House Hunters... East Coast Edition

E and K are searching for a home to rent at their new duty station. They have narrowed it down to three.

Their budget is $2054 (BAH... Basic Allowance for Housing). A good school system, lots of room, and allowance for pets is important.

Here are the choices:

House #1

Upsides: A former model home, loaded with everything... builder trying to show off. 3500 square feet; finished basement with den, wet bar, and pool table room; HUGE master bedroom with jacuzzi tub, fireplace and two walk in closets; kitchen with stainless steel appliances, double ovens and island Jenn-Aire; deck with gazebo; house wired for internet and sound through-out; gas fireplace on main level and finished basement.

Downsides: Located on a corner lot with virtually no yard; close proximity to neighbors; escalating lease ($1900 year 1, $2000 year 2 & $2100 year 3); e would have to ride the bus past a place called the 'insanity farm' with beware of dog signs; no parks except for an open field with 5 picnic tables; water damage (with mold) to the basement and dead yard.

House #2

Upsides: HUGE yard; nicely landscaped; wrap-around front/side porch; above ground pool; wood burning fireplace; master bedroom with stand alone shower and jacuzzi tub; owners leaving riding lawnmower; close proximity to the bay; partially finished attic space for office or craft room; full mud room; walking distance to elementary school; secluded location.

Downsides: tending for yard and landscaping, tons of leaf raking; pool maintenance; single sink master bathroom and bedroom with small closets; older home; kitchen could stand to be remodeled; rickety fence around pool; no basement.

House #3

Upsides: Lowest rent price ($1700); unfinished basement (lots of room for girls to ride bikes inside); 'designer' color through out house; washer/dryer upstairs; HUGE master bedroom with great closet, large tub and separate shower; nice kitchen with island, cherry cabinets, side-by-side refrigerator; first house we looked at and loved; gas fireplace.

Downsides: Door to deck has no deck; SMALL yard not watered since tenants left in June... dead; hurricane (2 years ago) knocked down trees in the backyard (county land) trees remain knocked down; designer paint out of control in some rooms; bedrooms, other than master, are small; propane heating for water heater... what??; located in same subdivision as house #1... same bus problem arises.

We had no idea that we would find this many possibilities... all in one day. PLEASE help us make a decision. What do you think? What is important for you or us? HELP!!

Good Morning from the East Coast!

For those of you who don't know, E and I on vacation, I mean 'house hunting'.

After 13 hours of travel, we finally made it to our hotel. But it didn't matter how long it took because we weren't dealing with kids and strollers and car seats and pack-n-plays and diaper bags and and and. Our flights were a pleasure. I was able to sleep and work and sleep and complete a whole entire crossword puzzle... unheard of!

After driving 2 hours south, we finally were on the main strip through town and were welcomed by all of my favorites... Target, Pier 1, Old Navy, and so much more. I think we are going to like it here.

This morning we were able to sleep in until 8:30, well really 5:30 PMT, but who cares. I had the most enjoyable shower where no one was trying to get in it or throwing something in the shower with me or constantly opening the curtain to tell me something... just me and my hot shower. Then, I dried my hair with a gentle breeze called the Oster 1200 Watt hotel drier... and it didn't matter how long it took because nobody needed to get to school or be fed or changed or anything. And E couldn't care less because he is currently be held prisoner by the latest Dune book and won't be released until it has it's way with him.

We are heading to the housing office in a little bit to see what they have available and then off to a couple of house appointments. BUT not before we go to the NEX to pick up a disposable camera since we didn't bring either of our digitals. I have no idea how we didn't... I even promised e that I would bring her pictures of her new house. I am a wonderful mother... on top of things, I am.

More later...

I Want My Thing, Mama

In this house, pacifiers are referred to as things. Don't know why, they just are. It started with e and stuck.

KK is so much like e with her things. Yep, plural. e had two, KK has I don't even know how many. And everyday, at some point, we get to play a rousing game of where's A thing. I have no idea what she does with them and she will have inevitably hidden them when the need for them is the greatest. She starts crying and whining, 'I want my thing Mama,' and we spring into action searching high and low for them. And when we find one, it's not the one she likes. We have already played one game this morning. Sound fun, huh? Wanna come over and play?

Then magically, KK returns from playing out back and hands you these. And balance is restored. (See S , we DO have a cat.)


Good luck to Grandma and Grandpa who will be watching the girls next week while we go house hunting. I might even tell you where my secret 'emergency' one is hidden.

Daylight Savings Time

Did ya'll remember to set your clocks back? We didn't, but the e and her friend M reminded us. I would highly recommend having a sleepover the next time it rolls around. 5:30 is a wonderful time to get out of bed on a Sunday.

Have a great day!

Happy Halloween!

I'm a little behind, but I'm sure you can all forgive me, right? We had a great time this Halloween. We live in a fabulous neighborhood where everyone decorates and they go crazy. We have one guy who digs graves in his yard. It is so cool to walk around here. Lots of the locals actually come to our neighborhood to trick-or-treat. We walked past someone who was talking about how nice it was to come here and that it's so safe. And I started thinking about how really nice it is to live here. The safeness of this place could be that it is a military community; we have every branch represented, as well as every specialty. And most people here have kids. So combining a highly trained soldier with a protective parent, makes one potent combination. Anyway, I am rambling. Bring on the pictures.

Batgirl and Supergirl. Batgirl's mask went missing so I had to improvise with water-proof mascara. Crisis averted... pain in the butt to wash off.


Here is the gang that we went trick-or-treating with.


After our dinner of Halloween pizza. How cool. I love Papa Murphy's.


KK and her boyfriend getting the hang of things.


e and her best friend from school, M.


This little bug took a break from singing Barbie's Princess and the Pauper to say 'cheese'.


This picture doesn't nearly capture how many people were out trick-or-treating.


And of course, you need one of these rides so you can eat your candy with no hitches.


Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!

What is With Kids and Undergarments?

This is e when she was almost 1. She found herself a new stylish purse.


And here's KK as found yesterday in e's room with the door closed. Yep, those are e's underpants on her head and yep, she's really excited about it.

I Can't Smell Through Plastic!

I've heard mention that I've been a little long-winded lately so, Trailer, this is for you.

E and I were at the store last week and I remembered that we needed new airfreshners. I handed this to him and said, 'What do you think?'. He handed it back and said, 'How am I supposed to know? I can't smell through plastic!'.


Ahh!! I am not the only one with moments.