Zoo trip!

Everyone was out of school on Monday, so we went to the zoo! It's two miles of walking and absolutely gorgeous. It's very natural looking and the kids had a ball!

Outside is complete

So, we haven't finished the inside yet. But, we do have new tile in the bathrooms and almost have the walls all painted. The wallpaper guy is coming tomorrow to strip the vines of grapes off my kitchen. Then on Friday it will be chocolate pasley's! (I know it sounds funky, but I love it!). The yard guys came yesterday and put out fresh mulch and trimmed up the landscaping. It's a great lot. The previous owners obviously put in a lot of work with their yard. As soon as we can get ourselves more organized I'll show inside picts.

Moving day number 1 (the beginning of many obviously!)

I am exhausted--where did we get all this stuff?! Right now we are split between two houses. The movers come tomorrow for the furniture, and it'll be me solo, because Franklin got tickets to the ACC. I couldn't tell him not to go, he is sooo excited and apparently a big deal. Although, I still don't get basketball out here--still a football girl, personally. We're going to check out an afterschool care facility today. Plan on taking Ashlynn for the final say, since she's the one that has to be there. Neighbors in the new place seem really nice. There's a policeman down the street, which I think is good, and a lot of people I work with. Plus, a ton of kids.

Moving and snow!

We were supposed to close today, but issues with the current owners. Now, we should have the key by 3pm. We will see.

Had two snow days this week and then a delayed start. Thought I'd share the picts. :)

Moving News

So, after much drama from the current owners (he wouldn't sign until the bank signed, and the bank wouldn't sign until he signed. Then the inspection turned up minor things that they didn't feel they should fix--but are now!), we are getting close to the day. We get the keys on Thursday. I'm trying to get utilities in order, get Ashlynn registered in the new school, pulled out of the other, and registered in afterschool care. We're taking a half day on Friday, so we can begin the process of painting a lavender master bedroom and bath--even the ceiling! Then, we're ripping carpet out of the upstairs bathroom and replacing with tile. Yuck! I guess there are some advantages to being in the home improvement industry for so long (Steph-you and Matt want to come help? :) ). We're hoping to have all that "fun" stuff done by the following Wed, so we can be settled by the following weekend.

New home

Wow-how quickly things change in our lives! So, to update all, we have found a house. It's in Mooresville and in a great school district. (Which was our number one concern--better school). So, for the next couple of weeks it's packing and cleaning, and then cleaning and painting at the new one. It's a smaller neighborhood and there is a play park right accross the street, so it'll be a perfect place for birthday parties or just play time. We'll be gaining an extra bedroom and a playroom, which means I won't have toys all over my living room anymore (in theory). We'll also be closer to Caleb's daycare and my work, so it's a great opportunity all they way around!

Superbowl was my house this year--wasn't too big of a crowd, but it was fun. No one was too excited about either team (since the Panthers bowed out), but it was good just the same.

I have my last class for Business Ethics (oxymoron, right?) on Thursday. Another oral presentation-yuck. And then it's on to the wonderful world of marketing. I definently regret not doing this the first time around. Better late than never I guess.

Ashlynn is trucking along at school. It's been a difficult year--her teacher is less than impressive. We've had three conferences and planning one with the principal. We just received a letter from the state. Her school has failed to meet the NCLB stats for the past two years. So, we've begun the grueling process of looking for a new house. We are still renting from his parents right now, and with how bad the market is right now, I'm hoping for a good deal.

Time flies...

Yet another weekend is upon us and we're not taking a second to relax. After getting up this morning at 5:30 (to make the 45 minute drive to school and sit through a 3 hour class, I drove back exhausted. Even more exhausted when I thought of all the cleaning I had in store for me. So, after feeling sorry for myself, I walked in the door, scooped up the 2 year old and we layed down for a two hour nap. Then, Franklin and I took the kids outside to play. Usually it's Franki takes the kids and I surrender to house work. But, today watching them I realized that house work would always be available and the kiddos wouldn't. So, it's 8 PM, and I'm typing this as I watch Caleb play in the bath. After he goes to bed, Ashlynn and I are going to have a "slumber party" and do our nails. Gotta make time for the important stuff now, or it'll pass me by.

Hope everyone is laying low and enjoying the small moments this weekend!

What a week...

Wow....please pardon my tone, but geez! Caleb has decided that he doesn't want to sleep all night. Which would be fine, but when he wakes up he screams until one of us lays down on his floor. Now, for the past four days, he has decided he wants to sleep on the floor too. What is that about?! So, no sleep and the little we've gotten has been done in shifts. Anyone has any ideas, please share, b/c I'm tired!

