House For Sale

 

 

 

 

 

We have had quite the ordeal selling our house.  We put it on the market in July and within a couple weeks we had two offers, accepted one, acquired a rental house, and started packing up all our belongings getting ready for the move...only to find out a month later that the buyer's financing didn't go through.  So we were back to square one.  Only this time around, the housing market had changed enough that there was less of a demand for our house.  Six months later, we are still trying to sell and trying not to worry about the possibility of having to make two house payments.  Who knows, this may have been a blessing.  We could have been living in a two bedroom rental house with all our stuff in boxes for the last six months.  So despite the pain of having to keep my house clean for a showing and be gone at a moments notice with three kids, disrupting naps...I will be thankful that we have a nice place to live for the time being.

 

I really will miss this house and neighborhood.   We have made some wonderful memories here. 

It's Canning Time!

 My favorite time of year is here! 

We had the privilege of being about to can pickles with Grandma Frances while she was visiting.  Andrew even got to help.  It was sweet seeing Grandma patiently teach him how to wash and rinse the cucumbers.

 

A New Beginning

"I will never build a house"

 

I uttered that phrase many times this past year as we realized that we are outgrowing our house and started searching for something new.  I know that building a house requires you to make many decisions. And I know what I am good at and what I am not.  You could say decisiveness isn't one of my stronger qualities. I agonize over all decisions both big and small and have been know to change my mind numerous times.  This drives Jarod nuts!  I knew I would not enjoy building a house.  But after looking at real estate for months and not finding anything that would be right for us, Jarod talked me into building.  We found a 5 acre lot just outside of town that we thought would be perfect for us and we got to work drafting floor plans.   

Watching the progress has been a lot of fun.  Once a week we've tried to go out to the "construction site" as Andrew calls it to see what has been done.  I remember when they first poured the basement how small it seemed.  Then the walls went up and it seemed so different. 

 

The boys are in heaven when we go out there.  They get to see tractors and play in the big dirt piles.  What could be better for two little boys!  It is truly amazing how dirty they can get.  But, they have so much fun so I bite my tongue and scrub extra hard in the bathtub on those nights.   

Bruno Q125

This summer, Bruno, the farming community that Jarod grew up in, celebrated there 125th birthday.  To celebrate, we were transported back in time while we watched the farmers harvest using a very old threshing machine.  This machine belonged to Jarod's great grandfather Frank Kastl who passed it down to his grandpa Ted Kastl. 

 



What a treat for us to watch how it was done a long, long time ago.  I'm sure it makes the farmers of today appreciate their GPS driven tractors and air-conditioned cabs!  I wonder what farming will be like when these two yahoos are old enough!

 

Here is a picture of Great Grandpa Ted Kastl in 1967.  You can tell where Grandpa Dave gets his good looks (and beard growing ability)!

This Model A Ford belonged to Ted Kastl and was restored by Dave and his brothers.  What a trip down memory lane for Grandma!

 

 

The Middle Child

 Dominic, you and I share a special bond.  We are both stuck in the middle. I sometimes smile when I see you do things that I used to do.  You are always following right behind Andrew, imitating him, wanting to be like him.  As you are learning to talk you are saying some of the same quirky phrases that Andrew makes up.  In your quest to be like him you end up bothering him and getting into some pretty good fights about who is playing with what car or train.   Despite the fights, you and Andrew are best buds and I'm excited to see you grow up together.

 This is a rare moment between you and Sylvia.  Usually you ignore her and pretend that she is not there.  Sometimes you are mean to her and take toys away or lay on top of her until she cries.  You still haven't gotten over the fact that she has taken my time away from you.  I do feel bad that you get lost in the shuffle sometimes.  I don't get to spend as much time with you as I would like.  Most of the time when you are whining and crying and not listening, all you need is to be held.  If I can stop what I am doing for five minutes and rock with you on my lap, you are all better.  You just need a little bit of lovin' every day!