got the keys

Ask anyone. Amara's excited to move to the new house. Even if it means a pit stop in an apartment.




But that doesn't mean the move has to be easy on a child.

Amara has her moments where the term "moving" means nothing.

Last night I packed up her bookcase. And she cried because she believed she'd no longer have books for a bedtime story.

So I've come up with a few tips that have helped us get Amara through this challenging, yet exhilarating time.

Tell them early on about the move. We've been hyping this up forever. And we're hoping that by the time the big day comes along, Amara will have had enough time to digest the news.

Involve them in the packing. This gives them a sense of responsibility and truly makes them feel like they're a part of the move.

Try to meet families in your new neighborhood. I know this isn't always possible. But it sure helps to tell Amara that she'll be going to school with Nina and playing soccer with Jenny.

Let them be a part of the decision making. Amara's chosen the color of her room. And she thinks she picked out which bedroom will be hers. It just encourages the excitement.

Moving with kids can be a challenge. But hopefully it'll be worth it.

And if all else fails, I'll just bribe Amara with a Happy Meal.

1000 square feet

Building the new house is exciting.

But since it won't be completed until September, selling the Yellow House this week meant having to find temporary housing for a month and a half. Maybe longer.

The Yellow House has just about 1900 square feet.

Our living quarters between the Yellow House and the new one? Take a look --



Our living space has been cut nearly in half.

We're cramped to begin with. Too many toys, clothes, and useless gadgets.

And a mom's gotta have her space.

So 1000 square feet seems a bit tight.

Dad2Amara reminds me it's only for a few weeks.

But it already feels like an eternity.

The place that could take Dog2Amara and accept a short term lease is a bit older. And some of the residents looked...questionable.

Yeah, I'm a snob.

And Amara's already called the bedroom with the walk-in closet.

So I hate to say it but I'm already dreading the place.

I last 54 days trying to sell this house.

Can I last that long in an apartment again?

where will we go next?

Our realtor reassures us every day that the market is taking a turn for the better. She says buyers are out there. And she insists that the Yellow House is the nicest one in the area.

But I have my doubts. I've seen many houses sit with an MLS for months.

So we put the Yellow House on the market way earlier than most people would suggest.

Susan commented a few days ago, questioning what we would do if we sell the Yellow House. And she's right. After all, we haven't even broken ground on Amara's new house.

There are lots of options for those who are current homeowners that choose to build a new home.

Some homeowners decide to factor in build time into their selling contract. This allows them to stay in their current residence while construction takes place. However, this would not work for our family since the market is in such a rut right now. I couldn't conceivably ask a buyer to wait six months before moving in. I'd imagine that would be an immediate deal breaker.

Some sellers choose to live with relatives until their house is complete. Yeah, not an option either. Not only do Dad2Amara and I have the craziest schedules on earth, but we also have Lady, Dog2Amara. And we have lots of stuff. And our relatives don't live anywhere near Amara's school. Financially, this would be a great option. But I think our bank account will have to get over it.

Lastly, many apartment complexes do offer a month-to-month lease. The website SoundMoneyTips.com says it best:

"...for those unsure of their next step in life, a month-to-month lease is not a bad option."

Dad2Amara and I are sure fo what's next. We just don't have a contingency plan as of yet.

But before building the Yellow House, Dad2Amara and I lived in an apartment. Actually we lived in several apartments. So we're no strangers to living in tight quarters.

We have some nice apartment complexes near our neighborhood that would work with our lifestyles. And it'll be nice to pay for rent that's less than the cost of our mortgage.

Hey, we love each other. So why can't we love each other in 800 square feet?