Mom just left the other day and ended up stuck in Dallas overnight, but she's now home and fine. We've been trying to talk her into moving out here to North Carolina, but she's not committing to us yet. :)

Surviving Christmas

So, Franklin and I went and saw Four Christmases at the movies last night. Hysterical, but more importantly, made me realize that we had survived Christmas 2008 unscathed! Which is impressive considering we do four different family Christmas's in two days. I didn't get to go back to Texas this year, but mom was here and it's been nice having an extra set of hands around! I actually had a break from classes and start back next week, so I'm trying to pump myself back up for that semester too. Otherwise, we working on Ashlynn learning to read and Caleb getting out of diapers--all in all, my household is insane!!!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Been awhile...

How sad that we began this project with the best of intentions (updating more than once a year!). So, here it is a almost a year later.....
So much has gone on--I start back to school next month-at the same time Ashlynn starts Kindergarten! She is oh so excited and honestly so am I! Franklin will definently be pulling more than his share in the months to come. :) We celebrate our 8 year anniversary next week and Caleb's 2 year birthday.
Also just added a new addition to the family. Jolly Mon (any Buffet fan's out there?!) is an 8 week old cocker spaniel and hysterical!
I'll try to get better about this guys--bear with me!

Cold weather--finally!

We have FINALLY gotten below 70 degrees during the day (most of them have been in the 80's and 90's though!). With the cold weather Caleb received an ear infection. He's getting tubes put in on Thursday. Ashlynn received a stomach virus. Needless to say, it's been eventful and not in the fun sense either!
Ashlynn and I are going to be in a Christmas parade in December for her dance class. We get to ride a big float and wave. She's excited. I think it'll be cold!
Her soccer season is offically over and she's very excited because she got a huge metal to wear. However, it "doesn't match her outfit", so it's hanging on the wall. (Yes, she is definently my daughter!).
We'll do the whole trick or treating think on Halloween proudly dressed as Belle and a chicken. It'll be Caleb's first Halloween outing, so I'll let you know how it goes (he's pretty timid around people he doesn't know. We'll probably be handing out candy until late, b/c they drive them in and drop them off here! I'll post a picture next week for viewing. Hope everyone has a wonderful Holiday!

What a weekend! We had a neighbors three year old with us today, so Franklin and I decided to brave an outing with three kids. One 4, one 3, and one 1----I took a nap when we got back! We went to a local "farm" and took a hayride and then trekked through a 12 acre pumpkin patch searching for the perfect pumpkins. It was fun. We won't do it next year.
Caleb and Ashlynn painted their pumpkins today also. She has mastered the art of stick figures, so hers proudly sports a picture of me, her daddy, her brother and herself. Too cute! Caleb wasn't sure what to think of the painting until I showed him how to finger paint it, but once he got going it was a glorious splatter of purple!
We're heading to the beach with some friends for the weekend on Thursday. The men are going deep sea fishing and us ladies are going shopping! (no, I haven't changed at all!) It'll be nice to get away for 4 days.
Also, my niece will be joining the world this Tuesday. I'm taking the morning off to go wait for her arrival! :)

Soccer Daze...

Ashlynn has joined a soccer team in Troutman through the YMCA. Our next door neighbors enrolled their little boy too, and they love each other, so it's been a lot of fun! Their team name is the "Sponge Bob Mighty Mites" and they are so mighty!! :) We've had two games so far and they won this last one. Ashlynn actually played goalie for awhile and blocked two goals! (she's definently more sports inclined than her momma!) The first game we lost, but only because our team kept shooting on their goals! Team picts were taken the other day, so I'll post those when they come back.
Caleb, on the other hand, is learning to "excercise his voice". He does this horrible high pitched squall for everything--happy, sad, hungry, tired--whatever. I in the meantime am living with a constant headache!
Hope all is well with everyone!

The Wagner Family 4!

Welcome friends and family to the chaos that is our day to day (or how often I find time to update!) lives here! Having just recently gotten back from Texas I've realized how much of your lives I'm missing and how much I don't get to share with you. Caleb and Ashlynn are growing up so quickly that it amazes me! So, Franklin and I are giving this a whirl---bare with me though--I'm new to this and hopefully I'll get everything down soon (Pics, etc). So, take care and feel free to share this with family members I don't have addresses for! Much love to you all!