I am too addicted to the TV...

What's Cookin???

I've been hearing the wonderful tune of The Masters (the music CBS runs for The Masters TV coverage) for several weeks now - always music to my ears.

I must admit I was a little disappointed this year with The Masters website that there are no quizzes. Bummer - I usually do respectably well.

Today is the Champions Dinner. I've been searching for what 2007 champion Zach Johnson will be serving to his fellow fraternity members tonight as this means I need to be making preparations of my own for my traditional Champions Dinner later this week (I do my best effort to replicate the Champions Dinner menu while we, and perhaps some friends, watch The Masters coverage.)

So, I ask this question: What if you won the coveted green jacket? (I'm sure members of Augusta National would first have to bend the rules to let me even play, but it's their course - their rules...I've got no beef with that.) What would you serve to the past champions - Jack, Arnie, Faldo, Player, Tiger, Phil - what would you serve them???

Still on the topic of golf...a hearty congratulations to Will, Justin, & "Booty"!!! Fantastic news from the WVIAC that these 3 Falcon golfers were named to the 2007-2008 1st Team All-WVIAC (Justin the only repeat performer from last season!) Here's the breakdown from the WVIAC:

2007-08 All-WVIAC Golf 1st Team:
Justin Caroli (Fairmont State, Sr., Bridgeport, WV)
Matt Hicks (West Liberty State, Sr., Sissonville, WV)
Will Gautreau (Fairmont State, Sr., Niagara, ONT)
Stephen Maynard (Charleston, Sr., Waterbury Center, VT)
Paul Raines (Ohio Valley, Soph., London, ENG)
Zach Rudy (Fairmont State, Jr., Fairmont, WV)
Scott Smith (West Liberty State, Sr., Morgantown, WV

What a girl wants, what a girl needs...

In Elizabeth's case, "What a girl wants, what a girl needs" are one in the same.

This evening Elizabeth climbed up on the couch next to me and declared, "I need ice cream" (pronounced very nasally i-cream). To which I, naively attempted to teach a 2 year old the difference between "wants" and "needs" when I inquired, "Elizabeth do you NEED ice cream or (doing sign language for all of this to help emphasize my point) or do you WANT ice cream?"

Elizabeth replied (also utilizing her sign language skills), "I need want i-cream, Mommy!"

Grandma & I have had quite the laugh over this. I figure I had this one coming...