Not complaining, just purging

Yesterday I felt like I was spiraling out of control. I keep adding to my "plate" and I should just slow down a little. I like to go fast, I like a lot going on, I like to be busy, its my nature. But sometimes I realize its too much. Michael and I view our time so differently. On weekends when we have just 1 thing going on, he thinks its too much, while I'm excited to have something to do. I laugh that he says that while I think totally the opposite. Right now, we really have a lot going on. Our house has been on the market exactly one week today. We've had 5 showings which I hear is pretty good. I guess I expected 10 just the first weekend. It's a slower time of year, too, and we knew that. I'm hoping Labor Day weekend people will be out looking. Out of the 5 that came, 3 left very minor feedback to our realtor. I think all 3 mentioned what I figured would be mentioned--our house backs to the neighborhood entrance road and it is busier. It looks GREAT on the inside, I've kept it so clean and so proud of myself for that. But I can't do anything about that road. It didn't bother us, so it won't bother someone else. That house selling thing is always on my mind. Everytime I leave my house, I want to pick up every little crumb or paper that I see, just in case while we are out someone wants to see it. Those little crumbs never bothered me much before, now I hone in on them. At first I became a little bit of a psycho clean mean mom, but the kids have done really well in keeping clean, too. I told Michael he's going to miss the laid back/not worried about the mess "me." Once its clean, its kinda easy to keep it up. Just can't let it slip. http://www.8017manx.com/


Then there is the house we are buying. I am excited that we "have it" but we don't technically "have it" until this one sells. We are going next week to the design center to pick out details. Wow, are their details. I mean, we had heard there were, but.....lots of details. We don't plan to do a whole lot of upgrades. This house already has some great upgrades as standard. But we have to choose between a handful of those standard options. I've been doing lots of research and asking around to get help and better understand this process. I want to be informed and on top of it. We really want to put wood floor on most of the downstairs--including the kitchen, but if the builder does it, it is twice as much. So because they won't let us have our own contractor do work before we close, my plan is to have them carpet (code says it has to be done) everything--including the kitchen so we can pull it out the next day and do our wood.

I started a walking club--we walk and talk for an hour. A nice way to exercise. I'm itching to run, but when I did a month ago, my knees hurt. I am anxious to lose a few pounds. It's fun to meet up with friends in the mornings when otherwise we'd be home with me on the computer and Alyssa watching cartoons.

Found out yesterday that Tyler's 3rd grade class is too big and the school has to add another teacher and subsequently will pull 3-4 kids from each class to form that new class. Tyler loves his teacher an got a little emotional at the idea he could be moved. Me, too. Crossing our fingers and toes on that one.

I just found out that in my new ward are a few other photographers. One that has a studio attached to her house. I'm not so bothered by this for reasons that some might think. I'm happy to share the photography love. In fact, I prefer to photograph strangers. But people tend to try to "dance around" the photography issue with me. Afraid to tell me they had their kids pictures taken and Kiddie Kandids or JC Penney. They think it will hurt my feelings or something that they didn't come to me. Not true, not true. I won't feel competition with them, but I worry that others may think that I do. Weird, I know. I recognize that I may possibly come across in a way that I don't want to by this chosen job I've started. I've worked hard on the inside to try not to care if people think I'm snobby just because I charge a healthy sum to take pictures. I had someone tell me once that if I charged less I'd "get a lot more business." Is that what I want? No way! My JOB is a stay at home mom. My creative outlet that funds my creative outlet is just that. It doesn't support us, nor do I NEED it, nor do I WANT to be BUSY!!! I am happy to photograph 1 session a month, maybe 2. I don't want a lot of business, and I'm getting what I want with how I am currently priced. I just worry how others think of me for doing so. Oh well.

Now onto the business--because of all the details for our home, and wondering if all the money stuff falls into place as it should (Michael is sure there will be lots of surprise costs) I AM wanting to fill up and photograph lots of sessions. So with all of the above, I am looking at wanting about 2 a week. To save up, afford that wood floor to cover that carpet in the kitchen:) Maybe this will cause me to go crazy, but we'll just see.

I am still the scout leader, and I am worn out from it. Moslty because I have to plan things. If it were a schedule all laid out for me, that would be superb! Yesterday I had scouts and pictures in the evening. At scouts I was so weary from staying up til 2 the night before, and worried I'd keel over at pictures, but I didn't...yay!

To top all of that off--Michael and I are going on a trip in a few weeks!!!! Well, Cali is coming, too. I was up til 2am 2 nights ago researching B&B's because we are headed to Vermont!
We actually fly into New Hampshire, but Vermont sounds more exotic to me. A friend of mine said NH sounds more exotic. Anyway, we celebrate 10 years of marriage this year (Dec. to be exact) and I told him I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to go to the east coast for the Fall Foliage. I thought maybe we shouldn't with the house stuff and trying to save, etc. but he still wanted to go. SO, we booked our tickets and we are going. I am SO stinkin excited!!! I love the fall, my favorite, and I haven't seen the leaves in 8 years. I am looking for cool looking covered bridges to photograph. We plan to drive to the birthplace of Joseph Smith in Sharon, VT but other than that, I am open. If anyone knows any great spots, let me know!

Now off to Dallas for the Labor Day weekend. I like trips b/c I forget everything else. We are staying with Michael's brother first, then to see my dear friend Natalie and her week old baby, Mia.