We're all a bit crafty here

I am working on something crafty for the kids' easter baskets.  Ruby got an animal pompom kit for christmas that I am riffing off of.  So far I've made three bunnies, two ducklings and a blue bird chick.  

I put them on the top shelf of the book case in my office, thinking the kids would never notice them there (I have actually put gifts FOR THEM in the cart at Target and they haven't noticed-generally, they are not observant little people). But Soph spied them and it was love at first sight. She came into the living room after the other kids had fallen asleep to discuss naming them.  I admitted that I am planning on putting them in easter baskets (no flinch from her), she then requested that the big bunny, Humphrey, she's calling him, be hers.

Yesterday she was secretly inspecting the bluebird, trying to mentally reverse engineer how I made it, when she tugged a bit too hard and the knot holding his head and body together slipped loose.  She came into the kitchen and sorrowfully admitted the mishap.  No biggie, I can stitch them back together, just leave it on my desk. Oops. Ruby spied him sitting there, waiting to be mended. The jig is up. I am still going to put them, in baskets, hopefully this won't lead to the demise of Santa. (Although I'd probably be okay with that pesky shelf elf taking a hike.)

Renovations, Rentals and Reality

UGH. Reality. It just sucks.

We fixed up and sold our home, moved across the country, lived in our (technically my in-law's) house for five months and then moved into a rental house right after halloween so that renovations could start.  Five months, maybe six, is what we were told by the contractor.  We were super lucky to find a rental in the same neighborhood as the house we are renovating.  We signed a six month lease with the option to go month to month afterward, understanding that no one can predict the weather and construction almost always takes longer than predicted.

And so we come to this moment.  Last week our contractor told us our house should be ready by the time the kids go back to school in the fall.  um. Right,  because May is before the fall.

August. He means August.  Well alright, we'll just set it up with our landlord...

Aaaannnd... the homeowner of our rental has just informed us that he's made arrangements for renovations on this house to begin May 1.  And he wants us out.

I have some ideas, some thoughts... We're going to try to negotiate a bit, but I am pretty sure this is going to end with our paying to put all of our stuff (toys, books, bedding, art supplies, entertainment) in storage and living with my in-laws for 8 weeks, until the kids are out of school and we can escape to their other house, up in the mountains.

Holy shit, what am I going to do with three kids stuck with my in-laws and none of their own stuff for EIGHT WEEKS?! Lets not forget that neither my husband nor I go to work everyday. oh sweet lord.

Hindsight: Arrangements and Agreements

One thing that is common knowledge is that real estate prices in California far outstrip the rest of the country. It won't be possible for us to sell our 2/3 paid for house in Raleigh and buy a house near Steve's parents. We might be able to find something for which $200,000 could be a downpayment, but it would be small and badly in need of renovation. (This is Crazy, right? $1,000,000 fixer upper) Even if we did find something livable, we couldn't afford the mortgage on a professor's salary.

And this is the thing that will prevent us from moving. (guilty internal sigh of relief)

When I point this out, Steve replies, "Well, maybe my folks can help us a bit. I'll talk to my dad about it."

And that was the beginning of the end of any discussion. Of course his dad was SO VERY on board that just a day later I caught him searching Zillow for a house for us. My in-laws decided they would buy a house for us to live in as an investment property, and then, eventually, we'll inherit it, instead of cash. Awesome. Amazing. Insanely Generous.

hashtag blessed hashtag firstworldproblems Right?

They are truly fantastic people who deeply care about family and want us all near.

And yet, I'm not so into it. I am a stay at home mom. I haven't held a job in 11 years. I am about to sell off the single thing I have that creates an illusion of something close to financial security. I am about to get rid of all equity. We will have nothing to our name but our cars. This gives me the cold sweats.

So we will drive around their town before we fly back to NC and try to figure out roughly where we'd like to be. We have 7 months or so to find a place.

In the meantime I will practice deep breathing and try to ride the coattails of Steve's excitement about moving. What I really do is dive deep into the Outlander novel series and start drinking a lot more.

Local flavor

I'm headed into the city today with a friend to take a sourdough bread making class.

Judith is my first friend that I made out here in California, all on my own without being introduced by any of my in-laws. We met at the "new families" night at the kids' elementary school. She is also new to town (by way of Philadelphia) but much more super adventurous and ready to jump into the whole idea of being in a new place and learning all about it than I am. I am completely happy to tagalong with her to learn what I can.

Maybe being with her will help me embrace this place.

We've been here for six months now and I still haven't driven into San Francisco on my own. We're about 7 miles from the center of Goldengate bridge going to Google maps.

I have driven repeatedly to Muir Woods, there's something pretty great in hiding in the trees' towering quiet. (And don't forget the banana slugs, they're pretty cool, too.)

 I am unadventurous, uninspired and lame, I know. I'm also convinced I'm depressed and not really fully in acceptance of being here.

Homework Help

How do you get your kids to let you help them with the mechanics of homework and studying?

I have a million ideas for getting them organized: folders, dividers, highlighters, post its! This is the crap I live for.  Office supply stores are one of my favorite places to go.  So much promise.

Most of these aren't my own, original ideas.  In the eighth grade we were required to take a semester of "study skills."  The teacher gave us binders and dividers, showed us how to set them up with our subjects in the order we had them and then added pockets with "to do" and "to turn it" on either side.  She showed us different ways to organize each class with internal tabs of "notes" "homework," "class work." She taught us note taking strategies for lectures, watching movies, reading articles and textbooks. Not to mention all the silly test taking strategies, remember "if it's multiple choice and you aren't certain, chose 'C'?  Her class stuck with me, it got me through high school and college.

Now if I could just convince my kids that I have real, tested, solid ideas.