Me and a few good men!

What can I say?

Did you know that?  Of course you did.  I have thoughts of getting here, but all I've been able to accomplish is Facebook.  Feel free to befriend me there if you dare :)  We are working on a lot of planning.  Our new house is planned. Submitted for the permit and the City's computer system went down.  We are a week behind in a month long process.  

Meanwhile, I'm studying for  a license exam to be an official contractor in the State of Georgia.  I was not able to be grandfathered in, so I'll sit for the exam in a few weeks.  It is an open book test, but there are 9, yes 9 books.  I'm trying to be as prepared as possible to pass the first time. We'll see. So, I've had a few distractions. 

As for my boys, Carter has started baseball again. 3 practices a week. They both will do soccer starting in a few weeks.  AND we went on a trip.  To Costa Rica for a week!  We went with a few friends and also a few couples we didn't know that well.  It was truly great to get away.  And Costa Rica was way too much fun.   I leave you with a photo of our group  enjoying a much needed break.  Costa Rica style!!!!!

Well, where do I begin?

I left you hanging if you read my last post and then rewarded you with no blogs for a few months...... I am here to update!  We did sell that house we lived in.  Well our most excellent realtor did.  More on her later.  But it made for a rough October as we packed up our lives quickly for a November 7th closing on our family home which had plans for an extensive renovation in 2009.  A renovation that was not to be.  We gladly sold it and moved into the Margot project.  The bank was ok with extending our construction loan for a while  and we thought it would be a nice holiday there enjoying the new space I created.  

But more surprises were in store.  The day we moved in, an offer was presented on Margot!!!  We worked for 3 weeks on negotiating and going through inspection period.  The month of November was stressful and we worked through the purchase of the home and quickly deciding where our things would go and were WE would live.  YIKES!   So, on November 29th, exactly 3 weeks after moving in, we moved out and into a rental home.  We also put a contract on a home to buy and renovate.  It was a process! And was a good reward to our amazing realtor to have 3 closings from one client I suppose :)   We have found a new home to renovate and developed plans to do so.  It is all coming together, or so I think for now......

Oh, and did I forget it was Christmas, the birth of my Savior?   NO!!  We took a few days to celebrate and had a a great holiday centered around family and good times.  Carter and Finn were fascinated with Santa and our Elf, Piffin.  A longer post on that soon with some pictures.  Promise!   On a very serious note, we had so much to be thankful for in 2008 as we were clearly blessed with the sale of two homes and a choice on how to proceed in this rocky real estate market.  If you are feeling weak in faith, I can sit you down over a cup of coffee to really tell you my story.  It is a true testament to giving up control.  It was apparently a lesson that God wanted me to re-learn.    For that I am so grateful!

 Stay tuned for more adventures as we progress into 2009.

The Absentee blogger...

And with a few good reasons.  Started my time away as a Facebook queen. I was just exhausted after finishing Margot I guess and needed some mindless days of nothingness as well as rescuing my pictures and music from the ol PC.  (Thank you again Andrew).  Then school started and well, I kind of like the first days of school.  I feel like my Mom as I pack snacks and look at calendars. This year, there are lots of things to remember each day as Carter backs his bags, not to mention a new schedule for me.  

And then the market started slowing.  Really, really slowing. Like no showings for Margot slow.   And then last week in the midst of all of the negativity, Margot was robbed!  We were lucky that it was only some of the appliances, but nonetheless, we have a mess on our hands to clean up, appliances to replace and floors to refinish....  I can't imagine what someone's mind set has to be to justify ripping something out of a home like that for their own gain.  It is a miserable feeling.  My heart goes out to all you folks who have ever had something stolen.  Just miserable.

So, we decided to make some changes.  I needed a new start mentally and well, financially, this is a big drain owning two homes here in the ATL.  So, we also decided to hedge our bets and list our home as well.  So, add on closets to clean out and a to-do list to be accomplished.  It's been a whirlwind.  So, here are a few pictures of what you've missed...

Hi again!

Well, I've been on summer hiatus.  Or maybe you could call it Facebook Hiatus.Or Better yet, Facebook Scramble Hiatus.  I'm bad.  Very bad.  Regardless, I've been absent.  And, I'm sorry for that.  Well, I've also been working, and trying to get some rest. I've got some plans for new projects and having meetings, hanging with my children, good friends, and of course my family.  That takes time. And takes me away from blogging about my mundane life.  

A few updates:  Finn has been accident free for a while.  But, he did get Strep Throat this week and pretty sure that he was the one who passed it to Carter.  Grrrrr.

Carter is just fun. He's a boy, wants to ride his bike, get messy and dodges questions from me like I was the plague.  Whatever.  He's so cute and just fun, so I forget that he is part teenager at almost 5.  He also had strep throat, but you wouldn't have know it unless you were his mama.

On a sad note, Rob and his family lost his final Grandparent, Granma.  She was almost 91. We were so sad to find out so suddenly.  She must be in a better place now.  But, I will never forget her lovliness--a true lady.  Where are those people on Earth here these days?  Gone.  Like Granma.    We miss you Granma!

