Waiting... patiently.

Now that we have listed the waiting is a killer. We signed and set everything up on Monday and only today did the house come up and still no pictures... apparently it's slow MLS. Patience. T and I only have basically a couple more tasks before we sit on the place and wait for people to check it out. Paint the laundry walls and floors, and put in three window wells, that's it. We are planning on completing this weekend. I am looking forward to it because then I can kick into my Copywriting course. btw it's Chris writing finally.

I needed to address some concerns that have been rising up. basically it boils down to what the heck are we doing and how can we justify such irresponsibility? Well, in the words of my kids, because Yes. Why not? What is money for anyways? Of course this looks irresponsible from a group of society's best's perspective, but from another group it is perfectly logical. And I have been told enviable. Bear in mind that it is not reality yet, but it is as much a reality as it can be at this stitch in time. Back to the title, we wait patiently... to negotiate our home, which is not really our home any longer. We wait patiently to close the real estate deal of our life, of course, in present memory. This is bigger than our move to Edmonton from Calgary. This is big for us. It is so stressful though, that many things are tough to even handle around here, because it requires so much energy. No apologies for my writing, i have never been trained properly. Yes we are biting our nails, this is crazy to do. We have done a lot of research and there are not many things if any that we have not addressed in some way or put aside until we have moved onto the next step. So rest easy everyone, we jump into it all four of us, and we do it hoping and expecting the best, yet ready for the worst. To wax advice-like, everyone should try it. You never know what the wate ris rilly like until you get in.

And another step is taken

I really believe, that when you have a dream, you always know what you want, but rarely know how to get there. You may have an idea, but it's only with each tiny simple step that you get closer to that dream, and reality.

Well, Chris and I have taken the next tiny simple step. Our house is now officially for sale. The house was cleaned (and I mean cleaned), it was simplified and staged. Pictures were taken, papers were signed, and the FOR SALE sign was placed in front of our pretty little home that had taken such good care of us these last 2 and a half years.

Now by tiny simple steps, I don't really mean tiny.... The days, no wait, weeks of painting, and preparing were time consuming. There were days when we thought it would never end. The money and energy Chris and I put into this house was taken, and will only been seen in the weeks to come. And today, oh the stress. Being in a position where we had to come up with a number. A number for our home! This home that has loved us. A number that would be generous enough to help us with this new future and dream that we have.
But now let me tell you how exciting it was. I was jumping up and down like a school girl. Our realtor was really here, taking pictures of our home, asking us how much money we wanted. It was so fantastic!

I know that we have only just put our home on the market, and with how flooded the market is, we could wait a week or two for an offer to come in. We do have an open house planned for the 2nd weekend of September (we may even go away to Jasper for that!) But the good (and surprising) news is that our realtor did call us 3 hours after the for sale sign went up, and we have a showing tomorrow at noon. Very soon, and maybe a little more excitment than we need right now. All I know is that we are positive people, and good things happen to us all the time.

Anyways, It's late and I only have a few moments to type unti Chris wakes up and tells me to stop. Wish us luck, and we'll be back with more news soon.

Yestaurday

What a day. Running around, donating blankets and pillow's to the brave men and women living in 'tent city'. They were grateful, and the boys were really happy that they could help some people stay warm. The weather is starting to turn. You know the feeling.... wanting to put a sweater on, or turn the heat on, and that small chill up your back. I've begun to wear socks. Not a good sign.
After the donations, we went to Capial Health. Thought we were just getting some info about the shots we may need to get done before we leave, but 2 hours and over 500$ later, there were 10 needles given and 2 skin graphs taken. OUCH! Chris and I have to go back tomorrow to see if we have tuberculosis????? (doubt it!), Oscar still needs 2 Hep shots, Callym needs his 4 year old shots, and I'm going in for my Mumps booster. Oh yes, and we need to discuss Rabies shots. Expensive, but I think neccesary - especially if we plan to volunteer in the jungles, etc. Something that we all really really want to do. And by the way, we did just find an organization that lets young kids come in and learn about the jungle / rainforest, and help out some animals. Namely sloths, monkeys, etc. Anyways, a slight change of plans, we will not be visiting Panama or Ecuador, sad really because we wanted to go to the Galapagos Islands, but this would mean that we would need to have Yellow Fever shots (2000+$) and we would also need different pills for Malaria. Because we have opted out of that, we can stick with the one type of pills. Less of a headache. These pills will need to be taken once a week, every week. I really had no idea about all this. But does this make us not want to go? H E double hockey sticks NO!!!! Actually, once Chris paid the bill, we both noticed huge smiles on eachother's faces'. Why, because this too is a huge step forward. We have know been stabbed with tiny parts of all these different dieses' and are ready to GO!

The boys and I also went on a little shoppong trip to MEC. What fun we had. The boys each picked out a cute little backpack for the trip. They are perfect for their body size, and hold enough toys and fun things to keep them busy on any trips we will take. We also picked up some great little binoculars for them. They have already begun practicing with them on the walk we took. They think it will be so much fun to see all the wildlife with.
Anyways, I need to be off for now, Chris is off work and I think we all need to be pampered at a restaurant. After which I desperatly need to buy this house some groceries.

