moving and working and kittens - OH MY!

The huddle Checking out the game of LIFE...

Wink...wink...

Well...moving day is today! We're all packed & ready to roll - just hoping the rain will pass overnight & we can be dry for the move-in! And saying prayers that all who commited to helping will show up...you know how that sometimes goes...

The kittens are becoming VERY funny and playful...Needing to stop to feed & burp them every four hours or so during the day this past week has definitely cramped my packing schedule - but somehow it all got packed & we're ready to go. It was funny, because there were times I needed to stop to feed them (many times) and having that hour of sit down with them gave me pause to stop & count my blessings/stop stressing...Something about babies - no matter the species - has that effect...

Here are some of today's kittenmania photos - ENJOY!

Day three - Kittenmania

Well...here are our orphans...and the story behind them...

In our new neighborhood, a mama cat had a litter of six about three weeks ago. The kids were over there on the day after the kittens were born, and immediately started campaigning for a kitten.

Being the cat lover who I am, it only took a couple of days between "we'll see, probably not..." and "oh, alright, we can get one!" The kids were there the day they opened their eyes, and the day the "runt" was located upstairs (not sure if the mama or the other cat in residence moved her up there) and rescued/brought back to mama cat.

Three weeks in, mama went missing...on the third day the kids reported how the kittens were soooo hungry, and probably going to die...So I stepped in and offered to take them & see if I could keep them alive - sigh...

All of this about one week prior to moving day!

Am I crazy? Probably...

Are these kittens worth it? Uh...yeah!

We have homes for three of them secured (the black & white - who is the only boy, the white and gray runt, and the solid gray) and will probably keep the little black one...Two remain seeking homes - if you know anybody who would make a great kitten family, they'll be ready in three more weeks, and are really, really nice kitties! Litter training is going well, and three of them are eating mushy kitten food mixed with formula, the other three still pretty much on the bottle... Bottle feeding six babies while getting ready to move has been a real experience, but what a cool learning opportunity for the kids! We'll try to document every couple of days, but with moving day on Saturday - who knows?

Our house...the kitchen...

Here are some photos of our "kitchen update"...We've painted the cabinets, doors & walls...It was funny, because I chose the color scheme not remembering what the floor looked like (right before we closed on the house) and lo & behold...the colors I'd selected match the floor practically perfectly! How's that for using what you've got! New countertops will be going in this week, and then we can put the lower cabinet doors & drawers in place. I'm searching for some cute, retro type cafe curtains for the windows...if anyone comes across a pair (two windows need them) while thrift shopping etc. please let me know! Moving day is one week away!

Home is where the work is...

So I'm a BAD BAD blogger...

The new digs have kept me so busy that I haven't had a minute to spend here, and the extra minutes I do have have been spent trying to edumacate my kids!

Here's what we're doing...

http://picasaweb.google.com/books4usborne/OurHouse#

Move in date is Oct. 25-26...

I WILL be back on track and an exemplary homeschool parent once we've moved in...

No more October Baseball...

Well...

In a way it's an odd sort of relief...

Now I can spend more time working on the new house & we can hopefully move in a few days earlier!

How is that for looking on the bright side???

There's always (always, always, heaven help us ALWAYS) next year...

Is it time to let the goats in?

I'm up too late...it's 12:13am, and I've just watched my beloved Cubs look like little leaguers...and I'm distressed.

Now...

I spent the first 5 innings of the game trying to calm the little boy down, and assure him that

#1 - there are still three more games!

#2 - on that note, the fat lady ain't singin' yet!

#3 - as Cubs fans, it just doesn't matter - we love our Cubs no matter what!

He replied to me, saying "Mom, why in the world didn't they just let the goat in?!"

A big sigh from me...do I tell him curses are nonsense, when I'm seeing the curse right in plain sight (I did see the goat there in front of D. Lee - I swear I did!) or do I lean on the crutch of the curse of the billygoat?

Those of you who are from Chicago, and particularly those of you who are Cubs fans know what this means...And my Cub friend fans, I'm pretty sure you saw what I saw tonight? The goat was definitely on the field!

Last night, game one, Dempster's folly (ok, I confess, the last few years I have referred to Mr. Dempster as "Dumpy"...but this year, I honestly loved the "new" Dempster, who has been decidedly "un-dumpy" as a starter!) How does the guy pitch beautifully all season - HELLO??? 17 and 6!!!!!

But alas...

The goat brought Dumpy back for game 1 of the NLDS playoffs...

I remained (and still remain, as only a Cub fan can) hopeful...

And then tonight...

It looked good in the first inning...Fonsie started the game off positively...Let's go! Goats be gone!

...and then, the second inning and the goat appeared...

Not sure who else saw it? I certainly did! Plain as day, the goat was in the friendly confines!

The commentators on TBS didn't help my mood...It was all "Dodgers woo hoo" and "Dodgers yeah-yeah!" On top of it, WGN radio is "real time" broadcasting and TBS is on delay didn't help. What is up with that????? Anybody else think the TBS broadcasters are annoying? To cover my butt, I have watched a few "non Cub" games on TBS and I find them annoying no matter who is playing...

So... here's hoping the damned goat can't get into Dodger Stadium! Our Cubbies have had a lot of winning streaks this season, more than three games in a row should be no sweat! Just hoping the bleeping goat hasn't knocked the wind out of the boys...

Here's what Wikipedia says about the curse

Say your prayers, Cub Nation...We could use a little divine intervention.