The Flowers/Misselhorn Merger

Well... this is how it all started. Halfway through my taxes on February 10th, it looked like I might owe. The amount I pay in rent!! Needless to say... I was a bit bothered by that thought. I figured it might be time to buy something, stop wasting money on rent. So, I started doing my research. Trying to figure out where, closer to work, stay around Wake Forest (its growing alot and resale could be good), somewhere in between??? Ahhhh! Decisions... Then, on Valentines day, Peyton and I set out to look for a townhouse. It was so exciting!

I had discussed this decision with my family, friends and prayed wholeheartedly! I decided closer to work would be the best idea. Gas prices are insane and since P is coming to school with me, it would be great to be close to her new friends and most of mine. We found a place 4 minutes from school and our friends! It was in a great development that was 2 years old (they are still building). It had walking trails, a pool, a playground on the way, houses and townhouses. A NEIGHBORHOOD!!!! Whoo hoo! P and I loved it! The townhouse was fantastic too! It was new! There were only 2 left and were offering lots of incentives!

The only problem... the bank. I knew my credit would be an issue, but hey people, I had to try. My amazing parents agreed to co-sign and later I would refinance in my name. I applied at the credit union. I didn't want to apply at a million places. I wasn't surprised when I was denied. My debt to income ratio was too high. What to do??? I prayed like mad and knew that if the answer was no, then I would not push the issue. My heart was content with letting it go, but I had to remind my head that the timing was not right.

The next day, Lisa came to me with a proposition. The night before, she had told her husband, Scott, my news. He really felt like they had been blessed with so much that he suggested we move in. They know I don't have family here and they practically are my family. Truth be told, we have spent so much time at their house, it might not be that different to live there...

The decision was not too hard to make. I knew the answer within seconds of Lisa asking. YES!! The problem was pushing through the emotions. This was our 4th move in the last 3 years (Peyton won't remember the first 2). Way too many emotions and fighting back the negative thoughts. Packing was tough, but seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I knew it would be worth it!! As a single mom, paying off bills sounded pretty unbelievable.

So... with all that said, this is where all our stuff went.

This is from the morning we were loading our house into a portable storage unit. Peyton had woke up before the sunrise to tell me that her (2nd) loose tooth was coming out. When it didn't, she decided to pull it out herself around 9am. She said she was tired of waiting. Impatient huh? Typical 5 yr old!!

Before......

And after.....




WOW!!! SERIOUSLY!!!

I know this seems a bit extreme, but I almost ran out of room in a 16 foot storage unit!! It was packed to the roof and all!!! That's my kitchen table with the legs taken off in the front!!!! Please keep in mind that I went from 2600 sq ft to 975 sq ft townhouse. Peyton and I had furniture in closets!!!!!!!! Ahhhh!!




Now, I share a bathroom with 3 children and a bedroom with my kid!!! I wouldn't change a thing!! We have fabulous friends (barely enough to describe them) and a great cul-de-sac where we hang out! Peyton and Josiah will be starting Kindergarten in July! We carpool, share groceries and who wouldn't want some chick bringing her own grill!!! I love to cook!! We're growing tomatoes too! Its extremely awesome to come home to some adult conversation! Lisa and I get to blab until all hours of the night, like we're in high school or something. Peyton gets to hang out with her best friend, have dance parties and laugh till you cry! She will never forget this time! She LOVES being a "big sister" to Rachel. I know, I know... I'm not dead yet!

The past month has flown by! This week, we're headed to La. for a much needed visit!!

Squeezin' in my Peeps...

What do you do when your heater breaks and they're calling for 8-12 inches of snow? Pack it up and come to Allison's house!! What are friends for? I've never had 5 people (and Bailey the dog) spend the night in my 975 sq ft townhouse, but I think we could have fit more people in the living room!!! We rearranged a few things to get an air mattress in P's room. Peyton's first slumber party!!!

Being snowed in for 2 days was actually very entertaining. No one got hurt (except some feelings)and the kids found lots to do. A few examples will be in the pictures below! We had enough food for a week and I refilled the propane tank so I could cook on the grill if the power went out! Although yesterday, Lisa and I started craving Chinese take out!!! Yummy!!

Lisa forgot her hat and I could not find mine, so we improvised by using one of Peyton's (she has 3)!!! That is why you will not see any pictures of us in this blog or anywhere else!

Look here folks! Around these parts, we call this a "snow blower"!!! The kids attempted to make a snowman, but we could only make a snow blob. The snow was not wet enough! I found everyone beach shovels and that kept them content. We got about 5 inches of snow in Wake Forest, which wasn't as much as they expected. That was good enough for us!!

Don't mind the pink boots on Josiah. A boy has to do what a boy has to do. They worked, right? What's yours is mine... Mi casa su casa!



Peyton couldn't stay out too long, considering she was diagnosed with walking pneumonia on Wednesday. Our old neighbors 2 minutes away were sledding down the awesome hills in their front yard, but the roads were too bad (for me) to venture out. We watched in amazement when a truck couldn't get up the hill on my street, so he backed/slid all the way down (without hitting a mailbox) and floored it to get some momentum to make it up the hill. He made it to the top of the cul-de-sac without incident, but it was a stupid move.

