Grandma

My grandma collected cow knick-knacks.  But not because she wanted to.  She said someone gave her a cow, and then other people saw that cow and started getting her more cows.  So, she had a cow-themed kitchen, but not of her choosing. 

She crocheted.  She made afghans for many of us grandkids.  She quilted.  She made clothes for her 13 kids when they were little. 

She was madly in love with grandpa.  They met while he was a medic in WWII.  He was a friend of her brother in the 21st infantry.  My 18-year-old future grandma wrote letters to a few of the boys, and to her brother.  My grandpa wrote back.  And they fell in love writing letters to each other.  My mom, the 7th child, would often catch them necking in the kitchen.

She smelled like cookies and "Cool Waters" perfume.  She was smooshy.  When she hugged us, we were completely enveloped in her smooshy softness.  When she laughed hard, she would put her arm on the closest surface, plop her head on her arm and laugh silently.  She loved old gospel music and could play the piano.  When I told her that I was dating a guy who was probably going to be a pastor, she said (in all seriousness), "But you don't play the piano." 

One of her index fingers was a stub because, when she was 2-years-old, she lost the tip in a meat grinder.  It was her first memory ever.  And she could still remember vividly the image of her daddy standing in the doorway, white as a sheet, before whisking her up and tending to her finger.

She would rock me in her rocker until I was much too big to rock, and then she rocked my firstborn.

I miss her.

"Staging"

I <3 pinterest.  Like everyone else, apparently.

It's a real time-suck.  A pleasant time-suck.  Buuut, we have officially listed our house, and in less than 2 weeks we have our first open house!  Holy moses.  How is it going to be possible to get the house clean enough for that?  I have no idea.  Especially with 2 babies and pinterest sucking me in.  Not that I really have THAT much spare time.  Right now, and for the next half hour, both kids are asleep!  And instead of cleaning, I just want to take a little break!  So, I will wait for J to get home.  And then clean this weekend, with him here to tag-team it all with me.

Inspiration lately, as I "stage" the house:

My first Zumba

Holy Zumba.
I first have to admit, I've wanted to try it. 

Today at MOPS, I was surprised to find out that we were going to be spending most of the meeting doing Zumba.  I didn't get the warning email ahead of time.

But, maybe that was good!  I may not have gone to the meeting if I HAD known.

Most of us were awkwardly flailing.  I was laughing like crazy.  At first.  And then, I got more serious and focused, and was concentrating too hard to do more than smile a dry-mouth and panting smile where my lips stuck to my gums a little.  Seriously, you want me to move my arms AND legs?  At the same time?  And fast?  Ummm... yeah.  Even while I got more focused, though, I really did like it.

I'm thinking I want to try the water Zumba.  Hiding my movements in the water a little sounds good...

Day 3 - craft roominess.

Let's see... Master bedroom pretty much done.  Nursery done.  Spare bedroom and cluttered closet, done.  Last night and a little today, I worked on the craft room.  Holy Mary, it was crazy.  I just cleaned it out this past summer and had about 4 garbage bags of donations, and about 2 bags of garbage/scraps.  I just made another 3 garbage bags for Goodwill, and another bag of trash.  It's the smallest room in the house, and by far has the most clutter!  It's STILL not quite done, but it's getting there. 

I have a hard time in that room cuz it's CRAFTS.  You collect stuff for crafting.  It is the antithesis to minimalism - crafting.  And I like minimal.  And I like making stuff.  Scrapbooking, knitting, sewing, painting, quilting... seriously.  It adds up, people.  Today, I got rid of piles of batting that was filling all the shelves in the closet (as opposed to "filling" quilts.  Ha.).  Yes, I'll probably have to buy more batting someday.  But it's such huge stuff, I couldn't keep it. 

Today, A's had a tough time taking a nap.  She woke up after an hour, crying.  And just woke up (after a total of almost 3 hours) crying again.  I'm wondering if she's getting sick.  While she slept, and while I nursed and rocked E, I started reading "Forbidden" (Ted's new book!  Just 2.99 for an ebook right now!).  Guilt-free reading because I have to breastfeed is pretty awesome.  And so I'm sleepy from sitting still.  But not sleepy from the book itself!  Pretty action-packed, so far.

Speaking of guilt and other negative emotions, I've been getting over that certain relative's words by just keeping on moving.  And cleaning.  And praying.  And reading the Bible and a devotional.  And blogging to myself.

Tonight, finish the craft room.  Take the donations and trash out.  Tidy the living rooms and kitchen?  The realtor is coming TOMORROW night to see the house!!  I'm nervous (what if the house is worth WAYYY less than we think?  Or, when the house is inspected later on, what if the house has a super serious problem... sinking foundation... leaking roof...?  What if it doesn't sell at all?).  I'm also excited to get started.

Also, tomorrow am, a newish friend is coming over.  And then, Friday am, MOPS time.  I'm actually loving the busy-ness of this year so far!  ...So far... 

Day 2 - Ahead of schedule! But also, feelings of deflated-ness.

Yesterday (day 1) the goal was to clean the bathroom cabinet and hall closet.  I went on to clean out our bedroom and nursery!  We took an entire trunk load of stuff to Goodwill, and threw away four or five grocery bags of junk not good enough for Goodwill (mostly expired beauty products)!

Holy cow, good day!
Today so far, I've cleaned out the spare bedroom closet.  Which is a pretty huge walk-in.  Now, I'm taking a little "me" time to sit here.  (E is asleep and A will be awake any second!)

Thursday (which will be Day 4) we're meeting with a realtor in the evening.  The guy we're meeting with has 25 years of experience, and sounded very personable and knowledgeable.  I like him so far...

I've had a little wrench thrown in my attitude, which is that a relative-who-shall-not-be-named started wanting to "help", and now has sounded like she wants to take over and tell me what I need to do and where furniture needs to go...etc.  Making me question the fact that I'm the 31-year-old clean freak/organizer that I am.  And the questioning of self makes me lose all my momentum and the drive I've had going so far.  She has invited herself over this Saturday to clean and then again next week.  I feel the control slipping through my fingers.  So, I will try to keep communication open, and keep (nicely) reminding her that I have a system.  Her husband will be "helping" mine this Saturday, too.  Poor mine.  SHE suggested that my J is "laid back" or "slower" than hers and so to remind him not to get offended if her husband takes over a bit.

Just when I was really starting to get excited and make a dent in all this cleaning, I'm starting to now feel completely deflated. 

Hence, the break.

Now, the task is two-fold.  Clean/organize AND get over these inadequate/never-good-enough feelings.  And get over those feelings FAST!  I don't have time to be deflated and bummed out.

House for sale in 2 weeks!

Jan 2nd 2012 - DAY 1

The goal: clean the house and get it ready to sell in TWO WEEKS from now.

We were going to wait until spring, and use a chunk of our tax return to do some renovating.  But now, we're listing it as it is.  To be done with it.

Today's goal - clean and organize the upstairs bathroom cabinet/medicine cabinet and the hall closet. 

The daily goal is to keep up with dishes and laundry.

This morning, E slept and A took a bath while I completed goal #1!  I didn't think I'd have time until J got home tonight!

Now, time for dishes...