I am spending a little time today putting some plans in place for summer fun.
During the week, it is very difficult to make plans as the house causes me to on call almost all the time. I typically do not receive much notice. For example, I got at 5pm about meeting at the land at 7:30 a.m. to get the forms laid down. I am a little glad that the pad was not ready because we had doctor appointments this morning - it would have been a very rushed morning otherwise.
So, the kids are not up for camps too much or I would have had them in them once per month at least.
1. K is going to a programming camp - sleepover thank goodness! Even though Laney will be here at the RV, K will not, so they are getting a break from each other - also no homeschool that week!
2. We are going to an Astros game on a Friday when they have fireworks. It should be a fun outing. We opted to pay a little more and get really good seats - we have always been in the nosebleed section and could barely see the guys playing.
3. My most wonderful, awesome, sister is going to take them for a week in August. Darrell and I have decided NOT to go anywhere. It is going to be during a busy time with the house. He will still take vacation from work and we will spend the days doing what we want - sans kids style.
4. We are renting a pontoon boat and going out on a lake. Not exactly sure when - maybe September.
5. Moody Gardens - it will be an expensive day, but we have budgeted a little extra this summer while we were in the RV. My kids have never been and I have only been to the movies there. We will make a day of it and maybe even go into Galveston for a fresh fish dinner.
Other than that, we are doing Sonic drink runs once a week - a nice cool slushy is great on these hot days. 1/2 price from 2 to 4. Library every other week and once a month for doc appointments.
There are a few smaller things that we will do, but these are the big ones since we are locked here and our weekend getaway place is what we are living in!
Anyone else staycationing it?
one husband......four kids......debt......sewing...... saving......cooking......yoga......sweet......chaos......life......
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Monday, June 5, 2017
Super Sad Day
I am having a cry-all-day kind of day.
The building is going nowhere due to rain, which is bringing me down. My builder has twice made me look like an idiot. Both times I should have known better. I know, from a very awful past, to trust noone to give true information. It burns me ALL THE TIME! Yet, I trust over and over again. I guess I want to believe that people will be honest with me.
Point 1: This builder is NOT the one building our shed. However, he agreed to help us with the select fill pad. He also agreed to put it in the HOA documents for approval. He did not give them the information about the shed, so it delayed approval for 60 days. They only held it up because of the shed. If he had told me that I needed to get the information to the HOA myself, I would have - easily. A board member chastised me about me and I felt like an idiot.
Point 2: The contractors were working on the shed pad one day and it looked like they were going to get done. My builders pushed me to go ahead and tell the shed people that the pad was done to get on the list. Well, it did not get done. Started raining and it is still not done. Shed people called me today, they want to lay the forms in the morning! ARG!!! It is NOT ready for them and the contractors are not coming back to finish until Wednesday at the earliest! So, my builder says to tell the shed people Thursday. Are you kidding me? NO WAY! Then, proceeds to laugh at my frustration.
The quitting of my business, the living in the RV, the extreme stress lately - I think came to a head today. I am sad because my kids are more stoic than I am living here. I am sad because it feels (even though it is not true) that our house will never get built. I am sad because my back is hurting all the time. I am sad because I feel like I have nothing to do!
I am the type of person that needs something to do - outside of cooking and cleaning - a hobby, a job, something! I had that with the business - maybe too much, but I had it. When the frame goes up on the house, I will be busy, but this waiting is absolutely killing me.
I know for sure I am a sticks and bricks kind of girl. I feel a bit homeless - not true.
Oh, don't think I am giving up though - we are staying put. I will deal. The financial gain is too good to pass up. This house just needs to get going!
Darrell is sweetly out to get me wine, french bread to dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. He is grilled fillet Mignon wrapped in bacon and a salad. For dessert, he got those brownie bites from the grocery store.
Tomorrow is another day - I think I am done crying today. A good chick flick and a hot (short) shower will round off my day.
I hope you are all doing well on this very crappy Monday.
The building is going nowhere due to rain, which is bringing me down. My builder has twice made me look like an idiot. Both times I should have known better. I know, from a very awful past, to trust noone to give true information. It burns me ALL THE TIME! Yet, I trust over and over again. I guess I want to believe that people will be honest with me.