We only played outside for 15 minutes or so before it started to sleet. We were pretty frozen by then anyway, as you can see below! Poor Rachel pumpkin! Getting everyone inside to defrost was torture! Frozen and wet, we stood in the doorway on towels as the screaming kids tried to strip out of their cold clothes! It was almost too much to take!! Help ... mommy's special juice... where are you????

As the day went on and we warmed up, we reluctantly ventured back outside! The sleet had turned the top layer of the snow to ice. Still not wet enough to make a snowman, but with my quick thinking, we turned a lid from a Rubbermaid storage container into a SLED!! Sad to say that when Josiah and Peyton got on to slide, their weight pushed it too far down into the snow. Rachel was the only one light enough to glide down the hill on the ice!!! Wow!! She's so brave!! Look at that face!!! It was quite funny too. I took this picture after Lisa pushed her and I was running down the hill (trying not to fall) to catch her and take a picture at the same time!

Our slumber party ended Sunday evening when Lisa and the kids went home to their frigid house. It was so cold, Lisa could see her breath! No worries, her husband (he's a cop in Chapel Hill, he had to work) was there with 3 space heaters and a huge kerosene heater. He said it got up to 65 inside.

After they left, we grabbed the kickboard/boogie board Lisa had discovered left over from the summer and hit the hills! It wasn't very big, but it worked!! Peyton was a wild woman!!! She had a blast! Until, she started coughing and we had to go inside.

Every time I look at this picture, I just giggle. There's nothing more to say. Hee hee!

This is part of the entertainment. What a crazy weekend.

We are all so blessed. Warm houses, food to eat and great friends. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8, It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. God is good! All the time. No church on Sunday. :( School was canceled today and tomorrow. My friends have to make up school this Saturday! What a bummer. I am tracked out. Maybe I will make lunch or something Saturday to cheer them up! Cabin fever set in and I had to get out today. Off to the store and take out Chinese!! Darn you chicken lo mein!

Oh my aching back...

This is how the evening began. So much hope and excitement. First time roller skating. How hard could it be?? Just slide your feet Peyton, like you're sliding on the kitchen floor in socks. Right... not so much. Trying to keep us both up without getting a concussion was a chore! The minute she got off the carpet, onto the rink, forget about it. It was like someone had sprayed Pam on her wheels. My back already hurts in places I didn't think I had muscles!

The church rented out the place for a couple of hours tonight. It was fantastic. At least the kids didn't have to learn with a million people there!Well, as you can see Josiah in the background, we had a little of this and...and a little of this!!!!! Ok, who am I kidding, alot of this!!! Look out Uncle Jeremy, Skate City here we come!!! These two were so worried about falling. J had decided he wanted to stay home, but the second the skates were on, he changed his mind! He took off like a speeding bullet!!! He let go of Lisa's hand and off he went! In the mean time, I'm trying to convince P that she can't do the chicken dance while wearing roller skates. Not yet at least. She could barely keep her balance. Must get that from her granny Renee!! Now as for this little thing, she's a natural. They didn't have her shoe size, but that didn't stop Rachel!! She's a pro!! Rock on Rachel!!

Make up, mix up

Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is what happens during a game of "monster" when Peyton and Josiah forget that Rachel is in the bathroom waiting to jump out to scare them. They must have been distracted by something else. That's ok, because Rachel was preoccupied with something else too...my make up!!! She loves chapstick and apparently thought concealer was the same thing!!! Hey if it looks like chapstick, it must be chapstick!


Lisa and I were just about on the floor laughing!! She was having such a good time! Peyton never did this kind of stuff, so it was kind of fun to live through the crazy 2's again!! Well, just that one time! :)

Christmas Past...

This was Peyton's 2nd Christmas, 2005.

Awww, where does the time go?

Yes, yes... like mother, like daughter (big mouth)! This was Christmas 2006.

Peyton was 2 and I managed to get a picture of her wearing my reindeer antlers.

When I wore these to school, some kid said "Hey, I like your antennaes!" HA!2007, we were in Louisiana for this picture.

I love this one. I think it's supposed to be winter or some other season besides HOT,

yet P is wearing Crocs! Really??? I see a Christmas tree and a sleigh??? Christmas 2008, Nannie Amanda sent her this awesome robe!

P will defintily need her robe this week when its

supposed to be in the teens in the mornings!

See below (my last blog) for Christmas 2009!

Christmas 2009

Christmas with Peyton was fun this year!

Peyton took lots of pictures with her friends, Josiah and Rachel!

At the park, when we were looking for good Christmas card poses... and in front of the big snowman we passed everyday! Every time we drove by, Peyton wouldn't stop talking about how we had to get a picture of it with Josiah!Peyton met Santa and he told her he had a special surprise just for her because she has been good!

Peyton's preschool put on a Nativity play and she and her best friend, Josiah, were cattle in the play. Peyton did a great job saying her lines!
We went to a Christmas Eve eve program called Christmas Unwrapped at Crossroads Fellowship and over 5,000 people came that night! Peyton and I had our own special Christmas together on Christmas Eve morning!

I will keep you all updated as I post more on this blog throughout 2010!

It is my new year's resolution to be more tech-savvy! :)