Till then, Over and Out!

August 21st 7:47

I am about to have a glass (or 2) of wine with a very very very good friend over the telephone. There is so much for us to catch up on. There always is. I'm only posting this now, so that when all is said, and we are done, I will remember to continue with this blog and what we are up to now.

Today we are going to relax?

The boys really need us to be with them and play with them. It's been a while.... But oh the things that still need to be done! We are going to West Ed, and we are going to play in the ball pit, maybe have some dinner at the Chinese market. It is something that the boys need. And maybe we need it too? It seems like we're not working fast enough for our time-line, but the effect on the boys is not a good thing. They are growing more grumpy and reckless with the lack of attention. I hope that I can relax and have fun, not think about all the things that lie on the floor in our house, piles in the hallways, empty boxes that are just calling our junk to be packed! Paint brushes that just want to paint! Not all dreams are easy. Some you can just wake up and it's there, but this one takes time, a lot of time, and the energy... it's a little draining. But it will be sooooo worth it!
We've been talking to the boys about the hurricanes that may brush Belize, and will surely hit Mexico. They were very sad for the people who have lost their roofs. But still said that they would rather live on the beach and have a hurricane than here with the snow. I know they are only 4 and 2.5, but I think they really know what they want, and know what we want. Once we are there, I'm sure we'll see and know for sure. They are so excited. They know that I need to finish packing and painting before we can put the house up for sale, and actually move. Oscar comes up to me once and a while and ask's me if I'm done yet. He say's I have my shoes and swimming shorts, I'm ready mom! Ahh, if only it was that easy, if only he could pack the boxes for me. Anyways, we're off to hangout with our boys.....

Captains Log August 17th 7pm 2007..... yadda yadda yadda

Ok...
I bought the paint
and
I started painting
AGAIN
the upstairs bedroom is done
downstairs bedroom is done
kitchen walls are done
The windows and door trims are done
Chris has done the outside windows
I have gone out and bought boxes
I have packed away some of our treasures
I have packed away most photo albums
I still have a thousand things to pack
I have bagged many extra clothes
(the old saying, if you haven't worn it in 4 years, maybe it should go??)
I have gotten frustrated and yelled
I am slightly still a little tiny bit high off the paint fumes
I am sick and tired of whinny kids
I am so ready to throw away anything in my path
I want a shower. a long shower
I want a beer
I want a nap

Captain OUT

August 14

And so the days go on and there are more things to do. I still haven't bought the paint, but I will tomorrow. I have at any rate found some wicked information about Belize on a forum, and may even have a place for us to 'crash' for a month during December. Great, but holy wow, the cost..... I really need to find a place for us to be able to rent like that! 2500 a month was one of the cheaper one's that I found. Ah, Merry merry Christmas to us! I was throwing around the idea with Chris that it may be nice to start our adventure with a week or two stay at an all inclusive. I know this sounds very strange (especially when you see the cost for a one month holiday home), but really I think it makes sense. This would give us 7 days to relax, and hang out, be pampered and sort of get use to the idea of the four of us being together 24/7. At any rate it's something to think about. The idea of us 'getting use to eachother' is only because we aren't often together like that. Vacation and sometimes the weekend. It's a sad sad story, but a very large part of why we are doing this. Well, I must be off - I need to organize a little more this mess of a house. Full of memories, things to sell, junk to throw away and walls to paint. I know I'm leaving things out, but I still have a week or two................

and now more!

OK, So I have the blog up and running. Will you be checking in?

As of today, I believe that we (the four of us Lukies) have made a decision. We are going to put the house up in the next month, and sell sell sell the crap outta our stuff. Get all the shots we need, and put a limited amount of 'special memories' in storage. I have a huge list of things to do from today until then, but everything always works out for us, and I know that it will continue to do so.
So, as of right now, our DVD's, and CD's are on used edmonton. I will be putting up most of our furniture up tomorrow, as well as anything else we can find. I also need to take the boys for physicals tomorrow, call our travel agent, and get Oscars passport photo taken, and send it in! Ahh. Anyways, this is good. I will be buying the last (I hope) of the paint for the bedrooms, and the laundry room.
And then, hopefully it's only Friday. Wish me luck!

and on we go some more....

O.K. so the counter-tops needed a 3rd coat. I ended up doing it, and although it is not perfect, it looks great, and it's finally done. Chris also put my sink back in, this took him 2 days, and frustrated him to no end. Well, it looks great, and I'm so happy. Our kitchen is now back together, and I plan to start painting the Kitchen walls, both bedrooms and the laundry room this week. Then, it should be done.
This is all good news following the report from our realtor. Jason came by a few days ago and let us know that the market here has slowed almost to a halt. Well, not really slowed, but instead of 1800 homes on the market, there are now 8000. Well, this will not help us in getting the price we want. Our house is surely worth more, but is anyone going to pay us that? For us to go on this trip, and change our life, we need to have as close to 200000 in our pocket. We don't want to have anything to do with loans, etc. But it looks like we may only walk away with 100000. A very significant drop.

