Under Contract!!!

We signed the papers tonight.  We will close sometime between April 15 and April 25 - it's still to be decided.    So thanks for all of your prayers and well wishes - we felt them.  

Painting

Here's Max using his Dora painting book he got for Easter.  Notice his talon grip below.  He's no da Vinci, but he's got heart. 

Easter Morning

Another failed family photo

My girl

Abram and James trying to get all the kids to look one way

All the kids wondering what the heck Abram and James are doing

He is Risen

Here is a link to Jamie's blog.  She posted a beautiful compilation of testimonies of the Savior.  Happy Easter. 

Chili

So, remember the last time I posted about food?  Bruschetta Chicken Bake?  I went on and on?  Well, I made it a second time and I thought to myself, "was I just really really hungry when I so enjoyed it the first time?"  I mean, it's still a nice quick meal, but nothing to blog about.  So I implemented a new rule.  I will not write about a recipe on this blog until I have tried it twice.  

Fast forward several weeks.  I tried this chili and wanted to blog about it right away.  I restrained myself, thanks to my new rule, but I have now made it twice and it was just as delicious in the second go round.  So here's the link to Nook and Pantry, the blog where I found the recipe.  Warning: it is SPIIIII-CY.  For an equally tasty (probably more so), less sweat-inducing chili (yes, I've made it twice) check out Heather Bassett's Texas Red Chili recipe on my recipe blog.  

Oh, and can recommend using avocados as a garnish?  I never would have even tried it, but I just happened to have some leftover avocado and it was delish.  I will forever have them on hand now when I make chili.  

Hey Big Guy

The last week our home has been bombarded by roofers, carpet guys, stagers, handymen, etc. Max refers to each of them as "big guys." As in, "Mama! Dose big guys on da ROOF?!" One estimator kept trying to carry on a conversation with me despite Max's incessant yelling, "Look Big Guy! Look!" as he drove his car around his train table.

So the house is ready to go. I will post some before and after pictures soon. Don't ask me why we didn't just do all of it a year ago so we could have enjoyed it ourselves.

Sleep Deprivation

Okay, I've been debating posting this because I didn't want anyone to know what a horrible mom I am, but it must be told.  

I am exhausted.  Six months of interrupted sleep has taken it's toll.  The other night I woke up to Aviva crying.  I stumbled into our closet, because that is where she sleeps, in a bassinet that she probably outgrew a month ago, and picked her up.  She started crying even harder and I held her up to my shoulder.  I put one hand down on her bottom and thought, "what in the world?  Is that her knee or something that came out of her pajamas?  What?"  It wasn't until I laid her down on my bed that I realized I had picked her up upside down.  

That's right, I am delirious.