New Place in Kansas

We found a duplex with a 2 car garage, patio and fenced backyard that allowed pets - all very hard to find. We ended up getting a 3 bedroom 2 bath with 1 living space. We've already begun making a list of things we need to sell before the move in order to fit into it. We're also going to have to buy some proper garage shelving to store everything. BUT all in all, we are happy. We like the location, its on the western edge of Manhattan (the largest town in the area) so Eric's commute will take 15-20 minutes. I can access post amenities, but live away from the military. There is also a cute neighborhood park close by.

What else do I like? umm - the yard won't be overwhleming to take care of when Eric deploys - its a good size but still smaller than what we had and no rock landscaping to keep weed-free. The range has a flat cooktop and an overhead microwave to make up for the lack of counter space. There are no stairs :-). There is a separate laundry room leading to the garage with a closet for storing dirty shoes and wet coats etc.

So I guess you could say we are happy with what we got - AFTER we got over the initial shock of how expensive everything was compared to Colorado. We decided to rent so that we did not have to stress the next time we move posts. I hate that we will live in less for about the same in KANSAS! But I am over having my fits. I just have to be happy and let all the bad stuff slide...

Eric Finishing Our Fence

We got $2900 less than our asking price but they said we had to finish the fence and paint the blue wall in Wyatt's room. I am painting the his room when it gets warmer and I can open his wondow. Poor Eric had to go outside in the cold and finish our fence this week. He's so damn handy! The neighbours also went halves with us so the fence was only a fraction of what it would have cost if we had to pay a contractor.

Spring Break Blizzard

Poor Wyatt. I was hoping to take him to the zoo and instead he got to dig in the snow.

Recent Cakes

Things Are Moving Along

We have our house inspection today and we are going to Kansas on Sunday to gt Eric signed into the new post. I have several appts to look at places to rent and hope to have a lease signed by the end of the week.

I am still having troubles finding a place to live! There are so few that accept pets. I even offered one place a $1000 pet deposit and they still declined our applicagtion based on the fact that Cleo is not declawed - even with 13 yrs of renting/owning history and references!

Right now the 2 front runners are small 3 bedroom duplexes that are about 1000sq ft smaller than we live right now. They are the only things I can find that are in our price range and accept pets. The first one is in a fantastic neighbourhood with the best elementary and preschool in town. I'd have yardwork and its only 1250 sqft. The second one is $100 less a month and only has a 1 car garage, but includes yard maintenance - but it feeds into a school that only got a 6 out of 10 for state testing standards. The other school got a 9 out of 10. Its also further from post...but closer to downtown Manhattan.

So...I guess I will see which one speaks to me! It may come down to which one is available!

We Have A Contract On Our House

After 6 weeks and only 3 people coming to look at our house, we have a contract! YAY! We did counter offer and, hopefully, tomorrow we will be finished negotiating. We had it on MLS for 3 weeks and dropped our price 10k and were starting to stress at the lack of activity.

If all goes well we will close in mid May and then we will rent the house from the owner until July 1st. Eric finishes school on July 22nd. So it gives me time to get our things moved and get unpacked before he comes to Kansas.

We leave this Sunday to go back to Kansas so that Eric can in-process on base. We'll be there for the week and then we'll come home and Eric will leave the day after Easter to drive to Ft. Rucker for school.

I am hoping the contract on the house is finalized by the end of the week so that I can find a place to rent in Manhattan and sign a lease agreement.

If everything goes smoothly, I should be feeling much relief - house sold, a place to live in Kansas. :-)

Red Hat Club Around The Corner?

Lately, I have felt like having more fun with my appearance and also a lot more girly then I have ever been. Last night I went out with my hair curly with a big teal flower in it! I am still terrible at chosing accessories. I thought about earings or a larger, colorful necklace or bracelet and I couldn't do it - I just felt over done. But I did get the flower clip and a black purse with a teal stripe on it. :-) Don't ask me what's going on in this picture - I have no idea.

Change of Command

Eric's Troop had a change of command today. I made the cake. Its the first time I have made a helicopter out of fondant or tried to do the digital camoflauge. I've been getting braver with my creations and, luckily, the person that asked me to make it gave me full creative liscence. I try to just say thank you when I get compliments. But I have to tell you something that drives me crazy when I look at this cake - 1.) the icing on the bottom layer was not smooth, 2.) the patches are not aligned 3.) the top of the top layer was messed up from me relocating the helicopter. So there you have it! My confessions!

