Ok, so I can’t share all the news yet, but yes, there is a house, and if all goes well, we’ll be closing mid-July. I’m experiencing a mix of total bliss, excitement and absolute terror…the stomach-churning bleed-out of money is finally upon us.

All worth it in the end, I suspect…but don’t be surprised if you see us sitting on folding chairs and eating ramen noodles for awhile.

Inspection tomorrow!

I love what my friend Tracy wrote about Summer.

I pretty much agree with her 100%. C’mon, people. I did live in Chicago for 10 years.

Don’t ask me about my quest today to find a couple easy, breezy summer dresses to wear every day. I’ve been everywhere. I can’t find anything that’s not empire-waist/maternity-looking or $128. Where are all of the $19.99 buys?? Oh, that’s right, in the Junior section at Dillards. Need I say more??

Come September, I’m golden. Flowy Anthro sweaters, infinity scarves, boots of all shapes and sizes. Cashmere, dark wash jeans, hoodies, Uggs! Somehow I always feel more put together and yes, smell better between September and March. Summer makes me feel sweaty, what makeup I do put on runs down my face, and my pasty skin screams, “No, I don’t tan, I burn!!”

So, over the past year I’ve splurged on Lululemon (I know, Honey, those days are over) and pretty much live in my precious luon all day, every day. But guess what? It’s too damn hot here to wear Lulu, so I spend my days pinning back the ill-fated bangs I got before we moved and walking around in the same two pairs of running capris. Sigh.

It’s Fall soon, right?

1. Baby Ella is 7 months old today! Can you believe it? Her hand/eye coordination has dramatically improved and she is talking up a storm. She’s able to sit unassisted in the Boppy for about two seconds before she starts to topple over. Rolling over is now an everyday occurrence – last night was the first time I caught her sleeping on her stomach. Her “baby” hair has fallen out and what’s growing in could be mistaken for cornsilk, it’s that blonde. Thatta girl. Can’t get that from a bottle!

E is a total joy. She’s more of a snuggler than Charlie ever was. Her soft breath as she nuzzles into my neck combined with her sweet baby smell is the perfect end to any day. Little Pea.

2. I’ve been so worried about getting Charlie into a mother’s day out/pre-preschool program this fall, naturally, because it’s super late in the game and most places are filled by now. However, I’m pleased to announce that persistence pays off – my little pistol will be an official schoolgirl come September! She’ll be in the 2 year old class at Frisco’s 1st United Methodist Church (being a September birthday, she’ll always be on the cusp of two age groups). At FUMC they divide the classes up by birthdays, so Charlie will be in school alongside kids that are within 3 months of her.

After I got off the phone with the assistant director I ran around the house screaming (which you know got Charlie super excited). I am just SO excited for her. She’ll make new friends, learn in a Christian environment, AND take music and “creative movement”. I KNOW! Great, right????!!!!

Of course, there is some selfishness involved – she’ll be going to school Tuesdays and Thursdays from…wait for it…9 am to 2:30 pm. Um, hello????!!!

We’ll have the opportunity to tour the facilities during one of the summer day camps and there is an orientation night in August that the whole family is invited to. I’m already starting to feel nervous – what will I wear??? Will we make new friends too???

Tomorrow morning I’m off to house-hunt again, this time with Vann and Charlie in tow. Wish us luck!!

I kinda feel like those annoying women on HGTV’s “House Hunters”…you know, the ones who can’t be satisfied with anything?? Unfortunately our hunting has yet to produce any solid leads. There are two houses that have potential, but I’m just not sure how much “value-adding” I’m up for.

You know that housing inventory boom that was supposadly huge in Frisco? Yeah, turns out all of those houses have been sold. I’ve learned a ton though, never thought I’d know what radiant barrier is…or care that my girls have a jack and jill bath. I had no idea it was this complicated!

Vann flies in on Friday to share the load this weekend. Thank the Lord because I’m over it.

Don’t they say that moving is one of the most stressful events in life? I’d say that observation is right on track considering how awful our experience was. I won’t bore you with the details, but suffice to say we are truly blessed to have such amazing friends.

In the end, Vann and his Dad drove those damn 16 foot trucks (yes, there were two, and yes, they drove them all night) 800 miles to our storage unit in Frisco. Thank the Lord they made it in one piece. I stood in the alley watching them drive away, sobbing. Not just because we had finally arrived at “the” moment, but because I’d never been so tired and so stressed out in my LIFE. Luckily, I had the weekend to recoup, clean the apartment, and spend time erasing the last 24 hours from my memory.

Good thing I have such lovely women in my life because two consecutive nights of being loved on and pampered by my nearest and dearest did not disappoint. Court and I spent our time drinking and looking through pics from ten years ago and laughing…boy, did we laugh. She set me up with a cozy bed and a “gift basket” full of fresh towels, an In Touch weekly, a bottle of wine, and teeny toiletries – great idea, right?? Got to do this for people who come visit us in our new home! Sunday Em rescued me from cleaning with lunch and then took me to her place for a night of drinking, sushi-eating, and Hulu-watching. How can you top that weekend??

The actual turning in of keys happened on Monday morning and was accompanied by a hugely emotional goodbye to our dear upstairs neighbors, Jill and Carl. I can’t tell you how weird it was to get in the car and back out of the garage that last time. I thought I might be cried out – but turns out after a total of 4 super hard goodbyes those last two days there were STILL tears in these puffy eyes.

And so it goes. I picked Poppy up from the airport and we hit the road. 48 hours later, I’m on Texas soil and dude, it is hot here. I mean, seriously.

My girls are great, cute as always and loving being here. I took them for a walk this morning and learned the hard way that in Texas, you gotta get movin’ early if you are going to make it in this heat. Turns out 9 am is TOO LATE for intentionally sweating. You should have seen me, huffing and puffing up and down the cul-de-sac’s and hills in my parent’s hood. This old gal couldn’t even make it an hour out there – I think the only other times I’ve sweated like that is in Bikram yoga (where the room is 95 degrees)!! Tomorrow we’ll try for 8 and see how we do.

The house-hunt has begun. What fun!! I have my first official day of showings this coming weekend, and I’m pumped. Lots to see, lots of decisions to make…

Now comes the fun part.