The Week in Review

I haven't blogged for a while. My parents and sister flew out to Colorado, and the time didn't present itself. We had fun. They left yesterday evening. The kids were more themselves today (instead of the somewhat whiny children they've been for the last week), but Caitlin was searching everywhere this morning for Grandma, Grandpa, and aunt Elizabeth, and making the funny sound she sometimes makes when we would ask her to say "Grandma" or "Grandpa".

This has been a crazy week. My parents were gracious enough to watch the kids for us while we went house hunting on Tuesday. What a way to spend an afternoon! I am grateful for the invention of the digital camera. Without it, I would never have remembered all the places we went to! We've seen about 15 places since we moved here, and put in 2 offers last week. No house for us, though. Why? You ask. Because both places were already under contract with different prospective buyers before we put in our offer! They didn't beat us out by hours, but by days! Why the other realtors didn't at least tell our realtor is a mystery to all of us. One of houses we looked at was owned by a realtor herself. Good ol' Jana Ringener never bothered to let us know there was an offer in already - even when we made appointment number two. She was standing right there! "Ring Jana"? Don't bother. We wasted a lot of time, and it's left me very emotionally drained. Our realtor has never had this happen to her, and not twice in a period of two days! Crazy! I'm over the initial bitterness, but I'm still mad that one of the houses is still listed as Active on the Colorado Home Finder, when it's clearly not available. I know of two realtors who I won't be recommending when new arrivals here ask about house buying.

Other than that, the week was fun. Monday we went into Boulder and hit the Pearl Street mall. It's a fun, eclectic outdoor mall with a hippie flaire. Tuesday was preschool, and house hunting for mom and dad. The kids stayed with Grandma, Grandpa and aunt Elizabeth and showed them the local prairie dogs. Wednesday was a bit unorganized, and we ended up in Boulder once again. Not that it's a bad place, it just wasn't what we planned. Thursday we went up to Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park on Thursday. It is just beautiful up there. People have raved about Colorado all my life, but so far I haven't found it to be any more or less beautiful than northern California. It's very pretty here, but I also love the Sierras, the redwoods, and the cold beaches of the northern California coast, and will probably always identify myself as a California girl. Estes Park, on the other hand, made me understand what all those people were talking about. It really is gorgeous at 7,200 feet. The greenery and trees that my soul finds to the be the most beautiful of all scenery was everywhere! Go up another 2,000 feet, and view gets better. Longs Peak and Bear Lake in the national park were also gorgeous. I kept wondering if the water was as cold as Lake Tahoe, but I didn't stick my hand in to find out. Mostly because I knew Caitlin would want to try it, too, and would probably trip. Her latest word is "klutz," because her Mommy keeps saying, "honey, you're a klutz".

Mom and Brandon in front of Long's Peak

Caitlin, silly girl

Hey!
Grandma and Grandpa at Bear Lake

Friday was a free day, and Saturday we went to explore The Butterfly Pavilion, which is right down the street.

Brian and I were suppose to look at a house we found on Sunday, but wouldn't you know it, the man of the house told our realtor that he wasn't interested in working with anyone who had an agent. The woman of the house (who was also called) said, "Come on down!". ???? So we called on our own. The owners weren't home yesterday, but we're going to try to take a look at it tomorrow.

So, life is continuing on at the P4 household. Nothing new, nothing exciting. Back down to 4 people, an overly smart field mouse who refuses to be caught, a lot of laundry and dishes, and some more miles on the car. It was a fun week. I'm a little drained, and really just want to sit on the couch for a few hours and stare at the ceiling. Unable to do that as a mom, though. The house feels a little empty with 3 less people. But we'll all be together again soon!