Mummy its your show...

Wyatt turned on the t.v. and turned around to me with a solem face and whined "mummy its YOUR show". I looked up and saw that the news was on and went back to what I was doing. Wyatt continued "its Barack Obama".

I stopped breathing for a second and asked him what he just said - he repeated "its Barack Obama". I was in shock! It WAS Obama!

When I told Wyatt's preschool teacher, she explained that they had talked about the Presidents of the US when it was Predient's Day and put up a poster of the newest President. Eric and I were amazed! But if you ask Wyatt WHO Barack Obama is, he will tell you "he dresses nice". LOL

Quiz

I took a quiz on FaceBook and this is what the answer said:

The country
You are tired of living in a crowded place where there's too much concrete and not enough green. You want to live out in the country, preferably somewhere with a barn, a river and lots of wide open spaces where you can unwind and enjoy the quiet.

Isn't that funny?! Its almost like I was set up! In any case, I went back in and retook the damn quiz and I got Paris the next time. MUCH BETTER! Hilarius!

Wyatt's First Skateboard

At The Playground

Hanging In There

We recently drove to KS to check out our next post. I had done a lot of research prior to going and felt positive about the trip. HOWEVER, once there, I felt like I was suffocating! There are so many farms that I felt trapped. I felt anxious. I felt like I had no options other than the tiny town of 50,000 people to seek refuge.

Even though the town is cute and the people are friendly, I found myself holding my breath and repeating to myself "its going to be o.k., its going to be o.k.". But the truth is, I felt this pit in my stomach growing as we tried to find a home to rent that would suit our needs. Due to the fact that Manhattan, KS is home to Kansas University, most renters are college students. This makes the land lords very weary of people with pets - hence, it seems that 95% of them will not accept pets and those that do charge a premium or require your cat to be declawed. My cat is 13yrs old, I am opposed to declawing. I find myself in a situation where I am considering it just so we can have a nice place to live.

Its also been difficult to find something within our housing allowance. So I agreed to consider post housing. I'd prefer to NOT live on post just because I like to have a life outside the military and Eric's job. However, the housing situation in Manhattan was looking bleak so we checked out the quarters we qualified for. I looked passed the tiny galley kitchen, I looked passed the fact thare there was one toilet, I looked passed the fact that there was street parking only, but I couldn't look passed the tiny bedrooms and tiny closets - we couldn't fit our dresser in the same room with our bed! When I asked the lady what people did about the lack of closet space, she said people set up clothing racks in the basement. Yes - there was an unfinished basement where the washer and dryer would be...

Then we went to look at the newer neighbourhood. One of the housing officers referred to this area and the post ghetto when talking my girlfriend. I think that just about sums it up. They were townhomes and it seemed like everyone was crammed into each street - crap bursting out of each home, toys strewn all over the yards. The floorplans looked like they would accommodate us though.

Lastly, we went to see the newest housing - it was gorgeous! We were told we'd have little to no chance of getting into that housing. Why? Well, because they are giving that housing to people that are being moved out of homes that need to be updated. I still keep hope that we might get lucky.

We then looked at the tiny little town on the other side of post. Strip clubs, liquor stores, pawn shops...some of the main drag was cute. There is some affordable housing in this area and places that accept pets though...lucky us!

Then I found out that Wyatt won't be able to go to preschool unless I pay for him to go because there is a shortage of spaces available in Manhattan - even though he has a speech delay! We get free preschool at a wonderful school here in Colorado. I am ticked off! Wyatt has two more years until kindergarden! Also, we're told that some of the schools are so crowded that they are not accpeting new students and that once I do find a place to live, I should call that school to make sure they will take Wyatt for the grade he needs. I haven't even bothered to start calling around about Kindergarden yet - it just makes me sick.

Oh - did I tell ya about the medical care? I'll be driving 4 hrs return to Kansas City for Wyatt's opthalmologist, geneticist, endocrinologist, ENT and the cleft clinic. The good news is that I will get reimbursed for my mileage. We also have the option of staying with Denver providers and making the 7hr drive each way...an option I am considering, but not favoring.