What are our options... Here we go. First off we could wait until the spring, this is the time when the markets should pick up. But that will only help if the interest rates don't jump. A risk. Our other option is to sell now, and take the hit, we would then go on an 18 month 'holiday' and be able to purchase one property. I hate this. I really think that having 2 properties would be better. One to live in and one to rent out. This will help us to not feel the need to work work work for a living. That is not the living I want us to have!
So, what does that leave us with.... One thing that came to mind was our buddy Matt. He let us know on our last trip to Winnipeg that he would be very serious in building a home on our plot of land and sharing in the income. I didn't really like the idea at first, but considering our situation, it may be a very fantastic oportunity.
Chris also recieved his writting package in the mail and I think this may be a great thing as well. Who knows, the restaurant, or import/export thing may take off as well.

At any rate, Callym and Oscar have made it perfectly clear that they don't want to spend another winter here, so it looks like we would be leaving on this adventure sooner than later. Seeing as it's mid August, and it has snowed here early September, we should start packing soon, and putting the 'for sale' sign up in the next month (at the latest.)

Ah, the headaches of a dream. . . . . . . . What a horrible thing to write!!!

on we go.......

OK, August 6th and WOW has a lot happened! At this very moment I am drinking some tea and watching Chris do a beautiful job on the 2nd coat for our countertop. Yes, you heard me correctly, a 2nd coat.
Strange, there were 4 steps for this countertop process. The first can had half a can too much, in the 2nd can we needed another half a can, the 3rd can had 3 quarters too much, and now with this fourth step we needed to go out and get an entire full can. Oh well. Chris looks great doing the brushing, and the counter's look fantastic. As for my work, well it's done for a few days. I have gotten both the bathrooms painted, the kitchen done (save for the actual walls) the up and downstairs living rooms painted and the up stairs hall. I am ahead of schedule and enjoying my break!!!

this just in. The top coat on the countertop hardens in 30 minutes. Chris has been working now for 40 minutes and counting.... will they turn out, or will we have to go out a 3rd time and do this again??? More to come..... Ahhh!

Anyways, Callym had a great time at his party today. Family and all came to hang out and have some snacks, hotdogs and drinks. Picking up the cake was a suprise, some how I ordered the full slab, this feeds about 80, well we had about 15 people. You do the math.... Anyways, good friends and family, Callym had fun. He has also collected almost 300$ to help him donate to the animals at the zoo and the world wildlife fund. He has chosen to help 5 turtles go to rehab, buy a goat to save a leopard, give a panda some room to grow in the wild, and he is donating the rest to the Edmonton Valley Zoo in the name of the Sea Lions. He is so excited to be doing something good for the animals. And actually mentioned that he wished he could help the gorillas, because he didn't want them to die. I am so impressed with how big his heart is. He is the greatest four year old I have ever raised.

and the rush is ON!

August 1st, today has been another day of painting and sanding and we're still only on the kitchen. But I have made some progress. All the cupboards are now painted and put back into place (save for 2 doors near the stove) All I need now is to do all of the pull out shelves, and have Chris cut a few pieces of wood to close off some open area's and I can get on with the counter-top and bathrooms.
It looks like we will have this done for the party! Chris has also found another development property in Honduras, the company is not only Canadian, but right down the street. We must look into this now.
You never know... actually, we don't know. What do we know.... well, we know that we are moving. We know that we want sun, sand and sea. We know that we want a much simpler life style, one that our boys will be happy, and know the meaning of life. Not the rush rush of money making and keeping up with the Jones'. We know that there are 5 or 6 countries that fit our profile, and we intend to cruise around for a few months, a sort of vacation, to find our paradise of sorts. We are actually very willing to do a number of different things. It started out that we were going to start a restaurant. Chris would do Cinnamon buns and coffee in the morning, and I would do Sushi in the evening. (The most important thing here is that we are together as much as possible. That we are smiling and together. Oh ya, and NO SNOW!) Anyways, we would still love to do that, but we have also been throwing around the idea of an import/export business, and building a school, starting our own resort, or buying a bunch of land and selling it. Just yestaurday Chris bought an online school course about copy-writting. That could turn out to be a great thing. He really feels that this is something good, and I fully 100% support him. Anything to get him away from this shitty night shift...... Hey, and who knows, maybe, just maybe I'll sell this story.....

August 2nd. I've gotten all of the shelves, cupboards, chairs, and the first coat of the upstairs washroom done! I feel as though things are coming along nicely. Now I just need to remember to get to the dentist tomorrow.

July 30th

July 30th, 2007.
I've gone out and bought the first batch of paint, gone to mom's to pick up the sander, ended up picking raspberries and forgetting the sander, so out again for that. Also went to Ikea, twice, in the same day. This should be fun...
Chris has taken all of the kitchen cupboard doors off and is now sanding them, my job is scraping off all the crap inside and painting them all cane sugar white. I still think that new cupboards would be better, but with our time-line and money, this will have to do. I have found a cheaper way to update our counter-top, hope this does the trick. I need to get the kitchen done, as well as the bathrooms before Callym's birthday party on the 6th.