The Waiting Game

The last time I checked in I had nothing good to report. Not much has changed in the fact that we are still here and to this date do not have a closing date. Much has happened in the previous 14 days, but it still boils down to waiting for "any day."
Many a frustrated tear I have shed, but I am also trying to look at the positive. The situation is such that I have no control over anything to do with the sale of the home; the only thing I can do is try to focus on the good and wait it out. I am learning that you really don't need much to survive. Modern day conveniences are a wonderful thing, but they are that...convenient. I am thankful that the air mattress we've been sleeping on for three weeks is of wonderful quality...I haven't woken up on the floor in the middle of the night once! I am thankful for a kind neighbor who has lent me a pot and pan so that I can still cook dinner. The warm weather here has encouraged all the plants and flowers to bloom early, endowing us with not only eye candy but many a sweet juicy raspberry too (yummy!!!) And we've had extra time to spend with family and friends. I still want to get out of here as soon as possible and move on with our lives, but there is joy in the journey, even if I have to force myself to find it.

Enjoying the beach on a (non-crowded) Sunday afternoon

Rachel and Jake had a blast riding on the hand truck.

Asleep in the car...we had to use his ducky as a pillow to keep his little head from slumping over.

Brian in the moving truck...amazing how much stuff we actually have (even after de-junking!)

Jake likes to sit in the tires of the moving truck. I like the comparison of how big this monster truck really is!

At the water park with friends. He loves getting wet!

In the special rocking chair that Great Papa restored just for Jake.

Watching the sharks and turtles at the Aquarium.

Having fun with Uncle Gordon at the Aquarium.

Hmm...I wonder what would happen if

I wish that I had good news to report. I don't. I wish I could be doing a happy-happy-joy-joy dance. I'm not. What I am is frustrated. I should be grateful that, up until the last month, selling our home has been without many bumps. Too bad the last four weeks have totally made up for it. It's too intricate to explain all the details (nor do I understand everything), but suffice it to say that a certificate of occupancy was missing from the paperwork on our home (there never was one--it was said to have been grandfathered in because of its age), a now crucial document that the bank needed in order to grant the loan to our buyers. We rushed everything and everyone to work with us to get that piece of paper into our hot little hands, and now that we're ready, the bank decides that our buyers are going to have to reapply for their loan. Umm...hello? Not cool. Especially when the middle of last week we were told that we were going to close on the house this Monday. So, we had the trailer delivered, spent all day Saturday with our friends and family helping us load it, with the anticipation that we'd be gone by now. Not so. The trailer still sits in our driveway with 90% of our home loaded into it, and as of today we still don't have a closing date. Not even a good explanation of what is going on.
It's been very hard to try and be patient. I hate being left in the dark, without any control over what is happening. My mind races too far forward, spinning tales of what might happen...usually the worst-case-scenario. I know that in the end, when it finally does end, it won't matter. A year from now I won't feel any of the anxiety and frustration that I feel right now. But this is today, and that's whats on my mind. Thanks for listening. And any prayers you can send our way are always appreciated. I'm thinking we need all the help we can get at this point in time.

Bronx Zoo

Jake and I were invited to hang out at the Bronx Zoo with our friends the Walsman's last week. It was a sunny Spring day and we had a grand time. I took Jake there a year ago, but this time it was more fun for me to see him recognize the animals and enjoy himself.

Posing on the Kimodo Dragon: Amelia, Jake, & Natalie

Playing on the biggest rock he'd ever seen. He was too busy climbing on it (and getting his first scraped knees!) for me to get a good shot. Oh well. :)

Natalie & Jake

Miss Natalie, posing for the camera.

5K Race

I ran the Long Island Festival of Races 5K this last weekend with my friends Carol and Lindsey. It's the same one I did last year, but I improved on my time by about 3.5 minutes. It was a beautiful morning and a fun run (after the fact, of course).
(Sorry, the pictures are in reverse order)

Brian and Jake---our cheering squad

Carol, Lisa, & Lindsey--after it was over

Crossing the finish line

Showing off our muscles before the race began.

Wicked

Brian and I saw "Wicked" last month, a belated Valentine's Day date. It's such a fabulous musical, so well done from the set to the costumes to the humor to the music. Though we'd seen it when we were dating, I'd venture to say it was just as impressive this time around.

What a wonderful afternoon together!

Jake's New Favorite Things

Sleeping with Elmo and Moose--he won't go to bed without some sort of soft cuddly friend.

Feeding himself and not wearing a bib...I know, this picture doesn't depict either, but I thought it was funny. Daddy had to wear a bib to encourage Jake to do the same. Too bad it doesn't work for more than a couple of minutes. But he is getting really good at feeding himself with a "poon."

Driving the car. When we get home and I go around to unbuckle him, Jake gets this devilish grin on his face and dives into the front seat. My battery has only been dead the next morning on one occasion...I guess because I've gotten smarter.

Dogs (hence the movie "Lady and the Tramp") and being sans clothing

Having fun, whatever that may be. He's a happy kid, except, of course, when he's in time out!