So...basically I am hating the Army right now. I have to leave my beautiful house, my son can't get into preschool and I have to live in a tiny town in the middle of Kansas. SORRY!!! I JUST CAN'T BE POSITIVE RIGHT NOW! I AM PISSED OFF!

Also add Eric leaving again for 3 months, being told to expect another 12 month deployment sometime after March 2010 and us more than likely losing money on our house and ummm...yeah...I'm not a happy camper...don't try to talk me out of it! It sucks! I am allowed to say it sucks! I'll get over it sooner or later and make the best of it. For now, I just want to scream until I pass out!

Christine's Bridal Shower Cake, Favors and A Baby Shower Cake

Wyatt IS Potty Trained!

Wyatt hasn't had an accident for a couple weeks. The mystery cars worked! He's even going on the big potty so I don't have to deal with his yucky training potty anymore! I am so happy!

Now to get him though the night dry. Right now he wakes up somewhere between 2am and 5am asking to be changed because he is wet. We never had a problem with him waking up in the evenings before - so this phase needs to get over and done with SOON!

I also forgot to say that Sandi introduced the "Spiderman Club" in order to encourage Wyatt to poo on the potty. She told Wyatt that when he did the right thing that Spiderman would call him. Later that day, we were at home and Eric was in TX, and Wyatt went to the toilet and asked me when Spiderman was going to call. I had our friend, Andrew, call and pretend to be Spidey and congratulation Wyatt for pooing on the potty. It was hilarious! Wyatt was over the moon.

One More????

Eric and I are in a debate right now about whether or not to have one more child. We both love our family so much and can both see the joy in having another baby - boy or girl! However, I would need to get pregnant between now and April in order to have the baby before he leaves for Iraq again. That poses two issues -1. me hormonal and possibly nausious while looking after Wyatt, moving to KS alone and dealing with our house. 2. Eric would leave very soon after the baby was born, which, in itself sucks but, if the baby has Wyatt's genetic issues it will be added stress for me looking after a newborn on my own.

I am also worried about affording college for Taryn in 2 yrs and then trying to save for Wyatt's college and retirement - how can we afford a third?

So there ya go - one more or not? I've told Eric no more, but he's not convinced.

What's Going On

So this is what we know so far:

1.)Eric will be leaving around the 10th-12th April, checking into Ft. Riley, KS and then going to Ft. Rucker, AL for Instructor Pilot Course. The course is 3 months long and when he finishes he will return to Ft. Riley to start work as an instructor pilot for the squadron.

2.) We are putting our house on the market tomorrow - For Sale By Owner. We'll decide in another month or two if we should get an agent involved. I can move to Kansas as early as mid April since Eric will have signed in on his way to Rucker. Then in May/June if we are having no luck selling the house we will try to rent it out. The houses in our neighbourhood rent quickly and we'd try to have someone move in on July 1st. That way I can move to Riley and get unpacked just before Eric is finished with IPC. I am not nervous or stressed about taking care of the house on my own or the drive to Kansas or finding a place to live and unpacking etc. But it will be a lot of work and and I an anxious to have it all finished with.

3.) We are going to Kansas the last weekend in Feb to scope out a few rentals and the on-post housing. I really want to live in Manhattan and not on post, but it will come down to what we can get for our money. We are going to have to live in a much smaller house in order to afford the rent. So we are busy downsizing right now. I have found some small duplexes with 2 car garages and 2 living areas and 3 bedrooms within our housing allowance - they are 1000 sq ft less than what we live in now! But I keep telling Eric he won't be living with us for most of the time we are there and it will be nice to not have as much house to worry about and no yard maintenance. We are on the waitlist for the post housing and its apparently a 6-9 month wait...hmmm.

So that's it - WE HAVE A PLAN! That, in itself, is a huge relief. I am excited to see what happens with the house and where we are going to live in Kansas. I was just telling Eric that I love moving every few years because I love purging all the junk from our home. Is that sick? :-)

Keeps us in your thoughts and wish us good luck!

Full Length of My Dress

I got drunk early and didn't concentrate on getting a picture of my dress. Then, because I am short, most of the pics are just my head or from the boobs up! This pic just surfaced and its the best shot of my dress. I have a belly still - need that damn tummy tuck and still got a lot of junk in the trunk as you can see. Oh well, better than it used to be right?!

