The Farmhouse Before The Roedners Beautified It.

painted house

This is the painted house in progress. Click the picture to see more... not organized in a "set."

Makin' It OURS!

All day yesterday the painters were busy gussy-ing up our new place. Nothing like a fresh coat of ORANGE to brighten your day and make you smile... Sure, it served a jolt to walk into the room before the paint was dry, but after putting up some accessories, I'm confident we'll love this color for a long, long time. The painters are also working on our living room and front bath cabinets. By the time they are done they will look like real wood and be all distressed-like. We'll have the final results by Tuesday.

We're gonna fix up the outside, too.New orange-brown paint for all the front doors and porch posts and add black shutters and light fixtures. By the time we're done, we'll be ready to move in and never, ever leave.... As if we weren't already jumping to do so. Man, we love this house.

Click on the picture to see more....

A New Place to Call Home

It's official! We're new homeowners in Lakeway. We're all giddy with excitement. Even little Rosa Jane loves the house and has already learned to climb the stairs!
Later today we will introduce Hanky to the place and camp there overnight to greet the painters bright and early tomorrow.

My Life as Activities Director

Install carpet here, here and there.
Paint this, that and the other.
Wrap, wrap, wrap the china.
Pack heavy books into the small boxes.
Pry tape gun from 8mos Rosa Jane's sticky fingers.
Purge clothes from closet.
Empty dishwasher daily.
Play mental games with furniture in new space.
Transfer electric, cable, water, propane, garbage, etc.

Saturday at the new house we noticed a newborn fawn curled up in the backyard flowerbed. She wasn't moving a muscle all save wittle nose twitches. I couldn't resist petting it.

This morning while participating in round II at the dentist, I'm telling them about our sweet wildlife fortune... they are quick to point out how the deer love to eat roses and any other prettiness I might desire for our landscaping. If that weren't enough, they even shared horror stories of maulings by aggressive deer --just what the reindeer, the pixie junior (RJ the PJ), the kb-ster, and hank bob speckled pants really need. :-)

If we needed any more signs that this house is perfect for us: there is a new elementary school being built and scheduled to open next August. It is a half mile and easy walking distance from the new house and across from the swim center. The Seller just won the school board election. I told him we were counting on him to do great things.

Also, as you are driving, the streets preceeding our turnoff are named after kindred reindeer: Comet, Vixen, Dasher, etc. We should apply to change Rudder to Donner. Besides, Roedners on Rudder is quite the alliteration and nevermind Rosa Roedner on Rudder. Try it. Say it three times fast and where does it get you? Thinking Roedners on Donner is much better, eh? ;-)

We close on Friday and we're thinking of taking the inflatable mattress, RJ's pack n' play, and Hank to camp out at the new locale. What do you think?

Here is my latest nickname for my big crush:
Rosie Posie, Parker-Posey-Sunshine-Head
You should see her smile.

So Happy I Could Cry

We have had a really sweet day with Miss Rosa Jane. Don surprised me with a four-page note written to Rosa Jane all about our interactions as Mother and Daughter. It made me cry.

In the picture, Rosa Jane is laughing so hard being in her Daddy's secure arms. Click on the pictures to see more from today.

Hello in there! Have you seen my mommy?

It's mother's day and I'm looking everywhere for my mommy. I want to give her a big kiss, but all I see are boxes and wrapping paper. If you see her, will you tell her I'm looking for her. Come get me soon, mommy. I miss you.

monkey see, monkey do

I adore 7.5 months Rosa Jane! This age looks so good on her! She's so cutie-pie, precious pants! Her latest trick is trying to give a kiss. She's been taking in everything we do, but it seems only now that she's at the age where she is actually try to do them, too. It's very exciting and playing with her is that much more fun.

Pulling Up to Get a Better View

Rosa Jane makes her move to get on with life as a walking, talking human-being.

Tired of her baby limitations, she crawls fast and pulls up on things (furniture, mom's pant leg, etc) for a new perspective on life. When she doesn't like being put down for a nap, she now climbs up the railings and stands there screaming off her fool head... hoping anyone will come save her. I like to send Hanky into her room to distract her from crying. Too bad he doesn't like being in the same room with a crybaby. What's a Mom to do?

Here are a few things Rosa Jane brakes for: magazines, paper, pens, computer cords, a real-live cell phone, TV remote controls, and especially the boing, boing sound of the door-stopper. Honey will be apalled at this next one: Hanky's water bowl, but Rosa Jane likes the big swishing mess it makes.
Notice I didn't mention any of her toys.

At Tuesday's playgroup, several moms were awed by how fast RJ is getting around when compared to their 8 and 9 month old babies. I just tried to tell them it wasn't necessarily a good thing. But still, I'm crazy mad for her. I mean, just look at her, will ya? Impossible not to love.

Money Changes Everything

Last Friday our bank account balance read $7.75 after a check went through that we weren't prepared for. I went to the bank to fight with them to release the holds on my deposits. Today I went back to the bank to deposit our entire life savings of coins found between the cushions -- some thirty pounds of hamiltons and lincolns. The experience between this week and last week couldn't have been more different. Today, with the proceeds from our condo sell in hand, they were falling all over themselves to be nice to me. That's why it was even more ironic when I thanked my lucky stars when the parking for moms with babies spot was available when I needed it most at the local HEB. I was unstrapping little RJ and fastening her into the baby bjorn when this woman yelled at me from her white Lexus SUV, "... that her friend had given her this spot and she was "circling around" to take the spot herself... that was when I nabbed it. I said, "oh really, I didn't know..."
"Yes, REALLLLLY!! Will you GET OUT OF MY SPOT NOW?!?"

"Sure," I said. Thinking she must have 5 snotty bratty kids. I backed into the spot directly across the aisle and proceeded to get RJ out. As it turned out, Ms. Poohead has just one 5 yr old... old enough to walk and not be so much trouble. I just glared at her and followed her throughout the store.

I bought daisies to make me feel better. Meanwhile, I hate that woman and her mean ways.