Not a baby

For those of you who had high hopes (or were at least speculating) that our family's big news was a baby, I am sorry to say that that is not the case. Although I would someday maybe consider adding to our family, today is not the day.

So, what is the big news then, you ask?

It is something we have been searching and searching for, to no avail, up until a little over 2 months ago.

It was an ordinary Friday in December, and Duke was headed over to pick up the kids at daycare after work. On his way, he passed a man who was nailing a sign to a tree.
That sign read "Land For Sale"To make a long story short, we made an offer, they accepted and now our dreams of building a shed and ultimately our 'forever home' are coming true.Today we went to sign the closing papers to seal the deal on purchasing this beautiful (at least in our eyes) 3 acre parcel of land. Technically we don't take ownership until Tuesday the 9th but since I promised big news later this week, I didn't want to keep you hangin' until next week.
I am so thoughtful, aren't I?!
So, this will be the view down the driveway to our home some day. Our plans are to break ground and build a pole barn as soon as the ground thaws this spring. Also, as the plans stand now, the driveway will Y as you go down the hill...to the left will be the house and to the right will be the shed.
I personally have dreams of a house much like the one below that I have been drooling over for the past 5 years or so (I took this picture last summer on a drive by!)The main reason I love this house is because I have unofficially laid claim on the bonus room above the garage to have as my 'studio.' I am longing for a place to set up my sewing machine (still need to learn how to use it too!) my scrapbook/crafty stuff and of course a photo studio. For now, the focus is on building the shed so we can clean out our garage and Duke's workshop and empty some stuff out of our house to get it ready to sell. I am also very anxious to move some of my perennials over to a holding bed so I don't have to completely start from scratch in the plant dept.
Oh, how I can not wait for everything this land has to offer for our family!
Come on Spring, get a move on!

Do you know the Muffin Man?

Oh do you know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man?
Oh do you know the muffin man,
That lives in Drury Lane?
Yes I know the muffin man,
The muffin man, the muffin man.
Yes I know the muffin man,
That lives in Drury Lane.

The Race Is On

And the race is on!!!!

Or at least that is how it has felt around here lately.

We have been busy, busy busy the last couple of weeks. From me having to travel to Amarillo last week for work to Grant's Kindergarten Round-Up and preschool, to having to look for a new daycare (again) to...well more big news for our family later this week, but you are going to have to wait on that one. I feel like I have been on the run constantly and today I have been busy enjoying some down time to re-gather my thoughts, sleep in, catch up on laundry, spend some time outside, finally taking down my Christmas decorations (yes, I am one of 'those' people this year) and actually had time to fire up my computer to do a little catching up on the blog world.

Speaking of racing, the kids and I took a little road trip over to Elk River yesterday to watch my 4 almost 5 year old cousin, Evan, race his little Arctic Cat snowmobile. Let me tell you those little tykes are adorable out there all decked out in their gear on their little mini-machines.
Evan is the second from the left.
And here are a couple of adorable little spectators, if I do say so myself!There goes Evan rippin' up the track. I think Grant had a little snowmobile envy going on. He kept saying "Whoa! That looks like fun!!"Maybe someday, but not so sure his worry-wart Mama's heart could hold up watching him. This sport is dan-ger-ous! Duke used to race semi-pro 'back in the day' so I am sure he would be in his glory if Grant wanted to follow in his Daddy's footsteps, but I would literally have to watch with my eyes closed.There is my Uncle Russ and Aunt Kala (on the left) watching their youngest be all grown up and race like one of the big guys.Speaking of the big guys...I didn't know anyone else who was racing but I was having a blast watching them catch some air and taking pictures of all of the action.It is hard to tell from the pic below, but these guys were catching some serious air!!Grant and Audrey used a sponsor banner as a tent to hide under and watch the action.
Hey, as long as they are being good and having fun...that's all that matters. right?!These are a couple of good shots that show just how much air some of these guys were getting.
Crazy stuff I tell you!Especially crazy because there were a couple of crashes yesterday and one happened right in front of us. We had just moved down to where the racers cross the finish line and it is also where they get the most air coming across the table-top jump. The guy below cleared the table-top but he wiped out on his landing. Nothing serious, until this guy, who was hot on his heels came over the same jump. When these guys are in the air jumping across this monstrous jump, they can't always see what is going on on the other side of the jump until they are already in the air and by then it is too late to change their course.
Needless to say, when he came over the jump and saw the other guys stopped at the bottom, he bailed from his sled. Can't imagine the thoughts going through both of their heads (and their parents!)
Grant's face says it all...Now, look at how far the guy who 'bailed' slid. They were both so lucky neither of them got seriously injured.As a mom, I don't know if I could watch my little baby racing like this. I think I could handle this speed but it is the speeds that come later that worry me.
For now, I will stop worrying about all of the ways my children could get hurt and just enjoy them being little and worry free. And I will enjoy watching cute little Evan race his cute little snowmobile.
Now, off to engross myself in a little Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters. Oh, and I can hardly wait until The Bachelor Finale tomorrow night. I am a self-proclaimed Bachelor junkie and wouldn't have it any other way!!!