Moving

So it's time for me to talk about moving plans again.  If you recall, I left off talking about it when Pat's orders got deleted.  Pat talked to a bunch of people about how this affects his career path etc.  I think it was at this point that the people who wanted the orders deleted were beginning to realize all their plans up to this point had been pretty stupid.  Finally a few people (same people who wanted Pat's orders deleted) started working to see if they could just delay Pat's orders.  Thankfully, Pat's next assignment was willing to wait for him, and things were worked out so that Pat could report next winter.  

The funny thing is that every excuse the Army gave on why Pat should stay here, they have now contradicted.  Pat isn't even staying with his unit.  He'll be moved up to BDE to fill a staff spot.  I know that this job will come with a lot of pressure and stress.  He will have very little time left for family.

Our original plan was to be moving within this next month and settled into our new home before the baby arrived.  Obviously that isn't happening.  One of the biggest problems with the timing of the new plan is selling our house.  We've tried to sell a house around the holidays before, and it is a terribly time to try to sell.  We want to avoid that time because when we do put the house on the market we are hoping for a quick sale.  Also, Ryan is turning 5 this fall (he's growing up way too fast), and this is his last year of preschool before kindergarten.  I know that doesn't seem like a big deal.  However, something I haven't blogged about is that Ryan has a bit of a speech problem with articulation.  I feel like it is really important for him to use this year of school, and if we are able to get into the public school system he can get his speech help there (in addition to what is provided from our health care).  We'd prefer not changing schools after only a few months of the school year because we want to make the transition as easy as possible for the kids.  

So after much deliberation, we've decided that we'll be putting the house on the market near the end of next month and hoping to sell this summer.  Then the kids and I will move up so that Ryan can start the school year in the new school.  But this plan is not without problems.  For instance, we'll be living away from Pat for at least 5 months if our house sells in the time frame we are hoping for.  I hate the idea of living away from Pat for so long especially by choice.  We'll be putting our house on the market when I'm something like 36 weeks pregnant.  That is not quite an ideal time for me to be dealing with all that selling entails.  I won't be able to decorate a nursery for our baby girl because we'll be moving shortly after her birth, hopefully.  I will be responsible for settling our family into a new house by myself--decorating and organizing, plus getting used to a new home/town.  We have to move our furniture and household goods by ourselves, so we're going to try to live with the bare minimum.  We won't be getting BAH for that area, so money will be tight.  Unless we pay to fly Pat up to visit, he'll be missing more birthdays and holidays.  I could probably go on and on about all of the hard parts of this new timeline for the move.  With all those problems I sometimes wonder why we decided to move me up early.  But it's two simple facts:  education and stability for Ryan (and Sean) and selling our house at an ideal time.  

If our timeline doesn't quite work, that's okay.  There are so many issues with it, I'm willing to just go with the flow of what happens.  You see something else to consider is that if our house is to sell anytime between May and July, I won't be able to go house hunt in our new location.  Pat and my mother would be responsible for visiting all the prospective houses and buy one.  

So it's turning out to be quite the chaotic time again.  We had such motivation last time we were supposed to be selling our house, I'm just not sure I can find it this time.  I've warned Pat that most of the work will be falling on his shoulders.  This whole thing just makes me a bit irritated and also worried and stressed.  For the most part, right now I'm trying to ignore all the upcoming challenges and unknown.  

Black Beans and Bananas

This past week I've been slightly adventurous (well, at least compared to my normal) in some of the foods I've been making.

It started when I saw a recipe on Money Saving Mom's blog.  She had found the recipe HERE.  The recipe is for Black Bean Brownies.  I had heard of this recipe a long time ago, but I have a serious aversion to beans--all beans.  In the spirit of trying something new, and possibly more healthy, I gave the recipe a try.  It was super easy to mix the ingredients together in the blender.  I used mini chocolate chips with the recipe.  While the brownies were baking they smelled great and very much like regular brownies.  They had fluffed up while baking.  I was very pleased with their appearance.  Once they cooled, I covered them and waited to try them later.  When I went to try them later, I noticed they seemed to condense and were less of the fluffy texture they appeared just out of the oven.  From reading the reviews, I knew this was okay.  The consistence of these brownies is a mix between fudge and brownies.  They are a very moist brownie.
I had Pat try one first.  I hadn't told him how they were made.  He ate it and seemed to enjoy it.  When I let him in on the secret ingredient, he refused to eat any more.  My little boys really enjoyed them.  For two days straight, they insisted on standing on chairs over by the counter eating browning after brownie.  As for myself, I thought they were pretty good, although not the typical texture.  But seeing as I hate beans, it was hard for me to mentally get over that part.  I will say they definitely did NOT taste like beans, and I did eat my fair share.  So if you want to try fiber filled brownies yourself, give this recipe a try.  (Unfortunately I didn't take a picture.  I think I was waiting to see how they tasted, and then I forgot)

The other food I tried out was Banana Dogs.  I am sure I saw it pinned on Pinterest, and my creation certainly was not as pretty as the one I saw on there.   I had all the ingredients on hand and have recently been craving strawberry jam, so the other morning I decided Banana Dogs would make a great breakfast. I spread some peanut butter into a hot dog bun, added a small banana, and spread some strawberry jam around the top and into any crevices.  I thought it was pretty good.  It kept me full for a long time, which these days is a small miracle.  My boys, however, were not pleased with this breakfast.  Their dislike was not based on the taste though.  Ryan thought it looked messy and refused to try it, and Sean was wondering where the real hot dog had gone.  If you find yourself with a craving for banana and PB&J, this will hit the spot.  Or if your kids are more adventurous than mine it could be a cute snack.

I'm Back!

I did not anticipate taking quite as long a break from blogging as I did.  Once I was out of the loop, it seemed really hard to come back.  But I do miss it.  So let me fill you in quickly on what has been going on.

I took a two week trip to visit my family.  The kids loved it.  I missed Pat, but it was great to be around so many other people that I love.  After two weeks away, coming back to TN was a bit overwhelming for all of us trying to hop back into the "normal" schedule.  At least this week is spring break for Ryan, so it's allowing us to slowly get back into the swing of things.

Speaking of spring, apparently I missed that in the two weeks I went away.  I left wearing a sweatshirt, and now it's full fledged summer weather and temps around here.  I can put away all our winter stuff, we won't be needing that.  I don't like that about TN.  I prefer to ease into Summer since it is my least favorite time of the year.  I like that we can play outside now, but it seems to be just a matter of time before it is too humid, hot, buggy, and just gross out there.

I'm 28 weeks pregnant.  I'm bigger than a house.  I'm not one of those tiny girls that says that and annoys everyone.  I've been gaining lots of weight this time around.  You would think by the third one you would work harder at self control, but I just seem to be putting on the lbs no matter what.  I like to pretend that carrying a girl is different than it was with my boys, but really I'm probably just getting fat.

But the best news that has happened since I've been gone is that I became an aunt again--and this time X 2!!!!  My sister and her husband welcomed perfect boy/girl twins yesterday.  I am beyond thrilled for them and cannot wait to meet the babies.      

I have a few photos and recipes or things that I want to share, but I'll have to work on that this week.  Also there may be news about a move in my future too.