To-do's & happy 90th to my gpa!

first off, my gpa larsen turns 90 today! wow! what a great milestone that is! he is doing semi-fine. i say semi cause somedays he has good days and others aren't so good. he is battling bone cancer, but he has battled just about every other cancer and has overcome them (so to speak). he is the strongest man i have ever known. his willpower and optimism is unbelieavable. i hope he never gives up. he and my gma still live by themselves and get along fine with a bit of help from my parents. i try and visit as much as i can and will be visiting for a week in april. i really enjoy spending afternoons and nights with them, relishing in their memories of their childhood and my dad's childhood. i am so lucky to have them and am greatful everyday! happy b-day gpa!!

we are managing to get down our "to-do" list for our house to be ready to sell. we bought a new couch yesterday and it will be delievered on sunday! yah! it's a leather couch and should go perfectly in this house and our new one! i also reserved a storage unit for 3/15, when my parents come up to help us clear out our garage...let's see...i bought a new bedspread outfit for our bed, we got the kids room organized and toddler bed up, we fixed the closet door in their room...now here is what is left:
1. schedule steam cleaning for carpet
2. fix or buy new blinds for dining room and master bedroom
3. fix moulding in master bathroom
4. replace stovetop burners (i totally ruined ours- oops- messy cook!)
5. buy organizing bins or toy box for kids toys
6. deep clean house
7. take pics for "for sale by owner" pamphlet.

i am sure there is more to add, but those seem to be the most in dire need. we are getting close. i just love to cross things off my list! on another note, we have been doing a lof of thinking on what to do after we sell. with the real estate market the way it is and the prediction of a 25% nationwide drop in the next 2-3 years and a 10% drop in the next year we are thinking of holding off for a year to buy, but selling our house asap. so that would mean we would rent a house for a year and invest our equity-trying to get the best of both. i am not totally crazy about renting, but it could save us a lot of $$ in the long run. what we are afraid of is buying a house now and in a year from now being upside-down in what it's worth/what we owe...sooo...we will see. we have been doing a lot of research regarding this, but need to do a bit more. the one good thing is that we can find a nice house (with a yard) for rent for the same amount we are paying now in our mortgage.

this weekend i work both mornings, but andra is going to babysit tomorrow afternoon so joe and i can go find a b-day present for cole...and maybe go eat at this new little burger dive in ballard. it's been a long time since we have had a little date.
cole is napping so i am going to use this time for a bit of internet surfing...jade is watching her morning show - super why - so it's a perfect time! have a good friday everyone.