So, we're off to other adventures.  No, Margot has not sold yet.  I'm in the very hopeful stage.  She is FINISHED though.  So, I'll be sure to take some pics when we have her inaugural party in a week or so.....keep reading and I'll post again soon.  Meanwhile, you can catch up with me on FACEBOOK. I'm obsessed and wanna be YOUR friend too :)

Love to you faithful readers!

Liz.

Our 4th!

Was  a lot of unexpected fun.  We woke up and weren't quite sure what the day would bring.  We started off the day by checking out the paper. We saw a few fun things to do and decided to check out this parade that was close to our house.  It was to dedicate a new Arch to the City of Atlanta.  When we arrived, it wasn't much except for a fancy private party for the families represented by the arch.  But, of course, we headed on into the party and checked it all out. We'll be back to see more. While we were waiting for the parade to start, a reporter stops to ask Rob a few questions.  Who knew it would end up as this......http://www.ajc.com/search/content/metro/stories/2008/07/05/gatemet.html

Once we were rested up, we were ready for the big event...Ansley.  We met some friends there and had a complete blast; swimming, eating a fabulous dinner, pony rides (I forgot my camera for this) and finally fire works.  A great day!!!!

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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Silly Ice Cream Boys

It's the end of the day.  The boys are relaxing after a day without me.  What do they do? Take their shirts off. Unexplainable I know, but they do this almost every day.  We decided to bake some cookies and have some ice cream to go with it.  Here's what we were left with:

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And the child that insists on diving into everything in life, including cookies and ice cream......here he is at the start of the dessert...

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And before long, this is what we had the pleasure of viewing :)

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It's been a slow few weeks at Margot...

Maybe it is because this is just what happens at this stage.  Maybe it is due to the fact that it is like 100 degrees here every day and I feel like nothing is getting done here.  Maybe I'm frustrated due to the lack of traffic looking at this house.  Or maybe it is moving along just fine and I'm a compulsive over-reactor?  Faithful readers, you tell me.  Let's take a tour, shall we?

Her lovely backside....all landscaped.

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Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Her front side now has landscape too and gutters.

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As for the inside..... She has a Music Room (no, living rooms are so passe) and a dining room

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And some cool coffered ceilings in the office

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And some impressive trim details like this in the entry way as you come into the family room/kitchen area

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And a kitchen full of base cabinets awaiting granite on monday. Appliances on Tuesday. And other cabinets to finish things off next week...

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She has a cool mudroom of cabinets with a bathroom at the end of this hall. Ya know, for all those almost-out-the-door-now -I've-gotta-go-moments.

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So, what do you think so far? Do you think someone will love her? Maybe once she has her finishing touches, she'll finally find that perfect family.....to be continued.

Blog Tag

I was just *tagged* on my friend Renee's blog.  You can check out her blog on my Internet Friends section over <-----------there.  If you don't know enough about me, here's some more for you :)  Otherwise, I'll bring a new post for your reading pleasure soon.

1)  Where were you 10 years ago? Working for InfoUSA/Donnelley Marketing.  I was in Sales and just started to travel all over the Southeast.  My biggest concern was what my Delta Medallion status was as well as selling as much as possible. I certainly don't care about SkyMiles any longer, but still working on selling things...some things just don't change.

2)  5 things on my to-do list today..

Serve Snacks at Carter and Finn's Camp

Fax in paperwork for Margot

Work on the Margot budget/pay bills/work on my never ending spreadsheets

Confirm various contractors who should be at Margot on Monday

Go to a movie with Rob

3.  Snacks that enjoy.....  Well, somedays all I eat are snacks.  I like to eat small meals often.  So, let's see, crackers, fruit, nuts (any kind), any kind of candy, sometimes a spoonful of ice cream right from the carton. I love coke zero and fresca.  Staples in our home.

4.  What would I do if I was a billionaire....  well, I am.  ha ha ha.  Ok, seriously, I would start to build an amazing *forever* home, or two perhaps.  One here in Atlanta and another on Sea Island.  I'd also be thinking of how to use money more wisely to affect those around me.  Not sure what that would be--which is probably why I'm not a billionaire.  See, I'd just use the money for myself :) 

Wow, that was it.  DId you enjoy it?  Learn anything?  Well, I"m up waaay too early b/c I can't sleep.  So, 'm off to make some coffee.  Enjoy your day :)

Another Margot Update

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We have have cabinets.

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And cute boys by a new front door...

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And a front yard to run in!
I'll post a few more of the front very soon.

What are we doing this summer?

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We finished up a season of tee ball.

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With a GRAND SLAM!

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo BooksBeen to the pool a LOT  Even a broken arm doesn't slow us down with swimming.

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Grew some butterflies from caterpillars.  How cool were they to watch?

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And ultimately release back to mother nature!

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So, that is what we have been up to.  It was a busy weekend for us with landscaping at Margot.  I'll update more on that later this week :)