Point 1: This builder is NOT the one building our shed. However, he agreed to help us with the select fill pad. He also agreed to put it in the HOA documents for approval. He did not give them the information about the shed, so it delayed approval for 60 days. They only held it up because of the shed. If he had told me that I needed to get the information to the HOA myself, I would have - easily. A board member chastised me about me and I felt like an idiot.
Point 2: The contractors were working on the shed pad one day and it looked like they were going to get done. My builders pushed me to go ahead and tell the shed people that the pad was done to get on the list. Well, it did not get done. Started raining and it is still not done. Shed people called me today, they want to lay the forms in the morning! ARG!!! It is NOT ready for them and the contractors are not coming back to finish until Wednesday at the earliest! So, my builder says to tell the shed people Thursday. Are you kidding me? NO WAY! Then, proceeds to laugh at my frustration.
The quitting of my business, the living in the RV, the extreme stress lately - I think came to a head today. I am sad because my kids are more stoic than I am living here. I am sad because it feels (even though it is not true) that our house will never get built. I am sad because my back is hurting all the time. I am sad because I feel like I have nothing to do!
I am the type of person that needs something to do - outside of cooking and cleaning - a hobby, a job, something! I had that with the business - maybe too much, but I had it. When the frame goes up on the house, I will be busy, but this waiting is absolutely killing me.
I know for sure I am a sticks and bricks kind of girl. I feel a bit homeless - not true.
Oh, don't think I am giving up though - we are staying put. I will deal. The financial gain is too good to pass up. This house just needs to get going!
Darrell is sweetly out to get me wine, french bread to dip in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. He is grilled fillet Mignon wrapped in bacon and a salad. For dessert, he got those brownie bites from the grocery store.
Tomorrow is another day - I think I am done crying today. A good chick flick and a hot (short) shower will round off my day.
I hope you are all doing well on this very crappy Monday.
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Week 18 Update!
It feels like a lot of hurry up and wait - freaking rain. We have all approvals, but are moving at a snail's pace due to intermittent rain.
1. Land Home - All the brush is clear and mostly burnt, except for a very small pile - no larger than a fire pit. They started bringing in the select fill and almost got the shed beginning pad done, but then it rained both Thursday and Friday, so they were unable to finish. The house needs a lot more, but we staked it, so we know where the house and shed will be! That felt good, but I did get a little down about having to stop. It seems lately we get 2 work days a week and that will take a LONG time at that pace.
The builder did tell me that once the concrete pad is down and in place, rain is not a problem. The contractors will work through light rain. For heavy rain, they quit, but work even with puddles and mud. The pad must be DRY though!
The shed is on the books! We are on the list for the concrete guy, then it will go up fast after that. I want the shed in so I can refinish the front door and store ALL our outdoor paid-for shed items. Why pay when I have an outdoor shed that locks? That will save a little money.
Today, we went and trimmed some trees that are close to the shed and house. All of us went and the kids had a great time throwing the limbs into the fire and kicking around ashes from the previous burning. We also rode in the back of the pick up (slow pace) and we had a blast. We all got ashy, sweaty and laughed. We are going to love this property.
OH! Excitement! I found a guy that is getting certified in permaculture specializing in the local edible and herbal plants! He is trying to get his certificate this summer and we spoke about our time frame. He is excited because we do not want any lawn, but LOTS of edible trees - nut and fruit, herbal garden, vegetable garden, butterfly/bee garden, with accents of natural grasses (that do not need mowing). Lots of trails around the areas going to a pond and a fire pit with Adirondack chairs (made from milk jugs!) We are going to have him design for us and then we implement it over time. We are seriously excited about this.
2. RV Living - We for the most part have adjusted. I am struggling a little bit during the week - there are so many have to's, that it seems the walls start closing in. The weekends are much better.
Last weekend, we bought a hanging shade for the awning since the evening sun shines right on the door and makes the interior very warm. It works like a charm - the air conditioner is not running as hard and it feels better outside as well. Even when it is 90F, it is doable with a fan. That gets us very excited about our screened patio - large, covered, with ceiling fans and we will NEVER have sun on the tiles!
Youngest boy is going to camp in a couple of weeks - so he will get a break from us. My sister is coming, then her, my daughter and I are getting our hair done, probably a pedicure (can you believe I have never had one?) and henna. My daughter wants a snake down her arm! LOL - I cannot wait to show you! Also, college boy is coming home then as well! I did not get to see him after the quarter end because he is on a mission trip. We got to talk to him for 10 minutes this morning. It is the only time they were set up to do that. He sounds like he is having a good time - lots of hard work, but its satisfying.
