Happy Birthday Basement!

We have lived with you for a whole year, as of today! Maybe Happy Anniversary would be more appropriate.

It has slowly gotten more and more crowded here in the bat cave because there are things I knew I wouldn't need for a few months, but as time dragged on- I brought in more of our stuff.

Because you can live without your IKEA kid dishes for 6 weeks. Not a year.

I thought by now we would be starting a house. And now I wouldn't be surprised if we waited another 2 years for all the red tape to untangle itself. So maybe we'll rent a place. Or stay. We'll see how it goes... The kids honestly don't mind it here.

It is harder on me; I read this little ditty in a house magazine and thought how did that author know how I feel and think even though I can't articulate it myself? She must be one smart lady...

"For those of us who hold the title, mom-ness weaves through our lives like no other purpose, tapping ever corner of our creativity, our determination, and our love. And, I might add, forever changing the way we view our homes. Because, for moms, houses are so much more that a style statement; they're an integral part of our ecosystem for shaping healthy, happy kids. In a hundred subtle ways, our homes communicate to our children about the things we value; the basket by the sofa for books and magazines, the stool in the kitchen that invites a chat, the art supplies and backyard games." By Gayle Goodson Butler.

I would add the music that you choose to play, the movies, videogames and entertainment we allow. Pets. The possibility of adding more brothers and sisters. Dinners at the table together. Having friends over and having parties for no good reason. Parking in a GARAGE in the winter. Choosing colors and details in a child's bedroom so they feel like I see of each of them as an individual; so they know that I KNOW them.

And I know this sounds like crazy-talk, but I kinda feel like renting whatever we can find is not the answer.
My kids need long term. My son, especially, needs to not change to a third school by his third year of school. (He is still traumatized by our last move.) My daughters need me to know other families well enough that I know when it's safe to say yes to a sleep-over. Tony needs somewhere to work at home in the evenings. Krew needs to get out of the Pack-n-Play in our room. The chunker barely fits. And he snores.

Hmmmm. Renting. It is an answer, I just don't know if it's THE answer.