My Boys

Wyatt loves to wear the same things as Eric. How cute are they?!

Wall-E Cake

Recent Cakes

I designed this cake to match baby bedding for a baby shower. I loved making the animals. If I could do it again, I would do the cake in cream and not green.

Recent Cakes

I love the way the Skully cake turned out - it was for a 1st yr party.

More Ball Pics

Breaking In Stetsons At The Ball

mmmm that must have tasted good!


So CAV means cavalry, which started as soldiers on horses. Our unit is a CAV unit, so the guys wear Stetsons and spurs when they are in "dress blues". Its all a bit like a fraternity and there are traditions/hazing that the guys go through. One of those traditions is "breaking in your stetson". Now keep this in mind when looking at the pictures - these hats cost over $100, they are not cheap.

These are pictures of our friend, Pell, who joined the troop mid deployment and hadn't had the chance to get his Stetson broken in. The Squadron Commander and the 1st Sargent wheeled out a keg of "grog". Eric tells me that grog is a mixture of lots of different alcaholic beverages. They both drank some grog, which was funny and a part of some other tradition, I was too drunk to undguyserstand it all. Anyway, after they had their drink in the middle of the ballroom, all the rushed in and got some grog to pour into the new guys' Stetsons. Each member of the troop takes a turn pouring something into the hat and then the new guy gets to drink the disgusting mess from their Stetsons. Eric had hot sauce and all kinds of stuff put in his when they broke his hat in before the deployment. Funny stuff!

Follow Us! and Becky's Bites

O.K. so I was just on Becky's blog and saw a cool new feature called "follow this blog". Click on the link to the right and follow instructions and then I can see who follows my blog!

Also, I have added another link for you to enjoy called "Becky's Bites". Becky shares my love for cooking and ,for some reason, I just now discovered that she has this great blog which lists recipes she's enjoyed. FAB-U-LOUS!

Lump In My Throat

2 Kiowa helicopters were reported down today. The crash happend near Kirkuk where Eric was posted. The 4 fallen soldiers were a part of the squadron that took over for ours. It leaves a lump in your throat and a knot your stomach.

My chest hurts. My heart is heavy. My sincere condolences to the families invloved.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jq5PrXexwKeUAXgsnSixYX8wsjFg

OMG!

I am designing a bridal shower cake for my friend Christine. I went to google and typed in "bridal shower cakes" and clicked on "images". I was looking at all the pictures, getting ideas, and then I saw MY CAKE! That's right! On page 6 of the search was my cake and a link to my website. How cool is that?! I've attached the link because I am too freakin' proud of myself! :-)

http://images.google.com/images?ndsp=18&um=1&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:*:IE-SearchBox&q=bridal+shower+cakes&start=90&sa=N

Things Wyatt Likes

1.) The Imagination Movers. Eric and I actaully enjoy watching them with him. They are 4 guys about our age that solve problems by brain storming and using their imaginations. Wyatt L-O-V-E-S them! He dances to all their songs. I've embedded a video of the song they do at the end of every show. Eric and I walk around singing it! LOL Wyatt knows all the dance moves.



2.)Lightning McQueen. He got into the movie, Cars, the summer before Eric left and then after about...10 months the fascination died out. Well, its back - and its back BIG!

3.)Spiderman. I don't know why because he hasn't seen a Spiderman movie. I think its because Eric likes Spidey. He has a Spidey back pack, plate and cup and pjs. One of our friends gave us some pjs that look like a costume and sometimes Wyatt like to wear the pjs to play in during the day - he goes up to his room and puts them on.

4.)Sportacus (not Spartacus) from Lazy Town. When Eric and Wyatt play, Wyatt will tell Eric he wants to do a "lazy town". What he wants Eric to do is flip him in the air. In fact, the other day Wyatt fell out of the shopping cart at Lowes. He came home and told me that he did a "lazy town" out of the cart with daddy. So now that's what I tell him when he is in the cart - "sit down Wyatt, you don't want to do a lazy town do you?!". Today he asked me if he could be Sportacus when he grows up.

Whew!

I am finally caught up on my posts!