We decided to take the kids my sisters late summer and us get away for a few days. Out of the RV - away from RV life - away from building life, just take a break. We are also talking about going to an Astros game - they are actually doing good this year, but have low attendance. It is because they were so awful so long!
3. Homeschool - We finished the week - sort of. On the days I have to take care of house things, they have not been doing ALL their work. We are playing catch up just a bit, but not too bad. We have figured out that they do better at the rec room than the RV. I kind of assumed they would - it is quiet, they have their own table, etc. It is just difficult for us to get up and get going some days. We are getting better though. We went every day this week.
Overall, I am much better since the loan is in place, the HOA has given us approval, the business is closed, and I am not jumping through hoops anymore. I just need to get a stretching time in the works and I think my back will improve as well.
1. Land Home - All the brush is clear and mostly burnt, except for a very small pile - no larger than a fire pit. They started bringing in the select fill and almost got the shed beginning pad done, but then it rained both Thursday and Friday, so they were unable to finish. The house needs a lot more, but we staked it, so we know where the house and shed will be! That felt good, but I did get a little down about having to stop. It seems lately we get 2 work days a week and that will take a LONG time at that pace.
The builder did tell me that once the concrete pad is down and in place, rain is not a problem. The contractors will work through light rain. For heavy rain, they quit, but work even with puddles and mud. The pad must be DRY though!
The shed is on the books! We are on the list for the concrete guy, then it will go up fast after that. I want the shed in so I can refinish the front door and store ALL our outdoor paid-for shed items. Why pay when I have an outdoor shed that locks? That will save a little money.
Today, we went and trimmed some trees that are close to the shed and house. All of us went and the kids had a great time throwing the limbs into the fire and kicking around ashes from the previous burning. We also rode in the back of the pick up (slow pace) and we had a blast. We all got ashy, sweaty and laughed. We are going to love this property.
OH! Excitement! I found a guy that is getting certified in permaculture specializing in the local edible and herbal plants! He is trying to get his certificate this summer and we spoke about our time frame. He is excited because we do not want any lawn, but LOTS of edible trees - nut and fruit, herbal garden, vegetable garden, butterfly/bee garden, with accents of natural grasses (that do not need mowing). Lots of trails around the areas going to a pond and a fire pit with Adirondack chairs (made from milk jugs!) We are going to have him design for us and then we implement it over time. We are seriously excited about this.
2. RV Living - We for the most part have adjusted. I am struggling a little bit during the week - there are so many have to's, that it seems the walls start closing in. The weekends are much better.
Last weekend, we bought a hanging shade for the awning since the evening sun shines right on the door and makes the interior very warm. It works like a charm - the air conditioner is not running as hard and it feels better outside as well. Even when it is 90F, it is doable with a fan. That gets us very excited about our screened patio - large, covered, with ceiling fans and we will NEVER have sun on the tiles!
Youngest boy is going to camp in a couple of weeks - so he will get a break from us. My sister is coming, then her, my daughter and I are getting our hair done, probably a pedicure (can you believe I have never had one?) and henna. My daughter wants a snake down her arm! LOL - I cannot wait to show you! Also, college boy is coming home then as well! I did not get to see him after the quarter end because he is on a mission trip. We got to talk to him for 10 minutes this morning. It is the only time they were set up to do that. He sounds like he is having a good time - lots of hard work, but its satisfying.
We decided to take the kids my sisters late summer and us get away for a few days. Out of the RV - away from RV life - away from building life, just take a break. We are also talking about going to an Astros game - they are actually doing good this year, but have low attendance. It is because they were so awful so long!
3. Homeschool - We finished the week - sort of. On the days I have to take care of house things, they have not been doing ALL their work. We are playing catch up just a bit, but not too bad. We have figured out that they do better at the rec room than the RV. I kind of assumed they would - it is quiet, they have their own table, etc. It is just difficult for us to get up and get going some days. We are getting better though. We went every day this week.
Overall, I am much better since the loan is in place, the HOA has given us approval, the business is closed, and I am not jumping through hoops anymore. I just need to get a stretching time in the works and I think my back will improve as well.
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