This Old "itty bitty" House

Steps 1-2 of Special Agent Nicole's 3 Special Steps have been executed.  The closing on our new (it’s actually old) home is scheduled for August 15^th.  We are so excited and such dorks that we keep driving by it at least a couple times a week! 

I've been tossing around the idea of adding a tab to my blog called “This Old itty bitty House”.  Because of the size and condition of the house, our family will be experiencing some major adjustments so I was thinking I would chronicle how we adjust to downsizing from a 1,900 square foot house to a 1,000 square foot home, as well as our attempts of renovating the never updated 1953 bungalow on a shoe-string budget.   It will mostly be for us to look back on and think how in the heck did we get through that - but I'm sure I will be able to provide a few "what not to do" or other funny stories to all six of my followers!

Assman is already very excited about the purging that goes along with downsizing.  I will have to let go of some of my “stuff” and the kids will have to sell/donate some of their space hogging toys (like their huge plastic kitchen and train table that has been sitting in the basement untouched for several months collecting dust). I find it absolutely ridiculous that they have managed to acquire a toy collection of what I’m sure has cost us and family/friends thousands of dollars over the last five years, only to let it sit unused and untouched the majority of the time.  They are not little Andys (from Toy Story) by any means – they do not seem to have any attachment to toys.  Sure, they have a few favorites, which we will of course keep, but for the most part my adorable monsters just don’t play with their toys.  What do they do you ask?  Wrestle, throw pillows at each other, have shouting matches, chase each other, hit each other with small souvenir ballpark bats, you know boy things.

My head is telling me that I’m doing things backwards, like becoming a stay at home mom when my oldest is five, instead of just doing it from the start or downsizing houses.  But, my heart tells me I’m doing the right thing now.  When I had hambone I chose to continue working because I was making decent money and I wanted that nice brand new house and a nice brand new car and to be able to buy the boys cool toys. But as I go through our journey with Assman and our boys, I realize that none of that matters to any of us.  They don’t want or need all that – all they want is our time, attention and love.  They would much rather have a huge bucket filled with water and a plastic pail than that $50 buzz light-year toy that talks and makes annoying noises.  They would much rather have our smaller house with a bigger yard than the bigger house with the tiny yard. And they really could care less what kind of car they are driving in (although Porkchop really wants a jeep and a driving camper!) They want to go camping and go for bike rides and play at the park - all things that don’t require lots of money. I know they are young still and when they get older the things they want may cost more, but for now I’m going to embrace and encourage their non-materialistic mode of life. Right now my boys are all about living, laughing and loving and that’s what life is all about.

Until next time, listen to your heart and live, laugh, love xoxo